Pairing: idol!Joshua x f!reader
Genre: fluff, humour, friendly, romantic, friends to lovers, slow burn
Trigger warnings: SEVENTEEN’s chaos
A/N: Happy New Year y’all! Hope this year would be better than last one! Thank you for your support and love. Can’t wait to write new things in this new year too 🤍
You hadn’t expected to spend New Year’s Eve at SEVENTEEN’s dorm.
Your original plan had been quiet and simple: pajamas, snacks, maybe a rom-com you’d half-watch while scrolling through your phone. Safe, predictable, completely ordinary.
But then Joshua had texted you:
You’re coming tonight, right?
You stared at the message longer than you’d ever admit, your stomach flipping in that frustrating way it always did when it came to him.
Joshua Hong had been in your life for months now, living in that impossible in-between space. Not just a friend—but not exactly more. Not yet. There were too many late-night conversations, too many soft looks, too many touches that lingered just a little too long for it to be casual. And yet, neither of you had crossed that invisible line.
Because when Joshua asked you to come, you knew you couldn’t say no.
The dorm was already buzzing when you arrived. Music pulsed from a speaker in the living room, laughter echoed from the kitchen, and the faint smell of something vaguely burnt (probably Mingyu’s cooking attempt) lingered in the air.
Vernon opened the door, grinning. “Finally! Took you long enough.” He leaned against the frame. “Josh has been looking out the window like some lovesick….”.You cut him off with a quick, “Happy New Year, Vernon,” and brushed past, cheeks warming.
Inside, chaos reigned in the best way. Mingyu was waving a plate of tteokbokki around, yelling at Seungkwan to “just try it before you judge.” DK was already half-shouting over the music, trying to convince Woozi to dance. Jeonghan spotted you instantly, his smirk dangerous.
“Well, look who it is.” He sauntered over, eyes glinting. “Our special guest has arrived.”
“Special guest?” you asked, pretending not to notice the way your heart skipped.
He only shrugged, smug. “Ask Joshua.”
Joshua emerged from the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, hair falling perfectly over his forehead like he hadn’t even tried. His smile softened the second he saw you.
“You made it,” he said, voice warm in that way that always made it hard to breathe.
“Of course.” You returned his smile, trying not to look as giddy as you felt. “You invited me, didn’t you?”
His laugh was quiet, shy, as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. Guess I did.”
Jeonghan coughed loudly into his hand. “Wow. Riveting reunion. Don’t mind me.” Then he drifted away, clearly satisfied with himself.
Joshua ignored him, his focus entirely on you. “Come on. Let me get you a drink.”
The night unfolded in little moments.
Joshua stuck close, always nearby, always making sure you were comfortable, laughing at your jokes like you were the funniest person in the room. At one point, Mingyu shoved a plate of food into your hands, insisting, “Eat. If Josh invited you, you have to try the snacks. It’s the rule.”
“The rule?” you repeated, laughing.
“Yeah.” Mingyu nodded seriously, then ruined it by grinning. “The rule is that Josh only shares his favorite things with his favorite people.”
Your face heated instantly, and before you could respond, Joshua swooped in to drag Mingyu away by the shoulder. “Don’t listen to him,” he muttered, but you caught the tiny smile tugging at his lips.
Later, when DK and Seungkwan started an impromptu karaoke battle, you and Joshua found yourselves on the couch. The others were loud and ridiculous, but it didn’t matter. His knee brushed yours and stayed there. His shoulder pressed lightly against yours, steady and sure. And when you looked up, you caught him watching you instead of the performance.
Time slipped faster than you realized. One moment you were laughing at Jun’s dramatic singing pose, the next the clock was creeping toward midnight.
“Come with me?” Joshua asked suddenly, leaning closer so only you could hear.
You nodded without hesitation.
The balcony was quieter, the city spread out before you like glittering lights on velvet. Fireworks popped faintly in the distance, early bursts of celebration.
Joshua leaned against the railing, close enough that your arms brushed. “Not too overwhelming in there?”
“Maybe a little,” you admitted, smiling. “But fun. I’m glad I came.”
His lips curved gently. “Me too.”
For a moment, you just stood there, watching the skyline, the air crisp and cold. His hand rested on the railing near yours, so close you could feel the warmth radiating from it.
Then he spoke, voice softer than before. “You know… I almost didn’t ask you to come tonight.”
Your brows furrowed. “Why not?”
He gave a little laugh, though it held no humor. “Because I didn’t want to complicate things.”
“Complicate?” you echoed, heart pounding.
Joshua finally turned, his gaze steady. “We’ve had… something. Haven’t we?”
You swallowed, your breath catching. “Yeah. We have.”
“I didn’t want to ruin it by pushing too far.” His voice was quiet but sure. “But then I thought maybe I’d ruin it more if I didn’t at least try.”
Your lips parted, a hundred words tumbling in your chest. But before you could say any of them, the balcony door burst open.
“FIVE MINUTES!” Seungkwan’s voice rang out like a siren. “Everyone outside! Fireworks, people! Let’s go!”
Joshua chuckled, shaking his head. He reached for your hand, his grip warm and certain. “Come on.”
The rooftop was alive with anticipation. The city below buzzed, fireworks primed and waiting. Members jostled each other, shouting over who had the best view.
Joshua stood beside you, fingers laced through yours like it was the most natural thing in the world. He didn’t even look down when he did it, just slid his hand into yours and kept it there, steady.
The countdown began, voices rising.
Joshua turned to you, eyes catching yours.
Your stomach flipped, pulse racing.
The world blurred, every sound muffled except his voice in your head.
He leaned closer, breath warm against your cheek.
The unspoken question lingered in his eyes.
You tilted your face toward him.
His hand lifted to your cheek.
Soft at first, almost hesitant, as if he was still giving you the chance to pull away. But you didn’t. You leaned in, your free hand clutching his coat, and the kiss deepened, certain and warm despite the cold night air.
The sky exploded with fireworks, cheers erupting from the rooftop, but all you felt was him.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against yours, his breath mingling with yours. His thumb brushed lightly across your cheek.
“Happy New Year, sweetheart,” he whispered, the name rolling off his tongue like it had always belonged to you.
Your heart soared. “Happy New Year, Shua.”
For a blissful moment, it was just the two of you. Until…
“YAAAAH!” Seungkwan’s voice split the air, followed by laughter. “I KNEW IT! Midnight kiss! Finally!”
DK gasped theatrically. “Did we just witness Joshua Hong being smooth? Historic moment!”
Minghao started clapping. Jeonghan wolf-whistled. Even Woozi cracked a rare grin.
You hid your face in your hands, mortified. Joshua only chuckled, calm as ever, and gently pulled your hands away. His fingers stayed laced with yours as he leaned close to murmur, “Don’t mind them, love. Let them tease.”
Your cheeks burned, but your smile was unstoppable. Because in that moment, surrounded by cheers, fireworks painting the sky, and Joshua’s hand warm in yours, you knew this was the best start to a new year you could have asked for.
