Chapter 1 - The First Day of Our New Lives

"So, this place is really called that? 'The Hidden Condo'?" Gosha the komodo dragon asked, smiling as he kept his eyes on the road.

"Yes, grandpa." Legosi the grey wolf was transfixed by the movement outside, finding it hard to concentrate. If he had been at the window seat, his head would have been hanging outside of it.

Louis the deer was holding his hand and looking down at his feet as he felt the movement of the vehicle. "Wonder why it's called that. It's not very hidden."

"Well, the person showing us the room mentioned how animals that don't want to be noticed live there," his fiance recalled.

"And you're sure this is the only place that would accept you two?" Gosha tapped his claw on the steering wheel, waiting for the light to change.

The deer sighed. "Trust me when I say, yes. I was getting very frustrated for a while, ask Legosi. I even went off on a few realtors."

"Only because you refused to hide our relationship." The canine held no resentment in his tone as he said this. He actually sounded a bit proud.

"Because that's fucking dumb!" Louis hissed. "Oop, Sorry grandfather."

"It's fine! I like the foul mouth. It doesn't match your appearance at all." Gosha smirked as the light changed and they rumbled along.

"I'm just...passionate is all..." the deer mumbled.

The buildings passing them grew less and less extravagant as they headed closer and closer to the area surrounding the Black Market.

Legosi looked up from the map on his phone. "Next right, grandpa."

"This one?" Gosha put his turn signal on.

"No, no! Next right!"

Louis continued to look down. He was feeling a bit nervous about all this. Would they be able to be on their own and handle finances all alone?

"How did that interview go, Legosi?" The lizard took the correct right, much to the boys' relief.

"Oh, I got the job right away! I told him I'd start once we've settled. Thanks again for paying for the rent for the first month..." Legosi rubbed the back of his neck.

Louis grinned. "Yes, thank you so much for that. I promise I'll have a job by the end of the month."

"What have you been looking into?" the old dragon asked.

"Only restaurants. There are a few that are interesting, but none of them really stick out as the right thing for me. "

Legosi reached over and pressed his pinky into Louis' cheek. "Pickyyyy."

"What? I just want to find a job I'm happy with!"

The truck turned another corner and the old building the two would soon call home came into view. Gosha gawked at it. "Whaaat? Is that the place?"

"That's the place," Legosi and Louis answered, simultaneously.

"...Now I see why it was so cheap. Alright, where can I park..."

"Even if it was cheap, it's all we got. Plus, I have my gun and Legosi has himself for protection. No matter how it looks, we'll make it our little place."

Gosha let out a noise akin to a concerned whine. "Mmm...okay. Just be careful!"

"We will! We can handle anything now," The deer smirked. Ever since the night with Riz, he had gotten even closer to Legosi than before and even more passionate about their relationship.

They had managed to fit most of their necessities into the truck: the couch from the Cherryton place, as well as the television, Louis' kitchen supplies, a mini fridge, a microwave, a small table with chairs, and assorted odds and ends. Unfortunately, getting a bed up the stairs and into the room was out of the question, so the two had to buy a large-sized rollout futon.

Louis kept his smile. "Wonder when the others will get here."

"Oh yeah, you said your friends were coming to help. I can't wait to meet them!" Gosha beamed at the two. "So...I guess until then you can show me the room, so I know where everything is going."

Louis grabbed his mate's hand as they began the walk to the apartment. "I honestly still can't believe it."

"Our very own place!" Legosi's voice was giddy, and a few passerby in the lounge looked at them as if they were crazy.

"Yep! I'm...honestly so excited to decorate it and stuff. I love things like that."

The room was up two flights of stairs and down a long hallway. Louis pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the door to their room, revealing a small, empty space. Gosha peered in, noting the peeling walls and moldy ceiling. "Ah...well...this is a fixer-upper, alright!"

"Louis already has a notebook started with how he plans to make it nice!" Legosi bounced up and down as he relayed the information, tail wapping on the doorframe.

