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“I don’t wanna go to bed,” she mumbles as Felix carries her inside, voice whiny and small. “I’m not tired.”

Felix winces when he shifts her weight because his hip is clearly still hurting, but he doesn’t complain. He just kisses the top of her head. “I know, princess. But you were such a big helper tonight. You deserve the best sleep ever.”

Minho is already waiting in the living area with the cat carrier. Miso is curled up inside, looking much calmer than she did earlier.

Noeul’s face brightens for a second when she sees them. She wiggles until Felix sets her down, then toddles over on tired legs.

“Bye, Miso,” she says, poking a finger through the bars. Her voice is soft but wobbly with exhaustion. “You were a good kitty. Lee Know is gonna take you to the cat café now so you can have more friends.”

Miso meows quietly. Noeul leans her forehead against the carrier for a second.

Minho crouches down beside her. “You did a really good job today. She’s not scared anymore because of you.”

Noeul nods, but her bottom lip starts to tremble. “Can I come with you?”

Minho shakes his head gently. “Not tonight, little one. It’s way past your bedtime and Miso needs to settle in. But I’ll send you pictures tomorrow, okay?”

Noeul’s face crumples. The exhaustion, the missed stage moment, the long day, everything hits at once. Big fat tears spill down her cheeks.

“But I want to go,” she cries, voice cracking. “I want to stay with Miso and the kitties…”

Felix is there instantly, lowering himself carefully to the floor despite the pain in his hip. He pulls her into his lap, hugging her close.

“Hey, hey, princess,” he murmurs, rocking her gently. “I know. You did such a good job today. You were so brave and kind to Miso. I’m really proud of you.”

She buries her face in his neck, sobs shaking her small body. “But I wanted to go on stage with you and now Miso is leaving too…”

You sit beside them, rubbing her back. Minho gives you both a quiet nod and slips out with the carrier, giving your family space.

Felix holds her tighter, voice soft but steady even though you can see how much his hip is hurting.

“When we get home to Korea,” he says, pressing a kiss to her hair, “we’re going to get you your very own kitten. Okay? A real one that lives with us all the time. You can name her whatever you want and she’ll sleep in your room and you can take care of her every single day.”

Noeul sniffles, peeking up at him with wet eyes. “Really? My own kitty?”

“Really,” Felix promises, brushing tears off her cheeks with his thumb. “We’ll pick her out together. She can be your best friend.”

She hiccups, still crying but calmer now. “Can she be gray like Miso?”

“Any color you want,” he says. “Gray, orange, black and white, whatever makes you happy.”

Noeul nods slowly, leaning her head on his shoulder again. Her sobs turn into tired little sniffles.

You meet Felix’s eyes over her head. He looks exhausted, in pain, and emotionally drained, but the love in his gaze when he looks at her is brighter than any stage light.

You mouth “thank you” to him. He gives you a small, tired smile and mouths back, “Always.”

Noeul’s breathing finally evens out against his chest. She’s out cold, worn out from the longest, biggest day of her little life.

Felix stays on the floor a moment longer, holding her like she’s the most precious thing in the world, which, to him, she is.

The morning they leave for Dallas, Noeul is already clinging to your leg before anyone has even packed the last bag.

“I don’t wanna fly,” she says, voice small and wobbly. “My ears go pop-pop and it hurts and I don’t like it.”

Felix is trying to zip her little suitcase, but you can see the tension in his shoulders. His hip is still bothering him from the other day, and the lack of sleep isn’t helping. He crouches down slowly, wincing, and tries to smile.

“It’ll be okay, princess. Daddy will sit right next to you the whole time. We’ll hold hands and chew gummies and..”

Noeul shakes her head, eyes already shiny with tears. “I don’t want to.”

Minho walks in from the hallway at that exact moment, backpack slung over one shoulder, carrying the now-empty cat carrier Miso had been in. He sees Noeul’s face and drops to one knee right away.

“Hey, tiny one,” he says gently. “You scared of the plane again?”

She nods, lip trembling. “It’s loud and my ears hurt last time.”

Minho nods like he completely understands. “Yeah, that part isn’t fun. But you know what? This plane is a special one for us. It’s quieter than the last one, and I brought the best noise-canceling headphones just for you. Plus, I’ll sit right there and you can hold my hand the whole time if you want. And if your ears start to feel funny, we’ll do the chewing trick together and count to thirty, okay?”

Noeul sniffles, but she’s listening. “You promise?”

“I promise,” Minho says, holding out his pinky. “Kitty honor.”

She hooks her tiny pinky with his and gives a tiny nod. “Okay… I’ll try.”

Felix watches the whole exchange from a few feet away. His jaw tightens. He doesn’t say anything, but you can see it, the flicker of hurt, the way his shoulders stiffen. His own daughter had been melting down for him, but the second Minho stepped in with that calm, steady voice, she calmed right down. It stings.

You reach over and squeeze Felix’s hand, but he just gives a small, tight smile and turns back to the suitcase.

At the airport, the private jet is waiting. Noeul sticks close to Minho the whole walk through security, holding his hand instead of Felix’s. Felix doesn’t comment, but his limp is still noticeable and his mood is clearly off.

When it’s time to board, Noeul looks up at Minho with big eyes.

“Can I sit with you?” she asks, voice hopeful.

Minho glances at Felix for half a second, then back at her. “If it’s okay with Daddy and Mommy.”

Felix’s jaw flexes, but he forces a nod. “Yeah. Go ahead, princess.”

Noeul beams and climbs into the seat next to Minho, already asking him if she can pick the movie on his iPad.

Felix settles into the row across from them with you, quiet. He stares out the window as the plane starts to taxi, one hand rubbing his sore hip absently.

You lean your head on his shoulder. “She still loves you more than anything, you know that, right?”

