[There's something that's been on Legosi's mind since Haru informed him of her suspiscions as to why she'd been so sick lately, but it was one thing he didn't think would be wise to voice. Because ultimately, it's a choice they'd been consciously making as a couple from the start. It's that...this wouldn't have even been a concern if he'd been more proactive with suggesting they use contraception, at least for the time being until they knew for sure that they were ready.
But that...isn't really fair to say. It's not like he's the only one who could make that kind of decision, and if anything Haru has more sway than he does despite being the direct influencer here, as it were. Never mind the fact that the odds of successful conception are so rare that money spent on that would be considered a waste anyway. Then there was the particularly sticky addition of the fact that Legosi...isn't sure he would have wanted it anyway.
Turns out that Haru immediately causes any of those worries and unvoiced concerns of his to instantly become a moot point when she informs him that she wants a family with him. Genuinely. Raising a child that's like him in particular, she...
Legosi sags visibly, something that Haru will be able to feel against her since she's so close. For a moment, he can't even find the words to reply with how he's thinking...it's like there's nothing he could say that would be appropriate right now because this is what he's yearned for since he realized he was in love with Haru. The possibility, however slim, of having a family with her. Of living a normal life...being happy together with a child of their own.
His breath catches, a hand reaching up to press to the side of his face as he laughs under his breath. It's quiet for how big of a guy he is, and when he speaks it's even quieter.]
I'm so glad...I'm so glad, Haru-chan.
[He holds his hand there for a moment longer, smearing it over his muzzle, eyes, then back down the side until it's fallen off and into his lap again. The bottle of tea remains held in his other, so far unopened against his knee.]
I...I want it too. Even if it turns out not to be now...I really want it.
[She was speaking from both the heart and just for the sake of keeping the silence from overtaking the two of them as they waited, so she wasn't expecting Legosi's reaction in the slightest. It takes her by surprised, just how physically he responds, and at his silence in response she puts her hand on his thigh, looking away from the test, focusing all her attention on him. It always astonishes her, how small and quiet his voice can get in a body as large and as encompassing as his.
Haru's only somewhat aware of his anxieties, still having never been told the full extent of what the deal was with Melon and him, and mostly chalking his current nerves up to how any other boyfriend would react to hearing his girlfriend may or may not be pregnant. But the way he physically relaxes, and the rest of his reaction that follows...she knows there's something more to all this. It goes deeper than simply being nervous about having to change their lives for a new life, something that Haru as a full-blooded rabbit might not fully understand.
But she meant what she said, truly. Because she loves Legosi, loves who and what he is, and having a kid with him makes just about as much sense as their relationship does in the first place. Which...it doesn't, but it works because they make it work. She takes his hand soon after it falls into his lap with her own, squeezing it.]
I'm glad too. [And she lets go, only to stand and rest her hand at his shoulder, taking advantage of the moment to kiss his cheek just below his eye. Exhaling, she's about to bend back down to open the bottle of tea for him, when she glances back over at the test.
Because it's bright and pink and eye-catching, and--]
Flower.
[The word kind of just tumbles out of her mouth, heavy and sudden.]
I think that's what that is, right?
[Moving from Legosi, she snatches the test from the cup, holding it between her hands and squinting down at the marker. It's most certainly a flower. A round, multi-petaled, cartoony looking flower, and for a moment Haru is internally grumbling about how stupid and kitschy this test is, one ear twitching, before what it means actually sinks in.]
Oh...ah, I guess that means-- [Looking over at Legosi, wide eyed and visibly nervous, the atmosphere of the room shifting back to what it had been at the start. She shakily holds it out towards him, so he can take and look for himself.] We won?
[You know, that aforementioned lottery? Which...would be pretty helpful to have actually won, their present circumstances considered.]
[The word escapes him a moment after it does Haru, gaze following hers as she hops down from him so she can go pick up the test. Somehow, he hadn't expected it to be ready so quickly, yet here it is. Here's their answer.
It might be stupid and kitschy, but it also means that flowers hold so much more significance in their lives, now. More than either of them could have possibly imagined. They, in quite the literal sense, now represent the real start of Legosi and Haru's little family together.
...they're going to have a family.
Haru holds the test out for him to take in his hands, but honestly he doesn't need to look any closer. He can see it from here, staring up at him in all of its cartoonish glory, so what he will pick up instead is Haru. He sweeps past the offer and instead scoops her up beneath her arms before just...
Holding her close against his chest in a tight embrace, lifted completely up off the ground. He knows he should have something more eloquent to say- or anything profound to say for that matter- but it's just too much to take in all at once. He's such an overwhelming mix of happy, relieved, nervous, frightened, and absolutely giddy that the only thing he can think to do to ground himself is embrace Haru.
He thinks he might have said something in the wake of him grabbing and holding her, something along the lines of being happy and relieved, but it sort of came out indistinct against his face pressed to the side of hers, and before he knows it...ah. He can feel the wetness of tears streaking down the sides of his muzzle, and he hopes he doesn't have to tell Haru that they're positive and not negative ones. Especially not when he's holding her even closer to himself, tight- but not painfully so.]
[The ongoing significance of flowers in their relationship will probably, eventually, reach Haru a few days later: once the surprise and surrealness of what that little emoji-like marker confirms wanes away into what's going to be reality for the next however-many months a hybrid pregnancy lasts. But as of now, Haru's a mess of feeling a whole lot of feelings at once, feelings that get swept away in an instant as Legosi sweeps her off her feet and up into a hug.
It's an uncharacteristic gesture from him, something he hasn't done in awhile, at least, and it's met with the same clinging enthusiasm from her. One hand still holds the test she offered for him to look at, the other gripping his shirt, holding onto him and trying to make out whatever it was he just said, muffled against her, into her fur.
And burying her face into the crook of his neck, she feels the warmth of his tears matting her fur. Pulling him in even tighter, dropping the test to the floor to rake her fingers through the fur at the back of his head. Her heartbeat remains intense, conveying a mind that's suddenly racing with a lot of thoughts, but she recenters herself. Onto him and on living in this moment, filing it away among the many other memories she has with him.]
