Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Hongjoong crept down the hallway, his path lit by the flickering flames of gas lit lamps in the dead of night, stone and wood beneath his feet as he did his best to not make a sound. He looked back, the illuminated faces of his crewmates looking at him with all the trust pirates could muster reflected in their eyes. Hongjoong could feel the weight of it on his shoulders. He drew his sword as they crept closer to the door they were looking for. He looked back at San, the young alpha’s noticeable cheekbones bounced orange light off them as he smiled back at him.

“You ready to kidnap a prince, Captain?” He asked and Hongjoong huffed, hearing swords sliding out of sheaths behind him.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Hongjoong said, his hand sliding over the doorknob on the door. The metal was cool to the touch as he slowly turned it and pushed open the door. The hinges barely squeaked as it swung open. Hongjoong looked back one last time, before he pushed forward into the darkness, at the faces behind him. San gave him a nod, and forward he pushed.

The room itself was barely lit, only a few oil lamps burning in the corners of the room and Hongjoong thought that they were foolishly close to the curtains, but what did royalty have to have common sense for? He glided across the room, sidling up the bed, covered in pillows and blankets, luxury like Hongjoong had never seen before, the fabrics seemed to glow in the soft light. Hongjoong smiled, running his tongue over his teeth when he set eyes on the prince. His sleeping face looked so peaceful, elegant cheekbones and a straight pointed nose over soft pink lips set in a pout in his sleep. He could smell that the prince was an omega from the gentle scent of lilacs and roses that drifted up from him. Hongjoong couldn’t tell what was his actual scent and what was the perfume he most certainly wore. His jet black hair was splayed across a silken pillow case and looked so soft, Hongjoong almost wanted to reach out and touch it. He didn’t, instead pulling his gun out of its holster and pointing it point blank at the prince’s nose. He jerked his head roughly to the side and Wooyoung reached over to shake the prince awake. His eyes flew open, immediately zeroing in on the gun pointed at him, then flickering between all the men staring him down. Hongjoong cleared his throat, readying himself to say something, but the prince beat him to it.

“Are you here to kidnap me?” He asked, getting straight to the point and catching Hongjoong completely off guard. “Please say yes.” San shifted uneasily from foot to foot, his fingers dancing on his weapons, like he was having trouble deciding what he should be reaching for.

“Uh, yes?” Hongjoong failed to sound intimidating and instead sounding mostly confused. The prince sighed in relief. Wooyoung’s face had shifted from his normal half menacing smirk to pure confusion. He looked over at Hongjoong, waiting for some kind of cue to do something, anything.

“Thank God, I would love to be kidnapped right now.” The prince stared at Hongjoong for a few seconds. “Could you move the gun, so I can sit up?” Hongjoong’s brain came back online in that moment, cocking the gun and staring at him.

“Why do you want to get kidnapped?” Hongjoong asked, gesturing towards his crew. “You know we’re pirates right? We’re going to ransom you, keep you tied up in the bottom of our ship, feed you table scraps if you’re lucky. It won’t be the luxury you’re used to.” He was partially bluffing, he wouldn't not feed him. He was a pirate, sure, but even he had morals.

“Oh, no please don’t ransom me! Or at least don’t return me. I can be useful!” The prince’s eyes shifted rapidly between Hongjoong and Wooyoung. “You don’t seem to have problems with omegas on ships.” Hongjoong glanced at Wooyoung before turning back to the prince.

“You didn’t answer my question, princess.” Hongjoong said and he saw fire light behind the prince’s eyes.

“Do not call me princess.” He said. “I’m not here by choice, they’re making me marry this gross old creep who treats me like I’m his last chance at having an heir. I am the second born royal son. I'm supposed to be navy trained and left mostly alone. I was looking forward to a navy career, but one day I woke up with a fever and my entire life was ripped away from me. I’m nothing but breeding stock to them, breeding stock they needed to get rid of as quickly as they could.” Hongjoong noticed Wooyoung’s expression shift again, to one of empathy. Hongjoong sighed, still staring into the prince’s eyes.

“You haven’t exactly made your case. How do I know you’ll be useful to me? The royal navy doesn’t mean much to me, princess.” Hongjoong said, watching the fire roar back to life behind the prince’s eyes. He sat up suddenly, knocking the gun out of the way and stepping right up to Hongjoong. A white nightgown that almost brushed the floor billowed around him as he pushed into Hongjoong’s space. He held up his hand to stop San from reacting, wanting to hear what the omega prince had to say.

“I can run a ship. I passed all my tests. I can fight, with swords or hand to hand, and I can shoot any gun you want to put in my hands. I know where all the royal gold is buried and where all the dirty secrets are because they thought I was too stupid to be able to do anything with it.” The prince said, his words laced with venom as he hissed them through his teeth. “I will not let you minimize me, pirate. I am not just some royal omega.” Hongjoong felt his mouth twitch up into a smile. He liked this prince, he was rather courageous to step toe to toe with a pirate holding a gun at his head.

“My apologies, I didn’t realize you had so many talents.” The teasing lilt to Hongjoong’s voice was evident. He liked his spunk, but he was unsure how he would perform when push came to shove. The prince sneered at him.

“How dare you talk to me like that? I am a prince and this is my castle, you common-” Hongjoong cut him off, raising his gun again and pressing it under the hinge of his jaw. Hongjoong saw San’s dagger press itself against the prince’s throat as well.

“Ah ah, I’ll leave you here to marry that old creep and become his breeding stock, brat. This may be your castle, but it is my ship you’re coming aboard, and you will respect me.” Hongjoong smiled wickedly when the prince gulped. He nodded, letting out a shaky breath.

“Now, we can do this my way, or I’ll leave you here. Agreed?” Hongjoong asked and the prince nodded again. “Say yes, captain.” The prince’s jaw clenched, Hongjoong saw San’s dagger press deeper into the prince’s skin.

“Yes, captain.” He said and Hongjoong cooed.

“That wasn’t so hard, now was it? What shall we call you then, princess doesn’t seem to make you too happy.” Hongjoong asked and the prince swallowed again.

“Seonghwa.” He answered, and Hongjoong hummed, stepping back from him as Mingi, a tall omega that looked more intimidating than he actually was and hardly smelled like his secondary gender, approached with one of the prince’s pillow cases in hand. Hongjoong had been as surprised as anyone when he’d found out about it.

“Seonghwa, what a lovely name, see you on the ship.” Hongjoong gave him a wave as Mingi pulled the pillowcase over his head.

Hongjoong made sure that the pillowcase didn’t come off until he was in the hull of the ship, with no windows or sources of light to see into the outside world. To his credit, Seonghwa didn’t make a peep the whole time. He must have been very serious about not wanting to marry whatever alpha the royal family had lined up for him. He was silent the entire time actually, even as Wooyoung chained him to the hull of the ship and gave him a blanket and a pillow. His face twisted, like reality was setting in on what Hongjoong had meant.

“I told you it wasn’t going to be luxurious.” The captain said, his voice coming out softer and more empathetic than he’d meant it to. Seonghwa’s head snapped up, that same fire behind his eyes quickly masking itself behind a carefully held composure. He had obviously had a lot of practice hiding his displeasure. Hongjoong felt a pang of sympathy imagining what they must have put him through, quickly stomping it down. The prince was a prisoner, not someone he should feel sorry for.

“I can handle it. I’ll prove that I can be useful.” Hongjoong grinned, crouching down beside him.

“Good, if you don’t I’m leaving you on the nearest shoreside, inhabited or not.” Hongjoong said, abruptly standing and walking towards the door. “Busy day tomorrow, get some rest. We’ve gotta get out of here before they realize he’s gone.” Hongjoong directed that last sentence towards the crew that was there with him, San and Wooyoung. Seonghwa sat up rather quickly.

“You should leave as close to 5am as you can.” He said and Hongjoong’s eyes narrowed. He stepped closer to the prince, his hand resting on his holstered weapon. He smirked when he saw Seonghwa’s Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. He couldn’t seem to hold eye contact, looking down at the floor rather quickly.

“It's a shift change, for the guards. They’ll be distracted, and my maids don’t come check on me until 6am, so you’ll have time.” He said. Hongjoong looked at San, who shrugged, before he looked back at the prince.

“Why should I believe you?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa looked up at him, his eyes round and innocent looking, but Hongjoong saw the flash of indignation reflected in them. He liked the prince’s spark, as annoying as it was in the moment.

“I already told you, I want to leave.” Seonghwa said, and Hongjoong took a deep breath in.

“I suppose you’re right, we’ll do it as you say then.” He sighed, turning to walk away. Seonghwa collapsed back against the wall, shivering slightly in his thin nightgown even with the blanket wrapped around him. Hongjoong leaned closer to Wooyoung.

“Get the boy some proper clothes for tomorrow.” Hongjoong gestured vaguely towards Seonghwa and Wooyoung nodded, setting off to see what he could pull together. Hongjoong knew they had clothes for him somewhere and he wasn’t so cruel to want to see him shiver on the floor in nothing but a cotton nightgown. He at least deserved some dignity, and pants.

San caught Hongjoong outside the door. His face was full of apprehension, eyes flitting back and forth as he tried to think of what to say. He wrung his hands with nerves and shook his head.

“Captain, are you sure about trusting him? I don’t think it’s the best idea, it could all still be an elaborate trap.” San asked and Hongjoong laughed quietly. San was always on the ball when it came to planning and as far as he knew he very well could be putting far too much stock in the prince’s ability to come up with such an elaborate plot. Hongjoong appreciated it either way.

“San-ah, I don’t trust him, but I happen to know that the guard changes at 5am. So he was telling the truth about that at least. I would venture to guess that the bit about his maids is true as well.” Hongjoong climbed up onto the deck from the cells below. “It doesn’t seem that there’s a reason to lie about that specifically.” He took a deep breath in, smelling the salt in the air.

“I don’t know why they would leave him alone that long without checking on him. Isn’t that leaving him kind of vulnerable?.” San looked back at the shoreline, scanning for anyone coming after them, and Hongjoong clicked his tongue.

“Why would they check on the cattle, if you know what I mean.” Hongjoong said, and San made a disgusted noise.

“I can understand why he wouldn’t want to go back, hopefully he’ll prove useful.” San said and Hongjoong crouched down on the deck, looking up into the star-filled sky.

“I hope so too.” He said, chewing his bottom lip as he contemplated whether he’d made the right call bringing on another mouth to feed on his crew. One that he didn’t know if he was going to be able to pull his weight.

Considering that they had just kidnapped a prince, Hongjoong figured there would be more whispers in the waves. He expected some panic, for there to be more ships in the waters than normal, but there wasn’t. It made Hongjoong’s chest ache in a strange fashion to think that the royal family cared so little for their son that they weren’t even looking for him. His new husband-to-be, the one he was supposed to birth an heir for, didn’t even seem to be looking for him. Hongjoong couldn’t believe that no one cared that he had stolen a prince from his bedchamber. His earlier comments about the crown seeing Seonghwa as cattle rang truer than he had imagined, it seemed. As they had just left him there, and now they were reacting like he was replaceable. Although Hongjoong wasn’t sure why he had ever expected better of them. As they sailed onwards, Wooyoung took care of the prince still shackled in the hull of their ship. Hongjoong really had very little to do with him. Until one day, his hand was forced by a stomach illness of all things.

“Hyung, please. San is so sick and I’m trying to take care of him, plus I’d hate to get Seonghwa sick.” Wooyoung said and Hongjoong sighed. He knew that everyone else was busy, tending to the sick and he was one of the few that wasn’t throwing his guts up.

“I’ll do it, Wooyoung, just hand it to me.” Hongjoong said, smirking slightly when Wooyoung grinned at him.

“Thank you, hyung.” Wooyoung said, handing him a bowl full of food. Hongjoong stared at the food in front of him, steeling himself for seeing the prince again after virtually ignoring him. He didn’t even know what he was going to say to him, but he’d have to figure it out. The sound of San vomiting drew him away from the door. He grimaced at the sound and walked quickly away and down the steps, plunging into the dim dark of the below.

Seonghwa was sitting up when he got there, his eyes narrowing slightly before his gaze corrected itself. Carefully taught, manicured and perfected poise slipped into place as he stared Hongjoong down.

“Where’s Wooyoung?” He asked and Hongjoong laughed. The prince’s lips pursed slightly, expressing his displeasure. Hongjoong pulled a crate closer to Seonghwa, balancing the bowl in one hand as he did.

“I don’t know how sound travels down here, but a good chunk of my crew has been bringing up their food for the last week or so. Seems to be just as we get it under control it takes down another few, so we’ll have to wait it out. Unfortunately for you, Wooyoung’s mate has caught it.” Hongjoong explained, scooping some rice up and holding it out towards Seonghwa. Seonghwa made a face, scoffing at him. Hongjoong dropped the chopsticks unceremoniously into the bowl and stared.

“Are you displeased with your food, your highness?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa rolled his eyes.

“Wooyoung unshackles my hands so I can feed myself, you don’t need to feed me. I’m not incapable.” Seonghwa said. “They didn’t spoon feed me at the palace, you know.” Hongjoong cringed at the mention of a palace. Hongjoong placed the bowl on the ground near Seonghwa’s knees and knelt to unlock the cuffs around Seonghwa’s wrists. He took the keys from his belt loop, finding the right one easily and letting them drop to the ground with a loud clank. Seonghwa rubbed his wrists and nodded.

“Thank you, Captain.” Hongjoong hummed in response, sitting back down on his crate. He folded his hands, staring at the ceiling and willing some kind of conversation to come to his mind. Seonghwa snorted, laughing at the very obvious struggle on Hongjoong’s face.

“Wooyoung normally talks a little. He’s talked a bit about you, you know. He says that the Captain is kind of like a Dad, he says that you’re tough, but fair.” Seonghwa said, smirking slightly. Hongjoong snorted out his nose.

“I try to be fair.” He looked back at Seonghwa. The prince’s dark, curious eyes stared back at him as he waited for Hongjoong to say anything else.

“I want to be fair.” Seonghwa hummed. “What?” The prince shook his head.

“Oh nothing, just not used to alpha figures being very fair. Mine certainly wasn’t, but I didn’t exactly turn out as she’d hoped now did I?” Seonghwa said, grimacing at the memory. “Wooyoung also said you have an awful temper.” Hongjoong scowled.

“He provokes me. Eat your food, I don’t have all day.” Hongjoong effectively cut off any further communication. Seonghwa ate quietly, but the smile on his face was clear as he knew he’d annoyed the captain even if he wasn’t saying it. As soon as he was done, Hongjoong locked the cuffs back onto his wrists and stood up, kicking the crate behind himself. He walked away without saying anything to Seonghwa, who yelled after him.

“Goodbye to you too, Captain!”

“San, come on.” Hongjoong groaned, hearing the alpha still moaning like he was before, whining that his stomach hurt. “It’s been 3 days, everyone else is better.” Wooyoung pouted at Hongjoong, the bowl of food for their prince still cradled in his hands.

“Please, Captain. I did breakfast and Yeosang took him lunch, but we have to take turns until this sickness settles down! Sannie has always taken longer to get over things.” Wooyoung pouted and batted his eyelashes at his Captain, giggling when Hongjoong snatched the bowl from him. “Thank you, you’re my favourite captain.” Hongjoong scrunched up his nose as Wooyoung closed the door.

“Yeah yeah, I’m sure that little shit is faking it for the extra attention and I don’t know why I’m on the roster as the Captain of this damned ship.” Hongjoong muttered as he descended below deck.

Seonghwa smiled when he saw him, watching carefully as Hongjoong pulled up the crate and knelt down to unlock his wrist cuffs. He rubbed his wrists, Hongjoong noticed that they were rubbed a little raw from the heavy iron chains. He took the bowl of food from Hongjoong’s hands and raised his eyebrows.

“What? You’re not going to try and feed me this time?” He asked, making Hongjoong laugh under his breath. He sat back onto the crate and folded his hands in front of him.

“I think you’re capable of feeding yourself.” Hongjoong joked. Seonghwa huffed, pushing the food around in his bowl. Hongjoong frowned.

“You’re not feeling sick now too are you?” Seonghwa shook his head no. “Then what’s wrong?” Seonghwa swallowed and sighed.

“Wooyoung told me that you haven’t seen any extra ships or heard any whispers of someone having kidnapped a prince.” Seonghwa’s voice very quiet and still horrifically loud in the stillness around them. “So no one is looking for me. Not my supposed fiancé or my parents. I figured my father would look for me at least.”

“Maybe he hasn’t heard yet.” Hongjoong felt an abnormal urge to reach out and rub his shoulder, a gesture unlike him in several ways, from the physical touch to the fact that Seonghwa was a hostage. Seonghwa scrunched up his nose.

“In the weeks I’ve been here? Just tell me, please, Captain. Have you heard of anyone looking for me?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong felt that familiar twinge of pain in his chest. He felt awful, having to tell him the truth.

“No, there’s nothing.” Hongjoong answered, feeling his stomach sink when Seonghwa put down his bowl and held out his hands to be shackled again. “I’m sorry.” Hongjoong wasn’t even sure what he was apologizing for. Seonghwa kept his eyes trained on the floor, his face a perfectly calm mask.

“I’m not really hungry at the moment, I would like to rest.” He said and Hongjoong re-locked the shackles around his wrists, picking the bowl up off the floor. “I don’t know what I expected from them.” Hongjoong looked up at Seonghwa, seeing a flash of rage in his eyes, quickly simmered, but still there. He stood and walked towards the door.

“Let one of the crew know if you’d like to eat later.” He turned his back, going to climb up the stairs into the daylight. He froze when the sobs started, echoing through the hull of the ship. He was obviously trying to stifle them, but a few still broke through. Hongjoong could almost feel the pain through the sound of them. He didn’t turn back, there was nothing he could do.

Hongjoong walked into the kitchen the next day to find Wooyoung there as always. He looked up and smiled slightly.

“Hey Captain, I heard our friend below had a rough night.” Wooyoung turned from the sink he was scrubbing dishes in. San was in the corner, kneading some dough for something he would be attempting to cook later. Wooyoung always did his best to keep their diets varied on board.

“He asked me outright if anyone was looking. I didn’t think it was right to lie.” Hongjoong cleared his throat and Wooyoung hummed. He looked out towards the sea and shook his head.

“I can’t imagine what he’s going through. At least when I ran someone came after me. They weren’t successful in finding me, but they came.” Wooyoung laughed to himself. “I feel really bad for him.” Hongjoong took a deep breath in and swallowed.

“Do you think I did the right thing? Should I have lied?” Hongjoong asked and Wooyoung shook his head no.

“No, Captain, deep down he already knew the answer to the question he was asking.” Wooyoung answered. “He would’ve known you were lying.” Silence enveloped them all as Hongjoong sat down on a barrel and absorbed what Wooyoung had said. San cleared his throat.

“I think you should go talk to him next meal, Captain.” San said. “He could use some reassurance that we are not going to treat him like his family did.”

“Yeah, OK. Come get me when it’s dinner time. I have things to do.” Hongjoong said, turning to walk out when Wooyoung let out a noise of protest. He turned back towards the omega and gestured for him to say whatever it was that he wanted to say. He smiled widely at him and laughed.

“Captain, I think you should bring him some other clothes as well. If he’s going to stay with us then he’ll need them anyway don’t you think?” Wooyoung said. Hongjoong resisted the urge to tell Wooyoung that most of the crew barely had two shirts each, because he knew that going down with some sort of offering might ease the tension slightly. He hummed his agreement.

“Sure, Wooyoung-ah, dig me up some things and I’ll take them to him.” Hongjoong said, walking towards the door again. He heard Wooyoung huff in annoyance and San hummed in a warning to Wooyoung to shut up. Sometimes the younger didn’t know when to be quiet, but Hongjoong had long gotten used to that.

Mingi knocked on the door of his quarters later that night, as the sun was settling under the horizon. He looked up, spotting the larger man in his doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. His hair was cut rather short so it stood up straight in most places. Mingi had joined their crew for Yunho, the dashing alpha had caught his eye at the market and he had followed him around like a puppy ever since. They never seemed to make it official, even though Hongjoong had done all he could to encourage it.

“Captain, it’s dinner and time to feed the prisoner.” Mingi said and Hongjoong sighed, putting his pen down and capping the ink he was using. He pushed himself up out of his chair and adjusted his belt, the keys hanging off his waist dragging him down slightly.

“Don’t call him a prisoner. He’s really not one, he came willingly.” Hongjoong said. Mingi raised his eyebrows and tilted his head to the side. He huffed out a laugh.

“Ah, is that why he’s chained up in the hull of the ship?” He asked, the sarcasm dripping off his voice like honey. Hongjoong pursed his lips and huffed in annoyance. He couldn’t argue because Mingi was right. Seonghwa was not a prisoner, at least Hongjoong didn’t think he was, but they were treating him like one. He walked towards the door that Mingi was holding open for him.

“Good luck Captain.” Mingi teased, laughing when Hongjoong didn’t respond.

“I’m glad you’re here, Captain, he’s been acting strange all day.” Wooyoung said, shoving a bowl of food into his hands. “I was really hoping you could charm him into talking. Hongjoong raised his eyebrows.

“Charm him? Remember that one bar maid that punched me in the face a while back? I don’t have any charm.” Hongjoong said and Wooyoung rolled his eyes, shoving the pile of clothes into his arms as well.

“That was different, you told her she smelt like barley, up until then you’d been doing really well!” Wooyoung asked and Hongjoong sighed, giving Wooyoung a look. “Please, just try for me.” Wooyoung was not an easy man to say no to. He never had been.

“I’ll try.”

Hongjoong descended down the stairs again, finding the prince staring blankly forward at the wall. He didn’t even move when Hongjoong pulled up his crate.

“Wooyoung said that you needed new clothes, and that you had a rough night.” He said and Seonghwa’s eyes barely moved towards the pile of fabric in Hongjoong’s hands. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” Seonghwa scoffed, pulling his knees tighter to his chest.

“Sorry that my parents don’t love me or sorry you’ll never get your pay out?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong ignored the question entirely, moving to unlock his wrist cuffs. The prince rubbed his wrists, grimacing as the iron hit the floor. Seonghwa moved for the food bowl before Hongjoong pushed it towards him, eating in silence for a few seconds before he started to talk again.

“I don’t know what I expected from them anyway. They’ve not cared about me since I presented as an omega.” Seonghwa said, looking up briefly to see that Hongjoong was listening. “And before that, only my Father cared.” They fell into silence again before Hongjoong shuffled slightly forward.

“Did you want to talk about it? I find it helpful sometimes to talk about my problems.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa glared at him. His eyes narrowed as his mouth pulled into a frown.

“Why would you care? Alphas like you never care.” Venom laced Seonghwa’s words as Hongjoong felt sadness grip his heart. The omega in front of him was so hurt, reacting like a wounded animal. Seonghwa’s eyes were full of melancholy, even as he spit angry words at the captain. Hongjoong didn’t know why but he wanted to make him trust him.

“Alright, well I do care. I care about everyone on my ship regardless of how they presented or what parts they were born with, but I understand your response.” Hongjoong folded his hands in front of himself. “I’ll go first, OK?” Seonghwa looked at him, uncertainty plain as day reflected in his eyes as the rest of his expression melted into his calm mask.

“Sure.”

Hongjoong sighed and closed his eyes for a brief moment, his brain travelling through his memories to his childhood home. He smiled slightly, opening his eyes to see Seonghwa staring at him curiously.

“I grew up on a farm. My Appa raised horses. My Eomma did small clothing repairs and laundry for the wealthier people in town, but no one around me had money like how you would’ve experienced. It was a quiet life, a good life. My parents were both betas and they really didn’t know what to do with me when I presented alpha quite young. My older brother had been a beta too so I was definitely a shock to them. They did their best though, and I think I turned out alright.” Hongjoong said, slowing down his heart rate manually by taking a few deep breaths. “When I was about 15, war broke out. The Queen’s army came to my town, your mother’s army I guess, conscripting all those old enough to go. I wasn’t old enough, but my brother was.” He stopped, taking a shaky breath in. He looked up to see Seonghwa staring back at him, his eyes wide and round. The bowl of food was clutched between his hands but seemingly forgotten for the time being.

“He, my brother, really didn’t want to go. My Appa was unwell. He needed help with the horses and I couldn’t do it alone. We begged the army to not take him, but they wouldn’t budge. They even said that if my brother wouldn’t go they’d take me instead, and I was a child still. I can still hear my Eomma’s sobs, crying out for her son the day they came for him.” Hongjoong stopped to close his eyes again, willing the tears away. “Uh, yeah so it was about three months later that my brother ran away, abandoning his post at the army and trying to find his way home.” Seonghwa took a sharp breath in. Hongjoong looked up to see the Prince’s eyes filled with tears.

“They found him before he could make it, shot him on the spot and in retaliation to my family they burnt our home down and killed both my parents. I ran through the woods for months before I stumbled into a port and someone took enough pity on me to teach me how to survive the seas. Now I’m here.” Hongjoong said, finishing up that story rather quickly to evade the mess he inevitably turned into if he thought about the fire for too long. Seonghwa was quiet, so quiet you could hear the ship creaking as it cut through the water.

“I’m so sorry my Eomeonim did that to your family.” Seonghwa said, his voice even and horrifically loud in the quiet of the ship.

“It was a long time ago-” Hongjoong began, trying to brush it off, but Seonghwa cut him off.

“No, just because it was a long time ago doesn’t make it any less hurtful and awful. God, she was so awful.” Seonghwa huffed out a laugh, looking up at the ceiling like he was recalling a memory. “I’m so sorry. I know it’s nothing to say this even, but my mother was never nice to anyone, not even her own children or my father.” Hongjoong nodded, waiting for Seonghwa to continue to talk about his family and why he wanted so badly to be kidnapped that night.

“My Appa is the omega, Eomeonim is the alpha, although I’m sure you knew that already. They were never happy together. Well, my older brother said before I was born they were, but I don’t believe my Eomeonim ever loved my Appa. I don’t think she has the capacity to.” Seonghwa said, picking at his nails. His bowl of food was long put down as he grimaced recalling the details of his life.

“My Appa was always very caring towards me. My older brother was taken from him fairly young to be groomed to become the heir to the throne. I was just the spare. They were still hopeful then that he would present alpha and so would I. Neither one of us did. He was a beta and I’m an omega, as you know.” Seonghwa said, looking up at the ceiling for a brief moment before he continued. “They sent me away to the navy to train as an officer when I was 16. I suspect they wanted to get me away from Appa. My Eomeonim believed he coddled me too much and it would make me soft, or even worse an omega. I guess her fears were proven correct.” Hongjoong felt anger twist his heart as Seonghwa described how they treated him. He had known the Queen was a horrific tyrant of a ruler, but he had never imagined her disdain for anyone not like her reached to her children as well.

“When I presented at the age of 18, they shipped me home and Appa basically ignored me the same as Eomeonim had been doing since I was no longer a cute child to show off like a doll at dinner parties. They got this marriage arranged for me as soon as they could and shipped me off to him. I was the family mistake as far as Eomeonim was concerned. When I did get to speak to Appa before I got shipped off to this supposed marriage, you want to know what he told me?” Seonghwa asked, laughing as tears formed in the corners of his eyes. “He told me that I should get on my back and do my duties so I could give my future alpha heirs as swiftly as possible. That I should pray that as soon as we have our two or three children that he leaves me alone, and that I should get it done before I start to age so he wouldn’t lose interest in me.” Hongjoong clenched his fists tightly, nails digging into his palms to quench the anger he felt bubbling in his chest.

“I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t want to marry this man that was older than my parents and be doomed to a life full of lying on my back and praying that it would end soon. To what avail? To bring children into this world that I would be forced to turn around and do the same things to them as was done to me.” Seonghwa said, the tears overflowing as he sobbed into his hands. Hongjoong didn’t quite know what to do. He wanted to comfort him, but he knew that if he touched him it very well could go badly. He stood, calling for Wooyoung, who rushed to comfort Seonghwa like he had been waiting for his cue. He probably had been. The omega had nervously been lingering around the top of the stairs since Hongjoong went down.

“I’m sorry that happened to you, Seonghwa-ssi.” Hongjoong said, reaching out to offer him a handkerchief. Seonghwa took it gratefully.

