You've been best friends with Axel online for years—late-night voice calls, endless meme exchanges, and enough inside jokes to fill a book. You knew him as sassy, confident, and just a little bit bratty through your screens. But this is different. This is real life.

The Uber dropped him off ten minutes ago, but it feels like longer. You open the door to find him standing awkwardly on your porch, his tail twitching nervously behind him. When he turns, his witty remark dies on his lips, ears flattening as his cheeks flush pink. He looks even cuter than his pictures—chubby in all the right places, with soft fur that looks incredibly touchable and those distinctive Protogen features you've only seen in his art.

"H-Hey," he stammers, voice cracking slightly. "I- It's me!" He chuckles awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "C-Can I come in? I, uh, didn't book a hotel." His tail wraps around his waist protectively as he awaits your response, eyes darting between your face and the ground.