I'm happy. [Her voice is surprisingly level, thick with her own want to cry, only because he's crying and she's, well, she guesses it's hormones, isn't it?] Scared, but-- [And she presses her face against the warm fur of his neck, voice muffled, keeping him close.] I'm glad.
[The timing of it could honestly have been a bit better; later down the line, with her graduated from classes and him, perhaps, with a better paying job. But they never really did things in the right order, have they? Everything in their lives has been about random circumstances, impulse and instinct.
[The timing is...pretty bad, all things considered. They're not exactly what you'd call in a good place for having a family, between Haru's schooling and Legosi working a minimum wage job with inconsistent hours. But even when he was too young to fully grasp the concept or understand, he knew that this was the way his family originated. His grandmother and grandfather...they loved each other, got married, and had a child in such a short amount of time that it could scarcely be believed, and as much as they turned heads it didn't matter. They were happy.
People could learn a thing or two from living that sort of life, Legosi thinks. One where it's lived to the absolute fullest, every second filled with love.
He'll eventually pull his head back, but not very far. Just enough so he can press his forehead to Haru's, his eyes half closed with his vision still blurry with unshed tears.]
Whatever happens now...we'll go through it together.
[He's already committed himself to Haru that much. No matter the sacrifices he needs to make or accomodations that may be required to make this work. There's very little Legosi wouldn't do for Haru, and even less now that they have confirmation that it's not just going to be the two of them for much longer.
He turns his head a little, nuzzling her in a gesture that seems impossibly gentle for a wolf of his size.]
I love you...so much.
please know how hard it was for me to not gagtag you that zootopia comic.
[It's not like they've been a couple of perfect timing themselves anyway...so it's apt for this to have happened so sudden and completely unplanned. There's still a lot to learn about Legosi and what his family life had been like but, a selfish part of Haru feels that in being pregnant, once things are set in motion, she can turn to Gosha and just talk. Turn to him for advice without feeling like she's being nosy. Because it's not like her family has any idea about having a kid that's not a purebred rabbit.
Ah...she'll have to tell them too though. The thought of it making her head spin, mainly about how her dad would take the news but, they liked Legosi. But it's different than just moving in with a guy...
Regardless, that's something for future-Haru to think about. For now, she'll stay focused on the present, in this moment, and hooking her knees around his waist to keep her legs from dangling as he holds her, she cups his face in her hands, resting her forehead, against his. It's firm, solid, warm and comforting, and she can still smell the tinge of grease from his workplace clinging to his fur, even through the tears.]
We better. [There's a teasing edge to her voice, running her thumbs below his eyes to dry whatever remains of his tears. And, in response to his nuzzle, she leans into it, smiling, feeling overwhelmed, and happy.] I love you too. [Said, genuinely, nuzzling him back with her chin, in a very rabbit-like response. And then, following a pause, she pats his cheek.]
What I don't love...is feeling sick.
[But, at least she knows why, and for now it's just a mild, dull feeling, like a wave washing over her following that wave of relief of simply knowing. She pats him again, in a gentle but firm 'put me down' sort of way.]
[Poor Haru...now that they actually know why she's been so ill, it only stands to reason she probably isn't out of the woods yet when it comes to boughts of morning sickness. Because of that, he'll very carefully set her back down on the floor now that he's hugged and cried all over her. He still looks more than a little shell shocked and would probably benefit from blasting himself with a hot shower to clean himself of work, crying, and inevitable stress related residue still clinging to him. Now that he thinks about it, he can't imagine he's very pleasant for Haru to be so near when she's feeling like she does...he'd understandably been distracted the instant he got home.
He puts the still-unopened green tea back on the table, intending for Haru to have it in his stead since he figures she'd benefit from it more than he would right now. There's so much to think about, so much to do, but what he needs to do is remember that while there's a long road ahead, they can still control little things in this moment.]
I'm...going to take a shower, but I'll be quick.
[He doesn't want to leave Haru, but it's not like she's going to explode or like have a baby in the ten minutes he'll be gone.]
Then we can order in.
[A meal they can talk more at length over, he thinks. And even if Haru is still feeling unwell, he imagines she'd feel better eating something.]
[At least knowing why she feels this way comes with added relief and...well, not less stress but, a mysterious illness is a lot more foreboding for a small animal compared to morning sickness. As he sets her down she does hazard another kiss to take advantage of his closeness, atop his muzzle where his fur thins near his wet nose.
It's a mix of butterflies and nausea when she looks at him, and when he does part from her she does exactly what's expected, settling down on her knees at the table and twisting open the green tea still cold from the fridge.]
Take as long as you need-- [Please...you stink of grease...] You're not going to miss anything.
[She sounds amused. Still very much shaken up by all this, evidenced by the way she still has to steady herself before taking a sip from the bottle, but she's happy. Haru would have been happy if it were just the two of them growing old together from now until the end but, the fact that they'll be having a kid? It's a thought that finally sinks in when Legosi leaves for his shower, and she feels splotches of tears falling warm and wet from her eyes from the relief of it all, wiping them away with the back of her wrist.
Yeah, she'll definitely feel better after eating something.]
[With one last crooked grin to leave Haru with, Legosi shuffles off to the washroom to make himself a bit more pleasant to be around. It's going to be some time before he can really process anything, gathering up his clothes in something of a stupor with his thoughts unable to connect on any one topic. They should be a whirling, overwhelming mass, but right now he can't think of anything at all. It's like his brain is on autopilot as a defense mechanism while he recovers from the outpouring of emotions all at once. Shower. Basic needs. That's what he can handle right now.
But then he gets into the shower, alone for the first time since Haru left to actually take the test, hot water striking the back of his head with as literal of a hammer as anything to remind him that this is all real. He isn't dreaming any of it. He's going to return to their apartment to that little white rabbit in the center of the room. His girlfriend. The soon-to-be mother of his child.
He cradles his face in his claws, and he weeps. He thinks about how Gosha must have felt when he heard the same news. He thinks about his mother. Thinks about all of the hybrid children and adults alike that exist in this world, and he wonders...what will mine be like? Will they be healthy? Happy? Or will they seek to hide their heritage from the world, just as his mom once had?
Legosi can only hope for a bright future. It's something he's going to chase after for his child with every last ounce of his strength, at no matter the cost.
