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There were many things the pack had learned about Felix since debuting together. They had learned that he liked sweet things, especially anything with strawberries. They had learned that he purred when someone scratched behind his ears, be it in human or kitten form. They had learned that he liked sleeping in warm places, preferably surrounded by at least two people. They had learned that his tail curled around someone's wrist when he was particularly happy. And, most importantly, they had learned that Felix was a Balinese kitten hybrid.
Which meant that Felix was, unfortunately, extremely good at disappearing. Balinese cats were naturally curious, graceful little creatures, and Felix had inherited every bit of it. He was also tiny. Not actually tiny, of course. Felix was perfectly healthy and proportioned.
But compared to the rest of his enormous pack? He was tiny. And Felix had discovered something wonderful about being tiny. He could fit into places nobody else could. Under beds. Inside closets. Behind stacks of pillows. Between the couch and the wall. Inside empty cabinets.
Once, he had somehow managed to curl himself inside the linen cupboard behind a pile of freshly washed towels. Nobody had found him for forty minutes. Within those forty minutes, the pack had nearly called for outside help. As Hyunjin and Jisung were sobbing at having lost their kitten, Jeongin heard a faint ‘mrrp?’ come from the door beside him. After prying the door open, Felix had emerged in his human form looking incredibly pleased with himself, his ears perked into triangles, with his tail swishing behind him, “That was cozy," he'd explained.
Chan had nearly cried, “Felix, we thought something happened to you!"
Felix had blinked at him, ears twitching, "I was sleeping."
"We know!"
"I was comfortable."
"THAT'S THE PROBLEM!"
Felix had simply tilted his head. His little ears twitching. His tail swishing. He clearly did not understand what the problem was.
And unfortunately, the problem got worse.
Because once Felix discovered how much everyone worried when he disappeared, he discovered that there was absolutely no reason to stop. Not because he wanted to scare them. Never that. Felix genuinely just liked cozy places.
If there was a narrow gap with a blanket nearby? Perfect.
If there was a little nook beneath a table? Wonderful.
If a patch of afternoon sunlight happened to reach it? Even better.
The pack had eventually accepted that this was simply part of living with their kitten. They had not, however, accepted the heart attacks.
"Felix?" Chan stood in the living room.
Silence.
He checked the kitchen. Nothing.
"Felix?"
Still nothing.
Chan's wolf ears flattened on the way back to their living room, “Guys?"
The rest of the pack looked up.
Changbin, their bear hybrid, paused halfway through eating an apple, “What?"
"Have you seen Felix?"
Six heads looked around before looking at Chan.
"No."
Chan's expression fell, "When?"
"Uh..." Jisung, their squirrel hybrid, slowly lowered his snack, "I saw him after breakfast."
"What time?"
"Maybe..." Jisung looked at the clock, "Three hours ago?"
Chan's eyes widened, "Three hours?"
"Well, I thought he was with you."
"Why would I have him?"
"I don't know!"
Seungmin, their puppy hybrid, immediately stood, "I'll check upstairs."
Hyunjin, their deer hybrid, followed, "I'll check the garden."
Jeongin, their fox hybrid, grabbed his phone, "I'll check the bedrooms."
Changbin sighed and got up, "I guess I'll check the kitchen."
Jisung looked around, "And I'll check..." He paused, "...everywhere?"
"Good plan."
Thus, the search for Felix started.
Before long, the house descended into chaos.
Felix, meanwhile, was asleep. Very deeply asleep.
He had discovered a particularly wonderful space behind a large storage cabinet in the hallway. There was only a narrow opening between the cabinet and the wall. For anyone else, it was completely useless. For Felix? For Felix, it was paradise. He had managed to squeeze through sideways, curl his tail around his paws, and settle into the tiny pocket of space. The wall was warm from the afternoon sunlight. His back was against a soft blanket he'd pulled down with him. His nose was buried against his fluffy tail.
He was blissfully unaware of the panic happening outside.
Then—
"Felix!"
His ears twitched. He opened one eye. "...Mrrp…”
Another voice, “Yongbok!"
He closed his eyes. Surely they'd find him eventually. They always did. Usually.
Unfortunately, his pack was becoming increasingly frantic.
"He's not upstairs!"
"Not outside!"
"Not in the kitchen!"
"He's not in the bathrooms!"
