Another pirate one shot here, not having to do with any of my other fics ^^ Smut warning in the first third
I recommend listening to this https://youtu.be/fCK8-2pdtFU while reading

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The heels of Hongjoong's boots clicked on the polished marble floors of the headquarters as he strutted down the corridor swiftly. Behind him, multiple voices yelled over each other, some in bewilderment, others in dismay. All of them directed their questions at Hongjoong's back, building an impenetrable wave of migraine that came with their turmoil.

When Hongjoong turned the corner, blue jacket swishing behind him where it was held on his shoulders rather than him putting his arms in the sleeves, some followers quieted down. They muttered amongst each other, quickly losing sight of him. His ignorance had been the answer they had needed.

Two pairs of shoes followed Hongjoong into his office. When he whipped around with his face contorted with rage like a sinister storm cloud, the right one flinched back. The tall man on the left merely crossed his hands behind his back and waited. His eyes remained trained on Hongjoong's face, projecting calmness and composure.

Hongjoong forced some air into his lungs. He barked his orders at the fidgeting man.

"Send out Admiral Jeong and his fleet. I want them gone, every single one of those scourges. And examine the townsfolk for their needs. The Royal Military will supply them with rations and shelter."

His authoritative voice had the man cower and bow excessively. When he lingered still, the last thread of patience snapped. Hongjoong's voice thundered through the office, heard three rooms over still.

"Now get out of my sight!"

The man dashed off, nearly running into the door. He slammed the heavy wood shut behind him. Bitter satisfaction crossed Hongjoong's features when he heard him stutteringly order the men outside off. Like a pulk of chattering geese, they retreated into the guts of the building.

With a sigh, Hongjoong bent his head left and right to rid his shoulders of some tension. Ever so attentively, the last man's eyes regarded his every move.

Hongjoong spun on his heel to walk further into the room. He snapped his gloves off and threw them haphazardly onto the table to his left.

"Make sure that everything is accounted for. I don't trust those idiots with finances. They may only announce our decisions publicly once you validated their every calculation, Seonghwa."

With a mumbled curse, Hongjoong pulled the pretentious blue tricorn with the heavy white feather off his head. It landed on the desk just as flippant as his gloves.

"As you wish, Fleet Admiral."

"And send couriers to every corner of the mainland. I want to know where those pirates were sighted recently and where they are planning to go. Once you find their home port, we will go there in person to burn it down."

A forced grin dug into Hongjoong's cheeks without joy. His weary expression barely lightened from it.

"As you wish, Fleet Admiral."

Once more, Hongjoong whipped around. He strode over to the other man with long steps, not minding the few centimetres that the lower-ranking admiral had on him.

Hongjoong's hand stretched out to grab the man at the collar of his orderly white shirt. He wore the blue uniform west and jacket above and didn't flinch as Hongjoong mussed up his impeccable look.

It irritated Hongjoong. All that perfection and scrupulous cleanliness irritated him. On the man's face, his clothes, everything that surrounded him. Down to the shine on his black boots.

Hongjoong yanked him close. When the man's eyes didn't waver for even a second, Hongjoong felt hot rage bubble in his stomach. He wanted to mess him up. Mess up anything that chased the pretence of perfection. To show the ruthless gory and black insides hidden away by white plaster.

Seonghwa smelled of clean soap and faint of the strawberries he had likely snatched in the kitchens earlier. The place where every maid swooned for the tall admiral.

"And make sure not a single one of those bastards slips from your grasp. You will be punished with the entire battalion if you fail."

Their breaths mingled when Seonghwa remained still on the spot. With a snarl, Hongjoong shoved him back. Instantly, the man's hand busily fixed his appearance and adjusted his collar.

Hongjoong walked back inside the room, done with him. At his heavy mahogany desk, he stopped to put his hands down on its smooth top and breathe heavily for a few minutes. The blood rushing through his ears was deafening, but it didn't cancel out all noise.

Seonghwa hadn't left the room yet.

When nimble hands slipped under the coat around Hongjoong's shoulders, the fleet admiral froze. Unmoving, he allowed Seonghwa to brush the heavy garment from his shoulders. He dropped it to the floor, ruining its perfectly neat and uptight image.

Satisfaction curled in Hongjoong's belly when the buttons jingled for a moment before they fell quiet.