He comes back to Haru in a little while, his grey fur fluffy from drying and all of his usual canine/work smell all gone. You can't completely keep a dog from smelling like a dog, of course, but now he smells like freshly bathed dog. A much nicer variation.
Silently, he stoops down next to where Haru is sitting so he can take a seat beside her at the table, setting something down in the middle of it. It's a small pile of menus that they'd collected from various restaurants that deliver nearby.]
[She's managed to quell her tears even as the swell of emotion stays warm and heavy at the center of her chest, a pleasant contrast to the way she'd been otherwise feeling on and off these past few weeks. Still, through her sniffling and wiping her face dry, she manages a few more careful sips of green tea before setting it aside to tidy the place up as Legosi bathes.
Life goes on, and will continue to go on, even if right now she feels like she's in a little bubble of what ifs, most pleasant but some thoughts dipping into uncertain territory. And as she picks up the test from the floor to put it away, washes her hands and tidies up the table in preparation for ordering and having dinner in, she thinks to...
That professor of hers, who she's not seen hide nor hair of outside of what happened well over a year ago at this point. About how happy she had been to see a hybrid adult like him, the trepidation and excitement she had felt. But before she can ruminate or think any further, setting herself back down in her usual spot, Legosi comes back smelling nice and clean and at this point, she's gotten so used to the simple underlying smell of dog that it smells reassuring and of home at this point. Leaning against him as she settles down next to her, she gives herself a moment to just relax against him before leaning forward to sift through the menus he's set down for her to look over.]
Hmm... [She's sitting up on her knees, flipping through the selection. It's not a huge choice of takeout around these parts as it had been near her university, considering how close the complex had been to the Back Alley Market, but she sits back after choosing her go-to place.] I think I can really go for some dumplings tonight. That feels like a safe option.
[She spreads open the menu for him to look alongside her, her ears twitching every so often. It's funny, how normal this all is, while knowing officially that their routine is going to change dramatically in the coming months.]
You should pick your favourite from the menu, too.
[Haru's encounter with Melon isn't something Legosi thinks back on often. Mostly because, well...his primary takeaway memory is that of Haru promising Melon he could eat her, but given what they'd both been through at this point...it's not really something he could hold against her anymore. Far too much has happened for that, especially when it doesn't matter at this point besides. What he does think about, however, is the impact every interaction he had with the hybrid made on him, both good and bad.
Melon was an example. An example of what can come of a hybrid relationship if not taken the proper dilligence and care. One can't predict what their children may do, of course, but even so...Legosi can only hope that whatever their future child turns out to be like, they'll be happy enough with their lives that they don't fall into a similar type of madness. He isn't sure what he would even begin to do in a situation like that.
Legosi shifts an arm around Haru as she leans over to look at the menus, making a much more snug space for her to fold in against his side. Honestly, several more of her could fit against him with how much space he can give, but.]
Mm...
[It only takes him a moment to decide, and it's probably predictable as anything. He points a claw at a listing for Tamagoyaki. Legosi's go-to type of comfort food.]
It won't be the same as the egg sandwiches from Cherryton were, but still good.
[And learning he's going to be a father is plenty worth celebrating with EGG.]
[There's a comfortable, warm feeling that settles in her heart as Legosi affords her a more comfortable spot at his side, herself feeling snug and safe, surrounded by the smell of soap. It's impossible to predict the future, but...unlike whatever had happened to Melon that had him behaving the way he did, she knows that theirs will be a warm and safe home.
She has a hunch as to what Legosi's going to pick, and the moment he points at his choice she smirks, settling in even closer after she fishes her smartphone out of her pocket. Your cellphone savvy girlfriend is going to place this order through Zoober Eats because honestly, she doesn't really want to burst this little bubble of the two of them by talking to some stranger on the phone. Not right now.]
You talk about those sandwiches like they're the girl that got away. [Said chidingly, tapping away at her screen as she speaks.] I'll order some extra sides. Worst case, we'll have leftovers.
[Aaand done and ordered. She draws her feet up close, her full weight now against him, and after a second, something's clearly still weighing on her mind after all this:]
[He's only half joking. He still wonders why his favorite changed so suddenly, but alas...he hasn't had them in such a long time. It's nothing more than a nostalgic memory these days.
With their dinner ordered and on the way, Legosi had been ready to just sit holding Haru for a little while...until Haru is Haru and asks him something he isn't immediately prepared to answer. He's so glad she accepts all the weird canine things about him, but this has got to be one of the harder ones to explain.]
You, ah...well...I mean. You always smell.
[...]
N-not-! In a bad way! Everything has a scent, and yours is absolutely wonderful...I couldn't mistake it for anything. It's just...difficult to explain. It's subtly different, right now.
[His tail curves a bit closer to the both of them.]
[She flashes him A Look when he says she always smells, but it's mostly performance; because, honestly, she knows that nose of his and she's an animal herself. Everyone smells, and she's always the first to point out whenever Legosi stinks.
So she relaxes into him as he explains further, absentmindedly taking his tail in her arms as it curls around them, bringing it over her lap and petting him as she tries to put herself in his shoes. Imagine how the world must be for a guy who can smell that something was up with her before either of them even knew. And, one hand still resting atop his tail, she brings the other down to rest against her abdomen. It's not that she feels anything, it's too early, but it's more the thought of it.
A subtle difference.]
It's weird to think about...that there's something else there. [And that he could sense it before even she knew what was up] Because besides feeling sick, I don't feel anything else just yet.
[It still feels like it's just her, even knowing.]
[Honestly, Legosi had assumed that what he was smelling was the fact Haru was getting sick. Just in a more general sense, nothing to do with being pregnant specifically. If he'd thought a bit harder about it, he might have started to suspect in a more correct direction...instead, he's been as blindsided as she was by the news.
The tip of his tail wiggles just a little bit as she reaches around to hold it, otherwise staying still in her grasp as they sit there together in the center of their small apartment.]
I guess...it will probably be a while until you feel anything.
[He's about as knowledgeable with this sort of thing as any other young man his age, which is to say...not very. It doesn't help that he dropped out, but it probably wouldn't have mattered either way. He'll learn everything he needs to know, be it from the doctor themselves, or the internet, or the plethora of books he's no doubt going to be picking up on the topic.
