Archive of Our Own

Most people, Joshua is sure, would agree that Never Have I Ever exists for two simple reasons: to get you drunk and to embarrass your friends.

He had only introduced the members to this particular game to save himself from early death by liver failure because he keeps losing all the Korean drinking games. But in doing so, he had forgotten one crucial fact: if you’re measuring Yoon Jeonghan by the standards of “most people”, you’ve already lost.

Jeonghan has only ever played with two distinct end goals in mind—collecting future blackmail material and exacting revenge. Tonight, Joshua firmly falls into the latter category.

Now, getting on Jeonghan’s bad side is never advisable, but in Joshua’s defense, he was certain Jeonghan would never find out that he was the one who ate all of his precious seaweed snacks.

Yet, despite his best efforts at plausible deniability, just when he thought he’d gotten away with it—when the blame had settled comfortably on either Soonyoung or Seungkwan (neither of whom remembered eating Jeonghan’s snacks, but also couldn’t confidently say they hadn’t, and thus begrudgingly agreed to buy Jeonghan two replacement packs each)—Seokmin, in his infinite, lovable obliviousness, had casually mentioned seeing Joshua snacking on that exact brand just the day before.

Soonyoung and Seungkwan had turned to Joshua with twin expressions of heartbreak, as if he had personally betrayed them. But the two of them had been quick to forgive and forget.

Jeonghan, however?

Jeonghan has never forgiven anything in his life.

Joshua knows the score. He stole Jeonghan’s snacks. Jeonghan found out. And now Jeonghan will have his revenge.

So far, he hasn’t made his move. But as soon as the group settled on Never Have I Ever for the night’s drinking game, Jeonghan had shooed Hansol from Joshua’s favorite spot on the couch, settled beside him, slung an arm around his shoulders, and solemnly announced, “You’re sitting with me tonight, Shua-yah. I need a front-row seat for the moment my revenge is complete.”

And Joshua, having long since accepted his fate, had stayed.

Now, after Chan’s valiant (and slightly desperate) attempt to convince the group that yes, he’s been naked in public, but no, it wasn’t a big deal, and hyungs, please just listen—, it’s Jeonghan’s turn again.

Joshua feels the dread coil low in his stomach. It does not mix well with the wine he’s been sipping in lieu of shots.

“Okay, this is a good one,” Jeonghan announces. Which, of course, means it’s a terrible one.

Joshua stiffens. The hand on his shoulder squeezes.

Oh, this is it.

Jeonghan pauses, ever the showman, making sure that everyone (Joshua) is properly terrified (he is). Then, he smirks.

“Never have I ever…”

Fucking hell.

“… had a wet dream about a member.”

Half the group instantly starts “uuuh”-ing. Someone laughs. Seungkwan practically vibrates with glee.

Joshua doesn’t react. He can’t react. He is far too focused on the hand on his shoulder and the smirk he knows is on Jeonghan’s face.

Because Jeonghan knows.

Of course, he does.

Because he heard it straight from Joshua himself.

The first time it happened, Joshua freaked out so badly that he spent a week in a miserable spiral, wondering if his bandmates would kick him out of the group if they ever found out. In the end, he cracked and went to Jeonghan for guidance (read: absolution).

And to Jeonghan’s everlasting credit, he hadn’t laughed at Joshua’s despair. Instead, he had listened, patted Joshua’s shoulder reassuringly, and said, “Come on, Shua-yah, you’re bi as fuck, you haven’t gotten laid in a while, and Minghao has had his hands all over you in dance practice. Is it really that surprising that your brain jumbled that into a horny mess? Also, Seungcheolie and Jihoonie are literally dating? Why would we kick you out over a wet dream now, huh? It’s probably a one-time thing anyways.”

Joshua, relieved beyond belief, had nodded. Yes. Right. A one-time thing. No big deal.

But shortly thereafter, that one-time thing became a two-time thing. Then a three-time thing. Then a too-many-times-to-count-because-he’s-repressed-and-refuses-to-confront-this thing.

