Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Felix liked to keep his head down.

At seventeen, he had already learned that it was safer to move quietly through the halls of school, to keep his books hugged close and his smile polite. He wasn’t invisible, but he could pretend. Pretending was easier than explaining the hollow ache of coming home to silence, or the way his chest tightened every time his parents looked through him instead of at him.

So he smiled when teachers asked if he was doing fine, laughed when classmates made jokes that weren’t funny, nodded when someone bumped into him without apologizing. He had gotten good at pretending.

Except someone noticed.

Hyunjin wasn’t Felix’s friend. They were classmates, had a handful of shared lessons and they occasionally nod politely to each other in the hallway. Hyunjin was popular in the way tall, beautiful alphas always were. He carried himself like he knew eyes were on him, even if he pretended not to care.

But Hyunjin was observant. He noticed even the small things.

He noticed how Felix’s hoodie never changed, even when winter winds bit sharp at bare wrists. He noticed how Felix always said he “wasn’t hungry” at lunch, but his stomach growled loud enough for the people at the next desk to hear. He noticed how Felix’s scent, usually soft and sugary like vanilla cookies, was faint and frayed at the edges.

The first time Hyunjin really looked at him was during history class. Felix’s pen slipped from his fingers and rolled to the floor. When he bent to grab it, his sleeves fell back, revealing wrists too thin, pale skin marked faintly red as if he’d leaned on something for too long.

Hyunjin frowned. It wasn’t much. But it was enough to plant a seed of unease.

The second time was more obvious.

It was mid december, and snow clung to the edges of the school courtyard. Hyunjin had pulled his scarf higher against the wind as he headed inside, only to see Felix sitting alone on a bench, arms wrapped around himself, hoodie stretched tight against his body. His lips were tinted pale, and he was shivering.

“Hey" Hyunjin said before he thought about it, stopping a few feet away.

Felix startled, eyes wide. He blinked up at Hyunjin as if unsure the words were meant for him. “..Hi.”

“You’re freezing.”

“I’m fine” Felix said quickly, his voice light, the practiced kind of reassurance that set Hyunjin’s teeth on edge.

“You’re not even wearing a coat.”

Felix smiled, that tiny strained curl of lips. “Guess I forgot.”

Hyunjin wanted to argue. To ask how someone could forget something so simple, so important. But the look in Felix’s eyes stopped him, defensive, like a cornered animal. Hyunjin only nodded and shoved his hands deeper into his pockets.

He carried that image with him all day.

The third time, he couldn’t ignore it.

It was a Thursday morning when Felix stood from his desk too quickly, swaying as the classroom blurred around him. His knees buckled, and Hyunjin, sitting two rows behind, was moving before he even thought.

“Whoa” His arm shot out, steadying Felix by the elbow.

Felix blinked, disoriented. “S-Sorry. I’m okay.”

“You nearly fell.”

“I just.. got dizzy.”

Hyunjin’s frown deepened. He could hear the lie in Felix’s voice, see the way his lips pressed tight in embarrassment.

At the end of class, Hyunjin caught him at the lockers. “Hey.”

Felix turned, startled again. “Oh. Hyunjin, right?”

Hyunjin ignored the sting he felt at Felix barely knowing him. “Have you eaten?”

Felix hesitated. “..I’m fine.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

The omega ducked his head, freckled cheeks pink with shame. Hyunjin sighed, unzipping his bag. He pulled out the extra kimbap his mom had packed and held it out.

Felix blinked. “..What’s this?”

“Food. Take it.”

“I can’t—”

“Yes, you can” Hyunjin shoved it into his hands. “Eat it, or I’ll sit here and watch until you do.”

Felix laughed nervously, but the sound cracked in the middle. Slowly, hesitantly, he unwrapped the food and took a small bite. His eyes fluttered closed for just a second, relief flickering over his features.

Hyunjin looked away, pretending not to notice the ache in his chest.

The fourth time was after school.

Hyunjin had stayed behind for art club, leaving late with his sketchpad tucked under one arm. That’s when he saw Felix at the gates, clutching grocery bags that sagged heavy in his thin arms. The plastic handles bit into his skin.

“Felix”

The omega startled, turning with wide eyes. “H-Hyunjin?”