He exhales through his nose. “I know. It’s stupid. I’m being stupid. She’s five and scared of the plane and Minho just… knows how to talk to her sometimes.” His voice drops. “Doesn’t make it feel any better when she picks him over me.”

You squeeze his hand. “She didn’t pick him over you. She just needed someone calm right now. And you’re carrying a lot, the pain, the show, everything with the company. She feels safe with all of us.”

Felix nods, but he doesn’t look convinced. He watches Noeul across the aisle as she leans into Minho’s side, already giggling at something on the screen, her earlier tears completely gone.

The plane lifts off smoothly. Noeul doesn’t cry once.

The plane had been in the air for about an hour when Noeul suddenly perked up in her seat next to Minho. She unbuckled her seatbelt with his quiet help and toddled across the aisle, climbing straight into Felix’s lap without asking.

Felix blinked, surprised, but his arms came around her right away. His hip was still sore, but having her close seemed to ease something in him.

“Hi, princess,” he said softly. “You okay?”

Noeul nodded, then looked up at him with big, serious eyes.

“Daddy,” she said, “tell me everything about Texas.”

Felix’s eyebrows rose. “Everything?”

“Everything,” she confirmed, nodding hard. “Are there real cowboys there? With hats and horses?”

Felix smiled, the crankiness from earlier melting off his face. “Yeah, there are cowboys. Some wear big hats and boots. And yes, there are horses.”

Noeul’s eyes widened. “Do they ride the horses to the store? Like to buy milk and bread?”

Felix let out a soft laugh. “Not usually. They mostly drive cars or trucks now. But sometimes on ranches they still ride horses to check on the animals.”

Noeul thought about that for a second, then asked, “Are there bulls? Like angry ones that go ‘moo’ really loud?”

“There are bulls,” Felix said patiently. “Especially on farms and rodeos. They can be pretty big and strong.”

She gasped. “Do the cowboys ride the bulls?”

“Some do,” Felix told her. “It’s called bull riding. It’s very brave… and a little bit crazy.”

Noeul giggled, then tilted her head. “Daddy?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Is Sandy from SpongeBob really from Texas?”

Felix grinned, unable to hold back a laugh this time. “Yes, she is. She’s from Texas. That’s why she has the accent and loves her lasso.”

Noeul looked extremely satisfied with this answer. “I knew it. She says ‘y’all’ sometimes.”

You watched them from the seat beside Felix, heart warm. Noeul kept firing questions, “Do they have really big stars in the sky in Texas?” “Can we see a real cowboy hat?”, and Felix answered every single one with endless patience, his voice gentle and full of love.

The earlier tension in his shoulders had completely disappeared. He looked happy. Really happy. Like this, answering his daughter’s random, endless questions about a state she’d never been to, was exactly what he needed.

At one point Noeul yawned big and snuggled deeper into his chest. “Daddy?” she mumbled sleepily.

“Hmm?”

“When we get to Texas… can we look for Sandy Cheeks?”

Felix chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “We can definitely look for her.”

The questions finally slowed somewhere over the middle of nowhere. Now her head was getting heavier against his chest. Her little legs, which had been swinging restlessly, stilled. Bbokari was squished between them, one of her hands still loosely curled around Felix’s hoodie.

“Daddy?” she mumbled, voice thick and sleepy.

“Yeah, baby?”

“Texas sounds… big.”

He smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “It is big. But not as big as how much I love you.”

Noeul made a tiny, satisfied hum. Her eyes fluttered once, twice, then slipped closed completely. Within seconds her breathing evened out, deep and steady, her whole body going soft and heavy in his lap.

Felix didn’t move.

He just sat there, one arm wrapped securely around her back, the other resting gently on her leg like he was afraid she might disappear if he let go. The plane hummed quietly around them. The cabin lights were low. Outside the window, the sky was a soft, endless blue.

The tension that had been living in his shoulders since the company said no to the stage appearance, since his hip flared up, since Noeul had reached for Minho instead of him earlier, it had melted away. His face was soft in a way it rarely got to be lately. The corner of his mouth was turned up in the smallest, gentlest smile, and his eyes stayed fixed on her sleeping face like he was memorizing every eyelash, every freckle, every tiny breath.

You watched him from the seat beside them, heart so full it almost hurt.

This was the Felix you fell in love with all over again every single time, not the idol on stage, not the frustrated man arguing with managers, but the dad who would sit perfectly still for hours if it meant his daughter could sleep on him.

He caught you looking and turned his head just enough to meet your eyes. The smile deepened, small and private and full of everything he didn’t have to say out loud.

You reached over and brushed your fingers lightly over his arm.

He mouthed, “I love you.” You mouthed it back.

Noeul made a soft, sleepy sound and nuzzled closer to his chest. Felix adjusted his hold automatically, careful, protective, like she was still brand new even though she was growing so fast.

For the rest of the flight he barely moved. He just held her, cheek resting gently against her hair, looking more at peace than he had in weeks.

Felix hadn’t moved in almost forty minutes. His bad hip was probably screaming at him, but he didn’t seem to care. He just kept one arm wrapped protectively around her back, the other hand gently stroking her hair, his eyes soft and content in a way that made your chest feel too full.

You were watching them both when he suddenly turned his head toward you. He leaned in close, lips brushing the shell of your ear so his voice stayed just for you.

“What if we give her a little brother or sister?”

You froze. Your eyes went wide as you pulled back just enough to look at him. He was already smiling, that quiet, dimpled, heart-stopping smile that always made your stomach flip, even after all this time.

“Felix…” you whispered, stunned.

He didn’t flinch. If anything, his smile grew a little wider, a little more sure.

“What?” he murmured, voice low and warm. “We make great kids.”