And not once—not a single time—had it been about Soonyoung, Chan, or Junhui, who also regularly helped him fix his form in practice. No, those moments had never once left him hot under the collar, never had him biting the inside of his cheek to keep from thinking about them later.

It had only ever been Minghao.

And Jeonghan knows.

Maybe not that Joshua dreams about getting fucked by (and fucking, and sucking off, and being edged to tears by, and making sweet, tender love to) Minghao on the regular—

But he does know about Joshua’s crush.

Knows that it has snowballed from somewhat manageable to oh no oh no oh no over the past few months.

Like the dickhead (read: amazing best friend) he is, Jeonghan has taken full advantage—teasing Joshua as much as he can get away with, but he has also been patiently listening to Joshua moon over Minghao (under the strict condition that Joshua acknowledges he is, in fact, mooning), and, worst of all, encouraging him to do something about it.

Especially after his “sources” confirmed that Minghao might be interested in Joshua, too.

And while Joshua would usually doubt Jeonghan’s sources on principle, Minghao has made it all too easy for Joshua to see that the interest is mutual: There are the quiet evenings with just the two of them, drinking wine and talking until it’s too late to pretend they don’t seek each other out. There is the way Minghao is always the one fixing Joshua’s form in practice, fingertips ghosting over his wrist, his waist, his jaw, tilting his head like he’s waiting for Joshua to react. There is the way he catches Joshua staring and doesn’t look away—just gives him that small, private smile, eyes gleaming with something knowing, like he’s waiting. Just waiting.

Joshua, like a reasonable person, has done exactly nothing about it.

Unless you count staring at Minghao and then immediately looking away whenever Minghao catches him. And mooning to Jeonghan. There has, indeed, been a lot of mooning.

It’s been months of this.

And it seems like Jeonghan has finally run out of patience.

He is making Joshua confess tonight.

And there is no getting out of it.

Joshua knows it.

Jeonghan knows it.

And if Joshua doesn’t drink? Jeonghan will make him.

While Joshua is still blinking his shock away, the group’s uuuh-ing dies down, replaced by suspicious glances as everyone waits to see who will drink first. (Not Joshua, that’s for sure.)

In the end, it’s Seungcheol, ever the leader, who takes one for the team, reaching across Jihoon—who is resting in his lap—to grab his shot glass. Even if his cheeks have turned pink, he lifts the glass with an easy, almost bored shrug, as if to say, no big deal, right? Which, for him, it probably isn’t, considering Jihoon is literally in his lap.

After downing the shot, Seungcheol grins and nudges Jihoon. “You too, Jihoon-ah?”

Jihoon grumbles but obediently takes the shot of soda Seungcheol hands him.

Seokmin sighs dramatically. “Only the couple? We’re so boring.”

Then—

Bang.

Everyone jumps. Heads swivel.

Mingyu, looking panicked, sheepishly picks up an empty bottle of soju with one hand—while the other holds an empty shot glass.

“Oh,” he says weakly. “That was… less subtle than I wanted it to be.”

Silence.

And then—

“Oh, I bet Mingyu dreams about Wonwoo!”

“No, no, it’s obviously Seungcheol-hyung!”

“Maybe it was Seungkwanie?!”

“You’re so red, Mingyu-yah, was it kinky?”

Joshua has never been more grateful for his members’ ability to hound Kim Mingyu into the grave.

Seizing his chance, he quickly lifts his wine glass and takes a sip.

Beside him, Jeonghan hums, amused. “There you go. I was beginning to think you’d lie to us.”

Joshua swallows, schooling his expression into something that hopefully resembles nonchalance. “Of course not. No lying in Never Have I Ever or Truth or Dare, right?”

Jeonghan snickers but lets it slide.

And just like that, Joshua thinks he’s in the clear. Victorious, even. The wine has warmed his veins, loosening his nerves, and for once, he doesn’t immediately squash the impulse to look at Minghao.

