Chapter Text
Trees streaked past the window in a blur, blocking most of the afternoon sun’s blinding light. Aside from the hum of the engine, the car was nearly silent. After the week they had, Changbin appreciated the peace and quiet.
In the days immediately following Changbin’s discharge from the hospital, the members of Stray Kids had done their best to heed the detectives’ advice. They avoided leaving the dorms and refrained from posting on social media. There were still reporters stationed outside their building, despite the police presence and the statement JYPE released in the wake of the attack. Luckily, they didn’t stick around long—they had better things to do than wait around for a bunch of traumatized boys to come out of hiding.
Mrs. Lee and Changbin’s own parents did their best to help out where they could. They would stop by every other day to drop off meals or check in on the members. Before the reporters gave up, Changbin’s sister would don a disguise to hand deliver food or other essentials. They had set up a pretty neat system, and though Changbin was sad to see it go, he was relieved he could finally buy his own toothpaste without having to dodge twenty or so cameras.
With the steady stream of nutritious food and plenty of bedrest, both Chan and Changbin healed up nicely. Changbin’s bruises were fading, and his split lip was scabbed over. His chin looked way worse than it felt, but he could eat just fine, so he didn’t really care.
Chan’s shoulder was still sore. He did his best to hide it, but the members weren’t so easily fooled. Oftentimes, Minho or Seungmin would be forced to wrestle Chan into his sling. Jeongin began setting alarms throughout the day when Chan would “forget” to ice his shoulder, and Hyunjin kept a strict rotation of ice packs so there was always one cold and ready to use. Meanwhile, Jisung had the simple job of reminding Changbin to take his pain meds.
It was a little ridiculous just how resistant Chan was to taking care of himself, but the members never lost their patience. Chan was their hyung, their friend, their brother . Out of all the trainees at their company, he had chosen them and hand-crafted a tightly knit group of aspiring artists to accompany him on his journey to fame and fortune. They were a family because of him, and no matter how much he complained or rolled his eyes, they refused to let him disregard his own health like it meant nothing.
Eventually, Chan seemed to realize just how determined they were to take care of him, and it got a lot easier from there.
It also helped when Mr. Kwon finally sent the completed list of personal properties he had promised them, bringing an end to Stray Kids’ agonized week of impatient waiting.
They had taken a few trips out to explore the commercial addresses the attorney had previously provided, but between Chan’s injured shoulder, the group’s detective-mandated house arrest, and the lack of any useful information from the few properties they were able to visit, they eventually decided it wasn’t worth their time. They just couldn’t justify leaving the safety of their dorm and wasting fuel on something so pointless.
Unfortunately, they had nothing else to do. The unrelenting boredom was familiar, reminiscent of the early weeks following Felix’s kidnapping. Back then, they were forced to entertain themselves with playground games or risk losing their minds. Now, the idea of playing silly games when Felix was likely only a short drive away was hardly appealing. Add two injured members to the mix, and suddenly it felt like a chore.
Understandably, when Mr. Kwon’s email finally came through, Stray Kids didn’t hesitate. Chan was on the phone with their manager before he even read the whole thing, and the rest of the boys leapt to their feet to prepare for a day full of driving. Changbin struggled to find anything clean to wear, so he simply stole something from Chan’s closet. Hyunjin and Seungmin took turns at the bathroom sink as they tried to fix their hair and brush their teeth simultaneously. Jisung threw couch cushions across the living room during his search for his second airpod, and Minho downed a cup of black coffee with a grimace.
In yet another stroke of bad luck, Chan ended his phone call with a sigh and some lousy news. According to their manager, the executives at JYP Entertainment had heard about the members’ pointless visits to the commercial properties and came to the same conclusion. They believed it was a waste of company resources, and as a result, refused to provide them a car.
Since they couldn’t exactly explain why they were gallivanting across the country without revealing how deeply they were involved in an active investigation, Chan got to work.
He was on the phone from late morning to early evening. He contacted other idols, trainees, and company employees with the goal of finding a temporary ride. He asked the Lees—who were unfortunately in the midst of trading their current rental car for a new one—and even the detectives—whose personal cars were both too small to accommodate seven grown men. Chan toyed with the idea of hiring a service like Uber to take them to each address, but he was worried the driver might rat them out to whichever reporter offered the most money. That and it would’ve been insanely expensive.
It was right around dinner time that Chan found success. GOT7 were currently in California for the North American leg of their world tour. They were busy preparing for their concert the next day which explained why Chan hadn’t been able to get a hold of them, but once they were filled in on the situation, Jackson was the first to offer a solution.
As it turned out, only a year prior, Jackson had obtained his own personal SUV to help avoid Dispatch and overeager fans when traveling through the city. It was nondescript and untrackable by the company. It was perfect, and seeing as though he wasn’t expected back in Korea for another month or two at the very least, he was more than willing to let Stray Kids use it in his absence.
