Chapter Text
It is a week later when Bang Chan wakes up alone in bed again, patting the mattress of the bunk bed a few times in confusion before squinting open his eyes to see that the reason he finally had blankets for once was because Felix had already gotten up.
He frowns that the younger let him sleep in so long; sure, he didn’t have much to do on this lazy Sunday now that Chan’s Room is banned for a little while but still… Bedhead Felix is one of his favorite sights and now he has been robbed of it.
His alpha side seems to growl in protest at the idea of sitting up and leaving the pleasant vanilla scent of the sheets that Felix left behind but if the light filtering in through the window was anything to go by, it had to be at least noon and the leader hated the feeling of wasting his day more .
He drags himself down the ladder and into a mostly silent dorm which increases his suspicion that it was late in the day even more. And he doesn’t catch a whiff of the omega anywhere either so by the time he enters the living room, he’s pouting. But, a tendril of snickerdoodles and citrus makes itself known so Chan follows it to the sofa.
“ Heya Seungminnie,” the eldest greets, watching as the beta mindlessly flipped through channels on the TV.
“Oh, you’re finally awake Chan-hyung. Jisung was going to go in there with an airhorn earlier but Lix managed to stop him,” the younger says with a brief glance at his hyung before returning to the TV, “Slept well, I hope?”
“Yeah but um… Where is everyone today? I didn’t know Felix had anything planned...”
“Oh!” Seungmin perks up, forgetting the remote for a moment, “I figured he’d want to tell you this himself but since he already left…”
The alpha raises an eyebrow and the beta smiles. “Since you couldn’t do Chan’s Room today like you usually do around this time, Yongbok went live to make up for it. He’s at the company right now; his Vlive should have started about ten minutes ago.”
The brunette’s eyes widened, first in surprise and gratefulness for the omega being so thoughtful but also in panic of how Felix was handling the fans all by himself after everything that had happened in the last month (Was he panicking? Was that anonymous user back? Did he remember his scent blockers? Was he scared? Was he in trouble? Was he telling the world of his secret and were people attacking him for it? Was the company banging down the door to take him away from all of them forever-)
“Hyung, relax. Felix was very adamant about this and he made sure to put on his scent blockers and take his pills; he seemed excited and less scared than he’s been all week,” Seungmin assured, rolling his eyes in fond exasperation, “If you’re that worried, why don’t you watch it yourself-”
The beta didn’t even get a chance to finish his sentence before Chan is darting back into his room to rip his phone off the charger and logging into Vlive. Instantly the notification for Felix’s live was at the top of the screen and he joined without a second thought.
Felix had his hair half up half down, some tucked behind his ears as he smiled widely at the camera. He was wearing a hoodie (one of Chan’s to be more specific) and was bare-faced, the freckles on display matching the brown shade of his hair.
“How are you today, Stay? I’m doing great; today has been a good day. Where is Chan? Oh Hyung is super busy with comeback stuff lately so he apologizes for not being able to do Chan’s Room today. He works so hard, doesn’t he? Stray Kids are so lucky to have a leader like him, huh?”
Chan feels his heart swell with love and appreciation, seeing all the kind and supportive comments flowing from the fans and the knowing glint to his mate’s eyes like he knew he was watching.
A flush rises to his ears as he comments through his fake account, “You look radiant, Yongbokkie. I’m sure Chan is very thankful that you are doing this for him.”
He doesn’t know if Felix sees it or not but by the younger’s shy giggle a few moments afterwards, he hopes that he had.
The alpha lays back in his bed as he watches the Vlive, finding himself smiling fondly every time Felix goes into a short story and gets those stars in his pupils as he looks up at the ceiling in thought with a reminiscent quirk to his lips. Things seemed to be going more smoothly than he ever expected and Felix was relaxed and eager to talk to Stay so Chan’s previous panic became a forgotten memory.
“Are you in a different room than usual?”
As soon as the man reads it, he takes a closer look at his mate’s surroundings and notices that Felix was, in fact, within a different room than his usual location of 3racha’s studio or the conference room near the dance studio. The brunette was sitting at a table like all the times before but in the background that usually just showcased a blank wall, there was now a small back placard and a door tucked into the far back corner with a short column of window about two feet above the handle.