You stared at him, heart hammering so loud you were sure he could hear it over the engines. Noeul shifted in his lap with a tiny sleepy sigh, and Felix automatically adjusted his hold, rocking her gently without ever looking away from you.

“I’m serious,” he said softly. “Look at her. She’s perfect. And we’re… we’re good at this. Even when it’s hard. Even when I’m limping around and arguing with managers and we’re living out of suitcases. We still made this.” His thumb brushed over Noeul’s back. “I keep thinking about it lately. About giving her someone to boss around. Someone else to love the way we love her.”

Your throat felt tight. You reached up and touched his cheek, tracing the line of his jaw with your fingertips.

“You really want that?” you whispered.

“I really do.” His eyes were bright, hopeful, a little nervous in the best way. “Not right this second. Not in the middle of tour. But… someday soon. When we’re home. When things feel a little more steady.” He leaned in again, forehead resting gently against yours. “I want more of this. More of us. A whole house full of little ones who look like you and laugh like her.”

Noeul made another soft sound in her sleep and nuzzled closer to his chest. Felix smiled down at her, then back at you, eyes shining.

“We already make the best team,” he whispered. “Imagine what we could do with one more.”

You didn’t answer with words.

You just leaned in and kissed him, slow, deep, and full of every feeling you didn’t have the space to say out loud right now. When you pulled back, your forehead stayed pressed to his.

The Texas heat hits like a wall the second the plane door opens. It’s thick, sticky, and so humid that Noeul’s curls immediately frizz up as you step out onto the jet bridge. She wrinkles her nose and clings tighter to Felix’s hand.

“It’s so hot, Daddy,” she complains, already sounding grumpy. “Like inside a dragon’s mouth.”

Felix laughs, but it’s tired. His limp is still noticeable as he helps her down the stairs to the waiting van. “Welcome to Texas, princess. It’s always like this in the summer.”

The drive to the hotel is quiet except for the low hum of the air conditioning and Noeul’s occasional sleepy questions about cowboys. By the time you pull up to the sleek downtown hotel, everyone is sticky with sweat and ready for a shower and real beds.

That’s when the front desk drops the bomb. The manager looks mortified as he checks the system again. “I’m so sorry, there was a system glitch with the group block. We only have two suites available tonight instead of three. We can try to comp you, but right now we don’t have a third room ready until tomorrow afternoon.”

Felix’s jaw tightens. You can see the flash of frustration cross his face, the hip pain, the long flight, the company stress, all of it bubbling up.

Minho and Han, who had been standing behind you with their bags, exchange a quick glance.

Han shrugs. “We can bunk up. No big deal.”

Minho nods. “Our suite has two bedrooms and a pull-out couch. Plenty of space for the three of you plus us. We’ll make it work.”

Felix looks like he wants to argue, but Noeul is already half-asleep on his shoulder and the heat is making everyone irritable. He sighs and runs a hand through his damp hair.

“Yeah. Okay. Thank you.”

The elevator ride up is silent except for the soft ding of the floors. When you finally step into the suite, it’s nice, modern, big windows overlooking the city, but it’s clearly meant for four people, not five plus a cranky toddler.

Noeul lifts her head groggily. “Where’s my bed?”

Felix sets her down gently. “We’re all sharing tonight, bug. It’ll be like a big sleepover.”

She looks around, eyes wide. “With Lee Know and Uncle Hannie?”

Han grins and flops dramatically onto the pull-out couch. “Yep. You get the best roommate in the world. I snore like a dragon, but I also tell the best bedtime stories.”

Minho is already unpacking the cat treats he’d brought for Miso earlier, quiet and calm as always. “We’ll make the second bedroom yours and your parents’. Couch is mine. Han can take the floor if he keeps talking.”

Han gasps in mock offense. “Rude.”

Noeul giggles despite how tired she is. The sound eases some of the tension in Felix’s shoulders. He glances at you, then at the two members who immediately started making space without being asked.

You catch his hand and squeeze once. “It’s only one night. We’ll survive.”

He nods, but you can tell he’s still a little rattled, the control he usually tries to keep over everything keeps slipping lately. Still, when Noeul tugs on his shirt and asks if she can sleep with Bbokari and her new Pluto plush, he melts instantly.

“Yeah, princess. Whatever you want.”

Within twenty minutes the suite has been rearranged. Noeul is in the big bedroom with you and Felix, curled up in the middle of the king bed with both plushies. Minho has claimed the couch with a pillow and blanket, and Han is dramatically declaring the floor “perfectly comfortable” while setting up a little blanket fort.

Felix stands in the doorway of the bedroom, watching Noeul already drifting off again, and lets out a long breath.

“Texas is off to a great start,” he mutters, voice dry.

You step behind him and wrap your arms around his waist, resting your cheek against his back.

“It’s not perfect,” you whisper. “But we’re all together. That’s what matters.”

He turns in your arms and kisses you softly, the kind of kiss that says thank you and I’m sorry and I love you all at once.

From the living area you hear Han whisper-yell, “If anyone snores, I’m kicking them out the window. Texas style.”

Minho’s deadpan reply, “You snore the loudest, Jisung.”

Noeul giggles sleepily from the bed.

Felix smiles against your lips, small and tired but real.

“Guess we’re doing this,” he murmurs.

You nod. “Guess we are.”

The next morning in Dallas feels like stepping into a sauna. The Texas sun is already beating down hard by the time everyone piles into the hotel parking lot with their bags and water bottles. Noeul is half-asleep on Felix’s shoulder, still in her pajamas under a hoodie because she refused to change until the last second. You’re carrying her backpack and your own, trying to keep everyone moving toward the waiting black van.

The driver starts the engine. It coughs once. Twice. Then it dies with a pathetic sputter and a thin curl of smoke from under the hood.

Everyone freezes. The driver pops the hood and stares at the engine like it personally betrayed him. Management is already on the phone, voices sharp and stressed as they try to get a replacement vehicle sent ASAP.

