1AM Lights | idol!Mingi x Reader | fluff, best friends to lovers
The soft buzz of the practice room’s speakers faded out as the final beat of “Roar,” Mingi’s solo track, echoed against the mirrors. He dropped his head, panting lightly, a few strands of hair sticking to his forehead.
Y/N, sitting cross-legged on the floor, tilted her head and smiled. “You’re insane, you know that? It’s literally one in the morning. Don’t you ever get tired of your own song?”
Mingi turned to her with that familiar boyish grin. “It’s my solo, Y/N. I can’t afford to mess it up.”
She rolled her eyes and tossed him a water bottle. “You already nailed it an hour ago. Even the mirrors are tired of watching you.”
He laughed, taking a sip, still catching his breath. The reflection of the two of them shimmered in the low blue light sweat, music, and quiet closeness filling the air.
When his breathing slowed, he suddenly looked at her, that mischievous spark lighting up his face. “Oh, right. I almost forgot to tell you.”
“What?” she asked.
He leaned back against the mirror, phone already in hand. “The ‘Roar’ music video dropped tonight. The final cut.”
Her eyes widened. “Wait—seriously? You didn’t even tell me!”
“I wanted to show you first,” he said, smirking. “Since you helped me practice all week, it’s only fair.”
He motioned for her to come closer. Y/N scooted beside him on the polished floor, shoulders brushing. He opened YouTube and played the video.
The opening notes hit, deep and bass-heavy. Mingi appeared on screen, shirtless, drenched in shadows and sweat, muscles flexing with every move.
Y/N froze. Her lips parted slightly, her heart tripping over itself.
Oh.
She tried to play it cool, but her face was burning. “So… you’ve been hiding that under your hoodie all this time?” she teased, half-joking, half-terrified at how true the thought was.
Mingi turned his head, grinning, clearly enjoying her reaction. “Why? Shocked?”
She smirked, crossing her arms. “I just didn’t realize my best friend was secretly an action movie lead.”
He chuckled lowly, his voice warm. “Guess I had to keep some surprises.”
As the video went on, his sharp movements, the intensity in his eyes, the power in his voice Y/N couldn’t help watching him, not the screen. He looked so different when he performed. Confident. Dominant. Electric.
By the time the video ended, silence filled the room again, except for the soft hum of the lights.
Mingi looked at her expectantly. “Well?”
Y/N blinked, trying to find words. “You were… insane,” she said finally, then grinned. “Like, in a good way. You looked—” Her voice caught. “—really confident.”
He laughed. “That’s your polite way of saying I looked hot, isn’t it?”
She gasped, smacking his arm lightly. “I did not say that.”
“But you were thinking it.”
She groaned, hiding her face. “You’re impossible.”
He leaned closer, teasing, voice low. “Come on, admit it. You were impressed.”
Her eyes flickered up, meeting his and for a split second, the air shifted. There it was again. That little spark that had been sneaking up on her lately.
“Maybe,” she said softly, almost whispering.
He smiled, looking away before he could say something he’d regret. “Good. That means I did my job.”
And just like that, the moment slipped into comfortable silence again.
By the time they left the practice room, it was already past one in the morning. The air outside was cool, washing over their skin as they stepped into the near-empty streets.
“You know,” Y/N said softly, “normal people would be asleep right now.”
Mingi stretched, hands behind his head, his tall frame cutting through the neon glow. “Good thing we’re not normal.” He flashed her a lazy grin. “Besides, if I hadn’t stayed late, I wouldn’t be walking you home.”
“Smooth,” she teased, rolling her eyes but she was smiling.
They walked side by side, hands brushing occasionally but never quite touching. The city was quiet except for the soft buzz of lights and their matching footsteps.
Then Y/N suddenly stopped. Her eyes caught on a familiar pink light glowing from across the street.
A Gacha store. One of those 24-hour claw machine places, filled with flashing colors and rows of stuffed animals.
“Wait—look!” she gasped. “Kirby!” She pointed at a plush in the corner machine. “He’s holding a little microphone!”
Mingi followed her gaze and grinned. “Of course you’d spot Kirby at one in the morning.”
“I love him,” she murmured, already pressing her face to the glass.
He tilted his head. “Hmm…” Then, dramatically: “Challenge accepted.”
She blinked. “What challenge?”
“I’m not leaving until I win that Kirby for you.”
Y/N laughed, tugging at his sleeve. “You don’t have to—”
“I want to,” he said simply. “You helped me all night. Let me do something for you.”
And just like that, he was in full focus mode, sliding coins in, controlling the claw, missing once, twice, three times. Each fail made her laugh more, and each laugh made him try harder.
“You’re way too stubborn,” she teased as he concentrated.
“I don’t lose to machines,” he muttered. “You said you loved Kirby. I’m getting you Kirby.”
And then the claw grabbed. It lifted. Wobbled. Dropped. Click. Kirby landed in the prize chute.
Mingi’s shout of victory filled the quiet store. “YES! I told you!”
Y/N clapped, laughing so hard she had to hold her sides. “You actually did it!”
He turned, holding the plush up proudly before handing it to her. “For you.”
She looked at him and felt something tug inside her chest. His proud grin, the way his eyes softened when he saw her smile.
“You’re ridiculous,” she whispered.
“Ridiculously charming?” he offered.
She laughed, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around him. “Thank you,” she murmured against his chest.
For a moment, he just stood there, stunned, before hugging her back tightly, chin resting gently on her hair. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to.
A few minutes later, they were back on the quiet street, Kirby in her arms, still glowing from laughter.
“Hey,” Mingi said suddenly, pointing down the block. A photo booth, tucked between a convenience store and a vending machine, its sign flickering faintly.
Y/N’s face lit up. “Let’s do it!” she said, tugging him toward it.
Inside, the screen glowed as they crouched down together.
“Okay, first one smile!” she said.
Click.
“Second one funny face.”
Click.
“Third peace sign!”
Click.
Then came the last shot.
“What do we do now?” Mingi asked, leaning closer. Their shoulders touched; her heart skipped.
She wanted to do something small, something that said thank you without words.
The timer counted down. Three. Two. One.
And before she could think twice, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
Flash.
Mingi froze.
She pulled back immediately, face flushed. “I—uh—it just felt right?”
He blinked once. Twice. Then a slow smile spread across his face.
When the photos printed, the last one showed her lips on his cheek, his eyes wide. He looked down at it, then back at her. “Y/N.”
“Yeah?”
He reached up, brushing his thumbs along her jaw. His voice was soft but steady. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this.”
And then he kissed her.
It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t unsure. It was deep, slow, full of warmth, the kind of kiss that made everything else fade away. Her heart raced. His hands held her like she might slip away.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against hers. “I think I just won something way better than Kirby,” he whispered.
She laughed softly, eyes glistening. “You’re so cheesy.”
He smiled. “Only for you.”
Then, out of nowhere—
grrrhhh.
Her stomach growled.
They both paused, then burst into laughter.
Mingi leaned back, still grinning. “Guess that’s my cue.”
“I didn’t eat dinner,” she said shyly.
He tilted his head, pretending to think. “Then you’re coming over. I’m making you ramen.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You cook?”
He chuckled. “You forget who you’re talking to. I make the best late-night ramen in the dorm. Ask the others.”
“Prove it,” she challenged, smiling.
He took her hand, fingers intertwining easily. “You’ll see,” he said softly. “I don’t joke about food or about you.”
Her heart fluttered again.
As they walked through the soft glow of Seoul’s empty streets. Her Kirby plush tucked against her chest, his hand warm around hers.