“You need help with those?”

“I can carry them.”

Hyunjin raised a brow, stepping closer. “You’re about to drop them.”

Felix opened his mouth to protest, but one bag tilted dangerously, and Hyunjin caught it before it split. “See? Come on, let me help.”

The walk to Felix’s house was quiet. Felix glanced at him a few times, chewing his lip like he wanted to speak but didn’t. Hyunjin didn’t push. He just carried the bags, adjusting them easily.

When they reached the house, Hyunjin finally understood why Felix always looked so… tired.

“You’re late” a woman’s voice called from deeper inside. Felix flinched.

“I had extra work” Felix murmured.

“You still forgot the groceries. Useless.” The voice cut sharp, then faded into another room.

Felix’s shoulders hunched, cheeks burning. “Thanks for helping me” he whispered quickly, tugging the bags from Hyunjin’s arms. “You didn’t have to.. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Before Hyunjin could respond, the door closed.

He stood on the porch for a long time, fists clenched, heart pounding with something that felt uncomfortably close to anger.

Felix deserved better.

And Hyunjin wasn’t sure why, but he couldn’t stop thinking about how to give it to him.

Chapter Text

The music room was empty, quiet save for the faint hum of the heating system. Hyunjin had stayed behind to sketch after class, but when he opened the door, he froze.

Felix was there.

He sat on the floor by the window, knees pulled tight to his chest, sleeves hiding his hands. His shoulders shook with soundless sobs, his face pressed into his arms.

Hyunjin’s heart lurched. He’d seen Felix smile his way through exhaustion, lie about hunger, shrug off the cold. But he’d never seen him break.

Careful not to startle him, Hyunjin knelt down. “Felix?”

Felix’s head jerked up, eyes swollen and red. He looked cornered, like a small animal caught in a trap. “I—I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not” Hyunjin’s voice was softer than he expected, low and steady. “Talk to me.”

Felix shook his head, trembling. “You don’t.. you don’t want to know.”

Hyunjin reached out, not touching, just letting his hand hover near Felix’s arm. “Try me.”

For a long time, Felix said nothing. His breaths came sharp, uneven. Then, like a dam cracking, the words spilled out.

“I’m pregnant.”

Hyunjin blinked. The pieces slammed into place, the exhaustion, the dizziness, the oversized clothes. His stomach twisted.

“My boyfriend—” Felix’s voice cracked on the word. “He left. Said it wasn’t his problem. My parents don’t care. They don’t even look at me anymore unless it’s to yell. And I—” His breath hitched, a sob catching in his throat. “I don’t even have a nest. Omegas are supposed to be comforted, scented, safe, but I.. I don’t have anyone.”

His voice broke on the last word. He folded in on himself, shaking.

Hyunjin’s chest ached so fiercely it hurt to breathe. Before he knew it, he was wrapping his arms around Felix, pulling him close. Felix stiffened, then collapsed against him, sobbing into his chest.

Hyunjin’s instincts roared to the surface. His scent, warm cedar and rain, spilled out, wrapping around Felix like a shield.

Felix inhaled sharply, clutching Hyunjin’s shirt. “Y-Your scent..” His voice was muffled, desperate. “It helps.”

“Then take as much as you need,” Hyunjin murmured, holding him tighter. “I’ve got you.”

And for the first time, Felix let someone hold him while he cried.

•••

Hyunjin couldn’t stop thinking about it.

About Felix’s broken voice. About the way he’d clung to him like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline. About the faint, desperate way he’d whispered, “I don’t have anyone.”

Something had cracked open inside Hyunjin, and he couldn’t put it back together.

The next day at school, he found himself watching Felix with sharper eyes. When a group of rowdy alphas jostled him in the hall, Hyunjin stepped forward, his glare sharp enough to make them back off. When Felix sat alone at lunch, Hyunjin slid into the seat across from him, plopping down his own food.

Felix blinked at him, wide eyed. “Um.. what are you doing?”

“Eating” Hyunjin said simply, shoving a roll toward him.

Felix’s lips twitched. “You don’t have to..”

“I want to.”

Felix hesitated, then picked it up, nibbling quietly. His cheeks flushed faintly pink.