He expects to see Minghao observing the teasing, wearing that small, private smile—half fond, half exasperated—he always does in moments like this.

But when Joshua’s gaze finds him—

Minghao isn’t looking at Mingyu. Or at Seokmin, who is still needling Mingyu for the member he dreamt about. Or at Chan and Seungkwan, who are loudly negotiating who will take the shot that will force Mingyu to spill the beans.

No.

Minghao is looking straight at Joshua.

A little smirk on his lips.

He saw.

He raises an eyebrow at Joshua.

He knows.

But that’s fine. Totally fine. Just play it cool, Joshua.

He immediately tears his eyes away from Minghao.

Coolly.

Casually.

With the grace and ease of a man who is absolutely not panicking.

“Subtle,” Jeonghan murmurs beside him, sounding far too entertained.

Joshua ignores him. Focuses on his wine. Takes a sip that is definitely normal-sized and not, say, a desperate gulp.

It does nothing to cool the warmth spreading up his neck.

He can feel Minghao’s gaze lingering. Watching. Waiting.

And, god, Joshua wants to look back. Just to check if Minghao’s still smirking, if his eyes are still gleaming like he knows every single thought running through Joshua’s head.

But that would be a mistake.

Because Joshua would look. And Minghao would smirk. And then Joshua’s entire body would betray him—his ears would burn, his fingers would fidget, his throat would lock up, and suddenly everyone would know that he is not, in fact, playing this cool.

So he keeps his eyes firmly on Mingyu, who is currently hiding his face behind his hands as Soonyoung and Seungkwan close in like sharks.

“Come on, Mingyu-yah,” Soonyoung croons, slinging an arm around him. “Tell us who it was. We won’t judge.”

“That’s a lie,” Wonwoo interjects mildly.

Seungkwan gasps dramatically. “Wait, was it Jihoon-hyung? Are you dreaming about being a homewrecker?! Oh my god, it was, wasn’t it?”

“It wasn’t!” Mingyu wails, muffled.

Seungcheol watches with amusement and zero intention of stepping in. “Then who was it?”

“Yeah, spill,” Jeonghan adds, delighted.

“I—” Mingyu groans and slumps forward, letting his forehead hit the table. “I hate you all. Someone just take a shot already and I’ll tell you.”

Seungkwan dramatically downs another shot and slams his glass on the table. “I demand details.”

Mingyu, utterly wrecked, groans into his hands. “You guys are awful.”

“Yes, yes, we’re terrible,” Soonyoung agrees. “Now spill.”

There’s a long pause, Mingyu visibly wrestling with his dignity. But dignity never lasts long in this group, and eventually, he mutters—

“…It was Chanie.”

A beat of stunned silence.

Then—

Chan, who had been quietly observing, grateful that he was no longer a target, chokes. “Me?!”

Mingyu buries his face in his hands. “Please let me die.”

The room erupts.

“No fucking way?!”

“Yah, Mingyu-yah, that’s borderline criminal.”

“Our precious baby Chanie?”

“Mingyu-yah,” Jihoon deadpans, “you monster.”

Chan, still looking shell-shocked, turns to Mingyu with wide eyes. “Hyung. Are you serious?”

Mingyu groans and sinks into the couch, face buried in his hands. “Don’t look at me.”

Joshua, meanwhile, should be relieved. Should be joining in on teasing Mingyu.

But he can’t.

He is still waiting for Part Two of Jeonghan’s revenge, which he is sure is imminent.

As if on cue, Jeonghan hums beside him. “Joshuji, you’re so tense.”

Joshua startles. “What?”

Jeonghan just smiles. “You’ve been holding that wine glass like it’s your lifeline. Nervous?”

Yes.

“No,” Joshua lies.

“Then I’m sure you won’t mind if someone takes a shot to ask you the details on why you drank before, right?”

Joshua wants to kill him.

Instantly, the attention shifts back to him.

“Oh,” Seokmin gasps. “Wait. Wait, really?”

