[It's funny how things have somehow simultaneously been the busiest of Legosi's life and also...not that much different, considering how it could have been. Legosi is still going to work and Haru is still attending university...all in all, the only real change is the atmosphere, buzzing with a constant stream of nervous excitement. He's pretty sure Gosha nearly passed out when he heard the news. His grandson, giving him a great grandchild...Legosi imagines that he hadn't dared to hope for something like that. Never mind the fact that this child was going to be a hybrid of quite a few stripes...dwarf rabbit, grey wolf, komodo dragon...
And then there was the physical change. Haru's, in particular. Legosi had begun to notice it even when it was relatively minor, barely much more than a fraction of growth. Loose clothing hid it completely, but Legosi took a weird sort of pride in still knowing. He can't say he blames Haru for wanting to continue living as discreetly as possible for as long as she's able, though. Once she really starts showing...actually dodging the questions about how far along she is or what the gender/name will be will be impossible to do.
All of this excitement going on makes Legosi wish he didn't have to work, but it's gotta be done. He's working as hard and as long as the shop will allow him while he's still able, because once the baby arrives...? He's going to be taking all of his time off in one go, period. So he's working to save up as much as he can for them in the time being, as well as searching around for jobs with better hours that pay more...not an easy thing to do when you don't have a high school diploma, but that's not going to stop him.
Haru's only left waiting for about fifteen minutes or so before Legosi finally comes out, turning back halfway in the doorway to wave goodbye to his coworkers. He's still wearing his apron and everything as he steps out onto the sidewalk, lifting his backpack a bit higher onto his shoulders. But then he catches Haru's scent past the overwhelming noodly aroma, his ears perking and his tail wagging. He jogs over to her, and these days?
Haru gets affection without Legosi even stopping long enough to realize he's done it, leaning in to kiss her face in the same motion he takes to crouch down to meet her at her level.]
Haru-chan.
[His tail sweeps the concrete, dusting a few stray leaves off and into the culvert.]
How was your day?
And then there was the physical change. Haru's, in particular. Legosi had begun to notice it even when it was relatively minor, barely much more than a fraction of growth. Loose clothing hid it completely, but Legosi took a weird sort of pride in still knowing. He can't say he blames Haru for wanting to continue living as discreetly as possible for as long as she's able, though. Once she really starts showing...actually dodging the questions about how far along she is or what the gender/name will be will be impossible to do.
All of this excitement going on makes Legosi wish he didn't have to work, but it's gotta be done. He's working as hard and as long as the shop will allow him while he's still able, because once the baby arrives...? He's going to be taking all of his time off in one go, period. So he's working to save up as much as he can for them in the time being, as well as searching around for jobs with better hours that pay more...not an easy thing to do when you don't have a high school diploma, but that's not going to stop him.
Haru's only left waiting for about fifteen minutes or so before Legosi finally comes out, turning back halfway in the doorway to wave goodbye to his coworkers. He's still wearing his apron and everything as he steps out onto the sidewalk, lifting his backpack a bit higher onto his shoulders. But then he catches Haru's scent past the overwhelming noodly aroma, his ears perking and his tail wagging. He jogs over to her, and these days?
Haru gets affection without Legosi even stopping long enough to realize he's done it, leaning in to kiss her face in the same motion he takes to crouch down to meet her at her level.]
Haru-chan.
[His tail sweeps the concrete, dusting a few stray leaves off and into the culvert.]
How was your day?
Isopods? [She said the magic word.] Ah...I wish I could have seen them. How many were there? How big?
[His tail had already started to wag even faster in earnest, at least until Haru takes his hat off and bops his nose. He sneezes reflexively, his nose twitching as he brings his palm up to rub at it.]
Today was slow, actually. I think because of that new cafe that opened up a few blocks down.
[It's taken away a few of their regulars, at least for today. Worse for business, but better for Legosi's nerves, that's for sure. Honestly though, he's been so...distracted lately that he could have probably been directly screamed at by a customer and the cushion of baby would have been too strong to bring him down.
He'll stand back up after a moment though, offering her one of his large hands to take.]
Did you want to head straight home? Or do you have something you would like to do in town first?
[His tail had already started to wag even faster in earnest, at least until Haru takes his hat off and bops his nose. He sneezes reflexively, his nose twitching as he brings his palm up to rub at it.]