After a little pause, he'll reach over and cover Haru's hand against her middle with his own.]
[Haru's knowledge of the matter is probably much better than Legosi's; she's a rabbit, after all, and though it's a stereotype, it's one based in some reality and necessity of most small mammal species. Her mom had definitely given her The Talk which laid the life of a female rabbit out in all its messy, short-lived glory.
As Legosi's large hand covers her own, his paw easily spanning across her entire abdomen in a comforting warmth, she smiles.]
Things will probably start feeling a lot more real once we get it checked out. Make sure everything's all right... [Her voice trails off a bit, and she'd rather not think of the 'what-ifs' and the doctor appointments.] We should wait before we tell everyone. Keep things between us for a few more weeks.
[It feels nice, having a little secret between the two of them, plus it just makes sense. Not rush into telling everyone until everything is absolutely certain, keep a sense of normal for awhile longer before things really do change.
Avoid how overbearing and nosy her family will inevitably be......she's most worried about how her dad will react with how much of a protective worrywart he can be on a good day.]
But I might start bugging your grandpa for advice.
[He can readily agree to that. It's going to take him just that long to get used to the idea, so he can't imagine how much more like a big deal it's going to feel like once others know. Not just their families, but their friends as well...it's really going to be surrounding their lives all at once. Surely Haru hasn't been pregnant for a huge amount of time, especially since these symptoms just recently developed. They have plenty of time to work out how they want to go about letting this information be known.
And if Haru thinks her family is overbearing...just wait until Gosha hears he's going to be a great grandpa.]
Yes...he would be happy to talk to you, I imagine. He raised me no matter how difficult I could be, so I doubt there is much that surprises him anymore.
[Well, beyond that time he learned his grandson was dating a rabbit. That was still pretty surprising.]
[Haru's gotten a taste of Gosha's overbearing nature no doubt, considering the the utmost care he took regarding his venom whenever her and Legosi would drop by for a visit.]
He did a good job, even if you're not perfect. [Said playfully at Legosi's expense, drawing her knees up even closer so she can hug his hand against her.] And he's the only person I know right now who's had a kid with someone of a completely different species.
[She'll trust him more than the internet; at least in the beginning.]
...plus he'll probably show me even more baby pictures of you.
[Truly the core reason why Haru will want to tell him first. More excuses for her to browse through photos of Legosi's ever-elusive past.]
[...okay, that causes Legosi to snort on a laugh before he can stop himself.]
Please no...
[It's not that he looks back on his childhood badly, far from it. Even with how difficult the situation got with his mother, he was a happy child growing up. He never wanted for anything, and even being a hybrid he never felt the pressure of it because Gosha made sure to shield him from that harsh reality for as long as he could. Legosi was able to grow up thinking that having a komodo dragon for a grandfather was just a completely normal thing. He was special for having him in his life.
But...Gosha also was the type to document everything. Everything. Legosi is pretty sure there are half a dozen photos for every year of his life up until he moved out for school, so the amount there is for Haru to uncover is- quite honestly- going to be staggering. And once their child is born, that's going to be no exception.]
I hope you don't mind family photos...
[He imagines that's something Haru is also used to, with how many siblings she has.]
Are you kidding? I'd be happy to spend the entire day looking at your family photos.
[She's allowed herself to get real comfortable against him now, the full weight of her small body leaning against him, bringing her hand out from under his so she can rest both her hands on his tail she's still kept wrapped around her. By the time the delivery person arrives and makes the trek up the stairs to the apartment, she's not going to want to move from this spot.
Tilting her head up to look at him, her impish grin is clear as day.]
It's the perfect excuse to unearth more of your mysterious past.
[And see more what a hybrid family looks like with her own two eyes.]
Plus, it'll be a way to learn more about what I'm getting myself into. I know what I was like as a kit, but a wolf pup? I've never even been near one before.
[Legosi's family was definitely a bit of an outlier in terms of what one might expect from your "textbook" hybrid family. Even with their komodo dragon blood, both his mother and Legosi himself looked like grey wolves in every way...at least until his mother started to grow scales as she grew older, things changing far too abruptly for her to be able to handle. Legosi wonders, sometimes, if he might begin to see similar changes in himself as he grows into an adult...he of course would embrace the changes, however strange. He's already gotten accustomed to the oddity of his regenerative abilities on top of his immunity to a komodo dragon's poison.]
I imagine...they aren't too much different from any other child, really.
[Even across species, children are children. Sure, a small rabbit is going to behave in some ways differently than a tiger cub for example, but they ultimately don't have the same concept of special differences at that age. Legosi was only so strongly aware of it because he'd grown up surrounded by reminders.]
[There's a thoughtful hum from Haru, thinking about a bigger and toothier child. She splays her hands wide against the fur of Legosi's tail so that tufts of fur stick up between her fingers.]
And rabbits are smaller. Less toothy. [But, beyond physical differences, Legosi is right. A baby has none of the same preconceived notions that children and adult animals do; much of her life experience and expectations were entirely based on both her species and the surroundings she had been brought up in.
And, slowly but surely, in part thanks to Legosi and Louis, this city of theirs and the way their world works in regards, is changing. Even still, Haru was born and raised in a pure blooded dwarf rabbit family, right down to fur colour. She's never really had much experience with mixed species families, or hybrid animals. Legosi, after all, on the surface has most of the characteristics and appearance and mannerisms of a large canine, and Melon...
...His existence and his living to adulthood as as a child of a carnivore & herbivore coupling had made her happy. And Haru is smart enough to know that he was very well an outlier, but also someone pushed to the brink by some means beyond nature.]
Gosha...he raised you really well, Legosi-kun. He's a good man. [Said fondly, looking down as she strokes Legosi's fur.] I want to know more about how he raised you. Learn more about your family but-- ah [she rubs one eye with the back of her hand. The overwhelming feelings of this day come and go like waves, and it's probably too early to blame horomones for it.] I'm getting ahead of myself! It's not like it has any teeth and--
[She lifts one hand, pinching her forefinger and thumb nearly together. Noting the size of a pea.]