After thanking Jackson profusely and promising to treat him to a boozy night on the town once he got home, Chan wasted no time in collecting the car from the garage near Jackson’s apartment. Unfortunately, the delay in acquiring a ride out of Seoul meant the members only had a few hours left in the day to start checking off properties from the list.
In order to keep them safe, the detectives had set a curfew of sorts for the members. The Doctor clearly had a penchant for snatching his victims at night, using the shadows as added cover, so as long as Stray Kids were back at the dorms by sunset, they significantly decreased the risk of being attacked again.
Nightfall was approaching by the time Chan returned with Jackson’s car, so the members could only visit one property before being forced to head home. To their dismay, it was vacant and had been for months. To say the members were disappointed would be an understatement, but they pushed it aside. Tomorrow was a new day, and they were far from finished.
Which is why Changbin found himself watching trees fly by the car window on a Tuesday afternoon, appreciating the peace and quiet only Minho’s creative threats could coax from Stray Kids.
They were on their way to the second stop of the day and third property from the list, a thirty minute drive from Seoul. Their first stop had been a sprawling estate the Kims probably used to host fancy dinner parties for their haughty friends. It wasn’t the isolated, homely cabin Seojin had described, so they weren’t very surprised when it turned up empty.
Changbin would be lying if he said he wasn’t excited to check out the next address. Just like the first two, it was outside of Seoul, nestled somewhere in the hills of the Gangwon-do Province. As they drove further from the city, the treeline became more dense, and they passed less cars on the road. There wasn’t another house as far as the eye could see. It was much closer to the isolated setting he had imagined, and for the life of him, Changbin could not shake his growing nerves.
He was practically a mess by the time Minho pulled off the road and into a gravel driveway hidden among the trees, the GPS announcing they had arrived at their destination. Fortunately, it seemed none of the members were able to maintain their composure, especially once the dense forest opened up to reveal a large grassy clearing.
In the center sat a sturdy wooden cabin, and Changbin’s heart leapt into his throat.
It wasn’t anything grand like he had come to expect of the Kims. Instead, the cabin looked like a proper home. Blooming flowers lined the foundation, wind chimes dangled from the porch overhang. There was a rickety old picnic table sat out back, positioned perfectly to catch the few rays of sunlight poking through the canopies of the surrounding trees.
Instantly, Changbin knew it was the cabin they had been searching for, and he had to admit, Kyuho couldn’t have picked a better place to call home.
Minho stopped the car and put it in park. An awed silence settled over the vehicle as the members stared. It was surreal. Almost three weeks after first learning of the cabin, they had finally found it. Changbin had to pinch himself to make sure it wasn’t some kind of dream.
They were so caught up in the cabin itself that it took them an embarrassingly long time to notice the person standing on the porch. Chan was the first to tear his eyes away, and he sucked in a sharp breath.
“Someone’s here,” he whispered. Immediately, the other boys all clambered to the front of the car in order to look out the windshield. Stuck in the back, Changbin and Jeongin craned their necks to see past their members’ heads, but they only got a glimpse of the stranger before Jisung’s over-eager ass blocked them again.
Chan slid from his seat beside Minho, ignoring the many questions being thrown his way. The rest of the boys were quick to follow, and in a matter of moments, Changbin was standing on gravel, squinting up at the cabin.
The person on the porch was a woman with loose red hair poking out from under her wool hat. She was leaning casually against the railing, watching the boys gather around the car with a small smile. To anyone else, she would look like a tourist on vacation in the Korean countryside, but Changbin still recognized her.
Rose McMurray, one of the three hybrids Felix had escaped the facility with, was standing before them in the flesh. The photos from the elevator had been grainy and blurry—their faces hard to make out—but it was unmistakable. It was definitely her.
Changbin felt his heart skip a beat.
If Rose was here, at the cabin, then that meant—.
“We found it,” Chan muttered, breathless as realization dawned on him. The other boys were dead silent. “We found them.”
Changbin felt someone grab his wrist as if to ground themselves. He didn’t even look to see who it was, swinging his other arm over to return the favor. He took several shaky breaths, lightheaded.
The sheer weight of their accomplishment had rooted the members to the spot. After eight long, harrowing months, the search was finally over. Felix was still out of sight but was now within arm’s reach. Only the wooden walls of the cabin separated them, and they could hardly believe it.
They were so shocked, so dazed, that they didn’t notice Rose’s slowly growing impatience.
She pushed herself away from the railing and took a few steps down the stairs. She raised a brow, expression wary. “Hello? Are you guys okay?”
Chan blinked, then jerked back to the present as if he had been electrocuted. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, staring at Rose. The poor girl just smiled politely. Finally, Chan remembered how to speak.
“Uh, yeah. Hi—Hello,” he greeted with a friendly grin. Rose nodded but didn’t come any closer. Chan cleared his throat. “I’m Chan, and these are my brothers.”
Chan turned and gestured with his uninjured hand towards each of the members as he said their names. One by one, the members snapped out of their odd trances. They waved at Rose or bowed their heads, and the tension seemed to bleed from the woman’s shoulders. By the time Chan had finished, she was grinning at them like they were old friends.
