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

Chapter 27 - After the Party

They descended the steps and entered their room, noting that they had to remember to find out the best way to do dishes while living there. They then gathered a change of clothes and headed to the showers.

Louis stayed smiling the whole time, obviously excited for what was to come. "At least we can still shower together..."

"Too bad we can't fix all of this ourselves," Louis sighed. "But that's okay. I mean, in the end, it works."

"Maybe we should ask everyone if they could pitch in somehow."

They soon came to the bathroom, noting only one other animal using a shower. They set their hamper down next to the shower they were going to use and stripped, depositing the clothes into the basket they brought.

The buck opened the curtain and pulled his wolf inside. "I do have to say, we're lucky the showers can still be hot and relaxing."

"Yeah. We just have to remember to buy some better shampoo sometimes. These soap bars they provide have no scent." Legosi picked up one of them. It was white and lifeless.

Louis stepped away from it to let it heat up. "You think so? Is it better than just my pure scent?"

Legosi stepped away with him, pushing him against the wall of the stall gently, grinning. "Your scent...it's like a good base. It becomes even better with other things added...or I guess...those scents become better because yours is with them..."

His husband smiled up at him. "I wish I felt the same about wet dog."

"That's another reason we need nicely-scented shampoo again," Legosi grumbled.

His lover chuckled, feeling his tail move against the wall. This was quite the position, after all.

The water warmed up and Legosi gently pulled Louis into the water with him. He used the soap to rub his chest.

"So, did you have fun up there?" Louis asked.

"I did. We have really nice neighbors."

"Fortunately. It makes sense since outcasts live here. They'd obviously stick together."

"Outcasts..." It felt strange on the wolf's tongue, still. Sure, he had always been an outcast, but being an outcast specifically for loving Louis...

The buck sighed. "Yeah...Just for being us. That's the world we live in."

"Well, there's still plenty of animals who love us for who we are. That won't change." Legosi moved his hands to wash the top of Louis' antlerless head.

"So, I've been wondering...Antlers or not?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do you prefer?"

"I love your antlers..." Legosi reached his hand up to trace where they would be. "However, having them out of the way for a bit lets us do new things, too."

"And those things have been really fun! All the cuddling and positions..."

"Exactly! But your antlers are part of what makes you...you." The canine finished washing his head, moving to his ears. "Well, so is not having them for a bit, too."

"So then, you like them how they are. There most of the time but occasionally shed?"

Legosi nodded with a smile. "Because that's just how you are!"

"I should have known," he chuckled.

They continued to embrace and wash each other, the event that was to follow predominantly in their minds.