Later that night, parking lot empty, the venue silent

The last road case clicked shut.

The gear truck was locked and latched, rigging tools stowed, cables coiled tight. The venue lights had gone dark, and the world felt hushed in that strange, sacred way it only does after a storm — after noise, lights, and fire have all faded.

Thane stood beside the truck, arms resting on the lift gate, fur still ruffled in places from the long night. Gabriel leaned nearby, one bare clawed foot propped up on a low bumper rail, absently picking at the edge of a backstage wristband. The lot was empty except for them, washed in pale moonlight and the faint orange glow from a distant security light.

Neither spoke for a while.

There was no need.

Eventually, Gabriel glanced over. “You good?”

Thane nodded slowly, then sighed. “I am now.”

Gabriel tilted his head slightly. “Rough show?”

“Rough gear,” Thane corrected. “Rough crew. Rough venue. But the show was fire. You were fire.”

Gabriel gave a half-smile. “We all were.”

“Maybe,” Thane said, turning toward him. “But you were the spark.”

Gabriel met his gaze — icy blue locking with icy blue. “Only because you made sure everything around me didn’t fall apart.”

A soft wind moved through the lot, brushing their fur, carrying the faint scent of hot asphalt and fading applause. Gabriel stepped closer, arms loose at his sides. His nose brushed Thane’s again, slow and tender this time. Thane closed his eyes and leaned into it, one clawed hand lifting to rest gently against Gabriel’s side.

The moment lingered.

No music. No roar of the crowd. Just the quiet rhythm of two hearts cooling down from the same storm.

“I love you, Thane” Gabriel murmured.

Thane’s voice was quiet, but firm. “I know. I got you. Always.”

They stayed there, pressed together in the silence, no longer stage tech and rockstar, no longer gearhead and headliner — just two wolves under the moon, leaning on each other, holding the night still for just a little longer.

And when they finally pulled away, they didn’t speak.

They didn’t need to.

They just walked, side by side, claws softly tapping the pavement, fading into the darkness together.