Long Journey || ATEEZ

Turbulence

Thankfully, the ATINY suffered no more losses; no more casualties. Of course, Saren was dead and gone, but did anybody particularly care? They dumped his body – along with the frighteningly many of those of The Catastrophe – unceremoniously into the water as they cleaned up, mopping away the blood of another battle, another day hard-fought.

The water flickered red as the bodies were dumped in, hungrily swallowing the corpses as it closed its bloodstained maw over them and they sank, never to be seen again. There was an eerie glint to the sunshine glimmering on its surface, a malevolent animosity running deep. It was like the water was alive, had a conscience; a simmering monster waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Yeah, we're definitely in the right place," Wooyoung commented as he watched someone – namely, Vi – kick Saren's head into the water, a bemused expression on his face. The water shimmered crimson – to match the half-dwarf's blood – once more. "And I'm starting to feel glad I didn't touch that stuff."

"What did I tell you," Seonghwa said, almost smugly – certainly with a gloating smirk on his face – as he approached.

"Oh shush, Seonghwa-hyung," Wooyoung said, crossing his arms. "Anyways," he said, trying to change the subject away from his embarrassment, "Hongjoongie-hyung said we're on inspection duty by the way."

"Great," Seonghwa said, smiling – evilly. "More time to make fun of you then."

"Don't tell me this is revenge for all the times me and San pranked you."

"It is," the older laughed, bumping his shoulder playfully against Wooyoung's.

"Oh for fuck's sake," Wooyoung groaned, but he chuckled as Seonghwa opened the trapdoor belowdecks and plunged in, and he followed suit.

Meanwhile, Hongjoong was motioning for San and Shinoko, who were at the helm, to follow him into the captain's cabin. The two, after swapping with Woojae and Miyeon, trotted over, and the three disappeared indoors.

"We're nearing the treasure," the captain said simply, shrugging as he sat down at his desk and invited San and Shinoko to sit, "and our final battle with Cezanne is inevitable."

Shinoko swallowed.

"I think you two might know why I've gathered you here."

"Yep," San said, whilst Shinoko nodded meekly, her face already paling with some sort of anxiety.

"So, Shinoko—"

Don't, Shinoko whimpered in her mind. Don't put your trust in me. Don't rely on me. I don't even know if I can rely on myself.

"—you're the one who knows Cezanne best here, what do you think? What should we do?"

Shinoko opened her mouth, but nothing came out as she trembled, reminiscent of her first day aboard the ATINY. Anxiety swirled around her mind like a fish trapped in a pond too small. She felt dizzy, almost felt like throwing up and slipping sideways off her chair whilst she was at it. She looked at San, panic-stricken.

"Me and Noko-noona talked about this briefly," San piped up, perhaps sensing the other's distress. "I'm assuming I'm here because I can see auras?"

"Yep," Hongjoong nodded, smiling appreciatively, internally sighing in relief. He didn't want to feel too guilty about putting Shinoko on the spot. "So what would you say? Is Cezanne worth redeeming? Or even redeemable at all?"

San sucked in through his teeth, shaking his head slightly.

"It's debatable," the demon said after a while. "She has the same aura as Big Grey – blood red."