Chapter Text
With a crushing sense of regret, Yeosang swung the hatch closed. His hand hovered over the first latch as he thought about the person on the other side.
It’s not like he hadn’t given it enough thought. In fact, all he’d been about to think about since Jongho left was the offer. He’d never felt more indecisive in his life, constantly wavering back and forth between the options.
Before he’d met Jongho, he’d never had to question anything. He knew his place, his future, and his purpose. The island he’d grown up on had been devastated when he was just a child, and he lost his home and his family to the sea. His island had broken into pieces as it submerged - something it had never done before.
He had been helping a neighbor’s fishing boat at the time and was one of the few survivors from his town. That led him to Honeydew, where he was abandoned at the Rusty Birdcage and where he’d had spent every day since. Convinced that no island could ever truly be predictable, he’d feared Honeydew for years. He’d feared the whole world for years. Nowhere was safe, except maybe ships.
That’s when he’d started dreaming about leading a life like the people who frequented the inn. Fishermen, miners, scavengers… pirates. To be unafraid of the ocean and never stay on land for long. What a life that sounded like, so full of adventure and bravery. Not like Yeosang, who hid away.
He remembered the first night he met Jongho. Obviously he’d been warned that the pirates sauntering in were the most revered and feared pirates on the Shifting Seas. But Jongho had given him a polite smile and greeting, and spoken to him softly. Hardly ‘scary pirate’ material.
Yeosang had brought him dinner that first night and Jongho struck up a conversation with him. The pirate was shocked to hear that Yeosang didn’t have a home or a bed - he slept at the back of the pantry on the hard floor. One of his many jobs was to kick out the rats as they appeared. They were easy to find when they were scurrying all around him at night.
Yeosang had put the conversation and the kind stranger out of his mind, even though he saw the way Jongho was looking at him. Many men and women looked at him like that. It wasn’t uncommon for others to notice his beauty, and wonder if they could claim him.
But Yeosang turned down any offers he received, whether they came with money, a home, security, or freedom. Because he knew his place and his purpose. He would belong to this inn until he died.
During the second visit from the pirates, Captain Hongjoong sat with some of his men in the hall, celebrating and drinking. Other customers gave them a wide berth as if they were feral beasts. But whenever Yeosang brought over more drinks and food, they were always polite. It was more than what could be said about half the customers that frequented the Rusty Birdcage.
Then in his clumsiness, Yeosang had knocked over a drink at another table. The old tradesman had shouted at him, berating him in front of everyone. Again, it was hardly uncommon. Normally it was the innkeeper himself doing the scolding, but customers did too.
Only this time, Jongho was there. He came over as he stared the man down. Yeosang had thought he looked so intimidating - suddenly he seemed cold and threatening.
“You’ll apologize to him, right now,” Jongho said to the customer.
The man scoffed at such a ridiculous notion, and even Yeosang planned to gently pull Jongho away and tell him it wasn’t necessary. But he was too slow. Before he could even register what was happening, Jongho brandished a dagger and thrust it down into the man’s hand, pinning it to the table.
Blood seeped across the wood and spilled to the floor. The whole hall fell quiet as the man screamed, clutching his wrist and gaping at the wound Jongho had inflicted.
The wound he’d inflicted for Yeosang. Purely to protect him and defend him.
Sure, it was violent, but they were pirates. It wasn’t the first time there’d been violence at the inn and it wouldn’t be the last. But the thought that someone who hardly knew him could be so kind to him felt like more than he deserved.
There it was, Yeosang thought, his hand still over the unlocked hatch. The reason he had been so indecisive, not just about leaving, but about everything he had with Jongho. After all these years he still wasn’t sure he deserved him. Nobody had ever fought for him before. Nobody had ever been kind to him before, not at Honeydew.
There had been countless visits over the years since then. That kindness had blossomed into the romance they had now, and Yeosang would be lying if he said he didn’t dream about running away with Jongho. He dreamed of a life where he was in the presence of someone who cared for him, someone who made him feel safe. A family that fought with him, and for him. A home.
He hadn’t earned any of it, and yet it was being offered to him. But he was scared to reach out and take it. What if it turned bad? What would he do if he ruined things with Jongho? Where would he go if he lost his safe space and the only good thing in his life?
“Oi,” the innkeeper snapped from behind the bar. “Get that hatch closed now!”
Yeosang frowned at the latches, willing himself to follow through with his plan to stay. He never questioned things before Jongho, he reminded himself.
But that was before. And now Jongho had him questioning everything. Was the world supposed to treat him this unfairly? Was he going to sleep on the pantry floor forever? Would he die in this inn, having never lived a life at all?
Jongho’s words echoed in his head. I promise every day to make you happy. Isn’t that a risk you’re willing to take, for that future?
If he was going to take a risk for anything, surely it would be for the man he loved.
Yeosang swung open the hatch and then the door, stepping out into the open air.
“Hey!” the innkeeper shouted, rushing after him. “You get your ass back in here and close up, or I’m shutting you out there to swim!”
