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Chapter Text

I am a fifth year Law & Political Science Joint Honours major at the University of Kagiso. My name is Louis.

The name’s Legoshi. I’m studying at Kagiso U. I'm in my first year of my BEd. My undergrad was in the Interdisciplinary Arts.

I am an intern at Yamaguchi Law, the forefront leading Common Law firm in Kagiso. One day I will graduate to the role of Partner.

I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I know I can seem, uh, intimidating, to some, but kids tend to love me for that reason. Kids don’t judge. Or, er, they do, but not in the way adults do.

Louis sits in his Civil Procedures class, in a seat towards the end of one of the middle rows. He takes notes by hand, paying close attention to what his prof has to say. He knows there are eyes on him. He doesn’t blame them- his horns are gleaming and standing proudly.

Legoshi sits in his Learning Theories and Practices in Inclusive Classrooms Part One class, in a seat in the middle of a row right at the back of the class. His right leg is bouncing up and down beneath the desk, and he can’t help it. He’s worried about the report due tonight for his Curriculum Planning, Implementation and Assessment Part Two class. He has to finish writing the conclusion, adjust the bibliography, add a cover page, not to mention edit the whole thing. He can’t fathom why he decided to leave it to the last minute again. He thought he’d agreed with himself to leave his penchant for procrastination in his undergrad.

Louis’ lecture had wrapped up, and he had twenty minutes to get to Juridical Political Thought. He had been schmoozing with that professor, so he needed to get there at least three minutes early to uphold his image. He collected his things quickly, gracefully tucking them into his brown satchel, avoiding the eyes wandering over his toned body. He had his way across campus mapped out in his head.

Legoshi was infinitely glad that his lecture was over. He had the rest of the day free, and was on his way back to his apartment in order to get his report done. He had to catch the bus on the North-East side of campus in fifteen minutes. He made sure his head was bowed as he waited for his classroom to clear, not wanting to stand out at all.

Louis kept his head forward, his back straight as he walked down the hallways, a blank expression on his well-featured face. He smiled back at various peers who smiled at him, probably making their days. He was halfway through Kamryn, the Health Sciences building, when he saw him.

Legoshi kept his head low, his shoulders rounded as he passed through the corridors. If he could have one power, he would choose invisibility. No matter how much he tried to conceal his large stature, it was unavoidable. He had big, bulky headphones on, mostly to protect his sensitive ears from outside noise. Soft acoustic singer/songwriter nonsense was playing faintly through them. He kept his eyes trained on the floor in front of him.

Louis was taken by the sheer height of the beast in front of him. Even with his head down, his ears turned back, his back hunched over, carrying a too-big black backpack, he stood a head taller than all of the other beasts in the hallway. He shook his head slightly, knowing that what he was about to do would be insane had he been anybody else. But he was not. He was Louis, the future Beastar.

Legoshi was caught off guard by the beautiful deer who had just grabbed his bicep. He almost stopped walking due to the shock of it all. “O-o-oh!” He stuttered. Despite everything, he kept walking. He tried to pretend everything was normal, that he was normal. He tried not to stare at the other man’s wide eyes or his proud horns.

“Hello, my name is Louis. I am studying under Professor Gwynedd Richmond, and we are looking for research participants for a political research trial. You, sir, seem like you have opinions to share.” Louis told him confidently, maintaining his grip on his arm, almost holding him in place.

“Uh… I don’t know about that. I- I don’t have a lot to say,” Legoshi responded in a low, cautious tone.

“Nevermind that. There’s an intake session at Cathalan, tomorrow at 4pm. Be there.” Louis told him, before veering off down a hallway to the left, leaving Legoshi to overthink the subtext of that interaction for the next day. Louis was proud of having come up with that bullshit on the spot. He was at the top of his game, he thought, as he rerouted his way towards his next class.

Legoshi was a complete and utter mess. He desperately tried to shake off this feeling of unrest. The place where Louis had touched him was tingling. He went over Louis’ words in his head, picking through them relentlessly. As he went down one of the staircases, he stopped. He took a deep breath, trying to center himself. It didn’t work. It felt like the walls of the staircase were closing in on him. Why would Louis seek him out of all animals? Did it seem like he had opinions to offer? Did he seem overly opinionated? And what about how he’d responded? His stutter had been overwhelming. He wanted to die right there.

In the end, Legoshi missed his bus, and just walked home instead of waiting for the next one. The whole time, he wracked his brain, trying to add some sense to that interaction which had confused him so much. Meanwhile, Louis was sat in Juridical Political Thought, absolutely content with himself. It even showed in his notes, his cursive overly curly and swoopy. In his mind, everything was as it should be. He felt as though he had been given a new sense of purpose with the meeting to look forward to. He had no doubt that the wolf would show up. He knew that his charismatic pull was too strong to resist.

Chapter Text

It was two o'clock, and Legoshi was feeling restless. He didn't have any classes today at the university, as there had been a horrible thunderstorm early that morning, taking down powerlines and flooding streets. Subsequently, all his classes had been moved online. This would normally be cause for celebration, as there was nothing Legoshi loved more than getting to stay in his apartment all day.

But today was different. He had a meeting to get to. What would that pretty deer think of him if he missed it? What if they one day bumped into each other again in the hallways, and the deer glared at him for having stood him up? He couldn't live with himself if he did that to another animal. No, we would face the weather and get to campus in order to see that deer. He had promised to, after all.

That’s how Legoshi found himself sitting at a table in Cathalan at 3:45, looking out the window at the few animals on campus rushing from building to building, avoiding the giant puddles on the ground. Legoshi didn’t have galoshes of any kind. His runners were his only option. He made a mental note to go shoe shopping later during the season when the sales came out. But his slightly wet paws would be inconsequential compared to how much he’d be beating himself up if he’d just stayed home.

He kept glancing at the time on his phone, trying not to let the time get to him, yet letting his mind run absolutely wild anyways. At 3:52 the table was practically vibrating due to how fast Legoshi was bouncing his leg up and down. He mentally chastised himself for being so childlike, and willed himself to calm down. He needed to make a good impression on this deer. That was the whole point of coming here to meet him.

At 4:03 the object of his desire appeared through the glass doors of the building, shaking the water off of a retractable black umbrella. His big hazel eyes scanned the building which had been deserted for the day, before landing on Legoshi’s figure. The wolf tried not to seem too enthusiastic as he waved to the deer. Louis nodded, a small smile appearing on his face. He was going to have fun.

Louis walked over to where Legoshi had stationed himself, making sure to keep perfect posture. He gracefully slid into the seat across from him, placing his hands on the table to seem more approachable. Legoshi made a comment about the weather, and Louis replied affirmatively, fulfilling the necessary pre-conversational discussion quota. There was a beat that passed as the two of them analyzed the other.

They both spoke at the same time. “So what was the research you were doing?” Legoshi had asked. “There is no research” Louis had supplemented. All of this was lost on them, of course. Louis tilted his head down slightly, eying Legoshi. “S-sorry. What was that?” Legoshi asked. “I said, there is no research project.” Louis told him, eyes baring right into him. “Oh.” Legoshi revelled. He took a beat. “So why did you want to meet me here?” Legoshi asked, slightly glancing at the greyness from outside. “A-and, I’m so sorry to ask, but what did you say your name was?” Legoshi forced himself to look at Louis.

Louis shook his head. “My name is Louis. I just wanted to get to know you.” He explained, assertively laying all his cards out on the table. Legoshi stared at him, a blush creeping across his cheeks. “O-oh! Okay. Um, my name is Legoshi. By the way.” The wolf supplemented. To that, Louis made a sound of acknowledgement. “Er, what’s your major?” Legoshi asked him, trying to make this conversation less awkward. “Law & Political Science Joint Honours major, fifth year.” Louis replied simply. “Oh, cool. I’m also a fifth year, technically. I finished my undergrad last year, so now I’m working on my BEd. I wanna be an elementary school teacher.” Louis waited for him to stop talking before nodding.

