Chapter 92 - The Fresh Smell of Roses

Back on the couch in their therapist's office once again, Louis and Legosi both carried a weight of nervousness, knowing they both didn't complete their essays. Albeit, the wolf was a lot more nervous due to his canine nature.

This nervousness manifested itself with Legosi playing with Louis' little tail, finding knots with his claws.

Rikona looked between them. "Did something happen to you two?"

Louis swallowed. Maybe if they pushed talking about the essay off she'd forget. "Quite a bit, actually."

"Something bad?"

"No!"

Legosi shook his head. "No, but we didn't do what you asked us to." Welp, leave it to Legosi to admit it immediately.

The doe just laughed. "It was pretty obvious to me you two weren't going to based on how you reacted last week. That's okay, you can calm down."

Louis visibly became less tense. "A huge development did happen, though."

"Oh?"

The two looked at each other, wondering who should tell first.

"I'll talk about mine first," Louis began. "Do you remember my friend Pina, who I talked about last time?"

Rikona flipped through the papers on her clipboard. "Yes. The one you're in love with."

"Well...we're dating now, actually."

The female deer blinked, adjusting her glasses. "Dating?"

"Legosi's still my husband," Louis said. "Pina's just my boyfriend now. I couldn't help myself and he's okay with it, so..."

Rikona nodded and looked at the wolf. "And you?"

Legosi stroked at his arm. "W-well, Pina has a boyfriend named Bill, and we've known each other for a while, all of us. We're friends. And me and Bill just sort of ended up dating too, but we're all still together, too."

Rikona's eyes widened. "You mean to tell me that you're polyamorous?"

"Not fully," Louis cleared his throat. "I'm not with Bill and Legosi isn't with Pina."

"I've never had polyamorous patients before!"

The buck raised a brow. "Really?"

"It's marriage counseling, Louis. Most marriages only have two animals," Rikona explained.

"But didn't you say you recommended some couples date other animals?" Legosi asked.

"Yeah, but those couples separate while they do that," Rikona responded. "They separate and date other people to decide if they are happier separated if they really do belong with that animal."

"Oh." Legosi wrapped his arm around Louis. "I wouldn't want to be without Louis, but thinking about a future where I can be with and learn more about Bill is exciting. He's really excited too, I think."

Rikona smiled, lightly. "You think so?"

Louis giggled. "He only calls him every five minutes."

"Not that often," Legosi argued.

"I mean...it's quite often."

"...Well, yeah. But we didn't talk too much before this so I guess we're making up for it."

Rikona turned back to Louis. "And you, dear?"

The buck reddened. "Well...I haven't been texting him at all, really. I'm trying to save it for next time we're together because well...It will be our first time sleeping together."

The doe seemed fascinated. "Do you believe that you can uphold two relationships, Louis?"

"I know I can and I will. He works with me, after all, and it's not a typical job so I get to be with him alone a lot."

Rikona nodded. "That's good, at least. What about you, Legosi? Do you think you can handle another animal on top of Louis?"

Legosi cocked his head. "Well, that'd be fine, but I don't think Pina would be on top of Louis..."

Louis' eyes widened. "Excuse me?!"

"Well, you're going to top him," Legosi explained, a bit embarrassed in front of Rikona so he lowered his voice.

Rikona looked astounded as she watched.

Louis blushed, furiously. "Hush!"

Legosi turned slowly to their therapist. "Isn't...that what you asked?"

Rikona blinked. "I meant handling another animal other than Louis."

Louis covered his face. "Duh, Legosi!"

"Oh! Sorry!" The wolf's ears folded and he looked down. "I think I can do it. I want to be with Louis still, but having another animal to be with while he's away would be nice. Bill's really different from him so having both is nice, I think."

"That's good. If I may ask, how is your sex life?"

Louis blushed even more. "What does that matter?"

"A lot of my patients have trouble in their sex lives. Sometimes, it's even the cause of problems. You don't have to answer."

Legosi perked up. "Oh, no problems."

Louis nodded. "None at all. We probably don't need to train anymore."

Legosi nodded as well, more enthusiastically. "Oh yeah, we did really well last time!"

Louis snorted. "You put my muzzle in your mouth!"

Rikona just stared. "What?"

"No, no! Not in a bad way! In an affectionate way!"

"Remind me what this training is? Sex training?" The doe looked deeply confused.

"Instinct training," Legosi clarified.

"How does that work?" the therapist asked.

Louis scratched his cheek. "It sounds funny, but I just put my face really close to his open mouth."

"Does that really do anything? I'm genuinely curious," Rikona said.

