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Chan sat up on his bed, stretching his legs, which were starting to fall asleep after being in the same position for more than an hour. He was going to finish his Chan’s Room live soon, but still wanted to answer a few more questions from Stays. Bringing the computer closer to him, he read the chat aloud.
“Oppa, is it hard being the only human in a group of hybrids?”
A grumbling meow quickly followed his words as the black and white cat that was lounging next to him stood up and climbed all over Chan’s chest.
“It’s okay Minho, it’s not a bad question to ask” Chan chuckled, petting the cat’s back. It made the hybrid’s body curve to try and follow his hand, also hiding the computer from Chan’s sight in the process.
“Come on, move your stinky butt! I can’t see Stays anymore,” Chan teased him.
Minho apparently took it personally, since he plopped his butt down on his leader’s lap and proceeded to lick his paw and clean his face.
“Yes, I know, you’re not stinky” Chan rolled his eyes. “But to answer your question, it doesn’t bother me to be the only human in the group. I mean, the kids can be a little noisy and troublesome, but they’re also super affectionate,” he smiled at his laptop’s camera.
His smile became even brighter as Minho stood up and rubbed himself under Chan’s chin, his tail rubbing right under the Aussie’s nose.
“Min! Stop that, you’re gonna make me sneeze!” Chan protested, although he didn’t even try to move Minho from his lap.
The cat purred happily, making biscuits on the leader’s thigh.
Chan sighed. “Like I said, troublesome but affectionate” he rubbed Minho’s ear the way he knew the hybrid liked.
Another comment popped up and Chan read it aloud automatically. “It must be so sad to be the only odd one out. Everyone knows you’re the most boring member…”
The singer’s voice tapered off as he reached the end of the message, his smile dropping. On his lap, Minho hissed, baring his fangs towards the screen. His fur stood up on his back, tail puffed up, clearly unhappy with the statement.
Chan started petting the cat to calm him down, his hands moving by reflex as his mind worked a thousand miles an hour to keep the emotions from leaking onto his face. He didn’t want to tear up, or frown, or grimace. He didn’t want to gratify that comment with any reaction whatsoever.
So, once Minho had stopped his posturing to instead jump on Chan’s shoulders possessively, the leader took a subtle inhale to ground himself.
“I don’t think it is sad to not be a hybrid. I get to share the joy of my boys being free in both their skins, and that is a priceless gift for me. They always include me in whatever they are doing, so I do not feel left out. However, I am sorry if you think I am boring. I shall work harder to present a better image to Stays-”
His little speech was interrupted by Minho nipping at his ear, growling unhappily at his leader’s words.
“Ouch, Min!”
Thankfully, the cat didn’t seem to be the only one outraged, as thousands of messages popped up on the chat, each with affirmations of support and love towards the Stray Kids’ leader. That made Chan smile a little, knowing that despite the haters, there were many more people that cared for them. Still, that one bad comment was apparently all that Minho would accept that day, since he jumped off Chan’s shoulders and slammed his computer closed with a swing of his paw.
Chan only had the time to yell off a hurried ‘bye’ before the live was cut off. He looked at Minho, who managed to glare at him, despite still being in his cat form. Still, he was much better at it in his other skin, so he shifted. His body elongated and his fur receded until he was left lounging on Chan’s bed in his white sweatpants and black hoodie, ruffling his hair quickly to push it out of his eyes.
“I hope you don’t believe a word of what those people said?” He asked in an almost threatening tone. If he’d still been a cat, his claws would’ve probably been out. “They’re not real Stays if they think that you’re boring for being human.”
Chan smiled softly, used to Minho’s particular brand of care by now.
“Don’t worry Min, I don’t mind those comments. I’m more than happy that Stays enjoy you guys being shifters, because it’s not the case in every fandom. And if that means that they find humans boring, I can deal with that!”
“You are NOT boring,” Minho hissed, head-butting Chan’s shoulder aggressively.
“Min, it’s okay, I-”
“Don’t” Minho cut him off abruptly. “If you say it one more time, I will roll myself onto all of your black hoodies and cover them in hair.”
“Okay” Chan meekly answered, carefully scratching the shifter under the chin to try and appease him. Minho didn’t let up his glaring, but the heavy purr that left his chest was telling.
“Say it” Minho tried to speak over the rumbling in his chest, and although his words were muffled, the leader understood him.
“I am not boring” Chan assured, a dimpled smile decorating his face as Minho’s purring became louder.
“Good” the hybrid mumbled, before he was unable to resist any longer. He turned back into his cat form, rubbing his small face more heavily onto Chan’s fingers, enjoying the petting session. He also made sure to mark his hyung by rubbing his scent all over him, leaving a trail of black and white hair on the producer’s shirt.
Chan chuckled, laying down on his back and letting Minho curl up in a ball on his chest. He kept petting the shifter, the purring gently soothing him to sleep.
Chan loved filming the SKZ CODE episodes. Sure, it usually started very early and lasted long into the night, but the content was always really fun to do. Today was no exception, as his boys all met up with him in the middle of the baseball field. Of course, no one was more excited than Seungmin. Chan was sure that if he shifted, his tail would be wagging up a storm.
As it was, the production crew had to keep reminding them of the rules of the game they were supposed to play, as the boys were just having fun throwing and batting the ball. Chan chuckled as Jisung dramatically threw himself on the grass to catch the ball, covering his white uniform in green stains. Somewhere in the background, a stylist sighed in despair.
“Alright boys, let’s resume! Hyunjin, you’re pitching. Felix, you’re batting. Remember, you have to find the imposter in each team, so keep an eye out!” The director shouted through his megaphone. All of the boys shouted their understanding, before Hyunjin and Felix took their places in the field.
Chan saw it happen before anyone even moved. It was in the tension in Seungmin’s shoulders, in the glint in his eye and in the furrow on his brow. Hyunjin threw the ball high up, with an almost perfect curve, and Seugmin was off. He shifted mid-run, a fluffy golden retriever landing gracefully on its paws as he kept running after the ball.
Yells of shocks and whoops of joy echoed around the field as Seungmin jumped in front of Felix, catching the ball in his mouth. He swiftly ran away to the middle of the court, tail wagging happily as he slobbered all over the ball, munching it between his teeth. He stomped excitedly, obviously wanting someone to give chase.
“CUT! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!” A mighty yell came from the megaphone.
Everyone froze, Chan’s head whipping around to check what was happening. One of the newly hired writers stood up from his seat, red in the face. He had obviously wrenched the megaphone out of the director’s hands, and was glaring daggers at the boys.
