Minji may seem very playful, but deep down her emotions are turbulent, and she's trying hard to keep them under control.
It's been a while, every time she watched Y/n laugh and chat with the others, she felt a familiar warmth bloom in her chest. Kind of a feeling that had become so much a part of her that she couldn't remember when it had begun.
It was like trying to remember the first time she'd seen the stars. She couldn't place the exact moment, only that they'd always been there, shining in her night sky. Somewhere along the way, Y/n had become that for her.
Minji's mind drifted back to countless moments, each one so small on its own that it almost felt laughable. The way Y/n scrunched her nose when she was concentrating, even the way she'd stumble through her explanations, trying to be serious somehow always endearing. It was in these tiny memories, stitched together over time, that Minji had come to realize her feelings for Y/n had quietly deepened into something more.
Of course, there were other moments too. Moments that tugged at Minji's heart with an ache she hadn't understood before. The times Y/n had been so fiercely protective, so quick to take on everyone else's burdens without a second thought. Minji had felt it the night of their argument when Y/n had challenged her for involving Hanni and Haerin in their plans. Her heart had stung at Y/n's fierce protectiveness, because she hadn't fully considered it before.
Y/n's protective instincts clashing against Minji's decision. In that moment, Minji had felt herself pulled between two worlds, between Y/n's fears and the need to trust her friends to make their own choices.
She had now wondered how often Y/n had kept quiet, kept herself on the sidelines, just to make sure everyone else was alright.
And then... there was the dance. In that moment, Minji had felt something shift. An acceptance of something she'd likely known for a long time but had never dared to name. She cared for Y/n, deeply and wholly, and it was a truth she could no longer push aside.
The moment was surreal. She felt it in the way Y/n's hand felt in hers, in the way Y/n's shy, unpracticed steps kept time with Minji's gentle guidance.
Y/n had been hesitant at first, protesting her lack of rhythm, but Minji had urged her on, telling her that she'd guide her through it. And as they danced, Y/n's gaze softened, her face bathed in moonlight, and it was all Minji could do to keep her heart steady. She had never seen Y/n quite like this. Minji wanted nothing more than for this moment to stretch on forever.
Y/n announced her departure for her mission that night, assuring everyone at the table that it was another easy task. She trusted Y/n, knew her strength, but couldn't shake a pang of worry. And all Minji wanted was to ask her to stay, to give her one last moment of reassurance. But when Y/n looked at her, those same eyes that had sparkled in the moonlight, Minji knew she couldn't.
Minji had been wondering if she had ever regretted letting Y/n accepted the queen's offer. As for the answer, she didn't know herself.
She smiled, giving Y/n a quiet nod of encouragement, the most reassuring gesture she could manage, though her heart was thrumming with the silent words she wished she could say. When the others cheered Y/n on, Minji did too.
Minji knew now that her feelings for Y/n had evolved, and she was willing to be patient, to let Y/n move at her own pace, knowing that whatever they had, whatever it was growing into, was something she'd hold onto for as long as it took.
-
Y/n was lost in her thoughts, nestled inside one of the cargo containers along with the other Elites, the sway of the ship almost lulling her into a daydream. She was vaguely aware of the hum of conversation around her until Yujin nudged her side, jolting her back to reality.
"What's got you so spaced out?" Yujin whispered with a grin. "Thinking about the mission?"
Y/n hesitated, cheeks warming as she tried to play it off. "Oh, it's... nothing important."
But that didn't satisfy Yujin in the least. "Sure, sure, something so unimportant you've got this starry-eyed look all over your face," she teased. "Come on, spill."
After a brief pause, Y/n glanced at her hands and mumbled, "...What's a person supposed to do after a confession?"
The reaction was immediate. Yeonjun choked back a laugh, Soobin and Yujin shared a knowing look, and Kai, despite being outside, was somehow still giving her an amused side-eye through the crack. Yeonjun leaned in, grinning, and said, "You should ask Chaewon. She's the expert in this stuff."
Chaewon, who had been trying to quietly strategize in her corner, immediately perked up, eyes wide in alarm. "Wait, what? Me? Since when?"
"Come on, Chaewon," Yeonjun said, laughing as he nudged her. "You're like, the love guru here. Tell Y/n what to do."
Chaewon looked positively scandalized. She threw her hands up in protest, glancing between Y/n and the others as if she'd been accused of some outrageous crime. "Excuse me! I don't... I mean, I've heard of confessions, but it's not like I-"
Yujin cut in, eyes glinting mischievously, "Oh, so you have heard of confessions?"
Chaewon's face turned pink as she sputtered, "That's not-! I mean, everyone has! It's common knowledge!"