“You are safe here, I promise.” Hongjoong said, Wooyoung nodded, cuddling the older closer to him and rocking him gently. Seonghwa nodded, watching as Hongjoong stood up to go.

“Captain?” Seonghwa called out, waiting until Hongjoong looked back at him. “Thank you, for the clothes.” Hongjoong smiled sadly at him.

“You’re very welcome, your highness.” He teased the prince. He could hear Seonghwa giggling as he made his way up the steps.

Hongjoong started taking meals to the omega held captive in the bowels of his ship more and more often. He actually enjoyed the man’s company, now that they had aired out their differences and found out they weren’t so different after all. They talked of their siblings, sharing stupid things they’d done as kids. Hongjoong even began to occasionally eat with Seonghwa. He felt connected to this blue blooded omega, more than he had to anyone else. It was like he’d been with him his whole life, instead of stealing him from his bed. He wasn’t just some royal brat, he was a whole person, with pain and joy and a million other feelings that Hongjoong wanted to learn all about.

“What do you miss the most about the palace?” Hongjoong asked, pushing his food around in the bowl as he watched Seonghwa eat with a practiced grace he only ever saw when Wooyoung was flirting with San. He laughed lightly.

“You mean other than the servants and never having to lift a finger for myself? The beds maybe?” Seonghwa joked and Hongjoong frowned, not laughing. Seonghwa pursed his lips and put his empty bowl down.“I miss my balcony. You could see all the stars in the sky, it seemed.” Hongjoong put his bowl down as well. He sighed and shifted slightly on his crate. Hongjoong looked at the eyes of the omega in front of him as they shifted to look at the wall, sadness echoing in them.

“I’m sure you’ll see the stars again.” Seonghwa nodded and Hongjoong picked up the key to lock the cuffs back around his wrists. He ignored the lump in his stomach and how his throat tightened having to do it.

“See you, Captain.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong nodded.

“Yeah, of course.”

Hongjoong tossed and turned in his bed that night, thinking about Seonghwa and how simple his request had really been. He didn’t say what Hongjoong thought he would, some sort of grandiose thing that was idiotic to even want in Hongjoong’s opinion. Seonghwa had said he missed the stars, having been kept below deck for weeks, not even allowed out of his cell, for fear he really didn’t want to escape his royal life. Hongjoong sighed, rubbing his eyes and crawling out of bed. He lit an oil lamp, letting the soft low light fill his quarters. He rummaged around, pulling on appropriate clothing and making his way towards the door. He grabbed his keys to Seonghwa’s cell before he went. Seonghwa was going to get his wish.

He crept down the stairs into the holding cells, cursing the way the steps squeaked even as he managed to not wake everyone. He unlocked the door to Seonghwa’s cell, gently shaking the omega awake. Seonghwa’s eyes fluttered open as Hongjoong admired how beautiful his face was in the orange light of the oil lamp. It took a few seconds for it to register who was looking at him before Seonghwa gasped and pulled his blanket closer.

“Captain!” He whispered, his eyes darting around looking for others. “Don’t you know what this looks like to anyone else?” Hongjoong scoffed and reached out for Seonghwa’s hands, which he refused to give to him shaking his head violently no. Of course he would decide to be stubborn when Hongjoong was doing something nice for him.

“Looks like what exactly? You’re on a pirate ship, your highness. The rules of society no longer apply.” Hongjoong said, watching as Seonghwa grappled with the ideas he’d just told him. “If you’re implying that it looks like we’re having sex in your cell, then my dear there’s two reasons that doesn’t matter.” Seonghwa’s head tilted to the side as he waited for Hongjoong to continue.

“First of all, it’s none of my crew’s business who I am fucking, and secondly, I would never treat you like that. We’d at least get to my quarters first darling, I’ve got a bed.” Hongjoong said, smiling wickedly as a bright pink blush flushed Seonghwa’s face. “Now, give me your hands. Trust me a little.” Seonghwa reluctantly gave them over, watching with rounded eyes as Hongjoong unlocked the chains. The captain stood, holding out his hand for Seonghwa. The prince, yet again, hesitated.

“Trust me.” Hongjoong said, his smile softening when Seonghwa took his hand. He pulled him to his feet, letting the taller lean on him for support as they made their way up onto the deck.

“Keep your eyes closed.” Hongjoong said, guiding Seonghwa up onto the quarterdeck, the place with the clearest view. He centred him on the deck, holding on to his elbow as Seonghwa waited to be told to open his eyes.

“OK, open them.” Hongjoong said, watching Seonghwa’s eyes fly open. The man in front of him gasped, his hand flying up to his mouth as he stared into the night sky. Hongjoong could’ve sworn he could see the night sky reflected in his eyes, he stars glittering in his irises.

“It’s beautiful, I’ve never seen this many stars.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong’s gaze softened, watching Seonghwa’s face fill with childish excitement. “They never let me out after dark on the ships. They said that I was a Prince and I didn’t have any need to be on deck with the others.” Hongjoong frowned at that comment, only snapping back to attention when Seonghwa pulled his sleeve to sit down with him.

“Sit with me, look at the stars?” Seonghwa asked, and Hongjoong had to oblige. He couldn’t say no when he’d asked so nicely. He felt Seonghwa lean against him, settling down against the wooden railings that surrounded the deck. It was nice to sit in silence and look up at the twinkling stars that surrounded them, peaceful even. Hongjoong felt his eyes grow heavy as he fought to stay awake, eventually losing the battle with Seonghwa’s head pillowed on his shoulder.

Hongjoong felt the sun on his face when his eyes fluttered open. It was warm, the air smelt like salt and the wood of the deck was rough under his fingers as consciousness greeted him. He groaned at the ache in his back and his hips. He knew he had fallen asleep on the deck, which was not ideal. Hongjoong went to move, noticing a weight on his lap. He looked down to see a head of black hair fanned over his lap. Seonghwa was asleep on his thigh, his face buried in his stomach. He shook Seonghwa gently.

“Wake up, come on Seonghwa-yah.” Hongjoong whispered, shaking him a little more roughly than before. He sighed in relief when Seonghwa stirred, rolling onto his back and stretching. It took him a few seconds before he registered what he was doing, the omega sitting bolt upright and practically flinging himself across the deck from Hongjoong. He crossed his arms over his chest, holding himself protectively.

“I-I’m sorry, Captain.” He said, looking down and Hongjoong felt panic rise in his chest. He knew that Seonghwa immediately thought he had done something wrong. He didn’t want the omega to think he was going to be punished.

“No, no darling you didn’t do anything wrong. Here, take my jacket, let’s get you back to your quarters and you can change.” Hongjoong said, pulling his jacket around Seonghwa’s shoulders, covering him up in the thin dressing gown he was wearing. He couldn’t help but think that the bright red colour of the fabric and gold embellishments looked amazing on him.

“Do you have to put the chains back on?” Seonghwa asked quietly. Hongjoong glanced down at Seonghwa’s wrists, rubbed red and scraped open in a few places. He shook his head no.

“I don’t think we’ll need to do that, you didn’t run when I fell asleep on you.” He laughed and Seonghwa giggled too.

When he was settled back in the cell, Hongjoong turned to leave him alone to change. Wooyoung would be along shortly with breakfast anyway. He almost made it to the stairs before Seonghwa called for him.

“Captain!” Seonghwa called and Hongjoong turned, pushing his head around the corner to Seonghwa’s cell.

“Yes?” He answered and Seonghwa beamed back at him, his smile was wide and full of teeth.

“Thank you.” Hongjoong felt his heart skip a beat. Heat bloomed in his chest as he stared at Seonghwa’s face, filled with joy, and remembered the way his eyes had sparkled in the reflections of the stars.

“You’re welcome.”

Wooyoung threw open the door to Hongjoong’s office with a flourish so distinct Hongjoong immediately knew who it was. Hongjoong glanced up, seeing Wooyoung standing there, exactly as he suspected, with his scarlet red jacket in his hands and a wildly excited look in his eyes.

“Yes Wooyoung-ah, what do you want?” Hongjoong asked and Wooyoung stepped closer, closing the door behind him and throwing Hongjoong’s jacket onto the desk, barely missing the still drying ink. “Wooyoung-ah, careful!” He leaned over, feeling wet ink seep into his shirt as he moved the jacket, it was expensive and the last thing he needed was it to get ruined. There goes another linen shirt.

“Oh you care about the jacket now? Didn’t seem too concerned when you left it with our prince.” He said, his tone accusatory and lilted into a teasing pitch as Hongjoong felt his face turn red. “He asked me to give it back to you. He was afraid you’d need it today, he doesn’t know you have a whole wardrobe full of clothes to choose from at this point.” Hongjoong’s mouth twisted into a slight frown at the dig at his clothing habit.

“You let Seonghwa out of his cell.” Wooyoung said, not even asking really more stating a fact. “He told me you went stargazing.” Hongjoong put his pen down and capped the ink he was using to devote his attention entirely to Wooyoung. The omega cook stood there expectantly.

“Yes, I did, and what does it have to do with you?” Hongjoong asked and Wooyoung scoffed. He folded his arms across his chest and tapped his foot.

“Oh nothing, Captain, just wondering if he was telling the truth.” Wooyung said, a coy smile on his face. “Are you still going to take him dinner?” Hongjoong swallowed and nodded, afraid his tone would give away how much he looked forward to eating with Seonghwa.

“Good, good.” Wooyoung said, his eyes flickering downwards at Hongjoong’s shirt. “Be sure to change that before you go on your date.” Hongjoong felt his face turn even more red as Wooyoung ran out the door.

“Wooyoung-ah!” He yelled after him, his tone angry as the omega laughed loud enough he could still hear him as he sprinted away. “That little shit I should make him scrub the deck.” Hongjoong would not follow through on that threat. He couldn’t really, Wooyoung was a little bit right, even if he was an asshole about it. He turned and picked up the jacket, bringing it up to his face. It smelt like lilacs.

Seonghwa was smiling when Hongjoong came down to see him, bringing him his food and carrying his own as well. Hongjoong opened the cell door and stood outside it for a second. His throat felt like it was closing as he mustered up the courage to ask what he wanted to, what he had been thinking about since their stargazing.

“Seonghwa-ssi, do you think you’d like to maybe eat on the deck with me, stretch your legs a bit?” He asked and Seongwa nodded quickly, standing so fast he almost fell over.

“Yes, I’d really like that.” Seonghwa said. “And please, don’t be so formal. I want to be normal here.” Hongjoong took a deep breath in, and held out Seonghwa’s bowl to him.

“Seonghwa-yah, be sure to bring your jacket.” Hongjoong said, stamping down the way his heart leapt into his throat when Seonghwa beamed at him. He turned quickly and smiled to himself at the quick footsteps following him up the stairs.

Hongjoong set them up on the quarterdeck. The sea was peaceful, allowing them to be mostly undisturbed as they ate. Seonghwa tilted his face towards the sun, closing his eyes and letting himself bask in the light. Hongjoong watched as a soft smile spread across his face.

“I’m sorry.” Hongjoong said, making Seonghwa crack an eye open to look at him. “For locking you down there for so long.” Seonghwa sighed, leaning further back on his hands.

“I would’ve done the same thing if I were you.” Seonghwa said, closing his eyes again and soaking up the sun. “How could you know you could trust me? I was royalty afterall, a traitorous bunch.” He chuckled at his own joke. Hongjoong huffed out a laugh as well.

“I think I found a good one.” He said and Seonghwa smiled a little wider. Hongjoong ignored how that made his heart flutter. Seonghwa looked up at the mast of the ship, frowning slightly.

“Those knots, they won’t do.” Seonghwa said, looking at Hongjoong. “May I?” Hongjoong nodded, staring with his mouth slightly open as Seonghwa got to his feet and climbed his way up the pole of the mizzenmast. He clenched his thighs around the pole and began to tie the ropes of the mast tighter than they had been. He did it so quickly, Hongjoong felt like he blinked and Seonghwa was on his way back down.

“There, that should be better. Do you want me to check the others?” He asked and Hongjoong’s mouth shut with a click.

“Uh, yeah sure if you want to.” He said, barely getting it out before Seonghwa was bolting towards another pole and climbing his way up it. Hongjoong took the opportunity the second time to watch as Seonghwa seemed to take to the ship with ease, how easy it was for him to scale up the masts of the ship, perch himself there and fix whatever he was seeing. Hongjoong deftly pushed down the thoughts of how good the omega’s ass looked and how he wouldn’t mind those long, willowy legs wrapped around him instead of that pole. It had been a long time since Hongjoong had had anyone, even for the night, and he was just craving some contact, he could satisfy his urges at the next port. Seonghwa’s feet hit the ground and he ran for the third mast, Hongjoong hot on his heels.

As it turns out, Seonghwa was as good as he said he was at being on a ship. He re-tied all the knots to his liking and even helped the crew mop the deck later that evening. The more Hongjoong let him do, the more he realized that Seonghwa was competent and it felt more and more wrong sending him to sleep in a cell. Hongjoong stewed over this, not sleeping in his bed, San noticed.

“Captain, I think we should let Seonghwa join the crew.” San said, jolting Hongjoong out of his stupor staring at his maps. He only half heard him, mostly scared by the sudden noise making his heart pound in his ears.

“San-ah, Mother of God won’t you warn a man?” Hongjoong asked and San grumbled an apology. “What did you say?” San huffed out his nose.

“I said, we should let Seonghwa join the crew.” San said, stepping into Hongjoong’s office. “He’s been really helpful since we all started letting him out during the day. It doesn’t seem fair to keep locking him up down there. He does seem to want to be one of us.” Hongjoong nodded and sat back in his chair. He gestured for San to sit down. The other alpha did, taking off his jacket and hanging it over the back of the chair.

“I have to admit, San-ah, I’ve been thinking the same thing. I just have one issue.” Hongjoong said, leaning forward. “I might be overreacting, I just keep thinking about how he’s an omega and most of the crew aren’t. It’s not that I think that any omega, Seonghwa included, needs an alpha to protect him, but I can’t help but wonder how well that would go considering he’s supposed to be a prisoner. A lot of them have some sort of problem with the crown.” San hummed and tilted his head to the one side.

“Well you could always put him in with me and Wooyoung. Wooyoung wouldn’t mind!” San offered and Hongjoong chuckled, looking up at San and shaking his head.

“I’m sure he won’t, but Seonghwa very well might considering you two have fucked in every dark corner of this ship. I should know I’ve caught you with your pants around your ankles enough times.” Hongjoong said. “Besides, you’ve hardly consulted your mate about the matter, I’m sure.” San pursed his lips together, looking down at the floor and shrugging.

“The only other room you could put him in is yours, Captain.” San said and Hongjoong raised his eyebrows.

“Maybe that’s not a bad idea.” He said and San blinked at him.

“Hyung, Captain, you cannot be serious.” San stopped talking when Hongjoong shot him a look. “Captain, you can’t give him your room. The crew will talk and it won’t be exactly favourable.”

“I don’t give a shit what the crew thinks. They have no business telling me what to do on my ship. I can’t let him sleep in with the rest of them, they’re as likely to torture him for his family name.” Hongjoong said anger seeping into his tone, smiling slightly and running his tongue over his teeth. “They’re welcome to leave if they don’t like my decisions.”

“Seonghwa is a big boy who can handle himself.” San said and Hongjoong continued to stare at San, his mouth twitching up into a slight sneer.

“About as well as Wooyoung did?” Hongjoong asked, watching at San’s mouth snapped shut at the mention of Wooyoung’s blundering introduction to their crew. He’d been born into an upper class family, to a father who sought to use him similarly to how Seonghwa was. He was not royal, but to the crew he might as well have been the Queen herself. San was well aware of the ridicule Wooyoung put up with until he’d earned his own keep. Nothing even Hongjoong said could stop them from their comments and jabs at his ‘delicate blood’.

“So it’s settled, Seonghwa will sleep in my room, until he earns his keep at least.” Hongjoong said, clearing his throat and nodding expectantly at San. San swallowed and nodded quickly.

“Aye, Captain.” He said, still looking at the floor. Hongjoong dropped his gaze, releasing San. He stood and walked towards the door. He turned on his heel, his eyebrows raised as an idea flashed across his eyes.

“We’re about to pull into Port, Captain, you should take our newest crewmate for a stroll about.” San said, smiling devilishly and then quickly disappearing from view. Hongjoong pretended that he didn’t feel the way his heart quickened at the thought.

Hongjoong trailed after Seonghwa as the older man made his way through the merchant stalls. He was so excited, eyes wide with delight as he paused to look at the baubles and bracelets that were laid out on the table. Hongjoong came up behind him, his hands shoved in his pockets.

“Do you like these sorts of things?” He asked, his voice barely discernible above the hum of the crowd. Seonghwa turned to him, a smile spread across his face. He stroked his fingers over the silver and gold lockets gently.

“I’ve always loved jewelry, pretty things.” Seonghwa said, his smile fading slightly as the light dulled in his eyes. “My Mother was not keen on these things. She said that adorned omegas were frivolous and vain. I wasn’t even allowed to wear lace or silk after I presented.” Seonghwa hummed, pulling his fingers back from the stall and giving Hongjoong a sad smile. He wandered to the next stall and the woman standing behind the table gave him a knowing look. Hongjoong gave her a curt nod before he hurried after Seonghwa, the omega had already ducked into a shop and disappeared from view.

Hongjoong found him staring at a sapphire necklace, a chain filled with diamonds, large square cut sapphires encircled with diamonds as well. The diamond encrusted chains dripped down the display’s neck like droplets of water, looping up between the sapphires. Hongjoong watched as Seonghwa’s eyes widened and then dimmed themselves, swallowing as he straightened up. Hongjoong could see the internal battle behind his eyes. It was clear to him that Seonghwa liked the necklace, as over the top as it was, but someone’s voice was holding him back from openly gushing. Hongjoong was sure of who that voice belonged to.

“Do you like that one?” Hongjoong asked, startling Seonghwa out of his reverie. The omega startled, placing a hand over his chest and huffing out a laugh. He shook his head, stealing one glance back at the necklace before looking back at Hongjoong.

“It’s a bit much for a deckhand.” He said quietly, swiftly walking across the store to where they kept the pocket watches. Hongjoong waited until Seonghwa was sufficiently far away before he approached the shop owner. He dropped a small bag of coins on the counter, brushing back his jacket to reveal the gun on his hip before he gestured to the necklace Seonghwa had been looking at earlier.

“I want that one, please, and make it snappy.” Hongjoong said, smirking when the shopkeeper jumped into action. He seemed to realize he was in no place to really argue with the pirate across from him. Hongjoong took the carefully wrapped package from him and nodded. The shopkeeper glanced behind him at Seonghwa, smiling faintly. The omega hadn’t even noticed Hongjoong’s departure from his side, absorbed in some lockets across the way.

“He’s lucky.” The shopkeeper whispered. “You seem very dedicated to his happiness.” Hongjoong let those words hang in the air as Seonghwa came back towards him. Hongjoong stuffed the necklace into his jacket, shooting the shopkeeper a glare when he chuckled, shutting him up instantly. Seonghwa pulled him out the door by his jacket sleeve. He could hear the shopkeeper laughing as he did.

“You bought the necklace?” San asked, as Hongjoong carefully placed it back in its packaging and tucked it into his desk. Hongjoong huffed, avoiding eye contact with him or Mingi, the other crew in the room. His two sailors exchanged looks between the two of them at the silence from their captain.

“Seonghwa wanted it.” Hongjoong said, wincing at how feeble that explanation was. San raised an eyebrow.

“But you bought it?” Mingi asked, shifting from foot to foot. “Why wouldn’t you just steal it? And if Seonghwa wants it, why are you hiding it in your desk?” Hongjoong slammed the drawer shut and looked up at Mingi, who jumped backwards.

“Don’t you two idiots have anything better to do than question me? I can find you something to do if you need something.” Hongjoong said and Mingi shook his head no, moving to leave the room while San stood his ground. The alpha crossed his arms over his chest, staring Hongjoong down with the same intensity that Hongjoong was staring him down.

“Captain, this is very strange behaviour for you. You don’t usually care too much about what the crew wants on this ship, in terms of material goods anyway.” San said, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Do you have feelings for our little prince?” Hongjoong felt his blood run cold. He looked down and San’s smile dropped completely off his face.

“You do have feelings for him!” San said and Hongjoong slammed his fist into the desk. San stepped back, his face twisting slightly into fear.

“Get out.” Hongjoong said, his tone dark and angry. “Now!” San scrambled to remove himself from the room, preceded by Mingi who was gone the moment Hongjoong’s tone had shifted. He looked at the drawer he had stashed the necklace in and huffed out his nose. He collapsed backwards into his chair, pushing his forehead against the palms of his hands as he propped his elbows up on his desk.

“There’s something wrong with me.” He groaned, running his fingers through his hair and pulling them through the long ends at the back of his neck. “What’s wrong with me?” He wondered to no one in particular, the itching voice in the back of his head already knew what the answer was, even if Hongjoong was too scared to say it out loud. He couldn’t, he just couldn’t.

“Captain, I couldn’t.” Seonghwa said, frozen in place in front of the door to Hongjoong’s quarters. He had a hand braced on the side of the door frame, as if he was trying to keep himself out by force and someone was sucking him in. Hongjoong laughed and tried to gently pry his hand off the doorframe, finding no success in doing so.
‘
“Seonghwa-yah, come on.” Hongjoong clicked his tongue. “I’m giving it to you of my own free will. You can’t sleep with the crew.” Seonghwa stiffened at the comment and his shoulders tensed up, rising slightly as his head snapped towards Hongjoong.

“Why? Am I too weak as an omega? Are you afraid for my safety?” He asked, mocking sarcasm dripping off his words like venom from a snake’s fangs. Hongjoong rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

“No, this has nothing to do with you being an omega and everything to do with you being a prince.” Hongjoong responded, which made the tension in Seonghwa’s shoulder’s drop, but his eyes were still angry. “I don’t know how much Wooyoung has told you about what it was like for him when he came here, but they weren’t nice to him, and he was just a member of the nobility. No one could stop them, not even I, until he earned his place here. You’re a member of the actual family they hate and I don’t want them to torture you.” Seonghwa’s eyes dropped to the floor. He swallowed and looked up again, his eyes wide and round. They looked a little sad, apprehensive.

“What about you? Where are you going to sleep?” Seonghwa twisting his hands together. Hongjoong smiled at him.

“I’ve got somewhere set up in my office, don’t worry about me. I was a farmer’s son once, I can sleep anywhere.” Seonghwa laughed. He stepped gingerly into the room, looking around and huffing out his nose.

“People will talk even if you sleep in your office.” Seonghwa sucked his bottom lip between his teeth, and Hongjoong clicked his tongue again. He didn’t like how Seonghwa’s brain still drifted towards what his royal family expected from him, in spite of how often he expressed that he did not think that way himself.

“What have I told you about that?” He asked and Seonghwa pursed his lips. He ran his fingers across the linen sheets and thick duvet covering the bed, his eyes drifting towards the chairs, upholstered in plush red fabric, and made of finely carved wood.

“I know, none of their business and a pirate ship.” Seonghwa replied. They sat in silence for a few moments before Seonghwa turned to him. He took a deep breath in, a gentle smile coming back to his face.

“Thank you.” He said simply, making the Captain across from him feel his heart rate pick up.

“You’re welcome.”

Seonghwa could often be found in the mornings on the deck. He seemed to like letting the first rays of sun of the day hit his face. That’s where Hongjoong found him after suddenly realizing how much he didn’t know about Seonghwa’s experiences outside of being a prince. He approached him quickly, blind to how he was about to come across to the poor omega with his eyes completely closed.

“Seonghwa-yah, do you know how to fight at all?” Hongjoong asked, scaring Seonghwa out of his trance watching the horizon. He jumped slightly, looking back at Hongjoong and huffing out a laugh.

“What? I was the second in line for the throne and completely military trained, of course I know how to fight. Why? Do you want a demonstration?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong smiled, stepping closer. They were inches apart, Hongjoong resisting the urge to grab Seonghwa’s waist and feeling the crew’s eyes on them both. He stared at the other’s lips for a brief few seconds before his gaze found his eyes again.

“Yes, I do, actually.” Hongjoong laughed as he felt Seonghwa reaching for his own sword. “Ah, ah, darling. We’ll get you a sword. That one is mine.” He gestured for someone to bring Seonghwa a sword, prying the omega’s fingers off the hilt of his own. The omega let their fingers link together for a few moments too long for it to be an accident.

“Actually, I need two.” A teasing lilt to his voice as he smiled widely with all his teeth when Hongjoong’s mouth dropped open. “And by the way, do you want your gun back?” Seonghwa lifted up Hongjoong’s pistol, clearly his by the markings engraved on the handle. Hongjoong’s hand flew to his hip where he felt the empty holster. He laughed and reached out, easily taking the gun back from Seonghwa’s one finger he had it swinging on.

“You are full of surprises aren’t you.” Hongjoong tucked his gun back into the holster.

“More than you know, Captain.”

Hongjoong watched in awe at how Seonghwa handled the two swords placed in his hands, twirling expertly around each other as he blocked every attack San threw his way. An expert swordsman in his own right, Hongjoong has never seen San get bested by any of the crew, including himself. That was, until Seonghwa caught his sword exactly right and sent it clattering across the deck. Hongjoong heard Wooyoung gasp when Seonghwa pressed his swords against San’s neck. There was a fire in his eyes that Hongjoong couldn’t place, but he liked it. Seonghwa backed off rather quickly, letting San gather himself.

“Well, did I pass?” Seonghwa asked and San nodded from behind him, even though all Seonghwa’s attention was focused on Hongjoong.

“I would say so. When did you learn to dual wield like that? That cannot be standard military training.” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa shook his head.

“It’s not, but when I was still at the palace they let me learn whatever I wanted right up until my first heat hit, so I wanted to learn this.” Seonghwa explained. “Turns out, I’ve got a knack for it.” Hongjoong let out a low whistle.

“I’d say you sure do.”

Hongjoong stepped off the ship at the next port and made a beeline for the first place he knew he had to go. He walked past the crew and the market, straight to the swordsmiths shop. He even ignored Seonghwa, not that the omega noticed. He was giggling with Wooyoung, picking out the food for the crew until they got to the next port. Hongjoong pushed open the door and made eye contact with the sword maker. He smiled widely.

“Hongjoong-ssi, nice to see you again.” He said, leaning on the counter. Hongjoong nodded, looking around the shop.

“Are you looking for something specific?” The swordsmith asked, his head tilting to the side curiously as he waited for Hongjoong’s answer. Hongjoong sighed and turned to him again.

“I know it’s a long shot, but do you happen to have two identical swords, for dual wielding specifically, we got a new crew member.” Hongjoong explained and the swordsmith raised his eyebrows.

“A new crew member, who can fight with two swords? Impressive.” He mused, looking up at the ceiling like he was thinking. “You’re looking to purchase him swords?” Hongjoong nodded and the swordsmith huffed out a laugh. Hongjoong scowled, walking closer.

“Why do you laugh?” He asked, his tone short and a little angry, not that the swordsmith moved. The older man smiled wisely at him and didn’t even flinch at his tone.

“Hongjoong-ssi, you smell like an omega and you’re in here trying to buy someone swords. I can put a puzzle together perfectly fine.” He chuckled again when he watched Hongjoong’s face turn red. “Telling him the truth would be cheaper for you, but I think I have just the thing you’re looking for.” He disappeared into the back as Hongjoong stared up out the window, wondering what the fuck he was doing.

The swordsmith came out with a case held in his hands, made of soft leather. As he placed the case down on the table, Hongjoong could hear the metal within the folds of the leather, clanking against both each other and the wood of the table. He untied the long pieces of twine that held the fabric together and unfurled it to reveal two identical swords. The blade gleamed back at him in a perfect silver shine, the handles were gold and black, swirled up towards the hilt. Hongjoong marveled at them for a few seconds before he looked back up at the swordsmith.

“They’re perfect aren’t they? Do you think your friend will like them?” He asked and Hongjoong swallowed, nodding quickly. The swordsmith gave him a knowing smile, like he could tell what Hongjoong was going to say before he said it.

“He’ll love them, I’ll take them.”