“How dare you shift in front of the cameras like that? This was not the plan! You already had your hybrid episode last season, so don’t come ruin this one!”
Chan saw red. As much as there were people boasting about hybrid superiority because of their more developed senses, others were flaunting the human race as being the only one with true free will, seeing shifters as wild beasts confined to their instincts.
The leader’s hands balled into fists, shoulders trembling as he got ready to march straight to that writer and tear him out in front of everyone. No one got to talk to his kids like that, no matter the reason and especially not if it made Seungmin literally shake with fear. However, someone got to the writer before him.
The director, with which they’d been working for years by now and who had a fond spot for the eight boys, leaped out of his seat and harshly yanked the megaphone out of the new hire’s hands. Then, in a voice loud enough to be heard by the whole crew, started laying out all of the writer’s faults and very explicitly explaining why he didn’t need to come back to work anymore.
Seeing that the situation was being handled, Chan focused back on his priority: Seungmin. He ran to the dog, who was whimpering, head down and tail between his legs.
“Oh, Minnie…” Chan whispered, kneeling slowly in front of the golden retriever.
The hybrid backed off, still whining and obviously terrified. Chan was sure that if Seungmin could, he would’ve turned back into his human form by now. But strong emotions usually made shifters revert to their animal form, as a survival instinct.
“You’re okay Minnie, you did nothing wrong. That man is an asshole, and no one is angry at you for turning.” He kept his voice calm and soothing, hands out with the palms up to appear as non-threatening as possible.
“It was actually really awesome, when you just caught the ball in mid-air” Felix added, walking closer to the two of them. “And you know that Stays find you really cute when you shift” he complimented, Chan not even needing to turn to know that a bright smile was adorning the freckled boy’s face.
“Yeah, everyone loves our fluffy golden boy,” Chan nodded, his dimples showing.
Seungmin harrumphed, although his tail started slowly wagging from in between his legs.
“Look, see how director-nim just kicked the asshole out of the crew? That means that he won’t ever shout at you again. This show is made for us to have fun, and if that means playing fetch with the ball, then that’s what we’re going to do!” Chan said more excitedly, grabbing the ball from where Seungmin had dropped it.
The hybrid’s ears perked up, his head tilting to the side.
“Yeah, you heard me right” Chan nodded, ruffling the fur on top of Seungmin’s head and earning a lick on his fingers in return. “You wanna play fetch, puppy?”
A wagging tail and a bark answered him. Behind them, Felix laughed and turned around to announce the change of plans to the rest of the boys. “It’s fetch time!”
A loud cheer answered his call, their bandmates rushing to the bucket of balls, each stuffing their pockets with ammunitions. Chan laughed and ran to the side for his safety, before balls started flying left and right, Seungmin’s eyes shining happily as he jumped and tried to catch all of them.
While the hybrid was distracted, Chan glanced at the production crew, not seeing the problematic writer anywhere. The director, back in his seat, gave Chan a thumbs up and a smile, and that was all that the boy needed as confirmation that everything would be alright.
Turning back to his boys, the leader ran after Seungmin, playing tag with the very excited puppy who kept barking in happiness. Chan’s mission for the day was now to keep the smile on Seungmin’s face, no matter if it was his human or dog one. And seeing how the rest of Stray Kids immediately started running alongside him, chasing Seungmin all around the field, he knew he would have lots of help to get there.
Jisung hated airport. Everybody knew that. He didn’t mind the plane, or changing countries, or having way too much luggage for a short trip. The thing that bothered him were the people waiting for them at the entrance and exit of every airport, everywhere they went, all around the world. The paparazzi shouting questions and flashing their cameras in the tired boys’ faces, the fans squealing in high-pitched tones and pushing and shoving around, dangerously close to making someone fall down and trample them…
Jisung shivered at the simple thought, while he stared vacantly at the conveyor belt that would deliver his luggage. A warm arm in a black hoodie suddenly wrapped itself around his shoulders, Chan’s mask-covered face watching him intently. Jisung focused on the blond curls that peaked out from under Chan’s beanie, too lost imagining how fluffy they would feel under his fingers to realize that Chan was speaking to him.
“…gie? Sungie? Jisung!”
The boy jumped, startled, and finally blinked up at Chan.
“There you are, I was beginning to worry!” said his leader, eyes smiling but his embrace tightening slightly. “You were really lost in that busy head of yours, what’s up?”
“Nothing” Jisung shook his head, leaning more heavily on Chan. “I’m fine, hyung.”
“No you aren’t, so tell me what’s going on,” Chan refuted, lowering his mask to show his concern.
“I… it’s… stupid really, I shouldn’t… after all this time…”
“Sungie, please talk to me” Chan asked, stepping in front of the boy and taking him by the shoulders. The warmth of his gaze and the support that his strong hands provided were all that Jisung needed to open up.
“It’s the arrival zone. The journalists and their cameras, and the people screaming and pushing, and every time I have to go through it I feel like my lungs are not working anymore and I’m going to suffocate… I hate it” he whispered the last few words, dropping his head, his whole frame shaking under Chan’s hands.
“Oh, Sungie… Come here,” Chan wrapped his arms in a tight hug around Jisung, rubbing his back soothingly. “It’s gonna be okay, hyung’s gonna make it better.”
“How hyung? How can it get better? We still have to go through that crowd, no matter what!” Jisung gripped Chan’s hoodie tightly, a sob escaping his lips.
“We do have to go through the crowd, but people don’t have to see you,” Chan said, tilting Jisung’s chin up.
The boy’s tear-filled eyes looked up at him with curiosity. “How?”
“I remember that a certain tiny squirrel has the habit of climbing inside of my hoodie during producing sessions, when he wants to take a nap,” Chan smiled, booping Jisung’s nose. “I don’t see why that squirrel couldn’t do the same today.”
Jisung’s eyes widened, blinking his tears away. “Really? You’d let me do that?”
“Of course Sungie! Why would I ever refuse? Especially if it makes you feel safer,” Chan smiled.
“But the fans will worry if they don’t see me coming out with you guys,” Jisung frowned, and Chan couldn’t help but feel proud that the hybrid still cared about their fans even when he was obviously panicked.
After thinking for a bit, the leader hummed. “I think I have an idea…”
And that’s how Jisung found himself in his squirrel form, curled around Chan’s nape, hidden by the producer’s black hood with the exception of his fluffy brown tail that peaked out from one side, laying on Chan’s shoulder. He could still hear the people shouting and the cameras clicking as journalists took picture after picture. Yet, in his small dark cocoon, buried in Chan’s hair, he felt safe. He knew his leader would never let anything bad happen to him, and that made him chirp happily. Beneath him, he felt Chan’s shoulders shake as the leader chuckled.