Wordlessly, Seonghwa roamed his hands over Hongjoong's shoulders and to his neck. His touches were faint, like a feather on his skin. Hongjoong closed his eyes and tilted his head back to expose his neck. One by one, Seonghwa opened the buttons of his shirt. The first one allowed Hongjoong to breathe. The second one let some cool air brush over his skin. The third and fourth were inappropriate for his rank, but once they were open to expose his chest, Hongjoong breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your true colours are showing like this, Fleet Admiral. Those lawless roots of yours."

Hongjoong spun around to snap at him. When Seonghwa's fingers came up in a flash to grasp his ear, the higher-ranking man hesitated. The tiny prick of metal through his lobe had him scrunch up his nose, but it ended as fast as it had come. A dangling earring brushed his ear, formed like a sword.

Seonghwa's eyes never left Hongjoong's as he trailed his hand down over his neck, his white blouse with the ruffles at the front. Mysterious and knowing of every dark secret, Seonghwa's gaze reeled the other man in. Heating him up and calming him in the chilliest of ways.

"Now you look like the one you were supposed to be."

Seonghwa took a step back to look at the debauched man. His cheeks still heated from his anger, his lips thinned in a straight line. His hair was tousled since he had ripped the hat off so roughly.

When Seonghwa grabbed onto Hongjoong's waist to lift him on the table, Hongjoong didn't struggle. He only stared down at Seonghwa superiorly when the man went down on one knee in front of him. Pleased, Hongjoong rose his boot onto his shining white pants, staining them with dirt.

As Seonghwa's long fingers went to fiddle with the laces, Hongjoong leaned back on his hands. Pensively, he stared down at the man. He had lowered his head respectfully.

"You have yet to forget that image of me," Hongjoong muttered. Utmost deliberate and careful, Seonghwa set the boot down. He brushed a kiss on the top of Hongjoong's foot before he switched knees to pull his other leg close. Hongjoong shuddered from his ministrations.

"You are the one who hasn't let go of the past yet," Seonghwa replied simply. The second boot joined the first one. Hongjoong sighed at the kiss he received. His mood had smoothed out naturally by now. When Seonghwa stood, a genuine smile played around Hongjoong's lips. Playful and inviting.

"I remember meeting you."

Seonghwa stepped between Hongjoong's parted legs and pulled them flush together. Hongjoong's arms wrapped around his neck as natural as ever, melting him against the other man.

Seonghwa mumbled his reply just before their lips met.

"And I remember meeting you."

-

Hongjoong stood behind the wheel, the wind in his hair and the rushing of waves filling his ears. His hands gripped tightly onto the weathered wood as he overlooked the oceans that sparkled in the reflection of the sunlight. Shining like crystals, it decorated their path into the endless spread of the sea.

"Jack Tar on the 'orizon!"

The shout had the entire crew perk up. Their gazes found Hongjoong as he stepped away from the wheel to leave it to his helmsman. With big steps, he crossed over to the railing as he pulled the spyglass from his belt. The man in the crow's nest had keen eyes, and Hongjoong trusted him. When he spotted the red ensign of the Royal Navy on the ship, pride at his crew filled his heart bitter-sweet.

"'Oist the red flag! They be gettin' scuttled!"

With a thunderous cheer, his crew sprung into action. They readied the cannons and angled them to the far distance, still between them and the approaching enemy ship. Some sung a chantey under their breath that soon sprung over like fire in a forest. Cheerful and frolicking at the prospect of an afternoon of murder and booty.

"Remember to leave no quarter but enjoy yerselves fer what life be worth until then!" Hongjoong bellowed over the deck. Another chorus of cheers hit him. Then he stepped over to rip the wheel around and matched the other ship.

The bloodthirsty pirates brimmed to the throats with their excitement. They stood at the ready with their weapons poised as the other vessel neared them. Hongjoong regarded the insane soldiers on board with a sinister grin.

They were fools to approach the pirates.

Hongjoong waited, his hand risen in commando to halt. The two ships lined up so Hongjoong could have a look at those naïve bastards before he sunk them.

However, as the two decks brimming with anxious sailors and ecstatic sailors respectively finally faced each other, a puzzled frown settled on Hongjoong's features. The navy crew was badly beaten up and largely lacking in numbers. A lot of men had bandages and makeshift crutches attached to them. Their eyes had seen hell, and they regarded this new hell dawning upon them full of terror.

Hongjoong motioned his crew to avast. They sunk their weapons suspiciously, but remained in position.