After that, it became routine. Hyunjin carried Felix’s bag when it looked too heavy, slipped snacks into his locker, walked him to class. It wasn’t anything big, not at first. But Hyunjin saw the way Felix relaxed, bit by bit, when he realized he didn’t have to do everything alone.

Felix still tried to pull back sometimes, guilt flickering in his eyes. “You don’t need to take care of me,” he muttered one afternoon as Hyunjin draped his scarf around his neck.

“Maybe I want to.”

Felix blinked, stunned into silence, the scarf half covering his flushed face. Hyunjin only smirked faintly, but inside, his chest was a storm of something he couldn’t name.

 •••

It happened after school on a Friday.

Hyunjin had offered to walk Felix home, but Felix had been quiet the whole way. His hoodie sleeves were tugged over his hands, and his eyes looked bruised with tiredness.

At his front door, Felix paused. “Do you.. do you want to come in? Just for a bit.”

Hyunjin blinked, surprised. “Are you sure?”

Felix nodded quickly, as if afraid he’d take it back.

Inside, the house was as tense as ever. The air smelled sharp, empty. Hyunjin hated it instantly.

They ended up in Felix’s room, small, neat, but bare. Too bare. No nest, no blankets piled with scent, nothing. Hyunjin frowned.

“Lix”

Felix sank onto the edge of the bed, eyes fixed on his hands. “I don’t have one.. A nest” His voice was low, embarrassed. “My parents don’t.. they’d get mad if I make one. And I don’t have anyone’s scent to put in it anyway.”

Hyunjin’s chest tightened painfully. An omega without a nest was like a bird without wings, stripped of comfort. “That’s not right” he said softly.

Felix laughed bitterly. “Yeah, well. Not much about me is right.”

“Don’t say that.” Hyunjin sat beside him, close enough that their knees brushed. He peeled off his hoodie and placed it gently in Felix’s lap. “Here.”

Felix stared at it, stunned. “What..?”

“My scent. It’s yours.”

Felix’s hands trembled as he clutched the fabric, pressing it to his face. He inhaled deeply, eyes fluttering closed. His whole body seemed to sag with relief, as if he’d been carrying something unbearably heavy and finally set it down.

Hyunjin’s throat tightened. He wanted to gather him up, wrap him in every piece of clothing he owned, promise him he’d never be alone again.

Instead, he brushed Felix’s hair gently back from his face. “You deserve comfort, Felix. You deserve more than this.”

Felix opened his eyes, glassy with unshed tears. “Why are you.. why are you doing this for me?”

Hyunjin’s chest ached with the truth he couldn’t quite say. Because I care. Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Because I want you safe.

“Because someone should” he said simply.

Felix blinked, freckles glowing in the dim light. Slowly, hesitantly, he whispered “Thank you.”

Hyunjin smiled softly. “Anytime.”

And as Felix curled into the hoodie, clutching it like it was the only thing in the world, Hyunjin made himself a silent vow.

I’ll protect you. No matter what.

Chapter Text

It was Saturday afternoon when Hyunjin found Felix in the library.

Felix sat tucked into the corner table, sleeves hiding his hands, eyes glued to a notebook. His pen moved across the page, but his expression was far away, as if he weren’t really seeing the words.

Hyunjin hesitated before sliding into the chair across from him. “Hey.”

Felix startled, looking up with wide eyes. “Oh.. Hyunjin.”

“You’ve been ignoring my texts.”

“I was.. busy” Felix’s lips twitched in a weak smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

Hyunjin studied him. The hoodie he wore was the same one from yesterday, Hyunjin’s hoodie, the sleeves frayed from nervous fidgeting. He looked small in it, swallowed up, but safer somehow.

“Felix” Hyunjin kept his voice soft. “What’s wrong?”

Felix’s eyes dropped. For a long time, he didn’t answer. Then his voice came, barely audible.

“Why are you so kind to me?”

Hyunjin blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You’re an alpha” Felix’s fingers tightened on the pen. “And you’re.. you. You could have anyone. Why waste your time on someone like me? I’m—” His voice cracked. “I’m already used. I’m pregnant with someone else’s pup. I’m not… desirable anymore.”

The words hit Hyunjin like a punch to the gut. He leaned forward. “Don’t say that.”