“You can’t sit inside,” one of the staff says quickly, waving you all back. “It’s already like an oven in there. We’ll wait out here.”

The shade from the hotel awning is barely enough. The air is thick, sticky, and so humid that Noeul’s curls start frizzing instantly. Felix shifts her weight carefully, his hip is still clearly bothering him, and sets her down on the curb beside you.

Noeul rubs her eyes, already cranky from the broken sleep and the sudden stop.

“I’m hot,” she whines, kicking her little feet against the pavement. “And I want ice cream.”

Felix crouches down beside her, trying to stay patient. “We’ll get some later, princess. The new van is coming soon.”

“But I want it now,” she says, voice getting louder. “Strawberry with sprinkles. The big cone. Like at Disneyland.”

You kneel next to her, fanning her face with your hand. “Baby, it’s too hot to eat ice cream right now. It would melt before we even open it. Let’s just wait a little bit, okay?”

Noeul’s bottom lip trembles. The heat, the long flight yesterday, the excitement and then disappointment of not going on stage, the crowded suite last night, it all crashes together at once.

“I want ice cream!” she wails, tears spilling over. “I want it right now! I hate Texas! It’s too hot and I hate it!”

She drops to the ground dramatically, kicking her legs and sobbing loud enough that a couple of hotel guests glance over. Bbokari tumbles out of her arms and she cries even harder.

Felix looks wrecked. His jaw is tight, pain and exhaustion and frustration all mixing on his face as he tries to pick her up. She flails, not wanting to be held.

“Princess, please..” he starts, voice strained.

“I WANT ICE CREAM!” she screams, face red and splotchy.

Minho appears from behind the van with a bottle of cold water he’d grabbed from inside. He crouches down and presses the cool bottle gently to her cheek.

“Hey, tiny one,” he says calmly. “I know it’s hot. I hate it too. But yelling won’t make the van come faster. Take a sip and we’ll get you something cold as soon as we can, okay?”

Noeul hiccups, still crying, but she takes the bottle and clutches it like a lifeline. The meltdown doesn’t stop completely, but it quiets to sniffly sobs instead of full screaming.

Felix watches Minho calm her down in seconds and you see the flicker of that same hurt from yesterday cross his face again. He doesn’t say anything. He just stands up slowly, wincing at his hip, and turns away to talk to the manager about how long the new vehicle will take.

You rub Noeul’s back while she leans against Minho, still sniffling. The replacement van is supposedly fifteen minutes away, but it already feels like an hour. Everyone is standing in the thin strip of shade from the hotel awning, fanning themselves with whatever they can find. Noeul has finally stopped crying, but she’s still sniffling and leaning heavily against your leg, clutching her water bottle like it’s the only thing keeping her from melting into the pavement.

Felix is a few feet away, leaning against a concrete pillar with his arms crossed. He hasn’t said much since the van broke down. His jaw is tight, his cap pulled low, and every time he shifts his weight you can see the small wince from his still-sore hip. He’s not pacing, not snapping at the staff, he’s just… standing there, staring at the ground like the asphalt holds all the answers.

Minho notices. He hands the now-empty cat carrier to one of the staff, then walks over casually, stopping beside Felix like they’re just two guys waiting for a bus.

“You okay?” Minho asks, voice low enough that it doesn’t carry.

Felix doesn’t look at him right away. He keeps his eyes on the ground for a long second.

“I’m fine,” he mutters. Then, quieter, almost under his breath, “It just feels like maybe you should raise my kid with Ivy instead of me.”

The words hang there in the thick, humid air. Minho turns his head slowly, one eyebrow lifting. He studies Felix for a beat, then lets out a short, dry laugh, not mean, just surprised.

“Nah,” he says simply. “I’m just the cool uncle.”

Felix finally glances over, eyes guarded.

Minho shrugs, leaning back against the pillar beside him. “I like hanging with her. She’s funny and she doesn’t expect me to have all the answers. But I’m not trying to take your place, man. That’s your job. I’m just the guy who shows up with snacks and cat facts.”

He pauses, then adds, almost casually, “Plus I’m into Han. No offense to Ivy.”

Felix blinks. The tension in his shoulders cracks just a little. “Wait… what?”

Minho’s mouth twitches into a tiny smirk. “You heard me. I’m not trying to co-parent with your fiancée. I’ve got my own… complicated situation to figure out.”

Felix stares at him for another second, then lets out a short, tired laugh and rubs a hand over his face. “You’re serious?”

“Dead serious,” Minho says, still casual. “So relax. I’m not stealing your family. I’m just the cool uncle who happens to be really good at calming down tired five-year-olds in hundred-degree heat.”

Felix exhales, long and slow, some of the rigid frustration finally draining out of him. He looks over at you and Noeul, she’s now sitting on the curb drawing invisible pictures on the ground with her finger, and his expression softens.

“I know,” he says quietly. “I’m being stupid. It’s just… everything lately. The company, the hip, the stage thing, and then she goes straight to you when she’s upset. It hits different.”

Minho nods once, understanding without needing more explanation. “She loves you, Lix. She just needed someone who wasn’t also hurting and frustrated in that moment. Doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.”

Felix is quiet for a long beat. Then he bumps Minho’s shoulder lightly with his own.

“Thanks,” he mutters. “For looking out for her. For all of us.”

Minho shrugs again, like it’s nothing. “That’s what family does.”

Across the lot, a black van finally turns in. Noeul looks up hopefully, already asking if there will be ice cream at the next stop. Felix straightens, wincing at his hip, but he forces a small smile for her.

Everyone piles in with audible sighs of relief as the cool air blasts over sticky skin and flushed faces. Noeul scrambles into her booster seat between you and Felix, already looking brighter. She kicks her little legs happily and presses her face to the window, watching the city roll by.