Today was slow, actually. I think because of that new cafe that opened up a few blocks down.
[It's taken away a few of their regulars, at least for today. Worse for business, but better for Legosi's nerves, that's for sure. Honestly though, he's been so...distracted lately that he could have probably been directly screamed at by a customer and the cushion of baby would have been too strong to bring him down.
He'll stand back up after a moment though, offering her one of his large hands to take.]
Did you want to head straight home? Or do you have something you would like to do in town first?
[Oh. Things.]
Things?
[Things!
Legosi's ears perk even more than they had been already, and his thoughts immediately rocket to one that he's been lingering on a lot over the last couple weeks. It's like every time Haru says the word "baby"...he's trying to envision what they might look like. It's not far along enough for them to know what the baby's gender is (suffice it to say it...SEEMS like there will only be one? That's also a mild concern Legosi has had since rabbits tend to...well), but it's not difficult to buy gender neutral things. He hadn't been envisioning putting any one sort of theme onto the child either way, but...oh, Legosi, you have no idea how quickly you're going to turn on that notion once you see what the store actually offers.]
N-no, I- it isn't too early! If we don't go looking now, we won't have any idea as to what we might need in the future...and what would we do if something we do need turns up out of stock later...?
[Better to be safe than sorry, right?]
Things?
[Things!
Legosi's ears perk even more than they had been already, and his thoughts immediately rocket to one that he's been lingering on a lot over the last couple weeks. It's like every time Haru says the word "baby"...he's trying to envision what they might look like. It's not far along enough for them to know what the baby's gender is (suffice it to say it...SEEMS like there will only be one? That's also a mild concern Legosi has had since rabbits tend to...well), but it's not difficult to buy gender neutral things. He hadn't been envisioning putting any one sort of theme onto the child either way, but...oh, Legosi, you have no idea how quickly you're going to turn on that notion once you see what the store actually offers.]
N-no, I- it isn't too early! If we don't go looking now, we won't have any idea as to what we might need in the future...and what would we do if something we do need turns up out of stock later...?
[Better to be safe than sorry, right?]
[Legosi is honestly just fine with letting Haru lead him around, because with as spacey as he's feeling in the moment, he'd have probably walked right into a light pole a long time ago at this rate. Fortunately, the reason for him spacing at all is a good one, and because of that his tail steadily wags as they make their way to the shopping district. If people are watching them, he doesn't notice. He's thinking about how, when their child is born, one of them is always going to have their arms full of baby...or maybe they'll be pushing a stroller, or carrying them in a baby harness...]
The sickness is something that only lasts for that first short while, right?
[He thinks he's heard of some rare cases where a woman might be sick for much longer, but thankfully Haru seems to have avoided that. Actually, strangely enough? Her pregnancy has been...startingly normal. Doctor visits have gone as well as they could, and other than the doctor wanting to keep an eye out for any potential complications, the fact remains that there haven't been any, yet.
Legosi isn't one to count his chickens before they hatch- or his little...rabbit-wolf baby before its born- but...sue him for being hopeful. He has to stay hopeful, because he refuses to spend this time worrying about the awful outcomes there could be.]
Maybe your body just needed time to adjust.
The sickness is something that only lasts for that first short while, right?
[He thinks he's heard of some rare cases where a woman might be sick for much longer, but thankfully Haru seems to have avoided that. Actually, strangely enough? Her pregnancy has been...startingly normal. Doctor visits have gone as well as they could, and other than the doctor wanting to keep an eye out for any potential complications, the fact remains that there haven't been any, yet.
Legosi isn't one to count his chickens before they hatch- or his little...rabbit-wolf baby before its born- but...sue him for being hopeful. He has to stay hopeful, because he refuses to spend this time worrying about the awful outcomes there could be.]
Maybe your body just needed time to adjust.
[As if Legosi minds at all. It will be a bit of a surprise, and an adjustment to be sure, but he's...well, a wolf. He's used to eating big. And if Haru wants more to eat than normal, then he's more than happy to oblige. He'll just have to make a mental note to be prepared to eat a lot more herbivore forward meals in the future...namely because he expects that he'll be finishing off what she doesn't end up eating in one sitting. Waste not want not...assuming she'd even allow it, now that he thinks about it.]
Whatever you would like.
[There's amusement present in his tone that's probably easy to miss if you don't know him well, or just aren't looking out for it.]
