Chan didn't let go for a while. Even as the stage behind him exploded with final cheers and closing bows, even as techs darted back and forth, ready to strike the set—he held you like the moment might dissolve if he let go.
But then, from behind him—
"Hyung?" Hyunjin's voice, half-laughing, half-out-of-breath. "You missed the final pose."
Chan blinked, pulling back only slightly, still holding onto your wrist like a lifeline.
Hyunjin rounded the corner, saw you, and his expression twisted from confusion to surprised awe in half a second. "Oh..." he said, eyes darting between the two of you. "That explains it."
"Yeah," Chan murmured, still trying to come back to earth. "Yeah, it does."
With zero ceremony, he laced his fingers with yours and pulled you gently through the curtain. The hallway opened up into the green room—warm, loud, and pulsing with post-show adrenaline.
And just like that... there they were.
All of them.
Changbin was half out of his jacket, towel around his neck. Seungmin was perched on the arm of a couch, sipping water. Jeongin was bouncing on his toes, reenacting a moment from the set. Han was filming something on his phone, monologuing to himself until he saw you walk in.
And every head turned.
At first—silence.
Then...
"Wait, is that..."
"Hold up, no way—"
"Hyung?!"
"Bro, you got ambushed!"
Felix strolled in behind you, smug and unbothered. "Surprise worked, didn't it?"
You looked at him, heart full, and just smiled a simple, thank you.
He nodded, eyes warm.
"Damn, hyung," Changbin said, grinning. "You literally dropped your mic."
"She made him malfunction," Seungmin muttered, smirking into his water bottle.
"Hard," Jeongin added.
"I told you he was acting weird all day," Han said, holding up his phone. "If I had caught that entrance on camera—instant millions."
But it was Lee Know's voice that cut through the buzz, dry and unimpressed in the most Lee Know way: "Well," he said, lounging against the back of the couch, arms crossed, "at least now he'll shut up about that letter."
The entire room cracked up—including Chan, whose face flushed as he threw a balled-up towel at him.
Lee Know smirked and caught it with ease. "Love that for you, though."
You couldn't help but laugh, pressing your hand to your face as tears of joy pricked your eyes again.
They laughed and teased and circled you both with awe and affection, but no one crossed a line. No one made it uncomfortable.
It was loud, yes. But it was love.
And it felt like family.
You sat for a while, nestled beside Chan on the couch as the others changed, ate, and peeled off one by one to shower or crash.
Then, finally, the room quieted just enough.
He turned to you, voice softer than the storm of earlier. "How?"
You looked at him, still overwhelmed by the softness in his eyes, and said, "Felix."
He breathed out a quiet laugh. "Of course it was."
Then, almost shyly: "Where are you staying?"
You smirked. "Five doors down."
Chan blinked—then grinned like you'd just given him the greatest gift in the world.
"Well," he said, voice low, "remind me to walk you home."