“Are you comfy?”
Jisung simply buried himself deeper in the hood as an answer, making Chan squirm a little at the ticklish feeling.
“JISUNG! JISUNG COME OUT PLEASE! OVER HERE JISUNG!”
The yells took the hybrid by surprise and his small body tensed. However, Chan took over before he could panic any further. “Jisung is resting for now, please respect his space,” he called in a loud voice, putting one hand in front of him to make people back up while his other hand distractedly stroked the squirrel’s tail.
Left and right, fans started whispering, asking themselves if Jisung was sick or injured. Hearing them, the shifter wriggled uncomfortably. He didn’t like to make people worry about him, even if he was feeling bad. No, this wasn’t going to do. Not if he could help it.
With a humph, Jisung made his way up on top of Chan’s head, nesting in the blond curls. Once he was comfortable, he lifted the hood with his small paws, peaking his head out. The moment he did so, coos could be heard from all around them as the fans fawned over how cute Chan and his first stray kid looked together. Even Hyunjin, who was right in front of them, looked back with a smile. Journalists tried taking pictures, but a simple glare from Chan made them quickly reconsider.
That’s how they made their way to their van, waiting for them at the airport’s exit. Jisung waved from time to time to fans, feeling much safer nestled on top of his leader’s head than he would’ve been walking in the crowd. Still, he was more than happy when they entered the van, the doors closing behind them and cutting off the screams and loud noises.
Chan took his seat in the middle of the back row, Minho and Changbin flanking him, and gently petted Jisung from over his hood. “We did it! You were so brave Sungie, I’m really proud of you!”
Jisung didn’t feel like it was anything special. He should’ve been able to go out there as a human and walk on his own through the crowd. But the compliments were nice, so he took them as he slowly made his way down from Chan’s head, ready to shift back. He wasn’t excited about the two hour drive they still had to make until they were back at the dorms, but at least he could spend them without needing to bother Chan anymore.
“You don’t have to move, if you don’t want to,” Chan gently said, knowing Jisung too well.
The squirrel froze on his shoulder, squeaking up at the producer. Chan nodded, lifting his hood up and patting his curls. “You can stay here as long as you want. I’m sure it’ll be much more comfortable to nap here than in the car seat” he chuckled, pointing at the top of his head.
Jisung hesitated for just a second, before a gentle push from Changbin’s fingers made him climb back up and nestle himself under Chan’s hood. With a trill, he wrapped his tail around himself, feeling not only safe but understood and appreciated. What more could he ask for?
Felix had turned on the live around an hour ago, wanting to have a cooking session with Stays. He had the dorm pretty much to himself, everyone having other schedules, so he decided to make his infamous brownies to not only share his recipe with Stays but also have a sweet treat ready for when his bandmates came back home. He was at the last step of the process, opening the oven and putting the tray of delicious, gooey chocolate inside when Chan entered the dorm, putting his gym bag down by the door.
“Oh, hyung! You’re back! I was cooking with Stays while you were away,” Felix quickly stated, both to greet his fellow Aussie but also to warn him that they were live. Chan quickly nodded his understanding, adjusting his hair slightly before stepping in close to Felix’s side and into the camera’s view.
“Well, hello there, Stays! You were watching Lixie cook? What exactly are you doing by the way? It smells so good!” He wondered, taking in a big inhale.
“I made brownies! I wanted you guys to have a homemade dessert when you came back to the dorm,” Felix added with a light blush, highlighting his freckles.
“Aww, Lixie, you’re so cuuute!” Chan cooed, pinching Felix’s cheeks and getting his hands slapped away with a deep “Oy!” in return.
“Did your session at the gym go well?” Felix asked instead, wanting to change subjects.
“Yeah it was nice. We did some new exercises with the teacher, I’m sure I’ll be sore tomorrow but it was fun!” Chan exclaimed, stretching his arms while also very not subtly showing his muscles.
“Hyung! Really?” Felix laughed, pushing him jokingly. “Do you see what I have to deal with, Stays? All of those gym addicts keep flexing in my face all day long!” He whined, earning lots of reassurance from the chat.
Felix smiled, leaning forward to read the chat. Chan leaned behind him, resting his hands on the blonde’s shoulders to see the screen better. Despite the amount of comments, some of them caught his attention.
‘I wonder what kind of hybrid Chan would be, if he wasn’t human.’
‘I’m sure he would be some kind of dog, he has so much puppy energy!’
‘Puppy Chan!’
‘No guys, he’s a kangaroo, remember?’
‘With all the hugs he gives during Chan’s Room, he could be a koala’
‘Everyone is wrong. Chan is big and scary, he should be a bear’
That last comment made the producer tilt, Felix feeling his body tense against him.
‘A bear or a wolf. You know, something fierce, with lots of teeth’
‘That’s true, he always looks so scary when he’s angry. I wouldn’t wish to be in front of him then, even less if he was a hybrid!’
Felix could feel that Chan had stopped breathing, his body slightly trembling. “Hyung?” he asked in a muffled voice, not wanting the camera to pick up on his worried tone.
Chan only shook his head minutely, showing he was not at ease with the conversation. All of Stray Kids had witnessed Chan being triggered by talks of him being a hybrid. It was something none of them understood, but they all wanted to be supportive of their leader in whatever way they could. So, Felix quickly stirred the conversation in another direction.
“You know what I love about Channie? It’s that he is so reliable. I mean, whenever you need a hug, or to talk to him, or just to sit in silence with someone, he’s always there and ready to help!” The shifter exclaimed, turning to send a fond look towards the producer.
Chan’s expression softened, although his body was still tense.
“He’s really protective too, but in a good way. He’s never gonna be mean or hurtful, he’ll just state his boundaries and his work ethic, and it’s always in our favor! He’s also so understanding, when one of us has a bad day and snap at him he never takes it personally,” Felix kept on gushing compliments on his leader, making the boy blush a little. “And you know what the best thing is? He’s the only one that doesn’t turn into an animal when emotions are high! And let me tell you, to have at least one person with opposable thumbs in any kind of situation is a blessing!”
Felix smiled when he heard Chan laugh behind him, satisfied that his bandmate’s darker thoughts seemed to have been eased.
“I’m happy to know that my thumbs are useful,” Chan snarked back, pushing his hip against Felix’s jokingly.
“Well, you know, that and your big arms that are perfect for cuddling” Felix emphasized the non-threatening part of Chan’s character, hoping that the comments would pick up on it.
“Oh really? I guess I should hug you right now then!” Chan exclaimed, coming in for one of his bear hugs which took the breath out of your lungs.
