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At first, Yunho only heard breathing on the other end of the line. He almost panicked, thinking Mingi's phone had somehow fallen into the hands of a crazed fan, but after two agonizing minutes, Mingi stopped his horror-movie heavy breathing and finally spoke.
"He's doing it again."
Yunho didn't need clarification, he knew exactly who Mingi meant.
"The solution is right there, you know. Just cuddle the hell out of him and he'll go back to his own bed for at least a week."
"I know, I just... we're not kids anymore. It's kind of awkward?" Mingi's tone made it unclear whether he was asking a question or stating a fact.
"And how exactly can I help with your awkwardness?" Yunho tried to mask the smile in his voice.
"Come over. Talk to him — you're good at reading him. I'm a bit worried."
"Would it hurt your respectable adult self to talk to him yourself?" Yunho asked sarcastically.
"I'll buy you dinner?"
San was dozing off, all soft angles and a cute peaceful pout, wearing a tank top and ridiculous plush pants. Yunho discarded his hoodie and crawled into bed, spooning San from behind. He stroked San's hair and relaxed shoulders, then gently shook him awake.
"What... Yunho?"
San smiled sleepily and turned toward him, immediately crowding close and tucking himself into Yunho's chest.
"Hey there, big kitten. Mingi asked for backup in a severe case of serial bed-squatting."
San pouted but stayed quiet.
"Wanna tell your supportive and amazing partner what's going on? How are you doing?"
"My amazing, hot, and supportive partner didn't come see me all week," San whispered back without any real bite. "But I'm fine. A bit tired, maybe. More on the 'social battery drained' end of the spectrum, but good."
"Nice to hear. A little bird told me you finally scored a kiss from Yeosang." Yunho let a playful hint of jealousy slip into his tone.
San nodded.
"Yep. The strategy," he whispered the word with mock seriousness, as if spilling a massive secret, "is working. You know Sangie's latest fancam hit a record, right? And his solo MV, too. He's back on a popularity streak."
"How generous of you," Yunho smiled. "So, who's next? Jongho?"
San squinted and sighed deeply.
"It'll never work. Jongho's constantly hot and cold. If he just accepted my advances, our love story would be epic—Netflix-worthy, with the best soundtrack. But he's boring."
"So..." Yunho paused dramatically. "When's my turn to glow up in the rays of your supreme popularity?"
San half-heartedly punched his upper arm.
"You know it's not like that. It's good for the group, good for our future to be more balanced. Plus, you and I still have that ban on sitting next to each other during shoots."
"I thought they lifted it? We sat together just fine on Ateez+."
"Yeah, and that was exactly why they reinstated the ban right after," San answered sheepishly.
"Because you couldn't behave, even while flirting your ass off with Yeosang."
"Guilty."
San raised both hands, then cupped Yunho's face between his palms, gently kissing the tip of his nose.
"I just missed you so much that day. I got a little carried away."
Yunho smiled and returned a gentle peck to the corner of San's lips.
"Just joking. I'm fine with the current 'strategy.'"
"Good."
San sighed and somehow sank even closer, though there was barely a hair's breadth between them.
"Also, if I change my mind, we can always drop the coming-out bomb. International Atiny would be ecstatic."
"Or they'd cancel me in ten minutes for betraying Wooyoung's feelings," San laughed.
"Give them some credit, kitten. I believe they'd cancel you in five."
San laughed wholeheartedly at that. Yunho felt the vibration in his own chest; stomach butterflies fluttered annoyingly at the sound—every time felt like the first time.
San grew quiet afterward, just lying there so pliant and perfect in Yunho's arms, absolutely serene and unbothered.
Yunho knew it was true — San really was fine — but something still gnawed at him. An ugly feeling splashed at the back of his throat, leaving a bitter taste. Truth be told, they were all sometimes annoyed by San's popularity. Not because he didn't deserve it — he did — but because of how unpredictably the spotlight had landed. Everything had been calculated so precisely; they had Hongjoong and Mingi, charismatic and powerful with their own lore and artistry; they had Wooyoung and Seonghwa, absolutely beautiful and fluid in their movements. The spotlight was destined for one of them, yet it landed on San — the man who seemed more suited to opening for Bring Me the Horizon at Reading & Leeds than being an idol.
He deserved it all, yet he was the worst at capitalizing on his own momentum. He was so irritatingly humble, so "members first" at every fucking turn. Even after his "third puberty" gifted him that insane physique — a perfectly marketable "thirst trap" image — San had responded by buying a dozen fluffy sweaters and singing Michael Bublé.
And Yunho was still quietly furious about the solo MV. After the release, San had floated into the office with a Mona Lisa smile and answered their questioning looks with an adamant: "They know I can give them body and choreography. That's why I'll give them nothing—I want to keep my distance this time." Wooyoung had almost punched him, and Yunho had been dangerously close to helping, but Jongho had eased the tension by clapping ludicrously loud in appreciation. Because, in reality, Jongho was the biggest punk rebel of them all.
Yunho knew San was okay — so confident in his skills and in his skin, emotionally stable to a degree that was almost scary — but he still couldn't help worrying when he caught glimpses of certain comments, when he heard the rumble of the "hate train" that inevitably followed any success in their line of work.
"Yunho? Babe, you okay? You suddenly got this dazed expression." San looked worried, trying to catch his eye.