"I've been working pretty hard on it..." The deer blushed. "Now that we're away from the school, I feel a complete sense of freedom."

Gosha glanced over at his grandson with a bit of concern. "I still hope you'll be okay. Dropping out of school and all..."

"We'll be fine, grandpa!" the wolf assured.

Louis stepped closer to the old lizard. "Don't worry, grandfather. We'll keep you updated." At that moment the deer's phone buzzed and he pulled it out.

Pina: were r uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Louis: In the room, why?

Pina: me and bill are outside ready to help by the truck

Louis: Be right out!

"Pina and Bill are outside waiting," he announced to the other two animals.

Legosi's tail began to wag even faster. "Oh! We haven't seen them in so long! And they get to meet grandpa!" The wolf took off down the hall, heavy footsteps sounding like they could break through the old wood.

Louis chuckled and ran after his excited mate. "Wait for me!"

Gosha shook his head and smiled. "These kids."

Louis was behind Legosi as the wolf ran to the tiger and sheep and hugged them. The buck stepped forward behind them and grinned. "Hey, you two! Long time, no see!"

Bill clapped his hands together. "Louis!" He came over and gave him a noogie. "Too bad your antlers aren't gone so this can be easier!" During the fight with Riz, Louis had shed his antlers, but now, weeks had passed since then and they had grown back.

"Should have taken your chance when they shed," Pina laughed.

Gosha soon stepped out, seeing everyone excitedly greeting each other. "Ah, you're the help I was told about!"

Pina and Bill looked at the newcomer, suddenly remembering that Legosi was a hybrid. Pina walked up to him and extended a hand. "Pina the dall sheep. Nice to meet you."

The dragon simply bowed. "Hello! I'm Legosi's grandpa, Gosha! My venom is very dangerous, so please don't touch me!"

Legosi rolled his eyes.

The sheep blinked in surprise and retreated his hand, wiping it on his jeans. "Uh, kay!" He glanced over at Bill.

The tiger held up a peace sign. "Hi! I'm Bill.. Pina's boyfriend. It's good to meet you, man."

Pina couldn't help but laugh, which he tried to hide with a snort. The feline had been greeting everyone like that since the incident.

"Nice to meet you both! I hope you're ready to do some work!" Gosha winked.

The herbivore shrugged. "Depends if my leg's up to it."

Legosi peered down, noting Pina's pants hid the prosthetic he had recently received.

"I'm always ready to workout," Bill said, pumping a fist.

Louis looked to Pina. "How's the leg?"

"New!" Pina shot his right leg up and reached down to pull his pants up, revealing the new metal appendage which glinted in the early spring light. "My parents managed to get me a pretty nice one. I'm still getting used to walking on it, though."

"Woah..." Louis scratched his cheek. "I can't imagine what I would look like if I had to get one."

The leg went back down. "You'd probably adorn it with jewelry, you queer."

"That's not true!" The deer argued.

Legosi walked past him toward the van. "It's kinda true."

"What do you mean?" Louis followed him.

"Well, you'd probably want to make your leg look nice with an outfit. Like with your antlers." Legosi reached up and touched one of the newly grown horns.

"But I wouldn't decorate the leg itself..."

"Sure you could!" Pina followed along. "Just adorn it with gemstones! You could do it for cheap with some plastic and a hot glue gun."

"That sounds awful!" Louis laughed.

The group of animals approached the back of the van, with Legosi, Bill, and Gosha reaching for the large furniture while Louis and Pina opted for the cardboard boxes full of assorted items. They carried them through the lobby and up the stairs, thankful that most of the residents were either in their rooms or at work.

The deer turned to the sheep. "You better visit often."

Pina gazed at the room they were entering. "As long as it doesn't give me tetanus, I could see myself coming back."

Bill raised a brow. "How would it do that?" He walked past them.

"Uhh...miasma?"

"It's not that bad," Legosi pouted, carrying the couch with Gosha's help.

Louis walked inside with his box and set it down. "It's really not. We like it! It's...quaint."

