[ San x Fem!Reader ] — One shot, fluff — Ateez masterlist — wc: 1568
THE STUDIO lights were so bright they seemed to want to steal the sun's place, even though outside the night had already spread its dark veil over Seoul. The air was filled with laughter, chatter, and the clinking of glasses; the show's recording was almost over, but the festive mood lingered in the air.
Choi San was not someone who handled alcohol well. Everyone knew it. He knew it too, but that night, between one toast and another, his glass had been filled too many times and emptied too easily. His cheeks were flushed pink, his eyes were laughing without any real reason, and his voice, normally warm and controlled, had grown soft and slurred.
Wooyoung watched him closely, arms crossed and a half-smile of amusement on his face.
«San-ah... maybe you should slow down a little.» he murmured softly, but San only answered with a loud, contagious laugh.
«No, no, no, I'm fine!» he stammered between chuckles, raising his glass halfway in the air before drinking it. «It's just that...» he trailed off, his gaze suddenly turning serious, lost in the void in front of him. «I miss Y/n.»
Seonghwa, sitting beside him, looked up from his glass, exchanging an alarmed glance with Wooyoung. San was talking about a supposed girlfriend in front of several cameras, and that was definitely not good.
«Oh really?» Wooyoung tried to lighten the mood, pretending to be casual. «Well, that's normal, but maybe don't say it in front of the cameras, okay?»
San looked up at him with a mix of hurt and innocence, wondering why Wooyoung, who had always listened to him yap about Y/n without complaint, was trying to hush him now. «What's wrong with that? She's my girlfriend! I'm not ashamed of her.» he protested, his voice louder than necessary, drawing Hongjoong's alerted gaze toward him.
Seonghwa quickly placed a steady hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down. «Yes, yes, we all know, and you're right, Y/n is really lucky to have a boyfriend like you.» he said quickly, forcing a smile while shooting a panicked glance at the cameraman whom was adjusting his camera for the next take. «But maybe we can talk about it later, okay?»
San frowned his eyebrows, scrunching his nose, then burst out laughing again, leaning against Wooyoung's shoulder with a sigh. «You're just jealous, admit it...»
Wooyoung rolled his eyes, annoyed at his best friend drunk attitude. «Yeah, sure, super jealous. Now drink some water, come on.»
San didn't argue, grabbing the bottle Wooyoung handed him and drinking it all in one gulp. His head was spinning, his eyes heavy, but he couldn't stop the smile creeping onto his lips at the thought of you waiting for him.
The night ended with tired laughter and empty promises of "never drinking that much again" that no one intended to keep anyway. When the studio lights finally went out, San collapsed onto the back seat of the car, his head tilted to the side.
«I want to see Y/n.» San murmured for the fifth time in ten minutes, staring out the window. «I have to tell her that... that...»
«That you miss her, yes, we know.» sighed Seonghwa, glancing at Wooyoung in resignation. «I think that if we don't take him to her, he won't sleep tonight.»
Wooyoung sighed in annoyance but nodded anyway. «Fine, but if she kills us for bringing him back drunk, you're taking the blame for both of us.»
Seonghwa chuckled, almost able to picture your irritated face when opening the door. With a resigned sigh, he told the driver the new destination.
When you opened the door, your hair a little messy, still in a warm pajamas, the sight before you made you sigh and smile at the same time. San was there, supported by Seonghwa and Wooyoung, his expression happy and completely lost. «Hi...» he slurred, spreading his arms as if to hug you from afar.
«I can't believe it.» you muttered, rubbing your forehead in exasperation and holding back a sigh. «Did he really drink that much?»
«"That much" is an understatement.»Wooyoung replied, trying not to laugh as you lifted an eyebrow with a pointed look. «We tried to stop him, but he started making love confessions in front of the cameras, so... we thought it'd be safer to get him out before he started a rumor.»
You shook your head and stepped aside to let them in. «Put him on the couch. Thanks for bringing him back in one piece.»
