They made their way to the bus station just outside the park gates, the neon glow of the CoreCoaster sign casting long shadows on the pavement. Chet, already towering over the few passengers waiting at the stop, plopped onto a bench with a contented sigh.
"This was good. We should do this more often."
Nox leaned against the bus stop pole, checking his watch. "Yeah, maybe. If we don't blow all my creds on purple cotton candy next time."
Zee shot him a sideways glance.
"Hey, that was your idea after all, playing sand martin with the cotton candy."
As the faint rumble of the bus approached, the three exchanged tired but satisfied smiles, ready to head back to their sector of Coreline.
Nox poked Chet's side, barely getting his attention.
"Chet, remember we're hooking up tomorrow at the junkyard? We gotta get a bit of scrap for Millio."
Chet muffled through a yawn.
"Yeah, yeah I remember... as long as I don't have to wake up too early."
Nox waved a hand dismissively.
"Nah, don't worry, big one. You got all the time in the world. The disposal's at 14:00."
He stretched his back, groaning.
"Agggh, well, folks, I'd say we survived a full evening of fun, snacks, and capitalism."
Chet grinned, ruffling Nox's hair.
"Not bad, I'd say we earned ourselves some rest. It was... a good night."
Zee glanced at Nox with a small smile, fumbling around on her googly glasses.
"Thanks for the cotton candy."
Nox faintly smiled.
"You're welcome, Whiskers. I also really enjoyed it."
The bus doors opened with a hiss.
Chet climbed on first, ducking slightly to avoid hitting his head. This bus wasn't so big. Zee followed, pausing at the door to glance back at Nox.
"Coming, or do you quickly wanna flirt with the bus driver too?"
Nox smirked, stepping onto the bus after her.
"Wouldn't dream of it. Still stuck on that deer, huh? Did I hit a nerve?"
Zee punched his shoulder lightly.
"Oh, shut it, Nox."
The trio found their seats.
Nox sat down, leaning back in his seat, his hat tilted over his eyes, a satisfied grin lingering on his lips.
Chet sat once again on the opposite side of him, legs tucked together. His sheer size used two seats on this bus.
Zee plumped down next to Nox, exhausted from the trip. She leaned her back against his shoulder, closing her eyes from the exhaustion. Her glasses almost fell off from dozing away.
The hum of the bus engine filled the air as it started to move. The city lights blurred outside the window, casting a kaleidoscope of colors onto their faces.
As the bus rumbled through the streets of Coreline, the three of them sat in comfortable silence, the bond between them stronger than ever after a night of laughter, reflection, and unexpected kindness.
It rattled along the uneven streets of Coreline in a downward decline, its neon-lit interior casting an artificial glow over the passengers.
Outside the scratched windows, the city stretched in all its glory. The usual chaos emerging from the ground, glowing signs flickering in defiance of their decay, and the ever-present haze of smog slowly settled back into the skyline like a second skin regrowing after being torn off.
They passed by a lively alley where a group of street performers was putting on a show. Bright sparks from makeshift pyrotechnics lit up the walls, and the sound of music barely reached the bus over the engine's growl.
Nox nudged Zee with his elbow.
"Hey, Zee. That could've been us if you'd let me start that band I talked about."
Zee laughed.
"Haha, yeah, I think you would've made a pretty good dancer. And Chet's growling voice could've replaced the drums."
She tossed her fur dramatically.
"I, of course, would be the beautiful lead singer."
Chet shook his head, laughing.
"I don't think Coreline's ready for that level of chaos."
The bus came to a halt, and Chet stood up, stretching.
"Alright, you two, this is my stop. It's a bit closer to my apartment than the other one. Today was really cool."
He gave them both a tired but genuine smile.
"See you tomorrow, Nox. Goodbye, Zee!"
Nox waved a hand.
"See you tomorrow, big guy!"
"Goodbye," Zee called after him.
Then, she looked at Nox.
"See you tomorrow?"
Nox shrugged.
"Yeah, he's just helping me with something small. No biggie."
Zee chuckled.
"Alright then."
She stood up, stretching her arms.
"I gotta get out at the next stop as well. Visiting a friend. The project I had to do last minute, remember? Just gonna quickly hand it over to them."
Nox muffled a small sigh, slightly disappointed.
"Awh, alright... guess I gotta walk home alone, huh?"
He gave her a cheeky smirk, rubbing the back of his head.
"Anyway, it was a blast, and... yeah, I actually really did enjoy the Giant Wheel. But don't tell Chet."
The bus stopped abruptly, its doors opening to reveal the pitch-black streets outside. Only a few flickering lights from the bus station glowed in the dark.
Zee glanced at him for a few seconds, her voice softer this time.
"Goodnight, Nox."
He didn't look up right away, just smirked faintly.
"Goodnight, Whiskers."
Her footsteps faded as she stepped off the bus, her breath visible through the cold air.
Nox leaned back in his seat, watching the reflections flicker in the window as the bus rumbled forward into the night.
A satisfied grin formed on his lips, but it soon faded away as he realized that tomorrow the cycle would only continue.
Nox sank deeper in thought, almost dozing off on the bus before it arrived at the next station.
