Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It started with a cup of coffee.

Or maybe it started years ago—on a rainy training day, when Seungcheol gave up his only towel to warm a trembling Chan.

Or when he broke his diet just to eat the burnt rice Woozi made during his cooking phase so Jihoon wouldn’t feel bad.

Or when he shielded Jeonghan from sasaengs without blinking. Or when he tucked Seokmin in after 2AM dance practice. Or when he quietly handed Vernon his favorite hoodie the day the younger was clearly having a rough time.

Or maybe… it started with all of those things.

Regardless, today it started with a cup of coffee, because Joshua put his own name on Seungcheol’s Starbucks order to make it seem less weird that he memorized Seungcheol’s exact complicated order.

And Seungcheol just laughed. “Thanks, Jisoo-yah! You always take care of me.”

“...Yeah,” Joshua muttered, staring at Seungcheol’s smiling face like it was the Mona Lisa. “Someone has to.”

Later that day, Jeonghan walked into the dorm living room and saw something horrifying.

Seungcheol, his hair still wet from a shower, sat comfortably in the middle of the couch, a soft blanket over his lap, casually texting. He was glowing. Radiant. Radiating unintentional boyfriend energy like it was in his job description.

And Wonwoo was sitting next to him. Too close.

“Yah,” Jeonghan barked. “Why are you sitting so close to Cheol?”

Wonwoo didn’t flinch. “It’s cold.”

“There’s another couch,” Jeonghan snapped.

Wonwoo leaned just slightly toward Seungcheol. “This one’s warmer.”

“You—!” Jeonghan stomped off to his room. Two seconds later he returned with a space heater and plugged it in beside the other couch.

“Now that couch is warmer. Move.”

Seungcheol blinked. “Yah, are you okay?”

“I’m fine!” Jeonghan forced a smile that could curdle milk. “Just trying to make sure you don’t catch a cold. Wonwoo, move.”

Wonwoo didn’t move.

Jeonghan left to plot murder.

“Cheol hyung,” Mingyu said the next morning, dragging his feet into the kitchen with a hopeful gleam in his eye, “I made you breakfast.”

Seungcheol blinked sleepily at the massive plate. “Wow. That’s a lot of eggs.”

“I scrambled them. With cheese. The way you like.”

“Aw, thanks Gyu,” Seungcheol said, still half-asleep, reaching out to ruffle Mingyu’s hair. “You’re so thoughtful.”

Mingyu stood frozen, mouth open. “You—you touched my hair.”

“Huh?”

“You never touch my hair unless I’m sad.”

“Are you sad?” Seungcheol asked in alarm, immediately cupping Mingyu’s face in concern. “Did something happen? Tell me, Gyu-yah.”

“No, I—no, hyung.” Mingyu turned away, heart racing. “I just remembered I… have to cry in my room.”

Seungcheol watched him go, confused.

From the hallway, Joshua and Vernon both muttered, “Lucky bastard.”

In truth, all of them were suffering.

Except for Seungcheol, who floated through life like a golden retriever unaware that twelve cats were all desperately in love with him.

Hoshi tried confessing once.

Sort of.

“Hyung,” he’d said after practice, heart pounding, “do you… like tiger-themed things?”

“I mean, they’re cool.”

“Would you want… a tiger boyfriend?”

“…Are you asking me to adopt a pet?”

Hoshi walked away mid-sentence and screamed into a mop bucket.

Jihoon tried writing a song about it.

He titled it "Hyung, You Idiot", with lyrics like:

“You hold me like a brother, but I wish you’d hold me like a lover.”
“When you smile, my chest hurts. Can’t you see the scar shaped like you?”

When Seungcheol heard it, he clapped enthusiastically and said, “This is amazing, Jihoon-ah! So emotional! Who’s it about?”

Jihoon stared at him blankly.

“You,” he said flatly. “It’s about you.”

Seungcheol laughed. “Haha, you’re so funny.”

Jihoon bit his notebook in frustration.

Even quiet Seungkwan cracked one day.

It was movie night. Seungcheol let Seungkwan pick the film. He made popcorn for everyone. He handed Seungkwan a blanket.

And then—then—he rested his head on Seungkwan’s shoulder and said, “You’re really warm, Kwan-ah.”

Seungkwan immediately paused the movie and stood.

“I’m done.”

“Done with what?” Seungcheol asked, confused.

“Being in love with a wall,” Seungkwan snapped, storming off.

DK paused, eyes wide. “Wait—you too?!”