His fiance and future grandfather-in-law set the couch down against a wall, and as soon as it touched the floor, the wolf sprang up. "And! Louis has all these plans to make the place nice! Like, little colored lights along the walls, and some nice rugs, and curtains!" He counted each thing off on his clawed fingers.

"Exactly!" The deer said. "Very true, I have a whole journal. Too bad we...ran out of money. Almost."

Pina looked over at him with a warm smile. Knowing his past and upbringing, it was nice seeing him genuinely excited about living somewhere that was leagues below what he grew up with.

Legosi and Gosha slid past them, eager to fill the room with more belongings.

Louis went out to get another box along with Pina. The animals continued pulling stuff out of the truck until the studio was full of boxes.

Bill put his hands on his hips as he looked around. "Not really much room here..."

"Well, the TV is going on the wall, so...we'll have the space the box is currently taking up..." Legosi offered. Bill was right, though. Between the couch, table, chairs, minifridge, and the oven that was already there, there was just enough room to walk around in. The rolled up futon in the corner looked like it might not even have enough space to unfurl.

The tiger blinked. "This is really the best you could do?"

Louis sighed. "Bill."

The cat scrunched his nose. "With a dump like this, it's gonna be hard to fuck without anyone hearing you."

Legosi's ears perked. "Bill!"

Pina went to his boyfriend's side, hand on his arm. "Well, he has a point. There's a reason you guys are living here and not, well...somewhere else?"

"No place would accept us."

A palpable silence filled the room until Gosha cleared his throat. "W-well, I think now would be a good time for lunch, no?"

The deer looked to his mate. "Hungry?"

The wolf licked his lips. "Do you need to ask?"

At lunch, the animals were all sitting at a big round table, with Louis next to Legosi, Legosi next to Gosha, Gosha next to Bill, and Bill next to Pina. They had all been in the middle of eating when Louis looked up. "So...Did stopping Riz make the school change their mind about segregation?"

Pina looked up from his salad in confusion, before dawning realization replaced it. "Oh right, you guys left Cherryton right after all of that."

Bill huffed. "It didn't do shit, even though Riz confessed to his crimes and went to juvenile prison. I guess they wanna prevent more Rizes or some shit. Excuse the language, Gosha-san."

The lizard nodded to the tiger to assure him it was okay, since his mouth was full.

Pina continued his boyfriend's thought. "Yeah, I'm guessing the school board was pushing for segregation even before this. This was just a good excuse for it. So starting next semester..." He put his fork down, frowning.

Louis sighed. "How are you guys going to handle that?"

"Well, Bill is going to graduate in a year anyway, meaning we would have to separate for at least one year after that. Plus, we can still sneak around and stuff. You know how good I am at that." Pina managed a wink, despite his dipping mood.

The deer smiled. "You know I kissed Riz, right?"

The other couple stared at him, unspeaking, while Legosi just groaned and covered his face. Gosha, knowing he had nothing to do with the conversation, checked out completely and was staring out the window.

"Strategic kiss! It worked! Anyway, he called me a perv after and I winked and told him not to forget that I was a homosexual, too. That was for you, Pina," Louis explained with a soft smile.

The sheep did his signature scrunched up face look he gave whenever he was skeptical or confused. "You winked...with one eye?"

"You can do it!" Louis argued. He began winking with his only eye, again and again. "See?"

Legosi nodded, enthusiastically. "Yeah, yeah! Those are winks!"

Pina looked at Bill skeptically, waiting for his verdict.

The tiger had a judgemental face. "Right...So what was kissing Riz like?"

Louis crossed his arms. "Hm, I dunno Bill, what's kissing a psychopath like?"

"Amazing, right?" Pina beamed at him.

The tiger coughed a bit. "Interesting you've dealt with like, two, now."

The cervid groaned. "No, it wasn't amazing and...It's because I'm unlucky." He thought about the 4 on his right foot. "Honestly, I'm just glad you're alive."

