Mists of Celeste - an Ateez Fanfic

act one ➻ part eight

"Well, since you're intent on changing the subject, Y/N..." Seonghwa interrupts as Yeosang opens his mouth to say something else. "I guess now is the perfect time to explain the real reason I brought you here.

"Pardon?" You inquire, tilting your head towards Seonghwa now in search of an explanation.

"It's time for your first mission."

Seonghwa grins from ear to ear, eyes disappearing behind his lids as he looks your way. You blink back with your mouth agape. It seems too soon for you to be doing something like this. You can't understand Hongjoong's game plan in deciding this, but there must be one.

"A covert mission. Get in and get out without being seen or leaving tracks. Relatively simple for someone with your history, and it may hit a little close to home. We'll be raiding a military warehouse for some supplies. Y/N, you and Yeosang will be on the watch team. San and Jongho, you'll be on the infiltration team. Y/N, if you can handle holding a sniper rifle, your job will be to watch for guards. Yeosang will do the same at the back entrance of the warehouse while you'll be watching the front. Yeosang, as leader of this mission, you'll be calling a majority of the shots when there. Does this sound manageable?"

You watch as Yeosang, Jongho, and San all nod without any hesitation. They don't seem bothered by your presence on the mission in the slightest, but for some reason, that doesn't make you feel any less out of place. Seonghwa still watches you, eyes cracking open as his smile fades into a thin line.

"Yes," you say quietly after you realize that he's waiting for your confirmation as well. "But... well, I have a question." You're a bit hesitant, and this sudden show of authority by Seonghwa has you realizing that the others listen to him for a reason. It may not be your place to question him, but something about his methods and decisions strikes you as odd. You can't tell whether it's Seonghwa's own decision or Hongjoong's. Hell, Seonghwa may not even know the answer to your question, but you won't let that keep you from asking. "Why would Jongho be on the infiltration team? He's a Berserker. It would make more sense to have you be on the mission instead as an Elitist."

A breathy laugh leaves Seonghwa's lips. He glances away from you in favor of looking down at the table. "That's the kind of thinking I hate. The military teaches you to be so close-minded and only think about two possibilities when there are at least eight. Jongho may be a Berserker but he is one who needs to stay away from most of the action. Yeosang is the leader of the mission because he is an Elitist, and as the leader, he needs to stay back and watch over things from a distance. Jongho can take care of any rogue guards who might be out and about, but his primary goal is to defend San. Just holding still and watching for enemies to waltz in is not his specialty. Catering to abilities and skillsets is far more important than just putting more Elitists on the field. Make sense?"

"I suppose..." you mutter more to yourself than to him. Out the corner of your eye, you can see Seonghwa grinning.

"Good. If everyone understands, then you had best get going. Hongjoong is preparing to enter the atmosphere as we speak." The tall man stands up, sweeping his dark hair out of his eyes, and moves to leave the room.

"W-Wait, what?" You stutter out. Seonghwa stops in his tracks and turns to look at you over his shoulder.

"Did you not hear me?"

"No, no, I heard you. I'm just – where are we landing?"

"Have you ever been to Medra, Y/N?"

Shock overwhelms your body in an instant. Medra? How is that possible? You can only stare at Seonghwa with a dumb expression on your features for a good ten or twenty seconds.