“No way,” Hansol says, eyes wide. “Shua-hyung?”

Joshua huffs a laugh, trying for breezy. “What? It’s not a big deal.”

“Not a big deal?” Seungkwan echoes. “I beg to differ!”

And because Minghao is deep down a bit of a dick, he asks, innocent as anything, “Who was it about, hyung?”

Joshua shoots him a glare, but Minghao pretends not to notice. Eyes glinting, he doubles down, “Who did you dream about?”

Every single person in the room is looking at Joshua.

He considers bolting. Running into the night. Moving to another country.

But before he can even think of an excuse, Jihoon takes Seungcheol’s glass and downs a shot of soju, pulling a face. “I demand details,” he says flatly.

He drags a hand down his face. Now that Jihoon of all people has taken a shot, there is no way he’s getting out of this.

This is it. The moment of truth. He could lie, pick a random name, and avoid the humiliation of a lifetime—spite Jeonghan and Minghao for enjoying his suffering a little too much.

But.

Minghao is looking at him. Steady. Expectant.

If Joshua lied now, he knows Minghao wouldn’t hold it against him. He’d hide his disappointment, smooth it over with a practiced ease, and keep waiting for Joshua to be ready—just like he has been for months. Patient and unwavering. Making his interest clear in every lingering touch and unspoken invitation.

Joshua is far from ready. But that matters little when the alternative is hurting Minghao.

He inhales sharply, squeezes his eyes shut, and says, in one breath— “…It was Minghao.”

The reactions are instantaneous.

Soonyoung croons, “Fuck yeah, it was!”

Mingyu screeches. “So, we’re finally talking about the elephant in the room, then?”

Hansol slaps Wonwoo’s thigh as he laughs. “Fucking finally!”

And Seungkwan, gleeful, “Hyung, I’ve never seen you this red before.”

Joshua refuses to think about the fact that, apparently, his crush is a surprise to exactly no one. He buries his burning face in his hands. He will not look at any of them. Least of all Minghao.

But then—

Minghao hums.

Joshua’s resolve crumbles immediately. He peeks between his fingers—

Just in time to see Minghao reach for his own drink.

And take a slow, deliberate sip.

The teasing cuts off instantly.

Joshua’s hands fall from his face.

Silence.

Minghao sets his glass down, licks a drop of liquor from his lips, and meets Joshua’s stunned gaze.

His eyes glint.

“Interesting,” he says. And asks, “So, Shua-hyung. What exactly happened in this dream of yours?”

Absolute.

Fucking.

Chaos.

The screaming. The cackling. Mingyu falls onto Seokmin. Soonyoung claps a hand over his mouth, actually speechless.

Joshua wants to crawl into his own grave. “Hao-yah, I swear to God—”

“He drank, so you have to answer, Joshuji,” Jeonghan says gleefully, barely containing his own laughter. “It’s the rules.”

Joshua glares at him. “I hate you.”

“Fair,” Jeonghan shrugs. “Now, go on. We’re all waiting.”

Joshua looks around wildly for an escape.

There is none.

Minghao, far too pleased with himself, just lifts a brow. “Take your time, hyung.”

Joshua prays for divine intervention.

None comes.

The room is vibrating with chaos. Joshua’s pulse is in his throat.

“Come on, hyung,” Seungkwan wheedles. “Just tell us one thing. We’ll be nice.”

“No, we won’t,” Jihoon mutters. “We’ve suffered through the unresolved tension for long enough.”

Seungkwan ignores him. “Look, just something simple! Like—was it romantic?”

Mingyu leans forward eagerly. “Where did it happen? Was there kissing? Who topped?”

Joshua groans.

Jeonghan, thriving on Joshua’s embarrassment, nudges him. “Ooh, yeah. Tell us that. Did Eisa fuck you right, Shua-yah?”

Joshua exhales sharply through his nose. If he gives them nothing, they’ll never stop. He needs to say something just believable enough to satisfy them but mild enough to save his dignity. It’s not like he doesn’t have a plethora of dreams to pick from. Something harmless will do.