"WHY DOES HE KEEP DOING THIS?" Jisung's voice echoed through the house.
Felix smiled sleepily. He loved them.
Amidst the chaos, there was one person who wasn't panicking : Minho. The tiger hybrid had been sitting quietly in the living room. He hadn't joined the search. Instead, he'd been listening.
Calm, powerful, and blessed with an annoyingly excellent sense of hearing. And right now, his ears had perked. He could hear Felix. Barely. But enough. Who else would make purring sounds while everyone was frantically looking for their Bbokie.
Minho stood calmly as though with all the time in the world, "He's here."
Everyone froze.
"What?" Chan asked.
"He's here."
"Where?"
Minho’s ears twitched. Once. Then again. He followed the sound down the hallway, the others scrambling after him. Minho stopped beside the storage cabinet. He stared. There was a tiny gap between it and the wall. He could hear Felix better now.
"Yongbok-ah."
Silence.
Minho sighed, "Come out."
A tiny, sleepy sound came from behind the cabinet, “… No.”
Everyone stared at where the sound came from. Chan nearly collapsed with relief, "Oh my God, Felix!”
A little face appeared in the gap. Two fluffy ears. Sleepy eyes. Floofed up fur. "... Hi.”
Hyunjin put both hands over his face, "Oh my God."
Felix blinked, "What’s wrong?”
"We've been looking for you for nearly an hour!"
The kitten squinted his eyes at them, judging, “But I’m here.”
"WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT."
"Oh.” Felix looked thoughtful. Then he purred, “Sorry.”
Chan's expression immediately softened, "It's okay." He crouched down, "Can you come out?"
Felix wriggled before finally squeezing himself free. Minho reached down and picked him up, with Felix immediately curling against his chest, "Got you."
"Meow.”
Minho rubbed his back as Felix purred. Everyone sighed in relief.
Then Minho looked at the narrow space behind the cabinet. His eyes narrowed, "...That looks comfortable." Felix hopped down from Minho’s arms and shifted. Ears perking, he looked at Minho with stars in his eyes as he nodded eagerly, "It is." Minho glanced at him. Then at the gap. Then back at Felix, "I want to try." Felix's eyes sparkled even more, "Really?"
"Move over."
The rest of the pack immediately looked suspicious.
"Minho..."
"Don't."
"Minho, you are considerably larger than Felix."
"I know."
"That gap is approximately the size of a shoebox."
"I know."
"You're not going to fit."
"I'll fit."
Seungmin sighed, "This is going to end badly." It did. Very badly. Minho crouched before shifting into his tiger form. He lowered himself. He turned sideways. He shoved one shoulder into the gap.
Nothing.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Felix watched from where he was snuggled up in Changbin’s arms, "Maybe your butt is too big."
Everyone went silent.
The tiger slowly turned his head. Felix blinked innocently, "… Sorry."
Jisung covered his mouth. Changbin was visibly struggling not to laugh. Hyunjin turned away. Seungmin snickered. Jeongin failed completely as a snort escaped him. Chan was staring at Felix, wondering how he can get away with saying that and living.
Minho's tail flicked, "Don't laugh."
"I wasn't!"
"You were."
"I swear."
Minho tried again.
This time he got his head and one foreleg inside.
The cabinet creaked.
Chan's eyes widened, "Minho."
"I'm fine."
"You sound stuck."
"I'm not stuck."
"You are."
"I'm exploring."
"With your entire body?"
"Yes."
Felix giggled.
Minho's ears flattened.
Finally, with a great deal of determination, he managed to wedge himself far enough inside that he could lie where Felix did. For approximately three seconds. Then everyone realized the problem. Minho was far too big. His front half was inside. His hindquarters were sticking out into the hallway. His long striped tail lay uselessly across the floor. His back legs were completely visible.
Felix, meanwhile, shifted to his kitten form and squeezed himself against Minho’s chest. The kitten looked delighted. Minho looked furious, "See?"
Silence.
Felix tilted his head, "See what?"
"I fit."
Changbin burst out laughing, "You absolutely do not fit."
"I fit enough."
"You have half your body outside."
"I am inside."
Jisung was practically wheezing, "Your butt is sticking out!"
"Jisung."
"Sorry!"
He wasn't.
Seungmin pulled out his phone, "Should I take a picture?"
"No."
Click.
"Kim Seungmin."
"Too late."