After another moment, the door to the naval captain's quarters opened, and a man stepped out. He was tall and handsome, young for his rank. With rigid movements and his expression determined, he marched over to the railing. Hongjoong left the wheel to copy him. Over the thin breath of the ocean that separated their ships, they regarded each other like hawks.

"Ahoy, Captain."

"What scallywag do ye be? Ye must be blind nay to spy the red flag we 'oisted."

A thin smile tugged on the man's lips. Then he gestured at his battered crew.

"We meant to hoist the yellow flag ourselves, but we didn't predict to see another ship so soon. Pardon the misleading signal."

Hongjoong crossed his arms, upset with the eloquent excuse. It would look bad in his records to attack a crew that already had nothing more to give, just for the fun of it. As much as his crew liked that, Hongjoong wasn't one to waste time and strength on something so trivial.

"Ye bunch look as if ye took quite a beatin'."

Hongjoong dragged his eyes over the captain. No apparent injuries marred his beauty, and he stood straight and noble between his cowering men. The pirate liked what he saw.

"We narrowly dodged getting sunken by a different pirate crew, aye. We are trying to reach land now before anything worse happens, but I fear losing another third of my men to their injuries by the time we anchor next time." His rich voice carried pain. And a responsibility that Hongjoong understood too well.

When the man perked up, Hongjoong rose a brow at him. In evil anticipation, his crew hovered, ready to strike and slaughter.

"Pirate. May I request your help?"

Intrigued, Hongjoong put his hands down on the railing to lean over it. The sun reflected brightly on the golden and silver medals that adorned the man's dark blue uniform. It fit his elegant aura.

"Requestin' a pirate's 'elp might get ye in trouble with yer crew. But I be willin' to listen to yer words."

With a thankful bow of his head, the naval captain spoke again. Hongjoong's crew lingered, the first frustration and boredom creeping back to them as they recognised the diplomatic attempt.

"Lend your ship's surgeon to me. I will pay whatever price needed if you save as many men as possible. I can even apply for a letter of marque for you and your ship."

Hongjoong glanced at his surgeon, one of his more perceptive men. Mingi didn't look opposed, though he awaited the decision with relative neutralness.

"I do nay want to become a privateer fer the government. There be a payment that I will consider fer this exchange, though," Hongjoong called back. The sun blared down on the relieved faces of the naval crew. Their hopeful gazes at their captain spelt out their trust in him.

"What is that?" The other captain sounded guarded, as if he just waited for Hongjoong to run a rig on him and sink their ship.

Like the gentleman he was, however, Hongjoong remained peaceful.

"Le me 'ave ye fer a night, Captain. In exchange I promise medical aid an' ignorance from the rest o' me crew."

A few lewd hoots replied to that from Hongjoong's crew. The naval soldiers, on the other hand, turned their wide eyes at their officer.

It took the man a moment of contemplation before he nodded.

"I agree with that."

Satisfied, Hongjoong turned to his crew.

"No lootin' today, me 'earties! Connect them ships an' supply all 'elp needed to the surgeon."

His crew knew better than to question the captain right at his face. They went to work, some with displeased mumbles, others with uncaring silence. Once they had thrown a plank over to the navy ship to connect them, Hongjoong stepped from the helm. On the other ship, the naval officer did the same. Without fear, the man crossed the plank with long steps. The whispered doubts of his crew fell on deaf ears.

Hongjoong gave him his hand to help him over the slightly wobbly step down on the pirate ship. In return, Mingi and five of his men rushed over to the other ship that had been commanded to accept the help.

Like this, they had a treaty. Hongjoong's surgeon in exchange for their captain, both inestimably valuable crew members.

The soldier stepped down at Hongjoong's side to regard his crew with strained anticipation. They smirked back their cruel smiles.

"Leave us alone an' get to work." Hongjoong nodded at his quartermaster Wooyoung, wordlessly handing the command over. Then he offered the enemy captain to scale the steps ahead first. In a perfect model of politeness, he opened the door to the captain's quarters for the man, too, and closed it once both of them had stepped in.

The other captain looked around, his astonishment at the number of books in Hongjoong's realm gleaming on his face. Hongjoong chuckled at him while he set down his weapons on the table. From up close, the man's angular features and slender build were even more gorgeous. Hongjoong had found a real catch on that crippled ship.

