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Lee Young Ji’s living room was loud with laughter, the cameras capturing every silly slur of speech and tipsy outburst. Bottles of soju, cans of beer, and plates of fried chicken cluttered the table.
Joshua leaned against the wall, face flushed, glass in hand. “No, no, listen—” his words dragged a little, “—Seokmin is the funnier one. I swear. He doesn’t know it, but he’s hilarious.” He giggled, eyes crinkling, before leaning his whole weight onto Seokmin’s shoulder.
Seokmin, already a little tipsy but still holding himself together, groaned with mock embarrassment. “Don’t expose me, hyung.”
Young Ji laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink. “You two are hopeless! Look at you—Joshua, your face is red like a tomato!”
“Strawberry,” Joshua corrected with a proud grin, holding up his glass. “I’m strawberry flavored.”
That sent everyone into another round of laughter, Seokmin included, though he quietly reached over to steady Joshua’s glass before it tipped over.
By the end of the night, Joshua was far gone, giggling at everything, and Seokmin was just tipsy enough to feel warm but still sober enough to guide him.
When filming wrapped up, they bowed their thanks, and Seokmin supported Joshua out to the car.
The city blurred past the window as the car carried them home. Joshua sat slouched against the seat, eyes half-lidded, mumbling random things that made no sense.
“Do you think clouds get drunk?” he asked suddenly, staring dreamily at the night sky through the glass.
Seokmin glanced at him, amused. “Clouds?”
“Yeah… they drink rain… then they get heavy… and then they cry.” Joshua snorted at his own logic.
Seokmin shook his head, lips curving into a smile. “That’s… actually kind of poetic.”
A comfortable silence followed, filled with Joshua’s occasional hums and half-finished thoughts. Every now and then, he’d turn his head toward Seokmin and whisper, “You’re really pretty, you know that?”
Seokmin’s grip tightened slightly on his lap, his heart doing flips, but he forced himself to chuckle softly. “Just close your eyes. We’ll be home soon.”
But Joshua was not the one to listen. His head tilted back toward the window, his face pink and his eyes half-lidded.
“Seokmin-ah…” he mumbled suddenly, voice slurred but earnest.
“Yes, hyung?” Seokmin glanced at him.
“Do you think… fish get drunk?” Joshua squinted out at the passing river as if he’d just uncovered the mysteries of the universe.
Seokmin blinked, trying not to laugh. “Fish? What makes you say that?”
“They… they swim in water. Water has… alcohol sometimes. Maybe. Right?” Joshua’s words tangled together, and then he started giggling.
Seokmin shook his head, lips curving despite himself. “You’ve definitely had too much soju.”
Joshua turned his head toward him, his cheek pressed against the seatbelt. “You’re so handsome.” The declaration was blunt, honest, without a second thought.
Heat rushed to Seokmin’s ears. “Hyung…”
Joshua hummed and closed his eyes again, smiling lazily. “You’re mine. Don’t forget.”
Seokmin let out a shaky laugh, his heart swelling. “I won’t forget. Ever.”
The rest of the ride was filled with Joshua’s little hums and half-finished thoughts—sometimes about strawberries, sometimes about clouds, sometimes about Seokmin himself. And Seokmin listened to every word like it was the most precious thing in the world.
By the time they pulled up to their apartment, Joshua was fighting to stay awake. Seokmin hurried around to his side and opened the door.
“Come on, hyung. We’re home.”
Joshua blinked up at him, eyes glassy. “Carry me.”
Seokmin snorted. “You’re not that drunk. Walk.”
Joshua pouted, stumbling as he climbed out of the car, clinging to Seokmin’s arm. “Fine. But only ‘cause you’re here.”
Inside the apartment, the air was quiet, warm, familiar. Seokmin guided him toward their shared bedroom, one steadying arm around his waist.
Joshua immediately flopped onto the mattress, bouncing once before sprawling out dramatically. “This is so comfortable. I’m never moving again.”
Seokmin sighed, tugging off Joshua’s shoes first. “You have to shower.”
“Nooo.” Joshua rolled over, hugging a pillow to his chest. “You shower. I’ll just… watch.”
