Feel Closer

Kazoo Lee had never known the warmth of a father's love. His childhood was a collection of silent meals, empty hallways, and the dull ache of longing. Each Father's Day, he watched other kids run into their fathers' arms, their laughter filling the air like a melody he could never hum. He was always the outsider, standing at the edges of a happiness that wasn't his.

One night, under a sky so dark it felt endless, Kazoo fell to his knees. His hands trembled as he clasped them together, his breath shallow as he whispered his desperate plea.

"God, if you're listening, please… just once, let me have the best father in the world. Let me know what it's like to be loved. Please."

A wind stirred, rustling the trees, carrying a whisper that sent shivers down his spine. Then, silence. Nothing. Just the sound of his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

He sighed, shaking his head. Of course. Nothing would change.

But when he opened his eyes, the world was no longer his own.

The sky above was a shade of gold he had never seen before, and before him stood a man; tall, ethereal, radiating an aura of power and serenity. His eyes, deep pools of knowing, bore into Kazoo with an intensity that made his soul tremble.

"Your wish has been heard, Kazoo Lee," the man spoke, his voice like an echo through eternity. "But every gift comes with a price."

Kazoo tried to move, tried to speak, but his body felt weightless, his voice lost in the air.

"In exchange for the father you seek, you must give something in return."

The man's gaze softened, almost sorrowful.

"Your life."

Kazoo's breath hitched. His heart raced. "W-what?" he managed to choke out.

"You wished for a father who would love you unconditionally. But to receive such a love, your existence must be rewritten. You will no longer be Kazoo Lee. Your life as you know it will end, and in its place, a new one will begin."

His hands clenched into fists. "That’s not fair! I—I just wanted—"

"A perfect father," the man interrupted. "One who would cherish you, protect you, never let you suffer. But the world does not grant perfection without sacrifice."

Tears welled in Kazoo's eyes. He had only asked for something so simple, so normal. Why did it have to come at such a cost?

The golden sky flickered, and suddenly, warmth surrounded him; strong arms, an embrace that felt like home. A deep voice murmured against his hair.

"Kazoo, my son. You are safe now."

His body trembled as realization dawned. The bargain was complete. His old life was gone.

And in return, he had been reborn into the arms of the father he had always dreamed of.

Kazoo blinked, his vision blurry as he adjusted to the new world around him. He felt small, his limbs light and unfamiliar. As his sight cleared, he found himself staring into a face so striking it seemed unreal; Cha Eunwoo. His flawless features were softened by an expression of warmth and tenderness, his gaze filled with something Kazoo had never seen directed at him before: pure, unfiltered love.

Panic surged through him as he raised his hands, only to see tiny fingers, chubby and uncoordinated. His breath caught in his throat. His body;

He was a child.

Kazoo’s mind reeled. He had been a teenager when he made the wish. He had begged for the best father in the world, but he never expected to wake up like this. This wasn’t just a new life; it was a complete rebirth.

Eunwoo smiled, gently brushing Kazoo’s dark hair away from his forehead. "Did you have a bad dream, little one?" His voice was soothing, rich with affection.

Kazoo wanted to respond, to ask what had happened, to demand answers. But as he opened his mouth, only a soft, childlike whimper escaped. His throat tightened. He wasn’t just reborn; he was fully transformed into a child, incapable of articulating his thoughts like before.

Eunwoo chuckled softly, pulling Kazoo into a secure embrace. "Shh, it’s okay. Daddy’s here. You’re safe."

Daddy.

The word sent an unexpected wave of warmth through Kazoo’s chest. He had never heard anyone say it to him before. Not like this. Not with such certainty.

As the reality settled in, Kazoo’s small hands clutched onto Eunwoo’s shirt. Maybe this was the price he had to pay. Maybe he had lost his old self, but in return, he had gained something he had always yearned for.

A father’s love.

And this time, it was truly his.

Kazoo lay in the soft embrace of the cradle, his tiny fingers instinctively curling and uncurling, as if trying to grasp something unseen. A strange sensation filled his small body; warmth, security, an unfamiliar but comforting presence. It wasn’t just the softness of the silk bedding beneath him or the gentle sway of the room. It was something more. A sound.