"Me name be Kim Hongjoong. Though ye know that presumably."

The officer stepped to one of the tall shelves to read the letters on the spines of the books. All of which Hongjoong had read in endless hours out at sea.

"Aye. We call you the worst of your generation."

Amused, Hongjoong opened the heavy chest in a corner of the room. Bedded into expensive silk and linen that made for the perfect cushion, he found a bottle of red wine. He retrieved it to put it down on the table with two of his fancy chalices made of brass.

"What be yer name?"

"I'm Park Seonghwa."

Hongjoong tested the name in his mouth soundlessly. A pretty name for a pretty man.

After his round through the room, Seonghwa returned to the table. He watched Hongjoong pouring the deep red drink with his arms folded loosely behind his back.

"I must confess that I know little about spending the night with a man." He muttered a thanks as he took one of the goblets from Hongjoong. When he sipped from the wine, his face brightened at the rich taste. Hongjoong smirked into his own drink.

"The navy offers no such 'appenings at their ships?"

"I have been one of the lucky few who avoided it by being the son to an important admiral." Seonghwa savoured his wine again. The red stained his lips, inviting Hongjoong in with its vibrant colour.

"I see. Ye do nay 'ave to be afraid." Hongjoong took Seonghwa's free hand in his to lead it up to his lips. The kiss he left on the man's knuckles was both courteous and innocent. "I shall nay 'urt ye."

Seonghwa's lashes fluttered pliantly. He didn't doubt the pirate.

Hongjoong grabbed his glass with one hand and led Seonghwa over to the bed with the other. The officer followed without a hitch of hesitation. His devotion to his crew woke respect in Hongjoong.

Hongjoong emptied his glass with a big gulp as he sat down on the bed. Warm and cosy, the alcohol spread in his stomach as he regarded the tall soldier. He fidgeted with his chalice until Hongjoong took it out of his hand to put it down on the nightstand.

Before Hongjoong put his hands on Seonghwa, he glanced at the man's features a last time. Nervousness displayed in his face and drew his eyebrows together, but he didn't falter. When Hongjoong reached to untuck the officer's shirt from his pants, he didn't flinch.

Smooth, tanned skin appeared when Hongjoong left it to the man to slip out of his shirt. Like any soldier, Seonghwa was trained and his muscles had hardened under his skin with time. Hongjoong trailed his hands over the man's abs pleasedly. The man's body was beautiful and groomed, unlike any pirate's body would ever be. When Hongjoong's hands slipped past the waistband of his double-breasted pants, the soldier shuddered. A hand came up to settle over his lips elegantly, muffling any embarrassing noises that might escape his throat.

"Tell me if ye dislike somethin' I do to ye. Yer discomfort will nay make it pleasurable fer me either." Hongjoong's hands gripped onto Seonghwa's behind as he pushed the pants down. As Seonghwa kicked his shoes off, they fell into a heap. In his naked glory, Seonghwa stood in front of the fully clothed pirate. A blush dusted his cheeks at the full exposure, and one hand came down to stabilise himself on Hongjoong's shoulder.

"What do you plan to do to me, pirate?"

Hongjoong ran a hand up the curve of his hip. The cold air and the faint sensation had the man's body react sensitively. His nipples hardened to beg for attention in the dancing light. Everything about him was delicate and delightful in its contrast to Hongjoong's rough edges.

"Only jolly things, I 'ope," Hongjoong muttered under his breath. When he lifted his head to look at the other man's face, the charming blush on Seonghwa's features only made him even more alluring to Hongjoong.

The pirate opened his legs to welcome Seonghwa between them. His proximity to the man's middle didn't get unnoticed. While Seonghwa fought his embarrassment that wanted him to shy away and hide, his body supplied an honest response. Pleased, Hongjoong massaged his thighs to get him to loosen up.

"Join me on the bed."

When Seonghwa stepped around him to comply, Hongjoong gazed upon the length of his legs. Since the officer was used to wearing heels, he lifted his feet off the ground a bit with every step. His movements were gracious, like those of a high court woman. Hongjoong knew how to treat those and have them bloom under his fingers.

Seonghwa sat down on the bed stiffly, quite unsure of how to be alluring. Yet, his purity drew Hongjoong in even more. When he knelt next to Seonghwa and reached out to guide his head to face him, the officer complied. His doe eyes flickered over Hongjoong, neither distrusting nor compelled. He looked nervous for the largest part, and Hongjoong detected the glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.