Felix’s laugh was bitter, hollow. “It’s true. Alphas don’t want omegas who are broken. Who’ve already been claimed and left behind.”

“You’re not broken” Hyunjin’s voice came out rough, sharper than he intended. He reached across the table, covering Felix’s trembling hand with his own. “Felix, look at me.”

Reluctantly, Felix lifted his gaze. His eyes were glassy, wide and vulnerable.

“You’re not broken” Hyunjin repeated, softer now. “You’re strong. Stronger than anyone I know. And any alpha who can’t see that doesn’t deserve you.”

Felix’s lips parted, but no sound came. His eyes shimmered, and he quickly looked down, pulling his hand back to wipe at his face. “You don’t understand.”

“I want to” Hyunjin’s chest ached with the need to bridge the space between them. “So let me.”

Felix swallowed hard, shaking his head. But the tiniest flicker of hope sparked in his eyes.

And Hyunjin thought, I’ll keep saying it until you believe me.

•••

The shouting started before Felix even unlocked the front door.

His mother’s voice rang sharp from the living room, words cutting like knives. “Why are you always late? Do you even think about anyone but yourself?”

Felix flinched as he stepped inside, clutching the grocery bag tighter. “I—I got what you asked for.”

“Finally” she snapped. “Took you long enough.”

His father barely glanced up from the television. “Can you two just shut up” he muttered.

Felix ducked his head, shoulders curling inward. He wanted to disappear, to dissolve into air. Instead, he slipped quietly to his room, clutching Hyunjin’s hoodie against his chest the moment the door closed behind him.

It smelled faintly of cedar and rain, grounding him, but the weight of their words pressed harder than usual tonight. He curled onto the bed, knees to chest, breathing shallow.

Hours later, a knock startled him. Soft, tentative.

“Felix?” Hyunjin’s voice.

Felix scrambled up, wiping his face quickly before opening the window. Hyunjin was outside, balancing on the narrow ledge of the porch roof.

“What are you—?”

“I was worried” Hyunjin’s tone left no room for argument. He swung one leg over and slid inside, landing lightly on the floor. His eyes flicked to Felix’s red rimmed eyes, the tense line of his shoulders. “Did they say anything to you?

Felix swallowed hard. “..It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing” Hyunjin stepped closer, gently tipping Felix’s chin up. “They shouldn’t treat you like that.”

Felix’s throat tightened. “It’s just how it is.”

Hyunjin’s jaw clenched. “No. It’s not” His scent seeped out without permission, wrapping around Felix like a shield, protective.

Felix breathed it in, trembling. “If I stay quiet, if I don’t make trouble, maybe—”

“You shouldn’t have to beg for scraps of kindness.” Hyunjin’s voice broke, raw with frustration. “Felix, you deserve so much more.”

Felix’s lips parted, a small, broken sound escaping. His knees buckled, and Hyunjin caught him instantly, pulling him against his chest.

“Shh,” Hyunjin murmured, stroking his hair. “I’ve got you. You’re safe with me.”

And Felix believed him, just for a moment.

•••

The decision came two nights later.

Felix sat in class, exhaustion heavy in his bones. His eyes blurred over the page, and his hand shook as he tried to take notes. He hadn’t eaten dinner the night before, his parents locking the fridge after another fight.

Hyunjin noticed. Of course he noticed.

“Come with me after school” he said firmly as the bell rang.

Felix blinked, startled. “W-Where?”

“You’ll see.”

Hyunjin’s house was warm, the kind of warm Felix had almost forgotten existed. The scent of food lingered in the air, mixed with soft traces of pack scent grounding, comforting.

Felix stood awkwardly in the entryway, clutching his bag. “I—I shouldn’t be here.”

“You should” Hyunjin said simply, tugging him inside. “Stay for dinner.”

Felix opened his mouth to protest, but the smell of freshly cooked rice and stew made his stomach growl loudly. His cheeks flushed.

Hyunjin only smiled gently. “See? You need it.”

Dinner was.. strange, but in a good way. Hyunjin’s parents welcomed him without question, passing him dishes, asking about school. Felix’s answers were shy, stumbling, but their warmth didn’t fade.