Hongjoong kept the swords hidden for three days until they were too far out to sea for Seonghwa to demand he turn himself around and bring them right back. He waited, until all the crew were below deck, or at least most of them. The night crew were fewer, more spread out and less likely to say anything about Hongjoong walking around with the newest member of their crew and giving him gifts. He wasn’t sure it was worth much, most of them had probably already guessed what was going on between them, even if Hongjoong wasn’t entirely sure himself some days.

“Seonghwa-yah.” Hongjoong knocked on his own bedroom door. Seonghwa turned quickly, smiling when he spotted the captain in the doorway. His face shifted to a look of bewilderment when he saw the package Hongjoong carried.

“What are those?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong chuckled.

“What? No hello?” Hongjoong joked, giggling when he saw the exasperated look on the omega’s face.

“Hello Hongjoong-ah, what are those?” He asked and Hongjoong held them out to him. Seonghwa hesitated to take the leather into his hands, fingers twitching back like he was putting his hand over an open flame, afraid it would burn him.

“Why don’t you open them and find out?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa gingerly took the leather wrappings from Hongjoong. He placed them down on the bed and slowly unravelled the fabric, his eyes getting wider as he did. Seonghwa gasped when he saw the finished product lying on the bed.

“Hongjoong-ah, you didn’t.” Seonghwa said, tears gathering in his eyes as he looked at the swords lying in the blankets. “I can’t take these.” He patted his eyes, fanning his face. Hongjoong found himself rather amused at Seonghwa’s futile attempts to keep himself from crying.

“I’m not crying, before you say anything.”

“Of course not.” Hongjoong smiled gently at him. “But it’s far too late to take them back, so I guess you’ll have to take them, and use them. Captain’s orders.” Hongjoong wasn’t expecting the way Seonghwa launched himself at him, hugging Hongjoong tightly to him and hooking his chin over his shoulder. Seonghwa almost knocked him clean over with it. Hongjoong wasn’t entirely sure how Seonghwa was tucking himself into Hongjoong’s arms considering their height difference, but he didn’t want to question it. The hug felt nice, Hongjoong hugged him back.

“Thank you.” Seonghwa whispered and Hongjoong squeezed him a little harder.

“You’re welcome.” Hongjoong waited for Seonghwa to pull back, wiping the tears that had rolled down his cheeks with his thumb. “Make good use of them.” Seonghwa sniffed, nodding quickly.

“I will, I promise.”

Hongjoong laid in his office, staring at the ceiling as sleep did not come to him. It was not unusual for him to not be able to sleep, chronic insomnia had chased him ever since the fire. At first it was just because his dreams were filled with flames, but years later it was mostly because there was always so much to think about on a ship where you made every little decision. Eventually Hongjoong got up, wrapping himself in a dressing gown and wandering down onto the deck. He was surprised when he saw Yeosang sitting there. He was perched on a barrel, staring up at the moon. He looked so peaceful, pale face bathed in moonlight.

“Yeosang-ah, what are you doing up so late?” Hongjoong asked, reaching out to steady him when Yeosang jumped slightly at the sound of his voice. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” Yeosang laughed and tucked himself back into his position, sitting facing the moon.

“It’s alright. I’m up because I sleep next to the kitchen, Wooyoung and San. Their nightly activities can get rather, well, rambunctious.” Yeosang said, his tone dry as Hongjoong hummed his understanding. The omega beside him sighed and titled his head up slightly. He closed his eyes and let his shoulders droop.

“Captain, do you ever think about what it would be like to have a mate?” Yeosang asked, his face turning slowly towards Hongjoong. “I do, a lot. I want what Wooyoung has, not San obviously, but just the relationship.” Hongjoong looked back to his omega crew member, seeing the sorrow reflected in his eyes, and wondering if he’d done the right thing letting the scrawny boy years ago come aboard his ship and dooming him to this. It wasn’t easy to live on a ship, and it especially wasn’t easy if you dreamt of a traditional family life in any capacity.

“Yes, Yeosang-ah, I think about what it would be like to have a mate a lot. I think about settling down, going back to farming, and having a family.” Hongjoong said, letting more of his thoughts out than he’d meant to out of tiredness. “But, I chose this life and I knew what I was signing up for. If you wanted to leave though Yeosang-” The other cut him off rather quickly.

“No! No, Captain, I wasn’t saying that. I like it here, I’m just, well.” He trailed off, looking back up at the moon. Hongjoong understood what that meant, his heart yearned for connection just as much as Yeosang’s did. He gave the younger’s shoulder a pat.

“I’m sure one day some lucky alpha will board this ship that’s right for you, if that’s what you want.” Hongjoong said, and Yeosang nodded his confirmation. Hongjoong nodded, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth for a few seconds wondering if he really had just gotten his hopes up for nothing.

“Thanks, Captain.” He said, letting the waves be their background noise for a few moments. “Captain, I’ve heard about you letting Seonghwa sleep in your room. If I’m not too bold, are you interested in him?” Yeosang waited as Hongjoong closed his eyes, sighing loudly.

“You are too bold, Yeosang-ah.” He said simply and the other bowed his head. “But I don’t know, to tell you the truth. We are not together in any capacity, I’m not sleeping in the same bed as him if that’s what the crew wants to know.”

“The crew wants their captain to be happy.” Yeosang said, turning back to face the moon again. He closed his eyes and smiled slightly. Hongjoong watched for a few moments before the younger hopped off the barrel he was sitting on.

“They should be asleep by now, sweet dreams Captain. I hope you decide what you want.” He said, quickly disappearing below deck. Leaving Hongjoong with his thoughts and the moon.

They continued on like that for weeks, Seonghwa working on the ship and Hongjoong letting him sleep in his bed while he slept in his office. Sleep was a word used loosely, because Hongjoong often ended up awake and working more than he was sleeping. Maybe if he’d been sleeping more he would’ve noticed the ship trailing them just far enough to not immediately be noticed. He could blame it on the lack of sleep, or the newest entertainment the whole crew had been watching like a play, his own slow moving romance with Seonghwa. The push and pull of knowing he shouldn’t while hoping he could, he didn’t notice what was wrong until it was too late.

Hongjoong sat bolt upright when the heavy wooden door of his office hit the wall with a thud. He saw Yunho, gasping for air and barely dressed.

“Captain, we’re under attack.” He said, and that was when Hongjoong’s ears focused in on the litany of sounds coming from the deck. Swords hitting each other, boots running across the deck and yelling.

“Wooyoung, Seonghwa?” Yunho shook his head. Hongjoong pulled on his boots, grabbing his weaponry. Yunho wrung his hands, his eyes were full of worry.

“They haven’t touched any of the crew beyond defending themselves. They keep asking for the Captain.” Yunho said and Hongjoong gritted his teeth. ”They wouldn’t talk to San or me or anyone else. They said they wanted to talk only to the Captain.” They didn’t sound like a normal pirate crew, which was worse in Hongjoong’s opinion. Pirates he understood, he could barter with them, shoot them if he needed to, but they seemed too disciplined, civilized. They seemed like the worst option he could think of, the royal navy.

Hongjoong’s boots hit the deck with a heavy thud. He looked up at a group of about seven men, their swords extended and pistols hung haphazardly in their belts. They may have been navy trained, but they certainly didn’t look it. Dressed in plain clothing and not a single official emblem in sight. Hongjoong scanned the deck, feeling relief flood him that both their formerly upper class crew had kept themselves out of sight. Hongjoong wasn’t sure what they wanted, and there was still at least a bounty on Wooyoung’s head and he was sure there was one on Seonghwa too.

“What do you want?” Hongjoong asked and the one man turned to him, clearly the leader. He smirked, sheathing his sword and turning to Hongjoong.

“Pleasure to meet you finally, Captain.” He extended his hand and awkwardly stood there while Hongjoong decidedly didn’t shake his hand. “I see there’s no gentlemanly honour here.” Hongjoong scoffed, hearing someone load their pistol behind him.

“I’m a pirate, this is a pirate ship. What did you expect?” He asked, waiting until the hand offered to him slowly lowered back down to his side. “Now, what do you want?” The leader cleared his throat and stood up taller, trying to look intimidating. It wasn’t working.

“We know you have the prince, and we’re here to take him back. You can give him up willingly, or you can die trying to keep him.” The man said and Hongjoong laughed, running his tongue over his teeth.

“What prince? Even if I did have him, why would I give him over to you and your seven men? We outnumber you.” Hongjoong watched the rest of his crew creep closer, hands on their weapons. He could see the others behind their ring leader looking nervously back and forth. The ring leader shrugged, pulling out his pistol and pressing it against Hongjoong’s forehead. The rest of the crew jumped, only stopping because Hongjoong held up his hand.

“What about to save your own skin?” He asked, smiling deviously and cocking the gun. “Would you give up that whore to save yourself? He can’t be that good in bed. As far as we know, he was untouched.” Hongjoong's brain squealed to a stop, a few things clicking into place as he realized who they were, who they had to be. These had to be people who made Seonghwa’s life so miserable in the navy. He took a moment to ponder why they called him a whore if he was ‘untouched’, but there wasn’t any time for that kind of introspection.

“If he was here, he would not be whored out. I don’t know how the Queen’s Navy does things, but around here we have a bit more moral fibre.” Hongjoong smiled slightly. “We treat our crewmates with respect.”

“I don’t think the words ‘pirate’ and ‘moral’ go together if you ask me.” The man laughed in unison with his crew. Hongjoong sneered. He had always hated their type, the ones so sure of their moral high ground that they so quickly dismissed the idea that someone different from them could be right.

“Certainly go together more than you’d think it seems.” Hongjoong said, letting his eyes flicker up and down before he felt the barrel of the gun press further into his forehead. He felt his heart jump into his throat, closing his eyes for a second before he opened them, hoping that the anger he felt was being conveyed through his gaze.

“Enough, what’s it gonna be? Are you going to give up that harlot or are you going to die protecting him?” He asked, cocking the gun. Anger boiled in Hongjoong’s chest, but he never got the chance to voice more. A hooded figure, moving quickly forward, swords gleaming in his hands. Hongjoong recognized the gold and black handles before he recognized the face, sharp nose and eyes, filled with vitriolic anger as his mouth twisted into a sneer. Hongjoong felt his chest tighten as his heart rate picked up, Seonghwa. His breath caught in his throat He felt something wet splatter across his face, looking down to see the gun that was against his forehead lying on the deck, along with the hand that was holding it. The man in front of him screamed in pain, holding his bloodied stump close to him and shaking uncontrollably. The men behind him started to scatter, the hooded figure picking them off one by one. One of his swords catching each one by their throats, splattering crimson across the deck and himself. Each man fell to their knees, clutching at their throats as they choked on their last breaths. The ring leader crawled haphazardly towards the edge of the deck, using his still attached hand and his elbow and gasping in pain. Hongjoong was far too busy watching the prince pick off his prey to notice that he had been slowly trying to get away.

“No you don’t.” Seonghwa hissed between his clenched teeth, driving his sword through his still attached hand and pinning him to the deck. The man let out a scream of pain, looking up at his attacker’s face, his mouth dropping open as he recognized who had maimed him. Seonghwa’s hood fell back as he dug his heel into his back, gripping his swords tightly.

“Hello Joowon, your fucking prick. It wasn’t enough to harass me when I was your prince, now you have to come here too?” Seonghwa asked, leaning over and yanking his head back by his hair. He gritted his teeth, pressing his unoccupied sword against the delicate skin of his throat before scoffing and letting his head drop. Hongjoong felt his heart rate quicken, his breathing getting laboured as he stared into the face of the omega he’d been slowly falling for more and more. He watched him kill for him, and felt himself falling even harder. Seonghwa pulled his sword out of the offending alpha’s hand, not phased in the slightest by his pained noises.

“A death that quick is too good for you.” Seonghwa sneered, grabbing him by his shirt collar and lifting him off the ground, hauling him over the side of the ship. “I hope it hurts.” He let go, letting the man drop over the side of the ship. He turned back to Hongjoong, the fire slowly fading from his eyes as he looked down at his hands, thoroughly soaked with blood. His hands started to shake. Hongjoong watched the omega’s face go through stages of grief, shifting from numb disbelief to horror. He zeroed in on only Seonghwa, forgetting anyone else in the crew was even there.

“Captain, I’m so sorry. They were here for me, and they threatened you.” Seonghwa’s entire demeanour changed, melting back into the man Hongjoong had come to know, and Hongjoong took a step closer, decidedly stepping over the severed hand by his feet.

“I know.” Hongjoong replied, tentatively reaching out. Seonghwa dropped his swords with a clatter, clapping a hand over his mouth and then raking it through his hair. In spite of the clear thoughts churning in his head, Seonghwa was much more together than Hongjoong expected him to be. His eyes were dry, which was better than he could say for himself the first time he had killed a man.

“I’m a murderer, I just saw red the minute he pressed the pistol against your head.” Seonghwa said, his eyes wide as he looked at the bodies around him. “Oh God, Captain I’m so sorry-” Hongjoong cut him off, grabbing him by the collar and kissing him. It was messy, two different men’s blood smeared across their faces, but neither one of them cared. Seonghwa melted into the kiss, his inexperience showing in how he hesitated to follow Hongjoong’s lead, soon letting the alpha guide him with his own movements. When Hongjoong pulled back, he saw Seonghwa wide eyed staring at him. There was a moment of silence, where Hongjoong feared he had made the wrong split second decision, before Seonghwa spoke.

“Can we do that again?” He asked and Hongjoong laughed, pulling him in for another kiss. The crew snickered around them, slowly shuffling off to go back to bed. When the captain pulled back from the prince again he saw a smile and felt hands cup his face.

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong laughed.

“I was afraid you didn’t feel the same.” Hongjoong said. “Sorry it took you killing for me.” Seonghwa let out a shaky breath, still clearly processing what he now knew he was capable of as he looked around at the carnage at his feet.

“I guess it’s alright, make it up to me?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong nodded, rubbing their noses together.

“I’ll do my best.”

Hongjoong found Seonghwa in the bath, staring into the distance with his eyes glazed over. He had gone to check on the crew to be sure everyone was alright after the incident that had just happened on their deck. He had left Seonghwa for last, wanting to give him a minute to digest what had happened to him before he was looking over his shoulder. He watched as the older scrubbed his hands repeatedly, like he was trying to get all the blood off, even though there was none left. The skin on his arms and hands had been rubbed red by his actions as he stared blankly forward.

“Seonghwa-yah, are you alright?” He asked and Seonghwa’s head snapped towards him. He nodded and sniffed, pulling his knees up to his chest. The water sloshed in the tub as he did, masking Hongjoong’s footsteps as he stepped closer.

“I feel like I can’t get myself clean.” He said quietly, looking down at his hands and sighing. “Like it’s all still there, just under my fingernails.” Hongjoong hummed understandingly. He pulled up a stool beside the tub, far enough away to protect Seonghwa’s modesty if he wanted to.

“May I?” He asked, before he sat and Seonghwa nodded. “I felt similar when I killed a man for the first time. Seonghwa-yah, you saved my life.” Seonghwa’s nose scrunched up.

“They were here because of me.” Seonghwa looked down at his hands again, Hongjoong huffed. “You wouldn’t have needed saving if I’d just stayed where I was supposed to and married that old creep. Laid there like my father told me to until I had his heirs.” Hongjoong pursed his lips. He didn’t like the thought of Seonghwa alone, wasting away in the desolate walls at the beck and call of that stupid man who hadn’t even left him properly guarded. He pushed down how much it bothered him to even consider that option because it wasn’t about him. It was about the man in the tub in front of him, having damn near scrubbed his skin raw in some shakespearean level effort to get the blood that was long gone off of him.

“Don’t say that, you would’ve been miserable, and having my life threatened a little is well worth having you around.” Hongjoong said, mostly without thinking, but reaching for the soap. “Let me help you, I’ll wash your hair.” Seonghwa nodded, leaning into Hongjoong’s touch on his scalp as he massaged the soap into his head. Hongjoong took a deep breath in and stared for a few moments at the peaceful face tilted back towards him.

“Anyway, you did the right thing, defending me and the crew. They’ll love you even more than they already do.” Hongjoong gently poured water over his head so as to not get any soap in his eyes. “You’ve officially won them over I think.” Seonghwa opened his eyes and peered at him. He sat up slightly and Hongjoong tried desperately not to focus on the way Seonghwa looked with water dripping down his face and chest.

“Does that mean you’ll be taking your room back, Captain?” He asked and Hongjoong pretended to think, smiling slightly.

“I think so, but I don’t see any reason why you have to leave it. We did kiss in front of the whole crew.” Seonghwa laughed. He leaned forward, gripping the edge of the tub with both his hands and pressed a chaste kiss against the captain’s lips, giggling against them when Hongjoong leaned in for another. Seonghwa gave in, letting Hongjoong into his space, smiling uncontrollably when Hongjoong pressed their noses together.

“That’s enough of that or we’ll never get to sleep.” Hongjoong whispered, a teasing lilt entering his tone. “You’re already trying to seduce me and we’ve barely admitted feelings.” Seonghwa pulled back and wrapped his arms around himself. He huffed in mock annoyance.

“I’m only teasing, jagiya-” Hongjoong started, getting cut off by lukewarm water being splashed directly on his face. He wiped at his eyes and pushed his hair back off his face, smiling while Seonghwa scowled at him.

“You dog, turn around so I can get my night clothes on.” Hongjoong bit back the remark sizzling at the tip of his tongue about how he had been bathing naked with him to begin with.

Seonghwa climbed into the captain’s bed first, settling under the blankets and staring as Hongjoong seemed to stall every chance he could. He checked the candles a few times, the door more than a few times. He pushed his clothes further to the side, laughing slightly at the difference between his crumpled pile of clothes and how Seonghwa’s were neatly folded beside him.

“Captain, come on.” Seonghwa sighed when Hongjoong continued to fiddle. “Joong-ah, come on.” Hongjoong’s head snapped up and he smiled widely. He made a beeline for the other side of the bed, climbing in beside Seonghwa. He hesitated to touch him before Seonghwa was physically pulling him closer, wrapping his arm around himself and pushing himself back against Hongjoong’s chest.

“This is bold of you, they’ll talk.” Hongjoong remarked and Seonghwa smirked, Hongjoong could smell the way his lavender scent sweetened slightly in contentment.

“Talk of what? We’re pirates, the rules of society no longer apply.” Seonghwa said, parroting Hongjoong’s own words back at him. Hongjoong snorted out a laugh.

“A wise man must have told you that.” Seonghwa hummed, letting his eyes drift closed. Hongjoong felt his eyes drift shut as well, Seonghwa a comforting, warm weight on his chest.

“He was easy on the eyes too.” Seonghwa said, making Hongjoong tighten his arm around him, which seemed to only make Seonghwa happier. He giggled and slid his hand over Hongjoong’s over his chest.

“Goodnight.” Hongjoong whispered, pressing a kiss against Seonghwa’s temple.

“Goodnight.”

Hongjoong woke up the next morning to an empty, cold bed. He would’ve believed that he had dreamt the whole thing up if he hadn’t seen Seonghwa’s jacket still draped over the chair in the corner. Hongjoong slowly moved out of the bed, getting mostly dressed and wandering out onto the busy deck of his ship. He spotted Seonghwa almost immediately, standing at the bow of the ship, staring out at the water. Hongjoong crossed the deck quickly, greeting his crew as he did, but mostly on his way to Seonghwa. Hongjoong slid a hand over his back, smiling when Seonghwa looked at him. His smile faltered when he saw the worried look on Seonghwa’s face.

“What’s going on?” He asked and Seonghwa sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. He shifted from foot to foot, looking out at the sea. He squinted at the horizon and huffed.

“Something is wrong, I think we should find a port to dock in for the night.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong frowned. He looked out at the perfectly calm sea, shining and glittering in the light of the morning.

“Seonghwa, it’s a beautiful day.” Hongjoong started to protest, cutting himself off at the look in the other’s eyes. Seonghwa swallowed, looking out at the sea again. “To dock would mean we’d lose important time to get to our actual next port.” Seonghwa sighed, his tone annoyed.

“I’ve got a bad feeling, OK, I don’t know why I just think we should dock.” Seonghwa turned to Hongjoong and looked into his eyes for the first time since they’d started the conversation. Hongjoong could see how deadly serious Seonghwa was behind his eyes, the fear that was barely contained. Hongjoong felt his stomach sink, he swallowed and looked back out at the sea.

“OK, jagiya, we’ll dock the ship.” Hongjoong said, reaching out to place his hand on Seonghwa’s arm. “One night won’t hurt.” Seonghwa nodded curtly, turning abruptly to stare back at the sea as the ship plowed onwards.

“Thank you, Hongjoong-ah.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong smiled softly. Seonghwa's voice sounded so beautiful saying his name. He squeezed the omega’s bicep and descended down the deck to tell the crew their newly altered plans.

Hongjoong docked his ship, much to the dismay of several of his crew as the sea looked calm still. There were whispers of their captain becoming weak, his will easily bent to whatever Seonghwa wanted. Some members of the crew even glared at Seonghwa as he walked past towards Hongjoong’s rooms. He held his head high, Hongjoong could see his prince, with his shoulders squared and a fierce determination behind his eyes, as Seonghwa walked towards him.

“I’m going to go check the ropes.” He said quietly, quickly climbing off the ship as Hongjoong watched him go. He looked back at his wary, grumbling crew and hoped, for Seonghwa’s sake, that he was right.

Hongjoong held onto the railing of the ship for dear life as the rain pelted down around him. He could barely see in front of him as the ship rocked violently from side to side. He felt a hand wrap around his bicep, turning to see Seonghwa, his eyes pleading as he pulled him backwards.

“Hongjoong-ah, come on come inside.” Seonghwa said, pulling his arm again. Hongjoong turned his head back towards the sea, his ship, as the rain pummeled the deck. Hongjoong felt his arm get pulled again.

“Your crew is safe, Captain, come on.” Seonghwa said. Hongjoong allowed himself to be pulled backwards, up the stairs and into his quarters.

The minute the door slammed behind him, Hongjoong stopped. The space was deathly quiet, aside from the rain, as Seonghwa pulled at his coat. He allowed the omega to pull at his clothes as he processed what had just happened. It was so quick, the sea had turned on a dime. One moment it was calm and the next it was pouring rain and waves were sloshing against the sides of the ship.

“Come on Hongjoong-ah, we’ve got to get you out of those clothes.” Seonghwa broke the captain’s trance, and Hongjoong allowed the omega to finally completely strip him of his coat and shirt.

“You were right.” Hongjoong said, turning to look at Seonghwa. “If we’d continued we surely would’ve sunk. The sea was so calm before I never would’ve guessed. How did you do that?” Seonghwa stopped, wringing his hands together. He stepped back slightly, swallowing.

“I don’t know, I just knew.” Seonghwa said, after several long moments of silence, as water pounded on the wood around them and the ship moved under their feet. Hongjoong pulled Seonghwa in, pressing a kiss against his lips.

“I will never doubt you again, my guiding star.” Seonghwa smiled slightly. “Now, let’s try to stay dry and survive the night.”

As the ship rocked back and forth in the storm, Hongjoong found himself sitting with Seonghwa resting against his chest, the oil lamps burning as he read his maps and Seonghwa read his book. Hongjoong could almost hear San’s voice calling him an idiot as his brain drifted towards the necklace he had stashed in his drawer. He wasn’t really sure how odd it had been that he’d bought that for Seonghwa before he even knew that the omega liked him romantically. Even when he tried to concentrate on what he was looking at, it was like the necklace was burning a hole in his temple. The wind whistled around them and Hongjoong sighed, putting down the maps and jostling Seonghwa slightly.

“What?” Hongjoong looked at the drawer he had stashed the necklace in. Seonghwa followed his line of sight, and it felt to Hongjoong that everything was moving too quickly, or that he was in slow motion, as Seonghwa got up. He reached for the drawer and Hongjoong froze.

“No, Seonghwa-” Hongjoong started to say, getting cut off by the gasp Seonghwa let out. The omega pulled the necklace out of the drawer. Hongjoong watched, his bottom lip sucked between his teeth, as Seonghwa's eyes glittered in awe. He giggled and cradled the sapphire and diamond encrusted chain in his hands.

“Are you keeping this for San? So he can give it to Wooyoung?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong almost took the lie, letting himself out of how embarrassed he felt, but he didn’t. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for any reaction Seonghwa may have.

“Actually I bought it, uh, for you.” Hongjoong watched Seonghwa’s eyes widen. “I know it’s a little odd-” Seonghwa cut Hongjoong off again.

“I love it, put it on me.” Seonghwa interrupted, rushing back towards Hongjoong, turning and holding the necklace out. Hongjoong took the clasp in his shaking fingers, managing to get it closed around Seonghwa’s neck. The omega turned, smiling at Hongjoong. He swallowed hard, looking at the way the jewels reflected in the light, sapphires seemingly dripping down his collarbones and making the curve of Seonghwa’s neck look even better than it did before. The omega giggled, pulling the collar of his shirt a little further open so the necklace was more on display. Hongjoong felt for a moment that he was about to explode.

“You like it?” He asked and Hongjoong nodded rapidly. He let out a slow breath, finally ripping his eyes off of the diamonds enclosing Seonghwa’s neck.

“Do you like it?” Hongjoong asked, feeling like the breath was knocked out of him when Seonghwa pushed forward to kiss him.

“I love it, thank you.” Seonghwa smiled when Hongjoong pressed a kiss against his cheek. “It’s the one I picked out from that shop a while back?” Hongjoong felt a blush spread across his cheeks.

“Yeah it is, and good. I was hoping it wouldn’t come off creepy or weird.” Hongjoong said, laughing when Seonghwa laughed at him. He listened as Seonghwa rattled off why he loved the necklace so much, and thought to himself that he could listen to Seonghwa’s voice forever.

News reached ships that barely stopped for longer than a few days a lot slower than it normally travelled. Maybe that was a good thing, as Seonghwa didn’t have to hear the news until he was long entrenched into the crew and ship. Working his days away on the deck, developing calluses that princes would never have and his skin tanning in the sun until it shone golden. Hongjoong loved it, watching him work, and every night Seonghwa came back to him. It was a good thing that news travelled so slowly, so that Seonghwa did not have to be alone when he heard.

Mingi clutched a paper in his hands, slowly approaching Seonghwa. The omega was perched in Hongjoong’s lap, enjoying the breeze as the ship swayed gently with the waves hitting the dock and giggling over the new diamond bracelet Hongjoong had just fastened around his wrist.

“It’s perfect Joong-ah.” He said, a laugh bubbling up his throat when Hongjoong kissed his fingers. “You always get exactly what I would like.” The bracelet glimmered in the light as he moved his hand up and down.

“Anything for you, jagiya.” Hongjoong responded, his head turning towards the man in front of him. Mingi swallowed, looking back at Yunho who squeezed his waist in reassurance. Hongjoong thought, for a split second, maybe they were here to tell him they were finally officially each other’s. That thought didn’t last long as the anxious look on Mingi’s face bled into fear more than joy.

“Seonghwa-ssi, I found this in the village square. I thought you’d want to know.” He turned the crumpled paper around and waited for Seonghwa to take it from him. Seonghwa did, lowering it slightly, his eyes scanning over the page. He abruptly stood from Hongjoong’s lap, jostling the alpha.

“Seonghwa, my star, what is it?” Hongjoong asked, standing as well. He reached out to touch him, fingers barely brushing his waist when Seonghwa gently smacked his hands away.

“Not now, Captain.” Seonghwa said, his brow furrowed as he stared at the paper and read it seemingly over and over again. He let out a huff of a laugh, crumpling it slightly in his hands.

“Thank you, Mingi-yah. Now if you’ll excuse me I’ll be in our cabin, Hongjoong, don’t follow me. I require some time alone.” He said, clearing his throat and floating away, for lack of a better word. His footsteps were quick as the heels of his boots clicked against the wooden planks of the deck. He held his hands folded in front of him, chin tilted upwards, shoulders squared, and lips pressed into a thin line as he held whatever emotion he was feeling inside his chest to be let out only once he was alone. It was a habit Seonghwa had surely developed in his teenage years, but not one Hongjoong enjoyed watching him do. Hongjoong turned to Mingi and he didn’t have to ask before Mingi was letting the information nervously tumble from his lips.

“We found it in the village square, it’s a birth announcement, Captain, for Seonghwa’s new little brother.” Mingi said. “I didn’t know how he would take it.” Hongjoong looked towards his door, knowing that behind it Seonghwa was having some kind of reaction to this news he didn’t want him privy to.