“So, Legoshi, tell me, what motivates you? What makes you tick?” Louis asked, slightly tilting his head to the side. Legoshi’s eyes grew wide as he inhaled a deep breath. “I dunno.” Louis had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Legoshi rested his head on his hand, looking thoughtfully out the window as he considered his imminent answer. “I think… the way that a kid’s face lights up when they realize that I’m an animal just like them. That’s what keeps me going, I guess.” Legoshi turned his head to look at Louis, looking for acceptance.

Louis didn’t miss a beat. “That’s quite noble of you, Legoshi.” The wolf’s breath caught in his throat at the utterance of his name. How delicate it sounded in the deer’s mouth, steady and deep. How he wished to have Louis calling his name. He could imagine it: heavy breath, hot skin, wetness. “... Legoshi.” Louis finished. Legoshi snapped back into reality.

“Uh, sorry. I… I didn’t quite catch that.” Legoshi explained. Louis looked at him knowingly. Louis kept at that for a while, holding Legoshi in his gaze, who was increasingly losing his composure. He knew he had been caught, and that was almost thrilling to him. Louis knew exactly what was happening to him. Louis wanted to laugh, wanted to cry. In the end, he expressed nothing at all.

“It’s wet outside. Why don’t we go back to your place?” Louis repeated, voice low and firm. Legoshi’s heart soared. He had no choice but to say “Yeah, sure.” Louis once again nodded his head, pleased with his work. “We’ll take my car. Let’s go.” Louis offered as he slid out of his seat, walking towards the exit without checking to see if Legoshi was following. He knew he was. How could he not?

Chapter Text

Louis stalked into Legoshi’s apartment haughtily. Slipping his loafers off onto the front carpet, he glanced around, taking in his new surroundings. The first thing he noticed was the decor.

Warm woods, picture frames everywhere. House plants scattered throughout the living space. It was small and lived-in, yet undeniably charming. It was homey.

Louis let his eyes trail back to the owner of the space, who he could sense was watching his every move. Probably even discreetly sniffing the air to gauge his shifting pheromones. When Louis' eyes found Legoshi’s, and held them, he knew in his soul that he was right. He always was.

Legoshi looked away, shy. Louis chuckled, deeper than would be natural for a deer of his size. The wolf seemed caught off guard by the sound, but he was caught off guard by everything. Louis truly had chosen the perfect target. Tall, generous, kind, self-loathing, and all that topped by killer instincts.

Louis took a step towards an innocent spiderplant. “Uh, t-that one's name is Eve.” Legoshi rushed to supply him with, his large hand scratching the back of his head nervously. Louis looked at him long and hard. “Eve, you say?” Louis looked between Legoshi and the plant. Gingerly, he picked up the pot, admiring the subtle intricacies. Quaint, handmade. Terracotta. Louis noticed a warmth blooming in Legoshi's hunter eyes. He knew that look. He knew it well, in fact. Without any hesitation, Louis dropped the pot. It smashed on the wooden floor with a resounding clunk. Big pieces of bronze coloured clay were upon the floor in various directions, the soil spilling about the dark wood, earth tones blending into each other. Legoshi inhaled deeply, in utter shock and terror. He could not believe what he had just seen. Louis kept his eyes trained on him, examining his reaction.

After standing there pathetically, Legoshi rushed to the plant’s aid. He was on his knees, sweeping the dirt into a heap on the floor. Cradling the plant like it was his baby. “No, no, no, no, no!” He exclaimed. He could barely look up at Louis, but he forced himself to after this transgression. All in the name of Eve. “Why did you do that?” He asked. But he didn't think that he wanted to know the answer to that question.

Louis looked down in contempt. Utter disgust. After studying Legoshi's tearful eyes, Louis chuckled once again. He leaned down slightly, not much. Just enough to caress the wolf's jaw. “You imbecilic faggot.” Louis whispered to him. Legoshi's eyes widened, once again shocked by Louis’ vulgar behaviour. “W-what?” Legoshi stammered. Louis scoffed in his face. “What?” He repeated confidently. “Do you need me to repeat that for you? You. Imbecilic. Faggot.” He said, enunciating each. Damn. Syllable. Louis took his hands off of Legoshi's jaw sharply, suddenly. He stood up, straightened himself out. He looked around once more, no longer feigning interest in the place he stood in. “Tell me, why am I here, Legoshi?” Louis asked, though he already knew the response. Of course he did. The both of them knew, yet they were both unwilling to speak it aloud. All of the sudden, Louis looked back down at Legoshi. “Stand the fuck up,” he commanded. Legoshi immediately did as he asked, standing at attention, still cradling Eve in his arms. “Drop the fucking plant.” Louis told him. And so Legoshi did. He dropped Eve like a loyal dog drops a stick at the park at the beckoning of his owner. “Come here, boy.” Louis commanded, uncharacteristically gently. Legoshi nervously approached.

He was careful to step over Eve's remains on the ground. Louis' hand reached up to pet him behind the ears. Legoshi couldn't help it. The touch made his tail move- swing back and forth rhythmically. He couldn't deny the happiness that it brought him, despite Eve's mangled body laying right below his paws. Suddenly, Louis grabbed a tuft of his fur and pulled his face right in front of his own snout. “Show me why I'm here.” Louis growled. Legoshi's eyes widened for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past five minutes. He was struck by the man in front of him, in more ways than one. He knew what he was being commanded to do, yet he couldn't fathom that Louis even wanted any part of his banal existence. It was at that moment that Louis leaned up and kissed him.

The kiss was rough. Their teeth bashed against each other. Legoshi was scared of his canines ripping Louis' flesh. But Louis didn't seem to care. He didn't seem bothered by the imminent danger that Legoshi's teeth posed him. No, he kept going. Harder. Deeper. And before he knew it, Louis’ tongue had slipped inside his own mouth. Moving rhythmically, grasping at his own tongue, winning the fight for dominance. Not that Legoshi put up much of a fight. Legoshi was beside himself. He wanted this badly, but at what cost was it coming? He supposed it didn't matter. All that mattered was pleasing Louis at the moment. So he kissed back. He kissed back with all that he had, all that he could give. Thankfully, Louis seemed receptive to this… in a way. He pawed at Legoshi's neck, almost in a strangling motion. Legoshi did not know what Louis was capable of, but he had gotten a taste of it. However surprisingly it came, he desperately wanted more.

Legoshi removed his arms from his sides and placed them on Louis’ hips, maneuvering him onto the couch. It was covered in a soft leaf green fabric with a hand-knit coral blanket covering the back. The blanket fell right off as the two men crashed into the structure, Louis sitting down with Legoshi awkwardly kneeling over him, one knee in between his legs.

“Down, boy.” Louis commands, and immediately, Legoshi is on his knees in front of him, at his mercy.

Louis looks down at Legoshi expectantly. Legoshi seems to take his cue, and begins using his long blue claws to reach for Louis' belt buckle. He's surprised when Louis' paw swats his away. “No.” he tells him. Legoshi is at a loss. If he didn't want this, what did he want?

Louis reached down and pulled Legoshi by the ear to meet his face. He kissed him once more, but this time it was slower, much more intentional. He infused his movements with a fire, an unnamed passion. It captivated the wolf to no end. Just when he was getting used to the exchange, Louis pulled away, but not before grabbing onto the yoke of his shirt.

“Show me to your bedroom,” he commanded as he pulled Legoshi up after him. “Er, it’s t-that way,” Legoshi said lamely as he tried to take Louis’ hand in his to lead him down a short corridor. Louis slithered his paw out of the contact, shaking it out and wiping it on his pants, as if Legoshi was diseased.

Legoshi's gaze rivaled that of Orpheus with the amount that he looked behind him on the short trot to his bedroom. He was hunched over, trying to meet Louis’ height, wondering what his end goal was with making him suffer like this. Louis, on the other hand, was standing tall, looking straight forward, letting no emotion show on his well-harmonized face. Legoshi opened the door with one strong arm, allowing Louis to step inside before him. A common courtesy that Louis seemed to decide befitted his ephemeral presence.

Then Louis turned to him coldly. “Strip.” he said. So Legoshi did. He peeled his shirt over his head, following by his trousers. He hesitated at his boxers, but after glancing back to meet Louis' unchanging glare, he went through with it. After all, he would do anything to please Louis. He was gifting him his time.