“Daddy,” she says, voice full of fresh wonder, “where are the cowboys?”

Felix smiles, the first real, soft one you’ve seen from him all morning. “They’re out there somewhere, princess. Texas has lots of ranches and farms. Some cowboys still wear the big hats and ride horses.”

Noeul’s eyes go huge. “Real horses? Not just in pictures?”

“Real ones,” he confirms, brushing a curl behind her ear. “Big and strong.”

She bounces in her seat. “Can we see horses? Please? After practice? I want to pet one. And maybe it can wear a hat like the cowboys!”

Felix glances at you, a tired but genuine smile tugging at his mouth. His hip is still clearly hurting, but the simple excitement in her voice seems to ease something in him.

“Maybe,” he says. “If we finish practice early and everyone’s not too tired, we can try to find a place with horses. Sound good?”

Noeul nods so hard her whole body shakes. “Yes! I’ll be super quiet during practice so we can go fast. And I’ll say please to the horse. And I’ll share my gummies with it!”

Felix laughs quietly, the sound warm and low. “You’re the best negotiator I know.”

She beams and settles back, already humming her off-key “Chk Chk Boom” again, the earlier meltdown completely forgotten now that cool air and the promise of real horses are on the table.

You slip your hand into Felix’s and squeeze once. He squeezes back, leaning his head against the window for a second, eyes closing like he’s letting himself breathe.

The van glides smoothly through Dallas traffic, the city skyline growing taller outside the tinted windows. Noeul chatters happily the whole way, asking what color the horse should be, whether it will let her ride it, and if cowboys say “howdy” in real life.

Felix answers every single question with endless patience, even though you can see the faint lines of pain around his eyes. But he’s smiling. Really smiling.

The practice room in Dallas is air-conditioned, but the atmosphere feels heavier than the Texas heat outside. Noeul is sitting on a folding chair near the mirrors with you, legs swinging, Bbokari on her lap and a juice box in her hand. She’s happily humming and waving at Felix every time he looks her way.

Felix is not okay. His limp has gotten noticeably worse. Every sharp turn, every low drop into the choreography makes him wince, his face tightening for a split second before he forces the idol smile back on. He’s trying, really trying, to push through the full setlist, but the pain is obvious to anyone watching closely. Chan notices first. He calls a quick break after the second run and pulls Felix aside, voice low but firm.

“You’re favoring that hip bad. Sit down. We’re getting the doctor.”

Felix tries to brush it off. “I’m fine. It’s just tight from the flight.”

Chan doesn’t budge. “You’re not fine. Sit.”

The tour doctor arrives within minutes, a calm, no-nonsense woman who’s traveled with them before. She has Felix sit on a bench and carefully examines the hip, pressing, rotating, asking where it hurts most.

Felix hisses through his teeth when she finds the spot.

“Muscle strain,” she says after a few minutes. “Possibly a mild tear. You need to limit use as much as possible. No full choreography today. We’ll adjust the formation so you can mark it or walk through the parts that aggravate it. Ice, rest when you can, and these..” She hands him a small bottle of muscle relaxers. “Take one now and another before the show if needed. But no pushing it. You’re no good to anyone if you can’t walk tomorrow.”

Felix stares at the bottle, jaw clenched. “I can still perform.”

“You can perform smart,” the doctor says firmly. “Not at the risk of making it worse.”

Noeul has been watching the whole time. She slides off her chair and toddles over, tugging on Felix’s sleeve.

“Daddy, your hip still ouchie?” she asks, voice small.

Felix forces a smile for her and pulls her into his lap, careful not to jostle himself. “A little, bug. But the doctor gave me medicine to make it better. I’ll be okay for the show tonight.”

She nods seriously and pats his chest gently. “I’ll be good and quiet so you can rest.”

You stand beside them, hand on Felix’s shoulder, feeling the tension still radiating from him.

The rest of practice is modified. Felix sits out the more demanding parts, marking the moves instead of dancing full-out. He looks frustrated and quiet, but every time Noeul cheers for him from the side, he lights up just a little.

Later, as they’re wrapping up, Felix leans into you while Noeul is distracted showing Minho a drawing.

“I hate this,” he mutters under his breath. “I wanted to give her the best show. Now I’m barely even dancing.”

You rub his back gently. “She doesn’t care how perfect the dance is. She just wants to see her daddy up there. And you’re still going to be amazing.”

Felix exhales, resting his forehead against yours for a second.

“Yeah… I know.”

But the disappointment lingers in his eyes as they pack up to head back to the hotel. The van pulls up to the small private ranch just outside Dallas as the late afternoon sun paints everything golden.

Felix had made the call right after practice, quiet, determined, and ignoring the doctor’s advice to rest. His hip is still taped and he’s moving slower than usual, but the second he saw how Noeul’s eyes lit up at the mention of “real horses,” he refused to let anything stop him.

“This is for her,” he’d told you in the car, voice soft but firm. “One good thing today.”

Noeul is practically vibrating in her booster seat the entire drive, clutching Bbokari and asking every thirty seconds if they’re there yet. When the van stops and she sees the wooden fence, the red barn, and the actual horses grazing in the distance, she lets out the loudest squeal you’ve ever heard from her.

“Horses!” she yells, already trying to unbuckle herself. “Real ones!”

Felix helps her out carefully, wincing only a little when he lifts her. You stay right beside him, one hand on his lower back for support.

A young woman in worn jeans, boots, and a faded cowboy hat steps out of the barn, brushing her hands on her shirt. She’s in her mid-twenties, sun-kissed, with a warm, easy smile.

Noeul’s eyes go impossibly wide.

“Wow,” she breathes, clutching Felix’s hand. “A real cowgirl! Like Jessie from Toy Story!”

