The curtain door creaked slightly as Choi San pushed through it half-heartedly from the shadows. Inside the room, dim lights swayed under the old humming air conditioner. He had just come out of the inner maze of the haunted house after two full hours of pacing in a long cloak and his bloody joker mask. His breath was warm. His back was slick with sweat. Beneath the layers of costume, his body felt like it was burning. It was a slow day. Not like last weekend, full of teenage screams and hurried footsteps. Only a few guests had come in, and all of them had left in less than five minutes. No one brave enough to pause and film content, no one curious enough to stare at his masked face for more than two seconds.

San wasn't the kind of haunted house actor who liked to startle people. He didn't need to scream or jump out of coffins. He only had to walk slowly, point a fake dagger at whoever came in, and tilt his head. That alone was enough to make them scream. But that afternoon, the stillness wrapping the hallway made him decide to step out. He removed the mask that hid his handsome face and hung it from his cloak string. His face was damp with sweat. A few strands of hair stuck to his forehead. As he walked toward the curtain door that led to the staff room, he wiped his neck with a small towel from the inner pocket of his cloak.

But just two steps out from behind the curtain, hurried footsteps made San turn his head. Right then, a girl appeared from the hallway, perhaps a guest who had gotten lost or didn't know the way out. Her body froze suddenly, and in a blink, she let out a small yelp while hugging the doorpost. A moment later, the metallic sound of something clattering rang above them.

San looked up. One of the hanging fake swords, supposed to be just a decoration, was shaking and dropped from its place. Without thinking, San lunged forward and caught it before it could hit the girl's head. His breath quickened. One of his hands pressed against the side of the door, nearly caging the girl between his body and the wall. She was still frozen. Her eyes locked on San's face, now so close. His breath warmed her cheek, mixed with the cold sweat running down his temple. His face wasn't fully calm yet, but his gaze was sharp, focused. Only the sound of the broken wall clock and their racing heartbeats echoed in the room.

San blinked once. Realized how close they were. Realized his hand was still gripping her shoulder. Realized the sword… was just plastic, and could never hurt anyone. Still, his body had moved with the reflex of a protector. With a low voice that sounded calm, he finally spoke as he caught his breath,

"Sorry… I just didn't want to take any chances."

**[ WELCOME TO AU ATEEZ! CHOI SAN IS HERE! HAVE A NICE DREAM<3 ]**