He squares his shoulders.

“…I blew him.”

Silence.

And then—

“…That’s it?”

Joshua chokes.

Seungkwan blinks, frowning. “You made such a big fuss, and that’s all it was, hyung?”

“Hyung,” Mingyu groans, flopping back against the couch. “We’ve been forced to witness your pining for months and the best your subconscious could come up with was a blowjob?”

Hansol scoffs. “I was expecting, like… I don’t know, public exhibitionism? Tentacles maybe? Some actual scandal?”

Joshua splutters. “What—what more do you want?”

Seokmin laughs. “Hyung, it’s just a blowjob.”

Joshua gapes. “Just?”

Seungkwan snickers. “Like, okay, sure, it’s something, but you were acting like we’d need to call a priest.”

Joshua throws his hands up. “Excuse me for thinking it was private!”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Jeonghan grins. “We’re about to make it public.”

Not for the first time tonight, Joshua contemplates if he needs better friends.

But then—

“Hm.”

He freezes.

Minghao, who had been lounging idly through all of this, now looks intrigued. His eyes flick to Joshua, glinting.

And then—

“Shame,” he muses. “And here I thought you’d at least let me tie you up.”

Joshua doesn’t breathe. He doesn’t move. His brain has short-circuited; the words replay on an endless, vicious loop—

Here I thought you’d let me tie you up.

Minghao.

Minghao said that.

And then—

“I bet you’d look pretty in red silk.”

The room goes feral.

Mingyu screeches. Seungkwan slaps Chan’s arm so hard that Chan actually yelps. Wonwoo wheezes into his hands.

Joshua?

Joshua is gone.

His brain? Gone. His dignity? Gone. His entire existence? Gone.

“Oh my God,” Seokmin breathes. “Did you guys hear that?”

“Of course we heard it!” Junhui complains. “There’s no way we are ever unhearing it.” He says something to Minghao in Mandarin that sounds suspiciously like he’s cussing at him.

Jeonghan, looking far too pleased with himself, claps his hands. “Alright, alright,” he says, voice bright with mischief. “This has been fun, but I think it’s time we switch things up.”

Joshua, still barely functioning, blinks at him. “What?”

“Truth or dare.”

That gets the group’s attention.

Seungkwan frowns. “What? Why switch it up now? I want to see just how red in the face Shua-hyung can get.”

“Oh, trust me,” Jeonghan grins. “This will be even better.”

Hansol raises a brow. “How?”

Jeonghan leans back, stretching lazily, throwing an arm around Joshua’s shoulder. “No spinning the bottle,” he says. “Whoever asks gets to pick who they’re asking.”

The room stills for a moment—then the realization clicks.

“We can ask anyone we want,” Mingyu spells it out.

Jeonghan grins. “Exactly.”

The response is immediate.

“Okay, you’re right, that is even better,” Seungkwan declares.

Chan gasps. “Hyung, you’re a genius.”

The air crackles with anticipation, eyes glinting with mischief.

Part of Joshua wants to put his foot down. Tell them that enough is enough, and he is done being the target of their teasing for the night. They would listen right away if he set a hard boundary. But there is something in the way that Minghao is still looking at him, contemplating, that has him stay put. The anticipation that all the embarrassment will be worth it in the end.

He swallows hard.

The second Jeonghan leans forward, Joshua braces.

But then—

“Wonwoo-yah,” Jeonghan says.

Joshua blinks.

The room groans.

“Boo,” Soonyoung complains. “That’s not Shua-hyung.”

Jeonghan shrugs innocently. “Who said I was picking Joshuji?”

Joshua exhales sharply.

He’s not stupid.

This is a setup.

And the worst part? He knows his turn is coming.

But he has to wait for it.

It’s excruciating.

Wonwoo sighs. “Truth.”

Jeonghan grins. “What’s a secret you’ve never told anyone in this room?”

The room leans in.

Wonwoo considers for a moment, then shrugs. “I have a playlist of songs that remind me of each of you.”

