Chapter Text
Seungmin wasn't wrong. Wolf hybrid babies were much tougher to care for- to the point that Hyunjin had started taking online classes to become a better dad for their baby. Felix already had the knowledge, but it was Hyunjin that stayed at home with Chan for most of the day.
Most babies at this stage were more sleepy, unaware- not Chan. Chan needed to be on Hyunjin or Felix's chest at all times, to the point they'd had to buy a baby carrier- specially made with a hole for Chans fluffy tail to fit though.
Hybrid baby clothes were more expensive, and thus was the food. For now, Chan ate milk and milk alone, but when he'd start on solids, he'd have a special diet.
Chan didn't shift as often, minimum once a day- he'd spend most of his time as a human, but needed some cuddles as a wolf too. Hyunjin had read that hybrids needed to shift at least once every day, it was a necessity to keep them healthy.
In fact, when Chan shifted into his wolf form and curled up in Hyunjin's arms- he'd be treated like a tiny prince, being brushed and cuddled until he either fell asleep or decided he wanted to shift again.
Hyunjin smiled as he held the bottle up to Chan's lips, the baby sleepily blinking as he drank. He squeaked, hungrily pawing at the bottle- like the milk wasn't coming fast enough. "I know, angel, I know. Such a hungry boy.", he said, kissing the top of his head. Chan loved to eat. It was bad for him to have too much, though- and so they had to (sadly) ignore him when he cried for more milk. If that didn't work, he'd shift and start yipping (barely) to get their attention until Felix gave in and picked him up to calm him down.
Said man walked in to the sight of Hyunjin holding their baby against his chest, little wolf ears twitching atop his head as he drank. When the bottle was finished, Chan scrunched his face up, and started angrily flapping his tiny arms around. Felix sighed. "He'd going to shift, and then he's going to bark at us."
Hyunjin snorted. "He doesn't bark. He sounds like a squeaky dog toy.", he retorted, frowning when Chan started to properly cry, bouncing the baby in his arms. "Good boy, Channie. No squeaky toy barks, good boy.", he praised. Felix held out his paci, and Hyunjin gently offered it to the baby. At two months old, Chan needed it- since he just dribbled so much. Even as a wolf, he drooled everywhere, and it wasn't pleasant.
Eventually, he stopped crying, just staring around the bedroom. Felix laughed. "There you go, no more dramatics, yeah?", he said. Chan sneezed, clenching his fists as he stared at Felix. "Hi, handsome.", Felix whispered, in English, before kissing his son's cheek. Hyunjin smiled. "He's gonna fight you.", he declared, like Chan's tiny clenched fists were any indicator towards that fact.
"He can't even hold his head up. How will he fight me?", Felix asked, holding back laughter. Chan spat out his paci, letting it drop onto Hyunjin's lap. A moment later, he coughed a little, spraying milk at Felix like a deadly little hose.
Hyunjin bit his lip. "Like that."
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As it turned out, having a hybrid friend while raising a hybrid baby was extremely helpful. Seungmin loved Chan to bits, spoiling him any chance he got. He shifted into his dog form in front of the baby for the first time, and his parents were anxious that Chan would be scared. The pup shifted too, and the two hybrids spent the next hour curled up together, Chan laying like a tiny grey pom pom by Seungmin's larger form, the dog's tail wrapped protectively around the pup.
Seungmin was the perfect uncle for him. His boyfriend, Changbin- was a hybrid too- a bunny. When Chan first met the man, he seemed to think he was in charge and yipped at Changbin for the next 20 minutes whenever he came close. Eventually Seungmin had had enough, and had barked at the baby- causing him to go quiet. Changbin got to hold him without fuss then, chuckling at Chan's confused expression. "Did Seungminnie tell you off? Did he?"
The pup answered that question with a sigh, puffing out his chubby cheeks. Changbin laughed, poking one. "Felix. He's so... chunky. What are you feeding him?", he asked. Felix giggled. "Just formula. It's normal for him to have baby weight, apparently." Seungmin sat beside his boyfriend, looking at the wolf puppy. "When he's shifted, he looks like a little grey bean with legs.", he admitted, causing the group to laugh.