“We–Well, we’re looking for someone, and we hoped he would be here,” their leader admitted, tipping his head towards the cabin behind her. Rose glanced over her shoulder and cocked out a hip.
“This person wouldn’t happen to be a short Australian boy with a deep voice and a penchant for getting into trouble, would he?”
Chan’s eyes widened a fraction, and he took an involuntary step forward.
“Felix,” he breathed. “He’s here?”
Rose’s wild smile softened, and she nodded.
“Yeah, he’s here,” she confirmed. Changbin almost collapsed right there, the grip on his arm the only thing keeping him upright. He heard some of the members sniffling. Chan closed his eyes and placed a trembling hand over his mouth. He ducked his head, taking a moment to compose himself before turning back to Rose.
“Can we–,” he swallowed, eyes jumping between Rose and the cabin behind her, “Can we see him?”
For the first time, Rose looked hesitant. She pursed her lips.
“Well, he’s not here right now . He’s helping Dea with the firewood, but he’ll be back in just a few minutes. You can wait inside until then, if you want,” she offered. “Oh, I’m Rose by the way.”
Changbin could tell the other boys were disappointed they didn’t immediately get to see Felix, but they tried not to let it show. Rose was allowing them to enter one of the only places she likely felt safe, and they didn’t want to appear ungrateful. After all the hybrids went through, it was probably difficult to trust strangers like Stray Kids, yet here she was, inviting them in.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Rose-ssi, but are you sure?” Chan asked, ever the gentleman. “We can always hang out in the car. We really don’t want to intrude.”
Rose huffed a laugh and shook her head.
“Oh, yeah, I’m sure. I’m not gonna force you all back in there. You guys piled out of that thing like it was a clown car. We’ve got plenty of room inside. C’mon.”
Jisung let out a loud laugh, startling some of the other boys and making Rose’s grin even wider. She waved them over, and the members checked with Chan before walking forward. They were about a meter from the bottom of the stairs Rose was perched on when she jolted like she had suddenly remembered something important.
“Oh shit,” she cursed, spinning to face the front door. She shot an apologetic glance back at the members. “I forgot to ask Kyuho, but I doubt he’d say no. He’s a big ‘ol pushover.”
Chan looked like he wanted to say something, but Rose inadvertently cut him off with a shout.
“Coast is clear!”
Almost immediately, the front door swung open to reveal the familiar, looming figure of a man with bird wings.
He stood taller than any of the members, making Changbin feel especially small. He was broad and well built. His wings were absolutely massive, reaching up past his head even from their folded position. His long hair was pulled up into a bun to reveal an undercut. That, paired with his sharp yellow eyes, gave the man an inherently intimidating presence.
Changbin stared back for a moment, trying to reconcile his memories from the night of his attack with the sight before him. His savior—now confirmed to be Kyuho—appeared smaller without his bulky clothing and spread wings. His face was visible, no longer hidden behind a mask and goggles, but the gold hue to his eyes was unnerving. Changbin knew Kyuho was an ally, maybe even a friend, but he was also keenly aware of just how much devastation the hybrid could bestow on his enemies.
In other words, trying to picture the man who had single handedly taken out at least four armed kidnappers as the “big ‘ol pushover” Rose had described was a little difficult.
Changbin resisted the urge to take a step back, especially when Kyuho’s stern gaze landed on him. Recognition flooded his eyes, followed by surprise. Once he noticed the other members gathered around Changbin, it shifted into complete shock.
“Rose, what’s going on?” he asked, cautiously. She waved a hand in the members’ direction with a grin.
“Well, what does it look like, KyuKyu? We have some unexpected—but definitely not unwelcome—guests! I offered to let them wait inside until Goose got back.” Rose climbed the rest of the stairs and walked over to pat Kyuho’s shoulder. The winged man still looked unsure, but Rose’s smile seemed to have an effect on him. “Babe, we were going to meet with them anyway. They just beat us to the punch. What’s the harm of letting them in now?”
Kyuho hummed thoughtfully, nodding as if she had made a good point. Changbin watched them interact like they had known each other for years which wasn’t all that far off. They were in tune with each other in a way that reminded Changbin of Minho and Jisung or Hyunjin and Seungmin. Though they were more subtle about it, the love between them was clear to see, and Changbin was glad that at least one good thing had come from their time at the facility.
Seungmin, however, was more concerned with what Rose had said.
“Wait, what meeting—?” he started, gently pushing his way to the front beside Chan. He only got a few words in before Rose stiffened. She held up a hand, expression dead serious, and Seungmin snapped his mouth shut.
Silence settled over the members and hybrids. Kyuho watched Rose, his entire body tense as if anticipating some kind of attack. Slowly, she lifted the brim of her wool hat, and a round, furry ear poked out. Her eyes scanned the treeline, and her ear twitched as she listened carefully. Confused, Changbin strained his own ears, but aside from the rustling of the leaves in the soft breeze, he couldn’t hear anything.