With some effort, the two men gently sat San on the couch. He huffed, trying to find a comfortable position, then opened his alcohol-bright eyes to look at you with a confused expression.
«Who are you?» he asked, his tone disarmingly serious.
Wooyoung covered his mouth to keep himself from laughing, turning away completely, while Seonghwa gave San a light smack. «She's your girlfriend, you idiot.»
But San shook his head stubbornly. «No, my girlfriend is more... more...» He gestured vaguely with his hand before letting it fall tiredly onto his stomach, not finishing the sentence.
You laughed softly, covering your mouth with one hand. «Your girlfriend will be back soon, don't worry.» you gently guided him to lie down fully on the couch, gently rubbing his shoulders. «In the meantime, you rest, okay?»
San frowned as if trying to piece together a puzzle. He delicately removed your hands from his shoulders and looked at you straight in the eyes. «I don't think my girlfriend would like you touching me like that. She's crazy jealous, you know?» he said, his words slurred but his tone serious.
You chuckled, brushing his forehead affectionately. «Crazy jealous, mh? I see, then I'll be very careful. Now close your eyes, okay? I'll make you some tea.»
«Tea?» he murmured, already half-asleep. «Only if you make it really sweet.»
«As always, San.»
Then Wooyoung and Seonghwa headed for the door, keeping an eye for the man on the couch. «Call us if you need help.» Seonghwa said kindly.
You smiled gratefully, nodding. «Thanks, guys, but I don't think he'll give me much trouble.» she looked at her boyfriend, finding him turning on the sofa a few times.
Wooyoung rolled his eyes, shoving his hands into the pockets of his black leather jacket. «He'd better not, or I'll kick his ass tomorrow.»
The two left, and you found yourself moving into the kitchen with light steps. The house was quiet, interrupted only by the hiss of boiling water and the faint ticking of the wall clock. The movie you were watching was still playing on the tv, illuminating San's siluette. You liked quiet evenings like this, though this one was far from calm.
You turned briefly toward the living room. San hadn't moved, his head tilted to the side, one arm hanging loosely, the other draped over his eyes as if shielding himself from an imaginary light. His face looked so peaceful that you couldn't help but smile.
You returned with a steaming cup of tea and set it on the wooden coffee table in front of the couch. «San, honey, I made you some tea.» you said gently, touching his arm.
He stirred slightly, then lowered the arm covering his face, looking at you as though seeing you for the first time in years. His eyes lit up with love. «Babe!» he exclaimed, his voice thick with sleep but full of joy. «You're here! You won't believe it but there was a crazy woman trying to seduce me."
You raised an eyebrow, barely suppressing a chuckle. «Really? And what happened to this crazy woman?»
«I sent her away, of course.» San said proudly, gently taking her hand and pulling her toward him. «I didn't want her touching me, I only want to be touched by you.»
The movement was so sudden that you lost your balance and lightly fell onto his chest. The familiar scent of alcohol filled your lungs, making your wrinkle your nose.
«Careful.» you whispered looking at his lips, giggling. «You'll make me fall.»
San smiled at the sound of your voice, his eyes still closed, focusing only on your tone. He wrapped his arms around your waist, holding you softly against his chest. His body was warm, like a lit fire that gently enveloped you. «First of all, I would never let you fall, second, you already fell for me.» he murmured, his voice low and sleepy. «Don't go away, okay?»
You relaxed in his arms, your heart pounding against your chest. Your ran your fingers through his black, soft, messy hair, then paused for a moment to look at him. His eyelashes were long, his lips slightly parted, and his expression so serene that all irritation melted away.
«You're such a mess, you know that?» you whispered softly against his cheek, kissing him gently.
«Mmh?» he hummed, his mind light, already halfway between dream and reality.
San didn't say anything else. His breathing grew slower with each stroke of your fingers, lost in dreams. Every now and then, his fingers moved lightly against your pajama fabric, as if seeking you even in his sleep.
You rested your head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart lulling you to sleep. One of San's arms tightened around your waist, keeping you from falling.