The woman laughs, bright and genuine, and crouches down to Noeul’s level.

“Well hey there, partner. You must be Noeul. I’m Riley. Welcome to the ranch.”

Noeul nods, starstruck. “You have a hat and boots and everything!”

Riley grins and tips her hat. “Only way to run the place.” Her eyes flick up to Felix and you, and her expression shifts into something softer, almost shy. “And… wow. Felix from Stray Kids. In real life. On my ranch.” She laughs a little, flustered. “I’m a huge fan. Like, embarrassingly huge. My whole playlist is your songs when I’m working the horses.”

Felix smiles, tired but real. “Thank you. We really appreciate you letting us come on short notice.”

Riley waves it off. “Are you kidding? This is the coolest thing that’s happened here all year. Come on, let’s give this little one the best tour ever.”

Riley walks you through everything slowly so Felix can keep up without pushing his hip too hard. She lets Noeul pet the gentlest horses first, a big brown mare who lowers her head so Noeul can reach her nose.

“She’s so soft!” Noeul whispers, awed. “Like a giant stuffed animal.”

Riley laughs. “Her name’s Daisy. She loves kids.” She shows Noeul how to hold her hand flat for treats, then leads them over to the goats and the baby pigs. Noeul is in heaven, giggling at the little goats that try to nibble her shoelaces.

Riley brings out a small, calm pony already saddled up with a child-sized helmet.

“You want to ride her?” Riley asks Noeul. “Her name’s Buttercup. She’s the sweetest pony we have.”

Noeul looks at Felix with huge, hopeful eyes. “Can I, Daddy? Please?”

Felix glances at you, then nods, the pain in his hip forgotten for a moment. “Yeah, baby. Go ride your horse.”

Riley is incredibly patient, helping Noeul into the saddle, showing her how to hold the reins, and walking slowly beside Buttercup while Noeul beams like she’s on top of the world.

“I’m a real cowgirl!” she shouts, waving at you and Felix.

Felix’s eyes are shining as he watches her. Even with the limp and the exhaustion, the smile on his face is pure and bright. You slip your arm around his waist and lean into him.

“You did this for her,” you whisper.

He presses a kiss to your temple. “She deserves it.”

Riley keeps the ride short and gentle, but she makes it feel like the most special thing in the world. When they finish, she helps Noeul down and gives her a little plastic sheriff’s badge “for being the bravest rider we’ve had all week.”

Noeul pins it to her shirt immediately and runs back to Felix, throwing her arms around his legs.

“Thank you, Daddy,” she says, muffled against his jeans. “This is the best day ever.”

Felix crouches down, slow and careful with his hip, and hugs her tight.

“You’re welcome, princess,” he whispers. “I’d take you to a hundred ranches if it made you this happy.”

Noeul is still talking a mile a minute about Buttercup and the goats and how she’s going to tell Lee Know all about the real cowgirl she met.

Felix looks at you over her head, eyes soft and full of love. “This,” he says quietly, “is what I wanted.”

The afternoon sun is still blazing when Minho finds you in the hotel hallway after practice. Noeul is half-asleep against your hip, exhausted from the ranch and the heat.

“Hey,” Minho says quietly. “Han and I can take her for the afternoon if you two want some time. The hotel just texted, your original suite is ready now. Whole afternoon, no interruptions.”

Felix looks at you, something warm and hungry flickering in his eyes despite the pain. You nod once.

“Thank you,” you say, squeezing Minho’s arm. “Really.”

Minho just shrugs, already reaching for Noeul. “Go. We’ve got her. She already told me she wants to draw more kitties anyway.”

Noeul stirs long enough to wave sleepily at you both before Minho carries her down the hall toward Han, who’s waiting with a dramatic “Auntie Han reporting for duty!”

The second the door to your newly assigned suite clicks shut behind you and Felix, the rest of the world disappears.

Felix doesn’t waste time. He backs you against the wall, kissing you deep and slow, hands sliding under your shirt like he’s been starving for this since the interrupted morning.

“I’ve been thinking about this all day,” he murmurs against your mouth. “About you. About us.”

You smile into the kiss, fingers threading through his hair. “Yeah?”

He pulls back just enough to look at you, eyes dark and serious.

“What if we make another baby?” he whispers.

Your eyes widen. “Felix..”

He smiles, soft and sure, dimples showing. “What? We make great kids.”

The words hit you square in the chest. You laugh, breathless, and kiss him again, harder this time. Clothes come off in a slow, deliberate trail toward the bed, his hoodie, your shirt, his sweatpants, your shorts. When you push him gently onto the mattress, he winces at the movement but doesn’t complain.

He lies back against the pillows, cock already hard and flushed against his stomach.

“Come here,” he says, voice rough. “But… you might have to do the work, love. I can’t thrust. Gotta save the hips for tomorrow’s show.”

You crawl over him, straddling his thighs. “I can do that.”

You sink down onto him slowly, both of you groaning at the stretch. He fills you perfectly, hot and thick, and you take a second to adjust, rolling your hips in a slow circle.

“Fuck,” Felix breathes, hands gripping your waist. “You feel so good.”

You start moving, slow, deep rolls of your hips, grinding down on him in a steady rhythm. Every time you take him to the hilt you clench around him, watching his face twist with pleasure. You ride him like that for long minutes, building him up, then slowing right when his breathing gets ragged and his hips twitch like he wants to thrust.

“Baby,” he groans, head tipping back. “Don’t..fuck, you’re killing me.”

You smile, wicked, and deliberately slow your pace again, dragging your hips in a lazy circle that makes him curse under his breath.

“You’re so close already,” you tease, leaning down to kiss his neck. “But I want to enjoy you.”

He lets out a broken sound when you squeeze around him again. “Please.. I’m already injured, don’t edge me, I can’t..”