Yeosang looked back at the man who had given him shelter for over a decade. He should be grateful - he was grateful really. But all of the indecision from the last few weeks started to fall away as he realized that Jongho still loved him. Yeosang had turned him down, pushed him away, and he had said he loved him anyway.
Jongho was right about everything. And Yeosang didn’t want him to sail away thinking that Yeosang didn’t want the same future he did. So he bowed his thanks to the innkeeper then started running down the hill, the man’s shouting and cursing fading away behind him.
He had made the decision and committed to it. Now he had to catch up to Jongho in time or he’d die. If he made it to the beach and the ship was already on the horizon, Yeosang didn’t know what he’d do. He could bang on doors and hope someone was willing to risk their life to let him in. Even then, the innkeeper wouldn’t take him back, and he’d be homeless until Jongho next returned.
Yeosang ran faster. This was the biggest risk to both his future and his life that he’d ever taken. But for Jongho it was worth it. Not just Jongho, but himself too. He was worth this. He wanted to live.
The sirens started as he rounded the last corner to the beach, and Yeosang felt a shift in the sand under his feet as if the whole island had sunk a little. He stumbled but regained his balance and kept running, spotting the figures at the back of the ship.
Then he realised the ship was slowly pulling away from the pier.
“Wait!”
He judged the distance from the pier to the ship - there was no way they could line up a walkway for him now. He couldn’t swim, though maybe they could throw him a rope… but with the island going under, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to hold onto it. He’d just get sucked down into the depths without the ability to get back to the surface on his own.
“Yeosang, get back inside!”
It was too late for that. He wanted to tell Jongho it would be okay no matter what. He would rather die trying to get to him than live another day without him. Yeosang’s eyes settled on the stern on the ship, which had a grid of rope covering the side.
He could make it.
As he reached the pier he could see other people holding Jongho back - he was shouting and trying to climb the railing, but they stopped him from jumping down.
“Let me go! ” he screamed, “that’s my baby! Sangie!”
There was no time left to doubt. His feet hit the pier, which was already covered in a layer of water as it rocked unsteadily. The sirens stopped just as Yeosang jumped.
He latched onto the grid of rope as he slammed against the side of the ship with an oomph. He heard the fluttering of fabric and saw the ship’s sails raising to move faster. Glancing down, they were almost fully clear of the island - Yeosang couldn’t see any sand in the water below. Within ten seconds the island was shifting behind them, sinking into the water and out of sight. Yeosang felt the boat tilt a little against the unpredictable waves but sail onwards. He was okay, and he was with them.
He watched the island he’d lived on since he was a child disappear. It had been a long time since he’d seen the buildings from the sea, and he’d never seen the island go under before.
“Uhm, a little help?” he called up, starting to climb the rope net with shaky hands.
Jongho’s panicked face appeared over the railing and he reached out a hand to help him up. Yeosang took it, feeling Jongho’s firm grip on his wrist. In one movement he was hauled up and over the railings, falling into Jongho’s arms.
He made it. He was on the ship. And Jongho’s panic turned to fury.
“Are you insane?” he scolded. “What were you thinking, baby? You could have died!”
Yeosang was still gasping for breath. The adrenaline made his heart pound in his ears and his whole body jittered. He wrapped shaky arms around Jongho’s neck, glad that strong hands found their place around his waist too.
“I love you too,” Yeosang sighed, then kissed him.
When they broke apart, Jongho’s expression had softened. His friends shared a look and then headed closer to the wheel to give them space.
“I’m sorry,” Yeosang said quietly. “I was scared, but… I think it’s okay to be scared if you’re beside me. I want to take the risk, like you said. I want to take the leap.”
Jongho pulled him into a close hug, chuckling against his shoulder.
“Not what I meant by ‘take the leap’, by the way.”
Yeosang shrugged, smiling as the realization dawned on him that he didn’t ever have to watch Jongho leave him again. They’d be together from now on, and their lives wouldn’t just be a game of waiting until the next visit. Their futures were woven together just like he’d dreamed. He wouldn’t waste time with ‘what if’s any longer. He’d live in the moment and trust in the person who had never let him down.
“I know you’re busy right now,” Yeosang said when they finally pulled back. “Don’t worry about me, okay? Focus on your captain, and I’ll try not to get in the way.”
“Our captain,” Jongho corrected him, and he nodded with a smile.
The tall man whose name Yeosang remembered was Yunho sidled back up to them to politely interject.
“We can handle things,” Yunho said. “Seonghwa and I will take care of Hongjoong. Take all the time you need.”
Yeosang was about to say that it wasn’t necessary; he’d already caused a fuss by turning up the way he did and making them all worry. He could surely find a corner to sit in until Jongho wasn’t busy.
But Jongho was already taking his hand and pulling him towards the stairs.
“Thanks,” Jongho said. “I’ll get him settled. But whatever your plan is, make sure to tell Hongjoong about it. I don’t like the idea of you going behind his back, and he deserves to be involved in decisions that affect his life.”