Later, when Hyunjin led him to his room, Felix froze.

Blankets were piled neatly in the corner, soft and inviting. A little nest.

“I thought…” Hyunjin scratched the back of his neck, awkward suddenly. “If you wanted. You don’t have to, but.. I figured you might be more comfortable.”

Felix stared, wide eyed, throat tight. Slowly, he sank to the floor, hands trembling as he touched the blankets. They were warm, carrying Hyunjin’s scent. Safe. Comforting.

His vision blurred with tears. “Hyunjin..”

“You don’t have to go back there” Hyunjin said quietly, crouching beside him. His eyes were steady, fierce with determination. “Live here. With me. At least until.. until you’re safe.”

Felix’s chest ached with a mix of fear and longing. “You’d really… let me?”

“Of course, i already talk with my parents and they agreed” Hyunjin murmured, brushing a stray curl from Felix’s forehead. “I want you to.”

Felix’s breath hitched. The nest smelled like home, and Hyunjin’s words wrapped around him tighter than any blanket. For the first time in months, maybe years, he felt warmth spread in his chest.

And when he curled into the nest, Hyunjin’s scent surrounding him, Felix thought maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t alone anymore.

Chapter Text

Felix woke up to warmth.

It took him a moment to remember where he was, Hyunjin’s room, not his own. His body was curled deep in the nest of blankets Hyunjin had made for him, the alpha’s scent still clinging to the fabric.

For the first time in months, he hadn’t woken to shouting. No slamming doors. No burnt scents clinging in the air. Just quiet, broken only by the muffled sound of clattering dishes downstairs.

His stomach growled. Embarrassed, Felix pressed a hand against it.

The door creaked open. Hyunjin peeked inside, hair a mess from sleep, eyes soft. “You’re awake.”

Felix nodded shyly, pulling the blanket tighter around himself.

“Come on” Hyunjin said, smiling faintly. “Breakfast.”

The table was already set. Hyunjin’s mother greeted him with warmth, passing him a bowl of steaming rice. “Eat as much as you like, sweetheart.”

Felix hesitated. He wasn’t used to being offered food so freely. “I.. don’t want to be a bother.”

“You’re not” she said firmly. “You’re family as long as you’re under this roof.”

Felix’s chest tightened. Family. The word felt foreign, unreal.

Throughout the meal, Hyunjin kept sneaking glances at him, making sure he ate enough. When Felix faltered halfway through his soup, Hyunjin nudged the side dish closer. “Try the kimchi.”

Felix obeyed, cheeks flushing. He could feel Hyunjin’s quiet pride when he finished the bowl.

And for the first time, Felix thought maybe this was what a home was supposed to feel like.

•••

Felix’s adjustment was slow.

Some nights he still curled tight in the nest, tears slipping silently down his cheeks. Hyunjin pretended not to notice, slipping his hoodie into Felix’s arms without a word. Other nights, Felix woke nauseous, bolting to the bathroom. Hyunjin followed, kneeling beside him, rubbing gentle circles on his back until it passed.

One afternoon, Hyunjin found Felix sitting by the window, nibbling at a piece of toast.

“Craving something?” Hyunjin asked, setting his sketchbook down.

Felix blinked. “I don’t know. Just.. something sweet, I guess.”

Hyunjin thought for a moment, then stood. “Wait here.”

He came back fifteen minutes later, breathless, with a bag of pastries from the bakery down the street. Felix’s eyes went wide.

“You didn’t have to—”

“I wanted to” Hyunjin grinned, setting them down. “Besides, you look happier already.”

Felix bit into a custard bun, cheeks puffing adorably, and Hyunjin’s chest ached with something warm and dangerous.

Later, Felix sat curled on the couch, licking sugar off his fingers. “Why are you.. so good to me?” he asked softly.

Hyunjin’s heart stuttered. He wanted to say the truth, because I can’t help it, because you’re all I think about, because I care more than I should. Instead he said “Because you deserve it.”

Felix looked at him for a long moment, eyes shimmering. Then he whispered “Thank you.”

And Hyunjin thought he’d never heard two words carry so much weight.

•••

Felix tugged at the hem of his shirt for the tenth time that morning.