Some purin does sound nice...
Whatever you would like.
[There's amusement present in his tone that's probably easy to miss if you don't know him well, or just aren't looking out for it.]
Some purin does sound nice...
...eh? O-oh, right...
[Oh...he'd completely forgotten he was even still wearing it.
He looks down at himself as if to confirm that he is, indeed, still in his work clothes before he carefully unties it at the back, pulling it off over his head. Haru had already grabbed his hat earlier, and fortunately the rest of his clothes are more or less just a nice, solid shirt and slacks. Not like his wardrobe is all that broad otherwise to begin with...though perhaps that's changed in his time knowing Haru.
Anyway, that gets folded over one of his arms before he stops long enough to stuff it into his bag.]
Okay, now we can go.
[Oh...he'd completely forgotten he was even still wearing it.
He looks down at himself as if to confirm that he is, indeed, still in his work clothes before he carefully unties it at the back, pulling it off over his head. Haru had already grabbed his hat earlier, and fortunately the rest of his clothes are more or less just a nice, solid shirt and slacks. Not like his wardrobe is all that broad otherwise to begin with...though perhaps that's changed in his time knowing Haru.
Anyway, that gets folded over one of his arms before he stops long enough to stuff it into his bag.]
Okay, now we can go.
[It feels so strange, coming in here. The strangest thing is that the moment Legosi enters, he feels almost...nostalgic. There's a distant memory coming back to him as he walks in with Haru tugging him along, of visiting a Toys Rawr Us when he was a child with his grandfather. They received the same kind of treatment then as he does now, albeit of a slightly different energy...and these days, he's only slightly more aware of it than he was when he was a toddler.
He'll stay by Haru's side for the time being, mostly because the selection here is immediately daunting. He's not even sure where to start first, or what all they might need...no doubt they'll find they need even more by the time the baby actually comes. That, or they'll have gotten too much...]
I think that's the best way to do it.
[He answers, peering into the first aisle near the entrance. It seems that the small mammal section starts there, moving on towards the right side of the store until it transitions into items for larger mammals. Which, granted, not everything is created equal. Even large mammals might want smaller toys, for example...and the reverse is equally true. Who doesn't want a stuffed toy that's bigger than they are?]
Do you care for any particular sort of...design or theme, Haru-chan? I'm not sure I have a preference myself...
[He's thinking in terms of things like, strollers and the like. They could buy something solid and generic, or with patterns all over.]
He'll stay by Haru's side for the time being, mostly because the selection here is immediately daunting. He's not even sure where to start first, or what all they might need...no doubt they'll find they need even more by the time the baby actually comes. That, or they'll have gotten too much...]
I think that's the best way to do it.
[He answers, peering into the first aisle near the entrance. It seems that the small mammal section starts there, moving on towards the right side of the store until it transitions into items for larger mammals. Which, granted, not everything is created equal. Even large mammals might want smaller toys, for example...and the reverse is equally true. Who doesn't want a stuffed toy that's bigger than they are?]
Do you care for any particular sort of...design or theme, Haru-chan? I'm not sure I have a preference myself...
[He's thinking in terms of things like, strollers and the like. They could buy something solid and generic, or with patterns all over.]
[Ah. That was exactly what Legosi was expecting, he'd just hoped that maybe he could step further than a few feet into the store before it started happening. It makes sense though- he gets it- he's a hulking Grey Wolf who has to hunch just to be kindof at eye-level with these shorter aisles, and even then it makes him feel like he's a giant in a place built for those much smaller. He hopes Haru hasn't noticed the couple, which he himself spares a brief glance before turning his attention back to Haru solely.
That look said everything, he hopes. It's none of your concern.]
But when he's back with Haru, that look fades pretty immediately, replaced with something far more placid as the tip of his tail sweeps gently across the floor.]
Puppies can be very small, even from wolves. You would be surprised.
[Though he wonders if a child of theirs would be born even smaller. He imagines rabbit kits are so small that he can't even fathom their smallness, whereas a wolf pup to Haru probably seems more like...young toddler size.]
What you have to look out for is them outgrowing everything...it happens quicker than you would expect.
That look said everything, he hopes. It's none of your concern.]
But when he's back with Haru, that look fades pretty immediately, replaced with something far more placid as the tip of his tail sweeps gently across the floor.]
