Jake shakes himself, dismissing the feeling like the passing breeze.
"Just felt cold all of sudden," he murmurs, and Felix cuddles closer, pressing kisses over his face.
"You're just jumpy," he whispers between each soft touch.
Jake smiles, letting the moment melt the chill in his veins.
There's no one outside.
It was just his imagination.
"Yeah," he breathes. "You're right. Just being paranoid."
Felix laughs softly, hands finding his with practiced ease.
"Paranoid over-protective papa," he teases gently, eyes twinkling. "Our kid isn't even here yet, and you're already in full-on hero mode."
Jake shakes his head, though he can't hide a grin.
"Just want to keep you both safe, that's all," he murmurs. "Especially from my crazy imagination."
Felix chuckles, leaning into him.
"Maybe you need some more sleep, super-dad."
Jake nods, yawning again.
"Maybe you're right," he admits, still nuzzling into Felix's neck. "I could use a little nap... unless..."
Felix snorts, knowing that mischievous glint in Jake's eyes.
"Unless what?" he says, playing along.
"Unless… there's something else we could do first," Jake adds slyly, hands finding Felix's waist.
Felix pretends to ponder the suggestion for a moment, hand cupping his chin in mock thought.
"Hmmm... like what?" he says, eyes sparkling with feigned ignorance.
Jake grins, pulling him a little closer until their foreheads rest together.
"Oh, I can think of a few things," he whispers.
Felix's breath hitches faintly as Jake's hands slide lower, fingertips mapping the curve of his hips like a familiar map.
"...Like how you always steal the blankets," Jake teases, suddenly flipping them both under the covers with a playful growl. "I'm onto your schemes, Felix."
Felix yelps—half-laughing, half-squeaking—as Jake wraps around him like a human shield.
"I do *not* steal the blankets!" he protests, squirming. "You're the one who sleeps like a starfish!"
Jake just tightens his hold, grinning into his neck.
"Liar," he murmurs. "Admit it—you're trying to make me cold on purpose."
Felix giggles softly—the real kind that bubbles up from deep inside—and relaxes back into him.
"...Fine," he whispers. "But only if you promise to keep me warm when I get cold later."
Outside, the city hums,unseen eyes wait—but here, in this cocoon of love and laughter,
they stay wrapped in each other…
for now.
The penthouse grows quiet again, sunlight shifting across the floorboards as they lie tangled together—Felix's back against Jake's chest, his hands resting gently over the small curve of his stomach.
Jake hums low in his throat—a soft melody Felix doesn't recognize but likes all the same.
"Sing it," Felix mumbles sleepily. "The one you were humming."
Jake hesitates. "It's dumb."
Felix turns slightly, eyes half-lidded but insistent.
"Sing it anyway."
And so he does—quiet at first, voice rough with emotion—
a lullaby about stars and safe landings,
about a boy who crossed oceans just to find home… and found it in him.
Outside, the shadow watches once more—
from a rooftop now, closer than before.
Binoculars lower slowly from cold eyes.
"...Three days," he mutters into a comms unit hidden beneath his coat. "By then... there will be no baby to protect."
He vanishes like smoke on wind— leaving only silence behind… for now.
But inside?
The song continues.
Soft.
Unbroken.
Safe—for now.
***
Jake finishes the quiet melody, resting his chin on Felix's shoulder—almost protectively.
"I thought you were asleep," he murmurs, nuzzling his cheek.
Felix smiles.
"Hard to sleep when you start singing to me like that."
Jake smiles back, and they lie still for a moment—just savoring each other's presence.
And then:
"Jake?"
Jake hums.
"Yeah?"
"Promise me something," Felix whispers—still facing away, voice unusually vulnerable.
Jake's breath hitches faintly, a sudden heaviness in the air.
"Anything," he promises.
Felix swallows, fingers tracing invisible patterns on Jake's arm—a nervous habit.
"If..." He hesitates. "...If something ever happens to me..."
Jake's heart constricts.
"Nothing's going to happen to you," he says fiercely. "I won't let it."
Felix lets out a soft laugh, though the sound is strained.
"You sound awfully sure."
"Because I am," Jake replies—earnest, insistent. "I'd die before I let anything hurt you, Felix. You know that."
Felix doesn't say anything for a long moment, listening to the city sounds through the walls—the distant sound of traffic, the hum of life outside their door.
Finally, quiet:
"And what about... what if something happens to *us?*"
Jake's brow furrows in confusion, fingers twitching against Felix's hip.
"What? What are you talking about?"
