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Oguma was not entirely sure what to expect.
It wasn’t this, certainly, but then… he didn’t have a good idea of it all in his head before all of this happened.
Ibuki had helpfully filled the buck in on some of the specifics about the grey wolf he was now meeting properly for the first time. Oguma was a little taken aback by the lion’s near reverence for this young man. And the wolf had obviously had a great impact on his son.
The first time he had met Legosi had been at the hospital after Louis had been… well, best not to dwell on that.
His initial observations had certainly not been very impressive, but then there had been a lot of other things going on at the time. And to be fair, he had saved Louis’s life.
In the moment, he had been disinclined to any generosity in his opinion towards the carnivore, though he had written out a cheque.
Was that in bad taste? To do that in front of Louis? Did that make his son feel more like… an asset?
…best not to dwell on that.
But now he was meeting Legosi for the first time for real. Real introductions mediated by Louis, who was translating Legosi’s sign.
Oguma felt a little adrift. Social situations were often a foreign language to him if there was not some calculable monetary reason behind them. Though Ibuki was starting to help him wrap his head around them, just through his example. He half-wished Ibuki were here now. That warm heavy hand on his shoulder would be very reassuring.
Louis led Legosi into Oguma’s office by the hand. He leaned up and whispered something into the wolf’s ear. Or was that a kiss on the cheek? Oguma was unsure. He adjusted his glasses as the two young men sat across his desk from him.
“Father?” began Louis, “This is Legosi. You met once, but it was not under… the best conditions.”
Oguma grunted once, almost a chuckle. “Indeed. Legosi, it is a pleasure to meet you properly.” The calculator in Oguma’s head began its typical statistical analysis. He’s tall for a wolf, but Oguma understands that it runs in the family. A grandfather who is a komodo dragon.
He’s so quiet. Of course he’s quiet, thought Oguma, but it’s more than that. He has a stillness. There is a quietness in his very being. The lizard part of him, perhaps? Oguma understands from Louis that he struggles with anxiety, but from the outside…
The stern and still face seemed quietly confident.
Legosi’s hands betray the nervousness, though. He fidgets with his long, clawed fingers in his lap.
Oguma cleared his throat realizing he’d left the moment to hang in the air. “I believe I was somewhat unkind at our first meeting, Legosi. But at the time, I was unaware…” His eyes flicked to his son.
Legosi began to sign and Louis translated, [Please don’t worry, it’s fine. It’s nice to meet you properly, too.]
He’s very polite, the calculator noted. His signs are not aggressive, and even though he fidgets, he tries to keep his claws out of sight if possible.
Oguma replies, “I appreciate that, but it is not fine. I wish to apologize for my behaviour. It was a stressful situation, but that does not justify rudeness. I feel as though we got off on the wrong foot, but I’m hoping to rectify that.”
Louis gave a soft sigh and said, “Dad, it’s not a business meeting.”
Legosi turned to Louis, looking slightly stricken, and Louis laughed. One of Louis’s hands rested easily on the wolf’s thigh.
Oguma began to see the magnetic pull of the stern, quiet wolf.
He caught a clearer glimpse of the wolf’s scars when he turned his head. They are quite extensive, the calculator notes. Oguma remembers commenting on them somewhat carelessly at the hospital, and feels like he could kick himself, now. It must have been terrible for the young wolf.
Oguma continued, “Regardless, I’m glad you are here. You seem to have had quite an impact on my son. And my, ah… friend, Ibuki seems to have taken quite a liking to you.”
Oguma ignored Louis rolling his eyes at the word “friend.”
Legosi smiled softly and looked at Louis fondly, and signed, [Your son had quite an impact on me, too. And thank you for welcoming me into your house.]
Oguma noticed the wolf’s tail swishing against the chair. A half smile curled at the edges of his lips. He asked, “Has Louis been useful helping you at school with translation?”