Suddenly, Rose’s eyes widened in horror.
“They’re here.”
Kyuho sucked in a sharp breath and raced down the stairs, nearly barreling Chan over in his hurry. Rose moved to follow him but stopped short. She turned to the members.
“Go, get inside. Crouch low, keep your heads down, and stay out of sight. Avoid the windows, and no matter what you hear, you do not come out of that cabin. Do you understand me?” Rose spoke to them with an intensity that bordered on panic. Her eyes blazed, and Changbin found he couldn’t look away. “ Do you understand me? ”
Changbin nodded, though every part of him was screaming to run far, far away. Rose and Kyuho had been through hell and back. They were seasoned survivors at this point, yet Rose looked terrified, and if she was scared, Changbin didn’t stand a chance. His heart was threatening to beat right out of his chest. The blood was rushing past his ears, and it was so loud he almost didn’t catch Chan calling his name.
He blinked, and Rose was gone, running towards the treeline where Kyuho had disappeared. Chan was in front of him, grabbing him by the shoulder.
“Changbin, c’mon!” He pulled Changbin up the stairs. They were the last two in the cabin, slamming the door shut behind them. Changbin dropped to a crouch beside Hyunjin on the floor, and the boy latched onto him, his eyes wide with fear. Instinctually, Changbin opened his mouth, wanting to calm the dancer down somehow, but nothing came out. He didn’t know what to say.
Chan slid into the spot on Changbin’s left, reminding the other boys to keep their heads down. He kept his voice low, whispering reassurances. Jeongin was trembling head to toe. The poor boy was white as a sheet, and no matter what Seungmin did, he couldn’t get the maknae to relax. Chan must’ve noticed because he crawled past Changbin and Hyunjin to squeeze in next to Jeongin. He tugged his youngest up against his chest and pressed his lips to his head, mumbling soothing words into his skin. After a minute or two, Jeongin appeared to relax a little.
Then, the trucks arrived.
They rumbled up the gravel drive, coming to a stop near Jackson’s SUV and sending rocks flying. Jeongin’s shaking started anew, and Changbin felt Hyunjin’s nails leaving indents in his arm. Minho had to tug Jisung back down when he tried to sneak a peek through the window. Even Seungmin scooted closer to Jeongin and Chan when the unknown men hopped out of their trucks and began shouting orders.
The men seemed to be careful in their approach, their footsteps slow and barely audible. They fell silent after being given their instructions which, as far as Changbin was able to tell, involved searching the cabin they were currently holed up in.
A shiver went down his spine, and he pulled Hyunjin closer.
It was that precise moment that chaos erupted.
The men started shouting. They fired their guns, causing the members to drop to their stomachs on the floor. Changbin couldn’t make out what the attackers were saying, but their initial caution gave way to panic as they struggled to hit their target. They sounded scared and frustrated. A couple times, Changbin swore he heard Rose or Kyuho, but with all the gunfire, it was hard to tell.
At some point, Changbin realized that the sounds of fighting were growing quieter. The men seemed to be getting further from the cabin, and Changbin wondered if that was Rose and Kyuho’s doing. If their plan had been to serve as a distraction, it was working.
Changbin was starting to hope that maybe the members would get out of this mess unscathed when, suddenly, a loud bang echoed throughout the cabin. Changbin lifted his head from where he had rested it against the floor. Across the room, through what appeared to be a kitchen, was another door. Standing in front of that door, breathing heavily, was a little girl.
Changbin didn’t recognize her. He knew it was probably Nayeon—or Dea, if that was her real name—the kid Felix and the other hybrids had rescued from the facility, but her face was unfamiliar. Her hair was cut short and she wore boys’ clothes that looked a few sizes too big. She was so young, yet she held herself with a confidence that seemed too big for her little shoulders.
She took in the sight of seven young men lying on the floor, blinking in apparent surprise. Her gaze rested on Chan, and some of her hesitance eased as she came closer.
“Rose unnie? Kyuho oppa? Do you know where they are?” she asked, her voice pleading. Her chest was heaving as if she had run a long way, and her eyes were wide with worry.
Chan was staring at the little girl, eyebrows furrowed. He looked confused, but Dea took another few steps, growing desperate.
“Oppa, please, where are they?”
Chan’s frown deepened. He gestured her forward and she obeyed. He opened his mouth to say something, likely an attempt to convince her to stay inside where it was safe, but then he made the mistake of glancing back at the front door. Dea followed his gaze, and it was all she needed to know.
Dea ran for the door, blowing right past Changbin’s outstretched arm. She slammed into it and leapt off the porch. Changbin saw her weaving through the abandoned trucks and sprinting towards the treeline where they last saw Rose and Kyuho before the door blocked her from view.
Immediately, Chan was on his feet. He attempted to follow her, but this time Changbin was faster. He scrambled to his knees and grabbed Chan around the waist.
