Chapter Text
It’s raining.
Louis likes the rain. It was a pleasant smell to his nose and more often than not, drowned out the scents of others, scents that he most of the time absolutely hated. It made the weather damp and cool, and it was a good excuse to remain inside rather than out and about.
Unfortunately, that excuse didn’t work this time. The rain dripped down the sides of the car, down the window and onto the asphalt. The red deer suppressed a sigh, his chin resting on top of his knuckles as he stared uninterestingly at the view outside. It was beautiful, for sure, the city glimmering with gold and light. But all he wanted was to be back home, back in the Shishigumi headquarters—
“Boss, boss!” Free’s voice, characteristically loud in the small car space, and Louis didn’t have to turn to know the idiot looked as joyous as a kid on Rexmas. “Can we make a stop for drinks? Please? The night’s still young!”
Under any other circumstance, he would have immediately said no. Would have instructed that they turn the car around and go home, but admittedly, this was a special occasion: Free’s birthday. Besides, they’d all been needing a celebratory day to unwind and appreciate the work they’d all been doing down here in their dark corner of the world. At least, that was what Ibuki had said.
Ibuki, who was driving, and had not made it obvious at all that he’d been glancing at Louis through the car’s review mirror for the past ten minutes. Louis snorted, and with an unimpressed flick of his hand, agreed to Free’s idea. “Sure. Knock yourselves out. But at least one of you has to remain sober to drive.”
The car erupted into a fit of cheers from all except two. Louis went back to staring out the window and Ibuki went back to taking cautionary glances at him that Louis had to pretend he didn’t see.
Until he did, when he had the sudden worry that the other may crash. It was thundering and raining after all, and the roads were slippery. A distracted driver certainly didn’t help matters.
“Eyes on the road, Ibuki,” Louis sighed.
***
They reach the bar within seven minutes. Louis knows because he counted. The bar is in the Back-Alley Market, because of course it is. The door is opened for him by Ibuki, and when Louis steps out, there’s already a large umbrella above him protecting him from the rain. He stretches momentarily, hearing the satisfying crack of a few joints — Rex, he’s like an old man — and then heads inside, following the sound of parading lions.
They came in two cars, both parked in front of the establishment, because they’re the Shishigumi and they can. Louis yawns as he steps inside, drying his feet on the mat laid at the entrance before wandering more inside.
The bar is cozy, and holds only them, thanks to Free and the others kicking out whoever was in. It’s a good way to end the night — a few drinks with just the nine of them, their very own Pride, no one to disturb. No loud music and strangers to come and ruin it. Louis slides into a chair a bit further away from the Pride and sighs. He could rest his eyes here; right? Just for a minute…
“Are you tired, Boss?” Came a rumbling voice. Louis opened one eye and was not at all surprised to find Ibuki leering over him like an owl. The lion’s expression was merely questioning, and he held his jacket over his arm. “Would you like my jacket as a pillow?”
”I’m not tired,” Louis huffed, rolling his eyes. It was a futile attempt at denying the truth. The lion tilted his head and raised both his eyebrows as if to say ‘really?’ But the deer didn’t relent on his stance. Buck were stubborn in that way.
”Alright, Not-Tired-Boss,” Ibuki replied, crossing his arms. “Prove it.”
“Huh?” Louis scowled, straightening from his seat. To his right, the lions were all gathered at the bar counter, excitedly yelling drinks at the bartender, though keeping their manners, too. He looked back at Ibuki. “How do you want me to prove such a thing?”
Ibuki gave him a toothy smile. He folded his jacket into a nice square, and then placed it under where Louis had been previously resting his head. Before the red deer could say anything else, Ibuki was heading back towards the Pride.
He momentarily wrestled with Agata, and then came back with another jacket. Louis eyed him with wide eyes as the lion placed the jacket on top of him, like, like — like a blanket, as if Ibuki was tucking him in.
”If you’re not tired like you say, then resting like this for ten minutes should be easy for you without falling asleep,” Ibuki challenged. “I’m going to keep an eye on everyone else. This ragtag team of lions is my family. I’ll take good care of them like always. You get some shut eye… boss.”
