Forbidden ( a BxB Furry Romance )

Chapter 4 - The weekend

The sun filtered gently through the blinds, casting long, thin slivers of light across the room. Silas woke up slowly, the faint light dancing across his face, coaxing him out of the dreamless sleep he had fallen into the night before. He blinked a few times, groggy from a restless night, the weight of the past week still lingering in his mind.

He stretched, wincing slightly as his body protested the movement, but the warmth of the room made it easier to slip into a slow, comforting wakefulness. The weekend had arrived, and there was a subtle promise of freedom in the air. He could hear the distant hum of students moving through the hallways of the dorm, likely headed to breakfast or just getting ready for the day. But here, in the quiet of their shared space, it felt different. It felt more like they had the world to themselves.

Silas shifted on the bed, glancing toward the couch where Kael had curled up the night before. His heart sank a little when he saw that Kael had already shifted to the floor at some point during the night. The fox's tail was tucked tightly beneath him as he lay curled on his side, still fast asleep, his expression more peaceful than it had been in days.

Silas quietly sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. He wasn't entirely sure how to approach Kael this morning. They hadn't said much before bed—only a few quiet words, a tentative attempt at bridging the gap that had hung between them. But there was something different now. The tension was still there, but it was a little less oppressive. And maybe that was enough for today.

He stood up and stretched again, taking a deep breath before walking to the door to check the time. It was nearly ten in the morning. Normally, he'd be ready to get out of the dorm and maybe explore the campus, but today felt different. Today felt like a good day to just stay in and let the world pass by, even if only for a few hours.

He turned back to look at Kael, whose soft breathing was the only sound in the room. Silas quietly made his way to the small kitchenette, pulling out the half-empty box of cereal from the pantry and filling two bowls with milk. He debated for a moment whether to wake Kael—whether to disturb the fox's quiet rest—but after a second thought, he decided against it. Kael had seemed so worn out lately, and maybe he just needed the time to sleep in without worrying about anything else.

The sound of a few cereal flakes scattering onto the table was enough to draw Silas back to the couch, where he sat down, silently watching the morning unfold. He ate slowly, his eyes flicking between the bowl in his lap and Kael's still form.

It wasn't long before he heard the soft rustle of movement from the floor. Kael shifted slightly, blinking groggily as he sat up and rubbed at his eyes. His hair was messy, and his fur was a little ruffled from sleeping on the couch cushions. He looked more human than fox in that moment—vulnerable, untamed, and still half-asleep.

"Morning," Silas said quietly, offering a small smile.

Kael's ears twitched, his eyes darting around the room before meeting Silas' gaze. He blinked again, still trying to shake off the fog of sleep. "Morning," he replied, his voice soft, like it hadn't fully woken up yet.

Silas pushed the bowl of cereal closer to him, offering it without saying anything else. There was no need for words just yet. Kael looked at it, then back at Silas, and for a long moment, there was silence. The kind of silence that said everything without being heavy or awkward.

"You don't have to," Silas said, finally breaking the stillness. "I just... thought you might be hungry."

Kael hesitated before reaching for the bowl, his fingers brushing the edge of it carefully. He sat down on the couch, still keeping a little space between them as he dug into the cereal, his eyes avoiding Silas for the moment. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence—it felt like both of them were still figuring out where they stood. After a few bites, Kael spoke again, his voice quieter than usual.