Felix didn't understand why Chan hadn't told him that Rose was his soulmate. The two were so close that they usually told each other everything. Felix reminded Chan of the familiarity of home and Chan was Felix's rock in a once unfamiliar place. So it hurt the younger that his best friend hadn't shared such an important discovery with him.

Two weeks before their comeback and only a few days after visiting Rose, Stray Kids were in the practise room perfecting their choreography for the new songs. Minho and Hyunjin were going over a particularly tricky part with Seungmin and Jeongin. Chan was sitting at the front of the room watching their progress. Changbin and Felix were to the side grabbing a drink of water.

Felix stared at Chan. All he had thought about the past few days since he found out was how Rose was his leader's soulmate. He was torn because Chan was his leader and best friend, but he had formed a connection with Rose so quickly and he felt protective of her. He had to know what Chan was thinking about the whole situation.

"Changbin-Hyung, I'm going to get Chan-Hyung to tell me about Rose."

"How?"

Changbin watched as the dancer made his way over to their leader without answering his question. With a sigh, the rapper followed and the two sat down beside Chan.

"Channie-Hyung?"

"What's up, Felix?"

"Do you ever wonder about your soulmate?"

The leader glanced at Changbin before turning to the younger Aussie.

"Why do you ask?"

"Wooyoung-Hyung talks about what it's like to have a soulmate a lot. It just got me thinking."

Following Felix's lead, Changbin comments too.

"Yeonjun's been talking about Anna a lot too."

Chan frowned in confusion.

"Who's Anna?"

"BTS's soulmate.

"Oh! Of course, she was at the MAMA's."

Changbin laughed as he thought about that night.

"Wooyoungie still won't shut up about the fact that he met Jimin from BTS. Any of the others and he would have been ecstatic, but Jimin-Sunbaenim is his bias."

Since they were getting slightly off-topic, Felix tried to subtly prompt Chan again.

"So, do you think about your soulmate?"

"Well, sure. I guess I think about them as much as anyone else, but we're still young and super busy. We've got plenty of time for all that."

"Last time I asked you, you weren't so sure you wanted to meet them."

The leader looked confused.

"Really? When was that?"

Felix stared at Chan as he answered, wondering if the older Idol was just pretending not to remember.

"During Kingdom."

"I don't remember..."

"You said, you had seven kids and you couldn't imagine needing anyone else."

Changbin almost choked on his water.

"Hyung? Seriously? But what about -"

"Are you sure I wasn't joking? Either way, I've got five years until I need to worry."

"What if they're older?"

"What?"

"Your soulmate. What if they're older than you? You might have less time than you think."

"What's with the inquisition today?"

"Just curious, Hyung. You're the oldest in the group, so it's most likely that you'll find your soulmate first. Things could change."

"Whatever happens, Stray Kids will stay strong. No one could replace my seven kids in my heart."

"Aww, Channie-Hyung. I love you too!"

Changbin rolled his eyes at the pair and checked his phone, smiling widely at what he saw.

"Yeonjun did it!"

Felix gasped and leaned towards the rapper.

"Really?! Rose-Noona's going to be so happy!"

"Rose-Noona?"

Chan looked to Changbin for confirmation that Felix was talking about his soulmate, Rose.

"Hyung! Funny story. You know how Wooyoung and I were going to check up on Rose because of the whole getting fired thing. Well, guess who else was paying her a visit."

Felix waved.

"Why would Felix be visiting... you know?"

"Yeah Felix, tell Chan-Hyung why you were there."

"Rose-Noona is my friend. At the fan meeting - after you ran off - I went looking for you but found her instead and we've kept in contact since."

"You've been in contact with Rose this whole time."

"Yes... Why? Is that a problem?"

"No. Yes. I mean, why didn't you tell me."

"I didn't hide it from you, Hyung. I'm not the one who's been keeping secrets."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Hyung, Felix knows."

Chan sighed in defeat.

"Look, it's not that I didn't want to tell you, I just needed to think some things through on my own first."

"It's okay, Channie-Hyung. I forgive you, but if you ever hurt Rose-Noona again..."

"I hurt her?"

"Of course you did! You met your soulmate for the first time and you didn't even acknowledge them! It must be so hard for soulmates of Idols. We get so many fans claiming to be our soulmates, what happens when it's actually true?"

"I hadn't even thought about that. Do you think she knew before that day?"

"According to Wooyoung, yes, she did."

"How long do you think she's been trying to meet Hyung?"

"No idea... Wait, she did tell me that the first time she visited Korea she came to our concert."

"When was that?"

"Our first concert in Seoul. Almost two and half years ago?"

"Two and half years!"

"We don't know that she knew back then, Hyung."

"But she definitely knew before the fan meeting."

"Would you have been ready to meet your soulmate back then, Hyung?"

"Probably not. Okay, no, definitely not, but..."

"It still hurts to think about."

"Yeah."

"So, you want to meet Rose-Noona again?"

"I wanted to ever since I watched her walk out of that room that day, but until now no one we knew had a way of contacting her."

"You see, Hyung, this is why you shouldn't keep secrets from me."

"Yeah, yeah, I've learnt my lesson. Aussie bros for life."

The two Australians fist-bumped.

"Aussie bros forever."

"I feel left out."

"Aww, Changbinnie-Hyung, come here and give me a kiss!"

Change in pushed away the younger boy as he leaned against him.

"Once was quite enough thanks."

Chan smiled fondly at the interaction between his two group members.

"So, Hyung, did you want to hear about our visit to your soulmate's place?"

The leader rubbed his hands against his trousers. The question wasn't quite as simple as it sounded.

"Tell me everything."

The two younger boys smiled.

"So, we turned up - uninvited - and rang the doorbell. At first, Rose-Noona didn't really want us to come in, but I had brought my brownies with me."

"And no one can say no to your baking."

"Exactly! As soon as she opened the door, she grabbed the brownies like they were her lifeline, which is strange because Wooyoung-Hyung says she only eats healthy food, no snacks, but it was so cute."

Felix and Changbin took turns telling Chan every detail of their visit.

"I feel like I know her already."

"And...?"

"I think I'd like to get to know her more."

Changbin clapped his leader on the shoulder.

"I think that's a great idea, Hyung."

"Felix? You don't look so sure."

"It's not that, Hyung. I just - I want to make sure that you know what you're doing, what you want."

"What do you mean?"

"You basically rejected Rose last time you met. When you meet again, she's going to be confused that you suddenly want her."

"I get that and I'm going to explain why I reacted the way I did before."

"Soulmates don't have to have a romantic relationship, you know."

Changbin turned to study Felix, wondering where he was going with this comment.

"I guess that's true."

"I'm just saying that you were, are, rather anxious about the whole soulmate thing. It might be beneficial just to be friends, to start with at least."

"You're right. I had a few reasons for being unsure about finding my soulmate. I've often wondered how they would fit into my life. I mean, I barely have time to sleep, or even eat, how can I make time for a soulmate in my life? Right?"

Changbin frowned. While it was true that some soulmates kept things platonic, most people - and he was sure Rose was one of them - dreamed of finding love with their soulmate.

"But that's just part of being in a relationship. It takes work and compromises, but it's worth it. It's a once in a lifetime kind of love."

"Perhaps, but I can't risk Stray Kids' future by spending less time working as a compromise. If Rose is my soulmate, then she'll understand that."

"What if that's not what she wants?"

Changbin and Felix both held their breath as they waited for Chan's answer.

"That's all I can offer her."