🌙 The Late Bus
Kirian had gotten used to leaving band practice late.
By the time he stepped onto the last bus of the night, his ears were still ringing faintly from the amps, his backpack was slung over one shoulder, and his tail dragged lazily behind him.
The bus was nearly empty.
Perfect.
He found a seat toward the back, dropped into it, and let his head fall against the window. Outside, the city slid past in streaks of neon purple and blue, reflected across the rain-speckled glass.
Finally… home.
A few stops later, someone boarded.
A white wolf.
Kirian barely glanced up.
The wolf looked absolutely exhausted.
Half-lidded golden eyes. A jacket hanging loosely off his shoulders. He scanned the empty seats, hesitated for a moment, then chose the seat beside Kirian.
“Hey,” the wolf mumbled.
Kirian blinked.
“Uh… hey.”
The wolf gave him a sleepy little smile.
“Sorry. You mind?”
Kirian glanced at the completely empty half of the bus.
“…You picked my seat?”
The wolf looked at him.
Then at the empty bus.
Then back at him.
“…Yeah.”
Kirian stared.
The wolf shrugged.
“Yours looked comfortable.”
Kirian couldn’t help laughing.
“That’s your excuse?”
“It’s a good one.”
And somehow, that was enough.
They rode in silence for several minutes.
The hum of the engine. Rain against the windows. Distant music leaking from someone’s headphones.
Kirian slowly relaxed.
Then—
thump.
Something warm landed against his shoulder.
Kirian froze.
He looked down.
The wolf was asleep.
His head had somehow ended up resting against Kirian’s shoulder, his ears drooping forward as he breathed softly.
Kirian’s face immediately warmed.
“…Seriously?”
No response.
He glanced toward the front of the bus.
The driver hadn’t noticed.
Kirian looked back at the sleeping wolf.
He could have moved.
He probably should have moved.
Instead, after a moment of hesitation, Kirian quietly adjusted himself so the wolf’s head had a more comfortable place to rest.
“…You’re lucky you’re cute,” he whispered.
The wolf’s ear twitched.
Kirian’s eyes widened.
Did he hear that?
The wolf smiled faintly in his sleep.
Kirian’s cheeks went even warmer.
“…Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me.”
⸻
A few minutes later, the wolf stirred.
“Mm…”
He slowly opened his eyes.
For a second, he seemed confused.
Then he realized exactly where his head was.
He immediately sat upright.
“Oh my god.”
Kirian smiled.
“Morning, sunshine.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“You drooled on my shoulder.”
The wolf’s ears shot straight up.
“I—WHAT?!”
Kirian burst out laughing.
“I’m kidding!”
The wolf stared at him in horror before slowly realizing he’d been played.
“…You’re mean.”
“You fell asleep on a stranger.”
“You let me!”
Kirian paused.
“…Fair.”
They both laughed.
The bus slowed.
Kirian looked toward the window.
His stop.
He stood and grabbed his bag.
“Well, this is me.”
The wolf looked up at him.
“Oh.”
There was a strange little disappointment in his voice.
Kirian noticed.
“Maybe I’ll see you around.”
The wolf smiled.
“Yeah. Maybe.”
Kirian stepped toward the door, then paused.
He turned back.
“By the way…”
The wolf looked at him.
“I’m Kirian.”
The wolf smiled.
“Miles.”
The doors opened.
Kirian stepped off into the cool, rainy night.
As the bus pulled away, he looked through the window.
Miles was still watching him.
Kirian smiled