With that, he disappeared back with the others, leaving Louis wide eyed and opened mouthed. The red deer scoffed, looking down at himself. Agh, he was going to get lion hair all over his clothes! Although slightly annoyed by the prospect, he had to admit that the heavy weight of the jacket, his comfortable position, and the dim, low light of the bar was making him incredibly more and more sleepy.
He looked around. It was just him and his Pride. No strangers to see his embarrassing weakness. None would be barging in, either. Louis huffed in defeat, closing his eyes and letting the chatter of his subordinates soothe him into a cloudy headspace. Within a few minutes of his slow, deep breathing and a complete feeling of peace, he drifted off into a quiet slumber.
***
Louis wakes up almost three hours earlier with the lions still going on with their shenanigans.
He comes to slowly. His hearing kicks in first, ears flapping as he recognizes the sounds from all around. There’s music playing, quiet jazz, and his Pride has reduced itself from the loud party it was when they first arrived into something a little more quiet and adult, talking softly among themselves and gently laughing.
Louis has never been more grateful for dim lights. He sits up, stretching all his body, groaning when his back pops. He still feels tired, but less so than he did before. A glance at his watch tells him it’s around two in the morning. They’ll have to be going home soon.
Louis yawns, smacking his lips. He could go for some water right now if he was being honest. He stretched one more time for good measure, and then stood on slightly unbalanced legs.
But he caught himself. The noise brought the attention of the others, who turned around and once they saw him awake, cheered like a squad of cheerleaders. They came rushing at him with the speed and ferocity of a herd, and then Louis was being tackled unceremoniously into a hug.
These lions were definitely drunk. There were only eight — Ibuki was stood off to the side, smirking. He seemed happy. Proud, almost. Louis’ vision of him was quickly obscured, however.
“Boss! Oh, boss! We love you so much!” Free practically sobbed. The damn feline was draped over Louis like a carpet — a very warm, very drunk carpet. He smelled like liquor and his own personal cologne.
“Yeah, bossss! You’re the best!” Cried Agata, who was curled at his feet. Hino looked like he was ready to be brought to tears, clutching at Louis’ midsection. The rest of the lions were practically brawling amongst one another, and the red deer sighed heavily.
”Where is all of this spur of emotion coming from? What have you all done now?” He questioned strictly, grimacing when the others just clung to him tightly.
”Nothing, boss!! Drinking just gets us felines emotional!!” Jimma shrieked. He was in the middle of a wrestling match with Sabu, for whatever reason. Louis rolled his eyes, annoyance on his expression but fondness in his heart.
Somewhere along the way, these lions had become family. Louis used to always keep them at arms length, keeping them all at a respectable, business and professional-like dynamic. But they had softened his heart and proved their worth and loyalty to him. Eventually, he had gotten over the irrational fear of them eating him. At times he felt like a tired father and at others, like a brother. Sometimes he even felt like the young kid who wasn’t supposed to be there.
“Alright, alright, give me some space now,” Louis groaned, squeezing his way out from the lot of them. He looked down at his suit and sure enough — a mess of lion hair. The deer huffed through his nose. “I’m going outside for a smoke.”
All at once, it was like a dam broke. The lions separated from their fighting and emotional weeping and out broke a chorus of “take me with you, boss!” “no, me!” “I’ll protect you!” “I’ll go!” as they ran speedily over him. Louis had to physically suppress a laugh when the whole eight of them ended up tripping over their own feet and crashing to the ground. He shook his head endearingly.
“Ibuki,” Legosi began, turning to the sober one out of the bunch, “Take care of them while I’m out.”
The lion blinked. “Huh? You can’t go outside alone, boss. It’s too dangerous. I’ll go with yo—“
”No,” Louis interrupted, raising his hand. “I’ll be back quickly. I just want a few minutes alone. If something happens, I’ll blow the whistle,” the deer assured. “See you in a moment.”
With that he opened the door and walked out, closing it firmly behind him. Louis was greeted by a fresh breeze and a bright, full moon that was partially covered by misty clouds. It had stopped raining by now, but the air was cold and still. There wasn’t much lighting out here besides for a few lamp posts on. The deer sighed, walking into a wide alley way directly besides the bar. It wasn’t completely dark, as the light from one of the lamp posts illuminated the alleyway somewhat assuringly.