You sit up straighter, rolling your hips once more, taking him deep and holding there.

Felix’s fingers dig into your thighs. “Baby, no..don’t come on, I’m already injured please..”

His voice cracks on the last word, desperate and wrecked. You can feel him throbbing inside you, right on the edge, but you keep the pace torturously slow, watching the way his chest heaves and his eyes flutter.

You lean down, brushing your lips against his ear.

“You’re going to come when I say,” you whisper. “And not a second sooner.”

Felix whines, the sound so pretty it makes you clench around him again. You ride him like that for a long time, slow, deliberate, savoring every gasp and plea, until the afternoon light shifts across the room and the only thing either of you can focus on is each other.

Noeul js in a much better mood after her nap, skipping a little as they head toward the waiting car. Minho has the small backpack with her snacks and Bbokari, while Han is already dramatically pretending to be a tour guide.

“First stop: the best ice cream in Dallas,” Han announces in a silly voice. “Then we’re going to meet some animals. Sound good, tiny boss?”

Noeul nods so hard her Minnie ears wobble. “Yes! Ice cream with sprinkles. And maybe a ostrich?”

Minho chuckles. “We’ll see what we can find.”

The ice cream shop is only a short drive away. Noeul picks strawberry with rainbow sprinkles and ends up with it all over her nose and chin within minutes. Han takes a picture and sends it to the group chat with the caption “future idol in training.” Minho wipes her face gently with a napkin, smiling the whole time.

“You’re a mess, little one,” he says fondly.

“I’m a happy mess,” she declares, exactly the way she told Felix the day before.

The petting zoo is next, a small, shaded spot just outside the city with goats, sheep, baby pigs, and even a couple of fluffy alpacas. Noeul lights up the second she sees the animals. She feeds the goats with careful handfuls of pellets, giggles when a baby pig tries to nibble her shoelace, and spends the longest time petting a gentle gray donkey.

“Look, Lee Know!” she says, pointing. “He’s like your kitties but bigger!”

Minho crouches beside her, letting the donkey sniff his hand. “He’s very polite. Good job feeding him.”

Han snaps more pictures, grinning like an idiot. “We’re never going to hear the end of this from the group chat.”

They stay until Noeul’s energy starts to dip again. On the way back to the car, she’s holding both their hands, swinging between them. The sun is lower now, painting everything soft and golden. Suddenly she stops and looks up at Han with a very serious expression.

“Uncle Hannie,” she says proudly, “you should be Lee Know’s person.”

Han freezes mid-step. “Wait… what?”

“You make him happy,” Noeul explains, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Like Mommy makes Daddy happy. You should be his person.”

Minho coughs, clearly trying not to laugh. Han’s face goes pink.

“Really?” Han says, voice cracking a little. “You think so?”

Noeul nods, very sure of herself. “Lee Know said you’re his person. But it’s a secret.” She puts one finger to her lips. “Shhh. Don’t tell anyone.”

Han stares at her, then at Minho, who is suddenly very interested in a nearby tree.

“You… he said that?” Han asks, soft and a little stunned.

“Mhm,” Noeul says, swinging their hands again like she didn’t just drop a bomb. “But it’s secret. So you have to be quiet.”

Minho finally glances over, eyes warm and a tiny bit shy. “She’s got a big mouth for a tiny person.”

Han is still pink, but he’s smiling now, big and real and a little overwhelmed. “I… yeah. Okay. Secret’s safe with me.”

Noeul beams, satisfied that she’s done her important job. She starts skipping again, chattering about the donkey and how she wants to tell Daddy all about it later.

Han and Minho walk on either side of her, quiet for a moment. Then Han bumps Minho’s shoulder lightly.

“So… I’m your person, huh?” he says under his breath.

Minho bumps him back, cheeks just the slightest bit pink. “She wasn’t supposed to tell you that part.”

Han laughs softly, the sound warm and happy. “Too late. I know now.”

Noeul looks up at both of them, proud of herself. “You’re both my favorite uncles. And now you can be happy like Mommy and Daddy.”

The two men exchange a look over her head, soft, a little shy, but full of something real.

By the time they get back to the hotel, Noeul is yawning again, but she’s still talking about the donkey and the sprinkles and how she’s going to draw a picture for everyone later. Han carries her the last bit of the way, and Minho walks beside them, quiet but smiling.

Noeul, of course, has no idea she just played matchmaker. She’s just thinking about what color she wants her future kitten to be when they get home to Korea.

Link had been acting strange recently. Stranger than usual at least. At first, you figured it was just… Link being Link. Maybe he was having a bad week, or a noble had insulted his common origins again, or maybe a knight had badmouthed the princess’ honor. There were so many little explanations for his behavior. 

Yet you couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than that. 

Which was ridiculous. If something was bothering Link so terribly, you’d like to believe he’d tell you. Though the more you think about it… and who you’re talking about… Link probably wouldn’t even tell you. Someone he trusted enough to love. 

The idea made your chest hurt, but you couldn’t deny the validity of it. Link has always been horrible at sharing his problems, even with the people who cared about him.

“Link?” You whispered softly, voice echoing through your shared chambers. You received no response. This wasn’t uncommon. Link may not appear as such, but he was a deep thinker. His mind was brilliant, and that brilliance had been what had pulled you in, all those years ago. Being little kids in Mabe Village, running around the ranch. You could vividly remember the childish laughter, and how quickly it turned into hushed whimpers as the others hid from the guards that had come to collect Link. To take him far away from home. 

So far it took you years to finally find him again. Despite his fame as the hero, all you could see is that brilliant young boy with eyes bluer and brighter than the lake that you’d visit with the other ranch residents. 

“Link,” you called again, footsteps echoing alongside your voice as you stepped closer to where he sat on the bed, prepared for what would be a… restful sleep. 