“Not happening,” Seokmin muttered, shaking his head as he crossed the room. He crouched in front of the dresser, pulling open the drawer. After rummaging for a bit, he found one of Joshua’s soft, oversized T-shirts and a pair of sweatpants.
Behind him, Joshua’s voice piped up again, sing-song and whiny. “Seokmin-ahhh, don’t ignore me.”
“I’m not ignoring you.” Seokmin held up the shirt. “I’m finding clothes so you can at least change.”
Joshua propped himself up on his elbows, hair sticking up like a halo. “Why are you so nice to me?”
Seokmin glanced at him, his heart aching at the sight. “Because I love you, hyung.”
Joshua giggled, then immediately switched into a whine again. “Then kiss meeee.”
Seokmin groaned, turning back to the drawer. “No.”
This made Joshua sprawled across the bed, limbs spread out like a starfish, groaning dramatically.
“Seokmin-ahhh… you’re so cold. You won’t even kiss me…”
Seokmin sighed, pulling out a clean T-shirt for himself from the drawer. “Hyung, I told you. You’re drunk. We need to get you changed and into bed.”
Joshua turned onto his stomach, face buried in the pillow. His voice came out muffled. “Bed is boring. I want you in bed with me.”
Seokmin stifled a laugh, tossing the shirt aside. “I’ll be in bed with you, but not like that. Come on, sit up—”
Joshua flipped over again, pouting hard, his hair a mess. “Nooo. You always say no when I want to do something fun.”
“That’s not true,” Seokmin countered, crouching beside the bed.
Joshua pushed himself up on his elbows, swaying a little. “Yes it is! I say, ‘Seokmin, let’s eat ice cream before dinner’—you say no. I say, ‘Seokmin, let’s kiss now’—you say no.”
Seokmin laughed despite himself. “Hyung, you asked me to kiss you in front of the cameras once. What was I supposed to do?”
Joshua giggled drunkenly, then immediately switched back to sulking, bottom lip jutting out. “But you’re supposed to want me all the time.”
“I do want you all the time,” Seokmin said softly, trying to coax him into calmness.
“Then prove it,” Joshua demanded, crawling closer and poking Seokmin’s chest with his finger. “Kiss me now.”
“Hyung…” Seokmin warned.
Joshua collapsed back onto the mattress with a loud whine, kicking his legs like a child throwing a tantrum. “Why won’t you kiss me? You don’t love me anymore!”
Seokmin froze. “What? That’s not true—”
“Then why do you always push me away? You don’t…” His voice cracked suddenly, the pout faltering as his eyes grew glassy. He blinked rapidly, trying to fight the tears, but they slipped out anyway. “You don’t want me.”
The shift hit Seokmin like a punch. He scrambled onto the bed, reaching for him instantly. “Hyung, no—don’t think like that. Of course I want you. I love you. You’re everything to me.”
Joshua sniffled, staring at him through wet lashes. “…Then kiss me.”
Seokmin opened his arms without hesitation. “Come here.”
Joshua practically launched himself forward, climbing into Seokmin’s lap with surprising strength for someone so drunk. His legs wrapped around Seokmin’s waist, arms clinging tight around his neck.
“Hyung!” Seokmin yelped before laughing breathlessly.
Joshua buried his face against Seokmin’s neck, tears and all. Seokmin rubbed soothing circles into his back, whispering, “It’s okay. Don’t cry. I’ve got you.”
When Joshua finally tilted his face up, his lips hovered so close, his breath hot against Seokmin’s mouth. “Kiss me… please.”
All of Seokmin’s restraint snapped. He lunged forward and captured Joshua's lips.
Joshua’s lips were hot and messy, tasting faintly of soju. He kissed like he was starved, pressing sloppy, eager kisses against Seokmin’s mouth, his small sounds of desperation vibrating right into Seokmin’s chest.
Seokmin groaned, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. His tongue slipped past Joshua’s lips, sliding against his, tasting him fully. Joshua whimpered into his mouth, clutching Seokmin’s sweater with both fists like he’d never let go.
Their kisses grew wilder—Joshua biting lightly at Seokmin’s bottom lip, sucking it between his own before letting it go with a wet sound. Seokmin answered by cupping Joshua’s face and kissing him harder, sucking his tongue into his mouth, their breaths harsh and uneven.
