STRAY KIDS ONESHOTS (FLUFF ONLY)

8. I.N

The summer sun beat down mercilessly, turning the water park into a shimmering oasis. Laughter and screams filled the air, a joyous cacophony that matched the playful glint in I.N.'s eyes. You, clad in a bright yellow sundress that billowed in the breeze, stood hesitantly at the edge of the lazy river.

"Come on, Y/N!" I.N. called out, his voice laced with playful arrogance as he lazed on a giant inflatable donut. "The water's fine!"

You crossed your arms, trying to maintain a stern expression, but the corners of your mouth twitched with amusement. You knew you wouldn't be able to resist his infectious energy for long. "Fine," you conceded with a sigh. "But if I get a brain freeze, it's on you."

With a mischievous grin, I.N. extended a hand. You took it, the warmth of his skin sending a delightful shiver down your spine. He pulled you gently into the lazy river, and you found yourself nestled beside him on his donut.

The current carried you along, the cool water a welcome respite from the summer heat. You stole glances at I.N., his carefree laughter echoing through the park. He was like a golden retriever in a kiddie pool, radiating joy that was contagious.

Suddenly, he declared, "Race you to the bridge!" kicking his legs playfully, propelling the donut forward.

You shrieked, a delighted gasp escaping your lips as you scrambled onto your own inflatable flamingo. "Hey, no fair!" you shouted, paddling furiously.

The current was weak, but the playful competition added a thrill to the lazy river ride. You neck and neck with I.N., both of you giggling like children. In the end, you reached the bridge first, a smug grin spreading across your face.

"Cheater!" I.N. accused, playfully splashing you.

You retaliated, and soon a water fight erupted between the two of you. Laughter filled the air as you soaked each other mercilessly. When you were finally breathless and slightly waterlogged, you both collapsed back onto your inflatables, panting in exhaustion.

A comfortable silence settled between you, punctuated by the chatter of other parkgoers. You stole a glance at I.N., noticing his gaze fixed on you. He looked away quickly, a light blush creeping up his neck.

"So," you began, hoping to break the silence, "what's your next plan for waterpark domination?"

He grinned sheepishly. "Maybe..." he began, his voice barely a whisper. "Maybe I was hoping we could try that wave pool together."

Your heart skipped a beat. "The wave pool?" you echoed, unsure if you'd heard him correctly.

"Yeah," he stammered, his eyes pleading. "It's the most fun ride here, everyone says so."

You knew the wave pool was notorious for its gentle tosses, perfect for a lighthearted adventure with your best friend. Still, under the warmth of the summer sun, a thrill surged through you.

"Alright," you declared, a smile playing on your lips. "Let's do it."

As you held onto I.N.'s hand amidst the gentle waves, the playful banter and light touches turning into a comfortable hold, you realized this wasn't just a water park adventure. It was a perfect summer day spent with your best friend, building memories that would shimmer in your heart much longer than the sun's rays on the water. You knew, deep down, that some of the best thrills came not from daring feats, but from shared laughter, a touch of sunshine, and the comforting presence of someone who made your heart skip a beat.

As the day wore on, the lazy river ride faded into a blur of cotton candy sweetness and shared sunscreen application. You and I.N. weaved through the water park, conquering kiddie slides with abandon and shrieking with laughter on the tamer tube rides.

There was a certain comfort in being around him, a sense of ease that transcended your best-friend-with-benefits status. During a particularly long line for the bumper boats, you found yourselves huddled together under a brightly colored umbrella, giggling as you watched a group of toddlers lose a valiant battle against their inflatable raft.

"Remember that time we tried to build a sandcastle on the beach, and a rogue wave took it all down?" I.N. asked, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips.

Memories flooded back - a weekend getaway, the taste of salty air, and the shared frustration (and amusement) of watching their painstaking work disappear in an instant. "How could I forget?" you laughed, shaking your head. "But at least we got a good picture before it all went awry."

He pulled out his phone, his finger scrolling through the endless photo dump of your friendship. There you were, soaked to the bone and sand-covered, but with smiles as wide as the ocean.

Your eyes met over the screen, and a comfortable silence descended. It was a familiar feeling, yet tinged with something new. It was as if the lazy river ride and the shared laughter had chipped away at the walls you'd both unconsciously built.

Suddenly, I.N.'s thumb brushed against yours as he scrolled. You didn't flinch. Instead, a warmth spread through your chest, like the first rays of morning sun.

"Hey," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "How about after the park closes, we grab some ice cream and watch the sunset by the beach?"

The invitation hung in the air, a simple suggestion that held the weight of unspoken possibilities. Your heart hammered against your ribs, a thrilling counterpoint to the steady hum of the park around you.

"I'd like that," you replied softly, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips.

The rest of the afternoon unfolded like a dream. The anticipation for the evening plans tinged every shared glance and playful touch. As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the park, you reluctantly left the water behind.

The beach, a short walk from the water park, was a peaceful haven. You sat side by side on the sand, sharing a tub of ice cream and stealing glances at the fiery sky. As the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, painting the clouds in a breathtaking array of colors, a comfortable silence settled between you.

"It was perfect," you said finally, your voice barely a whisper.

I.N. chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on the fading light. "Yeah," he agreed. "It was."

Then, almost hesitantly, he turned to face you. "Y/N," he began, his voice laced with a newfound seriousness. "There's something I've been wanting to say for a while."

Your breath hitched in your throat. This wasn't just about water park adventures and stolen laughter anymore. This was the beginning of something new, a conversation that had the potential to change the dynamic of your entire relationship.

"What is it?" you asked, your heart pounding a frantic rhythm against your ribs.

He looked into your eyes, his own filled with a mix of nervousness and hope. "Maybe," he began, his voice barely above a murmur, "maybe this... this friendship... it could be something more."

A smile bloomed on your face, mirroring the warmth that filled your chest. "I thought you'd never ask," you replied, your voice trembling slightly with emotion.

As the stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky, you leaned closer to I.N., the promise of something more shimmering between you like the light on the waves lapping gently at the shore. The water park adventure had ended, but a new kind of thrill, sweeter and more exhilarating than any slide, was just beginning.