Soobin couldn't help himself, chuckling as he leaned in, "Come on, Chaewon, everyone knows you're the hopeless romantic around here."
Chaewon buried her face in her hands, defeated. "This is not the kind of recon I signed up for," she muttered, earning another round of laughter from everyone huddled in the cargo.
Y/n was trying to hide her own grin as she quietly absorbed the advice (or lack thereof).
"Fine, fine!" Chaewon sighed, a smile breaking through her feigned exasperation. "Yes, I do know a little something about confessions and... relationships."
Everyone fell silent, intrigued. Even Yeonjun leaned forward with interest, while Y/n looked eager, hanging onto every word.
Chaewon glanced around, her cheeks turning a little pink, but she took a deep breath and began. "So, yes, the rumors are true," she admitted, glancing down with a sheepish smile. "Kazuha and I... we've been together for a while now."
"How did you two meet?" Y/n's eyes lit up, leaning closer.
A gentle smile crossing Chaewon's face. "It was during one of the earlier missions, before I was part of the Elites. We crossed paths in a... rather unconventional way. I'd disguised myself as a vendor, and she thought I was a real one," she laughed softly, a fond look in her eyes. "She ended up buying a silly charm from me, and afterward, I couldn't believe that was the queen herself."
"Bet she saw right through you." Soobin smirked, nudging Chaewon.
Chaewon chuckled, nodding. "She did. After the mission, she found me and said she'd seen through my disguise from the start. But instead of calling me out, she wanted to see what I'd do." Chaewon's gaze turned a little misty, her voice softer. "We became close after that, and over time... things just clicked."
Y/n's curiosity only deepened. "And you're happy? Even with the whole... you know, being on opposite sides of the throne room sometimes?"
Chaewon nodded, her smile growing. "Yes, we're happy. Kazuha's supportive, and while it's not easy, we make it work." She glanced at Y/n, eyes kind. "It's a lot like the balance you're trying to find. You don't have to be perfect, just honest. If Minji truly cares about you, she'll be there."
Y/n looked at Chaewon, squinting slightly. She was sure she hadn't said Minji's name. But here was Chaewon, as if reading her mind, practically confirming what Y/n had tried to keep hidden.
"How did you..." Y/n hesitated, glancing down at her hands. "Was it that obvious?"
Chaewon chuckled, glancing at Yujin, who raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Let's just say... you don't exactly hide it well," Chaewon said, amused. "It's the way you keep looking around every time Minji enters a room."
Y/n felt her face grow warm as she cleared her throat, trying to play it off with a shrug. "Well... that's not fair. I thought I was being subtle."
Yujin laughed. "Not subtle enough, apparently. But now that it's out in the open..." She nudged Y/n's shoulder playfully. "What are you going to do?"
Y/n blinked, looking a bit lost. "I... I thought I'd done enough with the confession! Isn't that it? I thought you'd, you know, do the confession and then... wait."
"Oh, it's just the beginning," Chaewon said with a smirk. "Confessing is step one. Now you have to get to know each other's weird quirks, compromise, support each other. Enjoy it all. Besides, you're not just sparring partners anymore. You've got to find ways to balance all those intense emotions."
"But what's next?" Y/n asked, a bit overwhelmed but unable to hide her smile. "Do I... ask her to do something? Like... a date?"
Chaewon shrugged with a grin. "Ask her on a mission date, bake bread together, spar again- whatever feels right. There's no 'correct' way. Just enjoy spending time with her and see where things go. Besides," she winked, "you're the only one who really knows how she makes you feel. Just follow that."
Y/n thought it over, realizing that as intimidating as it all sounded, maybe it wasn't so complicated after all.
Y/n snapped out of her thoughts as Kai's signal caught her attention. Right, this was no time to be daydreaming about Minji. They were nearing the destination coast, and the mission required her full focus. She took a deep breath, setting aside her thoughts of dates and confessions and reminding herself of the task ahead.
The cargo container felt tense as everyone made their final preparations. Yujin shot her a knowing look, a slight smirk on her face, probably imagining what was going through Y/n's mind earlier. Y/n gave her a playful glare, whispering, "Not. A. Word."
Yujin stifled a chuckle, nudging Yeonjun, who was already stretching his shoulders, loosening up for what was to come.
As the cargo swayed slightly with the rhythm of the waves, Y/n did a final check of her gear and mentally reviewed the plan. With Kai's lead, the crew would unload the container onto the coast, where the team would quietly slip out and follow the smuggling trail, hopefully straight to the base. This mission could reveal critical intel on the black market's inner workings, and Y/n had to keep her head in the game.
"Alright," she murmured to herself, steeling her nerves, "let's focus on making it out of this mission... and maybe then I'll figure out that date."