Joshua moaned, the sound muffled against Seokmin’s lips, and arched his body forward, pressing closer, needy. Seokmin’s hand slipped under his denim jacket, stroking the warm skin of his back while the other pinned his jaw, holding him in place.
“Hyung…” Seokmin whispered against his swollen lips, only to kiss him again immediately after, hungrily swallowing Joshua’s whines.
In one fluid motion, Seokmin shifted, guiding Joshua down onto the mattress and bracing himself above him. He caught Joshua’s wrists and pinned them against the pillow above his head, leaning down to devour his lips once more.
Joshua’s back arched, a small gasp escaping him as Seokmin kissed down his jaw, then returned to his mouth, teeth grazing his lip before licking it soothingly. Their tongues tangled again, slower now but deeper, dragging moans out of both of them.
Joshua tugged at the sheets beneath him, wrists straining lightly against Seokmin’s grip. “Seokmin-ah… more…” he breathed out, voice breaking with need.
Seokmin groaned, pressing his forehead to Joshua’s for a moment before diving back in, lips moving in long, sucking kisses, licking the inside of Joshua’s mouth until Joshua whimpered helplessly beneath him.
The heat between them was dizzying, lips swollen, breaths mingling, saliva making every kiss wetter, messier. Joshua kept whimpering Seokmin’s name, voice weak but pleading, until suddenly—
The sounds stopped.
Seokmin, lost in the kiss, slowed and pulled back just enough to notice. Joshua’s lips had gone slack, his eyes closed, his breaths even.
He’d fallen asleep mid-kiss.
Seokmin blinked, stunned for a moment, then burst into quiet laughter, forehead pressing against Joshua’s. “Unbelievable. You actually passed out on me.”
He kissed his temple softly, his chest aching with fondness.
Seokmin lingered over Joshua’s sleeping face for a moment longer, still hovering above him. His lips twitched helplessly into a grin.
“I’ll let you off this time, hyung.” he whispered, brushing Joshua’s damp bangs off his forehead. “Crying one second, kissing me like you’ll die the next… and now you’re out cold. You’re really something else.”
Joshua mumbled something incoherent, his lips parting as he shifted slightly, arms falling limp across the bed. Seokmin chuckled softly, shaking his head.
“Cute even when you’re a mess,” he muttered, before pressing a quick kiss to Joshua’s cheek.
With careful hands, he sat up and tugged Joshua into a sitting position. The older man’s head lolled against Seokmin’s shoulder, lips brushing against his neck, making Seokmin stifle a laugh. “Yah… stop trying to seduce me in your sleep.”
Joshua let out a little snore.
That broke Seokmin—he laughed outright, shoulders shaking. “Oh my god, you’re hopeless.”
Still chuckling, he worked quickly, peeling off Joshua’s jacket and replacing it with a loose, soft T-shirt. The way Joshua’s head bobbed with every tug made Seokmin laugh all over again. “You’re like a doll right now… a really stubborn drunk doll.”
He guided Joshua’s arms through the sleeves, murmuring to himself, “You will be embarrassed tomorrow.”
Once he had him dressed, Seokmin gently pushed him back down and pulled the blanket up to his chest. He sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, just staring at him. Joshua’s face looked peaceful now, lips pink and slightly swollen from their kisses, his lashes resting delicately against flushed cheeks.
Seokmin’s chest swelled with affection so fierce it nearly hurt.
He leaned down, brushing his nose against Joshua’s, whispering softly, “You’re mine, hyung. Even when you’re drunk and ridiculous… especially then.”
Joshua stirred faintly, humming in his sleep, and Seokmin laughed under his breath again, climbing into bed beside him after changing. He slipped an arm around Joshua’s waist, pulling him close until their bodies were pressed together.
“Goodnight, strawberry,” he murmured with a smile, kissing Joshua’s temple one last time. “I’ll deal with your whining again tomorrow.”
He closed his eyes, still laughing silently to himself, his heart impossibly full.
The room was washed in soft daylight when Seokmin stirred awake. His head throbbed faintly, but it was nothing compared to the mess Joshua had been last night. He turned his head and found Joshua sprawled across half the bed, hair sticking up in ridiculous directions, lips parted in sleep. His face was so peaceful now that Seokmin almost couldn’t believe this was the same man who had been whining and nearly crying for kisses hours ago.