“Different room? Yeah um- It’s kind of just me today so I wanted a door with a better lock, you know?” Felix gestures to the exit behind him but seems to shrink in on himself sheepishly, “I probably sound kind of paranoid but most of the time one of the other members is close by so…”
Chan frowns at the realization that he could have gone along as moral support, could have just been a comforting face in the background insisting on coming, if he had woken up earlier; perhaps the younger’s camera-ready face was better at masking his true emotions than he realized. His thumbs begin moving on their own. “There’s nothing wrong with being careful. If you’re comfortable, that’s all that matters .”
An awkward chuckle escapes Felix as he subconsciously pushes a lock of brown hair behind his ear but then he continues on like nothing happened.
A couple of people ask about Chan or make comments in regard to his sexuality but the omega respectfully ignores them or makes a sly remark that pink, purple, and blue are his favorite colors (and it truthfully fills the eldest with pride and butterflies that Felix doesn’t bat an eyelash before subtly defending him). The alpha still continues to monitor the comment section even if Stay was being relatively docile in regards to Felix’s dodging of overly invasive questions and he has yet to spot any suspicious anonymous user so he was just enjoying supporting his mate from the sidelines.
“What song are you thinking of playing today?” An English-speaking Stay asks a little while later, many more people jumping on the bandwagon soon after and questioning about music as well because supposedly he gives ‘the best suggestions’.
Felix grins under the praise before replying coyly, “ I may have one or two songs in mind but there’s one in particular that has been stuck in my head all week.”
Chan raises an eyebrow at the suggestive tone, attempting to recall any times he has heard the younger singing to himself this week but other than his usual Stuff it or Yeet, nothing comes to mind. He assumed that it was going to be another Coldplay song that he liked to listen to when he was feeling down or a sentimental Stray Kids single that he puts on to either tease the others or quell his desire for nostalgia.
What he didn’t expect was Maroon 5, Sugar by Maroon 5.
And the younger Aussie enthusiastically mouthing the words before pointing at the camera and saying with his deep, accented voice, “ Yeah, you show me good loving; make it alright .” A smirk, a wink, and then, “ Need a little sweetness in my life.”
To say that Chan only fell deeper in love by the sight is an understatement.
Without thinking too much about it, he snags his laptop off the nightstand and opens up Vlive. He logs in and joins Felix’s live before closing it out on his phone and pulling up his text messages.
Pixie Stick<3
Me
Your sugar? Yes please
;)
Delivered 12:22pm ∣∣ Read 12:22pm
As soon as he sends it, he looks up at his computer screen; the brunette stops singing to look down at his phone.
The omega grins widely, his ears flushing a bit as he glances straight into the camera. His elbows come to rest on the table and he makes a v-shape with his hands before placing his chin there with a cheeky glint to his caramel eyes. “ I just wanna be there where you are. And I gotta get one little taste.”
And the alpha giggles like a young school girl, a small squeal leaving him as he rolls back and forth on the bed with his face buried in his hands.
“Hyung? Are you okay?” He hears Seungmin call from the sitting room, sounding only partly concerned and more distracted by the kdrama he is probably watching.
“I’m fine!”
“Are you texting Felix-hyung again?”
“N-No!”
There’s a sigh. “You’re so whipped, Hyung.”
“You shush!”
“Somebody else? Where?”
Chan’s eyes instantly dart back to the laptop, crawling towards his screen before plopping down on his stomach and staring intently. He scrolls up in the chat, seeing a couple of Stay mention a figure walking by the window on the door. Was one of the other members at the company right now? Felix had said he was alone earlier… Perhaps it is another group or staff member who was just checking to see if the room was occupied?
“Oh um- I’m sure it’s fine,” Felix assures the viewers although there was a slight lilt that worried Chan. “I mean, we have a popular company; it’s not like I’d be the only one here.” He chuckles albeit a tad uncomfortably. “I just hope somebody else hadn’t booked this room and I took it.”
It couldn’t hurt to double check with the group chat though, right?
The Kids
Me
Anyone at the company right now?
Delivered 12:25pm ∣∣ Read 12:26pm
Dandyboi
Obviously not
Sent 12:26pm ∣∣ Read 12:26pm
Quokka
No, date.
Sent 12:27pm ∣∣ Read 12:27pm
Meanho
No, date.