“Oh my god,” Dino groaned from the floor, “is there anyone here not in love with Cheol hyung?!”

Everyone looked at each other.

No one raised their hand.

It all came to a head on Tuesday.

Tensions were high. The group chat had become a warzone of passive-aggressive updates like:

Jeonghan: Just saw Mingyu touching Cheol’s shoulder. Isn’t that weird behavior for a “younger member”?

Mingyu: Jeonghan you LITERALLY fed him a peeled grape yesterday.

Joshua: I have a list of all the times Cheol said I looked “handsome” in the past month.

DK: He said I had a good voice last week.

Jun: He let me nap on his chest.

Everyone: WHAT—?!

Finally, Vernon said what everyone was thinking.

Vernon: We need an intervention.

So they did it.

That night, all twelve of them sat Seungcheol down on the dorm couch, staring at him with varying levels of desperation, anxiety, and unhinged energy.

Seungcheol looked around. “Uh… am I in trouble?”

“No, hyung,” Woozi said. “We just… need to tell you something.”

“Okay…?”

Joshua leaned forward. “We’re all in love with you.”

Seungcheol blinked. “Haha, okay. Like, love-love or—”

“Romantically.” Minghao clarified, folding his arms.

“Wait… all of you?”

Nods.

Even Chan raised his hand.

“I don’t understand,” Seungcheol said slowly. “You all… have feelings for me? As in dating?”

“You ruffled my hair and called me baby last week,” Mingyu said, wounded. “What did you expect?”

“I call all of you baby sometimes—!”

“That’s the problem!” Jeonghan exploded.

“Hyung,” Hoshi said with teary eyes, “we’ve all been suffering for years. YEARS.”

“I wrote you a song,” Jihoon added.

“I gave you my last Skittles,” Seungkwan whispered, which for him was basically a marriage proposal.

Seungcheol stared at them all, wide-eyed, lips parted in shock.

“I…” He blinked. “I thought you just really liked me as your hyung.”

Jun burst into tears.

“WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?!”

It took time.

After a lot of shouting (and a brief pillow fight between Mingyu and Jeonghan), things calmed down. Seungcheol was quiet for a while, processing. Then he stood, eyes still soft but serious.

“I’m… really touched,” he said. “I didn’t know. Honestly, I didn’t even think I was someone you could fall for. I just wanted to take care of you guys.”

“You do,” Joshua said gently. “That’s why we love you.”

Seungcheol smiled faintly, a little sad, a little awed.

“I’m not sure what to do now.”

“Just… think about it?” Vernon offered. “We’re not expecting anything. We just didn’t want to keep hiding it anymore.”

Seungcheol nodded.

“Okay. I’ll think about it.”

That night, Seungcheol went to bed with twelve hearts tangled around his own.

He didn’t sleep well.

He kept remembering every hug. Every small glance. Every little thing he brushed off as ‘just care between members.’

And maybe, just maybe, he began to wonder if his own heart was a little more full than he thought.

Chapter Text

It had been three weeks since the group confession.

Three weeks since twelve grown men, idols at the top of their careers, poured out their hearts in one emotionally devastating dorm meeting.

Three weeks since Seungcheol said he would “think about it.”

And what had changed?

Absolutely nothing.

Worse: Seungcheol was now twice as soft with them. As if they were all fragile children who had caught a case of the “Feelings” and he didn’t want to scare them off.

It was infuriating.

Monday, 8:03AM.

Minghao walked into the kitchen half-asleep. Seungcheol was already up, making breakfast in a hoodie that said “#1 Leader” in embroidered gold letters. His hair was a fluffy mess. His eyes crinkled when he smiled.

“Good morning, Hao,” he said, holding out a mug of perfectly brewed tea.

Minghao took the tea. “You remembered how I like it.”

“Of course I did,” Seungcheol beamed. “I remember everything about you.”

Minghao’s heart did a triple axel.

“…Hyung, do you remember that I confessed my love to you?” he asked, deadpan.

Seungcheol laughed, completely unbothered. “Haha, yeah! You guys were so dramatic that day. I thought I was on a prank show.”

Minghao walked away.

He did not drink the tea.

He threw it in the sink and whispered, “I hate how delicious it is.”

Tuesday, 11:17AM.

Seungcheol: “Seokmin, you’ve got something on your cheek.”

DK: “Oh! Can you—?”

Seungcheol: leans in and wipes it gently with his thumb, smiling tenderly like a walking K-drama

DK: “…”

Seungcheol: “There you go, pretty boy.”

DK: “SEUNGCHEOL I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU PLEASE STOP.”