Louis reached into his inner blazer pocket, taking out a pack of cigarettes and a thin lighter. He put it into his mouth and lit it effortlessly, feeling an instant gratification from the action. The red deer closed his eyes and leaned his head back, feeling the cool brick underneath his fur.
Cold, brick tiles under his feet. Cold, everywhere. Surrounding him.
Louis jolted from the memory, backing away from the wall. His eyes widened like springs as a shiver went down his spine. He stared at his hands, fixating on them, distracting himself, burying that memory away, again, again, and again.
That place… Why am I thinking about that place? Why now?
He took a nervous drag of his cigarette, and then that’s when he heard it.
A rustling a few feet from besides him. Louis tensed up like a bow string, and enough experience in the Black Market told him that there was someone back there. Somewhere the light didn’t reach, somewhere he could not see. The Shishigumi leader whipped out his gun faster than a hedgehog releasing its quills. “Who’s there?!” He shouted.
At that moment, thunder rumbled from above, like an ominous omen. Louis narrowed his eyes as he heard the rustling again. The cigarette in his mouth still burned. “I won’t ask again!” He barked, clicking off the safety.
A whimper resounded from the spot. It was a pitiful, scared thing. Conflict swirled around Louis. If he went over there, he wouldn’t be able to see. But yet, what animal could be making such a wounded noise, here, in the alleyways of the Back-Alley Market? Matter of fact, why he did want to find out so bad?
He grabbed his lighter and flicked it on as he moved closer. His eyes stared at the spot where he had heard all the noises coming from — the far corner, where there rested a multitude of boxes and black bags. It smelled awful, like trash and sewage mixed together.
As he came closer, footsteps resounding, a dark, fierce face peered out from the darkness, illuminated against his warm light. Along with a warning, cautionary growl that rattled Louis’ bones, made him freeze in his spot practically instantaneously as he stared back into dark, thin pupils, and the scarred face of a wolf.
A growling, fierce wolf. He had three actively bloody claw marks going down one eye, part of his ear missing, and yet.. a terrified, frenzied look in his eye as he crawled out of the corner and came closer. His movements were stiff and slow, and his body trembled as if it were fighting itself.
Louis took a single step back, snapping out of his fear. He had a gun. “Don’t move,” he warned. “You come any closer, and I’ll blow your face off.”
That seemed to be the wrong thing to say. The wolf erupted, a vicious loud snarl coming from him as he smacked Louis’ gun out of his hand and swung at him with his claws — in his shock, Louis fired off a single bullet, and a pained shout left him as he stumbled back. Warm, thick blood dripped from his cheek, and he realized he had been hit. Scratched.
The wolf too stumbled back, as if he were the one who had been hit. He scrambled back towards his corner, taking the gun with him, and Louis got a glimpse of all the damage done to his body — scars on his arms, torso, along with writing on his legs and a few various other locations. He seemed beaten, worn, and it certainly was not because of Louis. Even more odd was that he had not tried to eat him, but…
“Away,” came a rough, calloused and deep voice. “Go… away.”
It was then that Louis heard the commotion of lions. Suddenly and all at once, there were hands on him — there was Ibuki, lifting him to his feet, checking him for injuries, talking to him, only for his words to fall of Louis’ deaf, distracted ears. The others had their guns drawn and pointed, and for drunk idiots who had been stumbling around like high skunks not ten minutes earlier, they were surprisingly still and menacing. They were the Shishigumi, loyal lions protecting their boss.
Louis simply stared. Stared at the wolf who was bunched up in the corner like he was trying to get away, snarling and snapping his jaw. To anyone else, he might have seemed like any other out of control carnivore, and because he was here, in the market, could’ve been perceived as a blood thirsty and hungry one, but Louis knew. Louis saw.
This was not a hungry carnivore who wanted to take a bite out of something, or a carnivore who was suffering through meat withdrawal. This was a wolf who was terrified, malnourished and yet when he had the chance did not eat him, a carnivore with hyperdrug markings on his body, with no clothes besides shorts with holes, a carnivore that had been swallowed and chewed up by the Back-Alley Market only to be spit out.
”Don’t move! Don’t you fucking move, or we’ll riddle you with bullets!” Free snarled ferociously, his hand unwavering as he stared the wolf down.
”What’re your orders, Boss?!” Sabu demanded. “What do we do?!”