A smile tugged at Seokmin’s lips as he reached out, brushing Joshua’s hair off his forehead. He couldn’t resist leaning down to press a kiss there. Then another, on his cheek. Then one on his nose.
Joshua stirred with a groggy whine, eyes half-opening. “Mm… Seokkie?”
“Good morning, whiny baby,” Seokmin teased, already grinning. He pressed another kiss to Joshua’s temple, then his jaw.
Joshua groaned and rolled onto his side, burying his face in Seokmin’s chest. “Stop teasing… I wasn’t whiny.”
“You were,” Seokmin laughed, kissing the top of his head. “You were begging for kisses like a little kid.”
Joshua peeked up at him with a sleepy glare. “I did not.”
“You did,” Seokmin confirmed, planting a playful kiss right on his pout. “And you cried. You actually cried because I wouldn’t kiss you.”
Joshua covered his face with his hands. “Ugh, stoppp. Don’t remind me.”
Seokmin just laughed, prying his hands away to kiss both of them. “Why? It was adorable. I should’ve recorded it.”
Joshua groaned again, shoving at him half-heartedly. But instead of moving away, he ended up crawling into Seokmin’s lap, looping his arms lazily around his neck. “Fine… but I want my kisses now.”
Seokmin’s heart melted. He leaned in and pressed kiss after kiss all over Joshua’s face—forehead, nose, cheeks, lips, chin—until Joshua was giggling against him.
Eventually, Seokmin wriggled out of bed to start breakfast, but Joshua followed him like a shadow. In the kitchen, while Seokmin stood at the stove scrambling eggs, Joshua slid up beside him, arms circling his waist, head resting against his chest.
“Shua, I can’t cook like this,” Seokmin said, though his voice was light with laughter.
“Don’t care. You’re warm,” Joshua mumbled, nuzzling into him.
Seokmin pressed a quick kiss to the top of his head. “You’re clingier than usual.”
“You said I wanted kisses last night,” Joshua muttered. “So now I’m making sure I get all of them.”
Seokmin couldn’t even argue. He just laughed softly, turning his head to kiss Joshua’s forehead, letting him cling while the eggs sizzled. His heart felt impossibly full.
Seokmin plated the eggs and set them on the counter, but the second he tried to step away, Joshua latched onto his waist tighter.
“Shua,” Seokmin laughed, twisting around in his hold, “at least let me put the food on the table before it gets cold.”
Joshua only pouted, resting his chin against Seokmin’s chest like a cat refusing to budge. “No. First, kiss me.”
Seokmin raised an eyebrow, pretending to be annoyed even though his chest was already softening. “Kiss you? Didn’t I already give you a hundred of those this morning?”
“Not enough,” Joshua mumbled, tugging him closer by the shirt. His lips curved into a sleepy little smile. “I’ll never have enough.”
That pulled an honest laugh out of Seokmin. His heart gave a ridiculous squeeze as he cupped the back of Joshua’s neck, thumb brushing along his jaw. “You really don’t quit, huh?”
Joshua tipped his face up, lips parting slightly in invitation. “Nope.”
So Seokmin gave in, leaning down and pressing their mouths together. The kiss was soft at first—slow, careful, like testing the waters. But the moment Joshua sighed into him, Seokmin deepened it, lips moving with more purpose. Joshua clung tighter, fingers curling into his shirt, practically melting against him.
Seokmin kissed him again and again, drawing it out until they were both smiling against each other’s mouths. When he finally pulled back, Joshua’s eyes were shining, his lips flushed.
“Mm,” Joshua murmured, voice low and warm. “Worth whining for.”
Seokmin chuckled, pressing a quick peck to the corner of his mouth. “Now, eat before I starve.”
Joshua just smirked and leaned forward again, brushing their noses together. “After one more kiss.”
Seokmin shook his head but still bent down, giving him another—slower this time, lingering. His free hand found Joshua’s waist and squeezed gently, grounding him. When he pulled away, Joshua followed the motion, lips chasing his like a magnet.
“Shua,” Seokmin whispered with a helpless laugh, “you’re gonna kill me.”
Joshua only grinned, smug and soft all at once. “Good.”
Seokmin gave up right then, kissing him once more, before gently nudging him toward the table.