Chan whined, kicking his legs. "Oh no, baby, are they poking fun at you?", Felix said, scooping Chan into his arms and kissing his hair. Seungmin shook his head. "You're such a sap for that little wolf, Lix."
The pup's tail wiggled as he buried his face in Felix's neck. Felix scowled, placing a hand protectively on the back of Chan's head. "Shh, Channie. Don't listen to that mean dog.", he whispered, gently swaying with the baby. If there was anyone who could get Chan to sleep or settle, it was Felix.
Ever since the day Chan had been born, and Felix had held him in the care centre- a bond had formed between them. Felix knew that relationships and bonds were very important for wolves. Chan would most likely grow up viewing his family as his pack. In a matter of minutes, Chan was dead asleep. Changbin looked dumbfounded. "I've never seen a baby settle that fast, let alone a hybrid.", he muttered.
Felix smiled. "I'm gonna put him down for his nap.", he said quietly, before leaving the room. As he turned, everyone was given the view of Chan's little face smushed into Felix's shoulder. Hyunjin guffawed, staring until he was nudged by Seungmin. "You're just as bad as Felix.", the dog hybrid said.
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"Bath time!", Felix called. Hyunjin smiled, scooping Chan up into his arms and kissing his chubby cheek. The baby's feet kicked out in excitement as he was carried into the bathroom, where Felix was waiting with a smile.
"Hi, angel.", he whispered, gently lowering the baby into the shallow warm water and picking up the little plastic bath cup they had to pour water over the pup. As it went over his head and ears, he squeaked, mouth spreading wide in the sweetest little smile either of his parents had ever laid eyes on.
Hyunjin gasped. "Felix. Oh my god- I'm gonna cry.", he rambled. Felix sniffed a little as he rubbed the shampoo into Chan's hair and ears.
They cleaned his tail, and then rinsed him off- wrapping him in his favourite soft towel and carrying him to the bedroom so that they could dry him off and dress him in a warm onesie. Felix smiled, kissing the tip of the baby's nose, resting him in his lap as Hyunjin carefully brushed his fluffy tail. It was a big, bushy thing- grey apart from the tip of his tail, which was a soft white.
Chan sneezed, and then whined, wriggling like he was looking for something. Felix looked around, and found it with an audible "ah".
He smiled. "Paci, Chris?", he said. "Wauh.", Chan stated, letting his dad put the pacifier in his mouth. He instantly relaxed, sagging against Felix's chest with a sigh.
Hyunjin smiled as he put the brush down, shuffling closer to his husband and baby, resting his head on Felix's shoulder as Chan fell asleep between them. Felix cooed. "Good night, baby."
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Chan apparently didn't want to be a human today. From the moment they woke up, they found the ball of fur sleeping in his crib, not eager to disturb him.
Hyunjin fed him a bottle of milk that morning, before setting him on his little mat for "tummy time"- except he just lays there on his side like the lazy little wolf pup he is.
Whilst cleaning and watching over the puppy, Hyunjin gasped. "Felix!", he cried. In an instant, the Australian was in the room, panicked and flushed. "Jinnie! Is Chan okay?!" The older nodded, pointing to the pup. "Lix.... Seungmin was right.. he does look like a grey bean with legs! Look at him!"
Felix snorted, and then bursted into laughter. "Leave my fat little baby alone!", he said, crouching down to pet behind Chan's ears. Chan's tiny pink tongue poked out, the epitome of laziness. "We can't be doing this when my parents are coming to meet you, yeah?", he said. Chan simply yawned, pawing at a toy beside him.
"Chris, you have to be a human today.", Felix explained, lightly scratching Chan's tummy. The pup yipped, and then sneezed- like he was contributing anything useful to the conversation. Felix understood it anyway. He was simply saying "nope. I don't care, and I'm going to do what I want."
