Being the ninth member of ATEEZ had given you something you didn’t expect: safety.

You were twenty-one when you joined. Younger. Foreign. Already carrying years of companies that smiled for cameras and blurred boundaries off-camera. You had learned to step back before someone stepped in, to laugh things off, to avoid touch because it rarely felt safe.

The boys never treated you like you were fragile. They didn’t tiptoe around you or make assumptions. They just gave space when it was needed, adjusted without explanation, and let you set the pace. That subtle respect had slowly built trust you didn’t think you’d ever feel again.

Tonight felt different.

It was their first win as nine, and you were all gathered at Seonghwa, San, and Mingi’s shared dorm. Takeout containers were scattered across the coffee table, half-empty glasses catching the soft lamplight. Their trophy sat in the corner like it didn’t quite belong to anyone yet. Music played quietly in the background, soft and ambient.

Yunho sprawled on the floor, laughing at something Wooyoung said. Jongho perched on the edge of the couch, trying to hide a grin. Yeosang lounged silently on the other couch, quietly observing. San paced restlessly, still humming with leftover adrenaline. Mingi leaned against the counter, calm but smiling. Seonghwa tidied plates while muttering jokes under his breath.

You were walking past the coffee table, laughing lightly at something Yunho had said, when your foot caught the edge of the rug. Before you could steady yourself, you stumbled backward and landed directly in San’s lap.

He reacted instantly, hands firm at your waist, steadying you without grip or pressure. It wasn’t possessive. It wasn’t claiming. It was just solid and careful, keeping you upright while giving you the freedom to move.

The room shifted. Conversations faltered. Laughter stopped. Everyone’s attention turned subtly, naturally, toward you. You blinked once, unsure what to do. Normally, you would have scrambled away, muttered an apology, created distance. But this time, you didn’t. The warmth and steadiness beneath you, the way San didn’t move or tighten, allowed you to stay still in a way that felt safe.

He shifted slightly, adjusting one hand so you were balanced. He didn’t speak, didn’t tease, didn’t comment. Just watched quietly, aware of how unusual it was for you to sit like this — aware and respectful.

The energy in the room had changed. Wooyoung’s grin faltered. Yunho leaned forward, brows slightly raised. Mingi’s jaw tightened, though he didn’t speak. Yeosang’s gaze flicked rapidly between you and San. Hongjoong tilted his head, expression unreadable. Jongho’s lips twitched in an almost-suppressed grin. Seonghwa paused mid-cleanup, silent for a moment longer than usual.

The shift wasn’t loud, it wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t scandalous. It was subtle, simmering, and entirely unspoken. The air around you felt heavier, warmer, charged with something none of you had ever named.