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Eric had been through a lot of things with Sunwoo. Late-night snack runs, pranking the older members (and immediately regretting it), playing video games until the sun came up—normal maknae duo activities. But nothing, nothing, compared to the absolute menace that was drunk Sunwoo.
Sunwoo wasn’t a bad drunk. No, if anything, he was too good—too affectionate, too clingy, and way too honest. The first time Eric had seen him like this, he’d been stunned into silence. Now, he was just resigned to his fate.
The moment Sunwoo got tipsy at the gathering, Eric knew it was over.
Sunwoo had started the night sitting across from him, chatting with the others like a normal person. But as soon as the alcohol kicked in, he gravitated toward Eric like a magnet, plopping himself right beside him and resting his head on his shoulder without hesitation.
Eric sighed, already feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. “You’re drunk already?”
Sunwoo hummed, rubbing his cheek against Eric’s hoodie. “Nooo, I’m fine,” he mumbled, his voice slightly slurred. “Just comfy.”
Eric side-eyed him. “You’re literally hanging onto me.”
Sunwoo whined, squeezing his arms tighter around Eric’s waist. “So? You’re warm.”
Eric let out a long-suffering sigh, but he didn’t actually push him away. Sunwoo had a habit of getting clingy when he was sleepy, but it got ten times worse when alcohol was involved. The rest of the members barely batted an eye at this point, completely used to the way Sunwoo latched onto Eric whenever he was like this.
As the night went on, Sunwoo only got worse. He refused to let go, draping himself across Eric like a weighted blanket. His fingers absentmindedly played with the strings of Eric’s hoodie, his head tucked perfectly into the crook of Eric’s neck.
“Eric,” he mumbled, voice soft.
Eric sighed. “What?”
Sunwoo pouted against his hoodie. “You’re my favorite.”
Eric blinked. “What?”
Sunwoo pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him with big, glassy eyes. “You always take care of me. Like—like when I forget my charger, you let me borrow yours. And when I fall asleep on the couch, you always wake me up so I don’t get yelled at.”
Eric felt his face warm, but he played it off with a scoff. “Yeah, because if I don’t wake you up, I have to deal with your whining the next morning.”
Sunwoo frowned, jabbing a finger against Eric’s chest. “That’s not the point. The point is… you’re the best.”
Eric rolled his eyes. “You’re so dramatic when you’re drunk.”
Sunwoo ignored him, suddenly squishing Eric’s cheeks between his hands. His expression turned serious—well, as serious as a tipsy Sunwoo could manage.
“Eric, you don’t get it,” he insisted. “You’re, like… the coolest. And funny. And—” His voice dropped to a whisper as he added, “And you’re really pretty.”
Eric nearly choked. “Okay, yeah, you’re done.”
Sunwoo gasped dramatically, shaking his head. “Nooo, don’t shut me up! I’m being honest.”
Eric covered his face with his hand, trying to ignore the heat creeping up his neck. He’d dealt with drunk Sunwoo before, but this was new.
Sunwoo, completely oblivious to Eric’s minor crisis, hummed happily and leaned back against his shoulder. “Mmm… I like you,” he murmured sleepily.
Eric’s breath caught in his throat. “You’re just saying that ‘cause you’re drunk.”
Sunwoo pouted, shaking his head. “Nooo, I mean it. You’re always looking out for me, even when I’m annoying.”
Eric scoffed. “Especially when you’re annoying.”
Sunwoo ignored the jab, sighing as he buried his face in Eric’s shoulder. “I wish you were my roommate.”
Eric let out a breathy laugh. “Why?”
Sunwoo’s voice was barely above a whisper now. “’Cause then I could sleep next to you all the time. You’re so warm.”
Eric felt his heart do something stupid in his chest. “You really like clinging to me, huh?”
Sunwoo nodded without hesitation. “Yeah. ‘Cause you’re safe.”
Eric’s breath hitched.
Sunwoo didn’t even realize what he’d just said—he was already half-asleep, fingers still lightly gripping Eric’s hoodie. Eric stared at him for a moment, his usual playful retort dying on his tongue.
Safe.
Sunwoo had never said it out loud before, but Eric knew what he meant. He knew Sunwoo trusted him more than almost anyone. He knew Sunwoo came to him when he was tired, or stressed, or just needed comfort. He knew, but hearing it like that—raw and unfiltered—made something warm bloom in his chest.
“…You’re lucky you’re cute,” Eric muttered under his breath, resting his chin lightly on top of Sunwoo’s head.
Sunwoo didn’t respond, already fully asleep.
Eric sighed, shaking his head fondly. “Dumbass.”
But he still stayed exactly where he was, letting Sunwoo cling to him for as long as he wanted.