Louis stared at Legoshi's now exposed body, analyzing every part, every extremity with a discerning eye. Legoshi felt evaluated, judged like a piece of salted meat at the butcher's. But none of that mattered once Louis stepped forwards, taking Legoshi's space for himself. Legoshi leaned down to kiss him again, taking this invasion as an invitation. But Louis quickly maneuvered his lips out of the way, so that Legoshi ended up missing his mark and kissing his cheek messily instead. Legoshi's vision temporarily turned blurry out of utter shame at this horrible development. He was anything but smooth. He was an oaf, especially compared to the angelic beauty in his presence. Whom he still didn't understand how he currently had in his bedroom.

Louis took him roughly by the scruff on the back of his neck, and practically threw him onto the bed. Legoshi could feel his blood rush downwards, but much to his dismay, there was no longer anything to hide it with. Louis gently pulled his sweatervest over his head and placed it on a chair. “It's Saint Laurent,” he explained. “Oh, o-okay.” Legoshi replied from where he remained sprawled on his bed.

Louis took his time approaching Legoshi, who gulped in anticipation. Louis’ eyes were laser focused, obviously planning something nefarious. A chill ran down Legoshi's spine, feeling Louis’ ill intentions and being all the more drawn to him.

With all the elegance in the world, Louis slid on top of Legoshi. He grabbed his muzzle in what now felt an almost comforting gesture, and kissed him. First soft, then hard. He bit down on his lower lip, causing Legoshi's heart to be filled with an emotion too dangerous to name.

Being so drawn to the kiss, Legoshi barely noticed Louis’ calm hands sliding all over his torso, familiarizing themselves with the curves of his body. Legoshi had always been ashamed of his physicality, being tall and lithe with little muscle or fat. Louis, on the other hand, was an example of the perfectly healthy masculine body. Wonderfully balanced, strong yet not overly so. Legoshi wished he possessed the natural grace that Louis had been blessed with.

Louis took hold of Legoshi's right nipple, teasing it between his long fingers. Legoshi gasped into the kiss in surprise. Louis took advantage of this in order to withdraw from the kiss, instead placing a trail of kisses from Legoshi's jaw down to his neck. That's where he started biting and sucking, with no gentleness whatsoever. He was cruel about it. Despotic. Legoshi's head rolled back as ragged breaths clawed their way out of his throat, breathing through the pleasurable pain. Everything about Louis' touch set him on fire.

Soon Louis was at his nipple, biting down so hard that Legoshi expected blood. He had a ferocious hunger that went far beyond what Legoshi had expected from a herbivore. He felt tears burn his eyes as Louis’ teeth sank further into his skin, marking him. Louis suddenly held his head up, feeling Legoshi's emotions intuitively. He wiped his eyes gently, surprising Legoshi with how kind he was being. Then Louis’ eyes hardened, and he spat out, “turn around.”

Louis moved out of the way so that Legoshi could move to being flat on his stomach. His eyes were trained on Louis, who was now behind him, straddling him. Louis’ teeth sank into his left thigh, making him groan. He sucked that spot so long that Legoshi knew that the evidence of this night would remain. Louis eventually made his way farther up his leg, Legoshi shaking so much in the process that Louis had no choice but to hold him down, tightly. The indents of Louis’ rounded fingernails on his thigh alone were enough to leave Legoshi breathless. He wasn't prepared for what Louis did next.

In a long line, Louis licked from his thigh all the way up to his asshole. Using his hands to spread Legoshi's cheeks, Louis’ tongue teased the outside of the hole, almost mockingly. Then, it slipped inside. Legoshi's body tensed around the unfamiliar feeling, but he had no choice but to accept it as Louis’ tongue started dancing inside of him.

Legoshi was infinitely glad that he was on his stomach, his dick under him, concealed. He could feel it wetting uncontrollably with precum. And once again, just as Legoshi was starting to relax into Louis’ gestures, he pulled away from him. Legoshi snapped out of his reverie and locked eyes with Louis, who was wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, looking disgusted. He then spit into his hand, ridding himself of Legoshi's horrible flavour. Legoshi's eyes fell, feeling sorry for having taken pleasure in something that Louis obviously didn't enjoy himself.

That's when he let out a surprised gasp. Louis had fingers inside of him, and began thrusting them in and out rhythmically. Legoshi started unconsciously bucking his hips into the movement, absolutely content. Louis’ fingers curled as they planted themselves inside him, and Legoshi let out a sound so lewd he could not believe it had come from him. Louis became a blur behind him as the pleasure fogged his perception.

That's when the fingers withdrew. “N-n-no,” he breathed, shocked by his own ragged speech. Louis smirked at him, the first smile he had seen on his face since he'd grabbed his arm in the hallway on campus. Nevermind all the things that Louis had done to him thus far- that was the most breathtaking action Louis had bestowed upon him.

Legoshi had been so wrapped up in appreciating Louis that he was shattered by the pain that emerged from his rectum. Louis leaned forward, pinning Legoshi into the bed. “Shhh, baby. Don't tense up.” He whispered into his ear. Legoshi, ever the sheep, followed the directions. “Good job, baby. You're doing so well.” Louis rewarded him as he pushed himself farther into Legoshi. He patted the sides of his ribcage gently, moving his hands in soothing motions. Once Legoshi had settled around him, Louis began to move slowly. The wolf grabbed his bedsheets like they were life buoys, but nothing could save him from the ecstasy he was beginning to feel at the hands of Louis. Legoshi let out sounds that sounded alien to even himself, but he heard Louis chuckling as he pumped him. “Cunt.” Louis muttered under his breath. If Legoshi heard him, he didn't care. The air was too filled with his abhorrent sounds of appreciation.

“M-m-more, Louis” Legoshi dared to ask between thrusts. Louis peered down at his meek form, deciding what to do. He didn't stop moving, but he leaned down, using his hands to pin Legoshi's own hands on either side. “You'll do what I tell you to, whore.” Louis rasped. He then bit down on the back of his neck, cruel and unforgiving. Legoshi whimpered slightly, the pain mixing with the pleasure. At that moment, from that position, Louis’ thrusts met their mark. Legoshi began twitching from under him, unable to control his own body. Louis let out a chilling laugh, watching Legoshi become undone from beneath him as he continued to hit that spot relentlessly.

“Slut! Say my name!” Louis commanded. “L-Louis!” Legoshi replied shyly. “Louder!” Louis pressed him. Through continual hits of chemicals, Legoshi channeled all his remaining sense to howl “Louis!” right as his body gave out. With a last twitch, Legoshi leaked his fluids onto his sheets, breathing out in a ragged sigh.

Louis scoffed from where he was, and continued taking deep thrusts from within him. It wasn't over until Louis deemed it appropriate. So Louis kept moving until not long after, he reached his own limit. With a controlled grunt, he released his fluid inside Legoshi, letting it bloom there as if that was its rightful place. He quickly pulled out, and buckled his pants. All while Legoshi took shallow breaths beneath him, dazed by all the feelings he had just had the pleasure of experiencing because of Louis.

The deer climbed off of his mount, and sat beside him, waiting for the wolf to once again come to his senses. In the meantime, he went on his phone to check his emails, and proofread one of his upcoming papers. Just as he was adding a semicolon to one of his previous sentences, Legoshi stirred from beside him. Louis rolled his eyes unabashedly.

“That was… amazi-” Legoshi started, before being harshly interrupted by Louis’ cold tone. “Go take a shower; clean yourself up. You're disgusting.” And so Legoshi got up and limped towards his bathroom, daring to glance at Louis, who had his muzzle buried in his phone. Legoshi sighed, taking note of the sweet scent of release that marked the air.

Whatever had just happened, he was too happy, too content to overanalyze it to death. He smiled softly as he turned the shower's dial, making the water as hot as he could handle. He had just proved that he could handle quite a lot.

