#ot11

Summary: You and Eric have been friends for years, bonding over your shared birthday, and you continue the tradition of celebrating it together once again.

Warnings: Possible language, fluff, platonic nickname.

A/N: Happy Birthday to one of the lovable maknae who I just so happen to dedicate my account to.

It was that time of year again. Your birthday. But of course, it wasn’t just your birthday. It was your best friend Eric’s too, because of all the days in the year, you somehow had to share this one.

You and Eric had been friends since childhood. You could still picture it clearly: a younger, overly energetic Eric barrelling up to you in class, demanding your name and announcing - like it was a legally binding contract - that you were now friends forever.

Annoyingly enough, he was right.

Eric had always been like that - loud, confident, and completely incapable of not dragging you into whatever he was excited about. Which was exactly why your phone buzzed nonstop the moment your birthday started.

Eric 🐿️: Birthday girl. Eric 🐿️: Wake up. Eric 🐿️: Tiny menace, it’s OUR day.

You groaned into your pillow, already smiling. “Tiny menace” had been his nickname for you since middle school, despite the fact that you’d grown taller than him for exactly two years before he caught up and never let you forget it.

By the time you made your way to the dorms later that evening, arms full of snacks you’d been told not to bring but did anyway, you could hear the chaos before you even knocked. Laughter, arguing, someone yelling about candles - definitely candles - and Eric’s unmistakable voice rising above the rest.

The door flew open.

“There she is!” Eric grinned, immediately slinging an arm around your shoulders. “Everyone say happy birthday to the menace!”

“Happy birthday!” echoed from all around as the rest of the members crowded in - ten familiar faces, all smiling, cheering, and somehow already teasing you like they’d known you forever too.

Someone shoved a party hat onto your head. Someone else stole the snacks from your arms. Eric tugged you inside, proudly presenting the room like he’d personally orchestrated the entire thing.

A slightly crooked cake sat on the table, candles already lit -double candles, because apparently sharing a birthday meant sharing the spotlight whether you liked it or not.

Eric leaned over, lowering his voice. “Told you I’d make it fun,” he said, eyes sparkling. “Best birthdays are the ones you don’t celebrate alone.”

And as you looked around at the laughter, the mess, and the people who’d somehow become family, you realised he was right. Again.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get louder, Eric clapped his hands dramatically.

“Alright! Everyone calm down,” he announced, failing to wait even half a second for silence. “It’s gift time.”

“Oh no,” you muttered, immediately suspicious.

Eric disappeared into his room and returned holding a neatly wrapped box, a grin already tugging at his lips. “For you, tiny menace. Don’t say I never do anything nice.”

“You say that every year,” you replied, taking the box anyway.

“And every year I outdo myself.”

The room went quiet as you carefully peeled back the wrapping. Inside was a delicate necklace, the chain catching the light as you lifted it out. For a moment, you just stared.

“Eric…” You looked up at him. “This is beautiful.”

He shrugged, suddenly very interested in the floor. “I saw it and thought of you. Figured it suited you, simple, but impossible to ignore.”

The members immediately lost it.

“Oooooh.” “That was smooth.” “Did you practice that?”

You laughed, cheeks warm as you gently closed the box. “I really love it. Thank you.”

Eric grinned, relieved. “Good. I was worried you’d throw it at me or something.”

You rolled your eyes. “Please. I’d never waste a gift.”

Then you cleared your throat. “Okay. My turn.”

His smile wavered. “Wait - now?”

“Yes, now.”

You handed him a slightly crumpled gift bag, and he reached inside, pulling out a soft sweatshirt, the exact one he’d been eyeing online for months but refusing to buy for himself.

Eric froze.

“No way,” he said quietly. “You’re kidding.”

“You wouldn’t stop talking about it,” you teased. “I figured I’d save you the trouble.”

He turned the sweatshirt over in his hands like it might disappear. Then, without hesitation, he pulled it on over his T-shirt.

“How do I look?” he asked, spinning once.

“Like someone who finally listens when people talk,” you said.

Eric laughed, pulling you into a quick hug. “Okay, okay. You win this year.”

“Obviously.”

The members groaned, but Eric just tightened his arm around your shoulders, still smiling.

Best friend. Same birthday. Same chaos.

Some traditions were simply unbeatable.

Tags:

@mandmilovehim @mingis-queen97 @christopherbangsnudes @lgbtq-girl @lateej