“Thank you for attempting to be sensitive about this, Mingi-yah.” Hongjoong sat back down on the barrel he had previously been perched on. He sighed, beckoning for Mingi to join him.

“Aren’t you going to go check on him?” Mingi asked and Hongjoong nodded.

“In due time, he asked to be alone.” Hongjoong answered and Mingi knew better than to question him. He turned his face towards the water, and watched Yunho return to doing his work, as he often did when he had downtime. Hongjoong smirked, his thoughts circling back to his closed cabin door, counting down the moments until he could go comfort his star.

Hongjoong opened his cabin door with caution, seeing Seonghwa sat on a plush chair, his face pressed into his hand that was propped up by his elbow resting on the arm rest. He didn’t even turn his face when Hongjoong walked in. The alpha could see the shining reflections of relatively fresh tear tracks running down his cheeks, and his eyes were puffy, reddened and swollen.

“My love, what has got you so upset?” Hongjoong asked, feigning ignorance, which made Seonghwa laugh wetly, the sound getting choked on a sob in his throat.

“Don’t act like Mingi didn’t tell you what that paper said.” Seonghwa said. “I know he informed you about my parents' new spare.” Seonghwa sniffed, quickly wiping at the fresh tears that rolled down his cheeks at the mention of it.

“He told me of no such new spare. He did mention that you have a new baby brother.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa glared at him. If looks could kill, this one would be lethal.

“Don’t act stupid Hongjoong, they’ve lost me and now they’re replacing me. The real question is how did Eomeonim manage to talk my Appa into sleeping with her again to make the baby. My parents don’t even like each other. Eomeonim hasn’t stepped foot in my Appa’s palace in years, even when he was still getting his cycle regularly. She had concubines she preferred to him.” Seonghwa stopped, scoffing and visibly rolling his eyes. “I guess it doesn’t really matter, none of them ever gave her her alpha heir.” Hongjoong cautiously stepped a little further forward. He reached out, allowing Seonghwa to close the gap, leaning into his hands, allowing Hongjoong into his space. Hongjoong cradled Seonghwa’s head between his hands.

“You are not replaceable, my love. I would venture to guess that this was in the works from the moment you presented omega. Your Eomeonim seems to be obsessed with finding her alpha heir and I’ve heard there’s some things you can do to suppress or bring on mating cycles. Your Appa could've been doing that to improve their chances.” Hongjoong said. “Your Appa has made his choice, and stuck with it he is.” Seonghwa pursed his lips together. Hongjoong saw Seonghwa’s expression harden slightly, knowing he’d said something wrong from the look in his eyes.

“What choice, Joong-ah? The illusion of it is paper thin.” Seonghwa snapped back at him and Hongjoong hummed, brushing his hair out of his eyes.

“You’re right, excuse my phrasing, I know he has very little say in the matter from what you’ve spoken of.” Hongjoong watched Seonghwa’s face for any other emotions bubbling to the surface, but it stayed solemn and rather sad. “That really just adds to my point about your mother though, jagiya.”

“I know, logically I know.” Seonghwa took a deep, shaky breath in. “I just feel like they tossed me aside, and replaced me. That none of them miss me. They didn’t even send a single ship after me.” Tears welled in Seonghwa’s eyes once again. Hongjoong ran his thumb gently over his cheeks, brushing tears away as they started to fall. He knew nothing he said could truly ease the ache in Seonghwa’s heart, but he could try.

“I’d send legions of ships after you if I had them at my disposal.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa smiled. He blinked back the last of his tears, standing and pulling Hongjoong into him. He kissed him, pressing their foreheads together.

“I know you would.” Seonghwa said, smirking when Hongjoong’s hands found his hips. “Thank you, Captain.”

“Any time.”

Hongjoong got Seonghwa off the ship at the next port, trying to distract him from the distressing news from his parents by any means necessary.

“Come on, jagiya, you need this. Just come with me.” Hongjoong said, tugging on the omega’s hands as he protested by letting his body become dead weight against their bed. “Who else is going to keep me out of trouble?” He saw a flicker of a smile. Hongjoong knew he’d won him over then.

“San could do a fine job.” Seonghwa said, already getting up and pulling his boots on. Hongjoong wrapped his arms around his middle, kissing his shoulder and leaning up to whisper in his ear.

“Not nearly as well as you.” He giggled as Seonghwa lightly smacked at his hands. Hongjoong stepped back watching as Seonghwa flitted about the room preparing himself for their impromptu night out. That’s how they found themselves at a bar frequented by their own kind, pirates of all measures of moral codes. They usually left each other well enough alone, but not everyone was quite that smart.

Hongjoong swished the whiskey around in his glass, watching how it trickled down the sides, his eyes trained on where Seonghwa was, getting himself another drink and Wooyoung, who probably could stand to not be having another round. As far as Hongjoong was concerned, he was San’s issue and the alpha seemed to be heavily amused by his antics so far. Hongjoong was so focused on Seonghwa that he didn’t notice that someone not on his crew had sat beside him.

“Hongjoong-ssi, fancy seeing you here.” A deep voice rumbled beside him. Hongjoong turned to look into the eyes of someone he never thought he’d see again.

“Pak Sunwoo, I thought I told you I never wanted to see your ugly mug again.” Hongjoong said and the offensive voice beside him laughed. Hongjoong rolled his shoulders back and flickered his eyes towards Seonghwa, trying to signal the omega not to come back to him.

“Aw, Hongjoong-ssi, can’t we let it be water under the bridge?” He asked, tracing Hongjoong’s gaze and his eyes landing on Seonghwa. “Who is that tasty new thing you’ve got there? Are the rumours spreading around port true then, about your new bed mate?” Hongjoong stiffened, trying not to let his displeasure be known.

“That implies there’s still a bridge, Sunwoo-ssi, which there is not. You burned it down.” Hongjoong said, seeing Seonghwa still approaching out of the corner of his eye. Sunwoo hummed, watching Seonghwa as he got closer to them. The omega looked at Hongjoong a little confused, setting the glasses down on the bar and stepping a bit closer to Hongjoong.

“You never told me who this was, Hongjoong-ssi.” Sunwoo said, his eyes having not moved off Seonghwa since he’d set the glasses down.

“It’s none of your business.” Hongjoong snapped and Sunwoo laughed.

“Seems your captain is a bit prickly, Pak Sunwoo, pleased to make your acquaintance.” He purred, the words dripping off his tongue like poison. Seonghwa pressed his lips together, taking the hand held out to him as if it was a handshake and grimacing when his hand was flipped and Sunwoo pressed a kiss against the back of his hand.

“Likewise.” Seonghwa managed to say, pulling his hand back rather quickly and placing it on Hongjoong’s shoulder. Sunwoo caught that, running his tongue over his teeth.

“Ah, I see. Hongjoong-ssi, you haven’t even bedded him yet, from the smell of him.” Sunwoo leaned back and taking one of the drinks Seonghwa had just brought over off the table. He drank it in one gulp.

“Are the rumours really true then, is his uh, bark worse than his bite?” Sunwoo asked and Hongjoong opened his mouth to say something about that particular insult when he felt liquid spray on him. He looked back to see that Seonghwa had thrown the other drink in Sunwoo’s face.

“You bitch-” Sunwoo started to say, reaching for the weapon strapped against his belt and leaning forward. Hongjoong put his hand up, ready to push the other alpha back when he heard a firing pin click backwards. Seonghwa had a gun pressed against Sunwoo’s forehead.

“Take one more step and I’ll shoot you between the eyes.” Seonghwa said, the bar dropped into a dead silence. You could only hear boots shuffle as everyone waited to see what would happen. Hongjoong realized as he watched the standoff he was caught in the middle of that the gun Seonghwa had drawn was his own. He thought about how good Seonghwa was at taking that gun off him as he watched sweat drip off Sunwoo’s temple.

“You wouldn’t, not in a crowded place.” Sunwoo said, attempting to call Seonghwa’s bluff. “At point blank range? Rumour on the seas is that you’re a blue blood, you’re not capable of this.” Seonghwa raised his eyebrows and cocked his head to the side, smiling slightly in a way that made him look a little out of his mind.

“You want to bet? You really think I won’t do it? Take another step.” Seonghwa’s tone darkened with every word. Sunwoo swallowed, moving slightly back and Seonghwa huffed a laugh out his nose. Sunwoo backed down, stepping backwards from the two of them as the tension eased in the bar.

“Fine, I’m sure you’re not worth it anyway.” Sunwoo sneered, turning to walk away when Hongjoong heard the gun go off. Sunwoo fell to the floor, clutching his leg in pain.

“He shot me!” Sunwoo yelled and the bar stood still, shrugging their shoulders as the barkeep gestured for the hands to pick him up. Seonghwa stepped around Hongjoong, yanking Sunwoo’s head back by his hair. He made the alpha look at him, spitting in his eye before dropping him back to the ground.

“That’s for calling me a bitch.” Seonghwa said, smiling. “Maybe you should think twice before you talk about things you can’t back up.” Hongjoong waved as Sunwoo was dragged away, and the bar returned to its hum of activity.

Seonghwa settled down soon after that, continuing on mostly as normal. He spent much of his free time that he couldn’t spend with Hongjoong, with Wooyoung, which Hongjoong should’ve known was going to end in some sort of tomfoolery. He had known Wooyoung for years, seen him grow from the timid young boy he was conditioned to be, into a firecracker of an omega who took charge when he wanted to. He could see his influence on Seonghwa as well, the other laughing easier and play fighting with the other regularly. It was a joy to see them both bond over shared experiences and having Wooyoung help Seonghwa drop some of the shell he had been forced into by his family. Hongjoong felt like he fell more in love with him the more Seonghwa’s personality blossomed. Wooyoung was a firecracker, and Hongjoong should’ve known that his friendship with Seonghwa would result in something.

Hongjoong was sat at his desk, staring at his maps once again as he tried to decide what port they would head for next, balancing their food stores against their safety as those who operate outside the normal parameters of the law. He heard the door open and shut, glancing up to see Seonghwa standing in front of his desk.

“What can I do for you Hwa?” He asked, still focused on his maps, even as he sensed the omega getting closer to him. The scent of lilacs was undeniable as he inched into Hongjoong’s space. The alpha looked up again, seeing the omega had come around his desk slightly, looking nervous and playing with his fingers. Hongjoong sighed, knowing that he would have to put his maps aside for now because something was clearly bothering his omega.

“What is it, jagiya, you look distressed?” Hongjoong gestured for Seonghwa to come closer, smiling when Seonghwa took the few rushed steps left to be in his space. “What could be upsetting you?” Seonghwa chewed his bottom lip, the silence ringing between them as Hongjoong gestured for him to pull up a chair. Seonghwa sat across from him and didn’t speak.

“Seonghwa, you’re making me nervous.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa sighed. He took a deep breath in and looked down at the floor. Hongjoong would really prefer that Seonghwa looked at him, but he knew that this was easier sometimes. He didn’t push it.

“Captain, I was talking to Wooyoung and he has explained to me in much further detail than I ever had before, what alphas and omegas do, when they are committed and in bed together. I was just wondering, why you hadn’t, why you didn’t want to?” Seonghwa paused, looking up at Hongjoong for a brief moment before his eyes glued themselves back to the floor. “I was wondering why you hadn’t done that with me?” Hongjoong blinked a few times. Seonghwa’s wording was so vague and Hongjoong struggled for a few moments to decipher what he meant. When it did click into place Hongjoong’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Are you talking about sex?” He asked and Seonghwa nodded quickly, finally looking up at Hongjoong. “I can’t very well discuss this with you if you can’t even say the word sex out loud, Hwa.” Seonghwa’s face fell and he swallowed audibly.

“Hongjoong, Captain, why haven’t you attempted to bed me, to have s-sex with me?” Seonghwa said, his voice wavering slightly over the sentence. “Wooyoung told me that you’ve bedded others. He seemed surprised you hadn't been with me. Am I not good enough? Is it because I'm inexperienced?” Hongjoong placed his hand over Seonghwa’s, and pulled him to slide the chair closer. He did, looking at Hongjoong with his eyes wide and full of apprehension.

“Seonghwa, I haven’t attempted to bed you, as you put it, because I didn’t want to push you further than you wanted to go. I didn’t want you to think you had to do anything with me to make me happy or make me stay.” Hongjoong squeezed Seonghwa’s hand. “The way you talked about having to one day have sex with your almost husband was like you viewed it as a chore. I didn’t want to do anything to you that you didn’t want and I didn’t want you to let me because you thought it was what you had to do.” Seonghwa’s eyes flitted back and forth between Hongjoong and their hands, letting Hongjoong move to hold his hand.

“I wanted you to want it.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa nodded, waiting for the few seconds of silence that indicated Hongjoong was done speaking.

“Wooyoung explained to me that I had been lied to about what sex was and that it is not supposed to hurt and it is not a duty, that I am allowed to want it and not want it too.” Seonghwa watched Hongjoong as he felt his brain short circuit, his mouth hanging open.

“They told you it would hurt?” He asked, his voice strained as Seonghwa nodded yes. “Those bastards, Seonghwa, did you think I would want to hurt you?” Seonghwa quickly shook his head no.

“No! No, I actually thought it may be why you hadn’t tried to touch me. You’re too good of a man.” Seonghwa looked up at the ceiling and sighed. “It wasn’t so much that it would hurt either. They told me that it should hurt the first time, because if it didn’t you were no longer untouched, and that how you felt about it as the person able to bear offspring didn’t really matter. It only mattered that you brought your partner to completion, so you could do your duty.” Hongjoong felt anger burning in his chest as Seonghwa continued to describe the things they had told him about what being with an alpha was like.

“They said knotting would be rather uncomfortable too, being stuck so close to someone. They said it was better to do it from behind so you didn’t have to look at them.” Seonghwa said, looking up into Hongjoong’s eyes again. The alpha was barely containing the rage he felt the longer Seonghwa talked.

“I can’t imagine I would be upset about being tied to you. I like looking at you as is.” Seonghwa slid himself closer. He reached out to place his hand on Hongjoong’s cheek, giggling when he turned his face to kiss his fingers.

“I found myself wanting you, in ways I have always been told I couldn’t or shouldn’t. I wasn’t sure what was happening, so I went to talk to Wooyoung. He explained it all to me and I know now that none of what I was taught was true.” Seonghwa let a laugh bubble out his throat.

“He drew me pictures.” Seonghwa said, his cheeks turning pink. “They were rather scandalous.” Hongjoong laughed with him, reaching out to brush his hair off his face.

“And how do you feel now?” Hongjoong paused, waiting for a response. He felt like he was on pins and needles doing so.

“I am a little overwhelmed, but I know I want to be close with you like that.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong nodded, rubbing his fingers over the back of Seonghwa’s hand. “I know you’ll take care of me. I know you’ll be gentle and go at my pace.” Hongjoong smiled, leaning in to kiss Seonghwa’s cheek.

“We can take it as slow as you want.” He assured him.

“And if I don’t want to take it slow?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong’s eyebrows raised yet again.

“We can discuss that too.”

Hongjoong found himself staring at the ceiling of his cabin again. Seonghwa was long asleep beside him, having given him a kiss goodnight and promised to talk to him soon about their sexual relationship blossoming in some fashion. Hongjoong just couldn’t stop thinking about teenage Seonghwa, sat down by his father and fed some version of half truths and anecdotal proof that terrified him. He thought about how Seonghwa had described feeling trapped before, but Hongjoong had never realized what that trap fully entailed for him. The gilded cage Hongjoong has broken him out of looked more sinister than ever. He looked at the sleeping omega, his face peaceful in his slumber, and thought about how Seonghwa had thought one day he'd have to tolerate him the same way he’d have to tolerate the alpha he was supposed to marry. He got up and walked out the door with his robe wrapped around him, careful not to disturb his sleeping bedmate. He smiled slightly when Seonghwa rolled towards his side of the bed, humming in contentment when his nose buried itself in Hongjoong’s pillow. He just needed some fresh air.

Hongjoong was surprised to find San, perched on the edge of the quarterdeck, like he was waiting for Hongjoong to show up.

“Hi Captain.” San said, his eyes glancing down from where they’d been watching the stars in the night sky. “I figured you’d be up.” Hongjoong climbed the stairs and sat down beside him, looking up at the stars as well.

“I was up anyway, after Wooyoung told me.” San continued, not waiting for Hongjoong to say anything back to him. “I spent hours pacing this deck, wondering how anyone could tell their son those things.” San paused, giving Hongjoong room to speak, but he didn’t. He sighed and stared up at the sky, almost unblinking.

“I was especially upset when he told me that he would have been perfectly fine with me hurting him, because he loved me and wanted me to be happy. That he was prepared to do that for me.” San paused and Hongjoong took a shaky breath in. San seemed to sense then that he’d found what had been bothering Hongjoong the most. He didn’t say anything though, prompting San to keep talking.

“You know I didn’t find any of this out until we were actually going to have sex and I asked how he liked to be prepped and he just stared at me. He asked ‘aren’t you just going to put it in’ and my whole world stopped. I’ve never lost a hard on faster, then we had a good long talk about it and it got better, eventually.” San looked at his Captain and waited. Hongjoong huffed out his nose, straightening his back and staring out at the night sky.

“He told me that they told him it would hurt, that it should hurt, and he seemed to be willing to accept letting me hurt him, prior to Wooyoung setting him right. He told me that he thought I hadn’t touched him because I was too good a man to hurt him.” Hongjoong took a deep breath in. “I am just so angry. I’m angry that they told him these things, no matter how much they thought it was true. I’m angry that he thought I would do anything to him that would hurt him. I’m so, I’m just repeating myself now.” Hongjoong stopped himself, shaking his head.

“It’s all just too much, right?” San asked and Hongjoong nodded. “You know, Captain, once we pushed through that as a couple it got better. He knows now that that was all not quite true and he still wants to be with you.” Hongjoong nodded again.

“I’m still just so angry. Does it go away?” Hongjoong asked and San smiled slightly at him, patting his back gently. Something in his eyes told Hongjoong that the anger did not ever really leave. It was just something you learned to deal with.

“You got the guy, just let that be the win.” San said and Hongjoong nodded. They sat in silence for a few minutes, looking at the stars as they shone down on them both.

“Thank you.” Hongjoong looked towards the younger man, who smiled softly at him.

“Anytime Captain. It was my pleasure.” San stood from the deck and walked back towards the stairs. “Goodnight.” Hongjoong cleared his throat, making San turn back towards him with his eyebrows raised.

“One more thing, San. Could you get Wooyoung to talk to Seonghwa about the herbs you two use. If he wants to start exploring I want to be safe.” Hongjoong said and San snorted out a laugh.

“Sure, Captain.”

Hongjoong was in his office with his maps when he heard Seonghwa walk through the door. The omega looked a little nervous as he closed Hongjoong’s office door. Hongjoong raised his eyebrows.

“What are you doing jagiya?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa smiled, crossing the room and standing in front of the desk.

“I want to try something, if that’s OK?” Seonghwa waited for a few brief seconds before Hongjoong nodded, pushing back from the desk. He stood, walking towards Seonghwa and chuckling when the omega immediately stepped into Hongjoong’s arms.

“Did you want to take this to our room?” Hongjoong tilted his chin up slightly and Seonghwa nodded, giggling when Hongjoong pulled him in by his waist. He cradled the alpha’s face between his hands, pulling his face up to kiss him. Hongjoong felt his hands tighten on Seonghwa’s hips as Seonghwa pressed himself closer to him.

“Let’s go to our room.” Hongjoong whispered against his lips, letting Seonghwa pull him out of his office and into their room.

“So, where do you want me?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa pointed at the bed. Hongjoong sat down and waited for Seonghwa to approach. The omega stood in front of him and smiled down at him.

“Wooyoung said that I should warm up to it, get used to the feeling of you touching me and that jumping in head first seems like a good idea until you’re there.” Seonghwa placed his knee on the bed, over Hongjoong’s thighs. “I figured we’d start here, if that’s alright?” Hongjoong found himself nodding before he’d even fully processed the question. Seonghwa laughed at him as he put his hands on his shoulders to balance himself.

“So alright.” Hongjoong said, faster than he’d meant to, his hands coming up to rest on Seonghwa’s hips before the other had even fully settled in his lap. “Is this OK?” Seonghwa nodded yes. They sat there for a few seconds before Seonghwa deflated, all his prior confidence gone. Hongjoong hummed, waiting for Seonghwa to say anything to him about what was going wrong.

“This feels stupid.” Seonghwa whispered to himself, tilting his head back and Hongjoong took it as an invitation to gently nose up his neck. “Are you even enjoying this?” Hongjoong huffed out a laugh. He shrugged off his jacket, the sapphire blue fabric hitting the bed with a muffled thud as Hongjoong’s hands slid back up Seonghwa’s thighs.

“Yes, it’s nice to hold you. What else did you want to try?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa flushed pink.

“I hadn’t really thought that far ahead? I figured I’d chicken out of this.” He gasped in surprise when Hongjoong pressed a kiss under his ear. “I can’t believe I’m sitting in an alpha’s lap ‘m not mated to.” Hongjoong laughed again, enjoying the way Seonghwa’s fingers lightly twitched on his shoulders, like he wasn’t sure what to do. He pulled back to look Seonghwa in the eye.

“Let me lead, if you don’t have any more ideas?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa nodded, allowing Hongjoong into his space again, kissing him gently, paying attention to the scent gland on his neck that was slightly swollen from having an alpha so close. Seonghwa moaned, squeaking in surprise when he did. Hongjoong thought it was the cutest thing he’d ever heard.

“Captain-” Seonghwa cut himself off with a gasp. His hands flew up, digging his fingers into where his hands landed on Hongjoong’s neck and shoulder.

“Does that feel good baby?” Hongjoong asked, nipping gently at Seonghwa’s jawline. Hongjoong felt the older squirm on his lap, moving to wrap his arms around his waist.

“Joong, ah, it feels good.” Seonghwa said, humming. Hongjoong felt the vibrations against his lips as he nosed up Seonghwa’s throat.

“Good.” Hongjoong purred, smiling when he felt Seonghwa’s hips twitch involuntarily. “You want to move a little, jagiya?” Seonghwa made a confused noise.

“W-what do you mean?” He asked. Hongjoong bit his tongue to hold in a laugh. He knew Seonghwa wouldn’t be appreciative of it if it did slip out. He slid his hands over Seonghwa’s hips, raising his eyebrows slightly and looking at Seonghwa. He watched for any sign this was too much, too fast, any kind of discomfort. The omega nodded, tentatively, like he wasn’t quite sure what he was agreeing to. Hongjoong stopped, clearing his throat.

“Do you want me to show you what I mean?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa nodded, much more sure of his decision this time. Hongjoong gripped his hips a little firmer, feeling the muscles in his thighs jump under his fingers. He pulled Seonghwa forward, feeling his chest swell with pride when he heard the other’s breathing quicken.

“Just, trust me, OK jagiya?” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa nodded, smiling and tucking a strand of Hongjoong’s hair behind his ear.

“I always trust you, Joongie.” Seonghwa said, nodding when Hongjoong looked at him for reassurance as he pushed him into position. He manipulated Seonghwa’s legs until they were on either side of his one thigh, pulling the older man into him. He started off slow, gently guiding Seonghwa’s hips to grind against his thigh, watching with heavily lidded eyes as the man in his lap’s chest heaved and his mouth dropped open. Seonghwa soon began moving on his own, Hongjoong’s hands simply helping him keep a rhythm going. He could feel the wet patch growing on his pant leg, physical proof that this was going exactly how Hongjoong had hoped it would. The omega in his lap moaned, making Hongjoong’s own erection strain against his pants. Seonghwa’s knee was pressed against Hongjoong’s crotch, moving him in tandem and it was enough, especially for now. The alpha just wanted it to be good for Seonghwa, trying to prove to him that this was how it was supposed to be. Not whatever bad information they had fed him and that he could have this. Hongjoong found himself unable to resist pressing his face into Seonghwa’s neck again when the older’s head tilted back. He could feel the moans bubbling up Seonghwa’s throat, his hips losing a bit of their rhythm as his fingers dug into Hongjoong’s shoulders. It felt to the alpha, like Seonghwa was almost to where he wanted him.

“Are you almost there, star?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa looked at him confused again. Hongjoong didn’t have time to explain as the omega’s body tensed up, his hips stuttered and he let out a guttural moan. Seonghwa’s head tilted back, his mouth dropping open. Hongjoong could help but think that it was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen, to watch the sweat glisten on his love’s neck and chest as he arched into him. The necklace he bought him glistening around his neck, it made Hongjoong’s dick jump in his pants, eager to get involved. Although he held back, it wasn’t about him. He felt Seonghwa’s muscles relax as he came down, smiling to himself as he felt Seonghwa collapse against him, breathing heavily as the alpha rubbed his back.

“How was that?” Hongjoong asked, letting the other lean on him, catching his breath and smiling when Seonghwa giggled. He was clearly still in a post orgasmic haze of some kind, looking at Hongjoong like he hung the moon in the sky.

“Great, good? I don’t know how to describe that. Was that what Wooyoung called cumming?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong sighed very audibly. Seonghwa laughed at the pained expression on his face.

“Yes, you had an orgasm my love.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa nodded, pulling away from Hongjoong to sit himself up more.

“Did you?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong shook his head no. Seonghwa frowned, biting his bottom lip and Hongjoong felt his heart rate pick up, a nervous edge to his scent.

“It’s fine, this was about you.” Hongjoong said, slipping one of his hands off Seonghwa’s hip, gripping his ass and kissing him. “I can always pleasure myself later, you’ve given me plenty of material to work with.” Hongjoong felt his heart swell with warm fondness when Seonghwa blushed.

“Really?” He asked, like he wasn’t a walking wet dream sitting in Hongjoong’s lap. The alpha nodded, loosening his grip on Seonghwa as the omega squirmed. He grimaced when he moved to get off Hongjoong. Hongjoong laughed, knowing from the start that Seonghwa was not going to be happy sitting in his own mess at all from what he knew about him.

“Let me run you a bath.”

Later that night, when Seonghwa was tucked into bed beside Hongjoong, he rolled over, whispering in his ear.

“Thank you, are you sure it’s OK I didn’t do anything back?” He asked and Hongjoong nodded. He kissed Seonghwa’s forehead, smiling at how the other man preened under the attention. Hongjoong knew that one day they would have to talk about Seonghwa’s concern about making sure Hongjoong was OK with doing things for him, when he was the one encouraging it the whole time, but that was a conversation for another day. Right then, he was content, cuddled up with his guiding star.

“Yes, it was about you, now go to bed, jagiya.” Hongjoong said, huffing out a breath when Seonghwa pushed his face into his chest. Hongjoong had never been one for much physical touch, but Seonghwa was and Hongjoong wanted to give him everything he could.

“Could we maybe do that again some time? And any other ideas you have?” Seonghwa asked, his voice hushed in the darkness of their room. Hongjoong smiled, running his fingers up and down Seonghwa’s upper arm. He reveled in the way Seonghwa leaned into him, the trust implicit in his actions.

“Sure, jagiya, we can try anything you want.” Hongjoong said, pressing a kiss into Seonghwa’s hair. “Goodnight.” He felt the other’s scent sweeten slightly in contentment.

“Goodnight.”

It had become a rather regular thing for the crew to stop and Hongjoong would find the nearest shop that sold finely crafted jewellery and buy something for Seonghwa. Who at this point had quite the collection going, which was about to be added to, as the crew had come to port again. Hongjoong practically tripped over himself getting into the bar that was packed with patrons stepping over each other. In one hand he clutched the newest necklace he had gotten for Seonghwa. It was an amethyst, cut into an oval shaped pendant that was surrounded by diamonds and gold. A gold chain would hold it around his love’s neck as he searched for the man to put it on him. He found him, sneaking up behind an alpha that had his hand uncomfortably close to Yeosang’s neck. Hongjoong advanced closer, seeing that Yeosang was clearly trying to get that man off of him. He could smell the distinct alpha smell coming off of him as he sneered at Yeosang, and the distressed scent coming off Yeosang as well. Hongjoong huffed in annoyance, wanting this man off his crew mate who clearly wanted nothing to do with him as quickly as possible.

