I'M ALIVE YOU DUMB DOG.

He had seen the deer’s reflection in the glass of the window, just barely, before he registered those well-measured footsteps. Hikaru resisted the urge to snort. He could tell Louis by the sound of him walking. It hadn’t been hard, evidently, not when Louis’s manner of walking was so… unique to him. 

There was a small window of hope, just in those couple seconds before Louis announced himself, that he believed he was just seeing and hearing things.

Then Louis spoke and Hikaru flinched as the deer’s voice, crisp and commanding as ever, rang out in the otherwise-silent and empty hallway, as if the image in the glass had been only that, just an image, a mirage and not the flesh-and-blood-and-bone animal that was actually there with him.

Hikaru shot Louis a quick little glance over his shoulder in acknowledgement of his presence. 

“Not the, uh… not the best way to end the day, is it, this?” he replied with a one-shoulder shrug. Thank Rex his voice was working and not freezing up out of nerves. “At least it didn’t– didn’t catch us while we’d have been outside.”

the   other’s   nervousness   wasn’t   anything   that   he   wasn’t   used   to.   he   was   looked   upon   for   the   future,   the   head   of   the   drama   club   that   could   make   anyone   feel   anything   with   just   a   tone   shift   with   a   line.  

arms   cross   and   he   watches   the   way   the   other   squirms   in   place   as   he   huffs   –   eyes   redirecting   back   to   outside   where   the   rain   showed   no   change   in   it’s   rather   rough   downpour.  

“   I   suppose.   it   would   be   rather   terrible   to   be   caught   in   something   like   that.   we’d   be   soaked   through.   “   he   steps   a   bit   closer   to   the   door,   leaning   against   it   and   watching   the   sweep   of   rain   crash   down   in   front   of   him.  

he   turns   on   his   heel,   and   he   gestures   for   the   other   to   follow.  

       Jack takes the seat across from Louis, his concerned gaze not leaving the other as he began to explain, in a rather mysterious fashion about what had happened.

        A large part of Jack had expected to hear this; still, Jack could feel his chest tighten, and his fingertips to buzz at the confirmation.  Subtly wriggling his fingers, he sat there, eyes now away from the red deer as all of this information came crashing in.

      “I….I have to be honest.” Jack began, finding it hard to articulate with the increasing fretfulness. “I’m….not sure if it’s Legoshi who did that.” He admitted with a scratch behind his head.

       “My reason for this is because…there’s this rabbit girl he likes. I’m not sure of her name…but…he’s been reading books on how to co-exist with herbivores as a carnivore and…he’s never hurt even a bug before, he loves them. He has such a gentle and introverted nature, especially around me; He wouldn’t jus be vio-”

       The memory of learning about that fight through the school news, THEN finding Legoshi brutalized by some unknown person left Jack with a closed mouth.

       He did have a tendency to leave him in the dark about more things than he liked as of recently. Jack’s defense for him could be completely wrong and outdated.

      He truly didn’t know, which in turn just outright terrified him.

       “I uh…nevermind. I’m sorry for doubting your words.” Jack followed up, knowing it was better to back down from there.

      “I wish I knew who that victim was. Though…I know they’d be probably be too shaken up after all of that for an interview.” Jack began, feeling an invisible detective hat come onto his head.

       “Their statement just sounds…really vague.” He pauses for a quick moment as he thinks, “Why would  they willingly let themselves be eaten? And to even tell officials it was a misunderstanding? Something just…feels odd with that statement. I feel like they’re leaving important information out.” Jack mentioned aloud, frowning a bit to himself in thought as he was trying to deduce that short statement Louis explained.

          the   denial   was   strange,   but   not   necessarily   unpredictable.   from   what   louis   could   gather,   legosi   and   jack   were   childhood   friends.   of   course   he   would   run   into   any   explanation   that   wasn’t   the   actual   one.   he   would   simply   wait   for   the   other   to   continue,   allow   him   to   get   used   to   the   information   that   he   had   practically   just   threw   at   him.  

          eyebrow   quirks   at   the   mention   of   the   bunny   girl,   knowing   full   well   who   that   was.   haru.   and   he   knows   exactly   what   jack   is   thinking   about   when   he   froze.   there   was   plenty   that   that   dog   decided   to   do   that   could   have   been   sweeping   through   the   golden   retriever’s   mind.   he   was   practically   a   violence   magnet,   even   if   he   himself   didn’t   start   any   of   it. 