Chapter Text

Legoshi stepped under the stream of hot water, exhaling slightly. His mind ran through all the events of the afternoon. He wasn’t sure what time it was. He was so pleased, yet so caught by surprise by the whole situation. He hadn’t been expecting any of this to happen, yet Louis seemed to have it all planned out. He was so smart, so handsome.

As he passed the suds over his fur, he remembered Louis’ tongue passing over it as well. He inhaled deeply, savouring that thought. He took inventory of all the marks Louis had generously left on his skin. One, two, three, four… he’d lost count after eleven. He shuddered with the excitement of living with these marks for at least the next week. He would cherish them until the next time.

When would the next time be? Legoshi needed there to be a next time. He couldn’t imagine there wouldn't be one- he’d done exactly what Louis asked of him, and that seemed to please the pretty deer. He knew his body wasn’t nearly as perfect as his, but he seemed to be able to satisfy Louis enough… Or, was that really true? What about how Louis swatted his hand away from his trousers? Well, maybe he just didn’t want oral sex. But he had been fine performing it himself. Surely it wasn’t because he anticipated Legoshi being incapable, right?

And the missed kiss. Legoshi buried his head in his hands, trying to shake the memory out of his head. But it was in there. Ugh. He couldn’t believe he’d messed up that badly. Not only was it embarrassing, but it was also something that was impossible to forget. Legoshi’s entire life had been full of embarrassing moments, executed by his own hand. He was usually able to soothe himself by reminding himself that he was the only one obsessing over his overly stupid actions. But this was different. He knew Louis had deemed him slow.

He had a good time, evidently, but did Louis? He had come too, so that was a good sign. But only after Legoshi did. Some time after, actually. What did that mean for Legoshi? What should he have done differently? Why did Louis insist on being the top? Did he not trust Legoshi to do him right? Why had any of it happened in the way he did?

Not to mention Eve! What had that been about? Legoshi got upset just thinking about it, imagining her exposed roots sitting on the wooden floors while he was being satiated in his comfortable bed. Even now, she was still lying there, helpless. He needed to save her. He was sure it was all just a misunderstanding on his part. Louis had put aside time in his busy day to be with Legoshi, a stranger. He was a good guy. A kind man.

Legoshi quickly washed the rest of his body, being especially gentle. He was still quite exhausted from their activities. But he needed to transfer Eve into a new pot ASAP. She deserved as much care as any other living thing.

Legoshi stepped out of the shower and padded back into his room, surprised to remark that Louis was gone. Legoshi was taken over by sadness, before worry took its place. He removed himself from the doorframe, and rushed past Eve to the bay window that framed his living room, looking outside with concern. It was still raining. Not as heavily as before, but still a worrying amount. He sincerely hoped Louis was okay, driving in the rain. Although he didn’t seem very worried on the drive there. He was ever so confident. He always seemed in control. It was breathtaking.

Legoshi snapped out of his reverie, turning his attention to Eve. A frown appeared on his face, thinking about how uncomfortable Eve must be outside her pot. He began wracking his brain for his collection of pots, deciding which one would be the best to put her into. He decided on a mid-sized speckle-glazed eggshell number. Big enough to allow her room to grow, and neutral enough to let her beautiful tinted leaves shine.

Obviously Louis wasn’t a plant dad like he was. If plants weren’t his thing, what was? Certainly not pottery either. Legoshi thought long and hard as he took the time to clean the soil off his floor. He finally settled on either photography or cooking. He could imagine Louis with a collection of mirrorless DSLRs and adaptable cinematographic lenses. He could also see the deer moving around a modern monochromatic kitchen with ease, dicing vegetables and sauteing them to make some sort of impressive vegetarian dish. He longed to know more about the ravishing man.

Finally, Eve was repotted. Legoshi admired his fine work, mentally apologizing on Louis’ behalf for that misunderstanding. Leaving her back on her designated shelf, he went to go prepare dinner for himself. A mushroom and cheese omelet. Nothing fancy, but just enough to sustain him. Louis would not leave his thoughts for the rest of the evening, especially as he settled into his freshly washed sheets that night.

What he didn’t know yet was that Louis had left him a bone.

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆.𐙚˚‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.

Louis slipped out as Legoshi was in the shower. It wasn’t anything personal, he just had other places to be. Before he left, he wrote his number down on the small whiteboard Legoshi had on the side of his fridge. He knew he'd find it in due time.

He was on his way to his father’s house for dinner. He called him home once a month, just to maintain their relationship. Or so he said. He usually left his father’s house with a brand new reason to kill himself.

Pulling up to his father's five bedroom ten thousand square feet house in the richest borough of Kagiso, Louis steadied himself. He could never be ready for what his father threw at him, but he had to be.

Ogma was already sat at the formal dinner table in the dining room, on the phone with what must've been a business associate. His body language was rigid, yet open, using his hands to gesticulate, punctuate his sentences; he spoke in a harsh, whispered tone. Louis took a deep breath before sitting across from him, taking extra care in making sure his movements were fluid. The last thing he wanted to do was stumble in front of his father.

He collected his hands to sit in front of the table. He allowed his eyes to wander over the decorations in the room. Exactly the same as they had been in his childhood. Dark woods, sconces, ornate flourishes. Ogma had brought Louis into this world with one sole purpose, and it was evident. To succeed. He knew that much.

Ogma gave him a quick hand signal to tell him that he was in the process of wrapping up the call. Louis nodded, for what else could he do? He waited patiently.

Soon the call was over, and Ogma slipped his phone into his pocket. He took a short moment to collect his thoughts before he turned to his only son. “Louis. Thank you for coming.” He started with. “Of course. It’s nice to be home.” Louis responded. There was a beat of silence. Louis waited for his father to pick up the conversation.

“How is school going?” Louis internally cursed this turn, wishing his father would stop with the truisms. He knew his GPA was among the highest in his entire class. Asking was redundant. Louis civilly continued the conversation with his father as the maid brought their meals. Caesar salad and roasted carrots. Louis bided his time, navigating through the changing topics with the ease of someone who was practiced in these kinds of platitudes.

As they neared the end of their meals, Louis knew some sort of bomb was about to be detonated. He ran through the possibilities. His father was no longer contributing to his university fund. His inauguration as the head of Horns Corp. was sooner than he’d ever thought. He was being forced to give up his secret hobby of calligraphy for something more modern.

Louis was beside himself when the actual news reached his ears. “Now, I know you’ve sensed that I have news for you. Louis, in order to continue the lineage of Red Deer at the head of Horns Corp, you will one day need to find a suitable woman. I have gone ahead and done that task for you. Her name is Azuki, and she will be contacting you within the next week.”

Ogma noted how winded Louis seemed after his announcement. He knew it wasn’t good news for the deer, as arranged marriages were seen as overly traditional these days. Yet he was confident in the sense of duty that he had instilled in his son since the day he’d rescued him from the Black Market. He knew what kind of son he’d raised, and that he could be proud of him.

Louis recovered from the news as quickly as he could. He tried not to think of the irony of maintaining the sanctity of Red Deer blood when he had been inside a Grey Wolf not even three hours prior. What’s more, he still saw himself as having come from a marked heritage, having never known his biological parents who had left him to the fate of the Black Market.

The younger deer accepted the responsibility, pleasing his father. The conversation went on after that, but Louis was even less present than he had been to begin with. Finally, Ogma brought his hands together, declaring that he was happy to see his only son doing so well for himself, and that he was looking forward to their next visit. Louis accepted that cue happily, excited to get back to his apartment to decompress. Not only that, but get his readings done for the next week.

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆.𐙚˚‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.

Louis was a mess the whole trip home. There was no sugarcoating how he felt. He had always known that he would inherit his father’s capital. That wasn’t the worrying thing here. To think that Ogma wanted to have a say in not only his career, but also his partner, was horrifying to him. His entire future had been planned out by that man. If this was his plan from the start, why had he lured Louis into a false sense of freedom by withholding this key part of his future from him? Louis was angered by it all.

The white lights of his building’s parking garage shone through the skylight of his car as he reversed into his spot. He removed his key from the engine and placed his head on the steering wheel, feeling hopeless.