Sent 12:27pm ∣∣ Read 12:27pm
PrinceJinnie
Out shopping
Sent 12:28pm ∣∣ Read 12:28pm
BabyBin
Innie and I are getting burgers
Sent 12:28pm ∣∣ Read 12:28pm
FoxOnTop
Felix-hyung is
Sent 12:28pm ∣∣ Read 12:28pm
It’s probably nothing to worry about , Chan thinks as he exits the chat and looks back at Felix. The younger was animatedly telling about a new waffle recipe he wants to try that uses cake batter and confetti sprinkles; if Felix wasn’t bothered, then he shouldn’t be either.
"I want some of those waffles"
"Felix oppa you're so good at cooking!"
Chan smiles and sends, "Make Chan-hyung more cookies. He misses them"
"Yongbokkie, do you prefer brownies or cookies?" Felix reads aloud before tapping his chin in thought. "Hm, I would have to say brownies. Nothing's better than like a warm and fudgy brownie. Everybody except Minho-hyung prefers cookies though so when I make them, I make a lot . Jisungie and Hyunjin-hyung like the crunchier ones while Channie-hyung likes the chewy ones with extra chocolate chips so I normally make those. "
That gives the alpha a fuzzy feeling in his chest, selfishly very pleased that Felix makes cookies a certain way just because he knows that they are Chan’s favorite; he used to think that the younger Aussie had preferred them too but now he has to wonder how long exactly Felix has been leaving subtle hints of his feelings for the eldest. Could they have been together for years if he had just stopped being so oblivious? If he had refrained from bro-zoning the freckled man so many times?
Sometimes his overthinking mind can reflect for hours on all the signs he had missed. Like the gaze Felix gets on his face when listening to him speak sometimes or the times where Felix jokes about their outings being dates or the practices that Felix decides to add a little quirk to the routine and instantly looks to him for approval.
Nobody makes Felix cry faster than Mrs. Lee and Chan. Nobody makes Felix laugh louder than Jisung and Chan. Nobody makes Felix sleep in longer than when he’s cuddled up with Seungmin or Chan. Nobody makes Felix feel more comforted and safe and loved and good enough than Chan.
The constant here is Chan and it always has been; hopefully, it always will be. Because, truthfully, Chan was just as smitten.
Felix suddenly stiffens over the screen, throwing a glance over his shoulder at the door. He stares for a few moments before turning back to the camera. “What? Oh, I thought I heard someone knock…”
Chan frowns, not having heard anything over the feedback of the video and the rest of Stay didn’t seem overly concerned if their backdoor jokes were anything to go by.
Felix knocks three times on the table and squeaks out, “Hey, you wanna come in?” Before erupting into a fit of giggles, obviously playing along with the turn the comment section took.
“But seriously? I’m sure I just knocked my foot into the wall or something,” the younger Aussie says afterward, looking back down at his phone to pick a new song.
And although Chan wants nothing more than to believe him, he couldn’t help but eye that window warily and wonder if he imagined the remnants of a shadow briefly eclipsing the view.
Sana-noona
Me
Hey, are any of you guys at the company today?
Delivered 12:31pm ∣∣ Read 12:32pm
Sana-noona
No, we’re on break
Why?
Sent 12:32pm ∣∣ Read 12:32pm
Me
Just wondering
Sorry for bothering you
Delivered 12:32pm ∣∣ Read 12:33pm
Sana-noona
Ok..?
Is everything alright?
Sent 12:33pm ∣∣ Read 12:33pm
Me
Everything is fine! Don’t worry about it:)
Delivered 12:33pm ∣∣ Read 12:34pm
Chan looks up at the laptop grimly; he is a bit on edge but being paranoid is just going to freak people out, not fix anything. His alpha side is overprotective is all; he’s probably worried over nothing ( Manager-hyung is looking into the anonymous viewer from last time; there are extra security cameras outside the dorm; everything is fine).
And Felix was jamming out to Candy Pop by Twice so obviously he isn’t thinking about it too much. Breathe.
“You have a sweet tooth today, Lix?”
“A lot of these songs are sugar related”
“I think it’s cute how hyper you are right now!”
“Will you be my candy pop?”
It takes the older brunette a few blinks before he focuses on the comment, not thinking much of it at first but now unable to look away. A Red4Lix00; he had yet to see the username before that particular comment. It makes him unnerved but perhaps it’s out of slight clinginess towards his omega, not wanting to share Felix more than he has too. He feels ashamed for even being bothered by the silly comment (he has had people call him their Daddy for crying out loud; he needs to chill out).