Bill nodded. "I know, right! The moment we get to have sex again, it's going to be incredible!"

Louis looked to Gosha and made a face. "Bill..."

The lizard held his large hands up. "Ah, no problem! I know how young boys are! I'm done with my meal anyway, so I'll be outside waiting!" He took his plate and cup and quickly made his way out.

Bill furrowed his brows. "Young boys...?"

Pina leaned into him. "You made him uncomfortable 'cuz you were talkin' about fucking."

Louis rolled his eyes. "That's the Bill we know and love."

Legosi just sat there, ears folded and face red with embarrassment.

The feline's arms went around Pina. "Even though this segregation thing is gonna suck major dick, we'll get through it."

"And we're going to suck major dick, too!" Pina chimed.

Louis rested his head in his hand. "We don't really do that."

The wolf poked the deer with his nose. "We do, sometimes..."

"Rarely...We do...Other things more."

Bill squinted. "You guys are missing out!"

"W-well..." Legosi twiddled his thumbs. "I'm...big..."

The deer nodded, now coughing himself. "Y-yep...He suddenly had a thought. Have you guys ever...Used a muzzle?"

"Muzzle?" Pina looked at Bill in amusement.

Bill purred. "Sounds hot. You guys have one, I assume?"

"Do we still have it?" Legosi asked.

Louis thought for a moment. "I think so."

The tiger's ears perked. "Ooh, can we borrow it? That could make things interesting!"

"Well, it's for canine faces..." The wolf went back to sipping his drink, not wanting to think about the apparatus any more than he had to.

Bill scratched his cheek. "You think it would fit Pina, though?"

Louis put his hand on the table. "It's not as amazing as you think, Bill. We removed it and tossed it away during our first time." It was strange that he despised it, while Bill thought it was hot.

"That's a weird way to use a muzzle, but if it's your kink I guess that's cool," the cat grinned.

The buck facepalmed. "That's not what I meant at all."

"They were using it more in a practical way, sweetie," Pina explained to his boyfriend. He looked over at the sulking wolf. "Makes sense that you guys would do away with it. I couldn't imagine Legosi being okay wearing it."

"I was actually the one who removed it," Louis said, sipping his celery water.

Legosi looked up at the two. "Wait, did you two say you haven't done anything since Pina lost his..."

"Yeah," Bill nodded. "Plus, my injuries. I have so many scars now, it kinda sucks..."

Legosi grinned. "Tell me about it."

"We're all pretty banged up, huh?" Pina observed.

Louis sucked his teeth. "All except for me, really. I'm surprised I didn't get hurt almost at all, besides the tight grip on my wrist and the emotional trauma of kissing him."

Bill clacked his claws on the table. "Legosi must have been pretty jealous, huh?"

The canine cocked his head. "Why would I be? I get to kiss Louis whenever I want..."

These words caused his fiance to lean against him. "Plus, we're going to get married as soon as we can."

Pina shook Bill's shoulder, excitedly. "Another excuse to wear my dress!"

The tiger shuddered. "That afterparty is going to be...really good."

Louis shook his head. "Nothing too big. Honestly, getting married legally and having a small wedding would be way better in my opinion."

"What exactly is an illegal wedding, anyway?" Pina took another bite of salad.

"A gay male carnivore marrying a gay male herbivore."

"So, it's not officially recognized but it makes you two feel good?"

"We'll find a way..." The deer mumbled. "But...Yeah."

Pina sighed. "I don't even know who'd come to our wedding if we had one..."

Bill raised a finger. "I know I would!"

"But not your family." The sheep chewed on his straw as he thought about the hypothetical guest list. "And my parents don't know about you, yet."

"I keep asking when I can meet them!" his boyfriend stated.

Louis laughed. "Funny. Legosi and I have both met one another's families..."

"I just patched up my relationship with my folks, so I'm not in a real hurry for them to disown me again," Pina huffed.

Bill huffed beside him. "..."

Louis shrugged. "Families."

"Gosha's a sweetheart, thoooough." Pina was practically swooning.

