Mists of Celeste - an Ateez Fanfic

act two ➻ part one

You find yourself, yet again, perched on the bridge of The Horizon, arms crossed over your chest as you look out into the black space before you. Typically it would be void of any occupants; however, that is not the case now. A planet looms before you, vast and emerald green all over. From the distance you're at, it looks almost uninhabitable but you know that can't be true seeing as that's where Hongjoong is steering the ship.

You let your arms fall by your side, and a small sigh escapes your lips. A bit of time has passed since San gave you the papers back, but you can't tell the exact amount of time thanks to being in space all the time. You sleep when everyone else sleeps, wake up when everyone else wakes up, and generally follow the same routine that they do. You do exercise much more caution than they do as you're still trying to figure things out. San has made things easier for you, as well as Jongho, those two being the crew members you talk to the most on the ship. Yeosang makes his presence known from time to time – a little too known for your liking considering your last interaction with him involved his hand around your throat – but the blonde sticks to Wooyoung's side like glue ninety percent of the time so you don't have to be blessed by his presence often.

Yunho comes in and out of your daily routine in that every time he shows up in your path, you make a sharp turn and head in the opposite direction. It is mostly due to the fact that you can't fucking apologize to save your own damn life, but also just a lingering awkwardness on your end from all but accusing him of stealing the papers that San delivered to you minutes later. Awkward. Awkward. And that's what is keeping you from approaching him and even attempting an apology. You keep telling yourself that you will apologize eventually, and you'll try to make things right, but the timing just doesn't feel right yet. That's the reason. Absolutely. It's not because your ego is getting in the way.

You purse your lips as you think about that situation yet again. It's a frequent thought for you, especially considering that there is next to nothing to do on this damn ship besides wander around or look out into space like you're doing now. You don't understand how they can do this so often. A small part of you is starting to feel that fabled "spaceman's anxiety" – the sensation of being cooped up with nowhere to go except out into space. It's very aptly named in the very least, but you wish Hongjoong would just get to Aegos already so you can put your feet on solid ground again.

"Y/N." Speaking of the devil, Hongjoong calls out to you from his place in the pilot's chair. You turn away from the broad window into space to look at the captain. He doesn't look back at you; instead, he's focused on keeping the ship on its steady path to the planet ahead. You walk closer to his slightly elevated chair, taking the empty place beside Seonghwa. You mimic his pose and fold your hands behind your back before answering Hongjoong.

"You called?"

"We'll be landing on Aegos before nightfall. You'll be coming with us to the capital Echidna. I have a few business inquiries to make with some partners there. You, Seonghwa, and San will all be accompanying me to Echidna; however, you and San will be conducting a separate mission from Seonghwa and myself." Hongjoong nods in Seonghwa's direction.

"Yes, Captain." The lieutenant bows slightly at the waist before turning to you. "Have you ever been to Aegos, Y/N?"

"No, I don't think I have."

"Prepare for intense storms. Echidna has a storm guard dome over the city, but Hongjoong will be landing the ship at the docking station. It's a ways away from the city so we'll need to ride the train to get to the city. Once we're there, I'll arrange some reservations for a hotel for the night, then we will head for a bar called the Jaded Hornet. I'll tell you and San more once we're closer to landing, and Hongjoong will conduct a debrief as well. You should go change if you need to and get your gun just in case. We shouldn't need to kill anyone, but drunk pirates and mercenaries never mix well."