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

Chapter 34 - Thank You

It was Tuesday. Louis' meeting with Ichi was tomorrow. If he didn't have his own anxiety to remind him, Legosi certainly would have: the wolf would not leave his side since that morning, even taking trips down to the bathroom with him. Around noon, Louis was making lunch and Legosi stood directly behind him, stiff as a board.

The deer looked down as he worked, feeling the air from the canine's nostrils hit him. "You don't have to stand behind me all day."

"...Okay." The warm air receded, but Louis could tell Legosi was still behind him, just a bit farther.

He turned his head, looking at his husband. "You're acting like you did when we went and stole that bat with Pina."

The wolf let out a huff and clenched his fists. "I...I need to keep you safe."

"Well, they haven't put any microphones in our apartment at least. Locking the door is definitely something we need to do now."

Legosi nodded, looking over to the windows, which still had the cardboard wedged into them, this time to prevent prying eyes from gazing in, even though there were no buildings that reached five stories adjacent to them. He let out a growl. "It's...it's not fucking fair!"

"It is what it is," Louis said, sighing. "My life."

Legosi's growl turned into a groan and he slumped into a kitchen chair. "It's like the world is telling us 'no'."

The buck snorted. "Did you expect anything else? You expected to date a deer and the world just be fine?"

"Well I mean, we still have all the troubles associated with that, and I feel like we're doing a good job dealing with them, but this is just..." the wolf gestured vaguely, but with force. "This is like some movie!"

"We don't even know what he wants, Legosi!"

"With a death threat," he grumbled, laying his head on the table.

"...Yeah." He went back to making lunch. "I do have a bad feeling about it."

"Of course." Louis could hear his husband fidgeting. "I'm...I'm having some bad thoughts."

"Oh yeah? Like?"

"That...That I want to...hurt...that deer."

"Maybe he's bluffing and won't kill you. He doesn't know you know."

Legosi stood from his chair so fast it skid on the wooden floor, slightly. "No, you don't understand! That's a bad thought for a carnivore to have! Carnivores should never think of hurting herbivores! It leads to predation!"

Louis turned around. "I do understand!"

Legosi deflated and sat back down. "I'm sorry, hon..."

"You're clearly very upset about this. It's totally okay."

The dog nodded. "Let's just try to enjoy the rest of the day."

Louis sighed, continuing to make their sandwiches. "I really don't know what it could be."

"Guess we'll find out," Legosi resigned.

"...I should go alone, right?"

"Unless you can think of someone that isn't me."

"What do you mean?"

"Maybe...have someone go that isn't me. I don't think any of our neighbors would want to go, though." Legosi mumbled.

"No, no, no...We can't rope anyone into this..."