Archive of Our Own ^beta

He felt a ghost pain in his leg many hours ago, so Louis is unsurprised when there is a gentle knock on the estate door.

Security informs him about a grey wolf on their front step. Louis tells them to return as they were, he’ll get it himself.

The only true inconvenience about the leg is probably the squeak. No matter how many prosthetics Louis goes through, you can’t quite recreate the soft note of a deer footfall. Not with metal, anyways. But metal is more imposing than plastic, so the squeak stays.

Louis opens the mansion door, and Legosi is standing there in a torn sweater and stained joggers. Tall, intimidating, dangerous Legosi, bowed politely at the waist.

Handgun is in the bedroom, is the first thing Louis thinks. Then forcefully, And I will not need it.

“I’m hiding from the police,” Legosi explains. Louis’s reply does not hold any cadence of shock.

“Did you kill someone?”

“No…” Legosi trails. “But I need to call Yafya.”

“Hm.” Louis steps aside, and Legosi begins to slip off his shoes. “You’re bleeding.”

“It’s not mine, sorta.”

The mansion is quiet at this time of night. With most of the help gone, evenings are left for studying and other works of the Horns Conglomerate. As tall as the ceilings are, Legosi still fills up the room like a full glass of wine. Louis doesn’t have a strong sense of smell, but he knows Legosi smells like canine and blood.

Legosi looks down at him with those puppy eyes of his, and Louis sighs impatiently, gesturing for Legosi to follow him further into the mansion. He can hear a tail wag.

“Thank you, senpai.”

“Well, are you going to tell me what happened, or are you going to keep teasing me?”

Legosi wrings his claws together and follows obediently.

“I was doing deliveries, honest –”

“Uh huh.”

“And this ostrich, he was real kind. He said he sold rugs for living, said sellings’ been tough with the taxes and he had four babies to feed – ”

Louis rolls his eyes, “Let me guess. You followed him into a dark alley?”

“Because I smelt death,” Legosi says somber. Louis raises his eyebrows, and holds open the door for Legosi to enter first. Familiar with his home, Legosi takes a seat on the settee. It’s the cozier living room of the mansion – not the one for large guests, but Louis leads him here on purpose.

There is a kitchenette in the corner; it’s a smaller attachment than the lavish chef’s kitchen on the upper floor. Louis wets a spare rag and tosses it.

“So what was it this time?”

Legosi catches the towel with one hand, and begins to sheepishly wipe off the blood on his arms.

“They were pelt rugs.”

Ah.

“Maybe I should ask again,” Louis starts, leisurely taking a seat at the adjacent couch. “Not that it matters to me. But did you kill?”

“No,” Legosi says, this time more stern. “But he had a rhino friend.”

And that would explain the gash down his arm. It doesn’t look too bad, so Louis is unconcerned. It’s one more scar to the canvas of Legosi’s broad body, already battle worn, cut up and shot and dragged to death and back. The gentle carnivore; the wolf who swallowed his leg.

As if on cue, sirens whiz right by the house. Legosi appears to be holding his breath, but Louis can already tell they’ve blown past the estate.

“Why are the police after you?”

“It uh…didn’t look good on my end. You know, the usual.”

The usual. A predator attacking prey. Louis scowls, and tips his head into his hand, scratching his fingers along the itchy velvet of his antlers.

“Idiots, they know nothing. You’re favored by the Beastar.”

“Not really. But speaking of, can I borrow your phone? I kinda’ shattered mine…” Legosi tips his head down, shrinking in on himself to look smaller.

Louis hates nothing more than when Legosi tries to appear unthreatening. He also loves it with a relentless passion. A predator bowing to prey, a beast cowering before a deer.

But Legosi is as sweet as he is dangerous. He won’t ever forget that.

Louis shifts to one side to fish his phone out of his back pocket, and Legosi’s sharp eyes track his movement.

There are a thousand landlines in this house that Legosi could use, and yet.

“Here,” Louis says. Legosi gently takes his cellphone with a bow.

“Thank you senpai. I’ll be quick.”

“Take your time.”

Legosi rises off the couch and begins to call Yafya. He doesn’t leave the room, but leans up against one of the frosted windows and speaks softly into the speaker.

Having already mourned his night’s sleep long ago, Louis stands to start on tea. He continues to brew it his father’s way out of habit, even if the taste is terrible.

A year has passed, but this house still feels like Oguma should be in it. Some days Louis has yearned to burn it to the ground. On others he sits at the foot of his father’s bed for hours. They are secrets only the maids know.

Louis leans up against the granite. His leg is aching, so he knows Legosi must be in some sort of pain, even if he shows little complaint. It’s a premonition that Louis doesn’t question anymore.

The wolf has stopped slouching in that corner. It looks like Legosi is begging into the phone, but he’s standing taller now, almost to the top of the windowsill, and oh the things Louis would give to climb him.

This year has been long, and Louis has come to terms with many things.  They’ve been on similar journeys, he and that wolf Legosi. Even if their roads have been different, they run parallel anyways.

The ache in his leg has become an annoyance, so Louis sits once more now that the kettle is on. His conversation done with, Legosi approaches, carefully handing the phone over in his claws.

“Thank you so much, senpai.”

“The verdict?”

“Yafya said to hang tight. He’s going to make some calls, and I’ll have to make a statement.”

“Boring,” Louis sighs. Legosi looks a little sick.

“There was a lion pelt,” he blurts.

An uncomfortable chill scratches down his spine. Louis sits up slowly, face stone cold.

“Is that so?”

“Normally it’s – you know when I see herbivores like that it— I really can’t stand it. But I saw the mane on that rug and I thought about the Shishigumi and I thought about you and… I felt possessed. I really don’t know what came over me.”

Louis doesn’t believe that for a second.

“If any of the Shishigumi were targeted, you’re well aware that I would know by now,” Louis says flat, even if his fingers ache for his handgun.

“I know.”

Legosi seems to be waiting for something. Louis almost smiles when he figures out what it is.

Casually scratching as his antlers once more, he looks to the wolf and says, “You did well, Legosi.”

There’s a single thwap of Legosi’s tail hitting the couch, but that’s it. He smiles toothlessly, and looks down to his lap, where his claws are concealed.

Legosi knows he doesn’t need to hide himself in front of Louis, but he does so anyways. Louis wonders if it is habit or choice.

He decides to lighten the atmosphere by saying, “It’s been a while since you’ve stopped by. Am I only a hiding place?”

“No, no!” Legosi blurts, almost a laugh. “I’ve been – business has been blowing up lately, promise.”

Louis raises an eyebrow, “Noodle business?”

“It’s very serious stuff. People need their udon, and my landlord raised my rent again.”

“Now why’s that?”

“Broke the handle off the fridge again,” Legosi scratches his chin awkwardly. “They make ‘em so flimsy, I swear.”

Sounds like a scheme if Louis has ever heard one, but Legosi probably knows that already.

“Right.”

“What are you complaining for anyways?” Legosi teases. “It’s not like I can just waltz up to the head of the Horns Conglomerate whenever I please.”

“You just did,” Louis points, and cracks a smile at the thoughtful face Legosi makes.

“Word on the street says you’ve been tipping the apple cart with the Horns council.”

“Are you surprised?”

“Not at all. But I think the Shishigumi are sad that you’ve adjusted so well.” 

“It’s a different kind of dirty work,” Louis snips, and Legosi nods even if he doesn’t understand.

“I’m beginning to think it might follow us.”

Louis snorts, and there’s another pap pap of Legosi’s tail.

Because Louis has a dangerous attraction for poking carnivores with giant sticks, Louis decides to arm his spear and jab right in.

“So how’s paradise with Haru?” Louis asks, gleefully already knowing the answer.

Legosi’s ears droop.

“Uh, well…”

Louis stomps down the satisfaction and makes a face of concern.

“Did something happen?”

“No! I mean – probably. I guess so. We’re not dating anymore.”

Yes, he knows. Louis was informed of their breakup via Juno three weeks ago.  

Louis frowns, “That sucks. You two were close.”

Legosi ruffles a hand through the top of his head, and Louis catches a glimpse of sharp nails. “It didn’t end bad, it’s just…it was complicated.”

Louis sharpens his spear.

“Did you finally come to your senses as a carnivore?”

“No,” Legosi laughs. “I’m definitely still attracted to prey.” His face sobers, and he looks up to meet Louis’s eye, and it’s downright electric, is what it is. For a moment Legosi’s eyes scan him, hot and quick and maybe bashful, and Louis wants so badly to grab him by the scruff of the neck. To shove his hand back in that mouth and tell him to kneel. 

Poke, poke.

“What happened?”

Legosi swallows once, and then says, “I just –”

 Screeeeeeeeeeeee

They startle as the kettle screams. Louis looks over to the kitchenette and sighs.

“Oops. Forgot about the tea.”

True to a canine, Legosi perks up at the thought of fetching something.

“I can get it!”

“Thanks,” Louis mutters, and watches Legosi approach the kitchen. He pours the water in the prepped teacups, and he’s a little tall for the counter, so Louis gets the pleasure of studying his back as his shirt slides upwards. He can see the exit wound from the bullet Melon shot through his side, and it makes Louis angry enough to seethe.

Legosi crosses the room with the tea tray in hand. His ears are flicking nervously, like a temptation. They’re worth the blame, because Louis isn’t paying attention either when Legosi’s foot catches on the rug. His reflexes are fast enough to stop himself from falling – and more impressively, the teacups. Unfortunately, newton still has his laws, and Louis ends up soaked anyways.

Legosi freezes. The empty cups clatter to the carpet, and Legosi’s hands hover with panic.

“Oh my god, Louis-sempai!!”

“Calm down, Legosi.” 

“I’m so sorry,” Legosi whines. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. Deer skin is thick.” Louis picks at his soaked clothing and frowns. “The only loss here is my shirt.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Please let me buy you a new one.”

Exasperated and wet, Louis sighs, “Give it up, Legosi. Just sit down.”

Louis isn’t expecting the wolf to sit right there on the floor, but he does on command. Louis almost goes a little hot from it.

Legosi is staring at the carpet, ears red from embarrassment. He then looks up at Louis like…like the way he used to look at a particular rabbit.

Hm. Well you know what they say about gift horses.

Louis begins to unbutton his shirt, only receiving Legosi’s attention when he’s at the fourth clasp. Legosi startles, and Louis raises an eyebrow.

“Well?”

“Well what?” Legosi blinks.

“You’re a dog,” Louis spits like a bad word, and gestures to the fur soaked on his chest. “Clean it up.”

He might as well have smacked a gong amid the living room. It rings loud, and then a deafening silence follows. A wolf is kneeling at his feet, claws dug strong into his knees, staring straight at him with wide kimono-dragon eyes, and Louis has never felt more at ease.

“Senpai?”

“I know you heard me,” Louis says. “You canines are always slobbering all over each other.”

But Louis is not a canine. This is an important detail.

He can see Legosi’s heartbeat in his throat. Grey ears twitch.

“Are you sure?”

Louis uncrosses his legs, and the prosthetic squeaks as the foot-joint hits the floor.

“Do I look scared to you?”

Legosi’s eyes scan down to his chest and back up. Hesitant, Legosi obediently inches forwards. He’s so large he doesn’t have to sit up much, and Louis feels his stomach clench when Legosi parts his mouth and reveals sharp teeth.

Large hands brace on either side of Louis’s thighs. Louis slides his shirt to the crooks of his arms expectantly.

“Be thorough,” Louis demands. “I already showered tonight.”

He feels breath first. Tangy and hot, Legosi pants against his sternum, steering himself for control. Louis doesn’t have any doubts, and he has no desire for his gun.

The first stripe is licked between his ribs. Louis is tall for a deer’s standard, but Legosi is big, and he doesn’t have to move much to lick up to his collarbone. A second lick, slow and cautious. Louis keeps his face neutral as Legosi seeks approval.

“I still smell like tea,” Louis chides. “You’re really going to make me hobble back in that shower? This leg isn’t waterproof you know.”