Louis made a content noise. "Isn't he, though?"

Bill nodded. "I want a whole family of Gosha's."

"Speaking of, we shouldn't keep him waiting," the deer said.

The group went back to the room to clean up and sort out odds and ends. Some of the neighbors peeked out of their rooms, but didn't approach. Once twilight fell, Gosha, Bill and Pina bid them farewell and left.

Legosi breathed in deeply, enjoying the candles that the lizard had given them. The room was small, but it was theirs.

Louis looked around, taking it all in and just the immense weight that disappeared from his shoulders. This was a blank canvas, as was their whole life, now. They could literally move in any direction they wanted and there was something so...lifting about that?

Legosi walked around their room, noting that his size made it a tad difficult. He still found it hard to care. He sauntered over to their couch and plopped down, sighing contentedly.

His lover looked at him, quietly. His future husband on their couch in their home...The home that was really theirs now, that they were going to pay for. Not another construct given to him by Oguma. His lips curled into a smile as the thoughts went on.

Legosi kicked his heels on the hardwood floor. "My first day at work is in two days. I'm excited, but nervous. I guess that's how I feel about all this...mostly excited!"

"And since I don't have a job yet, all I get to feel is excited!" Louis chuckled. He came over and mounted his lap, smiling. "We did it."

Legosi smiled wide with his teeth showing. "We did it!"

The deer squeezed him, tightly. "From the very start, we wanted a life together and now, look! We have it!"

The wolf nodded, planting his head into Louis' chest. "We just have to get used to the public restroom and washroom. And hope our neighbors accept us."

"No more showers together, huh? Or walking around nude in the bathroom."

"...We could probably still shower together. It'd be more convenient for everyone else!"

"Are you only saying that because you refuse to shower alone?"

Legosi rubbed his head into the shirt material. "N-no. Just using logic."

"Sure..." He moved his hand down to pull the fluffy tail through it gently. "Do you think our neighbors will accept us?"

Legosi shrugged. "The animal that showed us the room said a lot of animals live here to escape society...so they might understand us."

"Do you think there are any couples like us?"

"Could be..." the wolf brought his head out and looked over towards the kitchen area.

"Let me guess. You're wanting me to make dinner?"

"What did we bring that we could make?"

"Tell me what you're in the mood for, first."

Legosi licked Louis' nose. "Ice cream."

"That's no dinner."

"So?"

"We won't get the nutrients we need!"

"We had that good lunch, though." Legosi wasn't budging.

"You have never wanted ice cream for dinner before and I can't even make that!"

"Oh, we don't have any? Didn't we have some the other night?"

"Yeah, at our grandfather's, but that's his. He kept it. Plus, the raisins in it were weird..."

"I picked them out..." Legosi mumbled.

"Oh...Oh yeah, I guess I didn't wanna touch it, so I just dealt with it."

"Hmm...do we have fried rice leftovers?"

"I think so."

"Let's eat that!"

"You think it's enough?" He got off of him and went into the kitchen, already looking for the fried rice.

"For now." The wolf suddenly jumped up. "Oh! Tomorrow we can see what food stores are around and get groceries!"

"That will be nice, huh? Seeing everything in the area? Maybe we have an ice cream store nearby!"

Legosi nodded, finding it hard to speak with how excited he was. So much had changed in just one short year, and it was a bit overwhelming.

Louis heated up the leftovers and brought them over to the couch to eat while watching random content on Zulu. As the night went on, more and more animals could be heard coming home to their rooms, adding to the cozy ambiance that was already present.

Legosi couldn't help looking around their room periodically, realizing it was theirs.

Louis held a smile almost all night, and he ate a hearty amount. He wondered what kind of neighbors they would meet around their little home. He hoped it wouldn't be hard to make friends.

At midnight, Legosi's phone gave a buzz. He reached over for it and his eyes went wide.

Louis had left to the bathroom at that point to brush his teeth and get ready for bed.