"Yeah, don't worry your pretty head. Just zoned out for a second." Yunho cupped his face and left a soft kiss on his lips. San smiled into it and enthusiastically parted his lips, welcoming Yunho's tongue. They stayed like that for a while, kissing and holding onto each other—Yunho's hand on San's waist, San's palm in Yunho's hair.
"What do you need to lighten up? To stop feeling down?" Yunho suddenly broke the kiss, his seriousness a sharp contrast to their previous playful banter.
San’s eyes were glazed; he needed a moment to come back to himself.
"I..." he started, his voice breathy. "I just want to be one of eight guys. And some cuddles."
Yunho sighed and pulled him closer, enveloping San completely in his arms.
"Cuddles I can gladly provide."
Before things could heat up again, the door swung open and a suspicious Mingi entered.
"Thank god I'm right on time! Because I forgot to tell you—no getting freaky in MY BED. That would be absolutely rude."
He crossed his arms in mock indignation, but the act didn't last. His features softened into a smile as he sat on the edge of the mattress.
"Everything’s good?" Mingi asked no one in particular.
"Would be better if you joined," San whined.
"You're aware we're grown men? Cuddling each other would be a bit weird."
San's face fell for a moment. Mingi opened his mouth to soften the blow, but San beat him to it. He smiled brightly, his dimples popping.
"We should make a deal! You give me one cuddle permission per month. Even grown men can cuddle if it's legally formalized, right?"
"Just once a month?" Mingi debated.
"Yes?" San added hopefully.
"Okay, once a month seems fine. Deal."
"Oh, someone's giving away cuddle permissions in here?" Seonghwa entered with an amused look on his handsome face.
"Can I request two from you?" San jumped on the opportunity.
Seonghwa feigned thoughtfulness, tapping a finger to his lip.
"Only in exchange for two from you."
San beamed.
"Can I use both of yours right away?"
Without hesitation, Seonghwa mumbled a "sure" and sprawled at the foot of the bed, resting his head on San's thigh. Mingi, more hesitant, lay down in front of San, letting the smaller man move closer and resting his hand on San's waist. Yunho immediately covered Mingi's hand with his own, smiling from behind San's shoulder.
They lay in a comfortable pile for a while until Mingi spoke wistfully.
"By the way, I remember I also have one special permission from San that I still haven't used..."
"Don't you dare," Yunho warned, stopping his lazy nuzzling of San’s nape.
Mingi smiled mischievously and slid his palm up to San's cheek.
"San-ah, wanna fuck?"
"Not today," San answered sleepily, burying his face in the pillow.
"What?" Yunho squeaked. San just giggled.
"Mingi!" Yunho looked scandalized. "That can't be a legit permission—we were twenty and drunk out of our minds!"
"I'm fairly certain," Seonghwa spoke up, sounding amused, "you were at least twenty-two and there were only three or four soju bottles. So it counts for tactical orgy planning, not drunken shenanigans."
Yunho looked betrayed.
"But this was before San and I started our healthy, stable, reliable, loving, and exclusive relationship."
Seonghwa tsked.
"I'm sure you two were already fucking at that point. Just admit you're nasty freaks."
Yunho pulled the still-giggling San closer.
"And why are you suddenly bringing this up now? How many times have you two shared the farthest hotel room on tour?"
"I just waited for San to become scorching hot, you know." Mingi smiled slyly and arched a brow, pulling San slightly out of Yunho's protective embrace.
"Hey," San butted in, "I was always hot!"
"You definitely were not, buttercup," Seonghwa interrupted nonchalantly.
"Seriously though, you remember this is an actual written permission? It even has Hongjoong's signature!" Mingi struggled to keep a straight face but continued nonetheless.
"I still don't understand how you got the Captain involved in this," Seonghwa mumbled.
"He just wanted Yunho to shut up about how sweetly San moans and how his cute little nails leave vicious red marks on his back."
Yunho looked mortified.
"I should wash my mouth with soap, really. But it's still more romantic than 'seeing you in the window, you're so pretty.'"
"Oh, it's getting better and better," Seonghwa chuckled.
"Maybe I'll suddenly become more poetic after I get a taste," Mingi said, outright laughing now.
"Absolutely not. I put a veto on this permission. Objection, Your Honor!"
"Shhh." Mingi suddenly cut him off, turning serious. "San's out."
Somehow, amidst the chaos, San had gone slack and descended into slumber.
"He did three extra hours of dance practice today," Mingi whispered. "Must be tired."
He gently straightened a stray strand of hair on San's temple and hugged him a little tighter.
"We should sleep, too," Seonghwa concluded, closing his eyes.
For several minutes, there was absolute silence in the room. Then, Mingi whispered:
"I'll hire a lawyer."
Seonghwa laughed breathlessly. Mingi looked absolutely smug, smiling into San's temple.
And suddenly, everything came into focus. Yunho noticed how peaceful Mingi looked— his stressed expression from earlier, not just today but for the entire past week, had dissipated completely. He saw how the worried crease between Seonghwa's eyebrows had smoothed out while he snuggled against San's thigh.
Yunho couldn't believe he'd fallen for the same trap for the hundredth time: it wasn't San who needed support and comfort. It was never San. He did it for them.
Oh, his adorable, annoying, absolutely infuriating kitten.
Yunho felt warm and giddy, the weight of the connection to his friends anchoring him. He ran his fingers through Seonghwa's hair, squeezed Mingi's palm, and left a soft kiss behind San's ear, falling in love all over again.
...But also, he was definitely finding that damned written permission tomorrow and burning it.
Just in case.