Being the second oldest in the group wasn't always easy for Minho. People expected him to be strong, to be a pillar of support for the younger members. And he was. He took care of them in his own way—teasing, guiding, scolding, and making sure they were always okay.
But sometimes, late at night when the dorm was quiet, Minho let himself feel it—the longing. He envied Jeongin, the youngest, who was showered with affection without having to ask. The others fussed over Jeongin, tucking him in, cooing over his cute moments, and giving him the kind of attention that Minho secretly craved but didn't know how to ask for.
It all started one evening when the group was lounging in the dorm after a long day. Jeongin was sprawled on the couch, his head in Hyunjin's lap, while Chan ruffled his hair affectionately.
"Must be nice being the maknae," Minho muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Felix to hear.
"What was that, hyung?" Felix asked, tilting his head.
Minho blinked, realizing he'd been caught. "Nothing," he said quickly, brushing it off.
But Felix wasn't convinced. He watched as Minho turned away, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly.
Later that night, as they were all getting ready for bed, Felix decided to act. He'd noticed how Minho always put everyone else first, how he rarely let himself show vulnerability. Felix wanted to change that.
He knocked softly on Minho's door, peeking inside. "Hyung?"
Minho was lying on his bed, scrolling through his phone. He looked up, surprised. "What's up, Lix?"
Felix walked in, shutting the door behind him. "I just... thought you might want some company," he said with a small smile.
Minho raised an eyebrow but didn't object as Felix climbed onto the bed beside him.
At first, Felix kept it casual—just chatting and making Minho laugh with his random stories. But as the night wore on, Felix noticed how Minho's guard slowly came down.
"You know," Felix said softly, "you don't always have to be the strong one."
Minho frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Felix continued, "it's okay to want to be cared for too. You deserve it, hyung."
Minho's lips parted, but no words came out. He looked away, his throat tightening.
"Hey," Felix said gently, placing a hand on Minho's arm. "It's okay. You can tell me."
Minho hesitated before finally admitting, "Sometimes... I just wish I could be like Jeongin. You know, cared for. Like a baby."
Felix's heart ached at the vulnerability in Minho's voice. "I get that," he said. "And you know what? I'll take care of you, hyung. Just say the word."
From that day on, Felix made it his mission to give Minho the love and attention he craved.
When they were eating dinner, Felix would casually take Minho's chopsticks and feed him bites of food, grinning as Minho blushed furiously.
"Lix, I can feed myself!" Minho protested, though he didn't pull away.
"I know," Felix said cheekily. "But let me spoil you a little, hmm?"