“No! Bin, she’s gonna get hurt!”
Changbin only held on tighter as Chan struggled.
“And you’re gonna save her by running headfirst into a fight?” Changbin dug his heels in and pulled Chan further back. He struggled to free himself, but Changbin was determined. Seungmin and Jisung made to stand and help, but Minho kept them seated. The dancer risked a peek through the window.
“She’s already gone, Hyung,” he sighed. He gestured towards the window with his thumb. “Besides, if you go out there, you’re only gonna get in the way.”
It was a bit harsh, but it wasn’t a lie either. Minho was right. If Chan ran after Dea, she would inadvertently lead him straight to the fight. Maybe Rose and Kyuho were experienced enough to hold their own and avoid getting shot, but Chan didn’t have that skill. Not only would he be unable to help Dea, but he would only get injured trying to, and the hybrids would probably blame themselves for it.
It seemed Chan came to the same conclusion because he gave up in attempting to escape. Instead, he hung his head and nodded. Reluctantly, Changbin let him go.
Minho waved the two of them closer and patted the spot beside him. Changbin, still wary of Chan’s ridiculous hero complex, waited until Chan was trudging forward to follow.
Of course, because nothing was going to plan that day, that’s when they heard the voices.
They were loud, and angry, and coming from the door Dea had busted through in the kitchen. Chan and Changbin turned around, pulses hammering.
The men had flanked the cabin. They were right outside. If they came barging in, there would be nowhere for Stray Kids to hide. They would be found, and they would be shot—or worse.
Chan motioned for the members to stand, then quickly directed them down the hallway. Minho led them, poking his head into one of the many rooms and quietly ushering the rest of the boys in. Chan went to grab Changbin as the men’s shouting grew louder.
When he tried to tug on Changbin’s arm, however, he was met with resistance. He pulled again, but Changbin stayed put. Minho and Chan were whispering his name, their tone becoming increasingly panicked the more he remained despondent, but Changbin had long since tuned them out.
A new voice had joined the men outside, and it was deeper—much deeper. It sounded distant, but the rich timbre was so achingly familiar Changbin would recognize it anywhere. A chill went down his spine, and suddenly Changbin was moving.
He yanked his arm from Chan’s grasp and walked towards the door, ignoring Chan’s hands tangled in the back of his shirt. He reached out to touch the doorknob.
“Are you insane?!”
Chan pressed himself in between Changbin and the door. He shoved Changbin with considerable force, and the rapper crashed to the floor. Almost instantly, Chan was at his side, apologizing while also trying to drag him away.
“Felix,” Changbin managed, his throat scratchy with emotion. Chan paused, his good arm hooked over Changbin’s chest. “Felix.”
“What?”
“Felix. He’s there.” Changbin pointed at the door, then met Chan’s eye. He could only imagine how psycho he looked with the disbelief and desperation clouding his mind. He wet his lips, and pointed again. “He’s there. Right there .”
Chan followed his finger. They sat in silence, listening carefully. The men were still barking orders, but the new voice was louder, closer. It was clear as day and unmistakable. Changbin watched as Chan’s eyes flooded with recognition. His face went slack with shock.
“Felix?”
Chan hefted Changbin to his feet without hesitation. He was the first one to the door, but Changbin was right at his shoulder. They looked at each other, silently wondering if they were about to get themselves killed, before deciding it didn’t matter. It was worth it.
Felix was worth it.
Then, Chan slowly turned the knob and opened the door.
Finally, good luck seemed to find them. The two armed men they could see had their backs to the cabin, their guns trained and attention focused entirely on the person standing in front of them.
It was him.
It was Felix.
For the first time in eight months, Changbin was looking at Felix.
He was skinny—skinnier than usual—and his strawberry blonde-dyed hair had grown out to his shoulders, the naturally dark roots taking over. His face was a bit gaunt, and he was holding himself awkwardly, likely due to the giant orange and grey wings folded up behind him. His freckles were stark against his pale skin.
Changbin could hardly breathe. He had imagined this moment for months. He always pictured Felix running into his arms, hugging him so hard the air left his lungs. He thought there would be tears and laughter and more hugs. Never had he expected someone to be standing between them, let alone two strangers with guns.
Guns that were pointed at Felix.
Changbin did his best to ignore the roiling of his stomach. The scene in front of him was likely going to replay over and over in his mind and his nightmares for years to come. Felix was bright. He was happy. He was not supposed to be terrified, staring down the barrel of a large gun.
Changbin had to do something, even if all it did was take the attention off of Felix for a second. He racked his brain, but the adrenaline coursing through his system had him too agitated to do any real critical thinking. Fortunately, that had always been Chan’s strong suit, so when Changbin saw the determined set to his jaw, he thought they might actually have a chance at getting out of this alive.
Chan tapped Changbin’s shoulder and gestured for him to stay back. Reluctantly, he obeyed and watched as Chan slowly approached one of the armed men.