Tail between his legs, Legosi laps him again with purpose. He catches the liquid at his navel, and drags a more purposeful stripe to his chest. Louis can feel teeth. He’s never been more relaxed.

Legosi on the other hand, looks like he’s going to vibrate apart. He’s stiff as a board, each movement slow and purposeful and careful, like he just might snap.

Louis knows he’s pushing too far. But he’s an ugly addict at the core of it, and watching Legosi do as he’s told is better than any drug.

“Remember the taste?” Louis prods.

Legosi pulls his tongue back behind his teeth. Eyes stuck to his chest, Legosi’s claws dig in into the couch cushions a bit too hard. His voice sounds raspy.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t regret taking your leg, senpai.”

“Don’t insult me. I gave you a meal to defeat an enemy, you didn’t take anything.”

Legosi finally meets his eyes.  

“I don’t crave meat anymore.”

“Then why are you shaking?”

Legosi flushes.

“I…”

One last jab. One more poke in the side.

Louis tips his chin up and points to his neck.

“You missed a spot.”

Riiiip.

Legosi goes for his throat. Louis squeezes his eyes shut, teasing death and repressing a shiver when Legosi laps at his neck in quick and jerky strokes. Teeth press against his jugular, and it takes all his focus to keep breathing steady as Legosi licks up the rest of the tea with fervor. His tongue is wet and warm and the tea smell is replaced with the heady scent of a wolf.

 “Good, Legosi…” Louis sighs. “Good boy.”

Legosi’s muzzle drags up his jaw, and Louis feels the rumbly growl tremor through him, like a vibrating guitar string, and Louis’s eyes snap open.

Legosi is gone. He’s a yard away, tripping over the back of the settee and jumping to avoid the teacup he dropped.

“I’m sorry – Senpai I – I have to – I gotta go!” Legosi stammers, and scrambles out the door fast as a whip. He’s still careful enough not to slam it.

Louis sits in silence.

He stares at the wall, and brings his fingers up to trace his throat.

Yeah, okay. Maybe he went a little too far with that one.

Lounging back in his chair, Louis watches as his butler ushers yet another potential partner out the door. Father won’t be happy that he’s turned down another matchup, but he’ll gladly take the scolding over dinner, rather than marriage to some boring doe for life.

Life. For some prey, it’s not even that long. Louis can’t help but think them a little fortunate.

Yuta turns around from the door, and gives a soft yet disapproving look.

“Oguma-sama will not be happy about this.”

“Yuta, are you happy with your life?”

The question seems to catch him off guard. Yuta straightens, and nervously adjusts his tie.

“Well…what a question, sir…”

“Don’t answer then,” Louis yawns.

Yuta ponders a moment, and looks up to Louis with a smile.

“I would say that I am. There are roadblocks, but the animals in my life are what make it worth living.”

Louis makes an ‘ugh’ sound, and turns his head away. His leg is still bandaged and achy from where Legosi gnawed it off, but the pain isn’t unpleasant. It’s like a constant reminder that he lives another day.

“That’s a boring answer, Yuta.”

“Sorry if it’s not what you needed to hear.”

“Whatever. Bring in the next one.”

Louis feels the ghost of his tongue for days.

But he doesn’t carry regrets, even when he knows he should. Juno is sure to remind him of that.

“You’re an idiot,” she says. “Inviting a carnivore to your neck, are you crazy?”

“Legosi has better control than that,” Louis snaps. Juno is loud in his ear, and he pulls his phone away as she shouts.

“He’s not invincible! Look, you know I’ve had my fair share of interspecies flings –”

“Uh huh,” Louis drawls.

“—but if it’s not the hunger, it’s the fucking hormones! You can tear someone to shreds just by accident, even on meds.”

“Juno, you’re preaching to the choir,” Louis says. “And the conductor. And the organist. I just wanted to know if he’s been by your apartment.”

“No, he hasn’t. Maybe you should give him a call.”

Louis presses his thumbs between his brows in frustration.

“He broke his damn phone. Whatever, I’ll figure it out.”

“Be careful with him,” Juno says. “He’s fragile right now.”

Fragile. Louis could laugh.

“Noted, goodbye.”

He hangs up before Juno can chew him out further. Head in hand, Louis looks out his office window. He can think of a million ways to catch a carnivore, but Legosi is always the outlier to end all outliers.

How annoying.

A week passes, and Louis hasn’t heard much from Legosi. Only back-alley news that he was pardoned by the Beastar himself. All things considered, it’s no surprise that Legosi is avoiding him.

Life has taught Louis that you don’t win by playing by the rules. So on day eight, when he wakes up with a hand to his own throat, hard against his thigh and soaked with sweat, he makes up his mind.

Louis has waited long enough. He’s been kind, he’s been distant, he’s been patient.

So he hatches a plan. A very good one, at that. Maybe diabolical, maybe unconventional, but Louis won’t live his short life knowing he never tried.  

The game is on.

“Order some of that shitty Udon,” Louis tells Yuta, straightening his tie. He stops in the hallway to check his shedding antlers in the mirror.

“Yes sir!” Yuta bows and Louis scowls at his thin reflection.

Weak.

The knock comes later than expected. Louis looks up from his work, and the door creaks open hesitantly.

A nose peeks in, and Louis waits for the rest of Legosi to step through.

“Um…Louis-senpai? Security said to uh, bring the noodles straight to you…”

“You can set it here, thanks,” Louis points, clearing a spot at his desk. Legosi stares at the office between them, like crossing it is the last thing he wants to do. Louis gives an impatient look, and Legosi decides to approach with the takeout. He sets it on the edge with care.

“Your staff already paid, so…” Legosi shuffles back. Louis glances up at him.

“You never gave me your new phone number. I wanted an update on the poachers.”

Legosi stares, rigid and arms straight at his side. He struggles internally with his eyes widen open. Louis raises an eyebrow, and it’s so quiet you could hear crickets.

Suddenly, Legosi takes a deep breath. Then, he exhales hard and bends right at the waist, blurting,

“I’m so sorry for the way I acted last week, Louis-senpai! I didn’t know how to face you after losing control like that. I hope we can continue to be friends.”

Hm. This shouldn’t be much of a surprise, considering how Legosi dropped out of school after the leg incident – so Louis should count himself lucky. Still, none of this was Legosi’s fault.

He’s a fickle one, this wolf. But Louis knows this, so if blatant teasing isn’t enough, Louis will just have to play the game smarter.

“I told you to do it,” Louis reminds. He peeks in the takeout bag with his pinky and frowns. “I should probably apologize to you.”

Legosi grows flustered, “Oh, that’s not necessary, senpai.”

“Good, then I won’t. I see you got in another fight.”  

Surprised, Legosi brings a hand to his busted lip. Tch, as if Louis wouldn’t notice.

His eyesight might not be as sharp as an eagle, but prey have a wide field of view. Louis took immediate note of every detail the moment Legosi stepped through the door.

A bruised and healing lip, likely busted two days ago. The fur is thin on his knuckles, and he’s wearing his uniform collar loose, because his throat is swollen. He’d look pretty badass, if his face wasn’t so sweet.

“I haven’t been able to sleep much,” Legosi rubs his head bashfully. “I’ve been snooping around the back-alley market. Something about those poachers just rubbed me wrong, and I’ve been finding their scent everywhere. I think they’re a frontrunner for a black-market ring.”  

Damn this guy. A trouble magnet doesn’t even come close.

“You paint your own targets, Legosi,” Louis sighs.

“I um…I know. I was actually hoping, uh…”

Here it comes. Louis is already expecting it, but he knows how to play hard to get.

Raising an eyebrow, Louis leans forward and sets his chin in his hand. “Did you only apologize so you could ask me to help you with this hunch of yours?”

Legosi flounders, “No! No – I really am sorry for running off like that. But youknowwemakeareallygoodteam and I really feel like somethings wrong here and uh…” Legosi wilts, “I should stop talking. Please enjoy the noodles.”

Louis sighs dramatically.

“Do you really think there’s a larger scheme to the pelt market?”

Legosi straightens, and nods seriously.

“I can’t sleep. It’s like, once I picked up the scent, it’s suddenly everywhere.”

Louis wipes over his eyes, and laments, “Alright, fine. I’m going to help. Tell me everything you know.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“Business is business. If there’s a ring making money out there, I need to know if any of my associates are involved,” says Louis. “And I want to bust this before Yafya just to see the look on his face.” 

Legosi’s tail wags, but he keeps his face neutral.

“Thank you, senpai. But I’m kinda’ supposed to be working right now… I have deliveries.”

“Ugh. Meet me at the café by Cherryton after your shift. I’ll pay if you show up on time.”

Legosi smiles, forgetting to hide his teeth. It’s terrifyingly adorable.

“I’ll be there.”

“Get out,” Louis snaps. Legosi pads out the door with his tail wagging, satisfied as if he is the one who got what he wanted.

“Thanks for the business!”

“Mmm.”

The door shuts, and Louis slides the takeout off his desk and into the trash.

Birds and stones, they say. Birds and stones.

Despite living his life by noodles, Legosi orders ramen at the café. He’s generally relaxed enough around Louis to slurp and laugh and be a little impolite, but he’s been stiff lately, and Louis is determined to break him.

Louis knocks his knee against Legosi’s from under the café table, and thumbs through the papers.

“So is this all you found?”

Legosi moves his leg away politely. “It’s all I could grab before I was chased out.”

“It’s crumpled.”

“Sorry.” He smooths out the evidence. “I wadded it up in my pocket. I didn’t want the police to find it…they work too slow.”

Smothering a smile, Louis leans further over the table and skims the handwriting. There are numbers that suggest weight, height and sex, all listed as bullet points. Almost like...inventory.

It turns out that Legosi followed the ostrich scent into a vegan shop by his apartment. He tells of some sketchy back room he stumbled into, a little too sketchy for a simple food joint.

“So you think the pelt rugs are just a retail branch of a larger operation?”

“Yeah, I mean, look at these numbers.” Legosi points to a smudge. “These are huge quantities, more than any stock I saw in that rug store. I think it was too convenient that the police bust the pelt market, and suddenly the vegan Takoyaki shop closes the next day.”

“So you won an ass whooping for meddling,” Louis concludes.

Legosi nods, “Yes. Kind of possessive for some takeout, right?”

There are too many conveniences. Louis spins a pen in his fingers, and mulls,

“You said a lion pelt.”

Legosi tips his head, “Huh?”

“Ibuki had a cousin go missing three months ago.”

Eyes wide, Legosi flounders, “Th-that could only be coincidence – ”

“Has anyone ever tested the Takoyaki?”

“You would know if it’s real meat, senpai. There would be rabid carnivores everywhere.”

“Refill?” The waitress asks.

“Oh, thank you!” Legosi beams. The tabby pours them both more soda, and Louis waits until she’s out of earshot.

“I’m not talking about the meat. What are the sticks made of?”

It’s a popular habit for animals to go around chewing on the leftover food-sticks. What if they’re something other than plastic? 

Legosi stares a moment, before his eyes go wide.

“You think they’re stripping animals and selling them to shops for parts.”

Louis shrugs, “Is it crazy? Where does the butcher get fresh cuts?”

“They say it’s the rabbit funeral home,” Legosi pales. “But I caught a tail-end of a conversation between my grandfather and Yafya the other day. Missing animal cases have been popping up for months.”

“I need to look more into this,” Louis decides. He slides the papers into his satchel resting on the booth seat. “Don’t make any more moves without me.”

Legosi’s ears droop, but he nods seriously.

“Yes senpai.”

This corner of the café is quiet, so Louis has no qualms about reaching the short distance and petting under Legosi’s chin.

“Good boy. Stay out of trouble, and I’ll contact you soon.”

Legosi’s body seizes. His eyes flutter, and then snap back open in surprise. It’s another moment of static electricity, once again time slowing down and the world fading to grey behind them. Louis wonders if Legosi is remembering the moment in his living room, just as Louis has remembered every night.

“Oh – okay,” Legosi croaks.