A soft, delicate cooing filled the air. It wasn’t coming from him. It was another presence, tiny like him, but full of life and warmth. Kazoo felt drawn to it, as though the sound resonated deep within him. The baby sounds, light and innocent, carried a melody of comfort he had never known before. It was as if, in this new world, he wasn’t alone. Someone else was here, someone just as small and fragile, yet full of unspoken connection.

His tiny body wiggled slightly, responding to the presence near him. His breathing hitched for a moment as he turned his head toward the sound, his newborn muscles still learning movement. The moment felt surreal; something deep inside him stirred, a feeling of belonging, of closeness. Was this what it meant to have a family? To feel safe in the presence of another?

A large, warm hand suddenly cupped his back, steadying his tiny form. A voice followed, smooth and deep, filled with unshakable affection.

“You’re curious, aren’t you, Kazoo?”

Cha Eunwoo’s voice was like a lullaby, melting into the air as he leaned closer. His fingers brushed over Kazoo’s tiny arms, his touch featherlight, as though afraid he might break something so delicate.

“You’re already listening so intently. That’s good… It means you feel safe.”

Kazoo let out an unconscious whimper, not of distress, but of something deeper; an instinctual response to warmth and care. He didn’t have full control of his emotions or expressions, but somehow, in this new body, in this new life, he felt his heart responding to the gentleness surrounding him.

Cha Eunwoo chuckled softly, his gaze holding infinite patience as he reached for something beside him. A carefully crafted sling made of the softest fabric, woven with gentle threads that wouldn’t irritate Kazoo’s sensitive baby skin. He held it up, testing its weight before looking down at his tiny son once more.

“I want to keep you close, little one,” Eunwoo murmured, his voice a promise. “So you’ll always know you’re safe with me.”

Slowly, he lifted Kazoo with both hands, cradling him with a tenderness that made the world feel smaller, more peaceful. The little baby sounds nearby continued, a rhythmic, soothing backdrop to the moment. Kazoo, feeling the security of Eunwoo’s hands, let out the smallest noise; somewhere between a sigh and a hum.

Eunwoo smiled. “You like that, don’t you?”

Carefully, he adjusted the sling over his shoulder, making sure it fit snugly. With precision and gentleness, he placed Kazoo inside, ensuring he was wrapped in warmth, his tiny head resting against his father’s chest. The rhythmic sound of a heartbeat echoed in Kazoo’s ears, a steady, grounding presence.

“There,” Eunwoo whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Kazoo’s forehead. “Now you’re right where you belong.”

Kazoo felt it; the steady rise and fall of his father’s breathing, the warmth of his touch, the undeniable closeness that erased every lingering fragment of loneliness. The baby sounds in the background blended with the soothing rhythm of Eunwoo’s voice, creating a lullaby that pulled him into comfort.

He feels closer to his father...

For the first time, Kazoo understood what it meant to be held, to be cherished. The feeling of closeness, of security, wrapped around him like the fabric of the sling, holding him against the one person who would never let him go.

Kazoo felt an odd sensation bubbling inside him; something soft, something warm, something entirely foreign yet strangely familiar. A small sound, barely more than a coo, escaped his lips, and he froze. That wasn't his voice. It was too light, too delicate, too… baby-like.

His mind raced. He was Kazoo Lee; a teenager with thoughts, emotions, and memories; but his body? His body was something else entirely. He tried to move his fingers, but they were tiny, pudgy, and uncoordinated. He wanted to sit up, but his limbs lacked the strength he once had. Panic crawled up his throat, but all that came out was a frustrated whimper.

Then, warm hands scooped him up, strong yet careful. Cha Eunwoo’s face came into view; so breathtakingly handsome that even in his confusion, Kazoo found himself momentarily stunned.

“There, there, Kazoo,” Cha Eunwoo murmured, adjusting the soft fabric of the sling around him. “Let’s get you nice and comfy, hmm? You like this, don’t you?” His voice was deep, soothing, and impossibly gentle.

No! I don’t like this! Kazoo wanted to shout, but all he managed was another soft gurgle. He was a teenager trapped in a baby’s form, and every fiber of his being wanted to protest. He wanted to run, jump, yell; anything but this helpless existence.

But then, Cha Eunwoo rocked him slightly, his warmth seeping through the fabric. His father’s heartbeat was steady, comforting. Kazoo’s frustration wavered for just a moment as a strange sense of safety wrapped around him.

Maybe… just maybe, he could get used to this.

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