Legosi looked around, frantically. What could he give the deer as a gift before he got back? How had he forgotten? How had Louis not reminded him? Why was he such a bad fiance? He whined audibly as he stood up and thrashed around, aimlessly.

The deer continued to get ready for bed in the public bathroom, having not even set an alarm, himself. With everything happening, he had completely forgotten it was his birthday.

The carnivore managed to find the back of an envelope that had contained some junk mail that made its way over during the move, as well as a pen. He crouched over the table, writing a message and drawing a wolf and deer's head at the bottom. He rushed it more than he would have liked to, and he had never tried drawing an animal in such a simple style.

After a few more moments, the deer came back in, stretching. "Yeesh. I wonder if I'll ever be able to get used to having to always bring my toothbrush over there."

Legosi stood up straight from where he was hunched over the table, quickly putting his hands behind his back. "Yeah?" he barked.

Louis raised a brow. "Yeah...? What are you doing?"

The wolf looked around the room in an exaggerated manner. "O-oh, nothing."

"Uh...right...Weren't you gonna get ready for bed?"

"I...should!" He slipped the envelope into his back pocket and gathered up his pajamas. They didn't want to risk showering together on their first night there. They'd try it later, of course. He made his way out of the room.

Louis blinked and went back to roll out the futon in between the couch and the dresser, sighing. Thank goodness it was actually pretty soft. Nothing compared to their first bed, though.

Meanwhile, Legosi had stopped just outside of the washroom, holding the envelope up to the wall and finishing the drawing. He felt animals glance at him as they passed but he didn't care. Eventually, he had something he was satisfied with. Smiling, he allowed himself to wash up for the night.

About half an hour passed before Legosi entered the room again. Louis had turned off the lights and rolled out the big futon they bought, and was currently lying on it, staring at the ceiling as the TV bathed him in colorful light.

His head was raised as his fiance returned. "Welcome back. How were the showers? I haven't taken one, yet."

"They're...smelly and old." Legosi stepped up the small ledge into their flat, walking around the table and dropping his old clothes into a small hamper. He still held the envelope behind him.

"When I'm with you, it will smell a little bit better, at least," he chuckled. His brow raised again. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" the dog asked, standing awkwardly with one hand behind him.

"You're standing weird. Ohhhhh...Legosi, if you took the toy in there I won't be mad."

Legosi sputtered. "Wh- no, no! Not in a public shower!" He put his free hand over his face as he kneeled down on the futon. "I'm just...sorry that I couldn't get you anything nice...I totally forgot!"

"Public? I mean, there's curtains! Also, you didn't have to get me anything, Legosi! This home is nice enough!" He sat up.

"I-I mean for...your birthday..."

"What? My birthday isn't for a bit."

Legosi blinked. "O-oh? I remember putting it in my phone, and it notified me at midnight. March 29th."

Louis blinked. "Hold on..." He grabbed his phone and looked at the screen. "Shit...It's my birthday..."

Legosi tried his best not to laugh. Louis forgetting his own birthday was something he should have expected from him. He pulled his makeshift card out and handed it to the birthday boy. "Sorry it was so short notice..."

Louis took it and observed:

happy 19th birthday!

I love you!

Juxtaposed with the sloppy writing was a drawing of the both of them underneath with a heart around it. Louis knew Legosi was a good artist, but he had never actually seen a drawing from him before.

The deer blushed. "A-awww...No one's ever given me a birthday present before...Oguma didn't believe in celebrating."

The deer exhaled. "Nineteen years old. Huh. Somehow, I made it this far."

"You did!" Legosi embraced him, minding not to press his full body weight onto him. He licked his face over and over, tail wagging like mad.

Louis laughed and put a hand on his chest. "Well, thank you so much for this card. We can put it on the fridge tomorrow."

Legosi emitted a noise that could most closely be described as a 'squee' as he nudged his cold nose into Louis' neck, feet kicking the blanket in excitement.

The deer wrapped his arms around him. "Mr. Excited! All day today!"