As rugged as his scars are, Legosi is still soft to the touch. Louis can’t resist scratching into the fur behind his ear, before standing from the table and leaving a bill for the tab. He has Legosi’s attention, and that’s all that matters. It’s a simple cat and mouse.

Louis sits on the stool in his shower, antlers to the wall and dragging his fingers through the fur on his chest. Nothing will ever recreate that late night on his gold settee, but Louis will just have to be patient.

He shivers and reaches between his thighs. The way Legosi looked at him –

Louis gasps wetly, and curls his toes into the tile.

Yes, he will have to be patient.

All the crumpled lists are spread out across his desk. Louis’s eyes ache from staring so long, and he rubs them furiously.

As much as Louis would prefer not to get involved in any more vigilante nonsense, he can’t stop now and risk the only viable excuse he has to meet up with Legosi more frequently. Not this early in his plan, at least.

He’s got some skin in the game anyways, because some of this has gotten a little too strange, especially when Louis begins to dig into the case a little further.

An old family connection was able to sneak him the police report from the initial poacher incident, but all they found were animal skin rugs, not live animals. They can’t prove where the pelts were sourced from, or if there’s even a larger production behind the scenes.

What to do, what to do…

Louis asked for all the missing animal cases from the last four months out of sheer curiosity, but they’re nothing but random creatures; no connection in species, age, or sex.

Louis sighs and flicks his ears in annoyance. It’s likely coincidence that so many carnivores went missing within –

Wait. Carnivores?

He flips through the reports once more, and fans out the profiles on his table. Crocodile, Siamese, eagle, Labrador, otter –

The pelt dealers were an ostrich and a rhino.

Louis flips out his phone and calls in a favor.

It’s a Tuesday evening in Legosi’s shitty apartment, as they sit on the floor and spread out a town map on his kotatsu. The apartment smells entirely of Legosi, but it’s not a bad thing. His furniture is pretty ugly, but Louis knows to pick his battles.

“I found their scent here, here and here,” Legosi says, marking the map with circles. “I took off work today because the scent trails are fading, and I didn’t want to lose it.”

True Legosi fashion; once he’s set his mind on something, he obsesses until it’s done. He must’ve told the truth about not sleeping.

“A hospice, a mattress store, and three shops in the mouse district,” Louis reads. “All on the herbivore side of town.”

“Yeah, strange, right? But there was a heavy scent at the butchery in the back alley. The places he visited were too sporadic to be a shopping list. Do you think these were deliveries?”

Legosi is equally airheaded and incredibly clever when he wants to be. The random bursts of intelligence used to catch Louis off guard, but now it just gets him hot and bothered.

“I’ll ask the Shishigumi,” Louis says. “They’re already doing underground work for me.”

Legosi eyes him skeptically, “In exchange for what?”

“The antlers from my last shed,” Louis groans.

Legosi tips his head back and laughs, “Oh my god, they’re sneaking around their boss for a chew toy. You’ve turned those cats into weirdos, senpai.”

Louis drags his red pen down the map, connecting streets between dots.

“Trust me, they were weirdos before I ever got to them.”

There’s not much white noise in the apartment. A single fan spins back and forth, but otherwise Louis notes a distinct lack of squeaky dryers or jingling windchimes. It’s a different kind of quiet, in comparison to his big empty estate.

Suddenly, there is a claw in his face. Louis doesn’t startle, doesn’t move at all as Legosi reaches beneath his field of view, gently taps his cheek, and pulls back his finger.

“Hm?”

“Ah, sorry,” Legosi shrinks. “You had an eyelash.” He shows off a long eyelash on the tip of his claw, and Louis despises the way his heart flips. “Er, make a wish?”

He stopped wishing for things a long time ago. Louis blows it off Legosi’s finger anyways, whose ears perk up at being humored.

“I wish you’d buy me dinner,” Louis says honestly.

Legosi gasps, “Oh no, you must be starving! I think I have some veggies in the fridge, hold on, hold on.”

The floor creaks as he stands, and the warm presence at Louis’s side is gone. Legosi tip toes over to the kitchen, as not to disturb the neighbors under him.

Legosi digs for cheap vegetables, and it’s not what Louis meant specifically, but it’ll do for now.

He can see a tail wagging from around the dividing wall, and Louis yearns to pull on it. To drag Legosi back down by his scruff and force sharp teeth around his shoulder. God, why is wolf hunting so hard?

Maybe he doesn’t like you back, a voice says, eerily similar to his father’s. Louis twirls his fork in the old lettuce heart and bites down, thinking, well, he’s going to have to.

“Um, Louis-senpai…” Legosi pulls the beanie over his ears, and hides his claws in his coat pockets. His jacket is likely big enough to reach Louis’s knees, and he has to squash that thought immediately. “None of the scents here have any relation to that pelt shop.”

“I know.” Louis sucks the popsicle between his teeth and leans casually against the park tree. “We’re meeting someone.”

“We are?”

“Yes. Look casual, damn you.”

Legosi squares his shoulders back and does the exact opposite. Louis’s temple throbs.

“Who are we meeting?”

“Jesus, here.” Louis shoves the popsicle in Legosi’s mouth, who makes a startled squeak. “Can you talk any louder?”

“Shawry.”

“If I’m lucky, it’s the contact of a contact for the head of the alleged trafficking ring. If I’m unlucky, then I’ve walked into a trap.”

Legosi stiffens more, but sinks under Louis’s glare. He shyly licks the popsicle, despite previously being in Louis’s mouth.

“How did you go about that?”

A family walks by with their stroller, and Louis casually shifts his back towards them, talking low.

“I have a theory that the ring is a prey supremacy group. I can’t tell for sure, but I had the Shishigumi start spreading rumors that I’m interested in carnivore-suppression.”

Legosi balks, “But you don’t really feel that way.”

“God no,” Louis picks his teeth. “But if the head of the Horns Conglomerate is expressing interest in a radical party, then someone is bound to bite.”

Legosi looks at him with too many stars in his eyes. “You’re amazing, Louis-senpai.”

“You did all the heavy lifting,” Louis shrugs. “Now please look normal.”

“This is my normal!”

His normal should be between Louis’s legs, but he can’t exactly say that now can he. Louis yawns instead, and twitches when he hears giggling from the bench over. Legosi hears it too, and turns his head to study the young does across the path.

“Ah. They’re staring at you. Do you think those deer are the contact?”

Louis hates the way Legosi looks at other prey, so he snaps,

“No.”

Legosi finishes off the popsicle and gnaws on the edge of the stick. He looks lost in thought, but at least he’s a little more in character. It’s cherry blossom season, and some flowers are stuck in the tops of his ears.

“Whatever happened to your fiancé, Louis-senpai?”

Louis makes a grimace.

“Nothing. We broke it off.”

“Oh. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

“Don’t be, it was an arranged marriage. As soon as my father passed I was given legal right to terminate the contract.”

“I see,” Legosi blinks. “You didn’t like her?”

Louis thinks about that embarrassing night spent hurling over the toilet.

“No,” Louis says. “I had a very eye-opening experience.”

Legosi appears to physically brighten, like turning on a lamp. He smiles toothless, eyes squeezing shut as he says, “I completely understand.”

Ugh, Louis could do without this mushy crap sloshing around his chest, but he supposes he does have a heart, damn Legosi for being one of the few able to reach it. It would be socially unacceptable to pat Legosi on the head, but he very much wants to.

A crowd of joggers begin up the path. Legosi politely slides over to provide room, but the walkway still narrows between the trees, and one of the runners bumps into Louis’s good leg.

“Oh, so sorry!” A hedgehog waves.

“Don’t mind it,” Louis says on autopilot. He turns back to Legosi, but freezes as his brain replays the interaction. “Wait –” he starts, but the animals are gone.

“Senpai,” Legosi mumbles, and Louis follows his gaze to his pantleg, where a note is stuck with a quill.

“Ah.” Louis plucks the note off his thigh, glances down at the number, and slides it into his pant pocket with ease. “Good. It looks like we got lucky.”

“A birdie tells me you’re interested in my line of work.”

“I’m interested in success,” Louis says, and many things unsaid. He stares at his fragile reflection in the glass window, scowls, and shifts his phone to his other ear. “Make me an offer I can’t deny.”

Louis waits through most of the day, (at least to put up a good enough face for his council; you know, make a couple meetings, show that he still cares), before he hops in a car and drives to Legosi’s apartment.

He knocks impatiently, rapping once and then barely waiting a moment before rapping again. He’s already pissed off that his antlers got caught on the car roof handle, he really doesn’t have the patience to stand around Legosi’s shitty apartment hallway and count the cracks in the wallpaper–

The chain lifts, and Legosi opens the door in sweatpants, damn him.

“Louis-senpai?”

“I have news,” Louis says, toeing the door open the rest of the way. Legosi shifts aside and quietly shuts the door.

“You do?”

Louis is momentarily distracted by the tattoo on Legosi’s shoulder, so he’s slow to answer as Legosi slides on a large sweater. Louis clears his throat and adjusts his turtleneck.

“What if I told you I had a meeting with the head of Chirekegawa.”

Legosi’s shakes his muzzle out of the sweater and blinks down at him.

“Am I supposed to know who that is?”

“No, you’re not. Sit down.”

Legosi sits crisscross on the floor mat and waits eagerly for Louis to explain. There’s a smell of rice cooking in the kitchen.

“I’ve been informed by a third-party that Chirekegawa is a black-market mogul that deals to thirty different contacts in the city alone,” Louis tells. “Of which, are suffering from a recent closure of assets.”

Legosi’s eyes widen.

“Wait – you got ahold of the contact?”

“The president,” Louis corrects. “We’re meeting on Monday to discuss benefits, and heavily implied: prey-rights politics.”

“Louis!!” Legosi barks, standing up in outrage, “You can’t just go in there alone!”

Louis snaps towards the ground, and Legosi sits back down, albeit pissed. Louis crosses his arms and stares down at him in a challenge.

“I’m not. You’re going with me.”

Legosi makes a relieved face, and then a cynical one.

“Wait. We don’t even know for sure if this place is related to the pelt market,” Legosi argues. “And if they are, they’ll notice me right away. I broke the beak off their ostrich.”

“I know,” Louis says. He steps one long leg over Legosi’s lap, and slides down until his knees hit the floor. Legosi’s eyes widen, and his hands hover over Louis’s waist, like he’s about to catch him. “That’s why,” Louis continues seductively, “I told them I was bringing a pet.”

Legosi nearly reels.

“What?!”

“If the leader of the Horns Conglomerate walks in with a muzzled wolf, no one will look twice,” Louis explains.

Legosi is so stiff, a slight breeze might push him over. Louis sits his ass firmly in his lap as a nudge. 

“A…a muzzle?”

“You can say no if you want to,” Louis offers. “I deny the invite, we’ll forget all about the animal trafficking, and we wipe our hands of this.”

Legosi’s ears press flat to his skull. Louis stays straddled on his thighs, challenging him further. Legosi swallows, and clenches his nails into his palms.

“I…I don’t know if I could live with myself if we walked away now. And I definitely can’t let you go in a place like that by yourself. I dragged you into this.”

“Mmm, I can hear the ‘but’…”

“But,” Legosi enunciates, “— do you really think this will work? Won’t they know right away?”

“Nope,” Louis pops, and delicately slides a finger under Legosi’s chin. He gets closer, more into his personal space, and Legosi watches his every move as he does. Louis smirks down at him, “I have a plan. All you have to do is follow every word I say. Do you think you can do that?”

Legosi is trembling again. It’s not fear or hunger, but something else, like a beast rattling his cage bars. His eyes are glued to Louis’s throat, and he sounds short of breath as he says,

“Okay.”

Louis slides closer, and scratches beneath his ear.

“Good boy.”

Legosi exhales shakily. The atmosphere feels charged and dangerous and Louis is living for it. He’s using all his effort not to smile in satisfaction, especially when Legosi’s finger-pads gently slide up to his thighs. It’s nice to be appreciated; Louis spent way too long squeezing his ass into these jeans.