[Legosi finds himself squinting at the shape she makes with her fingers, even if he's close enough to get the gist without even having to be any nearer. Their offspring is scarcely more than a concept at this stage, slowly growing but very much there. Would the doctors be able to tell the predominant species of the child through ultrasound alone, he wonders? Would that not even be a factor you could see until they're born? It's not like it matters to him- he'd love them even if they had gills somehow- but he is curious. With how large their physical and biological differences are, the gene pool is vast and could be pulling from any number of places.
...Hell, this baby is going to be a small fraction part Komodo dragon themselves. It's pretty far removed at this point, but the fact of the matter is that it will be there. They'll be more hybrid than most, considering that fact.
As Haru rubs her eye, Legosi just...sets his muzzle gently atop her head, sniffing.]
It's okay. I think it's...exciting, to speculate what they might be like.
[Exciting, nervewracking...it's much better assuming they'll be okay and healthy than allowing himself to dwell on the possibility that some complications arise.]
And thank you...I know grandpa would be very happy to know you feel that way. He's worked very hard to find his happiness in life. This will only contribute to that.
[Ah Legosi is just so...big and warm. And the careful weight of his muzzle on her head, the clean post-shower smell emanating from his fur, the strong feelings that had brought tears to her eyes ebbs away into something quieter, more pleasant and manageable.]
You're right...it's normal for [parents; the word stop shorts in application to the two of them, because like he's said, it still doesn't feel real, so after only a small pause:] people to get ahead of themselves.
[And to someone like Haru, thinking about the future far in advance is still very new, something to get used to. Something she's had to learn, in time, thanks in part to the level of understanding and importance Legosi felt towards her and how, in turn, she knew she wanted a future with him.
She hums, happily, thoughtfully, and reaches up to run her hand along the length of his muzzle. Idly scratching him when she comes to stop at his cheek.]
I hope he's also happy to be a go-to baby sitter. [Said jokingly. She's still a few semesters away from graduating, and she's not going to put an end to that.
But, before she can get even more ahead of herself, there's a knock at the door, and Haru begins to detangle herself out from under Legosi, though she'd rather not move from their cozy little bubble of 'what-ifs.']
Coming! [Said towards the door, crawling on her hands and knees before standing up. Even if Legosi is going to try to take it on himself to answer the door instead of his girlfriend, she works hard to be a few steps ahead of him whenever she can; and getting delivery is no exception to that.]
[Haru's on the same brainwave as Legosi, seeing as how he'd immediately started to try to stand, only to have Haru wiggle herself free from him before he could properly get up. He decides to sink back into a sit, watching her go to the door while he waits in her wake. He's realizing that she's probably on borrowed time here, in terms of how much longer she'll be able to easily do things herself. Not that he imagines she'll let pregnancy stop her, but...he's under the assumption it's probably difficult on smaller mammals in particular. There's a lot of weight to carry, a lot of extra energy that needs to be stored to suit both the baby and the mother's needs.
He's going to make sure he's there for her, every single step of the way. Even if he turns into an absolute nuisance of a helicopter spouse, that's just how it's going to have to be.
God. He really is turning into his grandpa...]
I think he would be disappointed if he wasn't the first to be considered.
[He calls after her, his tail sweeping the floor.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
But that...isn't really fair to say. It's not like he's the only one who could make that kind of decision, and if anything Haru has more sway than he does despite being the direct influencer here, as it were. Never mind the fact that the odds of successful conception are so rare that money spent on that would be considered a waste anyway. Then there was the particularly sticky addition of the fact that Legosi...isn't sure he would have wanted it anyway.
Turns out that Haru immediately causes any of those worries and unvoiced concerns of his to instantly become a moot point when she informs him that she wants a family with him. Genuinely. Raising a child that's like him in particular, she...
Legosi sags visibly, something that Haru will be able to feel against her since she's so close. For a moment, he can't even find the words to reply with how he's thinking...it's like there's nothing he could say that would be appropriate right now because this is what he's yearned for since he realized he was in love with Haru. The possibility, however slim, of having a family with her. Of living a normal life...being happy together with a child of their own.
His breath catches, a hand reaching up to press to the side of his face as he laughs under his breath. It's quiet for how big of a guy he is, and when he speaks it's even quieter.]
I'm so glad...I'm so glad, Haru-chan.
[He holds his hand there for a moment longer, smearing it over his muzzle, eyes, then back down the side until it's fallen off and into his lap again. The bottle of tea remains held in his other, so far unopened against his knee.]
I...I want it too. Even if it turns out not to be now...I really want it.
no subject
Haru's only somewhat aware of his anxieties, still having never been told the full extent of what the deal was with Melon and him, and mostly chalking his current nerves up to how any other boyfriend would react to hearing his girlfriend may or may not be pregnant. But the way he physically relaxes, and the rest of his reaction that follows...she knows there's something more to all this. It goes deeper than simply being nervous about having to change their lives for a new life, something that Haru as a full-blooded rabbit might not fully understand.
But she meant what she said, truly. Because she loves Legosi, loves who and what he is, and having a kid with him makes just about as much sense as their relationship does in the first place. Which...it doesn't, but it works because they make it work. She takes his hand soon after it falls into his lap with her own, squeezing it.]
I'm glad too. [And she lets go, only to stand and rest her hand at his shoulder, taking advantage of the moment to kiss his cheek just below his eye. Exhaling, she's about to bend back down to open the bottle of tea for him, when she glances back over at the test.
Because it's bright and pink and eye-catching, and--]
Flower.
[The word kind of just tumbles out of her mouth, heavy and sudden.]
I think that's what that is, right?
[Moving from Legosi, she snatches the test from the cup, holding it between her hands and squinting down at the marker. It's most certainly a flower. A round, multi-petaled, cartoony looking flower, and for a moment Haru is internally grumbling about how stupid and kitschy this test is, one ear twitching, before what it means actually sinks in.]
Oh...ah, I guess that means-- [Looking over at Legosi, wide eyed and visibly nervous, the atmosphere of the room shifting back to what it had been at the start. She shakily holds it out towards him, so he can take and look for himself.] We won?