He moved from the parking garage to the elevator and into his apartment on autopilot, his mind elsewhere. He steps into his living room, the sharp corners and monochromatic colour scheme coming together to reflect the coldness that is encircling his heart. He knows that he must do what's right for the company- that's why his father saved him in the first place. But he also knew what he was. There was no denying that.

He sat on one of the metal chairs which accompanied the metal dining table within the odious walls of his space. With his head in his hands, he took shaky breaths. He would figure this out. He always did. He was Louis- he could do anything.

Louis spent the night in various states of compromised dread. He attempted to get through his stack of readings, but his mind was elsewhere. He found himself staring at the pages having internalized nothing of the material. He then tried writing one of his upcoming reports. He didn't get much of that done either. After those strikeouts, he ended up sitting with his thoughts for a while, which ended with him spiraling into a fit of rage.

Louis finally sat down with some parchment and a brush, and tried practicing his calligraphy to calm him down. The thought that he had to put into each stroke took up his entire consciousness, and he was enthralled by the bold black markings that he left on the material. That was, until his eye twitched and he ended up shaking his brush, making an imperfect line. That was it for him. The deer stood up with a start, his knee bumping his desk and the vial of ink splashing about, staining the parchment with putrid little dots. He'd had it.

Louis slipped on a Margiela trenchcoat from Fall/Winter 2008, grabbed his keys, and was back down at his parking spot in an instant. He ignited the ignition and sped off in a sweat, frustratingly furious.

Louis drove himself to the only spot that he could think of- the only spot that made sense. Velveteen Point. This outcrop of land was on the outskirts of the city, in a nature reserve that he'd often travelled to as a teen. When he'd needed space to himself, this spot was there for him. Despite the numerous joggers that were often about. But that usually wasn't the case at night. Although, he'd never been there this late. While he was at the Academy, he'd always had extracurriculars to attend early in the morning, preventing late night traipsing. On top of that, he'd found that in uni, it was always better to wake up before most creatures. It gave him an edge that tended to speak for itself. He couldn't usually afford to do this. But tonight was anything but usual.

So there he was, outstretched on the grass, head against his car's bumper, admiring the lights emitted from the city. He breathed a sigh as he took stock of the emotions he was feeling. Betrayal, ferocity, anger, sadness, fear. Excitement, for what he had planned for Legoshi. That was the only thing he had to look forward to. He wouldn't stop his habit just because he was being forced to marry a fertile woman. Why would he? He was Louis, and he could do anything. Within the bounds of what his father deemed appropriate. He remembered all the interspecies trysts his father had called off over the years. But he couldn’t take everything from him.

Louis paid attention to the hum of the wild mixing in with the coldness in the air. Soon, he had inadvertently been lulled into an innocent sleep. He dreamt of soft pillows and the sound of the city underneath him. He dreamt of verdant moorlands and the delicate taste of celery. He was inconsolably fragile, yet bent on being tougher than leather. He had to be, as the future head of Horns Corp.

Louis awoke to the pale light of the early morning touching his snout. It was maybe 5 or 5:30 on the clock. The valley opened itself up to the light in a welcoming yawn, and Louis was stunned by the sight. He was entranced by the mist which clouded the ground, the softness of the grass on which he sat, the glow of the city, the rustling of the trees. Then came the panic.

He'd slept in the woods. It's a miracle he wasn't fucking kidnapped. His horns could go for a pretty penny. What's more, he’d slept. In. The woods. What was he, some sort of environmental fundamentalist? Fuck no! He was Louis of Horns Corp. and there were certain activities which were simply below him. He stood up only to be greeted with a head rush, which he consequentially ignored in favour of sliding into his car and driving back to the safety of his apartment building.

It was six o'clock when Louis found himself in his building's gym, running on the treadmill as if it could take him from the horrors of what was becoming of his life. It was seven o'clock when he stepped off of the treadmill in a daze, having forgotten most of why he had slept outside in the first place. It was seven thirty when he was finally done with the loaded barbell, and on his way out.

It was seven forty-five when he stepped out of the shower, looking over his emails. Nothing yet, the slobs. It was eight o'clock when he was stood over the stove, making himself a breakfast of porridge and sliced fruit. By eight fifteen he was done eating. By eight thirty his dishes were in the dishwasher rack and he was fully dressed for the day. By eight forty-five, he was at the university, ready for his morning class followed by a block of studying, and then a group tutorial.

It was a little past eleven in the morning when Louis received a text message from an unknown number with an area code outside of that of Kagiso. It was eleven forty-five by the time Louis read it over a steaming cup of black coffee from the hidden campus coffeehouse. It was two o'clock by the time Louis had calmed his angered nerves enough to finally respond to the message.

(XXX) 648 9267: Hi, it's Legoshi. Found your note on my fridge, lol.
Louis: I can see that. How are you?

Though Louis truly did not care how the wolf was doing. He knew that after yesterday, he'd be in some amount of discomfort. That didn't matter to him.

It was almost quarter past two, and Louis was at a late lunch with one of his TAs when he felt a buzz in his pocket, knowing in his bones that it was Legoshi.

Louis went on with his day as per usual, returning to his apartment sometime after nine. The first thing he did was pour himself a glass of water. He looked over his schedule for the following day, deliberately ignoring the message he'd gotten from the wolf several hours earlier. He could wait.

That evening, Louis completed his nighttime routine before settling into his queen-sized bed, appreciating its comfort as opposed to the forest floor. He glowered, thinking of that misfortune. To add to his misery, he was so focused on topics which he now refused to name, that he couldn't fall asleep naturally. Instead, he found himself drifting off to the muffled sound of a geopolitics-themed podcast playing from his phone.

It was six fifty-five ante meridiem when Louis woke up five minutes before his alarm. He went to the gym. He showered. He ate his breakfast and checked his emails. He had no plans which required him to be at the university today, so he got dressed, and took himself to his favourite coffee shop.

Considerably out of the way, actually, fully in a different pocket of the city, Mana Bunaa was a haven for the deer. Delicious, robust coffee sourced from Ethiopia was the serendipitous backdrop for an African-themed café. With straw hut roofs hung from the walls, live plants all about the room, and quaint wooden furniture, Louis was settled into the warm environment. He was further put at peace knowing that there was absolutely no chance that he would meet someone he knew at this café. It was simply too far away from all the hubbub.

Finally in his zone for the first time in what felt like forever, Louis finally decided to put Legoshi at peace.

Legoshi: I'm fine! Thanks for asking. How are you, Louis?
Louis: I'm doing fine.

He set his phone to “do not disturb” before setting it on the table and getting to work. He finished his report, edited another one, sent a few emails, reorganized his schedule, and updated his lecture notes within the next couple hours.

At five, he checked his phone again. A couple banal texts. One from Legoshi. And one from Eugen.

Eugen Taxidermist: Was it Rosney's or Richmond's at 6? I forgot.
Louis: You have the wrong date, my friend. We'd scheduled dinner for next Tuesday at Rosney's.

Louis was proud of his quick thinking. He was on cloud nine, ecstatic of having escaped one of his business meetings. This was great news. Now he had the evening to himself.

Louis got home that evening and poured himself a glass of wine. He felt like he deserved it. He got to work making himself dinner, which consisted of braised collared greens and a variety of sautéd vegetables on a bed of quinoa.

It was as he was dicing the capsicum that he got the feeling. The thought, rather. It would be so easy for his fingers to slip under the knife. More than that, he imagined the knife following his veins up his arm, leaving a mean red streak. He imagined licking the blood- how it would taste. A little bit bitter, maybe. He imagined many more horrific things happening to his body, his orifices, and new ones alike, all sporting blood.

His vision was blurred when he finally looked down again. The hand holding the knife was shaking. He quickly dropped it onto the cutting board. Then, he sunk against his kitchen cabinets, his hands coming up to shield his face from the bright kitchen lights. He kept that position for a long while. Until he finally raised his head, and steeled himself. He made a split-second decision, and was quick with the follow-through. He had to be.

In one swift motion, he brought out his phone and hit “call.” After a few rings, Louis contemplated blaming his call on a butt dial. But that's when the wolf picked up, his breath ragged, his tone surprised.