“Louis-senpai,” Legosi croaks. “I’m glad th-that we’re friends but, you really need to, to…you can’t keep…”

Louis lets go of his ear, now placing the ball in his court.

“Need to what?”

Legosi clutches his hips reflexively. Louis hums, and keeps his head held high as Legosi struggles to answer.

“I –”

‘Theeeres a she wolf iiin your closet, oopen up and set her free AWOOOO –’

Legosi’s phone starts to vibrate on the kotatsu. Louis’s expression falls flat, and Legosi nearly jumps out of his skin.

“What the fuck is that.”

“M-my phone,” Legosi scrambles. “Err, the guys thought it would be funny to pick the ringtone and I haven’t – er, changed it yet –”

Louis slides fluidly off his lap, and Legosi cuts off the ring.

“It’s my grandpa,” Legosi reads. “Let me take this real quick.”

“Whatever,” Louis sighs, and sets his elbow on the table, head in his hand as Legosi disappears into his bedroom.

Ugh. And so close, too.

Louis spins his ear in a circle and thinks, it’s time for a trip to the red light district.  

“You need to tone it down about seventy notches, pal,” Juno says, thumbing past an array of blowup dolls. “You’re starting to look desperate.”

“Haru asked Legosi to drop his pants twice and he never got the hint,” Louis snips. “Any amount of teasing is useless until he decides to chase me.”

“And your solution…is to put him in kink gear for an undisclosed ‘job’ you can’t tell me about,” Juno deadpans.

“Yes, now stop complaining,” Louis huffs. “I need you to help me pick out something comfortable. I know you wolves have sensitive noses, or whatever.”

“Awww, that’s almost sweet,” Juno says sarcastically. She lifts up a harness and mumbles, “I can’t believe I thought I liked you…”

“I can’t believe you thought you were straight,” Louis replies.

“I can’t believe you didn’t just bring Legosi.”

“I can’t believe you just said that. He would burst into flames if he saw a dildo.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t he eat,” Juno lowers her voice significantly, “- your leg? Whole? And you’re worried about his innocence?”

“Two entirely different concepts of innocence, my dear,” Louis says. He holds up a dog collar with studs and d-rings. “What about this one?”

“Boring. Hey, what about the one that says slut?”

“Absolutely not.”

It’s butt-o-clock in the morning when his phone starts buzzing off the nightstand. Louis groans, heels pressed to his eyes, and rolls his weight over to pray the buzzing away. It stops, and then starts again, and then again – and Louis huffs, sitting upright and slamming his hand around blindly for his phone.

The caller ID is blurred and too bright. Damn those lions for calling him this early. 

“Ibuki,” Louis snaps, rubbing his eyes. “What have I said about calling me before my leg is on?”

“Boss,” Ibuki says. “Agata has gone missing.”

Oh.

Louis smooths his hand over his mouth. His wall clock ticks and ticks. He can almost feel the pistol mounted under his nightstand.

“I see,” Louis says.

Ibuki lays out a city map, and Legosi helps him pin it to the table. "Alright, we have to work fast before the new boss gets back. We've come to a consensus that Agata was last seen by Free here," Ibuki points, "just outside of the blue district." 

"We met up for drinks," Free explains. 

"Did he tell you where he was going afterwards?" Louis asks, crossing his legs. 

"Nope. We were doing a little snoopin' for ya. Rumors spread real fast around the market, and some folks been real suspicious." 

Legosi tips his head, "Like who?" 

"Well fer one, folks I ain't never even seen around the market came crawling out of the woodwork askin' questions about you, boss. I swear, one guy said he selled mattresses. This the back-alley bruv, not no Macy's home store." 

Louis and Legosi share a look. 

"Was Agata with you when this guy approached you?" 

Free scratches his chin, "You know what, he sure was." 

"Maybe he went to check out a warehouse?" Legosi asks. 

Ibuki shakes his head, "We've been all over town. We've even followed our hair, and it leads us to the same place every time." 

"Where?" 

"Straight out of town," Dolph says deep, rendering the room quiet. 

"Kid's dead," Sabu cuts in, cleaning dirt out of his shoe with a knife. "It's not worth wandering out of the city and gettin' shot." 

"Don't talk like that!" Dope shouts. "You don't know if he's dead yet!" 

"Quiet," Louis hisses. The lions obey, albeit a little unwillingly. Louis drums his fingers on the table, and Legosi seeks his eyes. 

"What are you thinking?" Legosi asks. 

"Sabu is right," Louis says. There's an outroar, but Louis shushes them again. "Shut up! We don't know if he's dead. But we do know that I have a meeting with the president of CKG tomorrow. If our suspicions are true, we might be able to find Agata."  

"You what?!" Ibuki stands. "Louis, if you walk in there, you're not walking out." 

"You can't go in no guns blazing either," Miguel warns. "They'll die before they talk." 

Louis looks to Legosi. Legosi nods. 

"I know," Louis says. "So here's the plan." 

Louis sits on his bathroom floor, fingers folded under his chin, eyes hooked on his reflection in the mirror. He’s dressed in one of the most expensive suits he owns; a solid maroon three piece, with jewel buttons and a pearl ascot. Louis scowls, and looks away.

He hates this helpless, pitiful feeling in his stomach. It’s like watching his father pass away every time he closes his eyes. Louis scratches at his face and groans. There are too many variables he can’t count on, too many things that could possibly go wrong. But none of that matters, because this has to work.

Legosi is waiting for him. So Louis stands, grabs the bag off his chair, and leaves.

Louis is careful with the cuffs, testing the tightness with his fingers and wiggling them around to be sure Legosi has sufficient bloodflow.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“Yeah,” Legosi says. “I’ve worn worse.”

Louis blinks, genuinely stunned for a moment, and ponders if he even wants to ask.

He tried to find gear that was simple and comfortable, but restraining enough to look convincing. He went with the simple dog collar and a harness that locks his hands behind his back via-cuff. They were able to find black jeans in the back of his closet, but Legosi is going to have to go shirtless if they really want to pull this off.

There’s no other way to say it; Legosi looks hot. The strain on his arms show all the muscle he’s gained, and he looks more wild and edgy and every prey’s nightmare. Louis would drool, if he were a lesser man.

The muzzle sits on the middle console of the limo. Louis turns him around in the seat, and Legosi’s ears perk, as pink as they are.

“You can still back out,” Louis tells him. Legosi tips his head, surprised at Louis’s genuine tone.

“It’s really not that bad. I just have to do what you say, right?”

God, Louis’s mouth runs dry. He knows it took him a while to appreciate it, but Legosi really is something else.

“That’s exactly right,” Louis says. With a short tug, he pulls on Legosi’s collar. It doesn’t choke him, but yanks him a bit, which is what Louis wants. “Remember the release on the cuffs?”

“Yes, I can feel the pin.”

“And the muzzle is connected to the collar,” Louis reminds. Legosi nods, and Louis gets a good read on him. He looks nervous, but there’s that determined look in his eye; the kind he gets when he’s made up his mind. They’ve both spent too much time on this to have it fall through, and now with the disappearance of Agata, it’s personal. Louis can’t resist cupping Legosi’s fuzzy jaw. “It’s going to be degrading,” he warns.

“That’s okay,” Legosi says. Louis’s heart twists.

“Alright. Just know I don’t mean anything I say in there.”

“I know. But now Agata is missing, and your reputation is on the line. We have to find out what’s going on.”

Louis slips the muzzle off the console and flicks the buckle against his nail. He looks up and into Legosi’s eyes.

“Ready?”

Legosi’s gaze flickers down to his lap, and his ears flop around, a mixed array of emotions. Determination and stubbornness win. 

“Yes.”

Louis brushes his fingers over the tip of Legosi’s damp nose, and it twitches under his fingertips. He softly pets across the side of Legosi’s mouth, as if to show him where the muzzle will go. Legosi watches patiently, not moving a muscle. Louis then brings the leather mask to his mouth, and tediously slides the clasp together at the back of his skull. Louis pulls it tight and sits back. Legosi stares back at him, now speechless. You could cut the tension with a knife.

His heart is beating too fast. Louis pets across the front of the mask and takes a deep breath.

“Alright. That’s that.”

Legosi nods.

The estate is on the edge of the city, where the land is more spacious and undeveloped. Louis can already tell Chirekegawa is new money, just off of the architecture alone.

There’s an absurd amount of security, more than Louis has ever had on his estate. It’s definitely overkill for what is disguised as a simple business tower. Louis can already conclude that if things go south, they’re not fighting their way out of here.

Legosi’s ears twitch. Louis can tell he sees it too.

There is a greeting party at the front step. The limo pulls to a stop, and two moose valets open the doors.

Louis steps out of the limo first, and yanks Legosi after him by the leash chain.

“Good evening!” A voice says, “Louis, the 7th head of the Horns Conglomerate. Welcome to Chirekegawa.”

The man speaking is a short, stout chinchilla. He’s shoved all his grey fur in a business suit, and he’s very round and unintimidating. But Louis knows enough to see the darkness in his eyes. He’s seen it in his own.

“Thank you,” Louis bows only his head. “Who do I have the honor of meeting?”

“Dexter Hayakawa, but my friends call my Dex,” he smiles, and extends his hand. Louis shakes it. There is a large bull and a female elephant that serve as his bodyguards, and Louis reads them as immediate threats.

Legosi remains silent at his side, hunched over with his tail between his legs, and for once, Louis is glad for his meek demeanor.

“Come, come, I’m very eager to talk business with you,” Dex says. “I think you’ll find our headquarters to your liking. All staff are exclusively prey.”

“That does please me,” Louis says flatly.

They step through the building, past security and into an elevator. There’s no metal detector, thank god, because Louis is packing heat for sure.

Louis yanks roughly on Legosi’s chain as he falls behind, and he makes a short squeak. He snaps his fingers to the ground, and Legosi slides to his knees of the elevator.

Dex twitches his little rodent nose, and looks up at Louis with a smile. “It’s well trained.”

“Forgive him,” Louis says. “Thank you for letting me bring my pet along. He goes everywhere I go, you see.”

“Oh yes, needy things, those carnivores,” Dex says. The elevator dings, and they step out into a lavish hallway. Louis’s brain seeks escape routes. Dex turns to him and smiles, “Don’t you say?”

Louis can tell he’s affirming his political stance. He wraps his wrist around Legosi’s chain, and keeps it tight. Legosi’s balance isn’t great with his arms behind his back, but he detests the way all the other prey are looking at him with such hatred, so he prefers to keep Legosi close.

Louis lies,

“Of course. I vote we muzzle them all, but I’m told it’s politically incorrect these days.”

Dex barks a laugh. Security opens a door, and they’re led into a more factory-like hallway.

“You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, kid. I like that.”

“Where are we going?”

“I thought I might show you our assets, rather than babble off numbers,” Dex waves his paw. “Most production is done in-house.”

“What exactly does that entail?” Louis asks. “I know CKG has it’s hands in many pots, but most of your stocks are private.”

“And I like to keep it that way,” Dex says. Louis makes an affirming noise.

One door says down feathers, another says ivory. The further they step down the hall, the more cold and eerie it grows, and Louis knows he isn’t making it up, because the fur on the back of Legosi’s neck is standing straight on end.

“We have many contracts throughout the city,” Dex explains, little loafers padding along the linoleum. “Mattress plus, Stop N’ Shop, Beautiful Claws, Fang N’ Bone Dentistry; you name it, we probably supply for them.”

“Impressive,” Louis says. “That makes you Horns competition, doesn’t it.”

“I would say,” Dex grins, too friendly, and very evil. “Unless we’re able to strike some sort of agreement, yes?”

Louis doesn’t like how close the bodyguards are standing. 

“If I’m impressed,” Louis says, aloof. Dex’s nose twitches, and he eye-smiles as he leads them through another door.

“All of our products are one-hundred-percent organic, right from the source. Here is our production room for the downy mattresses.”