Changbin knew Felix had seen them. His big, beautiful eyes had widened just a fraction but not enough to give them away. His voice had taken a hint of panic as he tried to de-escalate the situation, but the men didn’t seem to notice. They were too focused on keeping Felix in their sights as they converged on his position.
Changbin’s heart was in his throat, and he held his breath. Chan took another step, bringing him within a meter of the closest assailant. Felix tried desperately to ward Chan off with his eyes alone, but Chan just pointed towards the second guy, the one nearest to Felix. He shot Felix a thumb’s up, carefully pulling his injured arm from its sling, and jumped into action.
Chan brought both of his hands down on the guy’s gun, nearly knocking it from his grip altogether. The guy grunted in surprise, and his friend turned to shoot the new threat. Felix didn’t give him the chance. He darted forward, grabbed the gun, and laid a hand on the man’s shoulder. He went rigid, then collapsed to the ground.
Chan was still struggling with the other guy, but eventually, he managed to pry the gun away. Chan raised his newly acquired weapon, pointing it at the now unarmed man. The assailant whipped his head around, trying to keep both Chan and Felix in his line of sight. He stumbled backwards and nearly tripped over his fallen friend.
“Don’t–Don’t shoot!” he pleaded, displaying his palms in surrender. Felix, holding his own gun at his side, stepped closer. Chan followed.
“Why not? It’s not like it would kill you,” Felix shrugged, casually tucking the gun against his chest like a video game character. Chan blinked, lowering his own weapon a fraction.
“P–Please, I’ll do any–anything!” The man clasped his hands together as if to beg. Changbin thought he was a pathetic hypocrite, but for some reason, he still felt a little bad for the guy. There was genuine fear in his eyes. However, then the image of Felix being held at gunpoint sprang to mind, and the feeling quickly vanished.
Felix frowned. “Would you turn yourself in—testify against the Doctor? You do understand how expendable you are to him, right?”
The man hesitated, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. His gaze jumped between Chan and Felix. His hands shook as he held them in the air.
The sudden roaring of an engine took them all by surprise. Felix crouched down a bit, the gun halfway to his shoulder, while Chan raised his own weapon again. They turned to face the truck as it came flying around the corner of the cabin. For a brief moment, Changbin feared it would simply plow into Felix and Chan. Instead, it screeched to a halt right beside the guy they had disarmed.
A door popped open and another man jumped out. To everyone’s horror, he pointed his gun at Changbin , who froze. This prompted Felix to properly aim his weapon. His carefully neutral face turned murderous, and he spat a warning.
“Don’t you dare.”
It was hard to tell where the newcomer was looking because of his goggles, but when he spoke, it was to address Felix.
“Keep your finger off that trigger, and I won’t.” Then, he jerked his chin towards his cowering colleague. “Grab him and get your ass in that truck.”
Neither Felix or Chan could make a move to stop them without risking Changbin getting shot, so the three members were forced to watch as the unarmed man obeyed his orders and hefted his fallen comrade into the truck. Whatever Felix had done to him must’ve knocked the guy out cold because his friend struggled to get him situated, his limbs flopping around at awkward angles. Eventually, the man succeeded in securing his unconscious cargo, and the third assailant moved to join them.
He backed up slowly, refusing to lower his gun until he was seated in the truck, and slammed the door shut. He sent Felix a sarcastic salute as the truck peeled away, circled the cabin, and disappeared around the corner.
Chan and Felix kept their weapons trained on the vehicle until it was out of sight, and only then did some of the tension melt from their shoulders. They were breathing hard, staring at the deep tire tracks in the grass. Changbin remained by the door. His gaze darted between the two of them, willing his pounding heart to settle.
After a moment, Felix hung his head. He held the gun in his right hand, but his left found its way to his hip.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked without looking up. Chan turned to him, confused. Changbin was staring. He had never heard Felix sound so angry, and it rang alarm bells in his brain. “That man had a gun , Hyung. You could’ve gotten yourself and Bin hyung shot! That was so stupidly dangerous I don’t even know what to say! What if he had seen you coming, huh? What if you didn’t get his gun away in time? Your arm is in a sling, for pete’s sake. You’re already injured, and yet you thought it would be a great idea to jump a highly trained guard? With no weapon? I–I cannot believe you. You’re such a—!”
Felix was cut off with a grunt as Chan pulled him in for a bone crushing hug.
It was instant, the way he went lax in his hyung’s arms, his face buried in Chan’s neck. Even from a distance, Changbin could see Felix shaking. His fingers clutched at Chan’s shirt like he was afraid he would disappear. He let out choking gasps, and his shoulders heaved with the force of his cries.
Through it all, Chan spoke soft words of encouragement. He stroked Felix’s long hair and rubbed his back. His own voice trembled, and tears ran down his cheeks, but his entire focus was the boy in his arms.
Changbin’s knees felt weak. He had to lean against the door to keep himself upright. Watching the two of them together, reuniting at last, felt like a piece of his soul had clicked back into place. His eyes welled up, and the width of his borderline manic grin made his face hurt, but he had never been happier.
