Nico gets on the bus after only one “hurry up, kid!” From the driver. It’s their own routine, one final daily burst of stubbornness so that he can feel like they’re working for it. He can slouch onto the bus with his head held high and drop into his normal seat.

Except today. Today, there’s someone in his usual spot. Not a huge deal, there’s other empty seats, but he goes to shoot the usurper a lightly annoyed look. And stops. Because that’s the cat kid from the other night.

He… doesn’t look so good. Nico had been about to find another seat, but he drops down next to him. “Hey. Tim? Never seen you on the bus before.”