Louis’s stomach drops. It’s like a nightmare. 

There are lines and lines of white cells filled with carnivorous birds.

Pelicans, eagles, and vultures all plucked clean. Some are awake, some are not, and there are still-feathered fowl down at the end of the hall. Legosi jerks in his cuffs, and Louis has to yank his leash and force him still.

“Heel,” he hisses. Legosi obeys.

“We only source the best here, as you can see,” Dex continues. “I prefer eagles for the pillows, as their feathers are much softer. The plucked ones will be sent off for euthanasia this week, and eventual disassembly.”

Louis thinks he might be sick. He forces his face straight and asks, “To be clear…you only source predators?”

Dex looks scandalized, “Of course. It’s why I began this company in the first place. You see?” He rolls up his sleeve, and shows off a serial number on his arm. Louis’s eyes go wide. “Those beasts out there – they’re fools. They round us up and sell our bodies on the black market like a bushel of corn. I got lucky, but many do not.”

Louis shifts his weight off his bad leg and lifts an eyebrow.

“Your point?”

“They don’t think big enough,” Dex taps his forehead, and they begin down the hall again. Louis makes a point of not looking any of the poor birds in the eye. “Why sell a whole body for millions of yen, when you can just chop up the merchandise and sell each part for double the profit?” They exit into a new world of doors, a world of pain and suffering. Agata could be here... all those missing animals could be here.

“Like a true entrepreneur…” Louis mutters.

“You see my brilliance,” Dex grins, psychotic. “I sell everywhere, Louis. The gas stations, the malls, even the butcher shops in the back alley. Those fools buy ‘rabbit thighs’ ignorant that they’re eating their own kind!” 

Security jostles Legosi to keep moving, and Louis yanks him further to keep him out of the way. Legosi’s wrists are tense in the cuffs, eyes stuck to the floor in anger, but they can’t break now, not when this psychopath is spilling everything. Plan A might not work, but at least he can steer them towards plan B.

“It’s extreme,” Louis admits. “But an aid to our cause. Do you have somewhere we can speak privately?”

“Of course, follow me.”

Louis keeps his eye on the president’s fluffy back as they walk. He should be taking in evidence, should be memorizing numbers, but knowing so many carnivores are being tortured in this place – he wants to tear this sweet chinchilla apart with his bare hands. He can’t imagine how Legosi feels.

They are led into a fancy office with many locks and security codes. Dex brings his eye to a scanner, and a deadbolt throws, and Louis knows what a lion’s den feels like, and it’s heaven compared to this.

There are red couches, a bar and a curtain to hide a stage (likely a stripper pole). The room smells like cigars and sex, which, ew.

Legosi kneels next to the couch as Louis sits. His positioning is a little possessive, and Louis yanks on his ear harshly to remind him why they’re here. Legosi dips his muzzle to the ground in a show of submission.

Dex is watching with a critical eye. He hobbles up into a chair, and the security guards take their place at the exit doors.

“He ought to like that rug,” Dex says. “It’s made of wolf skin.”

Oh god.

“Is that so?” Louis hums.

“Yes,” Dex scratches his chin and twitches his nose. “We used to have a pelt selection, but my favorite vendors were thrown in jail, and I had to cut all ties about three weeks ago. It’s put an infuriating dent in my supply chain.” 

Louis looks up.

Bingo.

“That’s a shame,” Louis crosses his legs. “Is there anything the Horns can offer you?”

“Financial backing for my candidate in the next Beastar election,” Dex grins. “Damn the rugs. If the Horns help our cause, we’ll knock that horse down a few pegs where he belongs.”

“Yafya is prey.”

“He’s too neutral,” Dex sighs. He looks to Legosi, and lifts a round eyebrow, “If every carnivore was as well trained as your pet, we’d live in a better world, Louis.”

Legosi is full of constricted energy. Louis can feel it buzzing in him, all the anger and the hurt. Louis wants to let him go, wants Legosi to ravage them all. But he must push further. He must find out more.

He digs his nails into Legosi’s head, hopefully not too hard, “Unfortunately, he’s not for sale.”

“Oh no, keep your beast,” Dex laughs. “I’ve recently acquired a pet of my own. Would you like to meet him?”

Louis doesn’t feel good about this, but his act must be credible.

“Sure.”

The doors lock. Louis and Legosi tense. The curtain pulls back from the small stage, and instead of a stripper pole, it’s a glass cage. Louis can’t help it. He rises to his feet in outrage.

“Agata!”

The Shishigumi lion is tied up and unconscious, missing an ear and sheared of his mane. Wrath and disgust boil in his mouth.

“We found this scoundrel snooping around one of my warehouses,” Dex recalls, turning Louis’s blood ice cold. “Convenient, that you show up with a wolf similar in description to the predator that attacked my salesmen.”

Legosi jerks to stand in front of Louis, but Dex pulls out a handgun, and everything stops. Legosi drops back to a knee.

“Now just you wait a moment!” Louis starts, “How dare you –”

“How dare you take me for a fool!” Dex shouts, pulling the safety and stepping up to Legosi’s forehead. The barrel rests between his eyes, and Legosi makes a shocked sound. “I had to cut an entire branch of production! Oh, I tried to get my hands on you for days, wolf bastard. And then this sweet little deer offers to walk you right through my doors? It must be Christmas.”

Well, this is definitely not how Louis hoped this evening would go.

Legosi is growling, not able to speak with the muzzle. Louis wishes he had the diaphragm to growl.

“I’m going to warn you once,” Louis states coldly. “If you put a scratch on him, you’re going to wish you were never born.”

The chinchilla smiles, cocking the gun. “You’re going to wish you were never adopted, number four.”

Louis meets Legosi’s eye. Wild, blown open and ready to fight. Alright, plan B it is.

Louis yanks the collar, releasing the muzzle as Legosi pulls the pin on his cuffs. Legosi tackles Dexter to the floor, the gun fires, but it blows past Legosi’s ear and lands in the drywall. All hell breaks loose.

Legosi’s voice is a roar, “Louis, now!”

He has to act fast. Louis pulls out his own pistol from the back of his belt and shoots the elephant twice in the arm before she can cross the room. But the bull is on Legosi already, and Louis is left to dodge a bullet from Dex.

“You – rat!” Dex hisses, but Louis has jumped the couch for cover already. He aims and fires three rounds, and ducks when bullets skim his antlers in return. Dex flips a table, and shells ricochet off the wood.

“Fuck, fuck,” Louis grits, reloading. He peeks up at the sound of smashing drywall.

Legosi is a wildfire.

He’s taking on the bull and injured elephant together, using his claws and agility in a way that doesn’t just scream power, but raw fury. Bam, a kick to the tusk, knee to groin and claws at their eyes – but for every punch Legosi dishes, he takes in return.

Pop! Pop!

Louis ducks behind the couch. The window shatters, then the wall clock and a trophy shelf. He waits until Dex’s pistol clicks, signaling an empty magazine. When the gun pops empty, Louis jerks up and fires a second round, but he can’t aim right, he’s too worried he’ll hit Legosi round-housing the security in the corner, or Agata behind the glass. He can see the elephant go for Legosi’s neck, and Louis jerks, pumped full of adrenaline, “Leogsi your six!”

Louis is tackled to the ground. And by a chinchilla, how pathetic. But Dex has a strong grip strength, and Louis chokes as Dex straddles him and fumbles for the lost gun. It’s just out of his reach. Louis tries to buck him off, but Dex slams his antlers into the ground, snapping the left one in half, and that hurts.

“Struggle all you want,” Dex hisses. “Security will be on your ass in under a minute. Give up and die!”

There’s a loud smash, and Louis looks over to see Legosi pinned to the wall by horns. The bleeding elephant is passed out, but Legosi is howling and snarling and squirming a foot off the ground. He’s staring right at Louis with a wild look. He shouts, unconcerned for himself.

“Let him go!!”

The bull jams his fist in Legosi’s stomach, and he wretches. Louis struggles for air, blunt nails clawing into his windpipe. This stupid, weak body has failed him.

“Kill the wolf already!” Dex demands. The bodyguard breathes a tuft of air through his nose in confirmation.

No. Louis won’t allow this.

In a burst of strength, Louis uses his bad leg to chop Dex in the side, efficiently busting the spring in his prosthetic. The hit rolls them just enough for Louis to grab the pistol and aim for the bull’s calf.

“Aghhh!” The bodyguard screams. Louis is punched in the face, the gun goes flying, but that’s all Louis sees, because suddenly the bodyguard is thrown across the room, sending that bastard chinchilla with him. Holy shit, Legosi just threw a bull— nope, nope, focus asshole. 

Louis finds the gun. Legosi crosses the room, knocks out the bodyguard, and grabs Dex by the scruff of his neck. Heaving in air, Louis wobbles on his busted leg.

“Checkmate,” Legosi growls, holding Dex a good two feet off the ground. “Sorry sir, but you’re going to hell.”

“Get off me you mutt, you mangy, dirty little–”

Louis cocks the gun, and holds it under Dex’s cottony chin.

“His name is Legosi. You should learn it.” 

“I’ll kill you!”

“Nah. I think you’re under arrest, tubs mcgee.”

“It’s fur you brat!”

Legosi yanks up Dexter’s shirt by the hem and shoves it in his mouth.

“Good idea,” Louis says. The door flies open with a hallway full of security, but they stop in their tracks as soon as they see their boss with a pistol to his throat. Louis turns to them with no patience in his voice. “You lot. You’re going to do exactly as I say.”

A goon looks to his buddies, and back to his muffled, screaming boss. He points an AK at Louis. 

"Or what?" 

"Or we're gonna' have a shootout, and you're gonna' lose." 

The guards whip around to the end of the hall, where the Shishigumi have enough firearms to take down a small military. Dex looks absolutely flabbergasted, and it makes Louis want to laugh. Legosi reaches in his back pocket with his free hand, and brings out his phone, which has been on a call this entire time. 

"You didn't even pat us down," Legosi says. "What kind of bad guys are you?" 

"Now I suggest you get on your knees and beg," Louis says. "Because I'd love to kill you. But these guys would really, really love to kill you." 

Dolph cracks his neck by stretching, and the security guards lower their guns. 

Police have the entire building on lockdown. There are ambulances lined up and down the block, and arrests are made by the dozen.

Louis feels like he has ants under his skin. Like there’s termites chewing at the wood of his insides. The adrenaline hasn’t subsided yet, and he can tell it hasn’t for Legosi either, because he’s lightly trembling.

Louis snorts at the absurdity of all this, and rubs at his sore jaw. “I guess we make a pretty good team after all. I hate when you’re right.”

A hand cups his cheek. Louis looks up, and realizes that Legosi is checking him for injury. He’s close in Louis’s space, eyes soft and tired.

“He really got you,” Legosi croaks. He examines the tip of his antler that broke off, and Louis feels up to test the damage. Damn, he’ll probably have to get them grinded down.

“I’m fine,” Louis mumbles. “The worst might be a black eye tomorrow.”

Legosi swallows, as if he’s struggling to speak. Tentatively, almost in a selfish manner, he pets under Louis’s eye and studies his bruise. It’s the bravest thing Legosi has done yet, and Louis has to fight the urge to close his eyes and lean into his hand.

“You were pretty badass,” Legosi admits.

Louis smiles, “So were you. Taking on a bull like that…you’re crazy.”

Legosi cracks a short smile. He then looks back to the building with disgust, “This was worse than I ever imagined.”

“Then I guess it was worth the meddling.”

Legosi frowns. “You could have died.”

“Don’t give me that horseshit, you could’ve died too. We went over this before we even stepped foot in that place.”

“I know but – I was supposed to protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting,” Louis says, even though he really wants to say you did, Legosi. You did.

Speaking of horseshit, Yafya approaches behind a line of police cars.

“Now this was not the call I was expecting this morning,” says Yafya.

Legosi draws his hand back from Louis like he’s been burned, and Louis scowls.

“Sorry,” Legosi bows.