          “   i   know   the   victim,   i   could   schedule   for   you   to   ask   them   a   few   questions.   “  

          louis   was   part   of   the   drama   club   –   to   state   that   he   didn’t   have   a   flare   for   the   dramatic   would   be   a   lie,   and   no   matter   how   unnecessary   –   of   course   he   would   do   the   reveal   in   his   own   way.   jack   would   find   out   eventually,   it’s   not   as   if   the   information   was   restricted.  

          a   smirk,   and   he   would   sweep   his   leg   into   a   cross,   the   pant   leg   shifting   up   and   exposing   the   metal   bits   of   the   ankle   in   full   view.  

\★⍟★/ ” Pyuru?! ” Moa jumped, fumbling her device in the air until she finally caught it. Hiding it behind her back, she turned to face her sudden company,  “ Wh- That senpai from earlier! ”

Had he heard? How much? Did he suspect her of anything? Had her entire mission been jeopardized? His presence sure was something else up close. The alien’s mess of racing thoughts were brought to a dead halt at the mention of an event that came about shortly before she’d arrived.

The attack? 

For a few moments Moa looked visibly confused. She’d heard about the attack of course, a student killing a fellow student was as scary an event as it was a tragedy, but why should herbivores specifically be worried? The moment passed once she remembered just how different the dynamics were between carnivores and herbivores on this planet, something she was still trying to get a grasp on.

\★⍟★/ ” Um, I-I’m sure nothing bad could happen in such a nice night like this, pyuru! ” 

louis   honestly   didn’t   care   about   whatever   audio   diary   the   sheep   was   keeping.   it   was   none   of   his   business,   and   he   honestly   couldn’t   find   it   in   him   to   actually   ask   about   it.   only   allow   himself   a   lingering   glance   at   it   when   she   quickly   pushed   it   away   and   behind   her   back.  

he   readjusts   himself,   arms   folding   as   she   speaks.  

“   that’s   quite   childish   to   think,   that   just   because   you   are   ignorant   to   your   surroundings   that   everyone   is.   “

“I’ve been…” A pause as she thought about the appropriate word to say. No sense in looking for something among the dramatics when there were simpler words to use that described her life now. Ear twitched slightly as she placed down her own cup of coffee in front of her before looking up at him.

“Busy, but not in a bad way.” College kept her preoccupied in the days and most night she spent them with Agata. Having a lion boyfriend was definitely out of her realm of comfort but she didn’t really feel bothered by it. She enjoyed their relationship even though it came with its own difficulties.

“What about you little Bambi?”

          the old nickname made him smile a bit, a smile that usually was only restricted to her that had spread to a few more. he had grown a bit, in that way.

          well, he thinks, after everything that had happened -- it was quite impossible for him not to change. at least a little. her attitude and calmness made him realize how much he missed her company, a friend to discuss openly with without any form of predisposition.

          “ well, keeping busy seems to be the way to go nowadays. “ he chuckles lowly, taking another sip of his coffee as he readjusted his legs, switching the way they were crossed. it was ... awkward to speak of his life now. having to deal with a fiance that his feelings were null for. even speaking now, nausea settled in his stomach enough to place his coffee down.

