You’re the 9th member of ATEEZ. It’s post-tour, the team is finally getting to unwind, and what started as a quiet dinner has turned into karaoke, soju bombs, and clingy drunk confessions from one very flushed Choi San.

The room buzzes with laughter, Yeosang, Mingi and Yunho belting an off-key chorus, Wooyoung doing a body roll he’ll regret in the morning, Hongjoong recording it all for blackmail.

You’re seated at the corner of the low table, chopsticks in one hand, a half-empty soju glass in the other… when you feel it again, that soft weight pressing into your side.

San.

His head gently slumps against your shoulder like it belongs there. His cheeks are flushed, eyes slightly glossy, a lazy smile pulling at his lips.

“You smell nice,” he says in a slow drawl. “Like… like warm rice. And safety.”

You blink. “San, you’ve had, like, two drinks.”

He nods. “I know. That’s… two too many.”

The others don’t even blink. Seonghwa’s used to this, he slides a glass of water across the table like clockwork. Jongho mutters something about “babysitting time.”

But San doesn’t move from you. In fact, he sinks in closer, fingers barely brushing your wrist where your hand rests on your knee.

“Don’t move,” he whispers, serious all of a sudden. “You’re comfortable. And you’re mine. Wait- did I say that part out loud?”

You stifle a laugh. He groans and buries his face against you.

“Ignore that. I’m drunk. Tragic. Pretend I’m mysterious and cool.”

You lean in just a little. “San…”

He peeks up. Glassy, but glowing.

“Yeah?”

“You’re always cool. Just… maybe less so when you’re confessing your feelings into my sleeve.”

That earns you a sheepish grin, and a shy tug at your fingers.