Louis gently shrugged Ibuki’s hand off of him and came closer. The lions parted at the middle for him until he stood front and center. The wolf had his gun and pointed it back, but it was shaking wildly, just like the rest of his body. Louis met his eyes, but the canine seemed to not like that, instead looking away instantly and trying to shrink himself into the wall, like he would become one with the shadows and disappear with them.
”Put down your guns,” Louis finally ordered. Like expected, he heard a chorus of disagreement and disapproval. “I won’t ask again! Withdraw them, now!” He shouted.
The Pride went quiet, and Louis heard the click of his orders being met. He sighed and refocused his attention onto the wolf. His cheek stung where he’d been scratched, but it was a minor injury that could be treated at home.
The wolf was still growling, low and deep in his throat. What Louis noticed the most was the fact that his nose wasn’t shriveled up like it should have been if he were truly intending to attack. He was simply trying to warn, trying to communicate: Back off. Back off. I don’t want to hurt you.
“Nobody here is going to hurt you.” Louis promised, raising his hands in surrender. He wasn’t sure why he was doing this. Why his heart stung at the idea of leaving this wolf here, hurt and on the streets, alone. Perhaps all those reasons were reason enough. “My name is Louis. Louis the red deer, and these lions are my Pride, the Shishigumi. They are what a pack is to a wolf to me.”
The wolf didn’t seem to relax. He looked around wildly, looking behind Louis, and bared his teeth. The deer then knew the problem.
He turned his back, which probably would have been a mistake, but even then, the wolf did not attack him nor try to eat him. He looked at his lions, then back at the wolf. “You don’t like them around here? Are they scaring you?”
Like an exhausted dog, the wolf slumped, sitting, and stopped growling. He was panting, looking to be on the verge of collapse, and Louis took a guess that the last time he had any water or sleep was probably the last time he had any food, which, judging by his thinness, was a while ago. Louis took the action as a confirmation.
He looked to the Shishigumi. “All of you, wait in the car. You’ll have to squeeze in. Sabu, splash some cold water on your face and sober up, because you’re driving the second car. I only want Ibuki, me and this wolf in ours.”
The lions stared at him rather dumbfounded, like they couldn’t believe it. Louis was beginning to get rather irritated at the disobedience. He didn’t like repeating himself. “Well? What the hell are you all waiting for? Get to it!”
Like the sharp snap of a rubber band, they immediately began to hop to it, rushing to do as they were told. Louis sighed, ducking his head down for a moment in stress as he listened to them clamor away. When their loudness had been reduced into a gentle quiet, he looked up and met the wolf’s eyes.
Who, again, did not like that, and turned away immediately, his ears pinning themselves flat against his head. Louis simply stared, silently studying. Then he stood up, turning to Ibuki, who remained on the scene.
“I’ll need your jacket again,” Louis says.
***
The jacket isn’t for him. It’s for the wolf, to cover up, because Louis thinks maybe his shaking is also because it’s fucking freezing outside. The jacket isn’t that big on him height wise, but due to the amount of weight the wolf’s lost, it’s still a rather hefty fit on him.
They fit in the car, but unfortunately have to take an extra lion with them because the others absolutely could not fit in one car together. The extra lion is Dolph, who rides up in the front with Ibuki. Louis is glad it’s him. Dolph is silent and unquestioning.
The wolf has resigned himself to a corner once more. They’re both sitting in the back, him and Louis. The wolf doesn’t speak, but his body language is enough. He tries to make himself smaller than he is, and doesn’t meet eye contact. From his peripheral vision, Louis can see him dozing off again and again, only to jerk himself awake.
Louis figures it’s for the best. Their headquarters isn’t that far, and it would’ve been a pain waking this wolf up without scaring the absolute shit out of him. Louis just silently hopes he holds onto consciousness, and continues the drive.
They arrive a little bit faster than usual, thanks to Ibuki’s driving. But Louis figures that has to do more with the smell of the car rather than any actual care for the wolf — the wolf who had been in that trash for probably days, and the smell spoke for it.
The lions get out of the car first, and Louis turns to the wolf slowly. Fast movements, as he’s found out, seem to scare the other.
