Long Journey || ATEEZ

Full of Happy Indecision

The market was buzzing. Masses upon masses of people were gathering; the shops were beginning to open their sleepy eyes. As the bakeries and cafés laid out their food, a lazy aroma wafted around the atmosphere, drifting dreamily into souvenir shops and those mysterious fortune-tellers' places and rooting themselves in place. A constant hum enveloped the place, never silent, as people came and went and shopkeepers went about their daily deeds. It was too early for the most violent of the gangsters to begin their entourage of terror through the streets; the streets stayed still and placid. Pigeons peacefully pecked at the leftovers of the night before, scurrying away whenever someone approached, and a light drizzle from the heavens sprinkled the scenery below, painting it a wash of shines and shimmers.

Hongjoong and Seonghwa were currently in the middle of one of such streets.

Tall, age-old buildings towered over them, leaning inwards ever so slightly and creating a claustrophobic effect for the affected, though the enthusiastic Hongjoong didn't feel it.

Seonghwa definitely did, though. He preferred to perch upon the roofs, where there were no people, with only the birds and the gods for company. He pulled his turtleneck jumper further up his neck.

Hongjoong hummed absent-mindedly as he strolled down the street alongside the assassin.

"Where are we heading first?" Seonghwa asked, angling his head slightly downwards to meet Hongjoong's.

"I'm not sure," he admitted, pausing from admiring the dusty old buildings surrounding them in the narrow street. "I've never really cooked for myself, you see – I always ate takeaways or just cup ramen back in Leania. Or just didn't eat I guess." Hongjoong shrugged. "But it would be rude to force you to do that just because I don't know how to cook, right? It's technically my house after all. So I was thinking of learning...but what would be easy to cook for a beginner like me?"

"I could cook," Seonghwa offered. "I know how to."

"Oh really? Are you sure?"

Seonghwa nodded, and Hongjoong's eyes lit up with relief.

"Thank the gods."

Seonghwa smiled quietly.

"Were you planning on buying something else other than food?" he asked.

"Oh, yeah I was, actually. How'd you know?"

Seonghwa shrugged, his hands staying in his black longcoat pockets. The breeze blew a few droplets of drizzle in his eyes, but he ignored them.

"Just did," he mumbled. "What are you planning on buying?"

"Clothes and stuff," Hongjoong said, shrugging also. "Since Big Grey paid for the apartment and everything, I have all the money I'd been saving up free to use now, and I was thinking of getting some stuff for myself."

"Oh. That's nice," Seonghwa remarked. "Maybe you could go and buy those things, and I can take care of the basics."

"Is that okay with you?"

"Mhm. I can show you around a little afterwards as well."

"Great! What time should we meet back up?"

"I don't mind. You have my number, right? Call or text me when you're done. We'll meet at the war monument."

"Okay. Thanks!" Hongjoong said, and hurried off to the first clothes store he could find.

Seonghwa watched him go, a little smile on his face. The two demons were the same age, but Hongjoong seemed to have such a lovable, innocent side to him; it was sweet to watch.