Felix takes a deep breath, trying to find the right words.
"I just... I don't know," he whispers, sounding a bit frustrated. "I've been having these... *thoughts.* Feelings. Worries, I guess."
Jake's heart twists, feeling the unease in Felix's voice.
"What kind of thoughts?" he asks softly, hand rubbing gentle circles on his hip.
Felix hesitates, chewing on his lip.
"It's stupid," he finally murmurs. "...but I keep thinking—what if this is all wrong?"
Jake frowns, confused.
"What are you talking about?"
Felix sighs, fidgeting anxiously with his fingers.
"...This," he whispers, gesturing between them. "Us. Our whole setup here. Having the baby, being...*this.* Sometimes I wonder…"
"...what if we're not supposed to be safe?"
Felix's voice drops, fragile—like he's confessing a sin.
"What if... someone *comes*? What if they see us and think—*that's not how it should be*? And they take it all away?"
Jake stiffens instantly, pulling Felix closer.
"No," he says—low, fierce. "No. That won't happen."
Felix trembles slightly, though he tries to hide it.
"You can't promise that..."
Outside—
a flicker of movement in the dark alley below.
The shadow watches through night-vision glasses,
noticing the shift in body language,
the tension now curling like smoke through the light-filled room.
*"Fear,"* he whispers to himself. *"Good."*
And somewhere deep in his coat pocket—
a silenced pulse device begins charging.
***
Jake hugs Felix tighter, as if hoping to shield him from threats—even the ones inside his own mind.
"Felix... you're safe," Jake breathes, pressing fierce kisses down his shoulder. "I will *never* let anything happen to you. To us. I swear it."
Felix shudders—almost imperceptibly—and reaches back to run shaky fingers through Jake's hair.
"I'm sorry," he whispers—voice cracking with raw vulnerability. "I just... I don't know why I'm feeling so damn vulnerable all of a sudden."
"Because you're growing a human," Jake murmurs, pressing a soft kiss to the back of Felix's neck. "And because you're amazing for even being this strong."
He shifts slightly, hand finding its way over Felix's stomach—protective, grounding.
"We're gonna be okay," he whispers. "I'll burn the world down before I let it take this from us."
Outside,
the watcher lowers his device—eyes narrowed.
*"Sentimental. Predictable."*
He taps a small earpiece.
"**Phase One complete,**" he mutters. "**Target is emotionally exposed. Proceeding with infiltration protocol at 03:00 hours.**"
Then— he vanishes into the night, leaving only silence… and danger coiling just beyond the glass.
Inside?
Felix finally drifts into restless sleep, curled against Jake— who stays awake, watching over him… like a wolf guarding its den.
***
Felix slumbers, head resting in the crook of Jake's neck—peaceful now, but still vulnerable.
Jake keeps holding him, hand gently resting over his stomach as he scans the room—alert for any sign of a threat.
But there's only the hum of city sounds,
only their own heart beats.
He tries to convince himself it's just anxiety— the worries of an overprotective father-to-be...
Then his heart skips a beat, hearing a scrape outside.
He stiffens instantly, senses spiking.
***
He carefully extracts himself from the bed, trying not to wake Felix as he moves to the window.
"Don't be paranoid," he whispers to himself, scanning the street below. "It was probably just an animal or something."
He sighs, shaking his head at his own paranoid.
"You're just being ridiculous... It's all in your head."
And then: a flicker of movement in the shadows at the edge of his vision.
Jake's heart skips a beat, and he squints through the dark, trying to discern the source of the movement.
"Probably just a cat," he mutters to himself, though his pulse begins to quicken.
He glances back towards the bed, where Felix still slumbers—soft and innocent,
unaware of the danger approaching.
Jake clenches his jaw, eyes flicking back to the shadows.
"...Or not."
Jake watches as a dark-clothed figure emerges from the shadows, moving with purpose towards their skyscraper.
"That's not a damn cat," he hisses under his breath, heart thumping louder. "Dammit, what is happening...?"
A strange feeling creeps over him—a mix of trepidation and adrenaline, instinct warning him of something more menacing than a stray animal.
Jake glances back towards the bed again—Felix is still sleeping, blissfully oblivious to the chaos soon to come.
Jake turns back towards the window, eyes scanning for any sign of the intruding figure.
"Dammit, where is that person going?" he hisses to himself, fingers curling into fists. "What are they planning?"
Then—
he feels a twinge in his gut—instinct pulling him towards the bed, towards Felix. Something tells him: *Protect.*