”We’ve arrived to my home,” he explains. “The lions live here too, but there’s more than enough extra room for you to occupy. You’ll have your own bathroom and bed, and we can mend your wounds. It’s much better than the streets.”
Even with that, the wolf seems weary. He shivers, his whole body stuttering with the movement. “P-price…”
Louis tilts his head with confusion. “Price?” He questions.
The wolf nods.
”For… what… price?”
He goes silent in his shock.
Price? Price? This wolf is expecting a payment for hospitality? This wolf, who clearly has nothing at all, is asking what he has to pay with in order to be able to accept Louis’ good graces?
He scoffs softly, shaking his head. “No, there’s… there’s no price for this. I..” he pauses. What is he doing, now that he’s thinking about it? He’s letting a wolf, a random stranger, into their base. No wonder the lions had that reaction when he told them the orders he did. This was out of the park, even for Louis.
Why did he bring this wolf in? Because he felt bad, because he pitied him?
Or was it because when Louis looked at him, he saw someone who had suffered the same way he did — as a meat slave to the market, and so Louis had the indescribable desire to save him, to get him out of there?
”..There’s no price,” he reassures quietly. “So please don’t worry about that. I’ll explain everything tomorrow, once you’re more rested. For now, I promise you my hospitality. No one will hurt or disturb you while you stay here. You have my word.”
Verbally, the wolf doesn’t reply. He doesn’t seem to be a fan of doing that either. Louis finally opens the car door and gets out, and the wolf follows his actions. All the other lions have gotten out of the cramped space of the car and headed inside, while now, only Ibuki remains. Louis is glad for that, at least.
”Ibuki,” the deer began, “Show our guest here the way to his roo—“
The wolf turns around immediately, swiveling on his heel to face him. Louis blinks, watching. The wolf doesn’t meet his eyes, but he’s shaking his head rapidly, and his tail is still and rigid between his legs.
The message is clear: No.
Louis is still confused. No to what? He watches as the wolf clenches his fists, fingers curled tightly. He clears his throat and speaks, “Do you think you could use your words for me?”
“N-…” he struggles, fur bristling. Louis feels bad for putting him under such pressure and tension. Speaking seems to pain him, and his vocal cords seem damaged, as his voice is raspier than it should be and he stutters practically almost every word. “Not h-him. No-one, only L-louis.”
The deer’s tail flicks once. “You want.. me to show you?”
A nod. The wolf’s favor is pointed stubbornly to the ground.
Louis and Ibuki share a look. Ibuki shakes his head, giving the other a firm, “what the fuck” kind of look. Louis understands the sentiment, but still.
He agrees. “Very well. I’ll take you to your room then.” He can practically feel Ibuki’s jaw dropping to the floor. The deer ignores it, and instead starts heading inside. “If you’ll just follow me.”
He doesn’t continue moving until the wolf does. The canine is right behind him, as Louis opens the wide front door and steps in. Every lion has retreated into their own room by now, exhaustion and their own drunkenness getting the best of them. Louis is grateful for it.
He heads down a hall. There had once been 35 lions or so, but that number has long since been reduced to nine. For whatever instinctual reason, Louis gives the wolf the room right besides his. He stops at the door.
”This is yours,” Louis explains. “There’s a bathroom inside, and some spare clothes in the closet. There’s also a first aid kit to patch up your wounds, unless you’d like me to help you. Breakfast is served every morning at nine, but we can fix up a plate and bring it to you instead, if you don’t want to be crowded around everyone.”
Silence was his reply, as the wolf kept his head down, holding tightly onto one of the sleeves of Ibuki’s jacket. Then, he shook his head. “I wa-want out… sometimes.”
Oh. Louis understood. He nodded. “You don’t want to be cooped up in one room,” he confirmed. “That’s alright. You’re not forced to stay in there, you can come out whenever you’d like.” He explained. “We’re usually out and about during the evening and late hours, so if we’re gone, that’s probably why.”
Another nod. The wolf removed the jacket on his shoulders and held it to Louis, who took it wordlessly. Then he watched as the other opened the door, slinking off inside and quietly closing it, but not without telling him a quiet, hard to catch “thank you.”
Louis stood there for a few moments, staring at the door and the space that the wolf once occupied. And then he realized one thing.
He had forgotten to ask the wolf for his name.