Yunho gave a hesitant nod, then Jongho was leading Yeosang downstairs and out of sight. He guided him through the ship, explaining each room and making introductions to various crew members. Yeosang recognised many of the faces as visitors to the Rusty Birdcage. That was all behind him now though, and he’d be seeing these people a lot more often.
“This is our room,” Jongho said at the end of their tour.
“Our room?”
“Unless you want your own room,” Jongho added quickly. “Seonghwa doesn’t really use his anymore, maybe we could-”
Yeosang clasped a hand over his mouth to shush him with a grin. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept in a bed, and he wasn’t going to pass up the chance to share one with Jongho.
“I like our room,” he said, and Jongho pulled the hand away from his mouth to return a warm smile.
The tour was finished, and Yeosang wondered if he should ask about his duties. After all, he wasn’t used to having nothing to do, so he was ready to make himself useful. But Jongho was still holding him close and smiling at him softly.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” he murmured. Yeosang felt warm all over, and suddenly he realised exactly what he wanted to do first.
“Kiss me.”
Jongho didn’t hesitate. He pulled Yeosang close and locked their lips together, kissing him gently. Then they were moving, Jongho pushing him back onto the mattress and straddling him. There were no customers to interrupt them, and no rules he was breaking - they could stay like this, just the two of them, for as long as they wanted. It felt like heaven.
Every movement Jongho made was deliberate and caring. From the way he undressed them both, to each caress and kiss he placed along Yeosang’s skin, there was nothing but kindness and love.
Jongho trailed more kisses down his collarbone and chest. He sucked on one of Yeosang’s nipples and grinned at the gasp that followed. Kissing and biting at his skin, Jongho worked his way further down. He took Yeosang’s dick in his mouth, determined to pleasure him above anything else. The surge of excitement made Yeosang shudder and he bit down on his own fist to stay quiet. It would certainly make adjusting to life here more awkward if the entire ship had heard his orgasms half an hour after he arrived. Jongho brought him to the edge but pulled away just as his body tensed up. With a frustrated whine Yeosang bucked his hips up, desperate for more contact.
“Patience, baby,” Jongho chided, before shifting to position his own hard length at Yeosang entrance.
“No patience,” Yeosang sighed. “I’ve wanted you for so long, I can’t wait any longer.”
With a smile that told Yeosang he was about to get exactly what he wanted, Jongho started to ease himself inside. He moved slowly, pushing further in a little at a time and giving Yeosang a chance to adjust each time.
Even Jongho’s love-making was gentle. He whispered sweet nothings against his skin, refusing to move until Yeosang had completely relaxed around him. Then they settled into a rhythmic motion that felt exquisitely good. With shallow gasps Yeosang clutched Jongho’s shoulders; he didn’t know it was possible to feel so much all at once. Pleasure set his skin on fire as Jongho started stroking him, thumb swirling over the precum leaking from the tip.
“Jongho… I’m going to…”
He couldn’t finish the sentence before he was reaching his peak, his eyes fluttering closed as he let out the tiniest whimper.
“Fuck, baby,” Jongho moaned, “you’re so tight, feels so good…”
He muffled his groans against Yeosang’s shoulder, and they finished together with a few final thrusts. Jongho pulled out of him with a pleasant sigh, lying down and wrapping his arms around him. They were hot and sweating, their skin sticky, but Yeosang didn’t care. He held Jongho back, listening to everything around them.
The sounds all around were so intriguing; the waves were louder than he imagined, and people could be heard moving above them. Jongho was panting in his ear, making his skin tickle. With a smile Yeosang brought his fingers up to weave into Jongho’s hair.
“I’m sorry I kept you waiting so long,” he said, and Jongho kissed his shoulder.
“I would wait a lifetime for you,” he murmured.
They stayed curled up together for a while longer, but Yeosang knew that they couldn’t stay this way. Jongho would be needed upstairs and Yeosang had kept him away long enough. When they finally pulled some clothes on, Jongho was looking at him with even more love in his eyes than before - something Yeosang hadn’t thought possible. How did he end up so lucky to have this pirate’s heart? And for that very same pirate to take such good care of his?
“Thank you for trusting me,” Jongho said. “Thank you for trusting in us, and what we have.”
He placed a kiss on Yeosang’s head. Jongho told him to rest, to get food from the kitchen when he was hungry, and to just get acclimatized to his new home. With a promise that he’d be back soon, the second-in-command disappeared through the door, leaving Yeosang to stretch back on the bed.
He felt sore but good, the warmth of Jongho’s touch still present on his skin. He allowed himself a yawn - this was the closest thing to a vacation he’d ever had in his life, and the bed was much comfier than the pantry floor.
“I’m a pirate,” he said, smiling at the ceiling. “Me. I’m a pirate.”
He giggled to himself, rolling to bury his face in the pillow. Today was just the first day of his new life, and already it had paid back to Yeosang more happiness than he’d ever had at Honeydew.