His colleagues shouted another cheerful round of goodnights and Kallus waved at them one last time before he resolutely steered his steps toward the exit. He was fairly sure he'd be the only one not sporting a hangover in the morning.

Right before he was about to step outside, he heard his name being called. His steps faltered and he looked over his shoulder toward the voice. A few meters to the side he found Zeb seated by a table along with two Chagrians. Curiously, it wasn’t Zeb who was trying to catch his attention, but it was one of the Chagrians - Wyloth, Kallus believed he was called - who was waving his hand at him. 

Zeb appeared to be resolutely not looking his way as he took a long sip of his beer, his eyes darting around the tapcafe as he did. Anywhere but at Kallus. 

For a second, Kallus considered ignoring them, his bed sounding awfully tempting, but it wasn’t often he would find Zeb looking so flustered. He couldn’t resist it, and he turned around to walk up to their table. 

"Kallus, so glad we found you!" Wyloth exclaimed. It seemed like he had had his fair share of drink tonight as well. "You have to settle something for us."

"I'll do my best, " Kallus said, his eyes drifting between the three before him. Zeb was still not meeting his eyes.

Wyloth jerked his head toward his friend to his right. "Balu here thinks humans are terrible kissers-"

"No offence," Balu grinned up at Kallus.

"- but I say you guys are fine."

Kallus raised an eyebrow. "Okay? I think I'm a bit biased here."

Wyloth waved him off. "Yeah, yeah, of course. But Zeb here," he nudged Zeb with his elbow, "is supposed to be the deciding vote, but he says he's never kissed a human. And we say he's full of shit."

Wyloth and Balu both looked eagerly at Kallus, clearly waiting for him to prove them right.

"Uh, well, not that I know off, " Kallus said, his eyes darting over to Zeb who was taking another sip of his drink, clearly trying to stay out of the whole conversation.

"Really?" Balu piped up with surprise. "Everyone thinks you-"

Wyloth elbowed Balu and gave him a sharp look, effectively cutting him off.

Kallus’ eyes return to Zeb. A look of embarrassment was actually starting to color his features, and the top of his ears had turned a lighter shade than usual. It was a new look on him. Kallus found it surprisingly charming.

"C'me on, Zeb, you must have kissed a human at some point!" Balu exclaimed, clearly refusing to give up.

"I said I haven't, didn't I?" Zeb snapped at his friend. "Stop with the weird-"

"But would you like to?" Balu continued, undeterred.

Wyloth turned his head toward Zeb as well and raised his eyebrows in question.

Under the scrutiny of three sets of eyes, Zeb began to squirm. "I mean, I- Uh, I wouldn't mind it, but..." Zeb's eyes quickly darted over to meet Kallus’, before moving down to his- Zeb resolutely looked away. The tip of his ears turned even lighter.

If Kallus hadn’t drunk as much as he had, he might have stopped things at that. Might have turned around to leave for his bed. But Kallus was a bit drunk, a little bit off his head, and he liked what he saw. 

He leaned in and kissed Zeb.

It was quick, far too brief for Kallus’ liking, but as he leaned back, was he imagining it, or did Zeb chase his lips?

"There you go," Kallus smirked. Now Zeb would have a say in their bet. Kallus turned around to walk away. He didn't miss the slightly dazed expression on Zeb’s face. 

Kallus didn't even make it out of the tapcafe before he heard Wyloth's cheer.