It was getting harder to hide. The swell of his belly was small still, but noticeable if you looked long enough. His hoodie, Hyunjin’s hoodie, helped but it was warm out and he couldn’t wear it forever.

He caught his reflection in the mirror at school, lips pressing tight. His hair was messy, dark circles clung beneath his eyes, and now his body looked.. different. Heavy. Wrong.

Who would ever want me now?

“Hey.”

Felix flinched, spinning to see Hyunjin leaning against the lockers. The alpha tilted his head. “You okay?”

Felix forced a smile. “Yeah.”

Hyunjin’s gaze flicked down to Felix’s hand, still tugging at the shirt. He frowned. “It doesn’t look like ‘yeah.’”

Felix’s throat tightened. “I just.. I don’t look right anymore.”

Hyunjin blinked, then pushed off the lockers, stepping closer. “What do you mean?”

Felix bit his lip. “I’m.. changing. People can see it. And soon everyone will know, and they’ll look at me like—like I’m ruined.”

The words cracked, barely above a whisper.

Hyunjin’s chest burned. Without thinking, he placed his hands gently on Felix’s shoulders, grounding him. “You’re not ruined.”

Felix looked away. “You don’t understand—”

“I do” Hyunjin’s voice was steady, almost sharp. “Felix, I see you. Every single day. And you’re..” He swallowed, words tangling in his throat. “You’re beautiful.”

Felix’s eyes snapped up, wide and startled.

Hyunjin flushed, but didn’t back down. “Not in spite of the pregnancy. With it. You’re strong and.. and radiant in a way that makes me want to stare too long. Don’t you dare say you’re ruined.”

Felix’s lips parted, trembling. His cheeks burned, and something warm fluttered in his chest despite the ache.

“Hyunjin..”

But Hyunjin just gave him a small, earnest smile. “You don’t have to believe me yet. I’ll keep saying it until you do.”

And Felix, flustered and overwhelmed, could only nod.

•••

It was late evening when Felix’s world tilted again.

He was outside the convenience store, a bag of snacks in hand waiting for Hyunjin to pick him up, when he heard a voice behind him.

“Felix?”

He froze.

Turning slowly, he saw him. His ex. The alpha who had left the moment Felix confessed about the pregnancy. His hair was the same, his smile as cold as ever.

“Didn’t think I’d see you here” the alpha drawled, eyes flicking down to Felix’s stomach. “Guess you really went through with it, huh?”

Felix’s breath caught, shame burning his cheeks. “Why are you—”

“You always were clingy” the alpha interrupted. “But carrying my pup? That’s pathetic.

Felix flinched like he’d been struck. His fingers tightened around the plastic bag, knuckles white.

“Hey.”

The voice was sharp, protective. Hyunjin stepped out from the shadows, eyes blazing.

“Back off” he growled. His scent flared, sharp cedar and storm, pushing against the other alpha’s like a wall.

The ex scoffed. “What, you his babysitter now?”

Hyunjin stepped closer, body coiled with restrained fury. “I said back off.”

The ex sneered but took a step back under Hyunjin’s gaze. “Fine. Not worth it. Enjoy your little charity case.” With that, he turned and walked off.

Felix stood frozen, shaking. His chest hurt, breath shallow.

Hyunjin was at his side instantly, hands steady on his arms. “Felix. Look at me.”

Felix’s eyes filled, spilling over before he could stop them. “He’s right. I’m pathetic. I’m—”

“No.” Hyunjin’s voice was fierce, almost breaking. “Don’t you dare believe him. He’s a coward who couldn’t see what he had. That’s not on you, Felix. That’s on him.”

Felix’s sob cracked out, and he stumbled forward. Hyunjin caught him, pulling him tight against his chest, scent wrapping around them like a shield.

“You’re not pathetic, baby” Hyunjin whispered, voice rough with emotion. “You’re the bravest person I know. And I swear, I’ll never let anyone make you feel like this again.”

Felix clung to him, shaking, overwhelmed, but deep in his chest, something shifted.

Because Hyunjin had looked at him like he mattered. Like he was precious.

And maybe, just maybe, Felix could start to believe it.

Chapter Text

Felix had never known mornings like these.