Legosi nodded keenly, [Absolutely. It’s such a relief knowing more people who are fluent. My friend Jack learned with me years ago, but he’s not in all of the same classes as me. And a couple of others know a little sign, but aren’t fluent like Louis. Tem was, but he…] Legosi paused.
Oguma cleared his throat, watching the wolf’s ears fold down and his posture sink. He asked, “That was the young man who was devoured before Louis was attacked?”
Legosi nodded sadly.
Oguma remarked how expressive the wolf was in his bearing. His posture, his ears, his tail, his sad eyes. He had never seen an animal with such overt empathy for anyone. Oguma looked down at his hands on his desk, and asked softly, “That must have been a blow to you, then?”
Legosi nodded sadly again, and turned to Louis. Oguma watched as Louis gently ran his fingers along the edges of Legosi’s jaw and leaned up to softly kiss his cheek.
The sparkle returned to those sad eyes almost instantly.
Oguma took a deep breath and said, “My apologies. I do not wish to dredge up the unpleasant past.”
Legosi gave a small shrug and half-smiled. He signed, [I think overall that the good outweighs the bad in the last year. We’ve been able to help a lot of beasts, both carnivores and herbivores. I think…] Legosi paused for a moment before continuing, [I think we’re stronger together, if that makes sense? I think it’s when we can really see each other and hear each other that we can truly make connections.]
Maybe it was the quietness of it that struck Oguma. The buck immediately thought to Ibuki. When they had met at the mask party they had both lowered their guard. Ibuki because of the wine. What was that old saying? In vino veritas? They had both wanted to be heard.
The calculator spit out the strangest analysis of what Legosi had just signed. The quiet wolf. The one who had his voice taken from him so young. Who lived in silence. Almost no one could hear him. In a world where carnivores must dampen themselves or be labelled “dangerous.” Where herbivores frequently rejected hearing from carnivores. And this young man could not be heard for an entirely other reason, too.
An unpleasant twinge moved in Oguma’s chest. Legosi must have been so lonely.
Oguma smiled softly and replied, “I couldn’t agree more.” He stood up from his chair and walked around his desk to stand at the side of Legosi’s chair, and extended his hand to the wolf. He said, “I hope to be able to hear from you more, Legosi. You are always welcome in our home.”
Over the wolf’s shoulder, Oguma could see Louis grinning. Not smirking or snide, but a real genuine smile. Oguma was reminded of the grin Louis had when the young buck was teasing him about dating men. At the time he had mistaken it for youthful rebellion.
… but the sincerity of it.
Oguma’s reverie was broken by Legosi’s strong hand gripping his. He looked into the wolf’s eyes. They had that same stillness to them that Legosi seemed to embody. He released Legosi’s hand and wrapped his arms around him in a hug.
Legosi seemed startled for just a moment. Louis possibly even moreso. But Louis’s grin grew even wider, and Oguma could hear Legosi’s tail cutting the air.
The older buck pulled away, his hands on Legosi’s shoulders. He gave the wolf’s shoulders a gentle squeeze and said, “If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.” He felt helpless at the smile spreading across his face. He took a step back and invited Legosi towards the door, adding, “I understand the kitchen staff has prepared something lovely for us for lunch. Shall we?”
Legosi smiled and gave a quick, polite bow, then turned towards the door.
As Legosi walked ahead, Louis sidled up to his father and hugged him tightly, saying softly, “Thanks dad.”
Oguma squeezed his son and replied, “No. Thank you, Louis.”
Louis gave a squeeze in return and pulled away, hurrying to Legosi’s side to grab one of the wolf’s big hands. Oguma watched them turn into the hallway, and sighed softly to himself.
He felt like he understood several things much more than he had, previously. His son. Ibuki. Maybe even the world in which he lived.
He had made missteps, clearly. But at least there was time to rectify that. He definitely wanted to learn more about this fascinating quiet wolf. Legosi and Louis were involved in dangerous forces that moved in their world and…
… best not to dwell on that.
Oguma followed them out into the hallway and asked the young couple, “Now what’s this I hear about a dwarf rabbit?” as he closed the door behind him.