"It was a good day! We got to see Pina and Bill and finally move into our own place! And now, it's your birthday! Which means mine is soon, too!" The wolf pressed his body against Louis' more in an attempt to calm down, but his tail continued to whap the ground behind him.

The buck squeezed him closer. "I'll start planning right away."

They laid there for a while, holding each other and looking up at the TV. Rubbing up against Louis had given Legosi an erection which he was ignoring. They had avoided doing anything since the Riz fight due to Legosi's injuries. Of course, the wolf was mostly recovered now...

Louis blushed, physically feeling just how excited his mate was, and his breath hitched. "I'll make sure you have the best birthday ever..."

"And I'll make sure yours is the best ever, too!" Legosi assured. "...What do you want to do for it?"

"Oh come on, you didn't come up with a plan in the thirty minutes you were gone or the time we've been laying here?" Louis joked.

Legosi whined, slightly, before he realized it was a joke. "Well...maybe I'll think of something when I wake up."

Louis nodded. "Sounds good." Usually at their old home, he would be undressed by now, but he wasn't sure he was ready in such a new environment.

The wolf rested his head on his shoulder, grinding his hips into him, slightly.

The deer had been rubbing his back, softly, and he huffed. "Mm...You feel good..."

Legosi smiled into Louis' fur. "I feel better...my wounds haven't been aching badly lately..." He hoped he could tip Louis off without explicitly asking. Funny how the notion of sex had made him shy again after their long drought.

"That's wonderful. I'm glad..." The buck turned his head and began nibbling his ear gently.

The canine's tail started wagging audibly again. He wrapped one of his legs around Louis and pulled them even closer still, licking his neck.

The deer used his tongue to lick the inside of his ear, moving his teeth gently against it.

Legosi shuddered. He was amazed how his partner could manage to do something new every time they got handsy.

"Just like you asked me that night we saw each other naked for the first time..." Louis whispered.

Legosi hummed in pleasure. "I love you so much."

"I love you more than anything. And that's not just because I'm high on happiness." He slipped his hand down to grab his, looking at Legosi's ring. "Soon, we'll be married..."

"And we can live in that small town where everyone knows us." The wolf looked up at their new place, once again. "Not that I'm complaining right now. I'm looking forward to the time we spend here."

"I wonder how long it will be..." Louis smiled. "But for now, I guess that doesn't matter. Time will fly by because we're always having fun with one another."

Legosi couldn't take it anymore. He propped himself up with his elbow, looking down at Louis with almost pleading eyes. "Louis!"

The deer's head reared back. "Legosi!"

"Can we have sex tonight?" The look on the shy wolf's face was so bashful it was funny.

Louis huffed. "R-really? Already?"

"It's fine if you don't want to!" Legosi held his big hands up for assurance. "But it's your birthday and...I'm in the mood."

"A-are you now?" He stroked his cheek softly.

"I am. I'm a lukewarm-blooded young wolf who loves his fiance, after all." The proud wolf held his head high.

"Well, well, mister~ Gonna show me how confident you can be?"

Legosi immediately looked downward, clicking his claws together. "Uh...uhm..."

"Um?"

"I dunno. It's your birthday. What would you like me to do?"

"I mean...it was your idea."

"Well, the idea is your present! So you get to decide!"

"I literally don't know!"

Legosi looked down at his strong, beautiful, yet small deer. He longed to wrap around him. To protect him. To show him how much he appreciated him. The wolf coughed. "Um...we could try...uh...me going in, tonight."

The other animal swallowed. "...Well...I have been using the toy..."

The wolf nodded. "So I won't hurt you with my claws!"

"Exactly! I can also prepare myself with my fingers first or the toy, if we want to be extra careful!"

"Okay, okay!" This was definitely the most nervous Legosi had been before sex. He wasn't sure how Louis was so casual about it. What if he hurt him? He vowed to be as gentle as he could to prevent that. Intrusive thoughts told him this would be what brought his carnivorous instincts back, but he pushed those down the best he could.

Louis took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing."