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

Chapter 85 - My Eyes On You, Your Eyes On Us

Later that day...

Bill was sitting on the couch in Gosha's living room, fiddling with his big hands rather anxiously. He couldn't recall a time when he was more nervous to meet Pina. The lizard had left him a spare key under the mat so he could let himself in and wait.

He wondered if his boyfriend would be any different. It hadn't been that long, but it felt like forever. The biggest and dumbest thing he worried about was if their spark was still there.

Ever since Riz, the tiger had become less and less social with those at Cherryton, finding he preferred spending time alone. He had started reading more and researching things he was interested in. One of those things being relationships. He had read that when couples are separated for a good while, they tend to realize they are better off that way.

Another thing he looked up was why he didn't feel like socializing with other animals that weren't Pina, Louis, or Legosi and he found that because they had shared trauma, he was more attached to them than others because they have a stronger connection. Man, he missed those guys...

Suddenly, Bill's phone buzzed with a message.

Pina: im comin òwó

Bill: how close?

Pina: wait a bit

Bill: ok

It was another few long minutes before the doorbell rang twice, followed by a few knocks, making Bill jump. Nobody else but Pina would be that obnoxious, though.

The tiger rushed to the door and opened it quickly, seeing his sheep there.

Despite everything, Pina looked more or less the same, albeit tired and with his wool not brushed as well as it usually is. He looked at the tiger with his aqua-colored eyes and a smile spread across his face like a wildfire, and his tail flicked erratically. His arms were around his strong torso, then.

"Sorry," he whispered.

Bill hugged back tightly, clutching him. "It's okay..." He fumbled with his next words. "Can I, uh, kiss you? If that's okay?"

"Not if I kiss you first." And the sheep did, softly, on the lips, before opening his mouth and pushing in to reach his rough tongue.

Bill kissed back passionately. The spark wasn't gone. His fears melted away as they kissed on the porch and he knew that Pina was still his.

Pina pulled away and looked past the tiger. "Gosha's not here, right?"

"Not right now. He's at work," Bill said. "Just you and me."

"Good. We can talk then." Pina stepped in and closed the door behind him before crouching down to untie his boots. Here, Bill noticed the sheep looked a bit more fit.

He smiled at this. "Well look at you, Mr...uh...um...I lost it."

Pina looked up and smiled. "Beautiful?"

"That's one word." He had already had his shoes off before, so he just stood and watched. "It's so good to see you...god..."

Pina stood up and walked up to him, resting a hand on his strong chest while the other played with the fur on his cheek. "Forgot just how orange you are. Your fur is so pretty." He brought both hands up to his face and mushed his cheeks up. "Uuugh, I'm so sick of being around herbivores all the time. I needed you."

"I need you, too...but I haven't been around many animals lately..." he said, blushing. "Uh...yeah."

"No wonder you wanted Legosi and Louis to come. Of course, the rest of today is just us." Pina nuzzled their noses together.