He sighed, but smiled when Chan closed his eyes and leaned into the touch as he pet him. "Hyunjin? Do you know where his fluffy bed is? Don't think he wants tummy time anymore.", he asked. Hyunjin giggled, and passed it over. As he picked Chan up from the mat, the pup whined and squeaked, relaxing once he was placed in his bed, curling up and closing his eyes.
Felix's parents arrived, skeptical. When he had told them he'd adopted a wolf hybrid baby with his husband, they were incredibly confused, and not as supportive as Hyunjin's parents. And yet, when they walked in, Felix's mother inhaled sharply at the sight of the sleeping puppy curled up in his bed.
Felix sat beside the bed, gentle hands stroking Chan's face.
His mother swallowed, sitting down by the bed, followed by his father. "Can I touch him..?", she asked, timidly. Felix nodded, and she reached down- placing a hand on Chan's back, feeling the incredibly soft fur under her palm.
A minute or so later, Chan woke up, and started squealing and whining at seeing the new people in his home. Felix shushed him quietly, lifting him up and holding him to his chest. "It's your grandparents, baby. They're nice, Daddy promises."
Felix's father's face softened as the pup looked up at him with shiny brown eyes, sniffing the air to determine whether the newcomers were safe. "Hi, buddy.", he whispered, tentative. Chan relaxed again as Felix's mother continued to pet him.
"How old is he?", she asked. Felix leaned down to kiss Chan's forehead. "He's 3 months old. I took him home just after he was born.", he explained, and she frowned. "So you planned to take him in advance?"
Felix shook his head. "His mother passed away during birth, and he bonded to me since I was the first to hold him. I got attached and we decided to take him home.", he said, one finger stroking the side of Chan's face. "Are you glad you did?", his father asked.
"Absolutely. He's my son, me and Hyunjin love him so much.", he muttered. His father pursed his lips. "Why not get a pet dog? Surely it's the same." From the couch, Hyunjin frowned. "It isn't at all.", he said. "Chan spends most of his time as a human, but he shifts at least once a day- it's necessary. Hybrids age the same as humans, too- if he were a full wolf he'd already be running around by now. He can't walk yet, he's just a normal baby."
Both parents were silent. From the bed, Chan squeaked, looking up at Felix with his boba eyes. Felix smiled as he lifted Chan up by his armpits, and listened to the collective gasp of his parents as Chan shifted in front of them.
The baby smiled, kicking his feet out. Felix cooed, smooching his cheeks and resting Chan on his chest. "There you are, handsome.", he whispered. Both his parents were staring at the baby- and Chan stated back, shoving a fist into his mouth. Hyunjin grimaced, and gave him his pacifier. "Yucky dribble, Channie."
Felix's mother took a deep breath in. "Can I hold him?", she asked. Felix nodded, gently handing the baby to her, settling him into her arms. Chan stared up at her, eyes wide. "Hiya. I'm your grandma.", she told him. "You're a chubby little thing, aren't you?", she said, tickling his tummy. Chan smiled from behind his paci, and she chuckled. "Oh, you have dimples!"
Felix's father was equally as enamoured- it was as if Chan had placed a spell on the both of them. "He's precious, Lix.", he said, putting an arm around his wife and grandson. When it was his turn to hold Chan, the pup yawned and relaxed against him. The man melted, watching Chan's ears twitch.
Later that evening as they put Chan to bed, Felix smiled at the knowledge that Chan's grandparents loved him.
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Hyunjin cracked an eye open, yawning as he stretched. The sound of his baby's cries echoed though the house- loud, incessant wailing coming from Chan's bedroom.
He got up and padded down the hallway, entering the room to find the baby in his crib, in utter distress. "Oh, baby- oh no..", he mumbled, scooping Chan up and kissing his forehead, which he felt to be disturbingly warm.