Seungcheol: “Aww, you’re so funny when you’re flustered.”

DK: “I’M NOT JOKING.”

Seungcheol: “Haha okay~”

DK collapsed into Jeonghan’s arms, weeping.

Jeonghan patted his back, face blank. “He’s going to kill all of us.”

Wednesday. Emergency meeting.

In the practice room, twelve men sat in a circle of shared misery.

“I swear he’s doing it on purpose,” Jihoon muttered. “No one’s that stupid.”

“No,” Vernon said quietly. “He’s just built different. Like. Neanderthal-level emotional awareness.”

“I touched his abs,” Joshua said darkly. “He laughed. Laughed. Said I was ‘so clingy today’ and then offered to give me a back massage. I—”

“No,” Dino interrupted. “I literally kissed his cheek last night.”

Everyone gasped.

“Details,” demanded Mingyu.

“We were watching a movie. I kissed his cheek. He blinked and said ‘Oh, cute’ and then asked me to pass the popcorn.”

“…I think I need to scream,” Seungkwan said.

“Please don’t,” Woozi muttered. “I’m already vibrating with rage.”

“Are we sure he even likes anyone?” Jun asked quietly.

Silence.

“…What if he’s aromantic?” Minghao whispered.

Panic spread like a virus.

“No,” Jeonghan said, eyes narrowed. “I’ve seen the way he looked at that girl in the web drama. He knows how to feel.”

“Then why not us?!” Seokmin cried. “What’s wrong with us?!”

“Everything,” Jihoon said. “We’re all obsessed with one man who thinks a group confession is friendship goals.”

“I wrote him a poem,” Joshua muttered.

“I drew us as a wedding AU,” Jun whispered.

“I gave him my favorite socks,” Seungkwan sobbed. “They don’t even smell like me anymore.”

The room fell into collective grief.

Thursday, 9:42PM. Dorm hallway.

Seungcheol found Hoshi curled up on the floor with a plush tiger and a bottle of Pocari Sweat.

“Hyung,” Hoshi said weakly. “Do you think people can die from love not being returned?”

Seungcheol sat next to him, concerned. “Soonyoung-ah… is this about your crush?”

“I told you who my crush is.”

“Oh, right. That mystery guy, haha.”

Hoshi stared at him.

“It's you.”

“I thought that was a bit you were doing.”

“I confessed. Twice. On camera. There’s footage.”

“Aigoo,” Seungcheol said with a soft smile, ruffling Hoshi’s hair. “You’re so committed to the joke. Love that about you.”

Hoshi flatlined on the spot.

Friday, 6:00PM.

They gave up.

Seungcheol was a lost cause.

They held a funeral for their collective hopes in the dorm living room.

Jun wore black.

Jihoon played a sad ballad on keyboard.

Joshua gave a heartfelt speech about “releasing their leader into the oblivious void of his own making.”

Then Seungcheol walked in holding pizza and said, “Oh, is this a theme night? Can I wear black too?”

Mingyu picked up a cushion and screamed into it.

And so, life went on.

They kept loving him.

He kept... being Seungcheol.

Maybe someday he’d figure it out.

Or maybe he wouldn’t.

But for now?

They suffered.

Together.

Like the lovesick, dramatic, chaos-filled family they were.

Chapter Text

Saturday, 1:43AM.

Woozi’s voice echoed through the dorm like a man on the edge:
“There is no other explanation.”

The remaining eleven members stared at him, bleary-eyed and broken.

“We’ve tried everything,” Joshua muttered. “Touch. Words. Poetry. Seduction. Emotional vulnerability.”

“Threats,” Dino added helpfully.

“Actual kisses,” Seungkwan said bitterly. “On his face.”

“And he reacted to none of it like a normal person!” Woozi slammed a whiteboard down on the table. “So there’s only one logical explanation—”

“Seungcheol is aromantic,” Minghao whispered.

A beat of stunned silence.

And then Jeonghan whispered, like someone realizing gravity exists:
“Oh my god.”

Operation: Arocheol was born.

Their mission: to determine whether Choi Seungcheol, beloved leader and emotional traffic cone, was truly incapable of romantic love… or just dumb as bricks.

Phase 1: Evidence Collection

Vernon built a spreadsheet titled:
“Hyung’s Romance Blind Spots: A Pattern of Emotional Ineptitude”

Highlights included:

2017: Seungcheol receives three heart-shaped chocolates on Valentine’s Day. Assumes they’re “fan snacks” and gives them to the manager.