"Actually, yes. The first time we ever did it was almost a nightmare."

Legosi picked up from there. "We discovered that Louis has the instinct to want to be eaten. At least with me."

"I remember you saying that," Rikona nodded. "You never mentioned training for it, though. You just said your instincts were getting better. I guess I know why. Wow."

Louis nodded. "But we don't think we need it anymore. We've overcome our instinctual desires."

"Yeah, I'll never eat him or anyone else!" Legosi's tail was wagging once more.

Rikona smiled more. "Very good. Maybe you should continue the training, though. Musicians don't practice until they're good enough and then stop."

Louis stifled a chuckle. "Last time we did it just evolved into something else."

"As long as there's no danger, we can keep doing it," the wolf concluded.

Louis sat back. But there is, at least around us. "Anyway, it's been good, sex-wise. Legosi and Bill have already done it, you know."

Rikona laughed. "Is that so?"

Legosi covered his face. "That's just how Bill is."

Louis laughed. "He's not wrong. I'm sure they'll have no issues sex-wise."

Rikona nodded, tapping her fingers on her clipboard. "And of course you said you were waiting to do anything with Pina."

"Right. I want to show him how much I appreciate him. I want the night to go just right."

"Don't stress yourself. If he loves you, I'm sure it will be just fine."

Legosi's tail started wagging again. "I feel good about it."

The buck blinked. "Why do you feel good about it? You're not even involved."

"I mean about all of us! Us four. We all trust each other and went through a lot together. I think it'll be good!" Legosi exclaimed.

Rikona smiled. "That's the right attitude. Alright, Louis, it's that time again."

Louis nodded. "Go on."

"Any thoughts of suicide lately?"

"Definitely not."

"Any reason that could change?"

"No."

"And I'll be seeing you here next week?"

"Yeah."

She turned around the clipboard. "You know what to do."

He took it and signed his name.

Legosi's tail only wagged more at that, and he gave Louis a lick on the cheek.

Louis smiled. "I have two animals to take care of now. I can't die."

Rikona adjusted her glasses again. "That's great to hear, Louis. There's so much you need to do here."

Louis's mind wandered to Nori. "Yeah...a lot."

"We all love him," Legosi declared proudly as he hugged his side and rubbed his cheek on his face.

The rest of the therapy went by before the two animals knew it. They talked about the visit to Gosha's and seeing the lizard again and how they felt. They even talked about saving up and going to America, which was encouraged by the female deer as it would be a great change of scenery and having a long-term is really healthy.

After Louis and Legosi left the therapist's office, they began making their way to the shopping center where Himiko and Kasumi worked.

Legosi's phone rang during the walk, and Legosi brought it out of his pocket, expecting a certain tiger but instead..."Hello? Oh, hi! Yes...already? Oh we thought it'd be a few more days... yeah we'll be by, thank you!" Legosi returned his phone to his pocket.

Louis tilted his head. "We'll be by where?"

The wolf turned and beamed at him. "My glasses are ready to pick up!"

Louis opened his mouth. "Shit, really? Let's go right away!"

"Okay! Then I can see everything we're shopping for! And I can take a picture for Bill!"

"Oh my god you're in love," Louis rolled his eyes.

"He's been sending me pics, so I should send one back!" Legosi argued.

"And calling you every 3 seconds," Louis responded.

"Yeah...he really does seem to care." Legosi smiled, softly.

"It's adorable."

"I get to see him again Wednesday, and you're seeing Pina tomorrow, right?" They made a U-turn and started to walk to where the optometrist office was.

"I'm doing more than just seeing him," Louis sighed, contently.

"Oh, you're doing your plan tomorrow!" Legosi nearly shouted in excitement. "Is that why we're going shopping?"

"...yeah," he brushed his cheek. "Going to buy some makeup."

"Pina's going to love it!" Legosi assured.

"I know!"

The little plaza with the fountain was close enough to walk to without public transport, thankfully. The two popped in and out within 10 minutes, leaving Legosi the proud owner of a pair of dark purple thick-rimmed glasses. They stepped outside and the wolf gawked at the sight.

"Woahh, things are so detailed!" He looked down at Louis. "I can see the texture of your fur and clothes!"

Louis smiled widely. "Holy fuck, you're gorgeous."

"You are!" Legosi laughed. "I can't believe how clear you look!"

"Have you ever seen such a clear deer?" Louis posed.

"No!" The newly sighted wolf scooped Louis up in his arms and kissed him.

"Mmm..." Louis stroked his cheek with his hand. "How about that picture for Bill?"