Yafya snorts, and flicks his mane out of his face. “Whatever. I thought I told you to put an end to this vigilante bullcrap.”

“I know but – everything just kinda…happened.”

“And you,” Yafya raises an eyebrow at Louis. “You’re encouraging this?”

“Obviously,” Louis deadpans.

Yafya rubs a hand over his face, and glares down at them in admonishment. “Both of you ought to be sent to jail with half a dozen charges. But this is the bust of the year, so I’ll oversee it if you keep your names away from any reporters.”

“Deal,” Legosi says, before Louis can argue.

“No more playing superhero,” Yafya demands. He then makes a face, “Unless you decide to join the squad.”

“No chance in hell, sir,” Louis chirps. “I have the conglomerate to run.”

“Then you better stick to it, or else I’m nominating you for the next Beastar.”

Louis grimaces, and Legosi bows at the waist.

“Thank you, Yafya.”

“Go home,” the Beastar says. “And try to forget all this.”

Louis doesn’t leave until Agata is up and walking again.

“I’m fine boss, promise,” Agata smiles, sitting on the edge of an ambulance. “Barely a scratch on me, see?”

“Hm.” Louis crosses his arms and stares, but the rest of the Shishigumi have already looked him over a dozen times, so Louis figures he’ll be fine. “I can’t believe you let the baby get kidnapped.”

“I’m twenty-six!” Agata cries.

“Last I checked, you’re still the kitten, boss,” Ibuki smiles.

“Don’t call me boss. You cats look after him.”

“Yes boss!” They chant.

“Senpai, I got us a cab,” Legosi waves.

Louis still feels wrong. An itch he can’t scratch is squirming up and down his back, and the thought of returning home alone makes his stomach churn.

“Okay.”

“Um…” Legosi blinks, and curls his claws inward. Louis looks up at him, and the cab idles at the curb. He takes in Legosi’s unease and prods,

“Yes?”

“I gave the driver my address,” Legosi mumbles. He presses his ears flat to his head, “Is that okay?”

Yes, very much yes.

“Fine.”

The joints in his prosthetic leg are broken, so Louis has to limp into the cab. Legosi slides in the adjacent seat carefully.

The ride is silent. Legosi’s claws are trapped between his knees, and he won’t look in Louis’s direction. Louis wants to ask if he’s okay. He doesn’t know why he cares, but the clench in his chest tells him he cares immensely.

Is he angry? Maybe the muzzle was a little too far.

He loves sharpening sticks. Loves jabbing them in carnivores and watching them hiss and growl. Louis has cheated this game, played to the best of his ability, but he’s starting to see a risk he didn’t perceive before. Maybe this is what Juno was trying to say. If he twists the knife a little too much, he might just kill their friendship for good.  

The interior of the cab flashes as they pass streetlights.

Louis would climb in his lap and lick over those teeth, would have Legosi claw him to death and gobble him whole. Instead, Louis leans until his antlers click against the window, and tries to squash the anxiety in his throat.

The cab hits a pothole. Click click, goes his antlers.

He wants Legosi to tell him how he’s really feeling. But it’s hypocritical, because Louis has yet to figure out how to say it himself.

Legosi continues to brim and fidget with too much adrenaline, and Louis closes his eyes for the rest of the drive.

Legosi’s hands slip on the keys. He fumbles with the lock longer than he normally ever would, and a dark place in Louis’s mind thinks, maybe he’ll snap. Maybe this is how I die.

He’s surprisingly at peace with it.

The door unlocks. Legosi holds it open for him. Louis limps through without hesitation. The lock throws, and arms brutally crush him from behind.

The anxiety bleeds away; the day’s stress and pain, all the terrible things he saw, all the ants in his skin. It’s wiped clean, just like the day Legosi tore off his leg by the bone. Real inner peace.

Legosi is crushing him. He is unsure if it’s intentional. Louis goes slack anyways, and is powerless to stop Legosi burying his face in the back of his neck.

“I’m sorry.” Legosi repeats, “I’m sorry.”

His bones are creaking. Louis can feel his insides burn in pain. It’s wonderful.

Louis uses the breath he has left to speak calmly, “What for?”

Legosi scents his neck, brushes along his ear and rubs on his shoulder. He grips hard, a wheeze escapes Louis, and Legosi lets go with a shocked choke.

“Fuck! Sorry, I’m – I’m really –”

Louis pants, “Legosi, calm down.”  

“I have to apologize, senpai,” Legosi croaks, sliding to his knees. “I’ve been a terrible friend.”

Louis turns around slowly. Back to the wall, he calmly brings a hand to the top of Legosi’s head as he catches his breath.

“Is this about today?”

“No – yes – I…” Legosi swallows, eyes on the floor. “I’ve been taking advantage of you.”

Now that’s a little backwards. Louis pets across the bullet hole in his ear.

“Is that so…”

“You’ve been so kind, senpai,” Legosi’s voice cracks. “You’ve gone so far to help me and, and you’ve done nothing but treat me nice lately…”

“Uh huh.”

A long stretch of silence. Legosi looks like he’s working himself up to say something, so Louis remains silent. Tick, tock.  

“I broke up with Haru, because I love you,” Legosi whispers. The world around them could explode and burn to ash, and Louis wouldn’t notice a thing.

“I see.”

“You shouldn’t touch me,” Legosi shies away. “Whenever you do, I lose my mind. I don’t want to hurt you or, or do something worse.”

Numb and on fire all at once, Louis brushes his fingers over the claw marks on Legosi’s brow. He smiles, even as Legosi is drowning in his own despair.

“Do you want to eat me?”

“No! No no this is – it’s a different kind of hunger, senpai. It’s horrible.”

Louis can’t help it. He grins.

“You are a tough egg to crack, Legosi.”

Legosi’s head whips up. He’s not crying, but his eyes are watery.

“What?”

“I don’t know if I understand love just yet,” Louis explains, still petting over that scar. “But I’ve never wanted anyone more than I want you.”

Legosi’s eyes go so wide, it’s almost comical. He gapes a moment, mouth opening and closing.

“Is this a joke?”

Louis’s heart hurts from that one. He rolls his fingers around the longer strands of fur by his cheeks.

“No.”

A large tail whaps the floor in sporadic wags, and Legosi presses his face into Louis’s stomach, whining from his throat. Louis should really learn tail-speak.

“Oh senpai – I’m so sorry. I like you so much.”  

Louis grips his ear and yanks, “Hey. No more apologies unless I tell you to.”

Legosi sniffs, wet nose snuffling against the material of his shirt.

“But I want to do terrible things to you.”

Louis’s neck flushes hot, but he prides himself on a straight face. He cradles Legosi’s head against his chest and hums, “Would you like my other leg?”

“No!” Legosi gasps. “Don’t even joke about that.”

“Then let’s do terrible things together,” Louis says.

Legosi is suddenly up in his face, rising off his feet and seeking his eyes.

“You really like me? For sure?”

“I’ve been flirting with you for ages,” Louis sighs. “Why else would I get involved in all this?”

Legosi barks an astounded laugh, and Louis fills with warm fuzzies as a muzzle buries in his slender neck, snuffles around his ear and scents up his jaw. Big hands squeeze him tight (big, big, why are carnivores so tantalizingly big??), and Louis has to grind his teeth to keep face.

Fwap fwap fwap, Legosi’s tail is going haywire, and he’s making happy canine squeaks and whines, and Louis can’t take it.

“Come here you,” he grunts, and grabs Legosi by the jaw. Louis has to lean on his toes to kiss him, but he’s willing to wound his pride for Legosi. He’s warm too, has he mentioned that already? Like a fuzzy space heater.

Legosi is nervously still as Louis kisses him, but Louis can still feel the fangs in his mouth, can still feel the adrenaline rush of danger, and it’s like a warm hug.

“Careful,” Legosi gasps, pulling away. “I could hurt you.”

“Let’s get one thing clear,” Louis snaps. “You’ve fucked a rabbit, but you haven’t fucked me. You don’t know a damn thing about what I can and can’t take, got it?”

Legosi’s tongue darts out to lick up to his nose. He blinks down at him, eyes glazed over and a bit dreamy.

“Yes senpai.”

“And use my name, dammit,” Louis curses, and kisses him for real. Legosi actually participates this time, and at long last, Louis gets that tongue in his mouth. Fuck, wolves are sexy.

His antlers hit the wall. The broken prosthetic is really starting to rub callouses into his knee, so he winds an arm around Legosi’s neck and lifts himself up like a pullup. Legosi stands to his full height and lifts Louis off the ground, and all that muscle – Louis can’t get his hands on it fast enough. The prosthetic falls off his leg and clatters to the floor.

“Oh god, you smell so good,” Legosi whines. Louis rubs the sides of their muzzles together, determined to never smell like deer ever again.

Legosi still kisses shy, but there’s an accidental roughness to him that Louis wants and wants and wants. He wraps his legs around him and grinds, trying to get him a little hard – and Louis inhales when he finds that he already is.

“Ah,” Legosi chokes.

Louis does what he does best and sharpens his poking stick.

“I’m going to teach you how to fuck a male deer,” Louis tells, licking the front of Legosi’s mouth. “So listen to everything I say.”

Legosi gives him a breathless, fiery kind of look, and laps across Louis’s cheek.

“Okay.”  

Legosi is nervous, but he doesn’t let that get in the way of what he wants. Louis has a feeling Haru kicked that out of him.

But Louis doesn’t want to think about any other prey in Legosi’s bed, so he tucks a pillow behind his head and is careful not to tangle his antlers in the headboard as Legosi busies himself in opening Louis’s shirt and nosing over each exposed strip.

“Fuck,” Louis curses, gripping his own ears. “Feel familiar?”

Legosi’s fangs skim his hip on accident, and he pulls back quickly, licking over the spot in apology.

“You talking about when I spilled tea on you?”

“Yes.”

“I thought I was going to die,” Legosi admits. “It was like everything I ever wanted.” Legosi sits back on his heels, and for a moment, he forgets to hide his claws or hunch his shoulders or curl his lips over his teeth. This is just him, sitting at the foot of his bed and staring at Louis like an entirely different kind of meal.

Louis lifts his hips and slides his suit trousers down to his thighs. “Then why did you run away?”

Legosi flushes, and helps Louis toss the pants aside.

“I um.”

“Yes?”

“I got hard,” Legosi admits. Louis feels like he’s been kicked in the stomach. Impatient, he yanks Legosi up and over him, and pushes aside all the years of evolution that tells him he should not have a wolf in his bed. Tough fucking shit, because the muscles in his back are insane, and Louis is not going to stop clawing until his nails are raw.

Legosi makes a sound when he pets into the marks scarred into his fur. Louis can’t kick his boxers off fast enough. His cock springs to his stomach, hard. 

“Oh my god,” Legosi swallows, and pets into Louis’s red, furred inner thighs. His eyes jerk up and down his body, like worship. “You’re really, really beautiful.”

He’s definitely never heard that one in bed. That’s not even sarcasm. Louis grabs his own cock and pulls on it, because Legosi’s obsessive gaze is making him ache.

“I’m too skinny. It’s a curse to be born in a weak body like this,” Louis sighs. “I should’ve been a lion.”

Maybe he would’ve been, if his father had never bought him that day. 

Legosi gently smooths his fingers into Louis’s inner hip. Careful, he wraps his hand around Louis’s, and the pads of his fingers swallow his own.

“Louis, you are many things,” Legosi says. “But weak is not one of them.”

Louis twitches. Legosi’s ears are flickering curiously, and Louis fails to bite down a keen when Legosi gently squeezes his grip. It was embarrassingly genuine, and Legosi brightens.

“Oh. You sound pretty too.”

“Shut up,” Louis snaps. “Do you have lube?”

“Er…yes.”

“Pervert.”

“Hey!”  

Louis makes him watch as he preps himself. Even with Legosi’s claws sanded down, he still prefers to play it safe. Legosi looks utterly enthralled, and it makes Louis want to laugh.

