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Felix had run from him.
He felt riddled with anxiety as he eventually shifted onto four paws and began to go through each room on that floor. Minho knew Felix wouldn’t have gotten far, and they’d not heard about a terrified kitten being found by security yet.
The others were hunting through the building, but Minho knew Felix. Knew that small dark spaces were preferable when he was overwhelmed with his instincts. So he headed to where the level that held all of the storage for various things, from props to cleaning supplies.
He could smell Felix’s distress heavily and he felt the anxiety settle into sickness that was turning his stomach.
Eventually he came across the door that had the strongest scent of distress, a tired yowl echoing from inside and Minho could feel everything in him crack. It took no time for him to shift back to his human form, before he bodied the door with his shoulder, the lock giving way by the fourth shove.
The space was dark and cramped, even with the hallway light giving off something, but there was silence.
“Yongbok-ah, hyung is here I promise.” Minho’s voice was soft and a small head popped around some boxes, another cry escaping and his heart clenched as he made a makeshift step so that he could reach the kitten who was shaking.
“I know, I know, hyung has you. You’re safe now.” There were a few chirps as he nestled close and something in Minho felt awful as things began to click into place for him. Every time he hid in such a place, it was something he considered safe. Whilst Minho sought out the pack, Felix chose solitude, isolation.
Anger swelled up and he realised why Chan had been so angry with him.
Felix had been abused and didn't know that Minho’s actions were normal for cat hybrids like them.
He ventured back up to the practice room, Felix cowering in his arms and Minho knew that his human words would not soothe his dongsaeng’s terrified instincts.
He placed Felix on the bench, shifting into his fur before letting out a soft meow and leaping onto the bench - a short distance away from the terrified kitten. As he got closer - crawling on his belly closer to Felix - the young kitten looked torn between bolting away from the older cat hybrid.
Minho felt sick.
Felix froze in place, but he didn’t run away. So he took a chance once he was close enough, his tongue going over the kitten’s head, letting out the softest purr.
Felix was still frozen, more hesitant this time than scared. So Minho continued his ministrations on the younger hybrid and slowly his body relaxed, not protesting as the older cat pulled him closer so he could groom him properly.
He watched as Felix fought to keep his eyes open, but with the combined warmth from his body and the grooming, the kitten was soon fast asleep, a soft, tiny purr in the back of his throat.
Minho wanted to cry.
He kept himself curled around Felix, guarding him jealously. Whenever someone came in but spotted the 2 hybrids, they bowed before backing away, leaving the room just for them.
Eventually when Felix woke up, his body was more relaxed, more languid than he’d ever seen the younger and he knew he needed to speak to Chan later.
Felix shifted first and Minho followed, the blonde looking nervously at the older shifter. Minho got to his knees, forehead touching the floor just as the door opened.
“Hyung.” Felix’s voice was shaky.
“I made you scared of me. Someone who was trusted to protect you. I will spend the rest of my life making sure you are never scared of me, Yongbok-ah. I’m so sorry.”
Small hands were on his shoulders, trying to tug him up but Minho did not budge.
“Hyung-no.” Felix tried to protest but everything in the older hybrid refused to be let off the hook.
“Lix-ah.” Chan’s voice was soft, making the younger one pause.
“It wasn’t hyung's fault I got scared.” Minho could hear the tears in the younger cat's voice, earning a soft coo from Chan.
“I know aegi. But Minho-yah still made you scared. This is part of the process, that people apologise when they’ve made a mistake. If you’re still frightened, you can accept it but you don’t have to forgive.” Chan explained gently.
“No.” The word was a sob as hands grasped his shoulders again. “Hyung, please. I accept and I already forgave you. Please.”
Minho could not deny Felix and as he sat up on his knees, he was immediately knocked back by the force of the younger throwing his arms around him, a sob being ripped from his throat.
“Yongbok-ah.” The chide was gentle, but Felix held firm.
“The last people, they-they did that but never stopped. They got carried away even when I was trying to get away from them. When I found out that they were scared of the dark, enclosed spaces were my lifeline.” The words were like ice in Minho’s stomach as he held the younger hybrid tighter.
“I’m sorry aegi. Hyung is so very sorry.” Felix growled then, too young to really invoke fear, especially judging from Chan’s indulgent smile.
“You didn’t know. I wasn’t ready to tell everyone. But you-you stopped. You apologised.” His voice was in awe and Minho shook his head as he pulled the younger back, their eyes meeting. He was nipping this in the bud before it would become an issue.
“Because it was the right thing to do, aegi. People who do not apologise for their mistakes, especially when they are in the wrong, are not people who should be around you, Bbok-ah.”
Felix said nothing, simply burrowing back into his spot and Minho could only hold him tightly, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of his head.
The loudness of the purr from the younger had the older turning red, but he couldn’t stop the smile and ignored how Chan was watching them both with the biggest grin on his face.
“When you’re ready, we can head home. But even if you don’t want to tell the rest of the pack, at least speak to Minho-yah, Lix-ah. He’s best suited to teaching you what your instincts are telling you.” Chan’s voice was gentle, encouraging.
“Yah, I will not have you acting like a canine because Seungminnie and Chan-hyung tried to teach you how to bark.”
There was a muffled giggle and Minho found himself smiling.
Chan had sent the others back home to the dorms, so once Felix was calm and his face no longer puffy from crying, they headed out and back to the dorms.