MORNING WAS QUIET WITH THEM,    at least until the whole gang was awake.   many of them didn’t sleep until the early morning,   since they had a tendency to be more active during the night  –  it was just how the black market  operated.   sitting in silence with a coffee mug on the table in front of him,   agata was hardly awake himself.   more often than not he was the last to wake up,   but with all of the   recent changes,   he was finding himself sleeping less   &  stressing more.    some may not understand,    or think that it was dumb,  but the  shishigumi  was his lifestyle;  it was his job and the only family that he had.   seeing things change so drastically was bound to unsettle. 

hearing the light footsteps behind him,    ears perked up on end.   with steps that soft,   he knew that it had to be their  herbivore  boss,   there was no way those could ever belong to someone like free or dolph.  putting his phone into his pocket now that someone was present,   he turned some to lean over the couch a bit and face louis.   ❝   good morning,   boss.  ❞  he said,   friendly smile already in place.  it wasn’t that he disliked louis in any way,  but he was definitely still wary of the situation.    ❝  did you sleep well?  ❞   it was a  silly  question,   but anything to fill the space he supposed. 

          louis   could   barely   sleep.   how   could   he   ?   when   he   was   in   a   room   full   of   carnivores   –   his   whole   body   on   edge   and   ready   for   him   to   spring   and   flee.   however,   just   remembering   the   way   the   gun   felt   in   his   hand,   the   smell   of   the   gunpowder   that   surrounded   him   with   the   felines

          louis   was   honestly   surprised   that   he   was   not   eaten   then   and   there.   he   supposes   that   he   should   thank   his   stars   for   that,   however   now   he   was   stuck   in   a   situation   that   he   wasn’t   quite   sure   how   to   side   step.  

          eyes   flicker   toward   the   other,   and   make   a   small   face   at   the   word.   boss,   he   still   wasn’t   totally   used   to   that.  

          ❝   …   as   well   as   i   could   have,   i   suppose.   ❞   when   in   doubt,   go   back   to   the   basics.   he   sits   himself,   making   sure   his   full   attention   was   around   him.  

        Jack could only nod in response, trailing behind Louis as they transverse the halls. The only thought on his mind could be the million possibilities of what could be said when they were in private.

          “….”

This wasn’t something as stupid as getting in a fight during a live play performance, on stage. Legoshi was in trouble. Either IN trouble himself, or had gotten himself into something really seriously wrong.

Once they were behind closed, and locked doors; Jack  felt the room grow a bit thick with tension. The last thing the Labrador wanted was to potentially get on the deer’s last side, so he doesn’t hesitate for a moment to nod.

In all honesty, a situation like this would probably not be something he’d be eager to share with anyone.

         “Nothing said here is leaving this room. I promise.” There’s a determined glint in his eyes as he looks to the other. A promise from a breed as loyal as a Labrador meant everything. It was a sign of trust.

        “I just want to understand what’s going on.” ‘For once. Please Louis.’ he almost adds,

 but he bites his tongue as he looks at the other–those unspoken words practically telling through his concerned face.

even   here,   knowing   that   the   other   was   fully   ready   for   the   bad   news   –   louis   still   hesitated.   hesitation   that   he   was   unsure   with,   uncomfortably   stewing   in   it.   louis   sits   down   and   crosses   his   legs,   tapping   his   foot   and   gesturing   for   the   golden   retriever   to   sit   across   from   him.

“   prepare   yourself,   because   it’s   not   exactly   easy   to   hear.   “

a   huff,   and   a   glance   away.  

“   you   have   more   than   likely   have   already   heard   of   the   act   of   the   predation   that   occurred   late   recently.   “   fingers   tap,   spinning   the   pencil   between   his   fingers   nimbly.  

“   unfortunately,   legoshi   was   the   one   that   was   held   responsible   for   this   act   –   against   the   “   victim’s   “   “   he   practically   spat   out   the   word   victim   with   distaste,   “   explanation   that   it   was   a   misunderstanding   and   consensual   for   a   very   good   reason.   “

its   honestly   felt   like   forever   since   he   was   actually   able   to   sit   down   and   speak   with   haru   like   this.   it   reminded   him   of   similar   times.   shared   touches   in   the   greenhouse,   whispered   praises.  

well   wishes.

a   shudder,   and   he   was   back   to   reality.   things   have   changed.   both   of   them   such   different   people   that   it   felt   like   even   still   being   friends   would   feel   like   a   difficult   push   forward.  

however,   he   supposes   that’s   what   this   cup   of   coffee   was   for.

“   how   have   you   been,   haru   ?   “   he   hums,   gently   taking   a   sip   of   his   coffee.