Felix’s little body was shaking from how hard he was holding in his giggles.
Minho looked at him, "You think this is funny?"
"A little."
"A little?"
Felix nodded.
"You look like a tiger-shaped doorstop."
The hallway erupted with laughter.
Minho's ears flattened completely, "I hate this pack."
"You love us," Chan said.
"I don't."
"You do."
"No."
Felix’s paw reached out, patting Minho wherever he could reach, before stretching himself to lick at Minho’s nose.
Minho’s expression immediately softened, "...Maybe."
They eventually got Minho out. It required Chan pulling gently on his waist, Changbin helping from behind, and Hyunjin carefully moving the cabinet enough to create more space.
Minho emerged looking deeply offended. Felix was still giggling.
"Don't laugh."
"I'm sorry."
"You're not."
"No."
Minho sighed before shifting and picking Felix up, "Come here."
Felix squeaked as Minho tucked him against his chest, "Where are we going?"
"Somewhere I can actually fit."
Felix’s ears perked up, "Where?"
Minho walked toward their living room, "The couch."
Felix's ears drooped, "That's not as cozy."
"I know."
Minho sat down and pulled Felix into his lap, then wrapped himself around him.
Felix blinked, "Oh."
"Better?"
Felix immediately melted. His tail curled around Minho's wrist, "Mhm."
Minho rested his chin on top of Felix's head, "Then stay here."
Felix purred.
The rest of the pack watched.
Chan smiled, "That's actually pretty cute."
Changbin nodded, "They've become cuddle buddies."
"They're both ridiculous," Seungmin said.
Jisung climbed onto the couch, "Can I join?"
"No," Minho said.
Jisung's ears drooped, "But—"
"No."
Felix peeked over Minho's arm and made grabby hands at the squirrel hybrid, "Come here, Sungie."
Jisung stared at Minho.
Minho stared at Felix.
Felix smiled, "...Please?"
Minho sighed, "Fine."
Jisung immediately squeezed into the pile.
Then Changbin joined.
Then Hyunjin.
Then Seungmin.
Then Jeongin.
And finally, Chan.
Within minutes, the entire pack was tangled together on the couch. Felix was somewhere in the middle. Warm. Safe. Surrounded. His favorite kind of cozy.
He yawned.
Minho looked down, "Sleepy?"
Felix nodded, "Very."
"Then sleep."
Felix curled against him. His eyes fluttered shut. Before he drifted off, he mumbled, "Next time I'll find an even smaller place."
Six hybrids immediately groaned, "NO." Felix giggled sleepily. And Minho, despite his earlier embarrassment, smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to his kitten's forehead, "You're impossible." Felix simply purred in response.
The pack had eventually learned something important about their little Balinese kitten.
If Felix disappeared, they had to search everywhere. Under furniture. Behind curtains. Inside cupboards. Between pillows. In every ridiculous little nook that could possibly fit a tiny cat hybrid.
And if they found Felix? They had to check for Minho too. Because apparently, once their tiger discovered where Felix was hiding, he had decided that he needed to be there as well. Even if he didn't fit. Especially if he didn't fit.
It had become an almost weekly occurrence.
Felix would disappear.
The pack would panic.
Minho would sound him out.
And then, inevitably, they would find a small seal-point kitten curled up peacefully in some impossibly cramped space— with the unmistakable orange and black-striped hindquarters of a very sulky tiger hybrid sticking out beside him.
Every.
Single.
Time.
And somehow, nobody could even be angry about it. Because Felix was never truly alone anymore. Even when he disappeared into his tiny little hiding places, there was always someone looking for him. Someone who knew what to listen out for. Someone who knew where he'd go. Someone who would squeeze into the impossible spaces just to be close to him. Even if said someone was far too large to fit.
Felix had spent much of his life wandering. Now, whenever he wandered too far, seven pairs of eyes searched for him. Seven voices called his name. Seven hearts worried until he was found. And perhaps that was why Felix loved napping in random spots (or hiding according to Jinnie) so much. Because deep down, underneath all the cozy naps and secret little corners, he knew something he hadn't known before.
He would always be found.
He would always be wanted.
He would always have somewhere to come home to.
Even if his favorite hiding spot happened to be so small that only a Balinese kitten could fit— and his very large, very stubborn tiger boyfriend was inevitably wedged halfway outside it.