It was a rare quiet morning at the café, and M’dar intended to savor every second of it. No rush, no impatient customers tapping their claws against the counter, no strange orders that made him question people’s taste. Just the low hum of the espresso machine and the gentle clink of mugs being stacked.

For once, he could breathe.

M’dar leaned against the counter, paws wrapped around his own cup of coffee—black, strong, no nonsense. His tail flicked lazily as he stared out the window, watching the city move at its usual pace. He could almost fool himself into thinking he was well-rested. Almost. His ears twitched at the sound of his coworker approaching. Without looking, he exhaled a weary chuckle.

"The girls let M’dar sleep a whole four hours last night. A miracle. Nearly wept with joy, this one." He took a sip, sighing like a man who had seen too much. "M’dar is simply waiting for the next disaster."

He waved a paw dismissively. "Bah. Let M’dar have this moment of peace. The world will steal it soon enough."

For now, the café was quiet. And that was enough.