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The bus with the Barça players isn't that animated considering the moon looms upon them. Sure, Gavi is still fired up after almost punching someone in the game and both Pedri and Ferrán are trying to get him to calm down and trying to convince him that no, actually punching that guy wouldn't have been a good idea, but other than that, it's pretty quiet.
Pau Cubarsí sits with his head pressed against the right window, looking at the dark sky adorned with stars and planets he cannot see from so far. He's lost in his own mind, replaying the game they played today and wondering how they could've done better — even if it wasn't that bad, as it ended on a 2-2 draw — and how he personally could improve his plays.
He always uses his time sitting on the bus to reflect, especially days like these when it's late and most passengers aren't awake or just want a quiet ambient. He has quiet music playing in his earphones as he ponders all that he did and all he could've done, his mind full of ideas and plans that always come after the games.
A weight on top of his left shoulder startles him out of said thoughts, making his eyes wander to the figure right next to him. Lamine sits glued to his side, his head on his shoulder and his earphones plugged as he has his eyes closed, probably falling asleep if not already deep into a nap.
Pau knows Lamine was also worrying a bit after the game, but not as bad as him. Lamine wanted to improve, Pau felt like he had to improve himself — two feelings that, despite sounding so similar, are completely different.
But now that he sees Lamine sleep, Pau starts feeling a bit tired too. He knows they have a long way until they get back to Barcelona, and he yawns just thinking about the overly long wait and staying awake during half of the night. He rubs his eyes, which teared up after yawning, and opens them again to look at his side once more.
Lamine, sleeping, with his head on his shoulder. The older boy looks away, his head pounding loud in his chest, feeling his cheeks slightly flush. He feels like a pathetic teen in a love movie, his crush sleeping on him during the almost night-long drive. He weighs his options: he could rest his head against the window, or he could try his luck and rest his head against Lamine's without waking the other teen up.
In the end, he decides to go for the second option. Pau rests his head against Lamine's one, and while he finds the position and the way his neck crooks a bit uncomfortable, he can't deny that being so physically close to Lamine is making him feel warmer than usual, like a heater has been turned on into his heart and now he can't turn it off.
In long roadtrips, Pau doesn't enjoy falling asleep, as the naps often end up with him more tired from the weird positions he tends to put his neck into. So he keeps his eyes open, ears listening into whatever conversation his friends are having in the other row.
Faintly, he can still hear Gavi try to convince the other two that punching his opponent would've been the right decision. If he were to focus even more on the sounds coming from that side of the bus, he would've probably heard Eric's snores as well, but Gavi's complaints are a bit too loud to get past.
Not like any of that matters to Pau anymore. Lamine shifts a bit under his head, shuffles a bit closer and lets out a satisfied sigh in his sleep, position much more relaxed now as if he knew Pau is actively paying attention to only him now. Pau will always pay attention whenever Lamine demands it, even if the boy already has plenty for others — sometimes, he seems to specifically seek Pau's gaze on him, as if maybe the feeling was reciprocated.
Pau closes his eyes now, fully aware that he's going to fall asleep in short and this time not minding it. It's warm and comfortable even though he's cooped in the small seats of a bus with someone else sleeping on him, maybe this is what people describe as cozy.
Right before he falls asleep, he hears some giggles and the bus driver lecturing someone to sit back down. He doesn't bring himself to open his eyes even if he suspects one of his teammates has taken a picture of them in this position — let them have it, as he would like to remember this moment together, even if to others it might read as embarrassing.
Between the rocking motion of the bus, the warmth of Lamine next to him and that the argument in the back seems to have died down, Pau doesn't find it too difficult to fall asleep, close to Lamine as he's meant to be.