"Okay! Here!" Legosi handed Louis his phone and posed with his hand underneath his chin, smartly.

The buck snorted and held the phone still, then snapped the photo. "Looking cute! Cute wolf."

"Let me see!" Legosi hopped over.

Louis held the phone to him. "What do you think?"

"They look pretty good! Let me send it to Bill!" Legosi took the phone and tapped away, bumping his hip into Louis. Immediately, the canine's phone was ringing.

"Hi Bill," Legosi's smile was clear in his voice.

"Hey! It's so funny you sent me that cuz I was about to call you! Remember, I said I'd call at 1?"

"Yeah after our therapy. I just got a call saying my glasses were ready after that, though, so we just got done with that. Louis says hi." Legosi looked down at Louis. "Do you say hi?" he whispered.

"What if I refuse?"

Legosi brought the phone to his ear again. "Bill I have to take that back, Louis doesn't say hi."

"Wow, fuck you too, Louis," Bill said. "Pina would say fuck you, too but he's...gone again."

"Did you hear that, Louis? Should I put it on speaker? I mean, Bill's pretty loud..."

"Why would you put it on speaker?" Louis asked.

"Because Bill said 'fuck you, too' and that Pina would say so too but he's back at the tower so he can't."

"I'm so lost, Legosi," the deer shook his head.

"Speaking of Pina," Bill started. "Holy fuck. We went so many times, I lost count but I think it was really unhealthy because it started to hurt after a while, and then Pina was kind of shaking, and then he passed out? Yeah."

"Oh, god. Good thing I didn't put it on speaker. Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah, we're okay. I think it was honestly a bad idea, though. We should have gone max three times."

"Uh, yeah. I thought you two were crazy enough to do it but, I guess it's a learning experience. I hope Pina's okay..."

Louis came closer. "What happened?"

"Overboard at the love hotel," Legosi said, quietly.

"Did he hurt him?" Louis asked, worried about his plans for Tuesday.

"Bill, is he hurt? What happened then?" Legosi asked.

"No, he's not hurt. Just limping and very exhausted. I think he's gonna sleep all day," the tiger said. "Maybe you could have done it."

"M-maybe, but like you said, probably not healthy no matter who does it."

"Yeah...Lesson learned. How are you? You look fucking gorgeous, may I add," Bill cooed.

"Oh, thank you! Me and Louis are just going shopping now. He's gonna bring Pina some makeup and nail polish tomorrow." He turned to Louis again. "Is it okay to tell Bill about tomorrow?"

The buck nodded.

Legosi nodded back. "Louis is gonna do his plan for sure tomorrow. Hopefully, Pina is recovered by then."

Bill gasped. "Holy shit, really. Like, the plan he sent us?'

"Same one. He'll be staying the night."

"And then you and I will sleepover tomorrow, too? I'll bring you dinner and we can watch a movie and I can make out with you. Wanna have sex again?"

The pair began walking to the shopping district again. "Oh, yeah you could! I didn't even think of that. Sorry, Bill! I'm still getting used to this. Uh, that all sounds good! Me and Louis should buy some wet wipes and paper towels for cleanup anyway, since the bathrooms are all the way on the ground floor."

"Sweet! Sounds like a date! Do you like massages? I actually gave one to Pina at the love hotel before we began and it had a very happy ending. Also, we stained the sheets there a lot..."

"I can imagine, Bill. And yes, I love massages! I'd like to give you one, too." The wolf's tail began to wag again and Louis took note.

"You better leave those glasses on, though. You're fucking hot. Maybe I'll show you what it feels like to have a feline bathe your entire body, too."

"I'll want to leave them on since I'm seeing everything in a new light, now. Louis looks fantastic! Like, more than he looked before in my eyes. So I want to see how you look, too."

Bill just purred. "Good boy."

At that, Legosi stopped in his tracks and his breath hitched, nearly dropping the phone.

Louis stopped. "What? What is it?"

Legosi cleared his throat and continued. "He said the words," he said to Louis before going back to the call. "Sorry, Bill. Just caught me off guard. You must know how much canines like hearing that, and your voice just...sounded really good saying it."

Louis covered his face again. "So in love."

Legosi did the same as he waited for Bill to respond.

The tiger blinked. "That's so like you, dog."

"Yeah, yeah, shut up, Bill."

"Okay, bye!" He hung up.

There was silence for a few seconds. "...Hello? Bill?" Legosi lowered the phone from his ear. "He actually hung up..."

Louis laughed. "You said to shut up."