2019: Joshua plays “My Heart Will Go On” on guitar, staring directly into Seungcheol’s eyes for 4 minutes. Seungcheol falls asleep halfway through.

2022: Hoshi says “I love you” into his mouth after a night out. Seungcheol replies, “You too, buddy.”

“I rest my case,” Vernon said.

Phase 2: Testing Emotional Stimuli

Mingyu volunteered to flirt harder.

Attempt 1: Shirtless apron cooking. Seungcheol patted his head and asked if he was hot from the stove.
Result: Failure.

Attempt 2: Dramatic forehead touch with prolonged eye contact.
Seungcheol: “Are you okay? You look dizzy.”
Result: Failure.

Attempt 3: Romantic picnic on the dorm rooftop with fairy lights and a handwritten note that said “I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU.”
Seungcheol read it, laughed, and said, “Aw, you guys always joke like this.”

Mingyu considered throwing himself off the roof.

Phase 3: Personality Profiling

They brought in a “fake therapist”—actually Jun in glasses and a coat—to perform an Emotional Openness Assessment.

Jun, deep voice on: “Do you feel butterflies when someone flirts with you?”

Seungcheol: “Butterflies? Like in the stomach? I mean, I get indigestion sometimes.”

Jun: “Do you dream of love?”

Seungcheol: “I dreamed about tteokbokki last night.”

Jun: scribbling notes “High detachment from romantic stimuli. Possible repression. Possibly aromantic. Possibly… emotionally extinct.”

Seungcheol: “Huh?”

Jun: “Nothing. You're doing great, sweetie.”

Phase 4: Spiritual Despair

Jeonghan lit a candle.

“I tried to seduce him with perfume and a back hug. He said I ‘smelled like a spa’ and then asked if I wanted to co-sign a lease together someday.”

“That’s… almost romantic?” DK said.

Jeonghan stared at him. “He meant as roommates.”

They all cried a little.

Phase 5: Final Confirmation Attempt

They ambushed him in the dorm one evening.

All twelve stood in a row like a courtroom jury.

Seungcheol, holding a half-eaten banana, blinked at them. “Uh… what’s going on?”

Jeonghan stepped forward. “Cheol. This is an intervention.”

“Again?”

“Do you know what aromantic means?”

Seungcheol furrowed his brows. “Like… people who don’t fall in love?”

“Yes.”

“Okay…”

“Are you,” Woozi said slowly, “aromantic?”

Seungcheol chewed his banana thoughtfully.

“…I don’t think so?” he said.

Everyone leaned in.

“I mean, I think love is nice. Like, I’d want to be with someone one day. I just haven’t felt like… sparks. You know?” he shrugged. “But I love you guys.”

They froze.

He smiled. “You’re my favorite people in the world.”

Silence.

Soft, painful silence.

And then:

“...He’s not aromantic,” Minghao whispered. “He’s just—”

“STUPID.” they all said in unison.

Sunday, 3:00AM.

The twelve of them sat around the whiteboard, now blank except for one phrase:

HE'S JUST DUMB.

Jeonghan poured orange juice into a wine glass like a broken man.

“I can’t believe I was going to fake-marry him in Bali.”

“I still want to,” DK said quietly.

“Same,” whispered six others.

Conclusion:
Choi Seungcheol: Not aromantic. Just catastrophically dense.
Their love? Unrequited.
Their sanity? Gone.

But their hearts?

Still, somehow, stupidly his.

Chapter Text

RULES OF FLIRT CLUB

Be obvious.

Be bolder.

DO NOT BREAK CHARACTER.

If he says “aww thanks bro,” you take a lap around the building to scream.

DAY 1.

Hoshi enters the kitchen wearing a sleeveless tank and tight shorts.

Hoshi: “Good morning, hyung~”
Seungcheol: “Morning! You look ready for dance practice.”
Hoshi: “I’m not going to practice. I just wanted to show you how strong my thighs are.”
Hoshi flexes.
Seungcheol: “Haha. You’ve always been the athletic one.”

FAILURE.

Hoshi immediately runs a lap around the dorm.

DAY 2.

Joshua corners Seungcheol in the hallway. Candlelit. Wearing a silk robe.

Joshua: “Hey. Wanna hear a secret?”
Seungcheol: “Sure.”
Joshua: whispers in his ear “You’d look good on top of me.”
Seungcheol: “Wow… that would make for a cool acrobatic move for a stage choreo.”
Joshua: screaming internally
Seungcheol: “You’re so creative, Shua~”

FAILURE.