Felix squeaked and quickly escaped the hug by running to the oven, just as the timer went off. Saved by the bell!
“The brownies are ready!”
Felix let Chan cut the dessert up in small squares as he prepared two milk glasses. They plated their squares of brownies and then, in tandem, both boys dug into the chocolaty goodness, moaning at the taste. It was so good, so fragrant and smooth that Felix couldn’t help himself but to put down his plate and flap his hands happily. The warm sugary treat filled him up with so much happiness that, next thing he knew, he was falling towards the ground.
“Woah there, I’ve got you little one!” Chan came to his rescue, catching the chick in his hands before he could hurt himself. “I know the brownies are good, but I didn’t expect it to make you shift,” he laughed, putting Felix up on the counter next to his plate.
The chat erupted with chick emojies as Felix fluffed his feathers, still happy about his dessert. He was also – more secretly – happy about the comments that appeared, praising Chan about helping Felix and how delicate he was with the small animal. Felix peeped up at his leader, knocking his beak against Chan’s plate.
“Yes, yes, I’m eating! You fierce little monster,” Chan mumbled with a smile, taking another bite of brownies while clearing the countertop to make sure the hybrid wouldn’t injure himself by accident.
“Well Stays, I think we’re going to end the live now, as Lixie won’t be able to answer your questions for a bit, but be assured that this batch of brownies is certainly the best he’s ever made!” Chan proudly said, as Felix chirped happily. They both waved goodbye to the chat, Chan closing the stream before offering his warm hand for the shifter to climb into. As the producer massaged Felix’s small fluffy head, the chick couldn’t help but agree to his own words: opposable thumbs were definitely a blessing.
Everyone knew that Jeongin’s hybrid form was a rare one. A fox was not often seen amongst shifters; cats, dogs and bunnies were more common. A fennec fox was even rarer, the exotic animal seemingly out of place in South Korea yet mingling around with no problem thanks to Jeongin’s friendly disposition. So, it wasn’t that surprising that people often asked to see Jeongin in his fox form. It was recurrent in the youngest’s life since he was able to shift, friends and teachers alike begging to see him running around and caress his soft sandy fur. At first, he obliged, proud of showing off a part of himself that he particularly liked. However, after some time, the novelty wore off and it got more and more annoying to be asked to be petted every day.
As the years went by, it became a trigger for Jeongin to be asked to shift and he almost entirely stopped doing it. Thankfully, that’s also when he became a member of Stray Kids. All of his bandmates had been understanding of his predicament, and they encouraged him to shift at his heart content, promising to never pet him without his consent. That allowed Jeongin to be much more confident with shifting once again, learning how to enjoy his animal skin while being allowed the space and freedom he deserved.
He did play hard to get with cuddles and pets, but even he couldn’t deny that a good scratching session did wonders after a long day of dancing. He got better at asking for it when he needed some, and the boys were all very good at respecting his space. That didn’t mean that other people were, though.
Which was exactly the case that day. They were preparing for an interview, their team having been set up in a dressing room with a foreign team of stylists, who were all currently begging Jeongin to shift into a fox. The maknae was trapped on his makeup chair, trying to reason with the mostly-female staff that he had to get ready for the interview.
“Please miss, if I shift, my makeup is going to be ruined… Can’t you just give me my clothes? I don’t want to make us late…”
Jeongin’s voice was pleading, his body language exuding awkwardness. However, the stylists didn’t seem to realize that, five of them agglutinated around the poor singer and cooing at him.
“Come on little one, we’ve seen pictures of you as a fox and you look so small and fluffy!”
“Oh, let me Facetime my daughter, I’m sure she’ll love seeing it!”
“I cannot wait to see you shift, your ears looked so big on TV when I saw you last time!”
“Right, I saw that show, they made you run around an obstacle course and you were soooo adorable! Will you do that for us today Jeonginnie?”
As Chan entered the room, he found his youngest almost buried under the stylists, sending him a pleading look.
“I’m sorry ladies, but Jeongin has to get ready now. We’ll be late if this keeps going,” the leader sternly said, clapping in his hands loudly to show he was not playing. He wouldn’t yell at the staff, but he was also not going to let them harass his youngest.
“Oh, Chan-ssi, we were just asking Jeonginnie to show us his fennec form, we all heard how cute it was! And I am dying to pet his big ears, they look so soft on the pictures!”
Chan had to take a grounding breath to not show his annoyance. “Jeongin doesn’t let anyone pet his ears, they are very sensitive. I will also ask you to refrain from forcing a hybrid to shift, including Jeongin and all the other hybrids that you may work with. It is not something that they do for entertainment purposes.”
His tone came out a bit harsher than he usually allowed, but he was more than tired that people took Jeongin’s animal form for granted just because it was a bit more exotic. He also couldn’t imagine how exhausted his youngest must be from getting those requests, and his kids’ wellbeing would always be his priority.
“Uhm… Yes, Bang Chan-ssi. We’ll let Jeongin-ssi finish preparing himself,” the head stylist answered, pulling her staff away and giving Jeongin a pile of clothes. The women all gave Chan a wide berth on the way out, visibly sensing the tension in the air. They even closed the door behind them, leaving the two bandmates alone in the dressing room.
Chan sighed and walked slowly towards Jeongin, not wanting to spook the boy. “Innie? How are you feeling?”
The singer gripped the clothes harshly to hide the trembling in his hands. “I’ll be fine hyung,” he said with a shaky smile, trying to hide how badly he was affected.
“Yes, you will be,” Chan nodded. “But you don’t have to be right now. Do you want to skip the interview? I can make something up for the manager so you can stay here and rest…”
“No!” Jeongin shouted, his hand reaching out, before he curled it back against his chest, surprised by his own outburst. “I mean… No, thank you, hyung. I want to stay with you right now…”
Chan smiled softly, coming closer and rubbing Jeongin’s back. “Of course, little one. I’m not letting you leave my sight.” The gentle touch was doing wonders for the hybrid, who melted under Chan’s warm hand. “Why don’t you get ahead and get dressed in the cabin? I’ll stay right here and I’ll escort you to the others once you’re done.”
Chan knew he had the tendency to be overprotective, but after what he’d just witnessed, he couldn’t help it. Jeongin also didn’t seem to complain much, as he hurried to get dressed as fast as possible, immediately rejoining his leader’s side once he was done.
The interview was fun, although Chan insisted on always standing next to Jeongin. The others quickly accommodated them despite not knowing what had happened, pushing the youngest and oldest in the middle of their group. On the way back to their dorm, Chan explained the situation to the rest of their bandmates, who were all justifiably outraged. Jisung especially was acting like a Karen, wanting to speak with the manager of the team of stylists. That had the merit of making Jeongin laugh, before he wrestled all of them into a pizza and movie night.
