We're Only Animals: Book 2 - Part 1: Building the Tower

Chapter 18 - Blinded and Reminded

The next day, Louis awoke rather late in the afternoon, and his first thought was that he shouldn't be a horrible animal and call Legosi. Part of the reason was that, the other was...He just wanted to. He sat up, grabbing his phone that was on the bed and dialing the Grey wolf, yawning as he raised the phone to his ear.

It barely rang once before the call was answered. "Hello! Louis!" The deer could hear his heavy breathing from the other end of the line and the desperation in his voice.

Louis blinked, adjusting his legs under the covers. "H-hey, Legosi..."

"Louis," the wolf sniffed very audibly. "Louis...are-are you okay?"

"I don't know...I feel lost..."

Legosi wasn't sure what to say. His head was spinning. Was this even real? "Wh-where are you? Are you back at Horns?"

"I'm safe, don't worry," the deer explained. His heart was pounding.

"Safe...good. Good, Louis. I'm glad you're safe, at least." Legosi whined, having lost his battle with his tears. "I...I will respect your...boundaries. But remember I'll always be there to protect you. I want to...I love you, Louis. I love you. I love you, I love you, I love...you..." He was nearly breaking down, now.

"L-Legosi..." the buck sniffed. "Calm down..." He could barely form whole sentences.

"I CAN'T!" Silence. Legosi's outburst had startled both of them.

"Please, Legosi..."

"D-don't...don't tell me to calm down," he whispered. "This...it's just like our fight back at Cherryton. I can't calm down...not when you're hurting and pushing me away..."

"I just...don't know what to do right now. I feel sick and confused. There's this heavy weight on me."

Legosi gulped. "I'm...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. I still want to help you...with that weight. With your sickness. I want to try and help."

"I don't know why I've been acting so stupid lately..."

"It's okay, Louis! You need help. Pina said...He said you'd try and get therapy. That can help!"

"And my father is going to pay for it..." Louis sighed. "I hope I never have to go back to a place like that."

Legosi was quiet for a moment. "O-Oguma??"

"Yeah. He came and visited me while I was there. Legosi..." He laid back on the bed, looking at the ceiling. "He does love me, after all."

"I...That's really good to hear, Louis!" A smile was clear in the wolf's voice, now. "I was always so afraid he was going to catch us and lock us up after shooting his ear."

The deer chuckled. "I probably would have shot his other ear at that point."

"Hey, then he could buy some fancy earrings!" Legosi allowed himself to giggle. "Maybe he saw that you matched now when he visited. B-because of your earring."

Louis smiled, lightly. "Haha, maybe. It was so good to finally get closure from him, honestly."

Legosi put the call on speakerphone and laid the phone next to him, imagining that his mate was there. "I bet. Maybe one day I'll be able to properly meet him." He could feel his muscles relaxing for the first time in a while. He brought a hand to trace over his scars.

Louis blinked. So they both knew. "I still don't forgive him. But...I'm glad we can start getting better."

"Y-yeah..." The wolf panicked a little, feeling the conversation slip away. "Louis...I love you."