Chapter Text
Felix came to in his own stained mattress with the odd feeling that he should probably be dead. Despite the general grogginess, he felt surprisingly well-rested, only a minor headache fading from between his eyes. What the hell…? There was no sudden moment of realisation; Felix already knew he’d come face to face with Stray Kids - but somehow he was alive, waking up in his own apartment, and the eyes following him for the past month had disappeared. The sudden aloneness of it all was almost jarring, like after dying at the hands of Stray Kids he arrived in some kind of purgatory, condemned to live the same depressing life for eternity in order to atone for his mortal sins. Trying to wrap his brain around what had even happened for him to get here, Felix rose from his position lying down and entered his sad kitchen, expecting to drink a cup of water and pretend to be full - only to be met with all his cabinets wide open, fully stocked with everything under the sun, as if the local supermarket had moved into his apartment overnight. The momentary shock is interrupted by Felix’s stomach growling embarrassingly loudly in the too-quiet room. He checks - everything is sealed and untouched; untampered with. Still, Felix throws some of the fresh produce out with a heavy heart. Just in case. Unable to push himself into making a full meal, Felix still takes full advantage of his newfound food supply - gorging his way through three bowls of cereal with milk - fresh, full cream milk! - and even indulging in a thick slice of cheddar cheese from the block he found in his fridge. The door was still halfway open as Felix considered the previous night. They didn’t kill him; so he’s probably fine, right? The thought reawakens the image of him crying in front of the three Stray Kids members, sending a jolt of mortification through him. Ew. Still, he must have done something right to be here, eating free food, alive, back in his apartment. After the hectic last month, Felix deserved time to decompress. Away from his stalker, away from the stress of his profession, away from Stray Kids. And away from this god awful shoebox of a house.
Felix found himself wandering a familiar path down sunny streets at about midday. After a shower, a change of clothes, and a full stomach for the first time in too long, he felt more rejuvenated than he had in a while, and his feet had automatically led him to the park not far from his apartment. The cloudless sky and whisper of a breeze had done wonders for Felix’s mood; the weather inviting him to lounge around and soak it all up like a cat. It was almost overshadowed by the knowledge that this level of contentment was rare for him, so he should make the most of it - but compartmentalisation is what Felix does best, so he didn’t let it put a damper on his mood. Finding a sunlit bench amongst the verdant green of the plants, Felix sank down to sit, legs extended and face turned up, his freckles illuminated; the sun smiling back at itself. After what could have been whole hours or mere minutes, a bright voice breaks through Felix’s reverie.
“Hey! Sorry to interrupt, but is this seat free?”
Felix looks over and is met with an exuberant looking man, maybe a couple years younger than himself.
“Uh,” Felix responds, eloquently. “Yeah, go ahead.” he straightens a little, suddenly self-conscious.
The guy plops himself onto the bench a little gracelessly and seems to hide a wince for a second before schooling his expression back to neutral. It helps to make Felix feel less bad about his own posture at least, but damn, how hard do you have to sit down for it to hurt? Sending that dazzling grin back to Felix, the guy extends his hand.
“Hi! My name’s Jeongin.”
Felix hesitates for a beat, before grabbing the hand back. Fuck it.
“Felix.” He even feels a small smile pull at the edges of his mouth.
“Lovely weather today isn't it.” Jeongin proclaims, seeming oddly pleased with himself. Felix is inclined to agree. “Makes me want to dance.” Okay. This kid is kind of weird. Felix finds it strangely endearing.
“Oh yeah?” he replies instead. “I used to dance all the time.” It comes out more wistful than intended and Jeongin looks back over, intrigued.
“Why’d you stop?”
“Hm.” Felix thinks back to the joy it brought him - the fulfilment. He thinks back to the paranoia after he began his less-than-legal work. He remembers the conflicting emotions of success and failure that came with learning something new. He remembers the feeling of eyes on his back and he remembers how when he danced all this would just fade away regardless. “I guess I was scared.”
Jeongin shoots him a blinding smile. “Well you don't have to be scared anymore.” grabbing his hand without preamble, Jeongin yanks Felix from the bench and into the afternoon light. “Let’s dance!”
And - Felix feels his inhibitions melt away under the warmth of the air. They dance - not well by any means - all technical training was left on the weathered wood where the two were sitting. But still, they spin and kick and jump until they’re breathless and sweating - no music, just the direction of their own hearts. Felix feels himself smiling more and more with it, until it breaks out of him in joyous giggles, Jeongin catching the bug and laughing along, full and loud, until the both of them tire on the grass, still hand in hand, staring at the endless blue of the sky.
Jeongin murmurs amongst the birdsong that surrounds them. “I wanted to say thank you.”
“Huh?” Felix replies, turning his head in the grass, cheeks flushed from exertion.
“Dont worry.” Jeongin says, meeting Felix's eyes. “Wanna come out for coffee tomorrow? I’m meeting up with some friends and I think they’d really like you.” This close, Felix notices the dimple in his cheek. Then Jeongin’s words compute and he thinks about it. Considering the measly $6.72 in his bank account, he should probably spend tomorrow trying to get some work - but, he supposes, his cupboards are full for the foreseeable future… and he deserves to make some friends and feel normal for once right? He doesn’t have to drag them into his dangerous business - he doesn’t even need to get close with them. It would just be nice. Surely he’s allowed some nice in life. Instead of voicing this internal conflict, Felix replies.
“Well if they're anything like you I’m sure I’d like them too,” and ew that was cringe - but Jeongin seems unreasonably happy.
“Great! Let me give you my number.”
“Uh, I don't have a phone. Sorry,” Felix replies awkwardly - because he doesn't. Not one that isn't a burner used only for correspondence with employers.
“Oh! That’s fine.” Jeongin replies, definitely way too chill about the fact. Who doesn’t own a phone? He whips out a pen and piece of paper from somewhere, scribbling down an address and time. “Just meet us here. Don’t worry. You can't miss us.” Felix takes the paper and feels a suspicious tingle of excitement in his chest. “Okay. See you then.” Jeongin fiddles with his shirt by his sides, turning to walk away before hesitating, suddenly wrapping Felix in a tight hug and- oh. Felix hasn’t felt physical affection in so long. He has to restrain himself from melting into the touch too much, but Jeongin saves him from the embarrassment by keeping the hug brief.
“Yeah.” Felix replies. “See you then.”