Once they were all settled on the couch, happily snuggling, or throwing popcorn on each other, Chan felt a small nudge against his hand. Looking down, he gasped in surprise when the sight of a small fennec fox greeted him, big eyes just begging to be picked up. With a gentle smile, Chan delicately scooped the canine up onto his lap, cooing when he immediately curled up into a ball. However, he didn’t seem to be fully satisfied yet. With a small yip, he nipped at Chan’s fingers, and then rubbed his ears underneath it.
Stifling an emotional sob, Chan very gently caressed the fox’s ears, his touch lighter than a feather, admiring how warm they were. And if he didn’t pay attention to the movie at all for the rest of the night and slept on the couch because Jeongin had fallen asleep on his knees and he didn’t want to disturb him, well that was simply more blackmail material that his kids had against him.
Chan knew exactly where to find Changbin. He had been falling in a funk lately, and when that - rarely - happened, he usually locked himself in the place he felt safest in. That’s why Chan was currently knocking at the door of the 3racha studio, the clock in the hallway indicating 2AM.
“Changbin? I’m coming in,” he announced, giving him a warning but not a choice.
The door creaked open, and he found Changbin exactly how he expected him to be: sitting at his desk, headphones on and typing away at a track on his computer. Even across the room, Chan could hear the loud drill rap that was blasting through the headphones. The head producer approached slowly, leaving his backpack by the doorway and putting a hand on Changbin’s shoulder.
The boy jumped, startled, his headphones falling around his neck.
“Binnie, please. It’s already two in the morning, you need to come back to the dorm…” Chan pleaded.
“Hyung… you almost gave me a heart attack!” the rapper complained, putting a hand over his heart.
“You lost track of time again. It’s time to come home Binnie.”
“But I’m on a roll here, hyung. I finished two songs already, and I’m working on a third that I think we could translate for the upcoming Japanese comeback. It just needs a few adjustments; I was working on the bass line-”
“Changbin,” Chan called out sternly. He needed to stop the boy’s rambling before he got caught in the whirlwind. “You can finish this another day. Right now, you’re burying yourself in work to avoid your problems. So we’re going to sit on the couch and talk about what those problems are.”
Chan pointed to the couch in the back of the room, sitting on it and patting the space next to him as an invitation.
“That’s rich, coming from you,” Changbin raised an eyebrow, sending his leader a judgemental look.
However, when the oldest didn’t flinch, the rapper had to resign himself. He sighed and saved his work, before making his way to the couch and heavily falling on it.
“Good. Now tell me what’s keeping you up so late at night?” Chan wondered, turning to face his friend properly.
“It’s nothing, Channie-hyung. I just had a burst of inspiration, and I had to come to the studio to write.”
“Hmm,” Chan seemed unconvinced, crossing his arms and scrutinizing Changbin’s face for a few long seconds. Then, with tilt of his head, he asked, “How long has it been since you shifted, Binnie?”
The question took Changbin by surprise, making him choke on his saliva. After a couple of coughs and a few deep breaths, he answered. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
However, the redness of his ears told a different story and by now, Chan knew how to read each of his boys by heart. He simply kept staring at the rapper, not willing to let this go. Changbin sighed and leaned farther back on the couch mumbling something under his breath.
“What? I’m sorry I didn’t quite get that?”
“A month… maybe…”
Chan took a minute for himself. He couldn’t explode, no matter how this news made him feel, or else Changbin would shut himself back up and not share anything. For hybrids, changing between their human and animal skin was like breathing. Most of the time you do it unconsciously, but sometimes, especially after a hard day, you have to take a few long deep breaths to allow all the stress to leave your body. Hybrids did the same thing when they shifted, and staying stuck in one form, no matter which one, was not a good thing.
“Alright… Can you tell me why it’s been this long? I know for a fact that Minho always makes sure that you guys have at least two or three moments in the week free from schedules so you can shift if you want. You haven’t used those times?”
Changbin shook his head. “I can’t. It’s… I don’t fit.”
Chan frowned, taken aback. “You don’t fit in the group? Did someone tell you that, or is that something that you feel? ”
“Not with the group… The group is fine. I don’t fit with myself.”
Chan was now completely lost, blinking blankly at the other producer. “You don’t fit… with yourself?”
“I’m a rapper, hyung. I’m tough, I go to the gym everyday and can lift two people without a problem. I love dark and I look intimidating, I’m in a competitive environment where you have to be ruthless to leave your mark and I write about squashing down the haters. And despite all that… I’m a bunny! How can that fit with what I’m supposed to be?” Changbin blurted out, evidently having been holding on to those words for a long while.
“Oh… Binnie… How long have you had those thoughts for?” Chan gently coaxed, putting a reassuring hand on the boy’s knee.
“I… uhm… I’ve… been reading blogs… from the underground rap scene… A lot of people seem to think that if you’re a hybrid, your animal reflects everything that you are… So, I can’t be taken seriously as a rapper if I’m a bunny.”
“I hope you know that’s bullshit, right?” Chan deadpanned, looking straight at Changbin. “Do you think Sungie is a good rapper?”
“Sungie? Of course! Why?”
“Binnie, you are aware that Jisung is a squirrel, right? And that he’s called the Ace of Kpop’s fourth generation?” Chan rose an eyebrow.
A silent moment passed, before Changbin’s face lit up with realization. “Oh… yeah… I think I see your point.” He scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment.
“As long as you understand that you can be the fiercest rapper ever, while still being a bunny, that’s all that matters. And you should stop reading those blogs, they’re just jealous that they’re not as famous as we are” Chan smiled, ruffling Changbin’s dark bangs.
The rapper complained half-heartedly, before he sent his leader a timid look.
“Do you mind if… I shift now? I know you want us to go home but it’s been a while, and I feel like I’m going to explode out of my skin if I don’t turn right now. It won’t be long, I’ll make sure to be as quick as possible and then we can pack up and go to the dorms!”
Chan shook his head with a long-suffering sigh. “You honestly think I wasn’t ready for every scenario?” The leader stood back up, taking his backpack from where he’d left it by the doorway and opening it, revealing an empty space except from a towel at the bottom. “Jump in there, I’ll bring you home. You’re not shifting back until you’re ready to do so, so take your time.”