“A pretty thing like you, has to be a pretty penny to have you.” He said and Yeosang scoffed. Hongjoong smiled slightly, still edging towards them, as he saw the defiant omega he’d help make out of Yeosang come out.

“I am not a sex worker.” Yeosang said, raising his eyebrows as the alpha’s hand tightened. “You cannot buy me.” The alpha then turned a little more red.

“You’re a cheeky one, you tart. I was being nice, offering to pay you.” Hongjoong heard the fear in the way Yeosang laughed. Hongjoong could see Seonghwa moving in rather quickly, silently and with eyes that if looks could kill that alpha would long be on the floor. Hongjoong smiled to himself. He knew how protective Seonghwa was, especially of the crew. The omega was behind the alpha before he even knew what had happened. He had his hand around his throat, squeezing as Seonghwa hissed something into his ear. Hongjoong watched, a smile set across his face as Seonghwa’s eyes flickered with something akin to anger as he jammed his dagger into the man’s neck, the panic and life bleeding from his eyes. He hit the floor with a thud, not that anyone else in the place even noticed.

“Come, Yeosang-ah.” Seonghwa said, sneering at the man at his feet. “Don’t fret Sangie-yah, come along.” Yeosang stepped over the man and into Seonghwa’s arms. That’s when Seonghwa saw Hongjoong, smiling widely and making his way towards him.

“Joongie.” He said and Hongjoong laughed, leaning in to kiss him.

“I see you’ve got something going on there, be sure to get your dagger, jagiya, it’s your favourite.” Hongjoong said, gently turning Seonghwa back towards the man crumpled on the floor and sending him off with a gentle pat on his hip. “I have something for you.” Seonghwa’s eyes lit up as he went back towards the man, bending to pull the knife out of his neck. He wiped it on the man’s jacket, tucking his dagger back into his belt. He walked over to Hongjoong, letting out a gasp when he saw the purple jewelled pendant in Hongjoong’s hand.

“Do you like it?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa nodded. He turned around, humming in delight when Hongjoong pressed forward to kiss behind his ear. He fastened the necklace around Seonghwa’s neck, letting the omega preen as he turned. Hongjoong took the kiss offered to him, smiling as the omega pushed into his space.

“Let’s go back to the ship.” Seonghwa whispered, whipping around to grab Yeosang’s hand. “Come Yeosang-ah.” Hongjoong laughed, chasing after him like his life depended on it, and it almost did. He could feel a second jewellery box in his pocket, repeatedly smacking against his thigh. He kept that one hidden away, waiting for the right time, even though he wasn’t sure when that would be.

Seonghwa and Hongjoong tried to dine alone once a week, like a tradition or a date. Seonghwa loved it, dressing up and showing up to sit across from Hongjoong at his desk. He had chosen to put on the amethyst Hongjoong had procured for him that day, an embroidered blue velvet coat over his white cotton shirt and black trousers. Hongjoong enjoyed Seonghwa’s princely tastes in fashion and jewellery, always happy to oblige. He wasn’t much better himself when it came to clothes anyway, his jacket was an emerald green, similarly embroidered. Seonghwa liked to match.

“How did it go today?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong shrugged. His own jacket had long been tossed off in the stress of the day, leaving his plain shirt half open and showing off his chest. Hongjoong smirked when he saw the way Seonghwa stared.

“The same as it usually does. Nothing is going wrong and nothing is spectacularly good either.” Hongjoong said. “How about you?” Seonghwa shifted in his seat, which Hongjoong watched, slowing his chewing down and placing his spoon down on the desk.

“I was helping Wooyoung in the kitchen today.” Seonghwa said, pausing and biting his bottom lip. “He was talking about things, you know.” Hongjoong raised his eyebrows.

“I don’t know, actually.” He said, waiting for Seonghwa to fill in the blanks. “We’ve talked about this, we can’t do things if you can’t say them.” Seonghwa huffed and poked around on his plate before putting his chopsticks down with a thud.

“Wooyoung was saying that being f-fingered felt really good.” Seonghwa said, quickly, his voice catching on the act itself, and Hongjoong felt his breath hitch. He swallowed, nodding and encouraging Seonghwa to continue. When he didn’t, Hongjoong sighed.

“Is that something you want to try, star?” He asked, bending his neck to try and catch Seonghwa’s eye, as he had glued them to the desk the minute his request had come out of his mouth. He nodded rapidly, looking up and Hongjoong did not like the shame that burned behind his eyes.

“I feel bad asking you to do things for me again.” Seonghwa said quietly and Hongjoong furrowed his eyebrows together.

“Seonghwa, my love, I do get something out of this. I like doing things for you.” Hongjoong leaned into the table and him. “I like watching you cum.” Seonghwa turned red at that, smiling all the same as Hongjoong laughed.

“After dinner though, I’m hungry.” Hongjoong snorted out a laugh.

“OK, anything you want, my love.”

Hongjoong found himself with a lap full of omega as soon as the door shut behind him in their room. Seonghwa practically knocked him backwards onto the bed with the force of him throwing himself into his arms. Hongjoong sat on their bed with a thud, pulling Seonghwa in by the thighs.

“You’re eager.” Hongjoong teased and Seonghwa giggled, straddling the other and pulling him in for a kiss. Hongjoong let his hands roam over his lover’s body, gliding over his hips and thighs, settling on his ass and giving it a squeeze. Seonghwa sighed against his lips, digging his fingers into Hongjoong’s hair. He pulled the alpha back with a tug on his hair and Hongjoong smiled, running his tongue over his teeth. He watched the omega stare at him for a few seconds, before he moved to kiss him again, settling into his lap. Seonghwa’s gaze looked apprehensive, as Hongjoong moved to slip his fingers just below the waistband of his trousers.

“Hey, we can stop whenever, just say the word.” Hongjoong kissed the edge of Seonghwa’s jaw and moved his one hand to rub over his back. Seonghwa pulled Hongjoong’s head back once again with a tug on his hair.

“I don’t want to stop, this is just new and I’m nervous.” Seonghwa said, taking a deep breath in. “I don’t want to stop.” Hongjoong smiled, using his strength to flip Seonghwa over onto his back. The omega under him squeaked in surprise, humming his approval when Hongjoong kissed down his neck, pulling his shirt to the side slightly so he could nose at his scent gland.

“And if you change your mind, jagiya?” He asked, pressing a kiss against his collarbone. Seonghwa smiled, giggling.

“I’ll tell you to stop.” He answered and Hongjoong gave his ass a smack in playful approval.

“Good, now get your pants off.”

Hongjoong kissed his way down Seonghwa’s stomach, laying his head on his thigh and looking up at him. Seonghwa covered his face and groaned.

“Stop just looking at me.” Seonghwa whined, his voice muffled by the hands over his face. Hongjoong smiled, climbing up his body again. He gently pried Seonghwa’s hands off his face and kissed the end of his nose. Seonghwa’s hands found their way under Hongjoong’s shirt, skimming over his sides in a nervous, almost skittish fashion.

“Do you want me to take my shirt off?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa nodded. Hongjoong sat back on his knees to do so.

“I don’t like that you’re fully clothed and I’m not.” Seonghwa said, making Hongjoong smile a little wider. He couldn’t help but feel pride that Seonghwa felt able to tell him that, the meekness he was taught in this regard slowly wearing off. He tossed the shirt aside and buried his face in Seonghwa's neck. His hands gripped his bare thighs, sliding over warm skin as Seonghwa’s legs dropped further open. Hongjoong slowly dragged his hand around Seonghwa’s thigh, brushing his fingers across Seonghwa’s perineum, checking to see if he was physically ready. He was met with the slide of his slick, sliding out of the man under him at an impressive pace. Hongjoong felt his own expression shift, a wicked grin on his face as he brought his fingers up to his mouth and licked them off. He looked into Seonghwa’s wide eyes, mouth dropped open as his chest heaved. Hongjoong had barely touched him and Seonghwa looked completely fucked out.

“Are you ready, my star? Hongjoong asked quietly, knowing that physically Seonghwa already was. He ghosted his lips over Seonghwa’s, pressing their noses together. Seonghwa took a deep breath in.

“Yes, I’m ready.” He said, his voice shaking slightly but Hongjoong knew that was because of his first time nerves. Hongjoong slid his hand back down Seonghwa’s body, pushing a finger inside of his lover. Seonghwa’s eyes fluttered closed, his hands coming up to grip Hongjoong’s shoulders. The alpha continued to kiss over Seonghwa’s collarbones and neck, slowly moving his finger in and out of the man under him. He watched his face for signs of major discomfort, finding that Seonghwa’s face soon relaxed, his hands on his shoulders did as well. Hongjoong felt the elder’s hips twitch and chuckled. Seonghwa whined, his neck stretching upwards and Hongjoong could sense some kind of request behind his lips.

“Come on love.” Hongjoong encouraged, whispering in his ear and hoping Seonghwa would say it and he wouldn’t have to drag it out of him.

“I want a-another.” Seonghwa’s voice came out clear as day and Hongjoong felt his heart soar, immediately complying, pushing two fingers into the omega under him and revelling in how his body reacted. He thrust his fingers up harder, curling them up until he found the magic spot inside his lover. Seonghwa’s entire body arched up off the bed when Hongjoong brushed against his prostate. Hongjoong felt a groan bubble up his own throat from how his own erection strained against the confines of his pants, hips making aborted thrusts against the bed as he repeatedly hit that sweet spot inside of Seonghwa. He could feel the omega under him tensing up.

“Are you close, my star?” He asked, his own voice breathy and ragged as Seonghwa nodded his confirmation. Hongjoong took his free hand off Seonghwa’s hip, bringing it down to stroke Seonghwa’s dick in time with his fingers’ thrusts. He watched intently as Seonghwa tipped over the edge, his eyes rolling back in his skull, spilling over Hongjoong’s hand and clenching around his fingers. Hongjoong felt his dick jump at the thought that one day he could feel that around him instead. Seonghwa’s chest heaved, his eyes opening to watch as Hongjoong pulled his fingers out, licking them clean once again. Seonghwa yanked Hongjoong closer, cradling him between his thighs, effectively smearing his own release over Hongjoong’s stomach and pants, not that either of them cared. Seonghwa’s hands went down to the clasp of Hongjoong’s pants, fiddling until he got them undone. He pushed them off Hongjoong’s hips, pulling his dick out into his hand. Hongjoong grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

“You don’t have to.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa smiled, wiggling his wrist out of Hongjoong’s loosened grip. He reached between his own legs, gathering his slick off his thigh and wrapping his fingers around Hongjoong again, giving him an experimental stroke. Hongjoong felt his breathing get shaky in response.

“I know, I want to. Let me make you feel good, Joong. Can I?” Seonghwa whispered, his smile only getting wider when Hongjoong nodded yes, thrusting up into Seonghwa’s hand.

“You’re so good to me, Joongie. You make me feel incredible. I want to do this, I want this.” Seonghwa whispered, his hand moving in time with the aborted thrusts of Hongjoong‘s hips. Seonghwa pulled Hongjoong in to kiss him, studying the alpha’s face, which was tense with pleasure. He ran his thumb over Hongjoong’s bottom lip, watching as the alpha chased his touch. It looked a bit to Hongjoong, in his fogged mind, that Seonghwa was enjoying having a little control over him.

“Is that good, Joongie?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong nodded. He whined when Seonghwa slowed down, knowing what he wanted without him having to say it.

“Yes, please don’t stop.” Hongjoong gasped, his hands fisting the sheets under Seonghwa. The omega giggled as Hongjoong buried his face in his neck, lungs full of lilac fogging his brain further. Hongjoong felt his knot beginning to form, whining again.

“I can’t wait to have you inside me one day, knotting me.” Seonghwa whispered, sliding his hand up slightly and squeezing. Hongjoong groaned, feeling himself on the edge as Seonghwa’s hand put pressure on his growing knot.

“I want you inside me, Captain, filling me up, giving me your babies.” Seonghwa breathed into his ear and Hongjoong moaned, feeling his knot expand and spill over Seonghwa’s fist as the omega squeezed his knot. Hongjoong collapsed on top of him, breathing heavily as Seonghwa kept pressure on his knot. He periodically squeezed it a little harder, giggling when Hongjoong hips would kick into him, until the knot went down. Hongjoong pulled back, his brain swirling as he looked down at the omega who had a satisfied smirk on his face.

“Where did you learn to do that?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa smiled wider. Hongjoong rolled off him, reaching for a rag to clean them both up with a little.

“Wooyoung taught me.” Seonghwa answered and Hongjoong rolled his eyes.

“Of course he did.”

Days passed by, weeks even, a routine settled into place. Hongjoong woke up every morning with Seonghwa by his side, rolling into him, kissing him awake. They set about their duties, making sure the ship ran properly. Seonghwa had won over the crew, all on his own, through his own ways of helping. Hongjoong couldn’t help but watch in amazement at how kind and patient he was.

“No, Yeosang-ah, like this. You’ve almost got it, just a little tighter.” Seonghwa said, showing Yeosang his technique on adjusting and tying their sails. The younger man looked at Seonghwa wide eyed, nodding rapidly that he understood, taking the ropes from Seonghwa. Hongjoong smiled at him, soaking in the sun,the sea breeze and the calmness of the sea. Seonghwa caught Hongjoong’s eye, giggling and turning to Yeosang to say something, leaving him with a pat on his back. The smell of lilacs was stronger than the salt on the wind as Seonghwa settled into Hongjoong’s side.

“Jagiya.” Hongjoong said, his tone soft and warm, turning his face to look at him. He saw the soft smile Seonghwa was sporting waiver slightly as he looked back at Hongjoong, turning into a frown. Hongjoong’s brow furrowed, pulling him in closer by the hand on his waist. Seonghwa sighed, allowing himself to be shuffled closer to him.

“What’s wrong?” He asked and Seonghwa sighed. He turned further into Hongjoong, like he was attempting to hide from the rest of the crew. He braced himself with a hand on Hongjoong’s shoulder, grounding himself against the slow rocking of the boat against the waves. It took him a few minutes, like he was gathering his thoughts, or trying not to cry from the way his breathing was shaky. Hongjoong felt his thumb start to rub circles over Seonghwa’s hip bone.

“I keep thinking about my Appa, and my new baby brother. I wish I could meet him, and see Appa one last time.” Seonghwa sniffed, his eyes brimming with tears that he blinked back into his eyes, refusing to let them fall. “I know I can’t, I just want to.” Hongjoong cooed, swiping his thumb across Seonghwa’s cheek.

“What got you thinking about this?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa shrugged. Hongjoong took a deep breath in and rubbed Seonghwa’s back. He waited for Seonghwa to say something on his own, but he did not. He stared into the sea, refusing to meet Hongjoong’s gaze as the silence between them grew, even when the noise of the crew was ever present. Hongjoong cleared his throat.

“For me, sometimes it’s a smell, or a thing. The smell of laundry soap reminds me of my Eomma, the rain my brother. Old wooden doors remind me of the barns my Appa was always in, with his horses.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa looked up at the sky, swallowing hard. “Come on, lover, let it out.” Seonghwa huffed.

“I think about Appa all the time. I’ve got all this freedom, and I’ve got you.” Seonghwa stopped, looking at Hongjoong and cupping his jaw in his hand. “I’ve got what I always wanted, but what about him? It’s just not fair, and I’ll never see him again to tell him that I did it. I got away.” Seonghwa paused to gather himself.

“I see the jewellery you give to me, that I love so much, and Appa stares back at me. He loved jewels as much as I do, but Eomeonim, she didn’t like it and he couldn’t have any because of her.” Seonghwa said, he looked down at his hands. “I just wish I could tell him somehow, that I’m alright.” Hongjoong sighed, holding Seonghwa’s hand tightly and kissing his fingers.

“Seonghwa, I promise you, if there was any way I could help you do that I would do it in a heartbeat.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa raised his eyebrows. “But you know there’s no way to do that without you losing all those things you’ve just told me you value so much.”

“Appa wouldn’t want that.” Seonghwa whispered and Hongjoong nodded, he glanced over at Yeosang, who was staring slightly perplexed at the sail above him.

“I think your little protege needs a little more guidance.” Hongjoong commented, watching as Seonghwa snapped back, his mouth fluttering into a smile as he peeled himself away from Hongjoong to run over to Yeosang. Hongjoong smiled watching them, smelling the clean smell of soap coming from the kitchen and closing his eyes. For a brief second, he could see his Eomma smiling down at him, a bucket of laundry balanced on her hip. He opened his eyes and looked over at Seonghwa, smiling all the same. He couldn’t help but think of how much his Eomma would’ve liked him.

The sun was warm on his face, where he was sitting in a field very familiar to him, facing a dense forest, lush and green. He heard the grass rustling behind him. Hongjoong’s head whipped around, seeing his Eomma’s face smiling back at him.

“Hongjoong-ah, my baby boy.” She said, adjusting the basket of laundry on his hip. She was glowing, a bright grin on her face as she reached for his hand. Hongjoong smiled and reached back for her, the image of the sun shining and the green grass flickering as her smile faded, looking behind him. Hongjoong turned his head towards whatever she was staring at behind him, his vision suddenly filled with the flames of his childhood home on fire. He could hear his mother screaming, terrified and echoing off the walls. He spun around, looking for her.

”Eomma! Appa!” He screamed, fear seizing up his throat as he ran towards the house. It was so hot as he got closer, forcing him back. He couldn’t get to them, no matter how hard he tried.

”Eomma!” Hongjoong screamed, hearing his name being called faintly, steadily getting louder. “Eomma!”

Hongjoong sat straight up in bed, sweating and his chest heaving. He felt hands on his shoulder and back, rubbing in a soothing fashion. He turned to see Seonghwa’s worried face beside him bathed in moonlight, the omega was soothing him as best he could. It took Hongjoong a few minutes to realize what had happened, the nightmare and reality setting in as they both sat in silence. He realized he was crying when Seonghwa reached out to brush a tear off his cheek.

“Your heart was racing and you were talking in your sleep, asking for your Eomma.” Seonghwa said quietly. “I figured I should wake you.” Seonghwa scooched closer, attempting to gently pull Hongjoong closer. He resisted, shaking his head and curling further in on himself. He turned slightly away from Seonghwa, feeling the omega shift again to maintain their closeness. Hongjoong felt his heart ache, seeing his Eomma’s face so clearly again, even if it was rapidly fading from view. He sniffed, rubbing his face and willing away the urge to continue to cry.

“I’m fine, Seonghwa, it was just a nightmare.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa wrapped his fingers around Hongjoong’s bicep, pressing into Hongjoong’s space, and kissing his shoulder.

“You’ve done so much for me, Joong, let me be your rock, for once.” Seonghwa said, gently pulling Hongjoong into his chest. It took only a few moments before Hongjoong was crying again, tears silently slipping down his cheeks. Seonghwa said nothing, continuing to hold him tightly as he cried, arms locked around his waist.

“It was about the fire.” Hongjoong said, his words hushed but feeling like they were damn near echoing in that room, and his voice hoarse. “I wanted to save them, but I couldn’t. Not then and not now either, obviously, it’s a little stupid to think I could try.” He took a shaky breath in and swallowed hard. Seonghwa kissed the back of Hongjoong’s neck, hooking his chin over his shoulder. Hongjoong relaxed into him, turning back towards Seonghwa and allowing the other man to settle him into his arms to lean against his chest.

“I know, it’s not your fault. You were a child, and it never should’ve happened.” Seonghwa said, relaxing into their pillows with Hongjoong cradled in his arms, humming an old sea shanty. Hongjoong felt himself relax into the smell of lilacs, the tune Seonghwa was humming lulling him to sleep. He only vaguely wondered where Seonghwa could’ve possibly heard that tune before his eyes felt too heavy to care. He felt Seonghwa press his lips into his hair as he drifted off.

“Goodnight Hongjoong.”

Hongjoong woke up again, still plastered to Seonghwa’s chest. He pushed himself up, looking down into Seonghwa’s sleeping face. He brushed his hair out of his eyes and smiled. Seonghwa’s eyes fluttered open and he smiled softly back at Hongjoong.

“Did you sleep better?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong nodded quickly.

“Thank you, Hwa, for that. I haven’t had a nightmare in so long. I don’t know what brought that on.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa nodded. He sat up a little more and took a deep breath.

“It’s like you said, that sometimes all it takes is one little thing to remind you.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong leaned down to kiss him. Seonghwa kissed back, whining in disappointment when Hongjoong pulled away. He looked into the other’s eyes and felt compelled to finally give Seonghwa the one gift he’d been holding back.

“Later, jagiya, we’ve got things to do.” Hongjoong said, kissing the end of his nose. He rolled over, reaching over to his bedside table and grabbing a box off of it. He turned back to Seonghwa, who’s eyes had widened as he looked at the box in Hongjoong’s hands. Hongjoong was the most worried about this gift, the simple gold anklet felt like it was burning a hole in his hands as he held it. He hoped he hadn’t jumped the gun, worried it would be too much.

“Firstly, I’ve got you something. I hope you’ll like it. It’s a lot simpler than your usual tastes.” Hongjoong joked, opening the box and holding it out towards Seonghwa. He almost couldn’t look up when he heard the ring of silence surrounding him. He almost pulled the box back, rushing to explain that he didn’t know what he was thinking. The words were on the tip of his tongue when he heard the sniffle. His head snapped up and Hongjoong saw Seonghwa with tears spilling down his cheeks. Seonghwa took the simple gold anklet out of the box, cradling it in his hands and hiccuping on a sob.

“It’s beautiful.” Seonghwa whispered. Hongjoong looked down at the delicate piece of jewellery, a slim gold plate held by a golden chain on either side. He looked at the message he’d gotten inscribed on the plate, To My Guiding Star, with love KHJ, reflecting back at him.

“You like it?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa laughed wetly, it bubbled up his throat with a sob.

“I love it, put it on me.” Seonghwa said, holding it out. Hongjoong took the anklet from Seonghwa, bending down to fasten it around his right ankle. Seonghwa smiled, seeing it reflecting back at him.

“I’m never taking it off, ever.” Seonghwa said, leaning forward and kissing Hongjoong, humming in approval when Hongjoong’s hands settled on his thighs. “That’s a promise, Kim Hongjoong.”

“Hongjoong I want you to knot me.” Seonghwa said, startling when Hongjoong started to cough. He breathed in rather abruptly, choking on his food and coughing for a few seconds trying to get it out. Seonghwa stood up, only stopping because Hongjoong put up his hand.

“God, Seonghwa.” Hongjoong rasped out, rubbing his chest and coughing a few more times.

“You said that if I couldn’t say it we couldn’t do it!” Seonghwa protested. Hongjoong knew that he had indeed said that, but he really didn’t expect that Seonghwa was going to blurt it out over dinner, their weekly alone time punctuated by the declaration and Hongjoong’s choking.

“Do you not want to?” Seonghwa asked quietly and Hongjoong quickly shook his head. He reached for Seonghwa’s hand, giving it a squeeze.

“Of course I want to. Hwa, jagiya, I don’t think you even comprehend how wildly attracted I am to you.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa’s face lit up in curiosity. “You’re so beautiful, handsome. I love the slope of your nose and how your thighs feel in my hands. You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met and the most caring, ruthlessly protective of the crew and me even. You’re what I didn’t know I needed.” Seonghwa walked around the table and smiled slightly when Hongjoong pushed himself back from the table. The alpha smirked as he watched the other push into his space, settling himself in Hongjoong’s lap. He looked up at Seonghwa, leaning into the hand he placed on his face.

“I love you, Seonghwa, you own my heart and you have for a long time now.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa breathed out a laugh. He leaned forward and kissed Hongjoong, smiling when he felt Hongjoong’s hands sliding up his thighs.

“I love you too, Hongjoong. You captured my heart, same as you captured me.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong scoffed, settling his hands on Seonghwa’s hips.

“You went with me willingly, as I recall.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa rolled his eyes, a smile still on his face as he leaned in to kiss Hongjoong again. Hongjoong felt his fingers tighten on Seonghwa’s hips, pulling him impossibly closer.

“Exactly.” He whispered against Hongjoong’s lips, kissing him again. “I went willingly, I gave my heart willingly too.” The pair sat with Seonghwa perched in Hongjoong’s lap for a few seconds before Hongjoong caved. He saw the look in Seonghwa’s eyes, earnest and also stubbornly determined.

“Please, Joongie.” Seonghwa whispered and that was the final straw. Hongjoong’s will broke as easily as if Seonghwa had blown a feather off his shoulder.

“OK, if you’re ready?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa nodded enthusiastically. “Right now?” Seonghwa nodded again. Hongjoong took a deep breath in and nodded yes.

“Lead the way baby.”

Seonghwa pulled Hongjoong into their bedroom, pulling at his clothes and giggling as they kissed. Jackets came off, belts and weapons, Seonghwa giggled as he pulled Hongjoong’s secret dagger out of his waistband, a practiced skill of his. No one else even knew where that weapon was, or that it was there, but Seonghwa did. Hongjoong pulled him closer, his heart swelling with affection as the knife clattered to the ground with their guns and swords. The back of Seonghwa’s knees hit the bed and he let himself fall backwards against the sheets. Hongjoong crawled up his body over him, kissing him and smiling down at the already flushed omega.

“We can stop whenever you want to, I won’t be angry or disappointed.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa nodded that he understood. “Hwa-” Seonghwa scoffed, cutting him off.

“Yes, Joong I get it, now shut up.” Seonghwa said, pulling him down for another kiss. “You’re lucky I love you.” Hongjoong did as he was told, burying his face in Seonghwa’s neck and letting his hands wander, squeezing and groping Seonghwa’s thighs and ass. He licked over the scent gland on Seonghwa’s neck, slightly swollen already from the alpha being so close. He smirked when he felt the older’s body jerk in reaction. He pushed Hongjoong back a bit to pull his own shirt over his head and Hongjoong followed suit, pressing their chests back together as soon as they had been tossed aside. Seonghwa reached up to brush Hongjoong’s hair back, pulling at the longer strands near the back of his neck.

“You can mark me up a little if you want.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong looked at him, raising an eyebrow. “I want you to, but it’s about you too and I don’t want to force anything.” Hongjoong laughed, pushing up to kiss Seonghwa again, sucking his bottom lip between his teeth and gently biting down, pulling his lip slightly back with him and then letting it slip back out.

“I can do that, jagiya.” Hongjoong whispered, sitting back to pull Seonghwa’s pants down, tossing them aside and sliding his hand down between his lover’s parted legs, gently prodding to feel that Seonghwa was wet. Seonghwa squirmed, pouting slightly, and Hongjoong gave in to his unspoken complaints, sinking a finger into him and watching as Seonghwa’s lips parted around a breathy sigh. Hongjoong leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together. He soon pushed two fingers into him, revelling in how Seonghwa’s breath hitched. He saw the other man’s hand unclench from the sheets and reach towards him, meeting him halfway and intertwining their fingers. Hongjoong gave his hand a squeeze.

“I’m going to use three now, OK?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa nodded, his back arching slightly when Hongjoong pressed his third finger into him. “OK?” Seonghwa nodded again, squeezing his hand. Hongjoong moved his fingers in and out of the man under him, watching for any signs that Seonghwa wanted him to stop, but there were none. Hongjoong laved his tongue over Seonghwa’s scent gland again, smiling slightly when Seonghwa gasped and grabbed his wrist.

“I want you inside me.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong surged forward to kiss him. He felt Seonghwa’s fingers tangle in his hair, pulling slightly without meaning to.

“OK, just give me a minute to get my pants off.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa groaned.

“Why do you even still have pants on?” He asked and Hongjoong laughed, pulling back and undoing his buttons, pushing his pants down and stepping out of them a little haphazardly.

“Someone didn’t seem too keen on letting me go too far. Definitely not far enough to remove my pants.” Hongjoong said, watching as Seonghwa’s eyes zeroed in on his cock standing at full attention. “That remind you of anyone?” Seonghwa smiled slightly, looking back at him.

“No, no one at all actually.” He said and Hongjoong hummed, crawling back over him and kissing him. Seonghwa’s arms came up around his neck as Hongjoong settling between his legs, bending his knees to get Hongjoong closer to where he wanted him.

“Hongjoong, I’m ready.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong looked at him, his eyes practically crossing from how close their faces were. “Don’t ask me if I’m sure. Put it in.” Hongjoong felt his face heat up at the prediction from Seonghwa over what his next question would be and amusement at his phrasing.

