Chapter Text
Felix had been constantly working for weeks. Between practising, working out, doing variety shows, and recording for an upcoming comeback, he'd barely had time to do anything but sleep. Of course, he loved his job- wouldn't trade it for anything- but that doesn't mean he didn't wish he had more breaks. Besides just being tired out of his mind, Felix had another reason for wanting some alone time. He was an age regressor. He'd known for a couple years now. The stress of debut and being put through the competition show had just brought it out one day. He'd kept it secret ever since.
Today, however, was a good day for Felix. He'd have the dorm alone for hours, and his manager had told him to stay home as he was starting to get a cold. As the members left one by one, each popped their head in to wish Felix a restful day and to get well soon. It felt nice to get a little extra attention.
"Hey 'lix!" the last member to head out, Chan, called as he made his way to Felix's room. "I'm sorry you feel gross. Feel better soon, okay?" He said with a toothy grin. Felix smiled widely back and nodded, already tucked snugly in his bed. "Try to stay outta trouble, huh?" Chan gave Felix a pat on the head before making his way back out.
"I'll try." Felix smiled softly as he watched his hyung leave. Though he was a little sad to be alone, Felix couldn't help but be giddy at the thought of finally being able to regress. Sheepishly, he crawled out of his bed and stepped out his room just to make sure he was truly alone. “Helloooo?” he called. No response. Felix giggled at the silence then ran back into his room to grab some gear. He picked out a paci and a sippy cup, along with a word search book he’d been working on. He could already feel his headspace begin to shift, getting fuzzy and warm. He made his way to the living room and set a timer for thirty minutes before his first roommate was supposed to get home. With this reassurance, he allowed himself to truly get comfortable and regress. He waddled his way to the kitchen to get himself a drink and a snack before returning to the living room to watch some cartoons. He could already feel sleep prickling at the back of his eyes.
Felix curled up in his blanket like a sleepy little snail, watching his cartoon and occasionally sticking a hand out of his blanket nest to grab a few crackers. He felt so content and warm, he wished he could just do this anytime he felt stressed. He pouted slightly at the thought, shaking his head to get the sad thought out. “Nuh-uh.” he mumbled shifting in his blanket cocoon uncomfortably. He brought his focus back to the show. It didn’t take him very long to nod off.
~
Chan had fully intended to have a full and productive work day that day. Unfortunately for him, he’d sneezed a couple times too many while practising some new choreo.
“Chan-hyung, go rest. It’s not that big of a deal.” Minho rubbed Chan’s arm lightly.
“Yeah! Your old immune system probably just caught Felix’s cold.” Changbin poked Chan in the stomach.
“Hey stop!” Chan whined at Changbin. “I’m fine! I just sneezed. Please, let’s just... continue practice.” He said suppressing a sniffle.
“Y’know, the hyungs are right Chan.” Hyunjin spoke up. “Besides, you’ve been working double time lately. You deserve a rest day.”
“But-” Chan tried to protest but the youngest two members were already pushing him out the door.
“Have a good nap!” I.N. laughed before closing the door on him. Chan shook his head and sighed. If he had no choice then all he could do was go get some rest. He waved goodbye to his members peeking through the practice room door’s window before making his way back home.
~
Chan stopped by the convenience store on his way back, thinking how Felix might like something warm in his stomach when he was feeling ill. It hadn’t even been an hour since Chan left and he was already back at the door of the dorm. “Aish...” Chan paused before entering. Would anyone even notice if he snuck off to the studio just for a bit? He scrunched his face up. His members wanted him to rest, so he would! He forced himself to enter the dorm.
Felix? What was Felix doing out of bed? And on the floor? “Oh no.” Chan whispered. Had Felix passed out when walking around? Was he okay? Did he need to go to the hospital?
Chan’s thought spiral was interrupted by a cheery voice from the television. “Let’s count how many hearts there are! One... Two...” Ah? A kids show? Did Felix come out here on purpose? Why didn’t he just nap on the couch? Chan’s mind flooded with questions as he carefully made his way to his band mate. Crackers were haphazardly strewn across the floor, seemingly knocked out of a small plastic bowl. A child’s cup halfway full of juice was knocked on its side. And in the middle of everything was Felix. Fast asleep and curled around a pillow. He looked... peaceful. Chan took the opportunity to stare at his cute freckled face for a moment.
“Oh, Felix you’ve made a mess.” he mumbled as he went to tuck his sleeping friend back in. That’s when he saw it. A small piece of blue plastic barely hanging on to Felix’s open mouth. Was that... a pacifier? Chan froze in place. He had an overwhelming feeling he just saw something he wasn’t supposed to. “Shit. Uh...” Chan tried to think. It couldn't be a pacifier. Why would it be? But the longer he looked at it, the more it looked like one. He bent down slowly as to not stir his sleeping friend and gently took the plastic thing between two fingers. He brought it to his face. Yep. That was definitely a pacifier.
Chan paced back and forth behind the couch with Felix’s soft snores in the background. What was Chan supposed to do in this situation? He couldn't help but worry that Felix was more stressed than he’d known. He took a few deep breaths. “You know what?” He muttered to himself. “It’s none of my business. Felix can do whatever he wants on his... free time.” Chan only half convinced himself. He walked back to the front of the couch where Felix was snuggled up. Ever so slowly, Chan bent down and shimmied his arms under Felix and lifted him. He winced when Felix mumbled in his sleep. Carefully, he began to walk Felix back to his own room.
“Mmm, Channie?” Felix slurred. Chan froze again.
“Shh, shh. ‘Lix go back to sleep.” Chan tried to sound comforting. “Shh, shh, shh.”
“Mmmnn.” Felix grumbled and snuggled into Chan’s shoulder. He took that as enough of a sign that he could continue his walk to put Felix to bed.
Chan set Felix down gently and tucked him in tight. “Goodnight, Felix.” He whispered, placing Felix’s pacifier on his bedside table along with his phone. After heading back to the living room to tidy Felix’s mess, Chan made his way to his own room. He plopped down on his bed with a thump. “Well now what am I supposed to do?”