If Changbin hadn’t been dead tired, he would’ve engulfed his bandmate in a smothering hug. However, he only had enough energy left for a smile before he shifted, effortlessly turning into a dark grey rabbit. He shook his whole body, taking a minute to clean his ears and get used to this form once more before he jumped in Chan’s backpack, settling on the towel. His two long ears peaked from the top of the bag, Chan gently pushing them so he didn’t accidentally pull on them while shouldering the bag.
“Atta boy. We’ll be home in no time, you get some rest Binnie. Our best dark rapper,” Chan smiled, before he shut the lights off, closing the studio door behind him.
Chan knew, as soon as the deal was proposed, that it was going to be a bad idea. However, he just couldn’t resist Hyunjin’s puppy eyes, so when the dancer had insisted that Chan participate in the add campaign for the new H&H jewelry line, he couldn’t refuse.
H&H stood for Humans & Hybrids. They specialized in jewels that would adapt themselves to the customer’s body. They got inspired from the process of hybrid shifting to create jewels that could shift size at the same time as a hybrid shifted body. That was very useful for idols like Stray Kids, who wore trinkets all day long; they didn’t have to remove all of their earrings, bracelets and rings every time they wanted to change form. Because of that, JYP and H&H created a partnership, and Stray Kids soon became the ambassadors for the brand, showing off the new collections every few months.
The winter season was now upon them, and H&H was requesting two Stray Kids members to do their newest promotion at a prestigious gala. Hyunjin had accepted to be one of the two, being generally at ease during events and diners, and the managers had told him to pick whoever he wanted to accompany him.
Chan had been ready to intervene, just in case Hyunjin wanted to choose Seungmin or Felix, the two boys having a packed enough schedule. However, he hadn’t been ready for Hyunjin coming straight to him.
“The jewels are made for hybrids Jinnie. The only thing the photographs will want is to see you shift while wearing the new creations.”
“The name of the brand is H&H, hyung. Humans and hybrid. We have to cater to every type of clients. And I really want to do this with you, pleeeeease!” The boy whined, draping his longs arms over Chan’s shoulders.
The producer could only roll his eyes and accept with a small smile, which got Hyunjin jumping up and down in joy. Maybe three iced Americanos in one morning had been too much…
The night of the gala, both boys left their dressing room looking more dapper than ever. The slick black suits they were wearing were made to enhance Chan’s broad shoulders and Hyunjin’s long legs, while being simple enough that the point of the outfit was clearly the jewelry. Hyunjin was adorned in an incredible corseted piece, made of light golden chains that started as a necklace and then wrapped elegantly all around his torso. One of his ears was covered with small diamonds, while the other sported one long falling earring, made out of even tinnier gold chains delicately clinking together whenever he moved his head, while rings covered his fingers.
Next to him, Chan was in all silver. A heavier chain was hanging around his neck, with matching silver bands acting as bracelets around both his wrist and his bicep. His black vest was cropped enough to show the waist chain that was wrapped around his abs, while cuffs decorated his ears. A couple of chains linked his belt to the front pocket of his pants, recalling Hyunjin’s torso piece and making the outfits coherent with each other.
As soon as they walked out on the red carpet, photographers were all over them. Well, more precisely, all over Hyunjin. Chan knew it and it didn’t bother him, always wanting to put his kids forward in any type of event. He loved how Hyunjin glowed and bloomed under the spotlights, so it was very naturally that he let the blond take the front of the stage. However, Hyunjin didn’t seem to see it that way. He kept pushing Chan forward, whispering in his ear that it was because the producer was smaller so it would be a better perspective for the cameras that way. Yet, they both knew about the insoles hidden in Chan’s combat boots, which drastically reduced the size difference between both men.
“Hyunjin! Over here Hyunjin! Please show us how you shift!” Some journalists called out.
From the sidelines, one of the managers silently urged Hyunjin to shift, with an insistent look. The boy sighed, leaning once more towards his leader.
“I don’t wanna shift, hyung. If I do it, they’re all going to forget about you…”
His words might’ve seemed harsh, but they both knew it was true. A couple of photographers had already not so subtly called out that Chan was only a boring human, and that they wanted solo shots of Hyunjin.
“It’s okay Jinnie, it’s our job. You can do it; I’ll be there to back you up as much as I can. And if it gets too tiring, you tell hyung and I’ll get you out of here, okay?” Chan said, offering him a much more honest smile than what he was giving the camera.
It was painful for Chan to not be able to help Hyunjin more, since he knew that he couldn’t offer the public what the hybrid could. But he would support him as much as possible. Hyunjin frowned a little, before his eyes widened with the familiar glint that said he’d just had an idea. Chan tried not to grimace, much too used to those ideas to know how they could turn out, especially in public.
“I won’t let them call you boring. They’re going to see once and for all that you deserve the center stage!”
The blond stepped up in front of Chan on the red carpet, doing a little twirl for the cameras and shifting at the same time, his black suit turning into the pristine white fur of his ferret form. The golden jewels complimented his fur coat brilliantly, and just as promised by the brand, all of the accessories shrunk with Hyunjin, adapting themselves to his new form. The chains on his torso now looked more like a golden harness, while the rings were perfectly adjusted to his tiny fingers and the diamonds moved to follow the new shape of Hyunjin’s ears.
A gasp echoed around the room, the other guests also following the transformation with rapt eyes. However, Hyunjin wasn’t done. With the speed and agility proper to ferrets, he climbed up Chan’s pant leg, over his torso and all the way to his shoulders, where he draped himself like a luxurious scarf. Now, no matter how much they wanted to, the journalists couldn’t crop Chan out of the picture if they wanted a shot of Hyunjin as well. With a snide look, the ferret nibbled on Chan’s ear cuff; the managers couldn’t complain, he was promoting the product.
Chan shook his head, laughing. “You’re a menace, you know that?”
Hyunjin proudly chirped, running down Chan’s arm and playing with one of his rings to make it glint in the light. Chan indulgently let the hybrid climb all over him, feeling that this gala might turn out to be much more interesting than he originally thought.
They were in a foreign country for their world tour and, as usual, Stray Kids allowed themselves a few hours roaming outside their hotel after the concert, while the adrenalin from performing settled down. They usually couldn’t do that in South Korea, since everyone knew or at least recognized them, and they were quickly mobbed. However, in a foreign country where the general population didn’t really know anything about Kpop apart from BTS, they didn’t need to worry about that. They could go outside and be normal young men for once, just hanging out amongst friends and maybe even go into a bar.
Still, since the early hours of the morning were fast approaching, Chan started to herd them back to the hotel. They’d just turned a corner, Jeongin swearing that it was the correct way back to where they came from, when they were accosted. A group of three men stood before them, and four more hurried to flank them from the back, cutting off their escape route.