Puppies can be very small, even from wolves. You would be surprised.
[Though he wonders if a child of theirs would be born even smaller. He imagines rabbit kits are so small that he can't even fathom their smallness, whereas a wolf pup to Haru probably seems more like...young toddler size.]
What you have to look out for is them outgrowing everything...it happens quicker than you would expect.
[Legosi is no doctor, and he's not going to pretend he knows exactly what things will be like when this baby is born. It could be microscopic, or it could be way larger than they're prepared for. Surely not bigger than a normal, healthy wolf, but...he's also learned to trust nothing as gospel these days. It's still early enough along that all they really know is that whoever is in there, they're healthy. That's what matters.
So when Legosi spots the slight shift in Haru's body language, he'll take the iniative and reach out for one of the larger size onesies they'd come up on, particularly in the floral pattern Haru was eyeing. He holds it up a bit to gauge the size, and since these are for newborns...it's not even as long as his hand.
...okay now he's the one having to fight back emotion for a second because that's too small!
But still...he hands it carefully to Haru.]
I think that would cover our bases. I don't think they would be so small that nothing we got would work for them...and if anything, they would grow into it eventually.
[His words carry a deeper meaning. "It's going to be alright," they say. Even if the baby happens to be smaller than any rabbit they've ever seen...it will be fine. They'll just be a little different, that's all.]
So when Legosi spots the slight shift in Haru's body language, he'll take the iniative and reach out for one of the larger size onesies they'd come up on, particularly in the floral pattern Haru was eyeing. He holds it up a bit to gauge the size, and since these are for newborns...it's not even as long as his hand.
...okay now he's the one having to fight back emotion for a second because that's too small!
But still...he hands it carefully to Haru.]
I think that would cover our bases. I don't think they would be so small that nothing we got would work for them...and if anything, they would grow into it eventually.
[His words carry a deeper meaning. "It's going to be alright," they say. Even if the baby happens to be smaller than any rabbit they've ever seen...it will be fine. They'll just be a little different, that's all.]
[Picking something out to surprise his girlfriend sounds nice! It's a downright wholesome idea. Why not, right? There's so much to choose from, surely he'd find something she didn't see and be enamored by it.
Which would be fine...if Haru didn't just hop away from him before he could open his mouth to think to say anything more than-]
Haru-chan-
[Before she's already gone. And he's just...standing there, sticking out like a sore thumb in the damn middle of the small mammal section, dinosaur jesus give him strength.
He'd already been hunched over a little talking to Haru, but that increases by several inches as he tries his best to seem more...unassuming, which is literally impossible when even crouching he can see easily over the tops of the aisles without having to lift his head. Immediately, he focuses his attention on the rest of the onesies, trying to ignore the cold sweat that's broken out on the back of his neck as a very expectant mother chipmunk suddenly steps into the same aisle he was already standing in. It doesn't help that she's not just expecting, but already holding a toddler on her hip as she goes, a little girl with a bright pink bow and one of her paws in her mouth as she stares wide-eyed at Legosi while he tries desperately to melt into the floor.
Oh god. Haru. Why did you do this to him-
...oh. In his muted panic, he does spot something that catches his eye. There's a stag beetle printed on some fabric, so he reaches behind a few of the others to pull it out...and what do you know! It's completely covered with cute little patterns of different bugs. Beetles, dragonflies, ladybugs...it's softly colored too, even with the more eclectic pattern it's got going on there.
Doesn't mean he isn't still being watched like a hawk, but. You know, it's something he has now.]
Which would be fine...if Haru didn't just hop away from him before he could open his mouth to think to say anything more than-]
Haru-chan-
[Before she's already gone. And he's just...standing there, sticking out like a sore thumb in the damn middle of the small mammal section, dinosaur jesus give him strength.
He'd already been hunched over a little talking to Haru, but that increases by several inches as he tries his best to seem more...unassuming, which is literally impossible when even crouching he can see easily over the tops of the aisles without having to lift his head. Immediately, he focuses his attention on the rest of the onesies, trying to ignore the cold sweat that's broken out on the back of his neck as a very expectant mother chipmunk suddenly steps into the same aisle he was already standing in. It doesn't help that she's not just expecting, but already holding a toddler on her hip as she goes, a little girl with a bright pink bow and one of her paws in her mouth as she stares wide-eyed at Legosi while he tries desperately to melt into the floor.