[You know, that aforementioned lottery? Which...would be pretty helpful to have actually won, their present circumstances considered.]
no subject
[The word escapes him a moment after it does Haru, gaze following hers as she hops down from him so she can go pick up the test. Somehow, he hadn't expected it to be ready so quickly, yet here it is. Here's their answer.
It might be stupid and kitschy, but it also means that flowers hold so much more significance in their lives, now. More than either of them could have possibly imagined. They, in quite the literal sense, now represent the real start of Legosi and Haru's little family together.
...they're going to have a family.
Haru holds the test out for him to take in his hands, but honestly he doesn't need to look any closer. He can see it from here, staring up at him in all of its cartoonish glory, so what he will pick up instead is Haru. He sweeps past the offer and instead scoops her up beneath her arms before just...
Holding her close against his chest in a tight embrace, lifted completely up off the ground. He knows he should have something more eloquent to say- or anything profound to say for that matter- but it's just too much to take in all at once. He's such an overwhelming mix of happy, relieved, nervous, frightened, and absolutely giddy that the only thing he can think to do to ground himself is embrace Haru.
He thinks he might have said something in the wake of him grabbing and holding her, something along the lines of being happy and relieved, but it sort of came out indistinct against his face pressed to the side of hers, and before he knows it...ah. He can feel the wetness of tears streaking down the sides of his muzzle, and he hopes he doesn't have to tell Haru that they're positive and not negative ones. Especially not when he's holding her even closer to himself, tight- but not painfully so.]
no subject
It's an uncharacteristic gesture from him, something he hasn't done in awhile, at least, and it's met with the same clinging enthusiasm from her. One hand still holds the test she offered for him to look at, the other gripping his shirt, holding onto him and trying to make out whatever it was he just said, muffled against her, into her fur.
And burying her face into the crook of his neck, she feels the warmth of his tears matting her fur. Pulling him in even tighter, dropping the test to the floor to rake her fingers through the fur at the back of his head. Her heartbeat remains intense, conveying a mind that's suddenly racing with a lot of thoughts, but she recenters herself. Onto him and on living in this moment, filing it away among the many other memories she has with him.]
I'm happy. [Her voice is surprisingly level, thick with her own want to cry, only because he's crying and she's, well, she guesses it's hormones, isn't it?] Scared, but-- [And she presses her face against the warm fur of his neck, voice muffled, keeping him close.] I'm glad.
[The timing of it could honestly have been a bit better; later down the line, with her graduated from classes and him, perhaps, with a better paying job. But they never really did things in the right order, have they? Everything in their lives has been about random circumstances, impulse and instinct.
So this? It feels right.]
no subject
People could learn a thing or two from living that sort of life, Legosi thinks. One where it's lived to the absolute fullest, every second filled with love.
He'll eventually pull his head back, but not very far. Just enough so he can press his forehead to Haru's, his eyes half closed with his vision still blurry with unshed tears.]
Whatever happens now...we'll go through it together.
[He's already committed himself to Haru that much. No matter the sacrifices he needs to make or accomodations that may be required to make this work. There's very little Legosi wouldn't do for Haru, and even less now that they have confirmation that it's not just going to be the two of them for much longer.
He turns his head a little, nuzzling her in a gesture that seems impossibly gentle for a wolf of his size.]
I love you...so much.
please know how hard it was for me to not gagtag you that zootopia comic.
Ah...she'll have to tell them too though. The thought of it making her head spin, mainly about how her dad would take the news but, they liked Legosi. But it's different than just moving in with a guy...
Regardless, that's something for future-Haru to think about. For now, she'll stay focused on the present, in this moment, and hooking her knees around his waist to keep her legs from dangling as he holds her, she cups his face in her hands, resting her forehead, against his. It's firm, solid, warm and comforting, and she can still smell the tinge of grease from his workplace clinging to his fur, even through the tears.]
We better. [There's a teasing edge to her voice, running her thumbs below his eyes to dry whatever remains of his tears. And, in response to his nuzzle, she leans into it, smiling, feeling overwhelmed, and happy.] I love you too. [Said, genuinely, nuzzling him back with her chin, in a very rabbit-like response. And then, following a pause, she pats his cheek.]
What I don't love...is feeling sick.
[But, at least she knows why, and for now it's just a mild, dull feeling, like a wave washing over her following that wave of relief of simply knowing. She pats him again, in a gentle but firm 'put me down' sort of way.]
I would have screamed and accepted my fate
[Poor Haru...now that they actually know why she's been so ill, it only stands to reason she probably isn't out of the woods yet when it comes to boughts of morning sickness. Because of that, he'll very carefully set her back down on the floor now that he's hugged and cried all over her. He still looks more than a little shell shocked and would probably benefit from blasting himself with a hot shower to clean himself of work, crying, and inevitable stress related residue still clinging to him. Now that he thinks about it, he can't imagine he's very pleasant for Haru to be so near when she's feeling like she does...he'd understandably been distracted the instant he got home.
He puts the still-unopened green tea back on the table, intending for Haru to have it in his stead since he figures she'd benefit from it more than he would right now. There's so much to think about, so much to do, but what he needs to do is remember that while there's a long road ahead, they can still control little things in this moment.]
I'm...going to take a shower, but I'll be quick.
[He doesn't want to leave Haru, but it's not like she's going to explode or like have a baby in the ten minutes he'll be gone.]
Then we can order in.
[A meal they can talk more at length over, he thinks. And even if Haru is still feeling unwell, he imagines she'd feel better eating something.]
i can still take this thread in that direction.
It's a mix of butterflies and nausea when she looks at him, and when he does part from her she does exactly what's expected, settling down on her knees at the table and twisting open the green tea still cold from the fridge.]
Take as long as you need-- [Please...you stink of grease...] You're not going to miss anything.
[She sounds amused. Still very much shaken up by all this, evidenced by the way she still has to steady herself before taking a sip from the bottle, but she's happy. Haru would have been happy if it were just the two of them growing old together from now until the end but, the fact that they'll be having a kid? It's a thought that finally sinks in when Legosi leaves for his shower, and she feels splotches of tears falling warm and wet from her eyes from the relief of it all, wiping them away with the back of her wrist.
Yeah, she'll definitely feel better after eating something.]