Joshua walks directly into a wall.

DAY 3.

Jeonghan. Wine glass. Eye contact. Licking lips.

Jeonghan: “If I said I wasn’t wearing anything under this, what would you do?”
Seungcheol: “Hyung, it’s laundry day. Of course you aren’t. Want me to do your whites too?”
Jeonghan: “…”

FAILURE.

Jeonghan lays on the floor face-down for three hours.

DAY 4.

Mingyu cooks Seungcheol dinner. Shirt unbuttoned. Candles.

Mingyu: “I made this just for you. Because I love you.”
Seungcheol: “You’re the sweetest. I love you too, bro.”
Mingyu: “No, like, in a—”
Seungcheol: “This chicken’s really juicy!”

FAILURE.

Mingyu throws the chicken out the window.

DAY 5.

They try a group flirt.

Seungcheol walks into the living room.

The members are lounging like models in a perfume ad. Legs crossed. Shirts half open. Joshua has a strawberry in his mouth. Hoshi is doing pushups in slow motion.

Seungcheol: “…Is this a new choreography concept?”

All 12: “NO.”

Seungcheol: “Is it… a skincare CF idea? Like for sexy, glowing skin?”

Jun: “Hyung. We want you.”

Seungcheol: “To lead our brand campaign?!”

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

Dino yells into a pillow: “HOW DID WE SURVIVE HIS LEADERSHIP FOR TEN YEARS—HE CAN’T EVEN READ THE ROOM.”

BONUS ATTEMPT. Woozi loses it.

Woozi grabs Seungcheol by the collar in the studio and growls:

“I wrote a song called ‘I Want You Inside Me’. I made eye contact with you while I sang it. I played guitar with my teeth. I straddled the mic stand. WHAT. MORE. DO YOU NEED.”

Seungcheol blinks. “Wow. That’s a really passionate performance. I’m proud of you.”

Woozi: throws a music stand through the wall

Night 6. Emergency Debrief.

“Okay,” Seungkwan says. “Maybe we stop flirting.”

“No,” Joshua says, eyes bloodshot. “We go harder.”

“He thinks innuendos are snack names,” Minghao groans. “I told him I wanted his lips. He offered me Chapstick.”

“I literally licked his neck,” DK yells. “HE ASKED IF I WAS DRUNK.”

Jeonghan holds up a book titled “Seduction Tactics for Dummies.”

“We have to escalate. This is WAR.”

and by war they meant was a full on kdrama level scene they sets the stage for a full-blown K-Drama fantasy sequence to make Seungcheol realize they’re in love with him.
They rent props. They script scenes. They cry on cue.
And Seungcheol… still thinks it’s just “a cute bonding activity

SCENE-1[shoot] The Bandage Scene™
Location: Practice room. Injured ankle. Tender silence.

Joshua trips during choreo rehearsal (intentionally).
“Ah, my ankle—” he winces, collapsing.

Seungcheol rushes over, concerned.
Joshua, sweating from stage makeup: “Cheol… could you bandage it? Slowly? With gentle, trembling fingers?”

Seungcheol blinks. “Of course.”

Cue dramatic instrumental music (coming from a speaker in Mingyu’s hoodie).

Seungcheol wraps the bandage carefully.

Joshua bites his lip. “Does your heart race when you touch me like this?”

Seungcheol: “No? But I’m worried. You might have twisted a ligament.”

Joshua stares.

The camera (Hoshi with a filter app) zooms in on his face of despair.

FAILURE.

SCENE 2: Accidental Wall Pin™
Location: Dorm hallway. Dim lighting. Mist machine from Jun’s closet.

Hoshi grabs Seungcheol’s wrist and pins him against the wall.
Eyes locked. Chest heaving. Tension like cut glass.

Hoshi: “You drive me crazy.”

Seungcheol: “Oh! Because I left the bathroom light on again?”

Hoshi: “No. Because I want you.”

Seungcheol blinks. “Want me to do… what?”

Hoshi short-circuits.

Jeonghan watching from the stairs: “He thinks this is a theater exercise.”

FAILURE.

SCENE 3: The Rain Confession™
Location: Outside. Real rain (courtesy of Vernon and a hose). White shirt. Soaked hair. Violin soundtrack.

Mingyu stands under the downpour, yelling:
“CHOI SEUNGCHEOL! I’VE LOVED YOU FOR YEARS!”

Seungcheol, holding an umbrella, says, “You’ll catch a cold! Wait—”

Mingyu walks dramatically toward him.
“I dream of you. I ache for you. I wrote fanfiction about us!”