Oh god. Haru. Why did you do this to him-
...oh. In his muted panic, he does spot something that catches his eye. There's a stag beetle printed on some fabric, so he reaches behind a few of the others to pull it out...and what do you know! It's completely covered with cute little patterns of different bugs. Beetles, dragonflies, ladybugs...it's softly colored too, even with the more eclectic pattern it's got going on there.
Doesn't mean he isn't still being watched like a hawk, but. You know, it's something he has now.]
[Haru comes back in the nick of time, whether she realizes it or not. Legosi was one step away from a heart attack, or a panic attack, or maybe some weird combo of both because even as he saw that guard coming his way he felt weirdly...calm? Probably because he's seen this sort of sight so many times that his brain is just resigned to it at this point. No, the real issue is how upset Haru would be if he got himself kicked out of the baby supply store just for existing. Not that he could...really help that...but he still doesn't want to upset her.
He'd just been opening his mouth, lifting both hands with one of those onesies draped across his forearm to defend himself, when Haru abruptly pops up in front of him, wedging herself neatly between him and the kangaroo. It leaves both of them bewildered, especially as now Legosi has even more explaining to do.
He swallows thickly, moving to quickly- carefully- pick up that basket that Haru brought, fussing with the handles in one hand while he passes the onesie to Haru to take with the other.]
W-we're fine!
[Haru is clearly with him, and knows him, given the way she'd cheerfully addressed him by name just then. Legosi hopes it's enough for the guard to believe, because...let's be real here he wouldn't blame him if he was still skeptical. Just to try and smooth his concerns over, Legosi will crouch down a little in the aisle so he isn't just standing there like a hulking giant with his head actually poking up above the aisles, his tail curled between his legs as he reaches his now-free hand out to rest gently against the back of Haru's shoulders.]
Thank you for your concern, but um....we are okay from here. Thank you.
He'd just been opening his mouth, lifting both hands with one of those onesies draped across his forearm to defend himself, when Haru abruptly pops up in front of him, wedging herself neatly between him and the kangaroo. It leaves both of them bewildered, especially as now Legosi has even more explaining to do.
He swallows thickly, moving to quickly- carefully- pick up that basket that Haru brought, fussing with the handles in one hand while he passes the onesie to Haru to take with the other.]
W-we're fine!
[Haru is clearly with him, and knows him, given the way she'd cheerfully addressed him by name just then. Legosi hopes it's enough for the guard to believe, because...let's be real here he wouldn't blame him if he was still skeptical. Just to try and smooth his concerns over, Legosi will crouch down a little in the aisle so he isn't just standing there like a hulking giant with his head actually poking up above the aisles, his tail curled between his legs as he reaches his now-free hand out to rest gently against the back of Haru's shoulders.]
Thank you for your concern, but um....we are okay from here. Thank you.
[By the time the guard finally leaves, Legosi can feel several years that had just been shaved off his life slowly escape away from his body. They're gone, goodbye, he's never getting those back now. He knows Haru didn't intentionally leave him hanging like that (he would have known if she did it on purpose), but still...he's more than a little flustered right now.
And maybe, just maybe, it also has everything to do with the fact that guy just called Haru his wife.]
W-well, I...I did look rather out of place here by myself...
[He says that carefully, hoping Haru will pick up on the fact that they should probably at least try to stick together a bit more, at least until they make it back to the large mammal section. He won't be as out of place there, and Haru...well he won't say it out loud, but she'll probably be more overlooked than he would. At least until people realize that's a very pregnant rabbit in an area meant for lions and shit.]
But he's fine! He's fine. He's going to be the dutiful boyfriend here holding their basket, trying to continue to make himself as small as possible as he remains crouched next to Haru's side.
And maybe, just maybe, it also has everything to do with the fact that guy just called Haru his wife.]
W-well, I...I did look rather out of place here by myself...
[He says that carefully, hoping Haru will pick up on the fact that they should probably at least try to stick together a bit more, at least until they make it back to the large mammal section. He won't be as out of place there, and Haru...well he won't say it out loud, but she'll probably be more overlooked than he would. At least until people realize that's a very pregnant rabbit in an area meant for lions and shit.]
But he's fine! He's fine. He's going to be the dutiful boyfriend here holding their basket, trying to continue to make himself as small as possible as he remains crouched next to Haru's side.
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