“Starlight,” he finally breathed as you sat next to him, his eyes meeting yours as he was dragged out of the haze he’d been stuck in for the past few days. 

“You’ve been… unwell these past few days, is there something wrong?” You ask, hand brushing over his knuckles as he entwines your fingers together. 

“It’s… nothing you need to worry about, Starlight,” Link assures you, breathing out a sigh as he brings you close, bringing you into his arms. “I’m just worried that the Disaster will come, and we won’t be ready,” Link admits, arms tightening around your shoulders. 

“Sunshine, you’ve been training for this all your life… even if you think you’re not ready yet, well, I know you’re ready for whatever comes your way. Whether it be divine wrath or a man with a pitchfork,” you answer, pressing your forehead to his, hands cupping his cheeks as he stares into your eyes with admiration… and doubt. 

“How can you be so sure?” Link questions, voice soft, eyebrows furrowing.

“Because I know you, Sunshine. You’re someone who never gives up, who never backs down, and has a mind so brilliant, I’m not sure how I got so lucky,” you speak, gently brushing away the mussed up hair from his face. Link smiles lightly, gaze softening as he looks into your eyes, bringing you into a crushing hug. 

“You always know just what to say, dontcha, Starlight?” Link chuckles as you press your face into his shoulder, memorizing his scent and the feeling of his warmth surrounding you. What you couldn’t see was the way his smile falls, the soft look in his eyes replaced by something unreadable. 

— 

“The hero is missing!”

“What?”

“He disappeared!”

“Where could he have gone?”

“Did he abandon us?”

“How could he!”

“That traitor…!”

—

“...Your Highness,” you mumbled. 

“Good evening, dear knight,” she greeted, voice tender, eyes filled with the same warmth you could recall in her gaze every time you had met. “...You heard the news, didn’t you?” Zelda questioned, and your silence told her everything.

“My deepest, sincerest apologies, my dear knight…” Zelda murmurs as she wraps her arms around you, quietly soothing your sobs as the night passes on. 

— 

“Black blooded monsters? That is… quite unusual,” Zelda comments as you bring her news of what your latest travels had uncovered. “Perhaps… he has something to do with this? The same way he had corrupted the Guardians… Do you believe you’ll be able to grant us an audience with one of them? I believe we’ll need to discuss this with them,” Zelda requested, eyebrows furrowed in thought. 

“Of course. I’m sure Nayadra would be more than willing to help,” you nodded, a hand grasping at the strap of your leather bag. 

“I greatly appreciate this, I’ll have to inform the guard to be wary of these monsters. They appear smarter, more powerful compared to the usual monsters we’re accustomed to, no use risking an encounter,” Zelda answered, dismissing you shortly after that. 

Sighing, you wandered away from the castle, heading toward the peaks of Necluda, a place of freezing cold temperatures… and the Guardian of Wisdom’s favorite place to linger. First, however, you wanted something to eat before you hit the road. Cooking on the road may be delicious, and you liked to believe you’d developed some decent cooking skills… nothing could be a local restaurant. Not when it came to the Castletown businesses. 

You found a stand selling some food, and decided that it was best you grab some to-go food instead of dining it. 

“That’ll be 30 rupees,” the shopkeep said as you sighed, digging through your wallet to grab the thirty rupees. It wasn’t expensive per se… but still. You could only hope the food was worth the price. 

Walking to the outskirts of the city, you smiled at the sight of your loftwing peacefully resting near the stables. “Hey girl, ready for a trip to Necluda?” You greeted the bird, who gave a low coo in return, unraveling from her place near the stables. “Thank you for taking care of her,” you bowed to the stablekeep, who waved you and your extra rupees off. 

Once out of the city, you mounted your loftwing, and you suddenly found yourself with a foreboding feeling. 

It was probably nothing. 

—

This is definitely not nothing, you thought as you stood next to the usual spot that the Guardian of Wisdom liked to hang out at. The peaks of Necluda. For some odd reason, you couldn’t find any traces of the Guardian around. 

What you did find was a portal that was swirling purple, accompanied by the overwhelming urge to enter it. 

Still, what kind of hero would you be if you randomly entered every suspicious portal you encountered? So, seeing as Nayadra wasn’t around, you attempted to settle down at the Necluda peaks for the night, your loftwing flying off and away from the freezing temperatures she was not made to withstand. 

Of course, your attempts to ignore it were… futile. As the pulling and tugging in your chest turned into a yanking sensation that knocked you off your feet. 

“Fuck fuck— okay! Okay! Geez–... what do you want now, White Goddess?” You cursed, fumbling as you did your best to resist the journey the White Goddess was attempting to send you on. No way you were going on another one. The first two had already been worse than the depths of Dinraal’s recklessness. 

No way, not by the Golden Goddesses, would you willingly go on another one. 

“I’m afraid she isn’t giving you much choice,” a familiar, collected voice cut through the snow storm. 

“Nayadra!” You exclaimed before their words registered. “Wait, what does that mean–” Before you could even finish, a portal opened up underneath your feet, and you found yourself swept away and into a brand new adventure. One you were sorely unenthused about. 

. . .

“That… that fucking hurt!” You hissed, hands on your knees as you breathed in and out. A harsh glare was aimed at the river you’d landed in. It just had to be a running one too, didn’t it? Was this some sort of retribution for your attempts to resist her? You swore you were so gonna tell Zel about this when you got home. At least she could lower the amount of sacrifices that year. That’ll teach that damned goddess a lesson. 

Before you could properly assess more about your current location, you heard the sound of approaching footsteps. And they didn’t sound very friendly. In fact, heavily armored was more like it. Well, one heavily armored person. The rest of the armor sounded lighter to you. 

When you turned, still disorientated by the wonderful little dip you’d just taken, you almost jumped out of your skin at what you saw.