Seungcheol stares at him, eyes soft. “You… really like spending time together, huh?”

Mingyu: “I said LOVE, hyung. LOVE.”

Seungcheol: “Awww~ Mingyu, you’re so sentimental lately!”

FAILURE.

Mingyu sobs in Seungkwan’s arms while Jeonghan throws the umbrella into traffic.

SCENE 4: One Bed Scene™
Location: Hotel room. Group schedule. “Accidentally” only booked one room.

Seungcheol: “Huh. Only one bed?”

Jun, fake yawning: “Guess we’ll have to share~”
Woozi already in pajamas: “Guess we’ll have to cuddle~”
DK, under the covers: “Guess we’ll have to feel some things~”

Seungcheol shrugs and lays between all three like a happy cat.

Ten minutes later, he’s asleep, snoring gently, face tucked into Woozi’s neck.

Woozi: “He fell asleep faster than a newborn. I was going to whisper a monologue into his collarbone.”

Jun: “I literally spritzed this pillow with pheromone cologne.”

DK: “I WAXED MY CHEST FOR THIS.”

FAILURE.

They don’t sleep. They lie awake staring at the ceiling in silence.

SCENE 5: THE TRAGIC FINALE.
Location: Bridge. Sunset. Dramatic goodbye setup.

Dino clutches Seungcheol’s hand.
“I’m leaving. For real. To… to go train in Switzerland.”

Seungcheol: “What?”

“It’s time I move on. Since you can’t return my feelings.”

Seungcheol: “You’re going to… Switzerland?”

“I’ll write to you. But don’t wait for me.”

Dino lets go. Begins to walk away, misty-eyed.

Seungcheol: “Wait! If you’re serious, don’t forget your passport. I’ll go print your flight confirmation.”

Dino: glitches mid-step

Jeonghan (off-camera): “OH MY GOD, HE THINKS IT’S REAL.”

Woozi: “STOP HIM BEFORE HE BOOKS A CAB TO THE AIRPORT.”

FAILURE. EPIC FAILURE

Chapter Text

DAY 1
Jeonghan posts a picture on Insta:
💫 “Healing energy 💫”
He’s sipping coffee with a tall, faceless man. Tagged: “@private.”
Seungcheol stares at the post for seven full minutes.
Then texts:

“Who's that?”
“Nice shoes.”
“Is he… taller than me?”
“Not that I care. Just saying.”

Jeonghan responds:

“Don’t worry, hyung. He listens when I talk.”

Damage Report:
Seungcheol doesn't respond.
He quietly sulks the whole day and accidentally burns the rice at dinner.

DAY 2
Minghao gets picked up at the dorm by a hot guy in a motorcycle helmet.
Real. Leather. Jacket.
He puts a hand on Minghao’s back.
Seungcheol’s eyes twitch.

Minghao: “Be back late, hyung.”
Seungcheol: “Who’s that?”
Minghao: “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

The door closes.
Seungcheol just stands there in his slippers.
He doesn’t know if he wants to cry or start MMA.

DAY 3: The Breaking Point.

Mingyu shows up wearing a button-down shirt—tucked in.
Hair styled. Cologne.
He has a damn gift bag.

Seungcheol: “Where are you going?”
Mingyu, grinning: “Out.”
Seungcheol: “With who?”
Mingyu: “This guy I met at the gym. He’s… sweet.”
Seungcheol: “Oh. Cool. Cool cool cool. No problem. Cool.”
Mingyu: “Are you okay, hyung?”
Seungcheol: smiling like a man two seconds from setting the kitchen on fire.
“Never better.”

Two hours later, Seungcheol “accidentally” calls Mingyu.
Then hangs up.
Then calls again.
Then sends “lol sorry”
Then follows it with

“U good?”
“Home safe?”
“Did he… open the car door for you?”

Meanwhile, the others are gathered in the group chat:

Jeonghan:

“He’s spiraling. 🧍‍♂️”

DK:

“He looked at Mingyu’s gift bag like it insulted his ancestors.”

Hoshi:

“DO NOT BREAK CHARACTER. DO NOT SHOW MERCY.”

Woozi:

“We suffered for 8 months. Let him marinate in this.”

DAY 5: HE SNAPS.
Seungcheol sees Jun laughing in a hallway, holding hands with a guy in glasses.
That’s it. That’s the final straw.
He doesn’t speak.
He doesn’t blink.
He just walks up and says:
“Can I talk to you for a second?”
To every single member.

MIDNIGHT.