A beat of silence.

Then—

“Aw, really? ” Seungkwan asks.

Wonwoo nods, entirely unbothered.

“Oh my god, that’s so sweet,” Seokmin says, eyes sparkling. “Hyung, you really love us, huh?”

Wonwoo just shrugs again, as if this is the most normal thing in the world.

“Okay, but what’s my song?” Soonyoung asks immediately, practically vibrating with excitement.

Wonwoo smiles, pushing up his glasses. “Not telling.”

Chaos erupts.

“No, you can’t just say that and not share!” Jihoon protests.

“Oh my god, is mine a sad song?” Seokmin wails.

“Or worse,” Hansol says, eyes wide with faux horror. “What if some of us have angry songs?”

The room falls silent for half a second as everyone turns to Wonwoo.

Wonwoo raises an eyebrow, amused. “Some of you definitely have angry songs.”

Seungkwan clutches his chest. “Oh no.”

“Okay, but does anyone have a sexy song?” Junhui asks, waggling his eyebrows.

Wonwoo doesn’t answer.

“Oh my god—”

“Who?!”

“Wonwoo-yah, you have to tell us!”

Wonwoo just sips his drink, the tiniest smile tugging at his lips.

Joshua forces himself to laugh, but he’s still so tense.

Wonwoo turns.

Joshua holds his breath.

But then—

“Hansol-ah.”

Joshua deflates slightly.

Hansol leans back, unbothered. “Alright. Dare.”

Wonwoo hums, considering. “I dare you to compliment the person you think is the most attractive here. Sincerely.”

Instantly, it becomes a competition to get the compliment.

“Hansol-ah you better pick me or—”

“Please, it obviously has to be me!”

But the glint in Hansol’s eyes tells Joshua that he has a different plan.

And then, that little fucker has the gall to smirk at Joshua.

Joshua grits his teeth but Hansol just laughs. “That’s easy.”

He turns.

And then, without hesitation—

“Myungho-hyung.”

The room screams.

“Oh my god,” Seungkwan howls.

Minghao blinks, completely unaffected. “Oh?”

Hansol grins. “You’re, like, stupid hot, hyung. The way you carry yourself? The confidence? It’s unfair.”

Minghao raises his drink, pleased. “Thank you, Hansol-ah.”

Joshua exhales slowly, willing himself to relax. It doesn’t matter. It’s just a game. Hansol is just messing around—Joshua knows that. He knows Hansol only picked Minghao to get a reaction out of him, and yet—annoyingly, embarrassingly—it’s working.

Jeonghan, of course, notices. “Awfully tense there, Shua-yah.”

Joshua clenches his jaw. “I’m fine.”

“Uh-huh,” Seungcheol drawls, smirking. “And that definitely wasn’t you glaring daggers at Hansollie just now.”

Hansol, ever the menace, grins. “Relax, hyung. It’s not my fault Hao-hyung is hot.” He pauses, then adds, all too pleased, “Or that you care so much.”

Joshua's eye twitches.

Minghao, the absolute worst, smiles serenely as if this entire conversation has nothing to do with him.

Hansol laughs, satisfied, and leans back. “Anyway—” He turns, and Joshua barely has time to brace.

“Chan-ah.”

Of course.

Chan grins. “Truth.”

“Tell us about your first kiss.”

“Ohhh, that’s cute,” Seokmin coos.

Chan huffs a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “All right, all right.” He exhales, then leans forward slightly. “It was behind the dance studio back home, after a long day. We had been practicing together for weeks, and I liked her a lot, but I had no idea if she felt the same. I was so nervous just standing there with her.”

“Ooooh,” Soonyoung teases. “Was your heart racing, Chan-ah?”

Chan rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling. “Yeah, actually. I was overthinking everything—how to bring it up, if I should even try—when she just went for it and kissed me first. I was so caught off guard, I didn’t even get to kiss her back. I guess she was not impressed because she dumped me five days later.”