The bus jolted to a stop, snapping Nox out of his haze. With a tired grunt, he pushed himself up, stretching his arms before stepping onto the sidewalk. The cold air hit him first, sharp against his fur.
Coreline never slept, but at this hour, it felt quieter. Less chaos. A few shady figures lurked near the station entrance, but Nox knew better than to stick around.
With a tug of his scarf, he stuffed his hands into his coat pockets and started walking home.
At this time of night, the streets were almost empty. A few people, most of them drunk or infused with other substances, were wandering around. The cold air bit at his lungs. It was always hard to breathe in all that smog after a visit to clean air, especially paired with bitter coldness.
"A coffee would be a treat, but it's way too late for that now."
His breath curled into the air as he muttered to himself, boots clicking softly against the damp pavement, walking around corner after corner.
As he approached a building... R732, a familiar scent cut through the usual city grime. Roasted leaves and a hint of spice. Even at this hour, Luten's tea shop was still lit, the warm glow spilling onto the street.
Nox smirked to himself. The old lizard never slept, huh?
Instinctively, his paw went toward his pocket in a quick, hasty motion.
"Shit, the rent... I totally forgot about the rent. No way I'll get 950 credits until the end of the month..."
He sat down at a nearby bench in front of the store. The familiar scent still hung in every breath he took. He buried his face in the palm of his paws.
"No no no, how could I get the money now?"
Suddenly, a goat stepped out of the store carrying a bag of rubbish.
The door creaked as it swung open, and Mrs. Harrow stepped out, her sharp eyes immediately landing on Nox. Her expression twisted into its usual look of disapproval.
"Hmph," she scoffed, tying the bag shut with a rough yank. "Sitting around like that, looking all miserable. What, finally run out of people to scam?"
Nox exhaled slowly through his nose, forcing a smirk as he leaned back on the bench.
"Ah, Mrs. Harrow, always a pleasure. You know, I almost missed your lovely voice tonight."
She huffed, tossing the bag into the trash chute with a loud clang.
"Tch. You young ones never take responsibility for anything. I bet you don't even have your rent, do you?"
Nox's ear twitched. Bingo. But he wasn't about to give her the satisfaction. He stretched his arms with an exaggerated yawn.
"Me? Pfft, please," he said, flashing a grin.
"You've got some nerve, talking me off with that trash bag in your hand when you clearly got plenty more coming out of your mouth."
Mrs. Harrow snorted.
"Hmph. Well, don't come crying when the old lizard finally kicks you out. Not that I'd mind. This place could use less street trash."
With that, she stomped back into the store and up the stairs to her apartment.
Nox sighed, rubbing his temple. Great. Just what he needed.
He buried his face in his paws again.
"Lut wouldn't throw me out. Though I hate letting him down again..."
Suddenly the shop door opened again. He expected Mrs. Harrow speaking down to him again, but to his surprise, he heard a comforting voice.
"Nox, my boy, why do you look like you've just lost a bet with fate?"
The warm, smooth yet slightly raspy voice of Luten drifted through the cold night air. The scent of tea, rich and earthy with a hint of spice, washed over him.
Nox peeked through his fingers, ears flicking up in surprise. The old salamander stood in the doorway, arms folded behind his back, a knowing look in his golden eyes. The dim glow from the shop's interior outlined his form in soft amber light, making him look like a relic from another time, calm, steady, untouched by the city's chaos.
"Lut," Nox muttered, straightening up, forcing a grin.
"Just... enjoying the not-so-fresh air. You know how much I love a good midnight bench-sitting session."
Luten chuckled, stepping forward. His steps were slow, deliberate, the kind of movement that carried patience, not age.
"Ah, yes," he mused. "And I suppose the hunched posture and deep sighing are just part of the experience?"
Nox scratched his cheek, trying not to shift under that piercing, knowing gaze. His reptile eyes narrowed Nox's thoughts down.
"Nox," Luten began, his voice as steady as the city's ever-burning neon, "a roof is just a roof. It keeps the rain off your head, but it doesn't make a home. People do."
The sound of wind rushed through the corridor, dragging rubbish with it.
He finally turned his golden gaze to Nox, unreadable yet warm. No disappointment. No frustration. Just understanding.
"But if you let the rain clouds into your head, then a roof won't help you anymore. But yet again, people do."
Luten chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.
"You're young. You'll figure it out. Most of the time, people want to help each other, but it's the circumstances that make them hesitate."
Nox frowned, gripping his coat.
"Yeah, but I don't want to keep letting you down. I—I'll get it, I swear."
Luten nodded slowly.
"I know you will."
He paused for a beat, then smirked, finally lifting his hands from behind his back and pointing toward the door.
"But in the meantime, come inside. I just brewed something new, and I need a victim to taste-test it."
Nox formed a generous, slim smile on the side of his lips.
"Thanks a lot, really. But maybe another time... I'm tired out of my mind. Today was an adverse day."
Luten studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. Not pushing, not prying, just understanding.
"Fair enough," he said, slipping his hands into his sleeves.
"Even the strongest tea can't fix exhaustion."
He turned slightly toward the shop but paused, glancing back with a smirk.
"But don't think this gets you off the hook. Next time, you owe me a full taste-test."
Nox scratched the back of his head with a smile.
"Deal, Unc."