“Your candy pop?” Felix smiles mischievously, “Sorry but I don’t pick favorites!”
Chan smiles, thinking contently, because I am already his favorite.
“Aw why? I’d be a good alpha for you: the best.”
And like that, the smile is gone, replaced by a pinch to his brows at the username of Red4Lix00 . They are persistent, he’ll give them that.
“Who says I need an alpha?” Felix replies cryptically, “Besides, I will be all of Stay’s candy pop!” He winks playfully at the camera. “I don’t just belong to you.” Then he giggles and adds, “I’m not up for grabs.”
“Lee Felix: icon of independence”
“Ouch, you were both friendzoned and rejected”
“Candy pop Yongbokkie!”
“Is that what you said to Chan too?”
The older Aussie is caught off guard when he sees his name uttered by the same user. Were they trying to imply something? Was it simply a tease, a jeer, or just some question by a zealous Chanlix shipper?
Felix doesn’t see it, or maybe he does and just chooses to ignore it, but he goes back to lazily dancing to the end of the song before telling Stay not to judge him for his rusty moves (which is kind of a ridiculous notion because this is Felix, a member of Danceracha : he could literally just bop his head and wiggle his arms and he’d look good. Hell, he made the cringiest of Fortnight dances appear cool!).
“Oppa, you dance great”
“What the heck?? Felix saying he’s rusty when he’s dancing better than I ever could??”
Chan snorts at Stay’s response being so close to his, commenting himself, “You have dancing in your bloodstream. Especially Twice songs!”
That pretty smile is spreading across that freckled face, the younger scrubbing his cheeks with his hands shyly at the praise. “You guys are so sweet to me.”
“You’re sweeter-”
“Honestly, Stay can all be my candy pops!”
“In both taste, smell, and appearance ;)”
Okay Felix definitely saw that one unless the sudden jolt that went through the younger was purely Chan's imagination.
The omega is shifting uncomfortably and he pulls his hood over his head, pulling the strings to hide his face (like he always does but this time the action seems to be done in an attempt to hide the glimpse of panic in his eyes).
Pixie Stick<3
Me
They don’t know anything
You’re okay
Lix, remember it's just a rumor
There's no traction
Delivered 12:36pm ∣∣ -
Felix emerges from his hood with a completely different expression, features trained to reveal nothing as that showbiz-smile has tugged upon his lips (it gives Chan mental whiplash: the younger's duality was always something to admire).
"You think I'm sweet too?" Felix asks, an emotion concealed to just his eyes that even the eldest could barely decipher, "Nah, you're sweeter. Stay is the sweetest."
"No! You're sweeter!"
"We love you Yongbokkie!"
"We're sweet because we have the sweetest idol ever!"
Felix gives a tight smile, "Oh we're really gonna argue about this?" He crosses his arms teasingly, shaking his head, "Nope! You can't convince me otherwise."
He gives a glance to his phone and the tension in his shoulders eases up a bit when he looks back up at the screen.
Pixie Stick<3
Me
They don’t know anything
You’re okay
Lix, remember it's just a rumor
There's no traction
Delivered 12:36pm ∣∣ Read 12:38pm
Pixie Stick<3
👌
Sent 12:38pm ∣∣ Read 12:38pm
Felix's smile seems to become a little more genuine after he sends it and then he tilts his head back up at the screen. "I really want chicken for dinner. Juicy yummy chicken. Doesn't that sound good right now? Channie-hyung, if you're watching: I want chicken."
Chan huffs exasperatedly but a relieved quirk is on his lips; if Felix is able to tease him, then the Aussie is clearly fine.
Perhaps this Red4Lix00 is the anonymous user's real name? Perhaps they are a friend who is now convinced by the rumor or just a fan who read the person's comments from last time and thought it'd be entertaining to try and get a reaction out of Felix?
Either way, the two of them are stronger, wiser now; some pesky little viewer isn't going to cause an entire scandal by themselves.
Pixie Stick<3
Me
Chicken sounds goo|
He doesn’t get a chance to finish typing before a certain username catches his attention in the live chat.
“You can ignore me all you want, Felix Lee. It isn’t going to change the fact that we belong together.”
And Chan stares at it, a scowl working its way onto his face just as he sees the flash of defiance in the omega’s eyes (he knows that Felix was either about to do something really stupid or completely ignore them again just out of spite).