THIS READS LIKE A THREAT
But then he gets into the shower, alone for the first time since Haru left to actually take the test, hot water striking the back of his head with as literal of a hammer as anything to remind him that this is all real. He isn't dreaming any of it. He's going to return to their apartment to that little white rabbit in the center of the room. His girlfriend. The soon-to-be mother of his child.
He cradles his face in his claws, and he weeps. He thinks about how Gosha must have felt when he heard the same news. He thinks about his mother. Thinks about all of the hybrid children and adults alike that exist in this world, and he wonders...what will mine be like? Will they be healthy? Happy? Or will they seek to hide their heritage from the world, just as his mom once had?
Legosi can only hope for a bright future. It's something he's going to chase after for his child with every last ounce of his strength, at no matter the cost.
He comes back to Haru in a little while, his grey fur fluffy from drying and all of his usual canine/work smell all gone. You can't completely keep a dog from smelling like a dog, of course, but now he smells like freshly bathed dog. A much nicer variation.
Silently, he stoops down next to where Haru is sitting so he can take a seat beside her at the table, setting something down in the middle of it. It's a small pile of menus that they'd collected from various restaurants that deliver nearby.]
Pick your favorite.
THERE WAS NOTHING BESIDES THIS TAG RIGHT HERE
Life goes on, and will continue to go on, even if right now she feels like she's in a little bubble of what ifs, most pleasant but some thoughts dipping into uncertain territory. And as she picks up the test from the floor to put it away, washes her hands and tidies up the table in preparation for ordering and having dinner in, she thinks to...
That professor of hers, who she's not seen hide nor hair of outside of what happened well over a year ago at this point. About how happy she had been to see a hybrid adult like him, the trepidation and excitement she had felt. But before she can ruminate or think any further, setting herself back down in her usual spot, Legosi comes back smelling nice and clean and at this point, she's gotten so used to the simple underlying smell of dog that it smells reassuring and of home at this point. Leaning against him as she settles down next to her, she gives herself a moment to just relax against him before leaning forward to sift through the menus he's set down for her to look over.]
Hmm... [She's sitting up on her knees, flipping through the selection. It's not a huge choice of takeout around these parts as it had been near her university, considering how close the complex had been to the Back Alley Market, but she sits back after choosing her go-to place.] I think I can really go for some dumplings tonight. That feels like a safe option.
[She spreads open the menu for him to look alongside her, her ears twitching every so often. It's funny, how normal this all is, while knowing officially that their routine is going to change dramatically in the coming months.]
You should pick your favourite from the menu, too.
no subject
Melon was an example. An example of what can come of a hybrid relationship if not taken the proper dilligence and care. One can't predict what their children may do, of course, but even so...Legosi can only hope that whatever their future child turns out to be like, they'll be happy enough with their lives that they don't fall into a similar type of madness. He isn't sure what he would even begin to do in a situation like that.
Legosi shifts an arm around Haru as she leans over to look at the menus, making a much more snug space for her to fold in against his side. Honestly, several more of her could fit against him with how much space he can give, but.]
Mm...
[It only takes him a moment to decide, and it's probably predictable as anything. He points a claw at a listing for Tamagoyaki. Legosi's go-to type of comfort food.]
It won't be the same as the egg sandwiches from Cherryton were, but still good.
[And learning he's going to be a father is plenty worth celebrating with EGG.]
no subject
She has a hunch as to what Legosi's going to pick, and the moment he points at his choice she smirks, settling in even closer after she fishes her smartphone out of her pocket. Your cellphone savvy girlfriend is going to place this order through Zoober Eats because honestly, she doesn't really want to burst this little bubble of the two of them by talking to some stranger on the phone. Not right now.]
You talk about those sandwiches like they're the girl that got away. [Said chidingly, tapping away at her screen as she speaks.] I'll order some extra sides. Worst case, we'll have leftovers.
[Aaand done and ordered. She draws her feet up close, her full weight now against him, and after a second, something's clearly still weighing on her mind after all this:]
...so...do I still smell?
ZOOBER EATS
[He's only half joking. He still wonders why his favorite changed so suddenly, but alas...he hasn't had them in such a long time. It's nothing more than a nostalgic memory these days.
With their dinner ordered and on the way, Legosi had been ready to just sit holding Haru for a little while...until Haru is Haru and asks him something he isn't immediately prepared to answer. He's so glad she accepts all the weird canine things about him, but this has got to be one of the harder ones to explain.]
You, ah...well...I mean. You always smell.
[...]
N-not-! In a bad way! Everything has a scent, and yours is absolutely wonderful...I couldn't mistake it for anything. It's just...difficult to explain. It's subtly different, right now.
[His tail curves a bit closer to the both of them.]
Like...there's something adding to it.
[A second scent.]
it was between that and PawDash
So she relaxes into him as he explains further, absentmindedly taking his tail in her arms as it curls around them, bringing it over her lap and petting him as she tries to put herself in his shoes. Imagine how the world must be for a guy who can smell that something was up with her before either of them even knew. And, one hand still resting atop his tail, she brings the other down to rest against her abdomen. It's not that she feels anything, it's too early, but it's more the thought of it.
A subtle difference.]
It's weird to think about...that there's something else there. [And that he could sense it before even she knew what was up] Because besides feeling sick, I don't feel anything else just yet.
[It still feels like it's just her, even knowing.]
no subject
The tip of his tail wiggles just a little bit as she reaches around to hold it, otherwise staying still in her grasp as they sit there together in the center of their small apartment.]
I guess...it will probably be a while until you feel anything.
[He's about as knowledgeable with this sort of thing as any other young man his age, which is to say...not very. It doesn't help that he dropped out, but it probably wouldn't have mattered either way. He'll learn everything he needs to know, be it from the doctor themselves, or the internet, or the plethora of books he's no doubt going to be picking up on the topic.
After a little pause, he'll reach over and cover Haru's hand against her middle with his own.]
It hasn't really sunk in yet.
no subject
As Legosi's large hand covers her own, his paw easily spanning across her entire abdomen in a comforting warmth, she smiles.]
Things will probably start feeling a lot more real once we get it checked out. Make sure everything's all right... [Her voice trails off a bit, and she'd rather not think of the 'what-ifs' and the doctor appointments.] We should wait before we tell everyone. Keep things between us for a few more weeks.