Chan frowned. Stray Kids did have the upper hand in number, and quite a few of them were able to throw a punch, since they went to the gym so often. However, something told him that no one would take on a group as large as them without some sort of safety plan. The first man in front of him took out a gun from his belt, quickly confirming his suspicions.
“Well hello there. Where are you running to, boys?” the man asked, tilting his head and keeping his gun well in view.
“We don’t want any trouble,” Chan answered, standing in the front and pushing Jeongin behind him protectively.
“Oh, but I think you do! Why else would eight guys just strut around in my streets, dressed like they’re rich as fuck?” the man smiled, revealing a few missing teeth and silver fillings. The tattoos on his shaved head made it obvious that he was in a gang, and Chan shivered at the thought of having stumbled in the middle of a turf war.
“Look, we’re not from around here. Just let us go and we won’t tell anyone that we saw you tonight,” Chan tried placating the man, raising his hands in a peaceful gesture.
“Nah, that’s not how this is gonna work. You boys are gonna empty your pockets, or I’m going to have to shoot someone,” the man approached them menacingly, waving his gun around carelessly.
A low growl answered his threat. Chan’s shoulders dropped in defeat as he knew that now, all attempt at getting out peacefully was gone.
“You’ve got a hybrid? Oh, this just got so much better…” the man chuckled darkly, eyeing Seungmin up and down as the golden retriever, now shifted, barked at him. “Do you know how much we could sell him for in a dark lab? There’s a couple of mad scientists who would love to do all kinds of experiments on hybrids!”
“Don’t touch him!” Changbin yelled, stepping forward.
“Don’t bother, you’re all worthless now. I’ve got my eyes on a much better prize”, the gangster dismissed them without even a glance in their direction, his whole attention focused on the still barking Seungmin. “Boys, kill’em,” he ordered his goons coldly.
Minho and Hyunjin shouted in protest, while Felix scanned the street around him to find anything that could act as a weapon. Jeongin and Changbin both tugged at Seungmin’s fur to get him to back off, while Jisung hurled insults at the gang leader. The man didn’t seem phased at all, simply raising his gun and nonchalantly pointing it straight at Jisung’s head, making the boy gasp in fright.
But everything stopped when another growl, much deeper and louder than Seungmin’s, echoed around the alleyway.
Everyone froze, the air itself becoming stale as no one dared to take a breath. Another growl finally managed to make head turns, although it was in vain; there was nothing to see. Or rather, there was just pure darkness, like a void that took over the entire space. It was huge and vibrating, anger evident in the aura that pulsed around it. The only color that was visible was two blood red dots, so high up that even the tallest men present had to look up to see them. Once those dots fell on you though, it was over. Pure hatred stared down at the men, as the snarls became more and more menacing. The hunter had found its prey, and it wasn’t going to let it go.
In a desperate attempt to regain control of the situation, the gang leader raised his gun and shot. But what could a bullet do against the black vastness that stood in front of it? With a growl, a set of pearly white and razor-sharp teeth appeared out of the dark, bending down and clamping firmly on the man’s arm. He let out a blood curdling scream as red dripped down his arm.
Fearful gasps and frightened shouts warned the group of hybrids that the four men that stood behind them were running away, scared out of their minds. The two that were still in front were not faring much better, only staying to try and help their leader.
With a snarl, the black beast let go of the offender’s arm, barking loudly at him. It was too much for the man, who passed out with a faint cry. His two companions hesitated briefly but managed to grab their injured friend before rushing off into the night.
A cloud passed overhead, and a police siren echoed in the distance while Stray Kids took the time to understand what had just happened.
“Hyung?” Felix’s voice shook as he asked the question, all eyes turned to the black form still hiding in the darkness.
A grunt and the sound of bones cracking answered him before a voice was heard. “It’s me.”
None of them had heard Chan sounding so defeated before. Not when they’d still been trainees and the Aussie boy had wondered if he was ever going to make it as an idol. Not when he learned that Minho, and then Felix, were to be eliminated from Stray Kids’ pre-debut show. Not when he had to say goodbye to his parents at the airport after not having seen them for years because of the pandemic…
He didn’t step out of the pool of shadows he was conveniently hidden in, staying just out of sight of the rest of the boys.
“Hyung… Are you okay?” Jisung asked.
Because that was all that mattered right now. If Chan was okay, they were all going to be.
“I…”
Chan cut himself off, obviously unsure of the answer.
“Whatever happened tonight, it doesn’t matter. We can deal with that later. But are you okay, hyung?” Minho insisted, his voice sharp.
“… Yes, I am.”
“Good. That’s all we need,” Minho nodded approvingly, although he didn’t make any move to get to their leader.
“Channie-hyung? I’m coming closer,” Jeongin announced, not taking no for an answer. He shouldered his way to the front of the group, no one stopping him, before he stepped in the pool of darkness. “Take my hand, hyung.”
Everyone held their breath in expectation. Finally, Chan stepped out of the dark, holding Jeongin’s hand. He seemed exactly the same, if just a bit frailer, a lot more tired and with shining red eyes. No one commented on it as Jeongin tugged him closer, although Chan kept his gaze resolutely on the ground.
“The hotel is that way,” Seungmin said after a while, pointing to a direction. They all mindlessly nodded, following the second youngest in silence, making their way back to their hotel. They stayed silent as they entered the lobby, and stayed silent during the elevator ride. They stayed silent while walking in the hallways, and it’s silently that they all decided as one to crash in Chan and Changbin’s room. Jeongin, Minho and Jisung sat on the couch, Hyunjin shot-gunning the chair by the desk. Felix and Seungmin went on Changbin’s bed, while Changbin sat on the floor in between the two beds. Chan sat at the edge of his bed, his hands on his knees and his head down.
No one knew how to address what had just happened. Thankfully, Chan was the one to tackle it.
“I’m a hybrid.”
“No shit Sherlock” Felix blurted out in English. He only seemed to realize what he said after the words left his lips, smacking his hand over his mouth with wide eyes.
Thankfully, that was the thing needed to relax the tense atmosphere, everyone letting out small chuckles. Some tension even left Chan’s shoulders, as he slumped more against the bed.
“Why didn’t you tell us before?” Jisung asked from the couch. A tinge of betrayal tainted his words, which made a lot of sense. He was Chan’s first kid, the one he spent the most time with, and to learn that the leader couldn’t confide himself in Jisung through all those years hurt the boy a lot.
“I was afraid… I haven’t told anyone since I was nine years old…”
“What? But why?” Jeongin exclaimed, shocked.
“We’re all hybrids here, hyung. What were you possibly afraid of?” Changbin frowned, scooting closer to Chan’s bed.