“Alright love, I think you’ve been patient enough.” Hongjoong whispered, shifting his weight slightly on to his knees and reaching between them to line himself up. Hongjoong pushed forward into Seonghwa slowly, letting the other adjust to what it felt like, watching his face as closely as he could when he was being overwhelmed with the feeling of tight, hot and wet around him. He smelt the scent of lilacs spike, watching Seonghwa’s eyes flutter closed when his hips pressed flush against Seonghwa’s ass. He buried his face in the omega’s neck, sucking a hickey under his ear and attempting to suppress how badly his hips wanted to move. He felt Seonghwa’s hand move back into his hair, pulling him out of his neck and forcing him to look at him.

“I’m OK, just need a minute.” Seonghwa breathed out, loosening his grip and allowing Hongjoong to go back to his worship of the curve of his neck. He felt giggles bubble up Seonghwa’s throat, his knees tightening around him. Hongjoong looked up again, getting a small nod from Seonghwa in return to an unasked question. Hongjoong started slow, moving his hips in more of a grinding fashion into the other, building up the pace and rhythm until he was punching moans out of the omega under him. He watched as Seonghwa’s face contorted in pleasure, head thrown back, neck and back arched into him.

“Joong.” He whined as Hongjoong reached down between them and began to jerk him off in time with his thrusts. Seonghwa came between them, Hongjoong barely slowing down as the pressure on his own knot caused it to grow until it was almost catching. Seonghwa pulled Hongjoong’s face back down into his neck, his ankles locking behind his back and other hand’s nails digging into his shoulder.

“Knot me, jagiya, I want it. I love you.” Seonghwa whispered into his ear, keening when Hongjoong bit down on his shoulder, far from his bonding spot, but close enough. Seonghwa pulled him in closer, digging his heels into his back, kissing his ear.

“Come on, knot me Captain.” Seonghwa moaned, pulling at his hair once again as Hongjoong sucked a hickey on the edge of his scent gland. Hongjoong groaned against his shoulder hearing Seonghwa call him Captain, his knot locking them together as he ground into the omega under him. Seonghwa clenched down on the knot, pulling Hongjoong back to kiss him, pressing their foreheads together as Hongjoong groaned, cum shooting into Seonghwa as the omega experienced his second orgasm. Hongjoong’s arms gave out, collapsing on top of Seonghwa, not that the other minded. He rolled them over, pulling Hongjoong’s hand up onto his thigh and cradling the alpha’s head in his hands.

“I love you Hongjoong, my Captain.” He whispered, kissing the tip of Hongjoong’s nose and Hongjoong smiled, still a little orgasm dumb, pushing forward to kiss Seonghwa as he hissed that Hongjoong had jostled the knot still locking them together.

“I love you too, my guiding star.”

Hongjoong woke up a few hours later when Seonghwa was pulling himself away from him. He sat up and grabbed Seonghwa's waist, pulling him back. The omega huffed out a sound of annoyance.

“Don’t leave me dear, the bed isn’t as warm without you.” Hongjoong whined, smiling when Seonghwa scowled. The omega didn’t resist being pulled back into bed and under the sheets. He seemed content to lay there. Hongjoong kissed his shoulder. He admired the way the morning light reflected across Seonghwa’s back as the omega leaned back into him. Hongjoong let his free hand wander over his thigh as the omega stretched his neck back to look at Hongjoong. The sun turned his eyes a warm shade of brown as he looked at him. He turned his head back, sighing and shifting in Hongjoong arms, making no moves to get up.

“I have to go clean cum off of me.” Seonghwa said, rather matter of factly, causing Hongjoong to laugh uncontrollably. “I’m not trying to be funny.” Hongjoong took a deep breath in, trying to suppress other giggles bubbling out of his mouth.

“I know jagiya, I know you’re not.” Hongjoong said, still snickering and trying to stifle it in Seonghwa’s shoulder. “We can get in the bath together, how does that sound?” Seonghwa hummed in contentment. He rolled over in Hongjoong’s arms and burrowed into his chest.

“Maybe later, you’re warm.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong smiled down at him, he ran his fingers through Seonghwa’s hair and wondered how he’d gotten so lucky.

Hongjoong watched with amusement as Seonghwa shook his finger in Yunho’s face as the alpha looked at the ground in shame. Mingi was looking on in confusion from the other side of the ship, wholly unaware of what Seonghwa was chastising him for.

“How many times do I have to tell you? You need to ask that boy on a proper outing! I didn’t even act this stupid and the Captain didn’t even ask me correctly.” Seonghwa said, chastising Yunho chickening out yet again on his quest to ask Mingi out as properly as a pirate could. Hongjoong tried to stay out of those arguments considering. Seonghwa seemed to get away with it though. Yunho looked at the ground and Seonghwa rolled his eyes, flicking him gently in the forehead.

“You gotta, Yunho-yah, it’s borderline painful to watch you two dance around each other.” Seonghwa said and Yunho shrugged.

“I just don’t know if he feels the same.” He said and Seonghwa stared at him for a few seconds more. Yunho’s eyes were glued to the boards of the deck as Seonghwa stared him down. He refused to look up, even when Seonghwa huffed in annoyance.

“I think we both know that’s a lie, but OK.” He said. “Yunho-yah, he likes you and you just have to do it. I can’t do it for you, trust me, I wish I could.” Yunho looked up and Seonghwa smiled, pinching his cheek lovingly, giving his face a slight shake.

“Just think about it.” He said, looking back towards Hongjoong and sauntering towards him. Hongjoong reached for him, his hand landing on his hip as Seonghwa settled into his side. Hongjoong cleared his throat and looked at Seonghwa.

“Would you have wanted me to ask more ‘correctly’ as you put it?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa shrugged. He turned to look at Hongjoong more and brushed his hair back.

“No, I liked how we got together. It was so different from anything I would’ve expected from the life I was destined for and I loved it. I got my own whirlwind confession and everything.” Seonghwa said. “Yunho however, he needs to smarten up. A man like Mingi isn’t going to wait around all day.” Hongjoong smiled softly at him, glancing over at the two of them.

“I think Mingi would indeed wait around all day. He’s just as smitten.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa smiled, looking over at the two as well. Yunho was holding Mingi’s fingers in the guise of teaching him how to tie a knot. Mingi for sure already knew how to tie that knot and Yunho was teaching him as slowly as possible.

“They’ll figure it out, I’m sure.” Seonghwa said, looking back at Hongjoong and smiling. “We did.” Hongjoong laughed, leaning in to kiss Seonghwa, a chaste peck before he pulled back to look at his bewildered face.

“Hopefully not the same way we did.” Hongjoong joked and Seonghwa laughed, smacking Hongjoong’s chest in a playful manner.

“No, hopefully not.” He said, giggling periodically as they both surveyed the ship as the sun went down. Although, Hongjoong found himself watching Seonghwa more than the crew. He could see the beginnings of land on the horizon, specks of green coming into view. He tightened his hand on Seonghwa’s hip.

“We should dock tonight, jagiya. Maybe tomorrow we can go out and see the shops?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa laughed. He nodded his agreement, leaning into the alpha beside him.

“Are you planning on spoiling me?” He asked and Hongjoong scoffed in mock annoyance.

“Absolutely not.” Hongjoong smiled when Seonghwa started to laugh, pressing a kiss against the alpha’s cheek. “Alright, go check on our kids and I’ll get started on my work, I’ll see you later jagiya.”

Seonghwa walked out onto the deck the next morning and he stopped dead. Hongjoong almost walked into him, stopping just short of doing so. Hongjoong squeezed himself out the doorway, walking around the man who was seemingly glued in place, seeing the terrified look on his face. His eyes were wide as his chest rose and fell rapidly, his eyes were locked on a hill in the distance. What was on it exactly was marred by the fog and mist obstructing the view, but Seonghwa seemed to know exactly what was behind the morning clouds.

“Seonghwa, jagiya, are you OK?” Hongjoong’s hand coming up to touch his back. Seonghwa flinched, his head snapping towards Hongjoong. He swallowed hard and shook his head.

“I can’t do this.” He turned on his heel and disappearing back into their room. Hongjoong spun, attempting to follow him, but Seonghwa shut the door in his face. The alpha pursed his lips and sighed. He knew that sometimes Seonghwa just needed some time, so he lowered the hand he had poised to knock.

“Jagiya, do you need some time alone?” He asked, calling through the door and hearing a muffled ‘yes’ in reply. “ OK, I’ll be back in an hour or so, and we can talk about this.”

When Hongjoong returned he was greeted with Seonghwa staring off into the distance, at the mountain with a rather garish looking home nestled into the side that had been obstructed earlier in the day. He was glad he didn’t have to drag him out of their shared room or anything drastic. Hongjoong walked towards him, sliding a hand over his hip and frowning at how he jumped at the contact.

“Jagiya, what is it?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa smirked. He broke his gaze away from the hillside and turned to Hongjoong. He looked at him for a few seconds, studying his facial expression. Hongjoong wasn’t sure what he was looking for.

“You really don’t know?” Hongjoong shrugged in response.

“Don’t know what, Seonghwa?” He asked and the omega turned his head back towards the hill. He blinked a few times, like he was trying to hold back some sort of emotion.

“It’s my Appa’s palace, the summer palace really but Eomeonim doesn’t like it there so Appa basically took it over. It’s where I grew up. He could be in there, with my baby brother.” Seonghwa mused and Hongjoong tensed, knowing exactly where this seemed to be going.

“It’s not safe, Seonghwa-” Hongjoong started to say, his voice dying in the back of his throat when Seonghwa shot him a glare.

“You think I don’t know that? I’ve been thinking about this since before we even pulled into this port and I realized where we were. I know it’s not a good decision, that it’s stupid and selfish even, but it’s my Appa.” Seonghwa said, his voice choking up on the last few words. “I thought I was never going to be able to see him again, this is most likely my last chance. I just want to tell him I’m OK.” Hongjoong rubbed his back, nodding. He knew deep down that Seonghwa was going whether he wanted him to or not.

“I understand, will you at least let me come with you?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa looked panicked at the thought. His eyes grew wide and full of fear. His hands came up to grip Hongjoong’s shirt, his amber coloured jacket’s lapels being caught in his fingers as well.

“You can’t! They’d throw you in the dungeon if you were caught.” Hongjoong scoffed in response. He peeled Seonghwa’s hands off his lapels, clasping his hands in his.

“And what will they do with you?” His tone gentle as he watched Seonghwa’s mouth snap shut as he went silent. “I’m coming, I should probably meet my partner’s Appa anyway.” Seonghwa’s mouth twitched up into a smile. He nodded his agreement, turning his head to glance back at the palace and his childhood home.

“OK.”

Hongjoong gestured San over to his office, pulling the other away from his daily tasks and towards where they could speak privately. He grabbed the other alpha by the shirt sleeve and guided him into the office space with him. Seonghwa was in their bedroom, waiting anxiously for Hongjoong to return, surely with his ear pressed against the door to listen in. San looked startled, confused and befuddled. He tilted his head to the side while waiting for Hongjoong to start to speak. The other was struggling to find the words to even start to explain what he wanted to convey.

“Captain?” He asked and Hongjoong held up his hand. San swallowed and nodded for him to continue.

“Seonghwa says that the giant house on the mountain is the royal family’s summer home and that it belongs to his Appa. He told me that his Appa is probably still there and that he grew up there with him. He also told me that he wants to go see him.” Hongjoong whispered and San’s face twisted into an unreadable mix of emotions. He waited a few seconds, processing what he had just said.

“So you told him no, right?” Hongjoong pursed his lips, sighing in a way that told him everything he needed to know, and San’s eyes widened. “Captain, that’s insane. What if he gets captured?” Hongjoong ran a hand through his hair and looked into San’s eyes again.

“I’m going with him.” He said simply and San’s eyebrows shot up into his hairline.

“You’re what?!” He hissed through his teeth. “Have you lost all your senses? Leaving the ship without a Captain so you can accompany your boyfriend on his suicide mission?” Hongjoong bristled at the implication of how likely it was to fail.

“I can’t stop him, San-ah, you know that. He’s as determined as your mate is, but at least I can protect him.” Hongjoong countered, watching as San deflated slightly, looking down at the floor. “I know that if it was Wooyoung you’d fight to go with him.” Hongjoong waited until the other alpha had squared his shoulders again and was looking at him, clearly ready for the next order.

“If we’re not back in 4 hours, I’ll need you to start planning a break out.” Hongjoong said, putting his hand on San’s shoulder. “OK?” He could see the protest behind San’s eyes, the want to say no, followed directly by his understanding that it was a direct order, not a question.

“Yes, Captain.”

The journey to the mountain didn’t take long, especially since they waited for the cover of darkness to make them invisible. Hongjoong followed behind Seonghwa, who insisted that he needed to lead and that he knew a way in. Considering Hongjoong knew he spent a lot of time there, he was led to trust him. Seonghwa had a dark coloured hood pulled up, covering most of his face, when he slipped out of the woods and past the guards like it was nothing. Hongjoong hurried behind him, shuffling into the space in the wall where Seonghwa was expertly slipping through. Hongjoong found himself in a hallway, deserted and cold feeling, walls lined with candles and carpet on the floor. Seonghwa sighed, walking quickly down the hall, opening a door and turning into a much larger space. He reached back and pulled Hongjoong into him by the hand.

“Jagiya?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa smiled back at him. He walked over to a spot on the wall lined with hooks and ran his fingers over them.

“These were my rooms, when I was growing up.” Seonghwa’s smile faltered slightly. “They uh, took down all my swords when I presented and I never got them back.” Hongjoong ran a hand over his hip, kissing his cheek.

“I’m sorry.” Hongjoong whispered and Seonghwa leaned into the touch. He quickly spun around.

“We’d better get going.” He said, reaching for the door. He was completely taken aback when the door swung open and there was a man standing there, in a dressing gown. His face was lined with experience and age, a few greys poking out around his temples. Hongjoong saw the shocked look on his face, the curve of his mouth, the slope of his nose and shape of his eyes were far too familiar. He felt his stomach drop into his shoes. The older man quickly stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him.

“Seonghwa-yah, my son.” He said, his voice breaking over the words. He brought his hand up to cup his cheek and then pulled him in for a hug. Hongjoong saw tears in his lashline as he held Seonghwa close to him, abruptly pulling back like he had remembered something important. His face hardened into an unreadable mask as he pushed Seonghwa back.

“Appa, I thought-” Seonghwa was cut off by his father hushing him. Seonghwa frowned and took a step back on his own.

“You can’t be here, you have to go. If they find you, your Eomeonim will have you sent somewhere far worse than that bastard she made me promise you to last time.” He said, running his thumb over Seonghwa’s cheekbone as his face softened again. “My precious boy, I can’t let that happen. I let it happen the first time and I regret it, ever since I put you on that ship. I’m so sorry I did that to you.” Seonghwa grabbed his hand and made him stop trying to push him out the door.

“Appa, stop, slow down.” Seonghwa said, looking his father in the eyes. “Don’t you want to meet the man I left with?” It was then that Seonghwa’s father seemed to even notice that Hongjoong was in the room. The alpha stepped out of the shadows and gave an awkward wave. He felt the consort’s eyes go up and down him, judging him for all he was, and possibly all he wasn’t. Hongjoong wished at that moment that he was a little taller, a little broader, a little more alpha, to prove himself worthy of Seonghwa to his father. The older man’s eyes softened and he turned back to his son.

“Seonghwa-yah, he is a handsome young man.” His father said, a teasing lilt in his voice and a similar sparkle in his eyes. “You did well for yourself.” He stopped, pulling Seonghwa’s hand into his.

“You have to run, my love. I can’t save you from whatever your Eomeonim wants, I tried, and I failed. I was so happy when you got away. Stay away, stay gone, disappear where we can’t ever find you.” He said and Seonghwa frowned.

“Appa-”

“No, my darling boy, I can’t be able to find you either. Your Eomeonim she is cunning and she will catch up with you through me.” He said, his lips curling up in disgust at the mention of the Queen. “She hardly visits anymore, not since the last time she had to, your little brother was entirely her idea. I am far too old to be carrying babies, he was a miracle.” Seonghwa smiled at the mention of the baby.

“I was hoping to meet him.” His father smiled sadly at him. Seonghwa knew the answer, he didn’t have to say it.

“That’s OK. I really just wanted you to know I was safe.” Seonghwa squeezed his father’s hand. “Eomeonim would not be able to even fetch as good a suitor this time, I’m no longer pure.” Hongjoong felt dread fill him, like he wanted to melt into the floor, when he heard Seonghwa tell his father that Hongjoong had made him no longer pure. He wondered in that moment whether piracy or taking a prince’s virginity was a bigger crime and which one carried the harsher punishment. He could feel the older omega’s eyes on him, looking up sheepishly into the amused expression on his face.

“I don’t think your alpha wanted you to tell me that.” He said and Seonghwa giggled. Hongjoong felt relief break the tension in his chest as the older man laughed too.

“I don’t care, he doesn’t control me, and Appa, I forgive you. I know that you didn’t have a choice.” Seonghwa said and tears welled in his Appa’s eyes. He pulled his son in, pressing their foreheads together and squeezing his shoulders.

“Run, far far away. Don’t look back, and don’t worry about me. As I said, your Eomeonim doesn’t even visit. I’m fine.” The King consort pushed Seonghwa away from him. He turned towards Hongjoong, gesturing the alpha over. Hongjoong approached slowly, his eyes on the floor.

“Look up, silly boy.” He commanded, smiling when Hongjoong’s eyes met his. “The proud alpha who won my son’s heart doesn’t need to look down.” He surveyed Hongjoong up and down yet again and smiled softly, nodding his head. He pulled Hongjoong into a hug.

“Take care of him.” He whispered, his voice tight with unshed tears. Hongjoong hugged the older man back, feeling the omega parent of the man he loved sagging in his arms. He may be royalty, but he was no different than any other parent, worried that his child would not be safe once they left their arms.

“I promise I will, until my dying breath.” Hongjoong whispered back. He pulled back, grabbing Seonghwa’s outstretched hand and allowing him to pull him away. Hongjoong turned one final time to see Seonghwa’s Appa wave as Seonghwa pulled him back into the hole in the wall and out into the woods.

Seonghwa was silent all the way back to the ship. He climbed aboard silently, walked past San and Wooyoung, Mingi and Yunho, even Yeosang was barely acknowledged. He went straight into their room and closed the door with a soft click behind him. Hongjoong sighed and turned to look at his crew.

“Captain?” San said, his voice lilting into a question he clearly wasn’t sure how to voice. Hongjoong shook his head, looking at the closed door Seonghwa had just gone through.

“He’s fine, his Appa was there and they talked. I think it’s just a lot for him to process.” Hongjoong said and San made a confused noise. Hongjoong turned to him, waiting for him to gather his thoughts enough to ask what he wanted to ask.

“He just let you go?” San’s eyes widened as Hongjoong nodded. He stepped slightly closer and rolled his shoulders to relieve the tension he felt in them.

“Turns out, he didn’t want his son to come back. He wanted him to get away. He told him to run and never look back.” Hongjoong explained and silence rang in the air, hanging heavy over all the crew. “I’m going to go to him now, goodnight.” Hongjoong ignored the quiet calls of goodnight as he pushed through the door into their room.

Seonghwa was curled up in bed, staring blankly out the window at the moon. His face was blank, but not calm, emotion swirled behind his eyes. He was still mostly dressed, lying on top of the blankets with his arms wrapped around himself. Hongjoong silently undressed down to his shirt and pants, crawling in beside the older man and wrapping his arms around him. Seonghwa reacted immediately, sinking back into the embrace and accepting the silent comfort offered to him. They laid in silence for a few minutes, Hongjoong just holding Seonghwa close to him, pressing his lips against Seonghwa’s shoulder and waiting. He waited until Seonghwa felt ready to voice the emotions behind his eyes, and he’d wait as long as it took. He felt Seonghwa take a shaky breath in.

“I just wish I could take him with me.” Seonghwa said quietly, almost too quietly to be heard. Hongjoong squeezed him a little harder, kissing under his ear and rubbing his nose into his hair. He felt Seonghwa’s shoulders shake with muffled sobs.

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“Have you ever thought about mating?” Seonghwa asked and Hongjoong barely missed choking on his food. “Because I have been thinking about it, a lot.” Hongjoong swallowed and looked up at Seonghwa, almost waiting for him to continue before he spoke instead.

“Seonghwa, jagiya you’ve really got to stop making a habit out of saying these things and catching me off guard. Or I’ll really have to start considering a murder plot via getting me to choke to death.” Hongjoong cleared his throat a few times as Seonghwa stared at him, clearly amused but holding in his laughter.

“I have thought about mating before, but I would assume you’re speaking far more specifically than that.” Hongjoong looked at him under his bangs. He waited again, this time much more sure that Seonghwa was going to speak.

“I was just thinking that maybe I would like to mate one day, with you.” Seonghwa said, the ending of his sentence quieter than the rest. He looked up from where he was picking at his food, his eyes flitting from Hongjoong’s to the floor, as if he was unsure about what he would be hearing next. Hongjoong smiled gently at him.

“I would love that, Seonghwa, what timeline are you thinking?” Seonghwa’s shoulders deflated slightly, looking relieved.

“Really? That’s great, um, I didn’t really think about it. I was so wrapped up in thinking that you might say no.” Seonghwa said laughing. Hongjoong frowned slightly, looking at him with his head tilted to the side.

“Seonghwa, I would love nothing more than the honour of you wearing my mark, and wearing yours, every day of the rest of my life.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa’s smile faltered. He tilted his head to the side, getting the same look in his eyes that Hongjoong had seen plenty of times before. Right before Seonghwa asked him to explain something to him that his parents should’ve explained.

“What do you mean?” He asked quietly. “My mark?” Hongjoong nodded slowly, unsure where this was going for a second while he waited for Seonghwa to gather his thoughts.

“Like I bite you too?” Seonghwa asked again, the apprehension and unsure was clear in his voice. Hongjoong nodded again, putting his utensils down and taking a deep breath in.

“Of course, Seonghwa I would never mark you and expect you to not complete the bond. If that’s what you were thinking I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.” Hongjoong said, pushing back slightly from the table and watching as Seonghwa’s shoulders tightened up again. “I don’t want to have an incomplete bond and frankly I dislike them. It feels barbaric to expect that you wear my mark like a brand while I walk around without one. It feels like ownership more than partnership.” Seonghwa had gotten very quiet. He was looking at the floor, his eyes glued to one spot as he fiddled with his fingers. Hongjoong fears for the worst.

“Seonghwa-” He began, getting cut off by Seonghwa holding up his hand. He stopped, his jaw clicking shut.

“They told me that alphas couldn’t get marked.” Seonghwa’s voice was barely above a whisper. “They told me that it was only omegas.” Hongjoong could hear the wind whistling around the ship after that. The room was silent, so much so that Hongjoong felt his ears ringing as he processed what Seonghwa had said to him. He felt anger first, how could they have told him that, directly followed by the little voice in his head that asked if he was really all that surprised considering.

“Have you never looked at San’s neck? Not even once?” Hongjoong asked, his voice coming out thick and a little stupid sounding, especially when Seonghwa laughed. He looked at him, his eyes glossed over and sniffed.

“I’m usually looking into his eyes, not at his scent gland, Joong.” He replied, looking back down. “I thought that was just how it was.” Hongjoong felt overwhelming sadness wash over him as he watched Seonghwa shrink into himself. His arms crossed across his chest as he sank in the chair.

“Seonghwa, I don’t know what to say here. I really don’t, other than tell you they were wrong. Alphas can be marked, and I want you to mark me.” Hongjoong said, watching as Seonghwa smiled at him. “I don’t wish to own you, I want to be in a partnership with you. Is that what you want too?” Seonghwa nodded, tears threatening to spill over very obviously.

“Words, jagiya.” Hongjoong said softly, giggling when Seonghwa laughed wetly. He wiped his eyes and blinked a few times.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I want.” He said, confirming what Hongjoong had been hoping for. Hongjoong pushed back from the table, gesturing him over and snickering when Seonghwa almost knocked over a wine glass to get to him.

“Careful there, don’t spill anything.” He said, laughing as Seonghwa went around the table and climbed into his lap, straddling him. He pulled him in for a kiss and Hongjoong laughed against his lips, his hands coming up to rest on Seonghwa’s thighs.

“I will do whatever I want, Hongjoong.” Seonghwa said, pulling back and pressing their foreheads together. Hongjoong sighed, pushing forward into Seonghwa’s neck, kissing the scent gland that he would claim one day.

“You never told me a timeline?” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa sighed, giggling when Hongjoong playfully bit down lightly on his shoulder.

“Right now, tomorrow, next week, it doesn’t matter, because I’m already yours.” Seonghwa said, pulling Hongjoong’s face out of his neck and cradling it in his hands. “I have been for a while now.” Hongjoong smiled back at him.

“Same here, jagiya, but let me ask you properly.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa pushed back into his space. “I’ll get down on one knee and everything.”

“OK, but no rings. They get in the way with my swords.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong snorted, laughing as Seonghwa buried his face in his neck. The omega pouted as he did so, emphasizing how much he had Hongjoong wrapped around his pinky finger when his response was to rub his back and coo.

“You got it, no rings.” Hongjoong said, enjoying Seonghwa’s weight against his chest. He pressed a kiss into his hair. “You know you’ll have to move eventually, right?” Seonghwa huffed, adjusting himself to lean more on Hongjoong. The alpha under him chuckled, opening his mouth to tell Seonghwa again that he would have to get up eventually before his legs fell asleep, but Seonghwa beat him to it.

“Shut up Joong” Seonghwa said, clearly close to drifting to sleep and Hongjoong tilted his head back, accepting his fate. Seonghwa was warm anyway, comfortable on his chest, even as his hair tickled Hongjoong’s nose.

“OK jagiya.”

“Captain, I don’t know why you’re so stressed out about this.” San said, dodging around another person in the market square. The shops were busy that morning, thrumming with people and life, like a heart keeping the city alive. Hongjoong was on his way to the 4th jeweler in the third port they had been in since he’d promised Seonghwa a real mating proposal. He feared the omega was becoming impatient with him, evidenced by the way Seonghwa stared him down across the deck with his eyebrows raised every time he came back from one of his outings with nothing in his hands.

“He’ll love anything you get him, especially something with so much significance.” San reminded him, running to keep up with Hongjoong in spite of being taller than him. “Wooyoung didn’t seem to mind not even having a ring.” Hongjoong sighed, turning in the middle of the street to face San. People moved around them in an annoyed fashion, glaring at the two alphas in the middle of the street.

“I told you already San, he explicitly said no rings. Plus, I promised him a proper proposal, one knee and all and he’s clearly looking forward to it.” Hongjoong spun around again, continuing to walk as San hustled to keep up. “You’ve seen how he looks at me when I come back with nothing. I’m almost convinced he’s going to kill me in my sleep if I don’t do it soon.” San laughed, catching up to Hongjoong outside the jewelers door. The sign swung lightly in the breeze, words etched onto the wood seemed to be mocking him almost, as he stared at them.

“He’s impatient because he wants to be mated to you, not because you don’t have anything every time you come back you know.” San said, clapping a hand on Hongjoong’s back. “So don’t come back empty handed this time, so you can give him what he wants.” Hongjoong took a deep breath in and stepped into the jewelers.

The bell rang as the door opened, the floor creaking under Hongjoong’s boots as he stepped into the shop. He already felt overwhelmed and he hadn’t even looked at anything yet.

“Hi, welcome in, can I help you?” The jeweler asked and Hongjoong didn’t respond, instead staring at the closest jewelry case surveying it for options. He barely heard San acknowledge the jeweler, probably telling him that they would tell him if they needed anything. Most likely apologizing for Hongjoong’s off the wall behaviour as well, but the alpha couldn’t bring himself to care at that moment. Hongjoong ran his hand through his hair and sighed, he looked around, seeing if anything caught his eye immediately. San was right behind him, rocking on his heels like he was unsure what exactly he should do to help.