“Do you guys ever get called by like an annoying telemarketer or something and you’re just like do I let them talk their nonsense and respectfully decline or do I just hang up the call and ignore them because I know that nothing they say could be important to me? Normally I’ll answer the first time if I don’t recognize the number,” the Aussie leans on his hand, a subtle smugness to his tone, “But then if they keep calling me afterwards, I ignore them.”
The alpha snorts loudly in both shock and amusement at the hidden sass behind Felix’s statement, knowing the implication behind his words was hinted just enough for the particular viewer it was meant for to understand.
Many of Stay agree with him, others bring up just asking to be taken off the call list but Felix appears pleased with himself nonetheless. And Chan is about to go right back to his incomplete text message when Red4Lix00 rears their head once again.
“Red and blue make a wonderful combination.”
Duh, purples is a great color on its own, Chan thinks but then they comment again.
“Especially since we’re both a bit different than what is expected from us, I don’t think anybody will understand you as well as I can.”
If you understood him, you would understand that you’re crossing some boundaries and making him uncomfortable… How much does this person even know?
Pixie Stick<3
Me
Have you seen this Red4Lix00 username before today?
They are getting a bit pushy
Delivered 12:40pm ∣∣ Read 12:40pm
“Oh? Channie-hyung texted me,” Felix says in a much too enthusiastic voice, that implish lilt to his tone returning, “He just asked if I would be down to get chicken for dinner.” He grins at the screen, eyes scrunched to emphasize the affection dripping from his tone as he laughs. “I know right? I was literally just talking about it and then he brings it up; Chan-hyung and I are always on the same wavelength.”
Oh , so that’s where he’s going with this . Chan tries to refrain from calling him right then and there to join in on the blatant jab.
“Nobody gets me like my alpha pack leader,” Felix says before making finger guns at the camera, “You the man, Chan.”
And the eldest facepalms because even that was a tad too cringey to be considered cute.
Pixie Stick<3
Pixie Stick<3
So you’re seeing those too?
And no I haven’t but I’m getting annoyed
Sent 12:41pm ∣∣ Read 12:41pm
Felix sets down his phone, smiling in a satisfied manner. “I can’t wait for dinner now.”
“Your guys’ relationship is wholesome. Aussie bros for life”
“Channie oppa I miss you!”
“I want chicken too now”
“You should go and get chicken for lunch instead!”
“Say hi to Chan for us!”
“Chan isn’t better than me. He’s impulsive and doesn’t control his anger very well. Have you ever heard him yell at your manager?”
The eldest stiffens immediately. So now they were attacking him? And what the hell is that last part supposed to mean?
The younger’s brow furrows inquisitively but he doesn’t seem to want to entertain the accusation. He chooses to reply instead, “Yeah, I’ll say hi to Chan-hyung.”
“I don’t care if he’s your mate. I’ll make you mine.”
What the-
“By the way, how does it feel to be the reason that Chan’s Room is suspended for a couple weeks?”
As soon as Chan reads it, he doesn’t even have a chance to be worried before Felix is looking over his shoulder again, at the door again , but he isn’t quick enough to catch the passing of the shadow this time.
His fingers fly on his keyboard faster than he can register the other Aussie doing the same.
Pixie Stick<3
Me
I don’t even know how they would find something out like that
Unless they were there in the car
Or if Manger told them
Delivered 12:44pm ∣∣ Read 12:44pm
Pixie Stick<3
Did you see someone in the window?
I thought I heard gigging
Sent 12:44pm ∣∣ Read 12:44pm
Both take a moment to process each other’s questions, Chan hesitantly typing back:
I didn’t see anyone…
You did?
Just as Felix sent:
They couldn’t actually know that
...right?
I’m sure it’s a coincidence. We good.
Me
You can always end the live now if you’re feeling uncomfortable
No one will hold it against you
Delivered 12:45pm ∣∣ Read 12:45pm
Pixie Stick<3
I’m going to do the full hour
Just like you do
Words can hurt but they can’t touch
I’m not a coward
Sent 12:45pm ∣∣ Read 12:45pm
Me
This isn’t a pride thing
If you’re feeling unsafe, I want you to come home
Delivered 12:45pm ∣∣ Read 12:45pm
Pixie Stick<3
I’m fine
I’ll be done by 1
Sent 12:45pm ∣∣ Read 12:45pm
Me
Felix
I’m serious
Don’t push yourself
You’ve done enough
Delivered 12:45pm ∣∣ -
“Sorry about that! I was talking to the group chat real quick about dinner plans,” the man smiles at the viewers innocently but the shine in his eyes is gone and the eldest knows that Felix’s stage-face is starting to wear thin under his frustration (sadness he could hide just fine; nervousness, a little less fine; anger though? It was always pretty easy to tell when he was irritated about something. Felix wasn’t typically an ‘ angry person’ so when he’s annoyed and his lips stretch into a smile like they always do, there is an edge to it that tends to leave people antsy).