Chan is smiling, the middle school heartbreak long since overcome but the members are still trying to console him, just tipsy enough to forget that they don’t usually show Chan just how much they all adore him.

Chan basks in it for a second before he turns and looks right at Junhui.

Junhui grins. “Dare.”

Chan hums, then smirks.

“I dare you to whisper something so filthy in someone’s ear that they blush bright red.”

“Jun-ah, you know who to pick,” Seungcheol prompts with a shit eating grin directed at Joshua.

Junhui cackles. “Of course I do.”

He scans the room, eyes twinkling, like he’s actually considering.

Then, after a beat—

He turns to Minghao.

Joshua does his very best to school his expression into something neutral.

Minghao, of course, just blinks. “All right.”

Junhui leans in.

Minghao tilts his head to listen.

And then—

Joshua watches in horror as a slow, lazy smirk tugs at Minghao’s lips.

It’s devastating.

The room explodes.

“Oh my god, look at him—”

“Myungho-yah, say something—”

Minghao just takes a sip of his wine, completely unaffected. “Not bad, hyung.”

Junhui laughs. “I try.”

And then, Junhui turns nods at Minghao. “Your turn.”

Joshua stiffens.

The room is buzzing with anticipation.

Minghao sighs, like this entire thing is so predictable. “Truth.”

Junhui grins. “What’s the hottest thing someone has ever said to you in bed?”

Minghao hums, considering.

Then, smoothly—

“‘You win. Take what you want.’”

Silence.

“Oh, fuck you, I don’t want to wake up tomorrow morning actually thinking Myungho-hyung is hot!” Seungkwan throws a pillow.

That has Hansol and Soonyoung howling.

Minghao just sips his drink. “It was a good night.”

Joshua, meanwhile, is having a crisis. Not because Minghao is stupidly hot. He has been in crisis mode over that for months now. But because Minghao’s turn means his turn is next. And everyone knows it.

Minghao hums, tapping his fingers against his glass, gaze drifting across the room like he’s considering his options.

But Joshua isn’t fooled.

Minghao is drawing it out on purpose.

Joshua shifts, pulse hammering, as Minghao pauses—

Looks right at him.

Eyes dark. Considering.

Joshua’s mouth goes dry.

Here it comes.

“Soonyoung-hyung.”

Joshua short-circuits.

At least, this time, the rest of the members are on his side.

“Oh my god!” Seungkwan screeches.

Junhui howls. “Hao-yah, you menace.”

Seokmin throws another pillow at him. “You’re evil.”

Minghao grins, far too pleased with himself.

Joshua, meanwhile, is about to explode.

Because Minghao knew Joshua was expecting it, knew he was on edge. And he chose to prolong it.

Soonyoung groans. “Why me?”

Minghao shrugs, completely unbothered. “Because you’re easy to manipulate.”

Cue howling laughter.

“Damn,” Hansol wheezes.

“Just end him, why don’t you,” Jeonghan snickers.

Soonyoung scowls. “You all suck.”

But then, he straightens, rolling his shoulders like he’s about to go into battle. “Fine. Dare.”

Minghao’s lips curl, slow and devastating. “All right.”

He pauses, considering. Then—

“I dare you to whisper in Joshua-hyung’s ear the filthiest thing you can think of right now.”

No one complains that it’s too similar to the dare Junhui just had to do. No, because they’re all enjoying Joshua’s suffering far too much.

Soonyoung grins. “Oh, hell yes.”

Joshua’s brain finally recovers from the shock and he whirls to stare at Minghao. “What?!”

Minghao just shrugs at him. “I think you’ll enjoy it, hyung.”

Joshua gapes. “I—what?!”

He’s such a dick and it’s honestly offensive how much Joshua is into it.

Minghao smirks. “You do have a history of liking things you shouldn’t.”

Such. A. Fucking. Dick.

And now Soonyoung is slinking over, looking far too pleased with himself.

He leans down, lips so close to Joshua’s ear, breath warm as he hums—

“Oh, hyung.”