The others swarmed Felix when they got back, well meaning touches overwhelming him immediately.
Minho growled.
The sound was warped by his human vocal cords, but the point was made as the others backed off, allowing the younger cat to breathe.
“Do you want to know my favourite place when I’m overwhelmed?” He asked quietly, the blond's eyes turning surprised then hopeful at the offering that Minho was making.
He shifted, Felix following suit, both of them weaving between the legs of their packmates, knowing that they all understood that this was for them, gentle fingers barely brushing the tips of their tails as he headed to his room, the door still open from that morning.
He shoved himself under his bed, knowing that there was a hidden space that would fit him and Felix comfortably, so when the kitten appeared once he was settled, he couldn’t stop his own purr as the younger settled himself on top of his curled up body.
He heard Chan enter his room, but kept his purring up, knowing his hyung could hear him.
“I figured you two could spend some time bonding as your actual hybrids and teach Lix-ah properly. Bin-ah, Hyunjin-ah and Hannie have gone home, so I’m looking after the youngest whilst you two rest.”
Minho couldn’t argue that, instead letting his paws curl around Felix tighter, the younger having fallen asleep fast.
There was a movement before claws clattered on his wooden floor, followed by two very human feet padding in and the bed sinking a little bit, making Minho’s body settle.
When he woke up, Felix was already awake, carefully making biscuits on his stomach. He paused for a moment, but Minho purred, relaxing at the gentle ministrations from the kitten.
It took them thirty minutes whilst listening to the others move around. He could hear the three of them out in the living space and so he carefully nudged the kitten to move, which he did reluctantly.
Once they were free from the confines of the space under his bed, Minho shifted first and took a seat on his empty bed. He couldn’t help the indulgent smile at seeing his sheets made and tidy. Felix shifted back and hesitated before making space between Minho’s legs, the older cat hybrid letting them fall open to give him the space, tilting his head back as small hands continued to knead gently on his shoulders.
“How do you feel this morning, Bbok-ah?” The question was soft, his hands finally settling on the blond’s waist.
“Better, hyung. Thank you.” There was no hesitation as the younger dipped down and pressed his lips to the corner of Minho’s mouth.
“We’re going to need to talk about this and start getting you used to hybrid behaviours, specifically ours.” The chide was gentle, no sharp reprimand but Felix still flinched.
Minho tugged the younger feline into his lap arms tugging him closer as Felix hid his face, the red ears clear to the elder that he was scared and embarrassed.
“Hyung isn’t angry with you, like I said yesterday, making you scared of me should never be a thing. I didn’t understand until you bolted and all I could smell was your distress and fear.” He pressed a kiss to Felix’s temple and he seemed to melt into Minho’s touch.
“They, my last owners-” Minho couldn’t stop his growl, arms growing tighter around the kitten hybrid who just huffed a laugh, “-whenever I said no, tried to stop them from hurting me, they never stopped. They left marks, and would grab me by the god awful collar they forced me to wear. But you stopped. You apologised.”
Minho could feel something curl in his chest, something tight and angry at the way Felix had been treated before he’d been rescued. Chan had never told him the specifics, but just hearing part of what he’d suffered, it was easy for him to piece together what else he may have suffered.
“And hyung will always apologise if he does something wrong. Now do you want to talk about what I did that scared you or do you want breakfast? I can hear hyung pacing in the kitchen.” Felix giggled, his face still partially pressed into Minho’s neck.
“Breakfast. I will talk about it, but I think all of you should know everything. I- I don’t want to hide from the pack anymore.” The admittance was quiet and shaky. He knew that just speaking those words was a lot for him but Minho was proud regardless.
He said nothing more, instead curving his hands around Felix, his grip tightening before standing up. The confused sound turned into a shocked one, arms around his neck tightening as his legs clamped around his waist.
“Hyung! I can walk.” But his legs stayed where they were, making Minho laugh as he walked through to where the others were settled at the table and having breakfast.
He was met with Chan’s relieved smile.
“Good hunt, Minho-yah?” Felix made a noise of protest as Jeongin and Seungmin giggled, faces sleepy and relaxed as Minho settled Felix in the spot next to Seungmin, sitting on his other side with a cheeky grin.
“Most successful. I found a Bbok-ah to have all to myself.” He didn’t miss the blush on Felix’s cheeks, instead piling his plate with the food that Chan had cooked and nudged him to eat instead.
There was silence as they all tucked into the food, Felix seemingly eating a little bit more this time before his eyes darted between Minho and Chan.
The older hybrid waited patiently.
“Channie-hyung?” Chan’s attention snapped to the younger cat hybrid, a reassuring look on his face as Felix hesitated.
“You can ask me anything you want, Lix-ah.” The prompt seemed to be enough as Felix took in a deep breath.
“Can we have a pack discussion later? I- I want to talk to the pack about before.”
Minho felt a surge of pride, his fingers moving to rest on Felix’s thigh, giving him a gentle squeeze.
“I can do that for you Lix-ah. But be prepared for everyone to be a little bit more protective of you when they find out. I don’t know if it’s obvious, but we’re rather protective over you as it is.” There was a smirk on Chan’s lips as the younger blushed.
Minho found himself snorting at the statement, but knew Felix would see it for what it was.
Love.
They’d be okay.