He woke to the sound of soft laughter downstairs, the smell of toasted bread drifting up the hallway. For a moment, he panicked, old instincts kicking in, waiting for the scream calling his name. But it never came.

Instead, Hyunjin appeared in the doorway, hair messy, holding two mugs of tea. “You were still asleep” he said quietly. “Thought I’d bring this up.”

Felix blinked, sitting up in his nest, hair sticking up. “For me?”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes, setting one mug in front of him. “Who else?”

Felix smiled faintly, wrapping his hands around the warm cup. The scent of chamomile filled the space, soothing in a way he didn’t realize he needed.

Hyunjin sat at the edge of the bed, close but not too close. “You should eat something, too. I saved you the last croissant.”

Felix’s throat tightened. Small things, but to him, they were everything. No one had ever thought about him like this before.

Later, when Hyunjin’s mother asked him to help chop vegetables, Felix found himself laughing at the way Hyunjin nearly cut his finger trying to show off. For a fleeting second, it felt like he was part of something. A family.

And though he told himself not to get used to it, his heart yearn for it.

•••

Late at night Felix couldn’t sleep. The baby kicked restlessly, his body aching. He sat curled in the nest, hugging Hyunjin’s hoodie close, tears stinging his eyes.

The door creaked, and Hyunjin’s voice drifted in, soft. “Felix?”

Felix quickly wiped at his face, but Hyunjin saw. Of course he did.

“Talk to me” Hyunjin said, stepping closer.

Felix shook his head. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not.”

Something broke then. Felix let out a choked laugh. “I don’t understand you.”

Hyunjin frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You’re…” Felix’s voice cracked. “You’re everything. An alpha everyone wants. And me? I got left behind. Why do you even bother with me?”

Hyunjin froze, breath caught. His heart slammed against his ribs, words fighting to escape.

He reached out, brushing his thumb gently over Felix’s damp cheek. “You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. And if you can’t see it, I’ll keep reminding you until you do.”

Felix’s breath hitched. Their faces were close, too close, and for once, he didn’t pull away.

And then, quietly, tentatively, Hyunjin pressed his lips to Felix’s.

It was soft, fragile, full of held back longing. Felix froze for half a heartbeat, then melted into it, eyes fluttering shut. His fingers curled into Hyunjin’s shirt, needing something to hold onto.

When they pulled back, Felix’s cheeks were blazing, his heart racing.

Hyunjin’s gaze was steady, though his own breath shook. “Sorry,” he whispered. “I couldn’t—”

Felix shook his head quickly. “Don’t be sorry.”

Hyunjin didn’t say more. He simply gathered Felix carefully into his arms, scent wrapping warm and steady around him. Felix buried his face in Hyunjin’s chest and let himself be held.

•••

The kiss lingered between them, unspoken but heavy, in the days that followed. Felix flushed every time their eyes met, Hyunjin’s yearning quiet but constant.

One evening, as rain poured outside, Felix felt the weight of loneliness claw at him again. His instincts screamed for safety, for warmth, for scent. But the idea of asking ,or rather admitting the need, left him trembling.

Hyunjin noticed. “What’s wrong?”

Felix bit his lip. “I… I don’t…” His cheeks burned. “My nest. It still doesn’t feel right. I can’t—”

Understanding dawned in Hyunjin’s eyes. He hesitated, respectful. “Do you.. want me to—?”

Felix’s entire body went hot. The thought of sharing his nest, of letting Hyunjin inside, was terrifying. Intimate. Vulnerable.

But his chest ached with longing. Slowly, shyly, he nodded.

Hyunjin moved carefully, he stepped into the nest only when Felix pulled him closer, lying down beside him. Their scents tangled immediately, warm and safe.

Felix curled against him without thinking, burying his face in Hyunjin’s chest. The comfort was instant, overwhelming, like his body had been waiting for this all along.

Hyunjin wrapped an arm around him, tucking him close. “Better?” he murmured.

Felix let out a shaky sigh. “Yeah. So much better.”

The baby kicked then, as if in approval. Felix flushed, but Hyunjin just smiled softly, hand brushing over Felix’s belly.

For the first time in months, Felix slept deeply, safely, in someone’s arms.

And Hyunjin lay awake a long while, holding him, heart full of love he could no longer deny.