Work Text:
It had been a long day, and the members of BOYNEXTDOOR were sprawled across the living room, too tired to do much but exist in the same space. The lights were dimmed, their voices quiet as they chatted about nothing in particular. It was one of those rare, peaceful moments after a packed schedule, and no one wanted to disturb it.
Woonhak, the youngest, had curled up on the couch between Taesan and Leehan. Despite his tall frame, the way he tucked his knees close to his chest and leaned heavily into Taesan made him look small—soft, even—in the dim light. His head rested against Taesan's shoulder, his legs pulled up beneath him like a sleepy kitten. He blinked slowly, fighting the sleep that was pulling at him, but his body was already surrendering.
Taesan shifted slightly, trying to stretch his arm without disturbing Woonhak. The movement was subtle, but it was enough to make Woonhak stir. A soft, pitiful whine escaped his lips, his brows knitting together as he shifted closer to Taesan, instinctively seeking the warmth he’d moved away from.
Everyone froze.
“Did he just…?” Sungho started, but Jaehyun shot him a sharp glance, silently telling him to lower his voice.
Leehan, who had been half-listening to the conversation, sat up straighter, his eyes fixed on Woonhak. “He did,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Taesan froze mid-stretch, guilt flickering across his face. Woonhak let out another faint whimper, quieter this time, as if his subconscious was protesting any disruption to his rest.
Jaehyun pressed his fist to his mouth, his shoulders shaking as he tried to hold in his laughter. “That’s… too cute,” he whispered, his eyes sparkling as he glanced at Woonhak.
“He’s got no idea what he’s doing to us,” Sungho murmured, shaking his head in disbelief.
Taesan sighed, carefully lowering his arm back to its original position. “Guess I’m stuck here,” he muttered, though the soft smile tugging at his lips betrayed any pretense of annoyance.
The room settled back into quiet conversation, but everyone kept sneaking glances at Woonhak. He mumbled something under his breath, his lips barely moving, and Leehan tilted his head slightly, as if trying to catch what he said.
“What was that?” Jaehyun asked, leaning closer with a grin that promised teasing.
Leehan shook his head. “Couldn’t hear. Probably food-related, knowing him.”
That earned a few chuckles, and Sungho leaned back against the couch, crossing his arms. “Leave it to Woonhak to dream about eating, even when he’s this tired.”
The younger boy shifted again, his long legs stretching out slightly as he nestled further into Taesan’s side. Despite his height, the way he curled up made him look more vulnerable than usual, and it tugged at something protective in all of them.
After about half an hour, Riwoo suggested moving Woonhak to his bed. “He’d probably sleep better,” he offered, though his tone lacked conviction.
Taesan shook his head immediately. “No way. He whined just from me moving my arm. If we try to move him…”
“I don’t think I could handle another one of those whines,” Jaehyun admitted, a hand over his chest like he’d just been struck.
Sungho nodded. “Agreed. That sound had no right to be that cute.”
Riwoo sighed, defeated. “Fine. But if he wakes up complaining tomorrow, that’s on you guys.”
Woonhak mumbled something again, his voice soft and slurred, and this time Leehan leaned closer, curious. “I think… he’s talking about ice cream,” he said after a moment, his lips quirking into an amused smile.
The room erupted into quiet laughter, their voices hushed to avoid waking Woonhak.
“He’s dreaming about food again,” Riwoo said, shaking his head with a grin.
As the night stretched on, the members began to doze off one by one. Sungho was sprawled out on the floor with a pillow tucked under his head, while Jaehyun was leaning back against the couch, his eyes closed but not quite asleep.
Woonhak, meanwhile, had shifted again, his arms loosely wrapping around Taesan’s waist. His face was pressed against Taesan’s chest, his breath warm and steady. Taesan glanced down, his expression softening even further.
“He’s so clingy when he’s asleep,” Jaehyun muttered, though there was no malice in his tone.
“He’s the youngest. It’s our job to let him be,” Taesan replied quietly, resting a hand gently on Woonhak’s back.
Leehan, who had been silent for most of the evening, spoke up softly. “I don’t think he even knows how much we care about him,” he said, his voice thoughtful.
Taesan hummed in agreement, his fingers brushing lightly over Woonhak’s hair. “Maybe that’s for the best. If he knew, he’d probably get too shy.”
The conversation drifted to other topics, but every so often, someone would glance at Woonhak, their expressions softening. He stirred again, letting out a quiet sigh, and Taesan instinctively adjusted his position to make sure Woonhak was comfortable.
Leehan watched the interaction quietly, a small smile playing on his lips. “You’re really leaning into the older brother role,” he teased, though his voice was barely above a whisper.
“Shut up,” Taesan muttered, though the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement.
By the time the clock struck midnight, the living room was almost entirely quiet. Taesan and Leehan were the only ones still awake, both of them too captivated by Woonhak’s peaceful expression to move.
Taesan sighed softly, his hand resting lightly on Woonhak’s back. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” he murmured, his voice so quiet it was almost inaudible.
Woonhak, still deep in sleep, tightened his grip on Taesan’s waist as if he’d heard him. Leehan chuckled under his breath, shaking his head fondly.
For the rest of the night, no one dared to move him.