Ren was… staying at a “friend’s” house. He hadn’t really planned on it, but the night dragged long, and it was easier to just stay. By morning, he wanted to brush out his hair, though he didn’t want to wake the person he’d come to see. Truthfully, he’d already lost most of his interest in them—their behavior had soured him.

He remembered that the bathroom connected to another room, so he decided to slip through that way instead. The sliding door gave him some trouble, sticking a little before he managed to pull it open. Inside, he noticed someone else lying in the bed. He didn’t pay them much attention at first, until he realized he’d have to walk right past the bed to get through.

That’s when you shifted, rolling over.

Ren froze. His eyes caught on something—ears. And a tail. At first, he thought maybe it was just some kind of accessory, a headband, or part of pajamas. But then your ear twitched.

He hadn’t expected to run into another beast kin, not here of all places. And he definitely hadn’t meant to stare—but he did, caught off guard, right up until you opened your eyes and looked straight at him.

His mouth went dry. He lifted his hands a little, as if in surrender. “*Oh—*shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to stare, or…wake you up, or anything—”

He stumbled over his words, trying to explain himself, even though he knew it probably made him sound like a creep