Joshua flinches.

He can feel the heat of Soonyoung’s breath, can hear the grin in his voice.

“I bet you would let Myungho tie you up, no?” Soonyoung purrs, too tipsy to be properly whispering.

Joshua stiffens.

The group screeches.

“Oh my God—”

“Shua-hyung is so red—”

But Soonyoung isn’t done.

He leans in closer.

“Minghao would take his time with you, wouldn’t he?” he muses. “Wouldn’t even let you beg until he’s had his fun.”

Joshua takes a desperate breath.

And the worst part?

Minghao hears it all.

Because when Joshua dares to look at him, Minghao is watching him with dark, lazy amusement.

And then, voice oh so casual—

“That’s true.”

Joshua breaks.

The room erupts.

Joshua, still struggling to function, barely notices as Soonyoung bounces away, looking entirely too satisfied.

“Alright,” Soonyoung sighs dramatically. “That was fun.”

Then, grinning, he turns to Seungcheol.

“Your turn, hyung.”

No.

Not this again.

Not another round of everyone picking someone else, making him wait, making it worse.

Joshua snaps.

“Just pick me, Soonyoung-ah!”

Silence.

Everyone stares.

Joshua barely even registers it.

All he knows is that he’s had enough. “Put me out of my misery already!”

Next to Joshua, Jeonghan throws himself back onto the couch, cackling but Joshua doesn’t break eye contact with Soonyoung.

Soonyoung grins. “Well.”

And then—

“I dare Minghao to put Joshua out of his misery.”

For a second, Joshua doesn’t fully process the words. And then— oh.

His breath catches.

Because Minghao turns to him, head tilted, considering. The amusement in his eyes is unmistakable, but beneath it—something else. Something more.

And then—

“Well,” Minghao muses. “I do think hyung has suffered enough for tonight.”

Joshua shudders.

Minghao stands up, ever graceful, even if he has to be tipsy too at this point.

He comes closer.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Joshua stops breathing.

He aches, every nerve in his body screaming—

But Minghao?

Minghao just sits down on the arm of the couch and watches him. Waiting silently.

Joshua clenches his hands into fists. “Are you going to do anything?”

Minghao raises a brow. “You seem impatient, hyung.”

Joshua glares. “I wonder why.”

Minghao hums, thoughtful. “I could just leave you like this, you know.”

A sound escapes Joshua that is too close to a whine for comfort.

The room loses it.

Mingyu screeches. “Oh, he is so gone!”

Seungkwan clutches his chest, wheezing. “This is so much worse than I thought it would be.”

Joshua barely hears any of it.

Because Minghao is still watching him.

Still holding back.

Still teasing.

And Joshua?

Joshua gives in.

He grabs Minghao by the collar and kisses him.

Hard.

Desperate.

Minghao inhales sharply against his lips.

But Joshua barely even registers it.

Because all he knows is that he wants more. Needs more.

He tries to deepen the kiss, tries to take—

But Minghao doesn’t let him.

Instead, he pulls back, just slightly, breath warm against Joshua’s lips.

Joshua barely holds back a whine.

Minghao smiles.

“Slow, hyung,” he murmurs. He kisses Joshua again, deep and slow. Guiding.

Lets Minghao take over, lets him set the pace. Minghao takes his time. Dragging it out. Making him suffer.

And Joshua lets him. Loves it.

And then—

Minghao pulls away.

This time, Joshua can’t stop the tiniest little whine from escaping him.

Minghao chuckles.

“Well, this was fun.”

Joshua blinks.

What.

Minghao stands up.

Joshua stares.

Minghao glances back at him.

And then, voice so casual—

“Come on, hyung.” Minghao’s lips twitch. “I want to find out what actually happened in that dream you had of me.”

Silence.

Then—

The room falls into chaos. Screaming, screeching, pillows being thrown.

But Joshua doesn’t care.

Because Minghao is already walking away. And you better believe Joshua is going to follow him.