“Every time I ever shifted in front of someone, I absolutely scared the daylight out of them. I lost many friends back in Australia, because they were just too afraid of me. I didn’t want the same thing to happen in Korea, so the day I first moved here for the JYP auditions I just… stopped shifting.”
“Do you mean that… you haven’t shifted since you were nine?” Hyunjin asked wide-eyed, unable to process the information.
Chan nodded, not looking at any of them.
“And then you scold me for not shifting for a month?” Changbin yelled, scandalized.
“What do you mean, you didn’t shift for a month?” Minho squinted at the rapper, leaning forward on the couch.
“That’s not the question,” Changbin mumbled, evading Minho’s piercing stare. “Channie-hyung, why were you so afraid to tell us that you were a hybrid? We’re the same, none of us could be scared of you!”
“You didn’t see me, in the alleyway. I’m… terrifying…” Chan shook his head, defeated.
Felix stood up, making his way over to Chan and sitting next to him, holding the producer’s hand. “Hyung… You could be a snake, a spider or even a dragon for all I care. No matter what form you take, we know that it’s you; our most caring, most selfless leader who risked his life today to protect us. So please, trust us with this part of you?”
Felix’s words, paired with his softest look, managed to make Chan’s walls crumble. He still looked worried, still looked so sure that his boys would reject him after seeing his other form, but they at least had the right to see, now that the cat was out of the bag.
With a deep inhale, Chan let all his tensions go. He let his limbs shift the way they always wanted to, let his skin vibrate and change into black fur, let his body drop to all four into a much more comfortable position and he let his senses sharpen. His ears first, as they poked on top of his head, allowing him to hear all of his boys’ small gasps of surprise. Then his nose, as he smelled Hyunjin’s floral perfume, and the candies hidden in Jisung’s pocket. Taste came after, as his teeth elongated into sharp points. But no matter how much he poked his tongue out in the air, he couldn’t taste any fear coming from around him. So, with one last breath, he opened his eyes, revealing the deep ruby orbs and judging everyone’s reactions.
Felix and Changbin, the ones closest to him, were staring up and down at him. Well, more up anyways, since he was much taller than them. They didn’t move away though, didn’t look disgusted by him at all. More like… in awe?
Chan shook his head, looking at the couch next. Jisung looked almost… excited, with the same glint in his eyes that he usually had when working on a new song. Next to him, Minho was smirking, relaxing back in the cushions, while Jeongin was audibly gasping. And on the other side of the room, Chan managed to catch Seungmin grumbling as he opened his wallet and slid a few bills in Hyunjin’s hand.
“I told you if Chan-hyung was a hybrid he would be a wolf!” Hyunjin smugly said, pocketing the money.
“A gorgeous wolf,” Felix whispered, getting up on his knees. His hand rose up as if to pet Chan’s side, but he stopped at the last moment. “Can I?” He gently asked.
Chan, still too gobsmacked that no one was running away screaming, only nodded while laying on the ground for easier access. Felix ran a reverent hand over his back, petting the thick but soft fur. Changbin soon joined him, scratching right behind Chan’s ear. The wolf was not expecting it, and most importantly, he was not used to any comforting touch in his animal form. So, he was helpless to stop the low purr that escaped him, rumbling in his chest. Felix laughed, giving him a couple more pats on the back.
“He seems to like that! Is it nice, hyung?”
Chan huffed but he couldn’t deny it. Instead, he laid down on his side, putting one heavy paw on Felix’s lap.
“I want to pet Chan-hyung too!” Jeongin shouted, jumping from the couch to kneel next to them.
“I think everyone wants to pet the huge wolf, Innie,” Minho snidely remarked as all of the boys sat on the carpet around Chan, amazed by his soft fur.
“There’s three of us now…” Seungmin whispered proudly, although loud enough for the others to hear him.
“Three of what?” Jisung asked, intrigued.
“Three canines!”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you Minnie, but I just cannot put your fluffy golden retriever or Innie’s tiny fennec fox in the same category as Channie-hyung’s wolf,” Hyunjin deadpanned.
At those words, Chan grimaced and curled up on himself with a whimper.
“But it’s not because you’re scary,” Minho firmly said, pinching Chan’s ear to get him to stop wallowing. “I have to admit you’re impressive, but I’m sure I could take you any day in my cat form,” he off-handedly added, and Chan definitely believed him. “However, Minnie would look like a Chihuahua if he were to stand next to you, and Innie would literally be the size of a mouse. So, I agree with Jinnie to say that I cannot put you three in the same box.”
Chan couldn’t stay silent anymore. He shifted back to his human form, ending up sitting on the carpet in the middle of the circle of boys. “Do you really mean it? You’re not afraid of me? Even after what happened tonight with the gangsters?” he asked eagerly, looking all of them in the eyes.
“Well, you did scare me in the alleyway,” Jisung admitted, staring straight back at his leader. “You scared me because I thought you were going to be riddled with bullet holes!” the boy frowned. “What do you think would happen to us if you were hurt? We wouldn’t survive one day without you!”
Chan felt his ears redden at the compliment.
“You could never scare us, hyung,” Jeongin added, reaching over to hold Chan’s hand. “You’re our protector. And now that we know that we’re all hybrids, I can’t wait until we can all shift and hang out together!”
“I don’t see why we should wait,” Hyunjin shrugged, easily shifting and running around on the carpet in his ferret form.
“I’m not sure this hotel accepts shifting in the rooms,” Felix worried, but Minho patted his leg reassuringly.
“As long as we stay in the room, no one will know.”
Then, a black and white cat stood in Minho’s place. Felix rolled his eyes and shifted as well, the little chick climbing with some difficulty over the cat, until he stood on Minho’s head. Foxy Innie quickly joined them, bounding happily after Hyunjin as the ferret slipped under the beds and ran around the couch. As he coursed after Hyunjin, Jeongin stepped on Seungmin’s foot, which made him growl and quickly shift to teach the younger a lesson.
“Well, in for a penny, in for a pound,” Changbin shrugged, before his body melted into his bunny form, staring up at Chan insistently. Jisung joined him, now as a squirrel, tugging at Chan’s sleeve until he relented.
The leader smiled and turned into a wolf once more, laying down on the carpet and watching amusedly as all his bandmates tried their best to climb over him. Once everyone had found their place – Minho in between his front paws, Changbin, Jeongin and Seungmin against his flank, Hyunjin and Jisung on his back and Felix on top of his head – Chan sighed happily. This is all he’d ever wished for, ever since he was a scared and lost kid coming over to South Korea. To find a family that would accept him as he was. And he’d finally found them.