All twelve are gathered in the living room, chaotic as always.

Seungcheol stands in the center like a man at war with himself.

“I don’t get it,” he finally says. “Why do I… feel this way? I see you all with these other people, and—and it just—hurts.”

Joshua, like he’s been waiting his whole damn life:
“That’s called jealousy, Cheol.”

Seungcheol, blinking:
“But why would I be—”

Woozi: “YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH US, DUMBASS.”

Seungcheol stares.
Mouth opens. Mouth closes.
Brain.exe not found.

Seungkwan: “Every single one of us confessed. Flirted. Cried. Gave you our hearts like K-Drama side characters. And you—you thought we were doing trust exercises??”

Mingyu: “I wrote you love letters. And you told me my spelling had improved.”

Jeonghan: “I tried to kiss you five times.”

Dino: “I wrote you a song and named it ‘Hyung, Please Notice Me’ and you said it ‘slapped.’”

Jun: “I pretended to date an actor. Just to see you jealous.”

Seungcheol:
“…wait… you were pretending?”

EVERYONE:
“OH MY GOD.”

Seungcheol sits on the dorm balcony alone, stunned.
Jealousy still boiling in his chest.
Every memory replays—flirting, confessions, dates he ignored.
He whispers, dazed:

“...I think I might be in love.”

Behind him, twelve people burst through the sliding glass door like Avengers on a deadline.

Woozi: “TOO LATE. YOU’RE OURS NOW.”

Jeonghan: “YOU’RE GONNA DATE ALL OF US.”

Mingyu: “GET IN THE POLYAMOROUS VAN, LOSER.”

They tackle him to the ground.

And for once—finally—he’s not oblivious.

He’s just blushing

Chapter Text

Seungcheol's First Attempt at Flirting Back

He corners Joshua in the kitchen.

Seungcheol, dead serious:

“You have… a face.”

Joshua: “I… do?”

Seungcheol: “It’s nice. Your… head-holding part. Your—your eye direction.”

Joshua: “My… face?”

Seungcheol, panicking:

“YEAH! That!”

Joshua melts. This is better than any K-drama he’s ever seen.

The Group Date Disaster

They let Seungcheol plan a group “date” to show his love.
He books a 5-hour team-building seminar.
With worksheets.

Minghao: “Hyung. This is a corporate retreat.”

Seungcheol: “No, but the activity where we list each other’s strengths? That’s… romantic, right?”

Hoshi, nearly crying from how earnest it is: “Yeah. Yeah it is, hyung.”

Physical Touch (Attempted)

Seungcheol tries to initiate skinship.
He goes to hug Mingyu. Ends up awkwardly patting his shoulder for 47 seconds straight.
Still standing two feet away.
Still calling him “bro.”

Mingyu’s ears are red.
Woozi: “That’s the most romantic pat I’ve ever seen. I’m gonna throw up.”

Words of Affirmation (Absolutely Botched)

Seungcheol, to Jun:

“You’re like… a sword.”

Jun: “…what.”

Seungcheol: “Cool. Sharp. And possibly illegal in some states.”

Jun’s heart: 💘💘💘

Seungcheol Tries a Pickup Line

He pulls Jeonghan aside one night, nervous.

Seungcheol:

“Are you a… cloud? Because you're… above.”

Jeonghan: “Above?”

Seungcheol:

“Others. Not me. Or yes, me. Because I’m—below. Or not! Not like that. I just—”

Jeonghan grabs his face and smushes it.
“You’re a disaster. But you’re ours''

Group Hug, Finally Earned

He tells them one night, voice soft:

“I didn’t get it. But now I do. I love you all. I really, really do.”

They don’t let him finish.
All twelve tackle him.
He squeaks.
He tries to say more.
But Hoshi is crying.
Vernon’s recording.
Dino says, “WE WON.”

And the best part?
Seungcheol’s laughing in the middle of it all, holding onto everyone like they’re the treasure chest he was too dumb to see the whole time

Chapter Text

The Room-Wrecker
They're sitting around after dinner. Casual conversation. Everyone relaxed.

Then Seungcheol leans over to Joshua and murmurs:

“You talk like a prayer and I’ve been sinning since the moment I met you.”

The room goes SILENT.

Joshua physically drops his spoon.
Woozi chokes on his water.
Jeonghan is on the floor, kicking the air like a soccer ball.
Mingyu screams into a pillow.

Seungcheol, confused:

“What? Too much?”

DK:

“WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT?!”

Seungcheol:

“Pinterest.”

