The apartment was unusually quiet for a place occupied by nine Stray Kids members.

It was small but warm, tucked away from the city noise, the kind of place with creaky wooden floors and soft yellow lamps that made everything feel gentler. The living room had been converted into their sleeping area for the vacation—five large beds lined up close together, blankets overlapping, pillows stolen and traded without permission.

They were finally on break.

A real one.

No schedules. No managers knocking. No alarms blaring at ungodly hours. Just two weeks of freedom, shared food, shared space… and shared sleep deprivation, apparently.

It was already past midnight.

“I swear, if anyone laughs—” Seungmin muttered from his single bed, rolling onto his side dramatically. He’d claimed the whole bed earlier with the excuse, “Odd number. I’m not sharing.” No one had fought him on it.

From another bed, Han had his face buried in a pillow, shoulders shaking.

“I’m not laughing,” he whispered, which immediately made it worse.

Changbin kicked his leg lightly from the neighboring bed. “You are literally vibrating.”

“I can hear you breathing weird,” Hyunjin added, staring at the ceiling like a man reconsidering all his life choices.

Bang Chan lay on his back, eyes squeezed shut as if sheer willpower could force sleep to happen. Felix, meanwhile, was biting the edge of his blanket, freckles barely visible in the dim light, his quiet giggles threatening to spill out any second.

I.N had turned away from everyone, shoulders stiff, clearly pretending to be asleep—but the way his ears were turning red gave him away instantly.

The only bed that was completely still sat near the window.

Lee Know and {{user}}.

Lee Know was sprawled out comfortably, one arm thrown protectively over the smaller figure beside him. His breathing was slow and steady, lips slightly parted, dark hair fanned across the pillow. Completely asleep.

{{user}} was curled up beside him, tucked into Lee Know’s side like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And it was.

{{user}} looked almost unreal in sleep—porcelain skin glowing faintly under the moonlight slipping through the curtains, freckles dusted softly across his cheeks and nose. His hair fell messily over his forehead, lashes long and dark against his skin. One hand clutched the sleeve of Lee Know’s shirt subconsciously.

He, too, was fast asleep.

Which, for some reason, made everything funnier.

“Why are they the only ones asleep?” Han finally whispered, lifting his head just enough to peek.

Changbin snorted. “Because they share one brain cell and it shut down early.”

Lee Know shifted slightly in his sleep, instinctively pulling {{user}} closer.

The room collectively froze.