Chan sighs, thinking that this is literally the worst time for Felix to ignore his messages. But really, if the younger felt like he had to make a point or prove himself, he wouldn’t stop until it was done (his hardworking, committed, determined, and positive attitude is what made Felix a wonderful idol in the first place but now such traits were highly inconvenient). He slams his phone down on the bed, lasts two seconds, and then picks it up again immediately after.
He sees a shadow in the doorway. There is something off about the shape of the head… Maybe crazy hair or an accessory?
Bryan (JYP)
Me
Hey, are you guys at the company right now?
Delivered 12:46pm ∣∣ Read 12:46pm
Bryan (JYP)
Hahahahahahahaha
No
Bold of you to assume we work on Sundays
Sent 12:46pm ∣∣ Read 12:46pm
Why is no one at the company? Who is this person watching Felix? The younger is being stubborn and Chan is getting increasingly more worried and he just doesn’t know what to do or if he should do anything at all.
"Someone is looking through the window again"
"Is that Jisung?"
"No, too short"
"Changbinnie?"
No, it's none of them none of them none of them
"Did Seungmin have fun looking for your hat this morning?”
And the freckled man’s face completely drains of color, rigid in his seat before a shudder tears down his spine.
Oh, the shadow was wearing a hat- Oh God.
"Hey Seungmin-ah!" Chan immediately calls, barreling off his bed and running into the hallway as the man in question looks up at him in confusion. "Lix's hat- You looked for it- Where's um- Did you find his hat?"
Seungmin's brow furrows, sitting up on the couch. "No but how did you-"
"Shit!"
Leader-Chan seems to have his spiritual awakening in an instant, the alpha's pheromones kicking up in a dominating manner as he rushes over to the front door and slips into his tennis shoes. He grabs his mask and coat before barking out, "Go in my room and watch Felix's live. You make sure nothing happens- If he ends it or if you see someone at the door in it, you let me know right away. Tell the others to get home or meet me at the company right now. This is an emergency so no exceptions! "
The younger can only nod mutely, his eyes wide in fear before scrambling towards the bedroom but Chan is quick to call out, "Lock the door behind me!"
The leader in him is demanding to call every police force in Asia down to the company building in order to catch whoever is watching his groupmate through the window; the alpha in him is already pushing his legs into a sprint across the street with red in his eyes at the idea of his omega being hurt.
His fingers are quick to dial the other Aussie's number but an incoming call makes the screen vanish before it could even ring.
He swipes to accept and then he hears a jumbled, "Hyung, the video buffered and now people are complaining about wifi and want Felix to open the door-"
He hangs up, movements too flurried to feel sorry as calling Felix becomes his number one priority.
Real-Chan is panicking, tongue-tied, his cellphone pressed to his ear as just the repeated thought of 'Felix Felix Felix' coursed through his head.
One ring.
Two rings.
Three rings.
Come on: pick up, pick up, pick up-
"Hey C-Channie-hyung!"
Thank God.
There's an echo to his voice, the sound seeming distant and a bit confused but otherwise okay. He's probably on speaker so he must word this... carefully.
"Hey, I'm almost finished up here so I'll meet you over there and we can um- we can walk home together. Just send me the room number."
He can hear the slight skepticism in the younger's tone when he replies, "I still got like fifteen minutes so you might have to wait a while…"
"That's okay; I like waiting." The alpha winces at his awkwardness.
"Um… okay? You know you could have just tex-"
There's a loud knocking he hears over the phone, the banging forceful enough that the eldest jumps a little bit and nearly drops his phone
"Oh, is that you? I can go let you in-"
"No!"
Felix makes a squeak of surprise and Chan is quick to tack on, "Um- uh- take me off speaker real quick, okay?"
The feedback disappears as he assumes the freckled omega deactivates the speaker-phone and presses the device to his ear.
"W-What's up?"