“Uh, hello.” Legoshi spoke through the receiver. The sound reverberated through Louis’ cold apartment, his cold heart.

“Come over.” Louis said matter-of-factly. Then into the silence, he followed with his address. He could hear Legoshi scrambling to copy it down. “Uh, got it. Okay.” Legoshi responded. And that was all Louis needed to hear before he disconnected the line.

He slowly put the phone down as he forced a shaky smile. He was Louis, and he could have anything he wanted.

Chapter Text

Legoshi was at his local gym when he received a call from Louis. He immediately set his dumbbells down and consequently fumbled his phone, the device slipping out of his sweaty paws. He uttered a few curse words before he picked it back up and accepted the call.

He was relieved, to say the least. He'd been overwhelmingly happy when Louis had texted him back yesterday, but the asynchronous nature of the deer’s texts had set him on edge. Knowing that Louis wanted him a second time made his heart soar.

Trying to control himself, he cleared his throat, and focused on putting his weights away and getting home to shower. He needed to look his best. On his short walk home, he looked up Louis’ address, which turned out to be either a 45 minute walk or a 20 minute bus ride. He'd never been to that area of Kagiso before. He hadn't explored a lot of the city.

As Legoshi showered, he tried to concentrate on the feel of the water on his fur rather than the brimming anticipation that was welling up in his heart at the invitation to go to Louis’ apartment. The last time he had been this excited was probably in seventh grade when he won the track and field medal for farthest long jump in the region. His grandpa had taken him out for dinner that night to celebrate his victory, and the next day at school, his classmates looked at him a little differently. He was no longer just a weird shy loser, but a weird shy athlete. He was capable of achieving hard things.

It was only on the bus ride there that Legoshi's clothes started to feel constricting. He'd worn simple dark blue jeans and a dark grey plain cotton t-shirt. Now he was regretting all of it. Should he have worn something less casual? But this was just a hookup, so he didn't think so. But Louis must've seen something in him- enough to call him all the way to his place. He didn’t want to disappoint the smaller creature. He wanted to leave a good impression on him. Leave the door open for another rendezvous down the line.

What if he embarrassed himself again? What if Louis got mad at him? Yelled at him? Called him useless and stupid? He’d completely deserve it, he decided. He didn’t deserve Louis’ affection. He was a big bad wolf, and even though he tried to be gentle, his claws grew back every night.

Legoshi was alert on the bus, his hand poised to pull the string two stops before he was meant to get off. He was not going to miss his stop. And he was not going to get lost on the way there. He followed the directions on his phone once he got off the bus, the disembarking of his anxious energy a pleasant relief for the few creatures who were left on the bus so late.

The wolf looked up at Louis’ highrise, taking stock of what was about to become of him. He imagined the parties that the deer must attend at the rooftop garden, mingling with herbivores of all kinds. For a fleeting moment, Legoshi wondered what he might look like if he had horns. Would they be curved like Pina’s, or tall like Louis’? He shook his head as he entered the building after someone else, walking to the elevator as nonchalantly as possible. He could see his hand shaking as he pushed the button for the 14th floor, but he disregarded it. The more he focused on it, the worse it would get.

Legoshi stood outside door number 1406 for almost a minute, wondering how to knock. He didn’t want to seem too brutish. But he also didn’t want to seem meek. His tail swooshed behind him as he practiced the knock in his head for the third time. Finally, he went for it. Silence. Seconds later, his ears stood up as he heard from beyond the threshold: “Come in.”

Legoshi noticed the smell of Louis’ apartment first. Trying not to make it clear that he was sniffing the air, he picked up on the distinct scents of amber, oak, bergamot, and eucalyptus. A warm, yet energizing smell. A smell that kept him on his toes.

He slipped his shoes off on the front mat before veering off to the kitchen, from where he smelt a delicious aroma arise. Notes of celery, chives, shallots, and thyme were circulating in the futuristic open-concept space, instantly calming Legoshi’s nerves. The sight of a herbivore at work in the kitchen was a lovely domestic image. Legoshi couldn't get enough of Louis’ little tail poking out from the tailored slacks hugging his hips as he minced vegetables on a chopping board. He simply adored the way he delicately swayed as he moved the vegetables to a simmering pan. As the wolf’s nose was filled with sweet aromatics, his heart too was filled with something too sweet to name.

“The more you stare, the slower I’ll move.” Louis called from in front of him, his voice low. He was obviously taking advantage of the wolf’s naturally precise hearing. Legoshi’s eyes widened with a start, before quickly taking a seat at the island that sat in the middle of the room. Finished with a waterfall of marble, this was no ordinary seating arrangement. Legoshi’s paws ran across the smooth stone, admiring its natural finish, while also trying not to look at Louis any longer.

Soon, Louis placed a plate in front of him. The aroma was intoxicating- a mix of spices and the promise of flavourful vegetables. It wouldn’t be quite enough protein to meet his physiological requirements, but he didn’t mind. He thanked the deer who took a seat across from him, and dug into the bed of quinoa while spearing cubes of capsicum.

They ate the meal in silence. Legoshi was enjoying the vegetarian meal while Louis seemed to appreciate the quiet. Legoshi wouldn’t have started a conversation in any case. He was not that kind of guy. Once Legoshi was done wolfing down his portion and scraping the plate, he gingerly set his utensils in the middle of the plate, looking over at Louis. The deer was still in the process of eating, doing so ever so gracefully. He was poised down to the slight movements of his fingers around his fork. Legoshi was entranced, that was, until Louis raised an eyebrow at him. He looked back down at his plate, embarrassed. A blush crept along his cheeks.

Soon Louis finished his food wordlessly. Legoshi didn’t dare look up this time. He saw Louis’ hand gracefully come into his field of view, collecting his plate. “Er, I can wash the dishes!” Legoshi supplied. Louis didn’t bother looking at him as he loaded them into the dishwasher. An “oh” escaped Legoshi. Louis began moving about the kitchen once again, filling up a ceramic kettle and setting it on his gas range to boil. He was making tea. He sat down as he waited for the hiss of the water. He studied Legoshi for a harsh moment, his eyes wandering all over until they fixated on his snout. “What was the first variety of tea you remember drinking?” He asked.

Legoshi raised his head to meet Louis’ eyes, then quickly broke eye contact in order to let his gaze roam the kitchen as he thought. “Um, my family wasn’t super into tea. My mum gave it to me when I was sick. I remember peppermint. When I was maybe sixteen, my grandpa gifted me some pomegranate hibiscus loose leaf tea. That was nice.” Legoshi smiled at the memory, before looking back at Louis, who was analyzing his display, his head resting on his hand.

Louis stayed silent for a while before speaking deliberately. “You’ve never had lapsang souchong before, have you?” Legoshi shook his head quickly. Louis chuckled softly, causing Legoshi’s heart to swell in size. “No, I don't think I-” Legoshi was cut off by the hollering kettle. Much like him, it was begging Louis for his attention. Louis lifted himself from the island and brought himself to the kettle, reaching up into the reflective bronzed cabinets to pull out two handmade handleless mugs, three-quarters glazed in a soft white. Legoshi was taken by the simplistic traditional beauty of these vessels, instantly thinking of using something similar to house a pothos cutting he had recently hydropropagated.

Louis poured the water carefully into the two mugs before reaching into a drawer and bringing out a rectangular metal container followed by two cylindrical metal cages, which he inserted onto the brims of the mugs. He then scooped the tea into the cages, and poured the water overtop. He returned to the table, gently holding the mugs from the top. Legoshi appreciated the scent of something woodsy already floating up from the mug in front of him. He went to reach for it before Louis slapped his paw. “You have to wait at least three minutes for it to steep, you cretin.” Louis scolded him. Legoshi gasped in response. “Oh, sorry.” Legoshi stuck his paws under his thighs in shame.