Minghao Is Not Okay
Minghao’s doing yoga. Calm. Peaceful.

Seungcheol walks by and casually says:

“Careful stretching like that, Hao. You’re tempting me to become the reason you’re sore tomorrow.”

INSTANT COLLAPSE.

Minghao falls out of his pose like a chopped tree.

Cue Jun cackling like a demon while Hoshi covers his own mouth screaming “HE’S NOT SAFE TO BE AROUND.”

The Elevator Incident™
Seungcheol and Woozi. Alone. Tight elevator space.

He turns to Woozi and says:

“You keep standing that close and I’m going to make it impossible for you to focus at practice.”

The doors open. Woozi does not move for 45 seconds.
When he finally walks out, his knees buckle.
DK has to catch him.

Revenge Backfires
They try to retaliate. Try to catch him off-guard.

Jeonghan: “If I sit in your lap, will you finally admit I’m your favorite?”

Seungcheol: leans back, spreads legs wider, pats his thigh

“Come find out, angel.”

Jeonghan's brain: blue screen of death

Jun takes a picture. For safety.

They Hold a MEETING.
Everyone is gathered in the dorm kitchen like it’s a military emergency.

Dino: “We created this monster.”

Seungkwan: “We wanted him to flirt. Not to dominate the entire atmosphere.”

Mingyu: “HE SAID I TASTE LIKE TROUBLE AND THEN SMILED.”

Hoshi: “He told me I look better with his hands on me and I ASCENDED.”

Joshua, sipping tea with trembling hands: “I think I saw God.”

Jeonghan, fanning himself: “...I’m proud. But also terrified.”

Seungcheol Walks In
Seungcheol: “What’s up?”

Everyone stares.

Woozi: “Hyung, be honest. Are you possessed? Are you being coached?”

Seungcheol:

“I just realized something. I don’t have to say much. You already want me.”

Cue: Twelve people dying on the spot.

Jun whispers: “This man is dangerous.”

Chapter Text

Operation Thigh Touch
Mingyu wears those shorts.
Sits next to Seungcheol during movie night. Slowly places a hand on Seungcheol’s thigh.

Seungcheol doesn’t flinch.

He leans in—closer than oxygen should allow.

“Careful. You touch me like that, and I’ll have to show you what hands are really for.”

Mingyu.exe has STOPPED WORKING.
The remote control falls to the floor. He does not recover.

Jeonghan throws a pillow at him.

“FOCUS. You folded in ten seconds.”

Jun Tries the Classic “Kiss Me or I’ll Cry” Gambit
Jun: sniffle sniffle “Hyung… you don’t love me anymore…”

Seungcheol: tilts Jun’s chin up

“I’d kiss the tears off your cheeks, but I’d rather make you cry for a better reason.”

THE SPIRIT LEAVES JUN’S BODY.

Minghao has to carry him out bridal style.

Woozi Tries Shirtless Chores
Vacuuming. Shirt off. Sweat on.
“Hyung,” he says coolly, “Can you pass me a towel?”

Seungcheol walks over.
Does not give the towel.
Instead?

“You flaunt it like you want me to ruin it.”

Woozi just turns around. Walks straight into a wall.
He lies on the floor. Accepts his defeat.

Jeonghan Goes Desperate
He corners Seungcheol in the practice room.

Jeonghan: “Tell me the truth. Who’s your favorite?”

Seungcheol steps closer.
Traps him against the mirror.
Smiles. Dangerous. Low.

“Right now? The one about to beg for it.”

Jeonghan:

“I—
Okay. Okay I lost. YOU WIN. GET AWAY FROM ME.”

He runs. Tripped on his own foot.

They Call an Emergency Meeting. Again.
Seungkwan: “I thought we were seducing HIM.”

Minghao: “He seduced me by breathing.”

Dino: “We made a mistake. We opened Pandora’s thirst box.”

Joshua: “He touched my hand for one second and I forgot my own name.”

Hoshi: “He asked me if I moaned in my sleep last night—HOW DO YOU FIGHT THAT??”

Woozi: “He’s not a hyung anymore. He’s a weapon.”

THE DECLARATION
Seungcheol walks into their chaotic circle.

He’s got a coffee. A smile.
A face that says he knows exactly what he’s doing.

“I love you guys. All of you. So much.
But if you keep trying to seduce me—
I’m gonna stop playing nice.”

And they break.
They SCREAM.
They CLING TO EACH OTHER LIKE WAR VICTIMS.
Jeonghan throws his sandal. Seungcheol catches it without breaking eye contact