[It feels nice, having a little secret between the two of them, plus it just makes sense. Not rush into telling everyone until everything is absolutely certain, keep a sense of normal for awhile longer before things really do change.
Avoid how overbearing and nosy her family will inevitably be......she's most worried about how her dad will react with how much of a protective worrywart he can be on a good day.]
But I might start bugging your grandpa for advice.
no subject
And if Haru thinks her family is overbearing...just wait until Gosha hears he's going to be a great grandpa.]
Yes...he would be happy to talk to you, I imagine. He raised me no matter how difficult I could be, so I doubt there is much that surprises him anymore.
[Well, beyond that time he learned his grandson was dating a rabbit. That was still pretty surprising.]
no subject
He did a good job, even if you're not perfect. [Said playfully at Legosi's expense, drawing her knees up even closer so she can hug his hand against her.] And he's the only person I know right now who's had a kid with someone of a completely different species.
[She'll trust him more than the internet; at least in the beginning.]
...plus he'll probably show me even more baby pictures of you.
[Truly the core reason why Haru will want to tell him first. More excuses for her to browse through photos of Legosi's ever-elusive past.]
no subject
Please no...
[It's not that he looks back on his childhood badly, far from it. Even with how difficult the situation got with his mother, he was a happy child growing up. He never wanted for anything, and even being a hybrid he never felt the pressure of it because Gosha made sure to shield him from that harsh reality for as long as he could. Legosi was able to grow up thinking that having a komodo dragon for a grandfather was just a completely normal thing. He was special for having him in his life.
But...Gosha also was the type to document everything. Everything. Legosi is pretty sure there are half a dozen photos for every year of his life up until he moved out for school, so the amount there is for Haru to uncover is- quite honestly- going to be staggering. And once their child is born, that's going to be no exception.]
I hope you don't mind family photos...
[He imagines that's something Haru is also used to, with how many siblings she has.]
no subject
[She's allowed herself to get real comfortable against him now, the full weight of her small body leaning against him, bringing her hand out from under his so she can rest both her hands on his tail she's still kept wrapped around her. By the time the delivery person arrives and makes the trek up the stairs to the apartment, she's not going to want to move from this spot.
Tilting her head up to look at him, her impish grin is clear as day.]
It's the perfect excuse to unearth more of your mysterious past.
[And see more what a hybrid family looks like with her own two eyes.]
Plus, it'll be a way to learn more about what I'm getting myself into. I know what I was like as a kit, but a wolf pup? I've never even been near one before.
no subject
I imagine...they aren't too much different from any other child, really.
[Even across species, children are children. Sure, a small rabbit is going to behave in some ways differently than a tiger cub for example, but they ultimately don't have the same concept of special differences at that age. Legosi was only so strongly aware of it because he'd grown up surrounded by reminders.]
Just bigger...toothier.
no subject
And rabbits are smaller. Less toothy. [But, beyond physical differences, Legosi is right. A baby has none of the same preconceived notions that children and adult animals do; much of her life experience and expectations were entirely based on both her species and the surroundings she had been brought up in.
And, slowly but surely, in part thanks to Legosi and Louis, this city of theirs and the way their world works in regards, is changing. Even still, Haru was born and raised in a pure blooded dwarf rabbit family, right down to fur colour. She's never really had much experience with mixed species families, or hybrid animals. Legosi, after all, on the surface has most of the characteristics and appearance and mannerisms of a large canine, and Melon...
...His existence and his living to adulthood as as a child of a carnivore & herbivore coupling had made her happy. And Haru is smart enough to know that he was very well an outlier, but also someone pushed to the brink by some means beyond nature.]
Gosha...he raised you really well, Legosi-kun. He's a good man. [Said fondly, looking down as she strokes Legosi's fur.] I want to know more about how he raised you. Learn more about your family but-- ah [she rubs one eye with the back of her hand. The overwhelming feelings of this day come and go like waves, and it's probably too early to blame horomones for it.] I'm getting ahead of myself! It's not like it has any teeth and--
[She lifts one hand, pinching her forefinger and thumb nearly together. Noting the size of a pea.]
is probably only this big.
[...bite sized.]
no subject
...Hell, this baby is going to be a small fraction part Komodo dragon themselves. It's pretty far removed at this point, but the fact of the matter is that it will be there. They'll be more hybrid than most, considering that fact.
As Haru rubs her eye, Legosi just...sets his muzzle gently atop her head, sniffing.]
It's okay. I think it's...exciting, to speculate what they might be like.
[Exciting, nervewracking...it's much better assuming they'll be okay and healthy than allowing himself to dwell on the possibility that some complications arise.]
And thank you...I know grandpa would be very happy to know you feel that way. He's worked very hard to find his happiness in life. This will only contribute to that.
no subject
You're right...it's normal for [parents; the word stop shorts in application to the two of them, because like he's said, it still doesn't feel real, so after only a small pause:] people to get ahead of themselves.
[And to someone like Haru, thinking about the future far in advance is still very new, something to get used to. Something she's had to learn, in time, thanks in part to the level of understanding and importance Legosi felt towards her and how, in turn, she knew she wanted a future with him.
She hums, happily, thoughtfully, and reaches up to run her hand along the length of his muzzle. Idly scratching him when she comes to stop at his cheek.]
I hope he's also happy to be a go-to baby sitter. [Said jokingly. She's still a few semesters away from graduating, and she's not going to put an end to that.
But, before she can get even more ahead of herself, there's a knock at the door, and Haru begins to detangle herself out from under Legosi, though she'd rather not move from their cozy little bubble of 'what-ifs.']
Coming! [Said towards the door, crawling on her hands and knees before standing up. Even if Legosi is going to try to take it on himself to answer the door instead of his girlfriend, she works hard to be a few steps ahead of him whenever she can; and getting delivery is no exception to that.]
no subject
He's going to make sure he's there for her, every single step of the way. Even if he turns into an absolute nuisance of a helicopter spouse, that's just how it's going to have to be.
God. He really is turning into his grandpa...]
I think he would be disappointed if he wasn't the first to be considered.
[He calls after her, his tail sweeping the floor.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
we can probably timeskip to a new scenario if you want!