Chapter Text
The sunlight pours in through the kitchen window.
Eight colorful plates are set on the table, the smell of freshly toasted bread lingers in the air, and steam rises gently from freshly brewed coffee.
This house feels like home. Safe, familiar. It smells like a pleasant summer evening.
As always, Bang Chan is the first one up—he’s in the kitchen, manning a toaster almost as tall as he is, making grilled cheese sandwiches for everyone.
Wearing his gray hoodie, his eyes are still sleepy, but his heart is full of love and service. Just as you'd expect from the alpha of the pack.
Seungmin is sitting with his legs crossed, lazily stirring his coffee while scrolling through his phone.
The milk ratio is exactly how he likes it—one drop more and he'd have a full existential crisis.
If there’s one thing SKZ knows, it’s this: Seungmin is not a morning person. Approach the young beta at your own risk. Murder is never off the table.
Hyunjin is, of course, the most aesthetic person at the table.
Art itself would take a step back and bow in his presence. He’s spreading honey on toast, but it looks like he’s part of a painting—feeding himself with art.
Next to him is a mini fruit plate, specially made for him. The bananas are cut in spirals. Obviously. Anything less would be a crime.
Lee Know is sitting quietly, but secretly watching Chan to check if the toast is undercooked.
He pokes at his plate with a fork, holding it in the air like it’s in stealth mode—making sure no one hears.
Always the head chef. You can't expect any less from the luna of the pack.
Changbin is sitting backward on a chair.
He’s a walking energy bomb. Every bite he takes comes with a roar:
“This cheese is LEGENDARY!” he yells, but no one bats an eye anymore.
In this pack house, silence is danger. Not noise.
Felix is drinking some oat mix from a glass, sprinkled with cinnamon on top. His smile is like morning sunshine, though his eyes are still a bit sleepy.
I.N is half-awake. Holding a piece of bread but forgetting to bite into it.
His eyes are fixed on a single point—maybe he’s engaged in a silent war with the toaster.
And then...
Jisung walks in through the door.
Jisung:
“GOOOOD MORNING my beloved kitchen gang!”
Everyone turns to him instantly.
Something inside them relaxes. A primal instinct.
The pack is together.
Even if Jisung hasn’t presented yet, there’s no doubt he belongs.
There never has been, and there never will be.
Felix smiles upon seeing his sunshine twin—although let’s be honest, Felix is always smiling.
Felix:
“Aww, Jisung! You made it for breakfast!”
Hyunjin:
“Look, I saved you some bananas—but only the ugly ones.”
Bang Chan:
“I made yours extra cheesy. Careful, it might spill.”
Jisung:
“Stop spoiling me! Maybe I’ll grow up soon…”
Seungmin, in a low and exasperated tone, adds:
Seungmin:
“Can’t say if growing up will help your presentation, but… just eat, Sung.
You’ll be back to stressing about it halfway through the sandwich anyway.”
Jisung sits down and looks at the table.
He smiles. It’s a truly warm moment.
Everyone’s here, each in their own way.
Then suddenly, his eyes narrow.
Jisung asks thoughtfully, with a hint of hesitation:
Jisung:
“Can I ask you all something?”
The whole table falls silent.
Jisung never hesitates to ask things. That’s what makes this suspicious.
Changbin:
“Is this a bombshell moment?”
Hyunjin:
“Oh, this is gonna be fun.”
Jisung:
“I saw a knot in my dream this morning. Like, a literal one. Like a rope or something.
And it made me think…”
Everyone turns to stare at him.
This is definitely not the question they were expecting.
With a curious—and slightly chaotic—gleam in his eye, Jisung continues:
Jisung:
“So... how does a knot actually work?”
Silence.
Only the soft click of the toaster in the background.
Felix chokes on his coffee.
Seungmin spits his out.
Hyunjin drops his spoon.
Lee Know freezes without making eye contact.
Chan closes his eyes and breathes out like he’s praying.
Jisung:
“What?! I asked a scientific question.”
Seungmin: (barely audible)
“Scientific... sure…”
Hyunjin:
“Why... exactly... are you asking this?”
Jisung: (eyes sparkling with mischief)
“I mean, everyone else has presented. I haven’t.
There’s a knowledge gap here.
What if I get tied up someday? I wanna be ready.”
Changbin:
“Knot... knot... let’s first clarify what kind of knot you mean.”
(He’s trying to be hopeful. Maybe Jisung wants to learn a sailor knot? Could happen, right?)
Jisung:
“You know... the physical kind. The hot one. The very binding one.
The one people say is ‘humiliating if it comes undone.’”
He tilts his head, deep in thought.
“And? Will no one say anything? It’s just a question.”
Felix:
“Please never say that sentence again.”
Lee Know, trying very hard not to roll his eyes, says with a calm yet firm luna tone:
“This table is sacred. It is not for knot talk. We’ll discuss this later, Hannie.”
Bang Chan:
“Jisung… maybe we can have this talk… somewhere less... breakfast-y?”
Jisung:
“But why? I just wanted to know.
Like—what temperature triggers it? Does someone scream?
Or is it just, like... instinctual?”
Seungmin:
“You lost me completely at ‘does someone scream.’
My soul left my body.”
Hyunjin, hiding his face in his hands, full drama queen mode:
“A person who thinks about this delays their second gender presentation.
The universe is protecting you.”
Then Jisung pulls out a notebook.
Yes, Han really does this.
And yes, the notebook’s real name is:
“Second Gender Investigation Unit”
Jisung:
“So the answers are: ‘High heat, screaming possible, not breakfast appropriate.’ Got it.”