"But I meant it affectionately!" Legosi was already tapping away.

Legosi: didnt mean to actually shut up!

Bill: u luv me already huh?

Legosi: I do. I guess I don't have to wait too long before you call me again though

Bill: was the sex really that good?

Legosi: it was really good sex but thats not the only thing!

Bill: then what?

Legosi: you're really sweet and caring and having that directed at me after knowing how you used to be in drama club for so many years is really nice

Bill: wow...is it weird that i kinda love u 2

Legosi: not really you've been really lovey

Bill: known u 4 awhile so its not hard

Legosi: we have known each other the longest in a way since i barely talked to louis at first. i wonder if thats another reason this kinda just worked out?

Bill: im kinda rly happy thats why i keep calling u

Legosi: I am too! I'm sorry if it doesn't seem it

Bill: it very much does seem it

Bill: u answer dont u? and u text back and u prbly dont hear it but ur tone

Legosi: very attentive of you. I get off work around 4 tomorrow so you can head over a bit after that

Bill: where do u even work anyway

Legosi: oh right I never told you the name. It's big bundle of bugs at the mall

Bill: want me to buy snakcs and drinks for tmrw?

Legosi: yes!

Bill: done, bby

Legosi looked up and realized they were back in the shopping plaza again, guided along by the arm by Louis the whole time as he texted. "Oh, thanks, Lou. Sorry..."

The deer laughed. "You're alright. It's new and exciting. Say goodbye, though because we're here."

"Yup!" Legosi turned back to the phone.

Legosi: gotta go now. Shopping. Talk later

Bill: love you

The wolf's fur bristled as he typed back.

Legosi: love you too

Returning his phone to his pocket, Legosi pulled Louis a bit closer where their arms hooked. "Do you think it's too early for me and Bill to exchange 'I love you's? I mean we didn't even know this relationship was viable until two days ago. I don't want to rush things."

Louis continued to walk forward, looking at the shops as they passed by. "Do you love him? Really? I ask you again."

"I do. I think. I don't know, it's way different than with you! I pined for you a while and then I rescued you twice and it was like a storybook! But with Bill we were enemies, then friends, then we went through a rough experience together, then we kind of stopped seeing each other so much, and then suddenly we have sex and we're dating." The wolf's ears wobbled as he thought. "I guess that doesn't sound too strange, now that I say it out loud...it's just our relationship is the first I've ever had, so I'm using it as a frame of reference. I guess all the things that happened between us really were extraordinary..."

"Extremely," Louis repeated. "But give me a yes or no."

"Yes. Do you think that's weird?"

Louis turned and put a hand on his shoulder. "If you love him, then that's it. There's not really a point in waiting."

The wolf just nodded. "Yeah...you're right. I should just relax and let my emotions do the work, so to speak."

"Plus, he's in love with you too, I think," Louis shrugged.

"Yeah..." The carnivore blushed and cleared his throat. "Anyway, where to first?"

"The makeup store. I want to make sure I get that before I get anything else."

"Of course! Maybe there'll be some nice perfumes or colognes too!"

"I already smell so good, though, according to you," Louis teased.

"You do! I meant more for me, although your scent does compliment many others, as long as it's not drowned out."

"Yeah, true, you smell like a dog." Louis made a face. "Maybe it's not too late for that essay..."

"Well, then you can pick some out for me!"

"I will!" He looked up and made a gesture with his hands. "Even more dog smell."

His husband laughed. "I knew you loved the smell!"

"Okay, but don't out me here. That's private information."

Needless to say, Louis had NO idea how to shop for makeup and unfortunately, had to break his silence with Pina in order to ask him what to get. And even then, he was still kind of lost. How did Pina ever learn how to do this?

Despite the news Bill gave before, Pina seemed to be in high spirits, if not a bit tired, confirmed by the fact that he said he had been in bed all day.

Louis couldn't help but talk to him more as he actually very much knew how he felt. He asked how the love hotel was from Pina's side.

"Oh, I was down for the count!" the sheep announced, proudly. "I told everyone here that I went out hiking so that's why I'm tired, and now Nori's talking about all the places he'd like to go."

"Wait, really?" Louis blinked.

"Yeah!" Pina's voice came out excitedly through the speaker. "The poor guy. I hope he can lead a normal life one day."

"I want to help him badly," Louis said.

Pina continued. "He hasn't been hanging out with Roku as much, though, and now Roku's grumpy. At least that's what Hachi texted me. God, it's like I never left high school."

"Was there polyamory in Cherryton?"