"I need you to stay live. Ignore the comments about the door, ignore Red4Lix00. Act normal; Seungminnie is watching on my computer. I'm coming to get you so just be yourself until I get there."
The line becomes very quiet before there's a soft, mumbled, "...Why?"
"I'll explain later, I just need you to just continue as if nothing is happeni-"
"Okay."
Chan's feet faltered a moment beneath him, not expecting Felix to give in so easily (he was naturally a curious and stubborn person; if he was going to do something, he had to know why it was going to be done ).
"Okay." Chan exhales shakily, gut twisting with nerves as he tries to picture the expression on the younger's face to gauge his exact reaction.
"Alright," now he hears the annoyance in Felix's tone, probably frustrated with being left in the dark but the eldest doesn't want to panic him more than he probably is with the comment made by this Red4Lix00 (especially if the omega knew that the person outside the door was most likely wearing a particular missing hat…), "Well I'll see you in a bit I guess-"
"Don't hang up!" The alpha stumbles over a crack in the sidewalk, his phone flying from his hands and smacking its corner right into the asphalt. He winces, chanting, pleading , to anyone listening above that it was not broken.
The glass itself was cracked and the picture on the screen was highly distorted near the top left corner but it was still working and he was still able to hear Felix's, "What was that?"
"Felix!" Chan exclaimed in temporary relief over the survival of his cellphone before continuing his running, "I can still hear you!"
"...Yes?"
" Pretend to hang up on me."
"Excuse me?"
"Pretend," the alpha repeats, trying his best to sound calm and collected despite his mind running a mile a minute, "But it is very important that you don't actually hang up."
More silence. A huff in exasperation. "And then?"
"Put me on speaker and place your phone on your lap so the viewers and the person at the door can't see I am still listening."
"Why would that even be nec-"
"They can't know you know: word what you want to say very carefully."
"Know what?" Felix hushedly shouts; he hears a slight shuffling, like the younger was swiveling in his seat, "What the hell is going on?"
Chan can see the company coming into view, swallowing roughly as he wonders what exactly he's going to do if the stalker really is still there. Just a little more, just a little longer, just a little farther-
"Hyung? Hello?"
There's a faint thumping in the background, followed by a woman's cackle, and the eldest only seems to run faster at the breathy "Shit," that leaves Felix's lips. "That's really not... Is it?"
"Pretend to hang up. Put me on speaker."
"Hyung-"
"W-Whatever you do, don't open that door."
"Chris..." the omega whispers, "I'm scared."
Real-Chan has a mini panic attack at that, so many voices screaming in his head that if Felix is clearly scared, then he has already failed; he just put Felix in more danger; Red4Lix00 knows, of course they know and they are going to make their move ; it's already over, he's already a weak and pathetic excuse of an alpha, of a leader, of a friend, of a group member, of a mate ; Felix is going to be hurt and it's going to be all his fault and he's already too late and-
His pheromones kick up tenfold when he hears a soft sniffle on the other line, his instincts chucking Real-Chan into a locked trunk as his inner Alpha takes the wheel into both hands.
You're making him cry; make him stop crying; fix it, idiot. Fix it!
" Hey hey, please don't cry," Chan tries to whisper out comfortingly but he feels tears spring to his own eyes, "I'll be there in less than a minute. S-Send me your location; you can do that, right? My sugar, candy, honey baby can hang on just a little bit longer?"
"...D-Did you just quote Exo?"
"Yes, yes I did; got a problem?" He tries desperately to joke, wanting the younger to relax. His hand finally pulls open the company door.
"No…" Felix says before mumbling even quieter, "Be careful."
"Location. Speaker. Now," is all the alpha can pant out as his eyes scan the front desk for signs of a secretary but he sees no one; blindly, he just darts down the nearest hallway.
There's a faint clatter as Felix sets his phone down on the table, just as Chan's phone dings with a notification.
He gives it a quick glance, seeing that the studio the younger Aussie is in is on the third floor. He doesn't think twice before taking the stairs.
The banging on the door gets louder, like they are trying to break it down.
"Hey Stay."
Chan stubs his toe on the fifth step but he swallows his pain and keeps going.
"You're probably really confused and afraid right now-"
He makes it up the first flight.
"A-And I am too."
He thinks he hears police sirens. He thinks he hears Changbin holler his name from somewhere. He doesn't stop.
"But it'll be alright, I promise."
He reaches the third floor.