Louis sighed. “This tea was originally developed during the Qing dynasty. When fleeing persecution by imperial soldiers, the primitive inhabitants of the Southeastern Wuyi Mountain dried their harvest in order to preserve it. The leaves were later sold to Dutch traders, who admired their unique aromatic flavour. Centuries later, it is still appreciated in certain communities for its naturalistic taste.” Louis explained matter-of-factly. Legoshi was needlessly impressed by the deer’s innate storytelling ability. He wished he was charismatic enough to be able to tell stories in such an interesting way. He wanted to be a teacher and yet presentations were still something he struggled with. Louis would be so much better as a teacher than he ever could be. And that’s not even his chosen career path. Legoshi couldn’t even fathom wanting to become a lawyer.

By the time Legoshi was done daydreaming about Louis’ natural talent, Louis was sipping his tea while watching him carefully. Legoshi could feel his cheeks redden. He felt the distinct need to say something, anything. “Um, has anyone ever told you that you’re really good at s-speaking? The way you talk is just so… enthralling.” Legoshi mentally cursed himself for stuttering. And for not thinking out his sentence before speaking it. And for being here at all. Louis was being so nice to him, and what had he offered him? He should’ve brought him a housewarming gift. He felt stupid for having come empty-handed. But if he had gone to the store before coming, he would’ve taken even longer to get there. It was bad enough that he’d had to come on public transit due to not having a car in Kagiso.

“You’re lost in your thoughts again.” Louis commented simply, as if he wasn’t bringing Legoshi’s entire ecosystem crashing down. “Er, sorry. That happens sometimes, heh.” Legoshi tried infusing that sentence with some humour in order to make himself seem less spacey. He didn’t think it worked, as Louis continued to look at him, not betraying a single thought. Legoshi, on the other hand, was an open book. He knew he was. The wolf braced himself for Louis’ judgement. He deserved it after having been so rude.

“That’s alright. Drink your tea.” Louis instructed him gently. Legoshi was caught off guard by the kindness Louis had infused into his voice, his paralinguistic signalling sweet like molasses. Legoshi wrapped his big paws around the mug and brought it to his lips, taking a small sip, letting the taste linger in his mouth before swallowing. It was bold and earthy, with enjoyable hints of pine. He was an instant fan. Is this what it was like to drink tea as an herbivore? The earthiness must remind Louis of his ancestral homeland, Legoshi thought.

“Let me riddle you this, Legoshi,” Louis started, cradling his head in his hand. Legoshi tried not to react to the electricity he felt when the deer said his name. Those phonics could ruin him. “Imagine being trained as a warrior from a young age. You are taught the skills of a fighter at the same time as you learn arithmetic. You learn the art of the blade as you learn ancient languages.” Legoshi's ears perked up. He'd never been taught any foreign languages, let alone ancient ones. Nevertheless, Louis continued: “You know it is your moral duty to one day stand on the battlefield and bring glory to your family name. However, the day of the battle finally comes, and with great terror, you realize that your enemy is made up of your own family. The people you grew up with are the foes you are meant to destroy. Tell me, how would you feel, Legoshi?”

Legoshi dragged a claw along the rim of his mug thoughtfully. “Uh… I-I'd be thrown. I couldn't kill my own family.” Legoshi thought about his compact family unit, which meant so much to him. Louis didn't know that, but maybe one day he'd share. In turn, he wanted to learn all about the deer’s family. His parents must be impressive animals to have been able to turn out such a formidable son.

“You couldn't kill them, you say? Yet that is the task you were trained to accomplish.” Louis pointed out. “Yes, but… I dunno. I just couldn't do that to my own family.” Legoshi looked up at Louis pleadingly. He didn't like this ultimatum. Louis nodded and kept going. “As you stand there, unsure of how to proceed, your trusted peer reveals himself to be a divine being. He tells you that you were meant to be a warrior, and that you must fulfill your duty. He comforts you by explaining that life goes on even after the vessel has expired. You learn through his teachings that the only way to meet salvation is to dissolve your worldly concepts of the ‘self,’ and rather, seek oneness with the divine. So rather than acting in search of a certain outcome, act out of your love for the sacred.” Louis let his words hang for a few moments.

“It is thus that it should be concluded that in order to live a fulfilling life, one must never stray from their path in life, and must never desire a thing, as all things but the soul are temporary. Even that is ephemeral. The only true power is God. It's a cute little story, isn't it?

Legoshi felt compelled to answer at this point. “Yeah… Yeah, it's a good story.” Legoshi supplied. Louis snarled, unsatisfied with this empty response. “So, Legoshi. Don't you desire to know how the warrior proceeded?”

Legoshi nodded his head tightly, not wanting to rock the boat any more. “Well,” Louis started, “The divine messenger in the form of his friend proclaimed that he would find his glory on the battlefield. That is all. How does that make you feel?”

“It's all very… ‘the curtains are blue,’ I guess.” Legoshi offered, taking a sip of his tea. He glanced at Louis, who was eying him down with the sharpness of a Black Market butcher's knife. He quickly refocused his attention on his remaining tea.

“You mean to say that the interpretation of the text is more fanciful than the author had intended the text to be read? Tell me how that applies, Legoshi, when the sacred creature is pointblank asking the protagonist to abide by certain specific rules.”

Legoshi gulped with the knowledge of having once again said the completely wrong thing. But he knew Louis wouldn't let him back down like he wanted to. “I-I just meant, that, as an educator, I think we sometimes force our own ideas onto the stories we hear. Maybe ‘glory’ could've meant that the hero just walked away, and dedicated his life to pleasing the sacred in a different way. The author left the story open ended, which opens it to multiple interpretations. But it's more than likely that most listeners read too far into it.”

Louis scoffed, giving him an exasperated look. “Er, that's just one way to look at it, though.” Legoshi followed. Louis looked away sharply, as if the sight of Legoshi hurt his eyes. Legoshi thought it actually might. He was nowhere near as elegant as the deer. He never could be.

“Just now, how did you refer to the main character of the story?” Louis asked in a low tone. “Um, I don't remember, really.” Legoshi responded quickly.

Louis turned his head to make direct eye contact with Legoshi, who felt extremely uncomfortable. He could feel the fur on his arms stand up as he forced himself to hold the amber gaze of the man he admired so much.

Louis chuckled, and tilted his head to the side slowly. It was a chilling sight. “You called him the ‘hero.’” Louis clarified. “Oh, okay.” Legoshi responded without much thought. All he wanted to do was avoid any confrontation. He felt exhausted having already had to stand his ground. Louis repeated his sentence, this time putting emphasis on each individual word. “You. Called. Him. The. ‘Hero.’” That's when Legoshi glanced to the side- a fatal mistake. In a flash of prey-driven speed, Louis was in front of him, much too close. Legoshi inhaled, and it was unclear whether it was to take in Louis’ mesmerizing scent, or out of shock.

“Nobody is a hero when the standard is between vilification and deification.” Louis growled. He then took Legoshi's muzzle into his hand. “The only thing stopping me from being a hero is the fact that I am already God.”

Legoshi gulped upon hearing this proclamation, then glanced away again. He briefly thought about making up an excuse about an overdue paper to get himself out of all the incessant eye contact. But he really liked Louis, and he didn't want to ruin his chance with him. For once in his life, he was confident about the words he was about to say.

“If you're God… Make me find the sacred within you.” Legoshi breathed.

Louis exhaled in an exalted sort of way, before closing the gap between their snouts. Immediately, Legoshi was beyond happiness. He didn't even notice his tail wagging until Louis reached back and took it by the fluff. That action only made him even more excited. Before long, Louis' tongue had him making sounds and wishing there were fewer clothes between them.

Louis licked Legoshi's bottom lip before pulling away, smirking zealously. He used both his paws to take hold of the wolf’s, and with some strength, pulled him up out of his chair. Louis pushed him against the kitchen counter and kept kissing him relentlessly. Legoshi could barely contain himself, and Louis took it all in his stride. After one particularly hard bite to his bottom lip, Legoshi slightly bent over and grabbed a hold of the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and dumping it on the ground unceremoniously. Louis couldn't help but chuckle into the kiss, the upturning of his lips making Legoshi's dick twitch.