“What, you’ve never done this to yourself?” Louis tips up his hips, and spreads his thighs the best he can without a right foot to brace himself. Legosi helps by holding his bum leg and giving him something to push against. Louis is secretly glad he doesn’t have any hangups about touching it. Some animals are weird.

“No, never,” Legosi admits.

“We’ll have to try it one day,” Louis says, and his voice cracks on the last bit, squeezing his eyes shut as he spreads his fingers. If Louis had known they were gonna’ do this earlier he would have prepared but alas, here we are. Legosi’s breathing is heavy as he forces himself under control, and it’s hot yeah, but he’s starting to squeeze a little tight. “Fuck. Watch your grip, Legosi.”

Legosi lets go of his thighs in shock.

“Shit! I’m so sorry!”

Louis snaps open his eyes and growls.

“Legosi, what did I say? I’ll tell you if it hurts, so stop freaking out.”

“Right,” Legosi wilts.

Louis sits up and licks his nose. Legosi’s ears perk up.

“Dumbass. You’re so hot it’s ridiculous. Hand me that pillow.”

Curiously, Legosi gives him the cushion. Louis rolls to his stomach, hugging the pillow to his chest and sighing as his antlers are no longer jammed awkwardly against the sheets.

“Alright, I’m good.” Louis flips up his tail and shifts his hips. “Have at it.”

A beat.

He’s not expecting Legosi to slam his weight against his back. Louis grunts, but feels his stomach knot as Legosi licks wetly along the nape of his neck and against his ear.

“Shit,” Legosi curses. “Do you even know what you look like? Do you know what this means in canine?”

“What?” Louis teases. “Isn’t this doggy-style?”

Legosi growls. Ughh yes, there it is.

“It’s submission,” Legosi says low. It’s so deep, Louis gets goosebumps.

“Then I guess I’m submitting,” Louis sighs. “Better chop chop before I roll you on your knees.”

Teeth drag imprints along his neck. Louis is so hard, he might pass out. There’s the lewd slide of a zipper, and Louis’s eyes bug as he feels Legosi grind his cock against his ass.

Legosi is chanting something to himself, something like you’ll stop if he tells you to, you’ll stop if he tells you to, and Louis doesn’t have a doubt in the world that he will.

It’s been a while since he’s been with a male – but never one of Legosi’s size. The body heat against his back is making him squirm, and Louis really wanted to keep his head longer than this, but he might just have to beg.

“Legosi!” Louis snaps, and then makes the most pathetic noise as Legosi slides into him. “Oh – god. The hare taught you that.”

Legosi pants at his shoulder. Louis trembles as he adjusts to the absolute size of him, and nearly goes cross-eyed when Legosi pulls back.

“Louis,” he begs, no honorific.

“Fuck me you are big,” Louis breathes. No duh, but you never really know how hot the stove is ‘till you’re burnt.

Legosi swallows audibly, fighting something. He’s deliberately slow, fucking him gently to let Louis catch his breath.

“Okay?”

It feels like he might split down the middle, but if Haru survived then so will he. Legosi is doing his best to be gentle, and Louis would rather be dead than coddled.

“Yes. Are you going to make love to me or fuck me?”

Legosi huffs and nuzzles his cheek.

“Can’t I do both?”

And that right there, is pure Legosi. He’s always walking this thin line between badass and sweetheart, and Louis doesn’t want him any other way. It’s not coddling, he realizes. Just Legosi doing his best to stop and smell the flowers against all instinct.

“Absolutely,” Louis says, and gets to reap the sweet rewards of this stupid game.

To Legosi’s credit, he can hold a rhythm. Louis keeps arms clenched around the pillow, nose in the sheets to muffle the sound he makes. Kneeling is still hard with only one knee, so Legosi holds up most of his weight with an arm around his waist, and it makes him feel surrounded. Like he might as well just crawl inside Legosi’s jaws and die there.

Legosi’s breathing is loud, but that’s all. There are short whines, gentle growls when Louis squirms too much, but he gets many kisses against his neck. He’ll be slobbered on by the end of this, but whatever.

The pace builds when Legosi hits his spot right on. Louis’s eyes snap open, and he braces the headboard with the palm of his hand to grind back against him, “Shit, Legosi. Right fucking there.”

Legosi inhales wetly.

“That feels good?”

Louis blinks rapidly, and groans through his teeth as Legosi’s weight rocks him forwards. He’s just grinding into his prostate, and his brain is taking a little longer to think. Right. Canine.

“So good,” Louis tells him. “You’re doing so good, Legosi. A very, very good boy.”

Legosi shivers. Louis rides out the motions, lets Legosi keep lifting him to his knees as he collapses. He rolls his hips back and starts to actively participate as Legosi gets more heated. He wants to come already and focus entirely on the sounds Legosi is making, but he also wants this to last forever. His poor dick is gonna’ kill him. 

Claws dig into his side; big, long fingers doing their best to be gentle. Louis bears his neck, and Legosi groans.

“I want to see your face,” Legosi admits.

It’s hard for Louis to fuck on his back, so he says, “Roll over.”

Legosi pulls out, and does so obediently. The sight kind of steals his breath away.

His pupils are dilated, and his fur is a mess, and he didn’t even bother to take off his jeans, and the sight of them half shoved down his ass is a goddamn treat.

Tattoos, bullet wounds, claw marks and scars, a body born of muscle for a wolf that would pull out every fang if you asked. 

“Fuck, look at you,” Louis curses, but he’s not sure Legosi hears him.

“I’m really in love with you,” Legosi replies breathlessly. 

Louis loses all patience. He mounts him again, brings Legosi’s claws to grip into his ass, and rides him halfway. Fuck this leg – Louis slides forwards until their chests are touching and busies himself in Legosi’s mouth, just so Legosi can plant his feet and fuck him from below. Oh god, it’s good. 

“See, you’re getting it,” Louis mumbles deliriously.

Legosi rumbles a noise, not really a response, and there’s a wonderful pain as Legosi claws up his back. No blood, no danger. Louis mumbles praises against his mouth, over and over until Legosi is whining from the throat.

Legosi comes like a whip, and Louis loses it because Legosi chooses to bite into his shoulder. It’s a shock right through his blood, and his entire body shakes.

The bite could’ve killed him, if Legosi had really tried.

But he didn’t, because Louis was right all along; Legosi’s control is better than that. This beautiful, dumb, wolf. Louis thinks he could learn to love him very easily.

Legosi seizes, gasps, and relaxes back into the mattress.

“Oh my god,” Legosi groans.

Louis takes heavy breaths against Legosi’s damp shoulder. He’s sweaty and a serious mess, and their fur will be sticky for hours if they don’t get up now, but Louis can’t move, he no longer has bones.

Louis pats Legosi’s arm and says,

“Yup. Good work buddy. Great hustle. We’ll review your performance at the bi-annual meeting.”

Legosi taps him on the butt, Louis moans sleepily, and Legosi snorts a laugh.

“Haru was right. You’re terrible at pillow talk.”

Louis dozes for an hour. There are a million problems in the world, but for a minute, they don’t exist here.

Legosi has a bed for large animals, so they fit nicely. It takes up most of the space in the bedroom, but there’s still random clutter everywhere; clothes and picture frames and books. It’s a wonder how Legosi doesn’t trip at night. It’s probably the improved night vision.

Louis floats in and out of consciousness, but stirs to a tongue between his legs. Louis covers his eyes with his arm and groans.

“Don’t. You’ll make me hard again.”

“Sorry,” Legosi says, but licks one last stripe into his thigh. “You were a mess.”

“Wonder whose fault that is.”

The bed creaks as Legosi crawls up the bed and lays down alongside him. He keeps himself a respectful distance away, which is annoying as shit, so Louis wiggles until Legosi can fit in his arms.

“Oh,” Legosi says, and carefully hugs him back. Louis doesn’t even like cuddling, but he enjoys petting the top of Legosi’s head, so you do the math. Slowly, Legosi begins to relax. Louis breathes in, and smells soap.

“Did you shower?”

“Yeah. Do you want to take one?”

Louis rubs his damp thighs together.

“Apparently I don’t need to anymore.”

Legosi’s ears press flat, and Louis forces them back up with his fingers. 

“Now don’t do that. I don’t mind it.”

“Ah,” Legosi blinks. He goes quiet a moment, and then says, “It feels like my heart is going to beat out of my chest.”

Louis hums and works at building him a little mohawk from the grey fur on his head.

“This will be easier next time.”

Legosi perks up, “Next time?”

Louis rolls his eyes, “You’re dumb.”

That bravery returns, and Legosi dips his head to press his wet nose against Louis’s neck.

“It’s just…isn’t this a bad idea? I mean, you’re the president of a huge company and…I was charged with your predation and we can’t even have kids...”

Louis hasn’t thought that far ahead yet, but he knows his answer anyways.

“I never wanted to have my own children. I’ll likely do the same as my father did.”

Legosi swallows, “Oh. I see.” He sounds unsure. Louis digs his knuckles into the fur at the back of Legosi’s skull and yanks. Legosi’s head jerks upwards, and Louis glares down at him.

“Legosi, do you want this to work?”

He exhales quickly; “Yes.”

“Then it will work,” Louis decides, and lets go of his grip, giving him a pat on the head. Legosi snuffs a laugh, and Louis is rolled to his back, doomed to slobbery, wonderful canine kisses.

It will work.

Louis stands barefoot on Legosi’s kitchen floor, and wraps the blanket tighter around his shoulders. Legosi helped him take a real shower this morning, and then seemingly disappeared out of thin air. Louis finds him in the living room. 

Legosi is enraptured with the small television, standing in nothing but underwear and twice-showered frizzy fur. The static TV cuts too loudly through the apartment.

“In breaking news, last night the local police force raided a major trafficking scandal in the back-alley market. Thirty-seven animals were rescued and taken to hospital care, and casualties are still being counted.”

“Beastar Yafya, how long did you have suspicions about the kidnappings?”

“No comment today, please. The police will release an official statement on Sunday.”

“But Yafya! How many animals were found dismembered in –”

Louis mutes the TV. Legosi whips his head around, and Louis sets the remote back on the kotatsu.

“Don’t,” Louis says. “You’ll drive yourself crazy.”

Legosi rubs his own arm, and looks back to the muted TV.

“It won’t ever end, will it?”

“What won’t?”

“The divide between herbivores and carnivores. It seems like someone will always hate someone else.”

“It’s not hate if it’s instinct,” Louis shrugs. Legosi sulks further. Louis drops the blanket off his shoulders and steps up to tug on the tip of Legosi’s tail. Legosi spins around in protest.

“Hey—”

“Not everyone is like you,” Louis frowns. “But the world would be a better place if it was.”

Legosi breathes out of his nose and looks away.

“What, a coward?”

“Kind,” Louis corrects. Legosi looks back to him. “All the credit goes to you, Legosi. I wouldn’t have done a damn thing about this case, if not for you.”

Legosi seems to soften. He steps closer, and Louis opens his arms to invite him in. Hands hold his, then slip past his fingers and up to his wrists, encircling them completely. Large fingers then map up to his elbows, then his forearms and around his back, and Louis closes his eyes as he’s tucked into a warm chest. 

“That’s not true. I know you paint yourself as a bad guy because you’re not comfortable thinking you might be good. But I know you are, Louis. I’ve seen it.”

“I am a bad guy. You should run before I hunt you down again.”

“I’ll play all the games you want,” Legosi says, and throws back Louis’s own words. “I’ve never wanted anyone more than I want you.”

Louis blinks, forcing his expression neutral. He slides his hand down the back of Legosi’s underwear and runs his fingers around the base of his tail.  

“Changed your mind from last night, have you?”

“I’ve decided I’m not going to let you go,” Legosi nods. He sounds so mature in this moment. So much older, so different.

Louis tips up his chin. “Kiss me and prove it.”

Legosi swallows. Louis is forced back as Legosi grips his face in both hands. He blinks down at him seriously, and Louis doesn’t crack as Legosi slowly leans down and kisses him. It’s soft and chaste, and Louis hums as he slowly pulls away.