In an instant, Felix was at his side too, panicked and pale. "Hyunjin! What's wrong with him? Is he okay?!", he said, and the older shook his head. "He has a fever, Lix. Get me the medicine. I got him.", he said, raising his voice over Chan's cries. The baby continued to wail, and it was breaking Hyunjin's heart.
"Oh, angel. Papa is so sorry you feel icky.", he said, bouncing the pup in his arms. "My beautiful boy, it's okay.", he said, sighing in relief when Felix came over with. Hyunjin sat down on the rocking chair, letting Felix carefully give Chan the medicine.
The wails became cries, and the cries became sniffles. Eventually they tapered off completely, and Chan was just laying on Hyunjin's chest, tiny fists opening and closing as they sought comfort from both his parents.
His tail swished from side to side, his little ears twitching as his eyes were starting to slip closed.
For the rest of the night, Chan slept in a bassinet by Felix's side of the bed. The man spent most of the night awake, keeping an eye on the sleeping baby, but that wasn't for Hyunjin to know.
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Seungmin sniffed the ground as he walked across the threshold of Felix and Hyunjin's house, his tail wagging as he picked up their familiar scents. Changbin walked behind him, giggling.
There was a delighted squeal, and Seungmin looked up to find Chan, sitting on Hyunjin's lap. The baby flapped his arms, cheeks dimpling sweetly.
Then, he shifted- and huffed as Seungmin picked him up by the scruff of his neck - something that his parents were assured didn't hurt, and placed him on the rug, curling around him. Chan relaxed like he'd been holding in all his stress and worries (not that he had any, he was 3 months old and spent his days pooping and sleeping).
Felix smiled. "He's never seen Changbin shifted before, has he?", he said. The bunny hybrid shook his head. "I'm very small, not sure what Channie would do.", he said. "We can try?", he offered, and both parents nodded.
Not too far from his boyfriend and the puppy, he shifted, and everyone gasped. Felix cooed, eyes bright. "Binnie! You're so cute and little!", he said. The brown rabbit squeaked loudly, most likely a "fuck off".
Chan looked up, saw the bunny, and barked.
Not his usual hip, but a high pitched, little bark.
Felix made a face. Chan was barking. When baby wolf hybrids learned how to bark, they'd do it all the time. This was exactly what he'd feared. "Oh, no..", he mumbled. Chan continued to bark at Changbin, his tail wagging furiously. Seungmin growled from behind him, and suddenly he stopped.
Changbin shuffled closer, tentatively sniffing the air. Then, he cuddled up to Chan, and the pup sighed, burying his snout in the bunny's fluff.
Hyunjin smiled at the three. "They made a cuddle pile.", he observed. Felix giggled, before frowning- aware of what was to come.
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If Chan wanted more milk, he shifted, and barked. If he wanted a cuddle, he barked. If he wanted to go to bed, he barked. If he didn't want to go to bed, he barked. It was like everything set him off.
And it was getting louder, and louder.
By the time Chan was 4 months old, he was a noise making ball of fur with no manners and a tendency to fill up his diaper when his parents were in the middle of something.
This morning was one of those, and Hyunjin grimaced as the smell hit his nose. He held Chan up by his armpits, and nearly gagged. "Oh, you stink.", he said, putting Chan on his hip and making his way towards the bedroom where Chan's changing things were. The pup made everything more difficult as he wriggled and kicked his legs whilst Hyunjin changed him, and then decided to pee on him just as Hyunjin was grabbing a clean diaper.
When the ordeal was over, and he was in clean clothes himself, he carried Chan back into the kitchen where Felix was making pancakes. He melted and immediately rushed over to scoop Chan up and kiss him senseless, burying his face in Chan's chubby cheeks and bouncing him around.
Then, Chan laughed. A tiny, squeaky giggle. They both freezed. Then, Hyunjin chuckled and joined the kiss attack, causing Chan to giggle more.
Chan's tail wagged as they smooched him, squeaking and giggling. Felix smiled at his baby as Hyunjin held him.
Then, Chan grinning- farted.