"I think I was technically dating five girls at once at one point. Two of them weren't aware, though. Yeah, I was an asshole back then. Be glad you didn't know me."

"I bet I am," Louis said. "Because I know and have you now."

"Imagine if shit didn't hit the fan and none of us left Cherryton but we were all dating each other still. We'd be fucking unstoppable and probably take over the school," Pina laughed.

Louis blushed. "A gang of boyfriends taking over the school? They'd lynch us for even trying."

Pina clicked his tongue. "Stop being realistic and indulge in my little fantasy."

Louis snorted. "Hm...When you're that powerful is there a really a goal if you're already on top?"

"We could have put on a really cool and gay play."

"Let me guess. You would be the damsel and I would share a kiss with you?"

"Oh, I didn't actually think about what it'd be, but I like the way you think." Louis could practically hear the wink on the other side.

The deer blushed. "Eheh...guess my head is still stuck in tomorrow."

"Uuugh, at least you get to do stuff to make time go by faster. I'm just laying here. So boooored. Well, at least until Nori gets back. He and Hachi went to make some food."

"They're really getting along, huh?" Louis smiled. "Much preferred compared to...yeah..."

"Oh yeah, it's pretty adorable. I'm actually excited for the...you know. With them tomorrow. Don't wanna say it out loud..."

"First date and it's to watch Nori eat meat."

"It'll be a learning experience at the very least. Plus it'll make him happy, and we get to know Hachi a bit more too," Pina reasoned. "And with what you're buying right now I can tell we're gonna have fun afterward, too. Well, fun before the real fun."

"You're making me blush," Louis whispered. "But yeah. Plus, Chimera training tomorrow."

"Oh yes. Thrilling. At least we get to be around San during it, and Kyuu is starting to warm up to us."

"Yeah, San's energy makes training, honestly. He's a great coach."

At that moment, Legosi and Louis stopped in front of some of the perfumes, which Legosi began to inspect.

"When are you coming over, then?" Pina whispered, hopefully.

"How soon should I?" Louis asked.

"As soon as you can? Come save your damsel in distress?"

"I'll be there early, then. Especially if you're in distress, my damsel."

"Yes! Distressing boredom! And I'm suffering from buck withdrawal," Pina whined.

"Already," the aforementioned buck huffed.

"You're acting like you don't miss me too," Pina teased.

"I think not talking or texting and then this phone call made it worse."

"Follow Bill's example and call me every other minute," Pina said, deadpan.

"You mean that?" Louis smirked.

"...Maaaaaaaaaybe."

"Mmm...Well, I might have to hang up because Legosi and I are out right now..."

"Of course! Say hi to him for me~"

"I will. So...Be there early tomorrow, then," Louis confirmed.

"Yes. If I'm still asleep please don't wake me. Just lay with me or something." The joking tone in Pina's voice was gone now.

"Of course. So I guess you want me there at 2 AM," Louis joked.

"If the market wasn't so dangerous at night, I'd say yes."

Louis sighed, affectionately. "You'll see me soon enough. Take care and get rest."

"I will. Oh! I think Nori and Hachi are here with my food. Tata, boo~"

Louis hung up and looked at Legosi, who was sniffing all the different perfumes. "Are you even going to buy one?"

"I was waiting for your opinion." Legosi held out a few small bottles in his palms, which were absolutely dwarfed by the size of his hands.

"What are my choices?" Louis peeked at each of the different colored glass bottles.

"Smell each one!" The wolf's tail waved behind him.

Louis leaned in and sniffed each one, his face changing with each smell. "Not the last one."

"Got it." The wolf put it back and held the bottles up again. Louis noticed his tail wag faster when he held his finger over a particular pink one.

He sniffed it again. "Oooh? What's this?"

"Rose!" the wolf nearly shouted.

"Woah! Calm down!"

"Here!" Legosi sprayed a bit on his wrist and held it for Louis to sniff.

The buck leaned in and inhaled. "Woah."

"Isn't it good?"

"Very good. Why did you even give me options?" He looked up from his leaned down state. "I can't get over those glasses."

"Yeah, I like them too! I'm going to wear the outfit I wore on my first day of work with them tomorrow! I think it'll be a really good look. And I can wear perfume! That'll go good with the flowers on the shirt."

Louis leaned back up. "Is there anything else you're looking for while we're out here? Who knows if we'll get the chance to come back out any time soon."

"Oh yeah, the, uh, stuff for cleanup that I was talking about with Bill. It'd just be good to have in general. Maybe a few more things to keep around the room, too."

"Where can we get that?"

"There's probably a grocery store around here for that. Let's go look."