"I have a great group-"
His eyes are glowing crimson as he passes each placard on the wall.
"And a great company-"
He rounds the corner. There's a back to him.
"And a great manager-"
Her hair is long. The hat is too small for her head.
"And a great alpha-"
The material of the door is splintering beneath her pounding fist. She coos for 'her Lixie' .
"So don't worry-"
A growl rumbles in his chest.
"The others, everybody… We're in this together."
She doesn't turn around quick enough to stop Chan from tackling her to the ground.
“Do we… Do we really have to press charges?”
Manager-hyung looks up from his papers to stare at the freckled Australian, disbelief written across his face. “Yongbok-ah, you’ve got to be kidding.”
The younger slumps a bit, gaze settling on the floor. “She didn’t hurt me,” he mumbled weakly.
The alpha’s tone was firm, eyes narrowed as he emphasized, “But she could have.”
“But she didn’t-”
“Felix, this is not up for debate. She trespassed, stalked you, stole from you, harassed you, and damaged property trying to get to you; she’s going away for a long time and I’m going to see it happen. Whether you accept it or not, she’s being charged and that’s final.”
“But Hyung, the publicity and-”
“And that’s final.”
The omega wilts under his manager’s aura, wringing his hands in his lap. “Yes, Hyung.”
The man deflates, releasing an exhausted sigh. He wasn’t trying to be mean or hard on the younger: he was just worried about him (the kid has had a tough month and he prays that things won’t get any worse from here. He isn’t sure how much more the young idol could take, not even including how his mate is fairing under the given circumstances; he doubts that the other Australian slept at all last night, too concerned about keeping an eye on his pack).
“Look, why don’t you and Bang Chan take a break for a while. Take a step back from everything, relax, enjoy some time away from the media; go see your families, I don’t know, just… I think a pause to this chaos will do you guys good. I’ll cancel some events and move the schedule around and worry about all this stalker nonsense; you two go do something normal twenty-year-olds do for once, alright? I’ll take care of the other stuff.”
Felix’s brown orbs widen, mouth forming an O . “R-Really? You mean it?”
His manager’s eyes soften. “Yeah,” he says, “I’ll book you a flight for tomorrow; for now, go back to the hotel and rest, Felix. I’m sure Chan is waiting for you. ”
A rosy shade covers the brunette’s cheeks but there is a ghost of a smile on his lips nonetheless. The omega stands and bows, mumbling gratefully, “Thank you, Manager-hyung. For everything.”
“Yeah, yeah,” the eldest waves him off with a grin, “Just take it easy tonight, no all-nighters; I don’t need you missing your flight.”
“Yes, Hyung.” There are stars in Felix’s eyes when he looks up, the corners scrunched up and teeth gleaming brighter than a ray of sunshine.
And the alpha watches in fondness as the younger scampers off, thinking that his manager couldn’t hear him humming Exo-CBX’s Girl Problems beneath his breath. Even if Felix’s life will never quite be the same as it was before his presentation, he has a gut feeling that everything will turn out just fine.
“That woman was the cameraman’s daughter, can you believe that? Hyung paid him off all out of his own pocket just for the man to take his money and tell his crazy alpha daughter. I swear, if I ever see him again, I’ll-”
“Channie,” the newly-dyed bluenette places a hand on his mate’s arm, squeezing it in a soothing manner, “Let’s not think about all that. This is supposed to be a break, not a new place for your mind to run laps about the case.”
The older Aussie sighs but knows that his omega is right. He slips his hand into the others. “Yeah, I remember. I was… I was really scared about what was going to happen to you, you know...”
Felix smiles, nuzzling the top of his head up under his hyung’s chin. “I get that but I’m fine. And you’re fine. And everyone else important is fine. So let’s just enjoy ourselves, okay?”
Chan’s ears flush when he turns and their noses brush from how close their faces are (even if they’re dating, he can’t get over the fact that this bright and shining freckled beauty in front of him is his to shower with all the praise and affection he so rightfully deserves; it’s a tad surreal sometimes). He gives a sheepish smile back. “Of course, love.”
“Good, ” an impish twinkle fills the younger’s eyes as he says before puckering his lips exaggeratedly, “Now give me some sugar, spice cake.”
And the alpha giggles at the cheesy gesture but, really, who is he to deny the omega anything?
“There is nothing on this entire planet that I’d rather do, my vanilla bean king.”
~End