“I guess that’s a start.”

“Louis-san, we gravely ask that you reconsider. If the Horns president is caught in a tryst with a carnivore we could lose all our partners.”

Louis yawns, and spins his chair around in his office by his heel. Louis is unconcerned, because he already has a monopoly on the market. What does he care?

“Mm.”

“Louis-san, please take this seriously. We are more than willing to find you a buck for a partner.”

“How progressive of you,” Louis drawls. He studies his lopsided antlers in the window of his office, and flicks them with annoyance. There are love bites on his shoulder, and he doesn’t mind those as much. “And it’s not a tryst.”

“You cannot pursue a romantic relationship with a wolf. You could put the entire company in danger!”

His phone buzzes, and Louis pulls his phone away from his ear to see the texts Legosi has sent him. They’re all latte art he’s attempted at work, which are absolutely terrible. The rabbit looks like a pacman with dog ears. Louis loves it.

“Louis-san, are you listening?”

“Nope.”

He bumps into Haru on a street corner, of all places.

The light has yet to turn green. Louis waits to cross the street like anyone else, when a smaller creature bumps into his pant leg.

“Oops! Sorry!”

Louis looks down and blinks.

“Haru?”

She’s dressed up in a skirt and a sweater, and she looks like she’s still adjusting to the heels she’s wearing. Haru gapes up at him.

“Louis?”

Well, this is awkward.

“Haven’t seen you in a while,” Louis greets.

“Ah,” Haru’s expression walls off. “Yes. How have you been?”

“Good. You?”

“I heard about you and Legosi.”

 Louis rubs the back of his head, and looks off towards the street. “Word sure does travel fast around here…”

“Congrats,” Haru shrugs. “I mean, it’s kinda’ weird but, I want Legosi to be happy, you know?”

“Yes,” Louis agrees.

Haru scuffs her heel along the sidewalk, and neither of them move as the light turns green. It feels like a lifetime ago when they were banging after class and smoking under the theater stage.

“I just…want to say...” Haru clenches her hands, braces herself, and then looks up at Louis with ferocity. “Please don’t play games with his heart. He’ll love you with everything he has, if you let him.”

A crowd begins to gather as the light turns red again. Louis swallows, because he still doesn’t know how to put it into words. How does he just say the way Legosi makes him feel? How does he describe all the lengths he’d go for him?

Louis decides to stick out his hand and say, “I promise.”

Haru eyes his hand for a moment, before she shakes it with a smile.

“Good! Now where are you off to?”

Louis sighs, “I have…an appointment.” Haru looks up to his antlers and snorts a laugh, and Louis glares down at her. “What about you?”

Haru cuts off her giggling and brushes a finger under her pink nose.

“Errr. I’m meeting up with Juno today.”

Wow, nice work Juno.

“That bitch sure works fast…” Louis mumbles. Haru kicks the side of his foot.

“Shut up! You’re one to talk!”

Louis breathes a laugh out of his nose, and they begin to move as the light turns green. Haru bounces along the street, and when they reach the corner, Haru waves at him.

“Keep your promise, okay? Or you’ll definitely regret it.”

In hindsight, it’s a little hilarious that Legosi has a dwarf rabbit making threats on his behalf, but out of a semblance of self-preservation, Louis agrees.

“I will.”

It’s in line with his own ambitions anyways.

“Louis,” Legosi gasps in delight. “You look so cute!”

Fresh from work, Legosi is still in his uniform. Louis has been through hell today, so he sighs,

“I don’t want to hear it.”

He’s still adjusting to the sudden weight loss without his antlers, and he sways a bit has he stomps off towards his personal wing of the mansion. Yuta knows to stay out of his warpath, but some of the newer maids still look at him in fear.

Legosi quickly takes off his shoes and shuts the door, catching up to him in a long stride.

“But I’ve never seen you without your antlers! You’re always so — hi Yuta!! —so weird about it. Why is the top black?”

Louis slumps down on the couch with a sigh. This new prosthetic rubs more than the old one. Yuta waves to Legosi, sets tea at the coffee table, and shuts the privacy door.

“They had to cauterize it. I wanted them to keep as much as they could, but apparently the break was too uneven.”

Legosi sits next to him on the couch and studies the top of his head curiously.

“Did it hurt?”

“No,” Louis pouts. “It just means I’ll have to wait until the nubs fall out, so I’ll be without antlers for a month and a half.”

Legosi tips his head left, then right, ears flickering. Louis jerks as a large palm lands on the top of his head. Gently, Legosi pets across the top of his fur and smiles at him.

“I don’t see what the big deal is. You look really cute!”

“That’s the point,” Louis huffs. “I don’t want to look cute, I want to look intimidating.”

Legosi scratches his claws into his skull, much like Louis does to him. Louis spent two hours with a grinder jerking his head around, so Louis nearly melts as sudden relaxation tingles down his back.  

“You’re intimidating and cute.”

“That’s an oxymoron, moron.”

Louis leans into his palm and lets his shoulders droop. Legosi shifts closer and very carefully kneads his sanded claws into his scalp. Louis is secretly relieved that Legosi has grown comfortable enough to initiate contact between them.

“Do you like that?”

“No.” Louis closes his eyes, curling up to Legosi’s side. “I hate it.”

Legosi scratches down to his neck and back up his ears. Maybe canines have a point with this whole petting thing.

“Alright…” Legosi trails, tone playful. “If you say so…”

He pulls away, and Louis barks,

“Legosi. Stay.”

Big arms pull him to safety, and Louis doesn’t even have the mind to complain about it.

“Now that’s playing dirty,” Legosi says, returning his nails to the sore spot on Louis’s head. Louis shifts until he can tip his head up and peck him on the mouth.

“You don’t win by playing it safe, sweetheart.”

He can feel Legosi flush without opening his eyes. Legosi doesn’t stop hugging him, nor does he stop running his nails against the grain of Louis’s fur.

“Juno told me to watch my back with you.”

“Juno is a traitor who doesn’t know how to keep her mouth shut.”

Legosi nuzzles into his cheek and kisses him. Louis is starting to understand why all the romance novels are written about canines.

“Louis…I want to tell you something.”

Louis opens his eyes at the sound of his name. He’s supposed to be making up lost time at work tonight, but all that has gone out the window.

“What is it?”

Legosi hesitates, swallowing once before dropping his hand safely to Louis’s shoulder.

“I should have told you this a long time ago. But I want you to know that you changed my life,” he says. “My biggest fear was becoming a monster, but you showed me that I was never one to begin with.” Legosi looks away, flustered. “You’re the only one I can really be myself with.” 

Louis doesn’t move. It’s hard for prey to fight instinct, but it must be a million times worse for carnivores. Legosi lives in constant fear that he’s going to hurt someone he loves, and it must be unbearable.

That’s right. Legosi loves him.

God, Louis isn’t going to cry, what is wrong with him?

Unable to cope with the butterflies in his chest, Louis mumbles under his breath, “Maybe you should just eat the rest of me…”

Claws dig into his shoulders. Louis yips in pain, and his head jerks up as Legosi stares down at him very seriously.

“Stop joking about that. Please.”

“Sorry,” Louis blurts, a bit chastened. Legosi shakes his head.

“No. If I’m more than a predator, then you are more than prey. It goes both ways. You’re not a meal, or a means to an end. You’re a beginning, Louis.”

Yep, here it comes.

“Fuck you,” Louis rubs at his eyes, “I hate crying. Do you even know what you’re saying?”

Legosi looks surprised, before he licks the salt off his face.

“Sorry! I just needed you to know.”

Please don’t play games with his heart.

Louis sits back in Legosi’s lap and looks at him very seriously. With a strict monotone, he taps Legosi’s wet nose and says, “You’re a good boy, Legosi.”

Bewildered, Legosi stares at him crosseyed, before he starts to giggle and laugh.

“Thanks.”

Louis hopes one day he won’t be so emotionally stunted, enough that he might be able to tell Legosi how he really feels. Maybe they both have some things they could learn from each other. But for now,

“Do that thing with your claws again.”

Louis digs his toe into the grainy dirt. He makes a tiny hole in the mud, and then smooths it back over with the sole of his shoe. 

“I bet you’re probably rolling around in there,” Louis mumbles. You can no longer see the seams of the grave; just dandelion weeds and green grass. The breeze blows, and Louis catches his scarf around his neck, pulling it close.

No one replies, because duh. The cemetery is empty, and his father is nothing but a gravestone now. Louis squeezes his hands in his pockets and snorts.

“I’d say you would’ve liked him but. That’s probably not true. You’d hate him.” Louis rubs his nose, and continues to dig his shoe in the dirt. “I’d make you like him anyways.” He laughs again, but it’s wetter and wobbly. “I want to spend my life with him. Isn’t that stupid?”

The breeze whistles through the trees.

It’s funny to think about. Louis wanted to catch a wolf, but he’s starting to think Legosi caught him instead.

“I don’t know if I’ve changed,” Louis mumbles. “But I see things differently now. I want to live.”

It’s just the wind. That’s okay, Legosi is calling him.

Louis silences the buzzing and starts back down the path, raising his phone to his ear. 

“Hey.”

“Louis, I got paid! Please go on a date with me.”

It’s been three months. Louis’s antlers have long returned, and Legosi still calls to ask him on dates.

“I guess if you’re going to twist my arm about it.”  

It’s the herbivore festival today, but Louis won’t be going out of principle.

The streets are full anyways, and Legosi stands out more than usual with so much prey wandering the city. But Legosi isn’t crouched over as he typically would, and he looks cute in his sweater and khaki pants, like he tried to dress up for their date and missed by a mile.

“Look, Louis!” Legosi holds out a punch card. “Two more and we get a free drink.”

Louis sips his smoothie and takes Legosi’s free hand, threading their fingers together.

“I guess we’ll have to come back.”

Legosi is blissfully unaware of all the dirty looks they’re receiving, and Louis is trying to keep it that way. Legosi carefully holds his hand as not to scratch him, and Louis points to a bench between shops and suggests they sit.

“I got mango,” Legosi says, tipping his drink forward. “Want to try?”

Louis takes a sip just to humor him, and says, “Too sweet.”

Legosi chuffs and gnaws on his straw, “I just don’t see the point in a kale smoothie. I like vegetables as much as the next guy, but smoothies are supposed to be sweet.”

“You didn’t even try it.”

“I don’t want to.”

“I tried yours!”

“Because mango is good.”

Louis attempts to slap Legosi with his own hand, but it goes about as well as you’d expect. Legosi laughs.

“Are you trying to start a fight?”

“Maybe,” Louis flirts. “It’s been a while since you’ve been in a scrap anyways. Aren’t you bored?”

Legosi ponders the question. He looks up and squints at the clouds, before turning back to him and smiling.

“Not really. The udon shop keeps me busy, and I promised Yafya no more vigilante bullcrap.”

Louis nearly cracks at his impression, but keeps his face neutral.

“I can tell Yafya is itching to make you a beastar. Why won’t you train under him?”

“Yafya and my gramps are just starting to get along again,” Legosi says, scratching his chin. “I don’t want to start any fires yet.”

Louis twirls his finger around the hem of Legosi’s blue sweater, to keep his attention away from the two doves gossiping at the coffee shop across the lane.

“Legosi, we all know you don’t start fires. You get wildly caught in them.”

Legosi laughs, tail fwapping against the park bench, and Louis wants to grab it and pull until Legosi starts to whine. Maybe they should cut the date short and head back to his place.

A cry echoes out of the alley. A cheetah goes sprinting out of nowhere, and a disheveled lamb goes running after her.

“Help!” He cries. “She tried to eat me!” 

Legosi whips around and looks Louis in the eye. A scream echoes further down the road, and the fur on Legosi’s neck stands on end. The smoothie dumped to the floor, Legosi is looking at him for approval, body tense and poised and ready to run, but waiting for Louis’s word only.

Well then.

“Help!! Someone please!”

Louis lifts his shirt and pulls the pistol out of his belt.