"What do ye know about back-gammonin'?"

Seonghwa licked his lips in an unconscious tick. If he noticed the heavy gaze of the pirate on his soft mouth, he didn't show it.

"I've heard of men suffering some severe injuries from it and not able to walk straight for days if gone wrong."

His bravery was impressive. Despite hearing such rumours, he had agreed on a night with the pirate.

Hongjoong shifted the hand he had on the man's jaw to his chin. The pads of his thumbs brushed against the man's lips to feel their fullness. The officer flinched, nearly pulling back until Hongjoong guided him back into place. He was sensitive, probably never having been touched before.

"I will nay 'urt ye, I promised. If ye be scared o' leavin' yer body to me in that way, I may play the role o' bein' breached first. I can show ye 'ow it be done jolly."

Seonghwa looked intrigued at the word 'first'. He gave a tentative nod.

"Whatever you wish, Captain. My body is yours to desecrate."

Enamoured by the way he put it and the weight of the implications, Hongjoong leaned in to kiss him. The officer willingly opened his mouth for Hongjoong to explore. His plush lips created a heavenly tender pillow for Hongjoong to rest on as his tongue slipped between their mouths to invite Seonghwa for a dance.

Despite his discomfort and the predicament that had brought him into this situation, Seonghwa melted into the pirate quickly. He was receptive, single brushes of Hongjoong's hands against his shoulders and nape already having him shiver and tremble. His interest in the pirate's ardent kisses was undeniable when he arched into the man.

Hongjoong pushed him down into the sheets in tandem with his searching tongue. Every slick brush of the muscles had Seonghwa's back lower towards the bed.

Seonghwa noticed only when he lost his balance and his lips disconnected from Hongjoong's. When he sprawled out in the sheets, his hair fanned out around his head like a halo. Hungry, Hongjoong eyed the way his legs drew together in a flurry of shyness. That part of his body wasn't as tanned as his face and arms. The pale skin invited Hongjoong to taste it, so he did.

He started at Seonghwa's chest so he wouldn't startle him and put his lips to work at his collarbone. Simple brushes of the pirate's lips already had the man tremble and grit his jaw in an attempt to keep in those breathy noises. Through his lids, Hongjoong peered at his hands. One of them had tangled in the sheets to hold on to something while the other one hovered in the air. It shook between covering his mouth and grabbing onto Hongjoong.

Hongjoong pulled back slightly to grab onto the confused limb and push it into his hair. His locks were currently short enough that they wouldn't tangle around Seonghwa's fingers when they slipped between them.

"Do nay 'old aft yer noises. Only the sea an' I can 'ear ye 'ere," Hongjoong muttered before he lowered his lips on one of the hardened nubs that had been catching his gaze since earlier. When his tongue dragged over the skin lasciviously, Seonghwa gasped loudly. His grip on Hongjoong's hair tightened, pulling on his roots just enough to send that spark of heat down south.

As Hongjoong focused his hands and lips on his chest, Seonghwa gradually grew louder. His scratchy groans gained in confidence and volume, filling the air with sweet pledges of lust. The rushing of the waves outside paired with his voice became Hongjoong's new favourite melody.

When Hongjoong trailed one hand down the naval officer's stomach to reach between his legs, he found the man already half hard. It took only a single knock of his wrist to get the man into letting his thighs fall open so Hongjoong could wrap his hand around him. Several seconds later, he had figured out how Seonghwa liked to be touched. His slow movements with the tight ring of his fingers were received with stuttering thrusts from below.

Unravelling the officer was beautiful to Hongjoong's eyes, like a sunset setting above the ocean. The man blushed in lovely shades of pink and his chest heaved like the ocean. Once Hongjoong pulled back from him to sit up, the marks on Seonghwa's collarbone on chest got accentuated by orange candle light to make them dance.

Hongjoong reached for the jar of oil on his nightstand to slick up his fingers. It eased the glide on Seonghwa, as well as on himself when he used his free hand to slip into his pants and probe at his entrance. Since Hongjoong was no stranger to playing with men, he never spent too much time without the tight ring of muscles being breached. He knew exactly how to ease it open as quick and fast as possible, and he used his tactics now. He had no patience to wait anymore.

Seonghwa watched him with yearning simmering in his eyes like a coal fire. Either his teeth or his tongue worried his parted lips whenever Hongjoong's fingers brushed his tip. The delicious little zaps of pleasure always threatened to have his eyes slip shut in bliss.