Eventually, Felix’s sobs were replaced with hiccups, and he was able to take a couple deep breaths. He reluctantly pulled away to properly look at Chan, who placed his hands on either side of Felix’s face. Their skin was splotchy, their eyes were swollen, and their noses were runny. They were a downright mess, both of them, but their matching smiles were brighter than the sun itself.
“We found you,” Chan whispered. Felix huffed a laugh.
“Yeah,” he sniffled, gripping Chan’s wrists and swiping his thumbs across the skin there. “Yeah, you did.”
Chan gently guided Felix’s head down so he could place a delicate kiss on his hairline. Then, he released him, taking a step back. He glanced over his shoulder at Changbin, and his shining smile shifted into something a little more knowing. He nodded.
“Bin, stay with Lix for me please? I’m gonna go fetch the rest of our family.”
Felix blinked, having just realized Chan and Changbin hadn’t come alone. His eyes burned with eager anticipation and fresh tears, drawing a chuckle from Chan.
“I’ll be right back,” he promised, then trotted towards where Changbin was standing. He dodged the gun he had abandoned in his rush to hug Felix and wrestled his arm back into its sling. When he passed Changbin, he used his free hand to place a reassuring pat on the rapper’s shoulder.
The door swung shut behind him, leaving Changbin alone with the boy he loved.
For a moment, the two of them just stared at each other. Changbin took a few slow steps forward. Felix followed his lead, closing the distance between them with careful movements. Changbin felt the sun on his face as he left the shadow of the cabin, and he heard Felix’s sharp inhale.
It was accompanied by a wince, and Felix pressed a hand to his side, right over his ribs.
Immediately, Changbin was in front of him.
“What’s wrong?” he questioned. His own hands hovered over Felix’s, unsure of how to help. Had he been injured in the fight? Had Changbin not noticed one of the guards landing a lucky hit? He was clearly in pain, and Changbin’s mind conjured up a number of reasons why—none of them good.
“Bruised ribs; old injury. I’m fine, I promise.” Felix kept his grip on his wound, gently guiding Changbin’s arms back down. The rapper frowned, his concern only growing. Felix must’ve noticed because his smile returned, and he laced their fingers together. Changbin’s eyes widened. “Really, I’m okay. I just overdid it a little last night, that’s all.”
Changbin had to admit, having Felix’s hand in his after so long was muddling his brain a little. When he spoke again, his disapproving hyung voice came out a bit more breathless than he had meant it to.
“You should be resting, then.” Felix laughed, then flinched and clutched his side tighter. Changbin made a pained sound and squeezed his hand. “Lix, I’m serious. You need to lay down. C’mon.”
The rapper tried tugging Felix towards the cabin, but the younger boy took a step back, using their connected hands to pull Changbin with him. Suddenly, they were standing a lot closer, and Felix was no longer smiling. Instead, his gaze was almost desperate.
“No, Hyung. Please, just–just let me–,” he stopped. He shut his eyes, and he took a deep breath, chest hitching as it jostled his ribs. When he opened his eyes again, they were forlorn. “Just stay with me, please? I don’t need to rest, I–I want to be here … with you. Just for a moment.”
How could Changbin say no to that? He chewed the inside of his cheek, glancing back at the cabin, then sighed.
“Okay.” He smiled softly, reaching up to ruffle Felix’s long hair, and the boy laughed. He halfheartedly brushed Changbin’s teasing hands away, scrunching his nose in false annoyance.
Their shared amusement slowly faded, and Felix’s piercing gaze found its way to Changbin’s face. He studied the rapper’s features, lips pulling thin at the mottled bruising over his chin. Changbin hardly allowed himself to breathe for fear that it would break Felix’s deep concentration. It was both too much and not enough, having Felix’s burning stare focused solely on Changbin. His skin was blisteringly hot, but when Felix brushed gentle fingers over his healing wound, he shivered.
Felix blinked, dropping his hand. He looked at Changbin as if he’d never truly seen him before, his eyes bleeding an emotion the rapper couldn’t identify. It was intense, whatever it was, and Changbin swallowed the lump forming in his throat. Felix’s gaze sharpened, and the corner of his mouth twitched like he wanted to smile.
Neither of them dared to move, until Felix took a step closer. They were chest to chest. Changbin could feel Felix breathe against him. He could hardly believe any of this was real.
Felix’s lips parted, and he spoke.
“Hyung, I’ve been wanting to say this for years ,” he started. Changbin froze, his heart stumbling in its rhythm. Felix’s hands shook, his lips trembled, his chest jolted, and for once, Changbin allowed himself to hope. “Changbin hyung … I love–.”
“FELIX!”
Changbin barely had the time to step out of the way before Jisung flew past him, crashing headfirst into Felix in a blur of tears and laughter. Felix grunted—whether from pain or surprise, Changbin couldn’t tell—as Jisung’s unexpected flying hug sent them both to the ground.