“Don’t think so hard, Captain, Hongjoong-hyung. This is your mate, you know him.” San quietly, stepped closer to the other alpha. “You know what he likes. Don’t let the need for this to be ‘perfect’ overshadow that. Take a deep breath, you’ll know when you see it.” Hongjoong looked, spotting pearls from across the room. Seonghwa didn’t own any pearls, which was appealing as Hongjoong wanted this one to be different, special. He approached the case slowly, like he was afraid he'd somehow spook the inanimate objects sitting behind the glass. He looked down at one necklace in particular, three strings of pearls, connected by a large diamond, meant to sit on his collarbone, most likely just under where the mating bite would go on the man it would look absolutely ravishing on. San walked up behind him. He looked over his shoulder, his eyes widening.

“Did you find it?” He asked, his tone excited, and Hongjoong nodded. He knew that Seonghwa would love it, in spite of it looking nothing like anything else in Seonghwa’s collection. He just knew that it was the one.

“I think I have.” He said and San gestured the jeweler over. He looked from Hongjoong to the necklace he was looking at and smiled.

“That is a lovely one, I’m sure they’ll love it.” Hongjoong snapped his fingers at San and the other alpha dropped a bag of gold on the table. The jewel stifled a laugh, causing Hongjoong to snap his eyes towards him. The laugh faltered, the jeweler cleared his throat.

“You’ll need a uh, bit more than that.” He said, stuttering over his words as Hongjoong raised his eyebrows. He gestured to San and he heard the other pull his gun out, pointing it over Hongjoong’s shoulder, directly at the jeweler. The man gasped, taking a step back, his mouth hanging open slightly in shock. Hongjoong snorted out a laugh. He waited for the jeweler’s brain to catch up, but he simply stood there gaping like a fish and Hongjoong rolled his eyes.

“You’re lucky I’m offering payment, now take it.” Hongjoong said, gesturing towards the money on the table. “Or you could leave it, I guess.” San cocked the gun as Hongjoong clicked his tongue in annoyance. The jeweler swallowed and nodded, very quickly realizing that his options were in fact nonexistent.

“This looks like j-just the right amount, actually.” He said and Hongjoong hummed his approval. “I’ll pack th-hat up for you.” He reached for the gold and Hongjoong frowned at him. San made a noise of disapproval behind him.

“I-I’ll pack this up first, of course.” He said quickly and Hongjoong smiled at him. He watched as the jeweler found a box for him and took the necklace out of the display.

“You think he’ll like it?” Hongjoong asked, not taking his eyes off the jeweler. San stepped a little closer, around to Hongjoong’s side, lowering the gun slightly, but not holstering it. He hadn’t looked away from the jeweler either.

“I think he’ll love it.” San said, smiling brightly at his Captain. He took the box from the jeweler and gestured for San to put his gun away.

“Thank you, my mate is going to love this.” Hongjoong said, smiling at the jeweler who smiled back in a stretched uncomfortable way. “Pleasure doing business with you.” The jeweler swallowed, his hands clenched together in a way that was turning the tips of his fingers white. He watched as Hongjoong left with San trailing behind him.

Hongjoong felt a lot lighter on his way back to the ship than he had on his way off it. He stepped back on board with a large smile on his face, meeting his soon-to-be mate’s piercing gaze with happiness instead of anxiety. Seonghwa smiled back, his face lighting up as he noticed the box in Hongjoong’s hands. He quickly walked across the deck and Hongjoong held out his hand to stop him.

“You have to wait for me to do this properly like I promised, jagiya.” Hongjoong said, laughing as Seonghwa whined. He handed the box back to San as Seonghwa tried to snatch it from him. San scampered down the deck and into Hongjoong’s office to hide the necklace in the barely organized mess he had going in there. Seonghwa didn’t touch his office on purpose. He ran the rest of the ship like it was the Queen’s Navy, but his office was off limits.

“But it’s mine! I want to see it.” Seonghwa said, pouting when Hongjoong laughed. He pulled him in, letting Seonghwa pout as the omega brought his arms up around his neck.

“In due time, Hwa.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa scrunched up his nose. He whined again, pouting and then frowning when it sank in that Hongjoong wasn’t budging.

“You promise?” He asked and Hongjoong nodded, kissing him chastely a few times to vanish the pout from his face.

“I promise.”

Hongjoong waited until their next date, although Seonghwa was fairly vocal about how much this displeased him. Hongjoong waited, he wanted it all to be perfect. He got Wooyoung to make them Seonghwa’s favourite rice pudding, even splurging on the fresh fruit that the crew never got since it didn’t keep. He put on the blue jacket that Seonghwa loved the most on him and took the necklace out of its hiding spot. San had shoved it between some maps, almost in plain sight, although Seonghwa had never noticed. Hongjoong’s office was far too chaotic for Seonghwa to be able to notice. Hongjoong looked in the mirror, watching Seonghwa get dressed behind him. The omega was wearing a bright red coat, hair styled just so, elegantly swept back off his face, and gold bracelets on each wrist, diamonds glittering from his ears. Hongjoong has been sure to adorn every inch of him he could. He frowned when he saw the necklace, not wanting Seonghwa to have anything on his neck. He turned quickly, gently unhooking the necklace Seonghwa wore and setting it aside. The omega smiled as Hongjoong kissed his neck.

“Not tonight, jagi.” He said and Seonghwa beamed back at him. His eyes sparkled like a child’s would, quickly sweeping the necklace back into its designated spot.

“OK.” He agreed quickly, turning and pulling Hongjoong into a kiss. He looped his fingers into the waistband of Hongjoong’s pants causing the alpha to let out a teasing tsk noise.

“You have to wait for me to ask, jagi.” He said and Seonghwa scrunched up his nose. “I want you to see what I got you at least.” Seonghwa sighed. He frowned, still not letting go of Hongjoong’s pants as the alpha gently pried his fingers off him and held his hands gently in his own.

“Fine, but you better be snappy.” Hongjoong laughed as Seonghwa pulled him into his office, towards where they always ate together.

Towards the end of the meal, while Hongjoong could feel Seonghwa’s eyes burning a hole through him, he cleared his throat. Seonghwa looked up from his pudding, quickly swallowing and almost seeming to stop breathing, even though Hongjoong could see his shoulders rising and falling with each breath.

“How are you enjoying your rice pudding jagiya?” Hongjoong asked, almost bursting out laughing when Seonghwa scowled at him.

“It’s great, Joong. You know how much I love it.” Seonghwa said, still staring at him. Hongjoong decided then that he had tortured his future mate enough. He stood, walking around the table with his hands in his pockets, feeling Seonghwa’s gaze following him. He looked into his eyes, seeing excitement reflected back at him.

“Seonghwa, when we kidnapped you from that castle that night I never would’ve guessed where this was leading to. You were so feisty, I knew I was going to like you when you stepped toe to toe with me in your nightgown. You were so beautiful, and so full of fire.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa giggled, his eyes already brimming with tears. “Now Hwa don’t cry.” The omega scoffed and tilted his head back, blinking rapidly.

“You try having the love of your life tell you he basically loved you from the first time he looked at you and still keep it together.” Seonghwa said, laughing wetly, and Hongjoong reached out to brush the hair out of his eyes. He waited until Seonghwa had calmed himself down a bit before continuing, watching his breathing level out again.

“I wasn’t looking for you, but I’m so glad I found you.” Hongjoong said, turning to swipe the necklace box off his desk and dropping down onto his one knee in front of him. “Park Seonghwa, my Prince, my guiding star, will you bond with me?” Hongjoong barely got the box open before Seonghwa was nodding yes. The omega’s eyes widened when he saw what was in the box, his smile widening in a way that Hongjoong felt the relief of knowing that he liked it wash over him.

“Yes, yes, a million times yes.” Seonghwa said, pulling Hongjoong up into a kiss, he braced himself on either side of the chair that Seonghwa was sitting in, smiling when the other pulled him in between his knees. Seonghwa’s hands tightened on his lapels when he tried to pull back.

“I can’t stay here and put the necklace on you.” Hongjoong whispered and Seonghwa hummed in response.

“You can’t put the necklace on me, it’ll block my bond spot.” He said back and Hongjoong pulled back more.

“Right now?” Hongjoong asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “You don’t want to tell the crew or anything?” Seonghwa rolled his eyes, taking the box out of Hongjoong’s hands and placing it on the table.

“I’m not waiting any longer. You made me wait for weeks for the perfect necklace and then even longer for the proposal.” Seonghwa stood, dragging Hongjoong up with him. “I am not telling the crew first they knew this was coming and I am not leaving our room again without a bond mark on my neck. Do you hear me, Kim Hongjoong?” Hongjoong grinned at the older man, holding his hand where it was still clenched in his collar. His mind flashed back to their first meeting yet again as he looked into Seonghwa’s eyes, so full of fire.

“Yes my love.”

Seonghwa almost bodily dragged Hongjoong back to their bed, pushing him down into the mattress and climbing over him. Hongjoong’s hands came up to grip Seonghwa’s hips as the omega leaned over him and pulled his face in for a kiss.

“I want you to mark me first.” Hongjoong whispered and Seonghwa’s eyes darkened. He sat back on his knees and giggled.

“I want you inside me first.” He said, squeaking with surprise when Hongjoong flipped them over so Seonghwa was on his back. He leaned down, kissing Seonghwa again and grinning when he felt the other’s fingers tangle into the chain he had around his neck.

“I can do that, let me prep you.” Hongjoong said, waiting for Seonghwa’s nod of confirmation before he slid down, pulling off the other’s pants and guiding his legs over his shoulders. He lingered on his right ankle, watching how the simple gold anklet glinted in the candlelight. His head snapped back towards Seonghwa when he heard him laugh. Seonghwa watched as Hongjoong kissed his ankle, right over where his own initials were.

“I want you to make that brand a little more permanent than an anklet, Captain, hop to it.” Seonghwa teased and Hongjoong sank back down between his legs. “Take your clothes off first.” Hongjoong snorted, pulling back to pull off his shirt and pants as Seonghwa tossed his shirt aside. He pulled Seonghwa closer by his hips, wasting no time teasing his fingers at his rim and licking a broad stripe over his hole. Seonghwa’s hips twitched as Hongjoong continued to tease him. He heard Seonghwa huff in annoyance, smiling as he kissed his thigh before sliding two fingers into him. He heard Seonghwa sigh above him, watching his face as he moved his fingers in and out of him. He waited again, feeling Seonghwa getting wetter around his fingers, until Seonghwa made another annoyed sound.

“Mhm, so little patience my love.” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa reached down as if to smack him, stopping short when he slid a third finger into him, instead grabbing the hair on top of his head and whining. Hongjoong curled his fingers upwards, feeling a devilish smirk twitch at the corners of his mouth when Seonghwa’s back arched involuntarily. He reached up, stroking Seonghwa’s dick in time with the movement of his fingers and watched as the other’s chest heaved and his fists twisted the sheets under him.

“Hongjoong.” He gasped, spilling over his fist with very little warning, laughing slightly when Hongjoong continued to finger him through it. Hongjoong pulled his fingers out of the man under him, climbing up over him, letting his legs fall off his shoulders and kissing him. He felt Seonghwa’s legs encircling his waist, pulling him closer with the strength of his thighs alone.

“Did you want to get on top this time?” Hongjoong asked between kisses and Seonghwa’s eyebrows furrowed together. “Do you want to ride me, Seonghwa?” He took a minute to think about it, his eyes shifting from apprehensive to intrigued.

“I’d like to try.” He said and Hongjoong nodded, kissing his nose. He retreated from over him, sitting back and reaching his hands out to help Seonghwa sit up.

“I can always take over if you don’t like it.” Hongjoong reassured him as Seonghwa placed himself on his lap. The omega was warm pressing against him as he let Seonghwa get his bearings and he found himself staring at him. He took in the smile on Seonghwa’s face, the slope of his nose and the joy radiating off him in the smell of lilacs and spring that came off him.

“I can’t believe how lucky I’ve gotten.” Hongjoong said quietly and Seonghwa smiled back down at him, pulling him up for a kiss. Seonghwa pushed his hips forward to grind their hips together, gasping against Hongjoong’s mouth. The alpha could feel Seonghwa leaking against his thighs, the smell of lilacs clouding his brain as the other’s fingers dug into the hair on the back of Hongjoong’s neck.

“I don’t know how I got so lucky either.” Seonghwa replied, rising up onto his knees and Hongjoong reached behind him to grip his own dick, helping guide himself into Seonghwa as he sank down onto him. He pressed his mouth against Seonghwa’s neck as the other tilted his head back and hummed. Hongjoong couldn’t suppress the groan that vibrated up his throat as he felt Seonghwa all around him, scent and body. Hongjoong let his hands wander up his thighs, squeezing as Seonghwa adjusted, finally pressing their hips flush together. Hongjoong pressed a kiss under his ear.

“I love you.” He whispered and Seonghwa hummed, starting to move as Hongjoong guided him with his hands on his hips and thighs. Hongjoong groaned into his neck, as Seonghwa sped up, feeling his knot start to catch almost embarrassingly quick. Seonghwa felt it, pulling Hongjoong’s face out of his neck and tilting his head to the one side. Hongjoong felt his heart rate quicken.

“Go ahead, jagiya.” Hongjoong gave him permission. He barely suppressed a groan when Seonghwa pressed his face into his neck, licking over his scent gland to bring it to the surface. He could feel the omega’s teeth hesitantly pressing into his neck, his breath hitched as Seonghwa applied more pressure. Hongjoong felt like the world stood still, and then Seonghwa bit down. He felt a jolt of pain, followed quickly by euphoria as his knot quickly inflated inside of his new mate. Hongjoong wrapped his arms around Seonghwa's waist, holding him in place. A rush of emotions flowed through their newly formed half bond and his hips stuttered where they were grinding up into the omega in his lap. Seonghwa pulled back from his neck, throwing his head back and looking down at Hongjoong with the alpha’s own blood dripping down the corner of his mouth. Hongjoong groaned, pushing Seonghwa onto his back and continuing to grind into him, licking over his scent gland and nosing at his neck. Seonghwa whined, back arching and neck straining to the side when Hongjoong wrapped a hand around his dick, stroking it in time with his thrusts.

“Do it, Joong.” Seonghwa practically begged. “Please alpha, make me yours.” Hongjoong sunk his teeth into Seonghwa’s scent gland with much less hesitance than Seonghwa had had. He felt the bond click into place, groaning into Seonghwa’s neck as he came inside the other, hearing Seonghwa cry out as he came between them. Hongjoong pulled back to pull Seonghwa into a kiss, feeling his emotions like they were his own as the bond swirled between them. He could feel how much Seonghwa loved him, like a comforting weight in his chest, warm and soothing. Hongjoong felt tears gathering in his lash line, looking down and seeing that Seonghwa was already crying.

“I love you.” Seonghwa blubbered, kissing Hongjoong again and again. He sobbed and Hongjoong pulled back to soothe him, shushing him as he rolled them onto their sides.

“Don’t cry jagiya, I love you too.” Hongjoong watched as Seonghwa’s bottom lip quivered. Hongjoong rubbed his back as he felt Seonghwa’s hands drop off his face and land on his shoulders.

“I know, I can feel it.” He said, pressing their foreheads together and choking on another sob as Hongjoong wiped the tears from his face. He pulled the other in to cuddle him, holding him close as their bond settled into place. Hongjoong had never felt so complete, not on his family’s farm or even when he stepped foot on his ship for the first time, than with Seonghwa cradled in his arms. He closed his eyes, listening to Seonghwa hum the tune of a familiar sailor’s song, as he drifted to sleep.

Hongjoong squeezed the extra water out of the rag dipped into a bowl of water, lemons and mint leaves. Wooyoung had brought it to the door at some point after Hongjoong’s knot had gone down enough for the pair to separate. Hongjoong lightly dabbed at the bite, frowning when Seonghwa grimaced. He pulled the other closer with his free hand. Seonghwa sighed and tilted his head to the side, letting Hongjoong wrap up the wound.

“Alright, my turn yeobo.” Seonghwa said and Hongjoong felt his face flush. Seonghwa picked up a different rag, wetting it in the water and forcing Hongjoong’s head to the side.

“Yeobo?” Seonghwa smirked.

“We’re married at this point are we not? I know the legal paperwork isn’t there like it would be if I’d gotten mated the proper way I was supposed to.” Seonghwa gently dabbed at the bite on Hongjoong’s neck. “I think it still counts.” Hongjoong pulled Seonghwa’s hand back gently. He kissed the tip of his nose.

“I’d say that’s pretty sound logic.” Hongjoong said, chuckling when Seonghwa tilted his head to the side again. “Who cares about the paper anyway? I’ve got my mark on you, and yours on me.” He squeezed Seonghwa’s hips where his hands had come to rest.

“Thank you, now turn your head so I can finish cleaning this up.” Seonghwa scowled. Hongjoong felt fondness warm his chest as he looked at Seonghwa concentrating on his task. Seonghwa was still humming the sea shanty he had been before.

“Of course, yeobo.”

Hongjoong walked out to the sound of whistling echoing across the deck. Seonghwa giggled behind him, interlacing their fingers, giving his hand a squeeze. He kissed his cheek and walked forward, letting go of his hand. Hongjoong watched fondly, the smile ever present on his face.

“Are you all slacking? These are nowhere near tight enough.” Seonghwa said, tugging on the ropes and laughing as the crew groaned. He jostled them lightly. San slid into the spot beside Hongjoong, nudging him with his elbow.

“Congratulations Captain.” Hongjoong glanced towards him.

“Yeah, thanks. I thought he’d want to show off his new present to all the crew and wait a few days until we were at a better location before getting down to business, but he bodily dragged me into bed.” Hongjoong laughed. “So I guess not.” Wooyoung giggled from where he had seemingly appeared out of thin air tucked into San’s other side.

“He was just mad you made him wait at all. You could’ve asked him with a rock you found on the seashore and he would’ve taken it.” Wooyoung raised his eyebrows, looking over at Hongjoong. “But congratulations on finally doing it.” Hongjoong rolled his eyes.

“Yeah yeah, get back to work, both of you.” He said, shooing them both away. He looked back at Seonghwa and smiled, watching the other man work, his fresh mating bite on display.

Hongjoong strode across the deck in long steps, towards the bow of the ship. He could see Seonghwa standing there and he could feel his nerves pretty strongly through the bond as he stared out at the sea, even though the initial shock of it had faded in the few days since their bond had been solidified. Hongjoong squinted into the sun and reached out for Seonghwa’s hips. He slid his hands around his mate’s hips, chuckling when the other melted back into him. He kissed the back of his neck, hooking his chin over his shoulder. Hongjoong moved to wrap his arms around Seonghwa’s waist, feeling the older’s hands come to rest on his forearms.

“What’s wrong, yeobo?” Hongjoong asked, pushing himself impossibly closer to Seonghwa as he waited for his reply. He breathed in the scent of lilacs and sea salt air, squeezing his arms around the omega and smiling when Seonghwa squeezed his forearms back.

“I feel like it’s going to storm.” He said quietly and Hongjoong hummed, glancing out at the still calm sea. He felt Seonghwa start to rub his fingers in circles on his forearm, a nervous habit, as he waited for Hongjoong’s reply. The alpha pulled back to place another kiss on the back of Seonghwa’s neck. He hummed, enjoying how Seonghwa’s head fell forward slightly, to give him more room to do what he wanted.

“Then we shall stay docked, yeobo.” Hongjoong leaned his head forward, pressing a kiss behind Seonghwa’s ear. “Besides, I think we deserve a night off in celebration.” He nosed at Seonghwa’s neck and huffed out a laugh when the other squirmed. He knew that if Seonghwa wanted to get away he very well could, but the other enjoyed the push and pull.

“Thank you, Joongie.” Seonghwa said, giggling as Hongjoong pressed kisses up his neck, blowing a raspberry on his shoulder. He doubled over with laughter, pushing Hongjoong’s arms off of him as the alpha moved to do it again. Hongjoong followed him, being caught off guard when Seonghwa turned and pulled him up for a kiss.

“Thank you for always believing me, Captain.” He whispered against his lips, leaving as quickly as he’d spun around, deserting Hongjoong on the deck as he raced for their room. Hongjoong was quick to follow him, as he almost always was.

The seas were quiet that night, the waves gently lapping at the side of the boat as Seonghwa stared at the dark horizon. Hongjoong watched as his lover, his newly minted mate, chewed on his fingernails. His eyebrows creased with concern and he swallowed thickly.

“The waves look calm.” Yunho said quietly and Hongjoong looked up at him from under his eyelashes. Yunho looked down, shuffling back slightly. Hongjoong looked back at Seonghwa, who had not looked away from the sea yet, humming.

“I’d rather wait the night and have nothing happen than ignore him.” He said and Yunho nodded his agreement. “But I have considered what you have, Yunho-ah.” Hongjoong’s eyes wandered back towards his partner, huffing out his nose.

“I don’t want to not believe him, but a lot has happened in the last few days.” Yunho said, his gaze lingering on the bond mark on Hongjoong’s neck peeking out of the collar of his shirt that was half unbuttoned. “Maybe it’s mixing up some signals.” Hongjoong did not respond.

Hongjoong walked into his bedroom to find Seonghwa sitting in a chair facing their window dressed in his nightclothes. The white fabric of his nightgown was fluttering in the slight draft from under their door. He didn’t even turn his head when Hongjoong entered the room. Hongjoong pulled his belt and jacket off, draping his jacket over the hook on the back of his door. He watched as Seonghwa stared, unmoving.

“Seonghwa, yeobo.” Hongjoong reached out and touched his shoulder, humming when he felt Seonghwa move into the touch. “Don’t beat yourself up, my star.” Seonghwa’s head whipped around to stare at him, his eyes narrowing as he did. Hongjoong knew he should’ve kept that thought to himself before Seonghwa even opened his mouth.

“Why? You don’t believe me either?” Seonghwa’s words echoed off the walls of their room as Hongjoong sputtered and tried to find what to say. “It doesn’t matter, goodnight Hongjoong.” Seonghwa got up, climbing into their bed and laying with his back facing the alpha.

“Yeobo-”

“I said goodnight.” Hongjoong sighed and continued to undress himself for bed. He slid in beside Seonghwa, leaning over to kiss his cheek. Seonghwa rolled further over, very clearly rejecting the touch from Hongjoong. The alpha felt his heart ache as he settled down beside his mate. He crept his arm around him, feeling his shoulders relax as Seonghwa let him stay there. He pressed a kiss against his shoulder.

“Don’t push it.” Seonghwa whispered, pushing himself backward further into Hongjoong’s arms. “I’m still mad at you.” Hongjoong hummed and closed his eyes, the scent of lilacs filling his nose.

The seas were still calm in the morning, and Hongjoong was unable to justify staying docked for another day when the sun was shining. Seonghwa didn’t speak to him as he gave the orders to lift the anchor. He didn’t even look at him. The omega’s eyes were glued to the planks of the deck, the pearls he was wearing’s diamond reflecting in the glaring sunlight, arms crossed over his chest and his mouth twisted into a frown.

“My star-” Seonghwa looked up at him, glaring through his hair at him. Hongjoong felt the words die in his chest as Seonghwa got up, walked into their room and slammed the door. The others watched their captain carefully, slowing down their movements like he was going to go back on his previous orders. Hongjoong turned back to them, making a split second decision.

“Hurry up, we’re burning daylight!”

Seonghwa didn’t come out of their room, even as it started to rain, and Hongjoong thought it would be out immediately to gloat at how his gut feeling had been at least partially correct. He didn’t come out when the boat began to be rocked slightly with the waves or even as the thunder echoed across the expanse of the ocean and lightning streaked across the sky. He didn’t come out until the ship was cresting over waves, out of control. Hongjoong was frantically trying to secure what he could, barely able to see through the sheets of rain blinding him. He bumped into Seonghwa, grabbing him by the shoulders, his eyes focusing on his lover.

“Seonghwa, I should’ve listened to you.” Hongjoong yelled over the torrential downpour hitting the deck like buckets of nails being dropped from above and the omega shook his head.

“Save it, Joong, there’s no time.” Seonghwa said, leaning forward and kissing Hongjoong quickly. “I’ll see you when this is over.”

“I love you.” Hongjoong said quickly and Seonghwa smiled, his eyes looked sad. Hongjoong’s stomach twisted in the most awful way humanly possible.

“I love you too.”

Hongjoong was on the other side of the ship when he heard it, a blood curdling scream. It echoed across the boat, making Hongjoong snap around and blindly stare into the rain that was beginning to wane in its downpour, still blurring his vision as it ran into his eyes. His heart rate picked up as he looked towards the source of the noise. The ship had finally stopped rocking violently back and forth, Hongjoong thought they’d made it through. He saw Wooyoung, sitting on the deck, seemingly sobbing, San holding on to him as he reached for the ship’s railing. Hongjoong thought at first that Wooyoung had hurt himself, rushing to his aid. San looked as distressed as Wooyoung did, desperate to comfort his mate who was beside himself.

“He’s been sobbing since I found him, I can’t get it out of him.” San’s tone was panicked as he attempted to soothe Wooyoung into telling them what was wrong. Hongjoong grabbed the omegas arm, squeezing it in a way he hoped was reassuring, before he heard what he was trying to say. The words had been garbled by the rain and his sobs and it took a few tries to understand him.

“M-man overboard!” Wooyoung sobbed, looking up at Hongjoong and then back at the railing, which he now noticed were broken, two of the rungs snapped off and the actual railing partially fractured. “Man o-overboard!” He looked back at Wooyoung, the omega still sobbing in San’s arms, his head whipping around as he realized who was missing. The rain slowly came to a stop as it all came into focus.

“Seonghwa.” He whispered. Hongjoong stood up, dropping his coat off his body and taking a step towards the railing. He felt arms wrap around him, hands clasped around his chest. He was yanked back from the railing, falling to his knees. He noticed then the nail marks in the planks lining the deck near the edge.

“No! No, let me go!” He screamed, fighting to rip the arms off of him. He heard the alpha behind him grunt with effort. His teeth sunk into the bicep of his captor, keeping him from rescuing his love, his omega, from the watery depths.

“Ow, fuck. Mingi, help!” Hongjoong scratched his nails down the forearms keeping him from his lover, his tears mixing with the rain dripping down his face from his hair. Wooyoung’s crying had become background noise to the ringing in his ears as his fingers turned white, clawing at the deck, unmoving, like he was drowning too.

“Please, let me go!” He sobbed, feeling another pair of arms wrap around him, holding him in place. “Let me go with him! Please, he can’t be gone! Seonghwa!” He felt like all the air had been sucked out his lungs, sobs racking his whole body as he attempted to scratch his way out of the arms holding him back.

“Captain, he’s gone. I’m so sorry.” A disembodied voice said as Hongjoong gasped for air. “I’m so sorry.” Hongjoong felt all the fight leave his body, as grief overtook it. His eyes closing and the world going dark.

He woke up with the scent of lilacs in his nose, and he thought for a second that it had been a dream, a horrific nightmare, until he opened his eyes. He turned to find Seonghwa’s side of the bed empty and cold. He felt tears spring to his eyes again, rolling away from the sight, finding himself face to face with a teary eyed Wooyoung, his eyes red and swollen. He barely glanced up before his eyes glued themselves back to the floor. Hongjoong stared at him in silence, until Wooyoung broke it. He cleared his throat quietly and took a shaky breath in.

“I’m so sorry, Captain. He slipped out of my grip and I couldn’t catch him.” Wooyoung’s tears spilled over again as he explained himself. Hongjoong felt his heart rip even further watching Wooyoung cry.

“It wasn’t your fault, Wooyoung-ah.” Hongjoong said, his voice raspy. The omega in front of him put his head in his hands.

“I feel like it is. He was only over there because of me. I was too close to the edge, he was pulling me back and he went over instead.” Wooyoung said, his shoulders shaking as he cried. “I’m so sorry.” Hongjoong moved to sit up, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“It wasn’t your fault. I should’ve listened to him, I should’ve stayed docked.” Hongjoong’s voice broke as his own tears spilled over. “He said that this storm was coming, but I was too stubborn. He’s gone because of me. I promised his father I’d protect him and now-” His voice broke with a barely held in sob. Wooyoung chewed his bottom lip, his eyes red and puffy. Hongjoong reached up to touch his bond mark, which was still pulsing, like he could feel something. His brain jumped at the chance that Seonghwa was still alive, the bond unsevered and still active because his love was stranded.

