↤P A R A D I G M↦

二十九

If you enjoy Paradigm and are interested in other ateez ships (for those who would ask I would never project these fantasies or creations on the real people, this is all in good fun) it would mean a ton if you check out my new Woosan book, Do Not Disturb!

rmbr to sheesh

(stay healthy, eat everything, stay hydrated)

-Scarlet/Rain<33

Seonghwa barely had time to scream before he fell face-first onto a spongy mattress below, Hongjoong's laughter ringing around the empty street as he joined him with a graceful leap.

"What the fuck dude!?" Seonghwa shouted, though his smile betrayed his false anger as he shoved Hongjoong lightly and stood up to dust himself off. Hongjoong's laughter faded into small chuckles as he did the same.

"Where are we going?" Seonghwa asked with a huff, as he began following after a walking Hongjoong.

"Depends, where do you wanna go, my king?" Hongjoong teased, his hand gently brushing against Seonghwa's as they turned a corner, "I'm sure you haven't explored the entirety of my land."

"My land," Seonghwa corrected with a good-natured sigh, his eyes drifting towards the point of contact they had briefly shared before his eyes flicked forward again, "where is your favourite place, in all of the slums?"

Hongjoong thought about it for a bit, before pulling him into an alley and clambering up the wall, dragging poor Seonghwa up with him.

"There's this secret spot I found a while back when I was still friends with Wade," Hongjoong said, a mischievous grin on his face as he led Seonghwa up the rough brick wall. Seonghwa tilted his head curiously, slipping slightly on the loose shingles of the house they had just climbed onto, but regaining his balance easily.

He was getting the hang of it.

Once they reached the top, Hongjoong swung his leg over the ledge and pulled Seonghwa up fully onto the top of the house, standing him on the bricked up chimney.

"This is it," Hongjoong said, spreading his arms out as if presenting a grand prize, "the best view in all of the slums."

Seonghwa stood there for a moment, taking in the sight. The city below seemed alive, a sprawling tapestry of lights and shadows. The air was crisp, carrying a mix of city smells and the distant hum of life blanketed by the setting sun.

"It's incredible," Seonghwa admitted, his voice soft with awe. He glanced at Hongjoong, who was watching him with an amused expression.

"I knew you'd like it," Hongjoong said, his tone almost smug. He took a seat on the edge of the roof, patting the spot next to him. Seonghwa sat down beside him, their shoulders brushing.

They sat in comfortable silence, enjoying the view and each other's company. The city stretched out before them, a reminder of the world they were a part of but also a world that felt distant in that moment of peace.

After a while, Seonghwa turned to Hongjoong, a thoughtful look on his face, "You know, I've always felt like there was something missing in this place. Like there's a whole other world out there."

Hongjoong raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And do you think this view helps with that feeling?"

"Maybe," Seonghwa said, his eyes reflecting the city lights. "Or maybe it just makes me realize that even in places like this, the neglected corners of my little world, there are treasures like this to enjoy."

Hongjoong smiled, his expression softening, "Well, I'm glad I could share this with you."

They sat there for a while longer, simply enjoying the tranquility and each other's presence. The slowly darkened below, but up there, it felt like they were in their own little world--one where the unpredictability of their lives was muted, and they were left with only each other.

Seonghwa turned to admire the way the dimming light played across Hongjoong's smooth features and shone on his hair in just the right angles, before muttering, "You said you needed to vent?"

"Oh," Hongjoong turned to look at him, the two locking eyes before glancing away shyly, "I did."

"Then spit it out."

Hongjoong snorted at Seonghwa's words, but continued on, "There's a bit you don't know about me."

Seonghwa cocked a brow at that, leaning over to whisper, "You're secretly a Floristinian who's planning to overthrow me?"

Hongjoong barked a laugh, slapping Seonghwa's shoulder playfully and shaking his head to calm down a bit, "Just I uh, I don't make all my money through stealing."

It was silent for a good moment, the slight breeze tousling their hair before Seonghwa froze slightly, turning slowly to frown, "What do you mean?"

Hongjoong twiddled his thumbs for a bit, choosing stare down at his feet beside Seonghwa's before speaking, "I'm a hit-man too."

"Y-You what?"

"I'm a hit-man."

Seonghwa's mouth was agape, a hit-man? Hongjoong, the protector of the slums, was a hit-man, a man who takes out hits on people?? Maybe Seonghwa was exaggerating but that didn't fit the man he knew.

"Are you sure?" he muttered, Hongjoong snorting incredulously.

"Pretty sure I'd know if I was killing people for money," he chuckled, a small pit of regret and guilt from this confession pooling in the depths of his stomach. Seonghwa was still looking at him with that same frown that Hongjoong was starting to find quite annoying.

Seonghwa opened his lips to speak for a moment, but couldn't find the words to say it in a non-offending way, "Why would you do something so foul?"

Hongjoong winced, turning away to look at a stray cat that was padding past peacefully, "It's not all foul, it's always just bad people wanting to kill other bad people. And this next hit I have is-"

"Stop. I don't wanna hear it."

Hongjoong gulped, that was cold.

Icy.

He turned back to Seonghwa, who was looking away pointedly and tried to speak, "But you'll wanna know because it's Rain-"

Seonghwa's head whipped around to stare wide-eyed at Hongjoong, "Rain Dayslock? The Rain Dayslock?"

"Wow so perceptive."

"Drop the snark Hongjoong, because this can't be coincidence."

Hongjoong's leaned forward, "What's not a coincidence?"

Seonghwa hesitated for a moment, before blurting it out, "I have a meeting with him in a few day, about the crime in the city."

Hongjoong recoiled slightly, standing up and frowning down at Seonghwa, "He's a crime-lord! Why'd he be discussing crime rates with the king?"

"That's what I'd like to know too."