Louis spent the next few minutes leading Legoshi to his bedroom in a flurry of hot kisses and needy touches. When they finally made it down the hall and through the door, Legoshi couldn't help but gasp at the sight. Floor to ceiling white organza curtains framed the picture-perfect view of the city below. A queen-sized bed lay in the middle of the room, mid-grey silk sheets making it look ever so heavenly. The wall behind the headboard was painted a verdant forest green, and Legoshi thought back to the moorlands from which red deer originate. This room was so fitting for someone of Louis’ eminence. Louis tugged him by the collar once he'd spent too much time admiring the room, grounding him.

Before he knew it, Legoshi was lying on the silk sheets, gasping for air as if he were an underwater diver. Louis had torn his pants off, and was currently taking Legoshi's length into his mouth without any sign of discomfort. The movements of his head were measured and calculated; Louis seemed to have made the art of giving head into a hard science. Legoshi was experiencing the kind of feeling that he assumed was only reserved for Heaven.

Just when Legoshi was about to experience immaculate bliss, the movement stopped abruptly. Opening his eyes with a start, Legoshi looked down in between his knees to see Louis wiping saliva off of his chin with the back of his hand. The deer then took hold of Legoshi’s legs and pinned them above his shoulders, keeping him in place. It was from that position that Legoshi felt the fingers in his asshole, causing him to arch his back into the movement. Then, he pleaded with Louis, begging to be filled. That’s when Louis paused, giving him a knowing look. Legoshi brought a paw up to cover his mouth in embarrassment.

Louis sighed before instructing Legoshi further: “Remove the paw. I want to hear every sound you make.” And so shakily, Legoshi removed his paw, relocating it to his side. In the next few moments, Louis inserted himself into the wolf, being gentle enough not to cause too much unneeded discomfort. Soon, Louis could feel Legoshi’s legs shaking as he pumped into him, building up vigour. Lewd noises filled the room, and for once in his life, Louis felt like everything was in its right place.

Louis focused on maintaining a steady rhythm as he thrust inside Legoshi. He took in the awe-inspiring sight before him. Legoshi was completely vulnerable from underneath him, his dick bouncing on his stomach as he shook with the weight of Louis’ motion. It was breathtaking. Louis was sure that whatever were to happen to him, this would be the one thing that he could not give up. He couldn’t let go of Legoshi.

Then his mind started to wander. The image in front of him became blurry as he was transported to a different place in his mind. He was in a dark room, and a disembodied hand was using a scalpel to create various incisions running up his right leg. From there, another set of hands roughly held him down, strapping him to a bed. He was helpless and hands came from each and every direction, caressing him and cutting smooth streaks into his skin. At a certain point, after what felt like hours under the knife, Louis passively accepted what was happening to him, and no longer paid it any mind.

Louis was catapulted right back into the moment, then. He glanced back down at Legoshi, who was still in a state of bliss, probably close to finishing. Louis focused on his movements, counting in his head: 1-2-1-2, and so on. This helped him make sure that he did not lose track of Legoshi’s pleasure. The counting also gave him something to focus on, as he narrowed his eyes on Legoshi’s lithe figure. Momentarily, the wolf started twitching, and Louis knew that his time was finally up. He was thankful for that. With a loud exclamative, Legoshi released fluids onto his stomach, his asshole contracting around where Louis still found himself inside him. Louis didn’t even bother finishing, instead electing to immediately remove himself. He had lost his momentum anyways.

Louis leaned down to give Legoshi a heartfelt kiss, so that he would not be able to forget who made him come to this magnificent conclusion. Louis put all his technique into it, as well as his emotions. The betrayal he felt at the hands of his father, the dread he felt at seeing the images of those horrible things happening to him, but also his desire to continue to see Legoshi, to be the one who he obsessed over.

Louis kept kissing him, and then went to lovingly pepper kisses all over his torso. For him, it was more of an apologetic gesture, to elevate himself after having checked out during the sex. Not that Legoshi had noticed. No, he was too busy being fucked like the little whore he was. Still, this made Louis feel better about the whole ordeal.

After a few minutes, Louis was relieved to find that Legoshi had fallen asleep. Planting one last chaste kiss on his forehead, Louis laid down beside him to think. That’s when Legoshi briefly opened his eyes in search of him. He turned his head and smiled softly upon seeing Louis. He brought himself into Louis’ arms, muttered something mellow in his reverie, and then passed out again, this time, a look of affection written plainly on his face.

Louis laid there for an hour, staring at the ceiling. He tried desperately to throw any thoughts out of his mind. When a thought would appear, he would disparage himself, then discredit the contents of the thought, then imagine it materializing only so he could swing at it with an axe. This helped him somewhat.

Unsurprisingly, the thoughts became overwhelming after some time. They came too quickly for his swings, and his arms were getting tired. He was so tired of it all. He came back to the present, and lo, the giant wolf was still nestled perfectly into his arms. He looked at him, analyzing the white patch of fur which adorned his face. Legoshi could be beautiful if Louis styled him. But that was just a fleeting thought.

Louis laid there until he couldn’t take it anymore. The warmth of the wolf in his arms made him feel anxious, as if he couldn’t escape the embrace. He’d played no part in it. Legoshi had hugged him. He was utterly uncomfortable laying there in that position against his will. What’s more, Legoshi was emitting a soft sound every time he took in air, and the rhythm of his faint snoring grew to annoy Louis to no end. Yet he forced himself to stay there longer. He knew that his father wouldn’t want this for him, and that thought emboldened him. He also took the heat in his heart as a challenge, wanting to see how long he could outlast the feeling.

In a burst of anger, Louis knew he had reached his breaking point. Gently, he picked up the wolf’s arm which was slung over his torso, and laid it down in between them, almost freeing his escape route. Then he moved Legoshi’s head off of his chest, an action that took more than ten minutes of careful movements. Legoshi continued snoring quietly, his face a little less blissful. But Louis was past his point of caring. He had withstood enough domesticity to pay for his sin.

Louis cautiously removed himself from his own bed, careful not to make any big movements which might awake the sleeping wolf. That was the last thing he needed. He imagined Legoshi searching for him, sitting up, his fur all messed up, rubbing his eyes. Wolves could see in the dark- they were crepuscular animals once, meaning they were most active at dusk and dawn. He would feel out of place in Louis’ smart bedroom, and would wander around his apartment, room by room, looking for him. He would hate that so much.

Louis set off to the bathroom, turning on the shower as he looked at himself in the mirror. There were no cuts anywhere, no bruises, nothing. His fur was short and well-groomed, his antlers standing tall and proud. He was a perfect model of what the male red deer should look like. He knew who he was, and what he would achieve. He kept that in mind as he stepped under the warm water.

He focused on the steps of his shower routine. But as he was moving the soap along his forearms, he took note of an unusual feeling. The skin that he was touching became increasingly itchy, unignorably so. He felt more than compelled to scratch at it. But he had been taught as a child to never scratch at his skin. So he kept moving the suds over his body. Yet, the feeling never went away, only spreading across his skin. Soon it was unbearable, and he was unable to think of anything else but scratching at himself.

In one quick motion, he turned the water from warm to cold, hoping the change in temperature would help subdue the urge. It did not. He finished lathering his body, pressing firmly into his skin so as to alleviate some of the feeling. It did not go away. In frustration, he slammed his fists against the tiled wall, something that only made the compulsion more serious. Then, in a flash of hysteria, Louis suddenly had the answer to this affliction: bugs. It felt like there were bugs underneath his skin.

With no other choice, Louis took his fingernails and dug into his skin, willing to free himself of this plight. His hands travelled all over his body, scratching and scraping at himself animalistically. There was not even any vestigial control left in his mind, but pure irrationality. He did not know how long he’d stood there, gnawing at himself, before the water by his feet started to be tinted pink. A gasp escaped his lips as his eyes widened with terror at the realization of what he’d done to himself. His skin was burning and hot to the touch, despite the cold water still hitting it. The stream of water begun to feel more like a deluge rather than a rainfall. He turned the water lukewarm, and the temperature only made him feel faint.

But he needed to wash the blood off. So he lathered himself once again, this time being gentle with himself. He rinsed quickly, then turned the water off. He did not know how long he stood there, staring at nothing in particular. If there was a God watching over him, He had turned a blind eye for this.