“Unless, maybe he washed up somewhere.” Hongjoong said and Wooyoung’s head snapped up. He looked at Hongjoong, like he had just said something insane. His gaze shifting to a form of worry,

“Captain-”

“Please, Wooyoung-ah, I need to make sure.” Hongjoong said, watching the omega’s face soften. His eyebrows still furrowed with worry, even as he conceded to the orders of his Captain.

“Sure, Captain.”

Hongjoong had them scour every island, abandoned or otherwise, desperately searching for Seonghwa. It took days, stretching into weeks. Everyone on the crew tiptoed around their captain, unsure how to make it easier for him. He couldn’t sleep, he could barely eat. He spent every night on the deck, staring at the ocean. Everyone thought it, but only one was brave enough to challenge him.

“Captain, he fell overboard. You know how long that drop is.” Mingi’s mouth clicked shut when Hongjoong glared at him. “Captain, I’m just trying to be realistic.” His eyes glued to the floor. Hongjoong ignored him. He turned away from his crew, hearing them all shuffle away from him and the deck fell silent. He stared into the horizon until it felt like the sun had burned into his retinas. He closed his eyes and sighed. Hongjoong hadn’t felt the connection sever, fraying the same way others had described to him. They always said your mate dying was like a rope had been cut, like you were falling with no lifeline. Like a fire burning out, the last few cinders sizzling to a stop, but Hongjoong didn’t feel any of that. It felt like Seonghwa was still there, waiting for him. He could feel the rope pulled taunt, the fire still crackling with life. He just needed to find him, but as the time stretched on like the endless horizon of the sea, it was getting bleaker.

“Hyung would be so mad if I let you starve.” Wooyoung said quietly, coming to him late at night, when Hongjoong was still staring blankly out the bow of the ship. He ate a little, it felt like a stone in his stomach as he surveyed the calm waters. He couldn’t look away, his bond mark throbbed when he did. It seemed to make Wooyoung happy that he was eating. All Hongjoong could feel was an empty ache.

“You’ve got to sleep, Captain, it's not good for you to just stare at the sea.” Wooyoung reached out and touched his arm, rubbing lightly as he spoke. Hongjoong didn’t even flinch.

“I can understand not wanting to sleep in the bed, I can still smell him in that room too. We made you up a bed in your office.” Wooyoung turned his head towards where Hongjoong could see San standing out of the corner of his eye. He was always watching, especially when Hongjoong was near the railing. He knew they were afraid of what he might do if there was no one there to watch him.

“OK, I’ll lay down for a bit.” Hongjoong agreed, seeing how Wooyoung’s shoulders sagged with relief.

“Thank you, Captain.” Wooyoung said, like Hongjoong was doing him a favour, and maybe he was.

Hongjoong stared himself down in the mirror. He hadn’t gotten a proper look at himself in weeks. He saw his hair, knotted together at the base of his neck. He didn’t really care about that or the red rimmed eyes and deep blue circles stamped under them that stared back at him. He looked like a ghost, pale and sickly, he felt like one too. Hongjoong knew his eyes looked dull and lifeless, he could see them looking at him now, hollowed out like a hole in the sand. He was exhausted, just on the other side of being too tired to sleep. He looked back at the cot that was freshly made up, smelling of Wooyoung, candied oranges and a hint of brandy, instead of lilacs. He gripped the edge of his desk, decidedly not going to the cot. He sat at his desk, staring at his maps, wishing it had been him instead.

He was still sitting at that desk when Yunho opened the door the next morning, watching the morning light slowly spill across the floor. The other alpha looked from the still perfectly made cot, to his Captain behind the desk. He pursed his lips, crossing the room quickly.

“The crew are tired, Captain, we need food among other things. We need to find a port and restock.” Yunho said and Hongjoong looked up at him. He knew the other man was correct, even though he didn’t want to admit it. Things had been lost in the fog of his own grief, including his ability to keep track of his own ship’s supplies. He looked down at his papers, Yunho taking his silence as a refusal.

“Please, Captain, they can’t keep chasing ghosts forever. We all miss him too.” Hongjoong’s eyes snapped up again. Yunho swallowed thickly, shifting from foot to foot, but standing his ground. There was an angry sadness bubbling just below the surface of Hongjoong’s calm demeanour.

“I know it’s not the same as how you miss him. I know. He’s gone-”

“Don’t say it, Yunho-yah, just don’t. I’ll find a port for us to dock in.” Hongjoong cut Yunho off, shuffling his papers around. Yunho was quiet for a few seconds, Hongjoong almost thought he had left, until he heard boots shifting against the floor again.

“We want to help you, Captain, but you make it really fucking difficult.” Hongjoong sat back in his chair. He stared long and hard at Yunho, the other alpha unflinching in his determination.

“I’m so sorry that my grief is inconvenient for you-” Hongjoong started, a long sarcastic monologue planned out in his head that he didn’t get to finish. Yunho’s face screwed up in anger, boiling over as he took a step forward towards Hongjoong’s desk.

“Oh shut up! You’re acting like you’re the only one in pain here! Have you even noticed anything going on around you? Wooyoung wakes up screaming, Yeosang cries all the time. You’re holed up in here or staring blankly at the waves like you can conjure him out of the sea breeze.” Yunho said, his voice getting louder as he spoke. “Seonghwa wouldn’t want this for you or the crew.”

“Don’t tell me what he’d want.” Hongjoong interjected. “You have no idea what he’d want-”

“Tell me I’m wrong then.” Yunho cut Hongjoong off, the air deathly still around them as they sat in tension filled silence. “That’s what I thought, Captain. Come out when you decide which port we’re going to.” Hongjoong flinched when the door slammed, he only realized tears had spilled out over his lash line when they pooled on the desk in front of him.

Hongjoong walked out onto the deck, and the bright light of midday, keeping his eyes trained in front of him and not on the section of the deck where the railing had been hastily patched over. Seonghwa’s nail marks were still in the planks. The sun was beating down on him, just this side of uncomfortably warm. There was little breeze to cool them off, sweat glistened on the shoulders and faces of every crew member he glanced at. Hongjoong ignored the worry on their faces when they looked back. He saw Yeosang in front of him, not seeming to do much, just staring out at the sea.

“Yeosang-ah, is there nothing more important to be doing around here?” Hongjoong asked, a gruffness to his tone that he didn’t mean. It felt like Seonghwa had taken every bit of sweetness, or gentleness, Hongjoong had ever possessed over the edge of their ship with him. The young omega startled at his words, his hand very quickly coming up to his face. Hongjoong thought at first that he was wiping sweat off his face to keep it from getting into his eyes, but as Yeosang turned around he saw how red his eyes were. He saw the puffy, irritated look around his eyes and realized that Yeosang was wiping away tears.

“Sorry, Captain.” Yeosang cleared his throat, sniffing and swiping at his eyes again. Yunho’s anger filled voice echoed in his head, Yeosang cries all the time. Hongjoong reached out and grabbed his arm as he started to walk away.

“Yeosang-ah, what’s wrong?” Hongjoong knew full well what the answer was, but he wanted Yeosang to say it. “You can tell me.”

“I really miss him.” Yeosang’s voice was barely above a whisper. It sounded like he was being strangled by his misery.

“I miss him too.” Hongjoong said, his voice breaking as well. Yeosang met Hongjoong’s gaze for the first time since he’d realized he was there. He didn’t say anything, he just hugged him. Hongjoong felt tears fall on his shoulder where Yeosang’s face was resting, his head decidedly turned away from Hongjoong’s neck. It would be rude for him to scent him like that regardless, but since Hongjoong was mated even more so. Tears burned Hongjoong’s eyes thinking about impressions of Seonghwa’s teeth in his neck.

“I can’t stop watching the ocean, like he’s going to pop up out of it.” Yeosang admitted, Hongjoong squeezed his arm in response. “I know that’s why you do it too.” Yeosang squeezed Hongjoong’s arm this time. Hongjoong laughed wetly and cleared his throat.

“Yeah, I can still feel him. It’s weird.” He said and Yeosang pulled back. Hongjoong looked at him, for the first time since that storm. He saw how exhausted he looked, dark circles under his eyes and slow blinks as he straightened himself out. He felt overwhelming guilt, it was all his fault. He hadn’t even noticed.

“I’ll get back to work though Captain, you’re right.” Yeosang stepped away and Hongjoong reached out to touch his shoulder, swallowing thickly before saying anything, looking into Yeosang’s eyes, which were filled with apprehensive confusion.

“Take it easy, Yeosang-ah, you need to rest too.” Yeosang smiled.

“You too, Captain.”

Hongjoong walked into the officer’s quarters, grimacing slightly as both Yunho and San’s heads whipped around to look at him. He met their gazes, seeing a blank expression coming from San. Yunho looked conflicted.

“I’m sorry, Captain-” Hongjoong held up his hand. Yunho stopped, looking around nervously and folding his hands in front of him.

“You were right. I’m sorry I haven’t been a very good Captain lately.” Hongjoong said, crossing the room and noticing that Mingi was there. “I want to get better. You were right to tell me that. I’m sorry I wasn’t listening.” He watched as Yunho shuffled closer to Mingi, Mingi’s hand coming up to hold his wrist. Hongjoong’s eyebrows raised.

“Is there something else you need to tell me?” Hongjoong asked, his tone teasing as Mingi grinned and Yunho’s face turned red. “Come on.”

“He told me about four days after it happened.” Mingi said, reaching out to intertwine their fingers as Yunho smiled back at him. Hongjoong felt his heart twinge with pain, a strange mix of joy and sadness. He could practically hear what Seonghwa would’ve said, see what he would’ve done. He would’ve thrown his arms around them, giggling and chattering about how he knew they’d get it together. He smiled, just thinking about him.

“I’m glad, Seonghwa would’ve been glad too. Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Yunho’s smile faltered. He took a deep breath in.

“We didn’t want to u-upset you, more than you already were anyway.” Mingi squeezed his hand. “I don’t know what you remember about the aftermath of Seonghwa going over. It was terrifying, you tried to jump in and I stopped you, but you were inconsolable. Then afterwards you just faded away. I felt like I was scrambling to just keep us all afloat, with San.” Hongjoong nodded, wanting Yunho to continue, even as the other rubbed at his face like he was attempting to hold back tears.

“You bit me you know.” Yunho laughed, pulling up his sleeve and showing Hongjoong the bite mark. “And even knowing that, I would do it all again, exactly the same way, to keep you here. I just can’t do it forever, Captain, we need you back.” Hongjoong nodded.

“I’m back, and as my first act as acting Captain again, I have a port we can resupply at. Take us there.” Hongjoong threw the map on the desk, taking a deep breath in. “Secondarily, I need some help with my hair. It’s all matted and it needs to be cut.” San nodded, standing up and brushing his hands off on his lap.

“I think I can help you with that.”

San cut the long ends of Hongjoong’s hair off with definite snips. The more hair hit the floor, the lighter Hongjoong felt, but the heavier what he had done by disappearing weighed on his mind. He leaned forward, resting his forehead in his palms.

“I’m so sorry.” He said, quietly, barely above a whisper. San continued to cut his hair.

“Don’t be sorry. I understand, more than Yunho does, how distressing this must have been for you. I can’t even say your reaction was overboard, because I have no idea how I would react if it had been Wooyoung instead.” San stopped, huffing out his nose and waiting until Hongjoong sat up, looking at him again in the mirror. “I’m glad you’re back.” San squeezed his shoulders, gathering his hair into his hands and pressing it into Hongjoong’s palms. Hongjoong stared at the matted knots in his hands for a few seconds, closing his fingers around them. He stood up, walking across the room and throwing the hair out the window into the sea. He watched it float down to the ocean surface, blowing away on the breeze.

“Good bye, my star.” Hongjoong whispered, he felt his bond mark throb, like Seonghwa was still there. A burst of pain and sadness that didn’t belong to him, but maybe he was just trying to convince himself that it was there. He swiped at the tears falling down his face, bringing himself back into his cabin, turning to find San wasn’t there. The other alpha had left at some point after pressing the hair into his hand, leaving him to say his goodbyes in private. Left alone, in the privacy of the room he’d shared with his mate, Hongjoong finally turned back to the mirror. He looked at the partially scarred over bite mark on the side of his neck. He raised shaky hands up to the collar of his shirt, buttoning it up until his neck was covered. He picked up a jacket, black and plain. He shrugged it on, looking at himself in the mirror. With his bond mark covered, he felt better, like he could at least move through the day. Hongjoong spun on his heel, walking towards the door. He took one last look, the bed still perfectly made, just how Seonghwa liked it. His jackets and jewellery neatly organized, exactly how he’d left them. Hongjoong smiled at the memory. His chest ached with melancholy, as he closed the door and locked it with the ring of keys on his belt.

“Goodbye, yeobo.”

The minute they dropped their anchor it felt like everyone was clamouring over each other to get off the ship. Hongjoong watched on, feeling his chest constrict slightly as he watched Mingi reach for Yunho’s hand, Wooyoung hanging off San like he always did. It felt almost normal, except it wasn’t. If it was normal he would be down there as well, Seonghwa giggling and pointing at things as they walked. Hongjoong wondered when it would stop burning his throat and chest to think about those memories. He turned to see Yeosang standing nearby, and by nearby he meant almost directly behind him. Hongjoong startled, placing his hand on his chest.

“God above, Yeosang do not scare me like that.” Yeosang flushed red.

“S-sorry, Captain.” They stared at each other for a few seconds before Hongjoong’s brain clicked into gear. He stared at the young, vibrant man in front of him and wondered, very briefly, if he’d been left to stand guard over their Captain.

“Yeosang-ah, why are you not out enjoying the town?” He asked and Yeosang looked down at the floor. Hongjoong may have been more right than he thought. He decided, rather quickly, to take advantage of his impromptu babysitter’s mission to make sure everyone on the crew had a good time that night.

“Come on, hyung will take you. You can’t find the one who will steal your heart just sitting on this ship. We can’t all be San and Wooyoung.” Hongjoong said, starting to walk down the gangway and smiling when he heard Yeosang scramble to follow him. “Lord knows I didn’t find mine sitting on this ship.” Yeosang caught up with him rather quickly.

“I don’t mind staying on the ship with you, Captain.” Yeosang said, his tone eager, but Hongjoong was having none of it.

“You should mind, you said you wanted someone, like San and Wooyoung have in each other, and you should seize the opportunity to find that when it presents itself.” Hongjoong stopped, waiting for Yeosang to come closer to him. “I wouldn’t want you to miss out on something because of me, Seonghwa wouldn’t want that. We only met because we both seized an opportunity.” Yeosang’s eyebrows furrowed together.

“Didn’t you kidnap him?” Yeosang asked quietly and Hongjoong felt tears prick at his eyes thinking about it. He smiled, closing his eyes and seeing the memory clear as day. The fierce determination in his mate’s eyes was fresh in his memory, like it was yesterday.

“He came willingly, eventually, but yes I did.” Hongjoong cleared his throat, clapping his hand on Yeosang’s back. “Let’s hope yours won’t be quite as drastic.” Hongjoong stepped over a drunk man on the dock, clearly sleeping off a long night that had barely begun.

“Come quickly, Yeosang-ah.” Yeosang looked fearful for a brief second, before he followed Hongjoong into town.

Hongjoong kept a watchful eye on Yeosang from afar. An alpha like him didn’t need to hang around, lest he scare off anyone even slightly interested. Yeosang attracted much attention on his own, the fairy-like boy giggling as alphas did tricks at his beck and call to gain his favour. Hongjoong knew none of them stood a chance anyway, Yeosang could put any of them down if he wanted to, the muscles in his arms shifting with every exaggerated clap of his hands proved that. He could see a young alpha, stocky in build and his face rather round and somehow square at the same time, looking intently at their raven haired beauty from the sidelines. Hongjoong hoped he’d gather up his courage soon. There was only so long he could nurse one drink.

“Hongjoong-ssi.” A voice echoed in his ears that he very much did not want to hear.

“Pak Sunwoo-ssi, I told you last time that I didn’t want to see you again.” Hongjoong said, his eyes not even moving off Yeosang. “Was the bullet in your leg not enough?” Sunwoo laughed.

“The pretty hot thing that put that bullet in my leg is nowhere to be seen, plus I don’t even have that leg anymore.” Hongjoong looked down to see a wooden stump in place of a leg. He smirked, thinking of how pleased Seonghwa would be if he saw that.

“Where is he anyway? He’s never too far from you.” Sunwoo said, Hongjoong tensed up. “Unless the rumours are true.” Hongjoong pressed his lips into a line, ignoring him. He sucked back the rest of his drink, flagging down the bartender for another. The amber liquid clung to the sides of the glass as he poured. Sunwoo hummed in understanding

“So Seonghwa did leave you? That’s a pity really, without you, he’s not worth much on his own.” Hongjoong reached for his gun. “He was alright looking, a bit of a temper. He would’ve made such a good breeding bitch once I beat that out of him.” Hongjoong turned quickly, pressing his gun against the underside of Sunwoo’s jaw, he stepped behind his wooden leg, nudging it just slightly off balance and forcing him to grab the bar ledge for support.

“Don’t ever say my mate’s name again you miserable cretin.” Hongjoong hissed through gritted teeth, cocking the gun. “I’ll give you one chance to leave before I paint the ceiling with your blood.” Sunwoo stumbled back and quickly left Hongjoong’s line of sight. Yeosang looked on, concerned, but Hongjoong waved him off.

“I should’ve told Seonghwa to kill him the first time.” Hongjoong mumbled, gulping back the drink in front of him. He stared at the door, thoughts swirling in his head. Hongjoong threw a few gold pieces on the bar, his mind made up, as he walked towards the door.

Hongjoong walked outside, rolling his head back and looking up at the stars. He thought about Seonghwa, looking down the alley where he could see Pak Sunwoo lighting up a tobacco pipe. He felt the anger coursing through his veins, making his face feel hot. He walked towards Sunwoo, hand on his gun. The other noticed him before he wanted him too, smiling wickedly. He didn’t get a chance to say anything.

“This is for Seonghwa.” Hongjoong gritted his teeth before he pulled his gun out of its holster and shot Sunwoo in his other leg. He fell to the ground, his pipe clattered on the packed dirt. He groaned, laughing in spite of the pain as the Captain crossed the ground between them faster than he thought he even could. Hongjoong cocked the gun again, pointing it at his head this time.

“You’re too much of a coward.” Sunwoo spit. “You’ve let that omega of yours do all your heavy lifting since you met him. It’s made you go soft.” Hongjoong cocked his head to the side.

“Really? You think so?” Hongjoong asked, crouching down and pressing the gun against his forehead. Sunwoo closed his eyes and Hongjoong sneered. He pressed down on the trigger when he felt the anger inside him bubble over, and then fizzle out. Nothing, not even shooting Pak Sunwoo, as much as he deserved it, would bring Seonghwa back to him. Seonghwa was gone, no matter how much it hurt.

“The only coward here is you.” Hongjoong stood, kicking the leg he had just shot. Sunwoo cried out in pain. Hongjoong spun on his heel and walked back down the alley. He ignored the way Sunwoo laughed at him as he did, but just barely.

Hongjoong made his way back to his ship after that, dodging people who were drunkenly stumbling around the streets. He kept his head down, wanting to just get back to the familiar sights of his office. He climbed aboard and heard a gasp from who he knew was Wooyoung just from the dramatic air to the gasp.

“Captain-” Hongjoong held up his hand. He unbuttoned his jacket and smoothed his hands across his shirt. He glanced at Wooyoung, who was nervously chewing on a nail, being held back only in theory by the arm San had encircling his waist.

“I’m fine, I didn’t try to dodge the babysitter you left me with.” Hongjoong rolled his shoulders. “A man just needs to be alone sometimes.” Hongjoong looked up and saw a new pair of eyes staring back at him. His eyes moved from the slightly scared expression to the hand he had clasped in Yeosang’s. Hongjoong’s eyebrows raised slightly.

“I see.” Hongjoong paused. The look on Yeosang’s face, defiant and fearful at the same time, made Hongjoong rethink what he was about to say. The words telling that young man to get off his ship died on his tongue. He could almost hear Seonghwa in his ear, talking about young love. His mating mark throbbed. Hongjoong rubbed his hand over his neck and looked back at the young alpha.

“What’s your name?” Hongjoong waited, watching Yeosang yank the young man forward.

“Choi Jongho.” He answered. Hongjoong hummed in response. He stared down the young alpha across from him, Choi Jongho. He watched his fists clench and unclench, his fingers nervously twitching.

“Do you know how to tie knots?” Jongho looked back at Yeosang. Hongjoong knew the answer was no before he shook his head to indicate so.

“I can teach him.” Yeosang said quickly. Hongjoong chuckled. He knew from the look on Jongho’s face that he had not thought this plan through very far.

“Have you ever even been on a ship?” He asked and Jongho’s face flushed pink. His eyes glued themselves to the boards of the deck. The air fell quiet as Hongjoong watched. Yeosang stepped up to Jongho, rubbing his shoulder. Hongjoong felt his mating mark throb again. He looked up at the stars. He swore he saw them wink at him.

“Fine, fine my star.” He muttered under his breath.

“What did you say, Captain?” Yeosang asked. Hongjoong smiled and looked towards Yeosang.

“You’ll have much to teach him.” Hongjoong watched Yeosang’s face light up with a smile, stretching ear to ear. “Welcome aboard.”

Some people say that grief gets easier with time and that it eases, but that wasn’t true in Hongjoong’s experience. It didn’t get easier to live without Seonghwa with time, his body just got accustomed to the feeling of it. It sat in his chest, aching and hollow, and eventually Hongjoong just got used to the weight of it, holding him back. It was hard to get out of bed, but he did it anyway, pushing through the crushing blow remembering after the first few blissful seconds of peace the morning granted him. The ship had to run, and there were people counting on him, same as they always had. He couldn’t let the weight bury him alive, even though all he wanted was to let it. The days bled into weeks, the weeks into months. He carried that ball of grief everywhere he went, even as he watched Seonghwa’s favourite deckhand fall head over heels for an alpha who had more strength than he knew what to do with. He watched them with saddened eyes, turning his gaze to the sea more often than he’d like to admit. He wondered what could’ve been if he’d kept his promise to always listen to his star, but it did nothing to dwell on decisions long made. So he carried his grief pressed close to his chest like an old friend, something precious. Maybe that way it would protect his broken heart.

“Captain, could we stop at the next port? Jongho says that they have beautiful beaches and we could resupply.” Yeosang smiled widely at their Captain, who looked up from his desk and let amusement twitch his face into a smirk. It had been about a year since the young alpha had joined their crew, and Hongjoong had to admit he had been a quick study. Then again, anything could be picked up quickly if you have a pretty omega making heart eyes at you the entire time. Hongjoong straightened the cuffs of his jacket, still black. He couldn’t bring himself to wear anything else, he couldn’t even open the door to their room. He stared the other man down a little, seeing his hands twist together nervously and he rocked on his heels. He saw a flash of dark hair from around the trim of his door.

“Mhm, Jongho says huh? Why isn’t he in my office asking me if he can take you on a date then?” Hongjoong teased, his inherited soft spot for Yeosang showing as Jongho peaked around the corner. Hongjoong raised his eyebrows as Jongho made eye contact with him.

“No reason, Captain.” He squeaked and Hongjoong chuckled. He sat forward in his chair and beckoned Jongho in. The man didn’t move much, barely crossing the threshold.

“Be honest with me Jongho-yah.”

“I thought you were more likely to say yes to Yeosang, Captain.” Jongho’s words tumbled out of his mouth all at once as Yeosag pressed the heel of his palm into his forehead. Hongjoong snorted, rubbing his neck and pressing his fingers into his healed mating mark. He closed his eyes briefly almost too briefly to notice and it could most likely be passed off as an extended blink. He let out a slow breath. He looked at the couple again, excitement on Yeosang’s face and apprehension on Jongho’s.

“Yes, we can stop at the port with the pretty beaches, now get out of my sight before I change my mind.” Hongjoong watched in amusement as Jongho grabbed Yeosang’s hand and pulled him from the office. The pair’s laughter floated up the hall as they ran.

Hongjoong had to be dragged out of his office by Wooyoung under threat of being added to this week’s soup. The other omega had declared that he needed some sun and that he looked sick. He should probably be there to make sure the cook wasn’t going horrifically overboard with how much he was buying anyway. He strolled down the gangway, boots thunking against the deck. The sun was warm on his face, bright in his eyes as he followed the crew towards these beaches Jongho spoke so highly of. He wished that Seonghwa could’ve seen it. The smell of seawater was barely noticeable over the smells drifting in from the town market as they got closer to it.

“Captain, what do you think of maybe getting some local fruit? The crew could have a day or two of it before it would spoil.” Wooyoung said, furiously scribbling a list on a bit of spare paper with a nub of a pencil.

“That sounds good Wooyoung-ah, and maybe you could get yourself a new pencil too.” Hongjoong commented, surveying the crowd and tuning Wooyoung out as he began to babble. That’s when he smelt it, lilacs. They smelt so sweet just like he remembered. He began to follow the scent subconsciously, even as Wooyoung began to pull him towards a fruit stall. He snapped back to what was going on in front of him, nodding as Wooyoung haggled with the stall owner about the price of the fruit.

“This one is bruised, lower the price on this one at least.” Wooyoung scoffed, he drove a hard bargain. Hongjoong knew he would win in the end. Hongjoong smelt lilacs again, his head turning and raising his nose in the air.

“Captain, are you alright?” Hongjoong turned his head to the man beside him and saw how concerned he looked. His eyebrows knitted together over eyes searching his face for any inkling of things going wrong. Hongjoong shook his head.

“I’m fine, just thought I smelt something familiar.” Wooyoung’s gaze softened, his eyes watering slightly. Hongjoong hated how quickly Wooyoung caught on to him sometimes. It was like their grief was linked somehow.

“Maybe they have a flower stall nearby?” He stepped slightly closer, gently patting his forearm. Hongjoong nodded his agreement. That had to be it.

“Yeah, maybe.”

Hongjoong kept smelling them, lilacs. Around every corner and in every stall. It was like he couldn’t get away. Wooyoung didn’t seem to smell them. Hongjoong felt like he was going mad.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Wooyoung asked, his forehead pinching together as San rubbed his back reassuringly. Hongjoong nodded. He was fine, he was just experiencing a new symptom of his loss. Like everything else wasn’t enough, like just being without him wasn’t enough. Now he had to smell him at every port too. The pair didn’t look convinced as Hongjoong turned, making his way back through the crowd. He had only taken a few steps when he heard it. Laughter, like bells calling him and lilacs were on the breeze again. His feet were moving before he really had a chance to process what he was doing. He could hear his two members of crew calling after him as he moved, but something else was driving him forward. He ignored them. He weaved through the crowd until he came to a clearing, green grass and a single stall filled with baubles. It was somewhere he would’ve come with Seonghwa before. He tried to rationalize that that’s why he was there, and not the black haired man less than five feet in front of him. He hadn’t turned around, but he smelt like lilacs. He was tall and lean just like his mate had been. Hongjoong felt his heartbeat pick up, pounding in his chest and in his ears, as he tried to pick up his feet and walk away. He just had to walk away. There was no use chasing ghosts, he’d stopped doing that a long time ago, but he couldn’t. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the man in front of him turned his face and Hongjoong would know that nose anywhere. It was him. It was Seonghwa. The elegant slope of his nose gave him away. Hongjoong felt his chest heave. He heard his own voice before he chose to say anything at all.

“Seonghwa!” His voice broke, echoing in his own head. It seemed louder than the market, even though Hongjoong knew it wasn’t. Seonghwa turned towards Hongjoong, a gentle, but confused smile on his face. It had been so long since Hongjoong had seen that smile. He had almost forgotten what it looked like. He saw the other reach subconsciously for his hip, for a weapon that wasn’t there, some habits die hard. Hongjoong felt affection warm his chest at the thought. His star was right in front of him, and he was frozen watching him turn.

“Hello.” Seonghwa said, looking at him without a hint of recognition behind his eyes. He heard Wooyoung muffle a sob behind him. Hongjoong hadn’t even realized that he and San had caught up with him. Seonghwa’s face morphed into confusion, even as the smile stayed plastered to his face in spite of it. The omega’s eyes jumped from person to person standing in front of him.

“Have we met?” Seonghwa asked, clutching his basket of goods closer to him. Hongjoong felt all the air get sucked out of his lungs and his heart shattered a second time.