Two Sides of the Moon. (Beastars AU)

Chapter 11: The Warmth of your Hand

It had been two days since the drama club's second performance and the school was still ablaze with talk, rumors, and stories about what happened. Some animals kept true to the story, while others exaggerated some of the details. Some of the students talked about how Louis came to save the day like the real hero he was, while others talked about the fight between Bill and Legosi. Many of the canine students even felt a bit proud that one of their kind could stand up to a tiger and win.

Jack was heading up to the rooftop to meet with Legosi, who was understandably hiding from everyone, when he heard some students talking.

"I still can't believe what happened," a pig girl said excitedly.

"I know it was crazy," her owl friend responded with a shake of her hands

"You girls talking about the play?" a male badger student asked as he approached them.

"We sure are," the avian answered. "I was there and it was terrifying! Watching those two guys fight was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life."

"I guess I can only take your word for it since I wasn't there," the badger explained. "I keep hearing different rumors about what happened so I don't really know what's true and what people are just making up. The only things I know for sure are that a wolf and tiger got into a big fight on stage, the wolf won, and that Louis came in to save him after the tiger went berserk. Those are the only things that all the rumors seem to have in common."

The two female students nodded in agreement. What the badger said pretty much explained everything that happened.

Jack, who was listening in on their conversation, felt a bit better knowing that at least some students weren't willing to believe all the weird add-ons that the other students were making up. The labrador continued up the stairs when he started to remember this one rumor that said Legosi went crazy and came out with a flamethrower. He honestly couldn't believe the stuff those people made up.

***

Jack made it to the empty pool where he saw Legosi sitting by himself looking completely miserable. He walked over to the wolf and spoke, "Hey Lego-face, you doing ok?"

The larger canine looked up at his friend, "Yea...I'm fine." Legosi felt so distant from his friend that he could barely look him the eye. He wondered how Jack could still feel comfortable being near him, after he had shown such a monstrous side of himself. Legosi, wanting to change the subject spoke up, "How have you been Jack? I heard you had another attack."

Jack sat down next to the wolf, "I did, but I'm okay. It wasn't as bad as last time, plus it helped that the others were with me." Jack scooted a little closer, "What about you? What you did up there, it wasn't acting was it?"

"You could tell huh?" Legosi looked into the distance.

"Of course I can, you and I have been friends for too long for me not to notice something like that," Jack responded softly.

Legosi looked down then back at his friend, "I'm sorry Jack, I don't know what happened. I felt so...angry, I've always been able to push aside these kinds of feelings, but this time was different. It was as if something inside me just exploded and I couldn't control myself anymore."

Jack looked up at his childhood friend, hoping to make eye contact, "I understand Legosi, believe me I do. To be honest, I think...I think it's good to have moments like that. You've spent so much time pushing down your emotions that you've forgotten what it's like to have them." Jack shook his head, "That wasn't the case at the play. When you fought with that tiger, yes it was scary, but at the same time you looked so full of life and you still do."