A second later, Jisung was joined by a sobbing Hyunjin and a screeching Jeongin, whose clumsy ass tripped and toppled into the growing dogpile.
“Wait, guys, he’s hurt–,” Changbin tried to warn, but the cacophony of crying members drowned him out. It didn’t seem to matter either way because Felix was too busy soothing the other boys through his own tears to complain. Jisung had drenched his shoulder, and Hyunjin was wiping his runny nose on Felix’s shirt. Jeongin was silent from where he had burrowed into Felix’s stomach, but his trembling frame gave him away.
Seungmin appeared at Changbin’s side. His eyes were red, and they desperately scanned the pile of boys for an open spot. Felix noticed, and he scooted Hyunjin closer to Jisung before extending an arm in invitation. Seungmin didn’t hesitate, diving into the fray to wrap himself around Felix with a wet laugh.
Changbin was joined a moment later by Chan and Minho. The three of them watched the messy, long-awaited reunion with matching grins. When Minho hung his head, and his bottom lip quivered, Chan and Changbin didn’t say a word. They just stepped a little closer and hooked their arms through his, offering a lifeline for him to cling to as the emotional tax took its toll.
He knocked their shoulders together in thanks.
Minutes passed, but it felt like hours. Felix remained buried under a pile of bodies, his wings pinned against the ground in what had to be an extremely uncomfortable position, but he refused to be the first to pull away. Surprisingly, that had been Jisung, who released Felix to rub at his puffy eyes. Seungmin and Jeongin reluctantly sat up and extracted themselves from the pile next. They made no move to stand, seemingly content hanging out on the grass in order to be closer to Felix.
Hyunjin was the last to let go, and he only did so when Jisung pried him loose. He sniffled, hiccuping occasionally, and kept his hand clasped in Felix’s.
Felix got to his knees, doing his best to hide the pain he no doubt felt. He leaned forward and lifted his wings, then spread them wide to shake the dust from his feathers.
The members all watched in abject awe, eyes wide and jaws dropped. His wings had looked big before, but at their full length, they were absolutely massive . The underside of his wings were mostly white with a black dotted pattern. It was intricate and beautiful. Changbin wanted to reach out and run his fingers down the fluffy feathers, but he was able to withhold the urge.
What he couldn’t do, however, was stop himself from mirroring Felix’s proud grin. The younger boy was practically beaming as he showed off his wings, angling them and unfurling them as far as they would go. The members responded accordingly, oohing and aahing with wonder in their eyes.
He only tucked them away once he got to his feet, chuckling at the many sighs of disappointment.
“They’re just wings,” he laughed, helping Hyunjin stand. The other boys followed suit. “I’ll let you guys look at them later. Right now …”
Felix’s eyes landed on Minho, and his grin grew.
“Hyung,” he greeted, softly. Changbin and Chan released their grip on Minho as Felix walked towards him. The younger boy wrapped his hyung in a bruising hug, and Minho returned it with just as much fervor. When they parted, Minho’s cheeks were suspiciously wet. No one mentioned it.
Chan stepped up to grab the back of Felix’s neck, his smile so big his dimples appeared.
“We missed you, Lix—so much.”
Felix nodded, his eyes misty.
“I missed you guys too. More than you know.” Chan shook his head and pulled Felix down to place another kiss on his long hair.
“Goose? You over here?” said a familiar voice. It was Rose, though she sounded odd. Some of the boys traded glances, and Felix frowned. He shouted something back, and a moment later, Rose poked her head around the corner of the cabin. Kyuho was right on her heels.
Changbin studied them. Neither of the hybrids appeared to be in pain. They weren’t favoring a leg or holding an injured arm to their chest. They covered the distance between them and Felix quickly, their heads on a swivel.
Changbin couldn’t blame them for being a little wary. They had just been attacked after all.
Felix rested an arm over Minho’s shoulders and grinned, gesturing towards the other boys.
“Rose unnie, Kyuho hyung, meet my members.” He pulled Minho closer, a blinding grin on his face. “We didn’t even need the letter. They found us all on their own.”
Rose smiled, but it was strained. Kyuho dipped his chin.
“We’ve met,” she explained. Her gaze was dull, and her eyes lacked the bubbly spark that had been present on the porch when she first introduced herself. Kyuho’s shoulders sagged, and his head hung low, dropping his intimidating height a few centimeters.
They both looked miserable, and Changbin had a bad feeling in his gut.
Felix hesitated, his grin falling.
“Are you guys okay? What’s wrong?” he asked. He released Minho and took a step towards the hybrids, his body growing more and more tense as the silence stretched on. “Seriously, what’s wrong?”
Rose swiped a hand across her mouth. She sighed.
“It’s Dea.” Her voice trembled. “She came running in. I–I didn’t see her in time. They drove right past her, reached out of the truck, and—.”
Kyuho lifted his head. His eyes were wet. Changbin felt sick.
“They took her, Felix. They took Dea.”