THE KNOCK THAT CHANGE EVERYTHING [ HEEJAKE FF]

Evening:

The bedroom was dim, lit only by the golden glow of the hallway light sneaking through the cracked door. The hum of the night settled around them—soft, warm, and safe.

Jake lay sprawled on the bed, one arm lazily tossed above his head, chest rising and falling with each breath. His other arm was gently draped across the small lion cub curled on top of him.

Heeseung had shifted partially, his soft golden fur glowing faintly in the low light. His small lion ears twitched every so often, occasionally flicking in response to a creak from the walls or the buzz of the fridge down the hallway.

His tiny body was stretched across Jake’s stomach, head resting on his chest, lulled by the rhythm of his papa’s heartbeat. His tail hung off to the side, swaying slightly in his dreams.

Peace.

Warmth.

Safety.

Until—

Drrr drrr.
A low buzz echoed from the nightstand.

Heeseung’s ears twitched.
Once. Twice.

Then he lifted his head.

Jake groaned softly in his sleep but didn’t wake. The buzzing sound repeated—longer this time. A phone call. A name on the glowing screen that Heeseung couldn’t read but instinctively knew.

That scent. That stranger again.

The boy’s golden eyes narrowed.

He slowly, carefully, slid off of Jake’s stomach—landing on the soft sheets with a quiet thump. His paws padded toward the nightstand. The phone glowed again.

[Jackson calling…]

Heeseung didn’t hesitate.

He reached up on his hind legs, pawed at the phone, and—
Thud!

It slipped off the edge of the table, falling onto the carpet with a dull sound. The call stopped.

Jake stirred faintly, muttering something under his breath.

Heeseung stared down at the phone where it now lay screen-down, silenced. His tail gave a little satisfied flick.

Then, with a quiet huff, he crawled back up onto the bed and curled once more onto Jake’s chest.

The heartbeat was still there.

Steady.

His.

Heeseung let his eyes close again, a tiny satisfied smile curling onto his lips.

Time skip:

The quiet of the night returned after Heeseung’s little act of sabotage, and the room fell back into a soft hum of comfort.

Jake stirred again as warm, sandpaper-soft warmth grazed his cheek.

Lick.

He blinked one eye open to find Heeseung sitting upright on his chest now, his golden lion ears perked up, his tiny tongue still out, eyes wide and curious.

Jake blinked again, then laughed—low and fond.

“Heeseungie,” he murmured, voice raspy from sleep, “what was that?”

The hybrid boy tilted his head, tail slowly curling beside him. He didn’t say anything—just leaned forward and gave Jake another little lick on the cheek, then stared with all the seriousness in the world, as if waiting for something.

Jake chuckled, bringing a hand up to rub the top of his son’s fluffy head.

“What’s wrong, huh? Are you hungry?” he asked gently, thinking maybe Heeseung was trying to get his attention for a late-night snack.

But Heeseung didn’t answer. Instead, he just kept looking at Jake—like he was checking if the scent he left earlier was still there, if Jake still felt like his.

Then, quietly, the hybrid cub lowered himself back down, pressing his tiny body along Jake’s side. His little claws gently clutched the fabric of Jake’s shirt, like a cub clinging to its den.

Jake sighed, lips pulling into a tired smile. “You’re acting real strange tonight, baby.”

Heeseung didn’t reply.

He just gave one last quiet huff and closed his eyes again.

He didn’t need food.

He just needed to make sure his papa still smelled like home.

End pov: