cloak-and-dagger → ateez (spy school au)

prologue

It is the kind of cold that seeps into my bones and makes me feel as though my heart were a door that was wide open to welcome the biting wind. The only thing to do is to keep going and moving to the safety of my home. The ground reflects the rolling blanket of clouds in the sky, which are the colour of wet ash.

“I won’t ever accept another midnight shift again.” I muttered, punching the air in front of me as if it would help relieve the anger boiling inside of me.

Working at convenience stores and fast food restaurants all day, every day and overnight has become the norm for me this past year, as I have no idea what to do with my life. I barely had enough money to pay for the current apartment I lived in, so I couldn’t even fathom the idea of being drowned in student debt.

A scuffle was heard above the usual stifling silence that was crept over the neighbourhood. The voices, as if tuned like a radio, became louder and angrier as I passed through a gloomy alleyway. The silhouettes of two men engaged in a passionate argument—one of them grabbing the other’s collar before turning to face my way—made my eyes widen.

My breath hitched as I sped off, my heartbeat quickening as I continued to make my way home. One of the figures stumbled out of the alleyway, and after another cry and a painful groan reverberated off the old buildings, there was complete silence.

Suddenly someone shoved me by the shoulders and walked past me, the immense pressure causing me to stumble. I stared after the disappearing figure, horror filling me up at the sight of his black cloak flapping in the wind, every so often exposing glimpses of his bloodied dagger. The pangs of guilt pressed down on my chest and the feeling of dread gnawed my insides.

“What if something happened and you were the only one who could stop it, Joo Ha?”

Peering into the shadowy alley, a battered figure lay with his eyes closed on the ground, soaked in his own trails of new-spilled blood, a gushing stab wound to his belly. His ash khaki hair was a mess, and his eyes flashed open and met mine as I rushed towards him.

He uttered through gritted teeth, "You should leave now, run away and don’t look back-"

"We're heading to the hospital. You need to have that looked at and I don't want you to die with me here."

"No," he said defiantly, pausing as his gaze peered at my face through his thick lashes.

Unable to take my eyes from the wound on his stomach, I fought back, "You will die if you don't have it treated!"

The man sighed, his eyes beginning to sag, “Anywhere but the hospital..."

I tried to stir him up by gently cupping his face and stroking the backs of his cheeks with my hands shivering a little at the sensation of his icy skin on mine. “We must treat your injuries, but I swear I won't take you to the hospital. I don't live too far away."

♥︎ ————————————— ♥︎

Hi there !! This is just a sneak peek into Joo Ha's espionage journey with ATEEZ, because there are many more exciting things to come :)) Hop on the ride and enjoy 😗😗