But Hongjoong wanted him to look at him. Which was why he decided he was ready and swung a leg over the man's narrow hips. With Seonghwa's entire focus dedicated to him, the pirate yanked his shirt over his head and kicked off his breeches. The size difference he had with Seonghwa got apparent only now, and Hongjoong detected its flicker in the officer's face. His eyes widened slightly the second he realised Hongjoong was smaller than him, both in height and in built.

"I want to show ye 'ow it be done. An' once ye be confident enough, ye may act on whatever desires that may overcome ye."

"What sort of desires are those?" Seonghwa tilted his head. His cheeks were still flushed, and the heat of the room dampened his hair.

Hongjoong reached beneath him and grasped the man's arousal with his slick fingers. As he adjusted his position, Seonghwa reached out for his thighs to stabilise him naturally.

"Ye may want to take o'er. I'll let ye, do nay be shy."

Still befuddled by what he had to expect, Seonghwa just nodded. Then he sunk his teeth into his bottom lip the moment that Hongjoong lowered his hips.

The tip went in relatively easily, but it had both of them hold their breaths at the sudden intensity. While Hongjoong took a few moments to adjust, Seonghwa threw back his sweaty hair.

At first, Hongjoong kept Seonghwa securely pinned while he circled his hips only for the tip. As his movements grew more confident and smoother, Seonghwa also gradually slipped deeper.

A few sweaty minutes later, Hongjoong finally settled entirely on the man until their hips were flush together. The heat and fullness of Seonghwa inside had him gasping for air for a moment.

Seonghwa's fingers dug painfully into his skin. His face had contorted in a hybrid of discomfort and self-restraint, and his eyes had slipped shut.

The moment Hongjoong's thighs bulged under his fingers as he lifted his hips, they shot back open. For a moment, he looked panicked, as if he feared Hongjoong might pull off already. However, as the pirate sunk back down with a guttural moan, Seonghwa replied with a similar noise of his own.

Hongjoong couldn't take his eyes off him. He had to watch every twitch of Seonghwa's features, how they had blissed-out and drew together, depending on what he felt.

Breathless, they hold each other's gazes as Hongjoong finally settled into a rhythm. Faster than before, he could take Seonghwa entirely and arched his back to feel him even deeper. Helpless beneath him, the officer could only claw at Hongjoong's thighs, his behind, and his hips. Every wanton pull pleased the pirate and filled the air between them with more keen suspense.

Hongjoong rode him at his own pace, chasing after the heat in his body that showed in the fullness of his throbbing length. Every bounce had it slap against Seonghwa's stomach, but neither of them cared for the stains he left on the man's abdomen.

"Pirate-" Seonghwa grit out between his teeth, unable for more. His orderly looks from earlier were gone entirely. Something primal had settled in his eyes, something more savage than Hongjoong had ever seen. It had chills run down his spine and excitement collect in his stomach at the same time.

Hongjoong braced his hands on Seonghwa's chest to guide his movements. The slick noises of skin mixed into the heady air to overshadow their breathy moans and gasps. The space between them allowed Seonghwa to rut up into him and try to get impossibly deeper.

As strong as Hongjoong's legs were, however, they were bound to weaken after time. As soon as they needed a break, he sat back to trap Seonghwa down again and grind instead.

And it wasn't enough. Not after they had got so close to the impending release.

Hongjoong saw it in Seonghwa's eyes how he wanted to beg. Before any words escaped him, he thought the better about it and they closed off again. But in turn, his arms came to wrap around Hongjoong once more. When his hands splayed over the pirate's waist to hold him tightly, Hongjoong knew what was coming.

His pleased grin was muffled by the sheets when he got thrown onto his back. Seonghwa was above him in seconds to slide back in and relish in the velvety grip Hongjoong had on him.

His eyes didn't need to search the pirate's face for his agreement. The second he slammed inside and Hongjoong threw his head back, he had any answer he needed.

This time, there was no slowing down before the fever in their bodies could boil over. Seonghwa had no qualms about trusting his body's instincts as he pounded Hongjoong into the sheets without letting him the time to breathe. Trashing and whimpering, Hongjoong took it all and dissolved at every brush against his spot.

Seonghwa's sweat dripped on Hongjoong's stomach to mix with the smeared liquid there. When Hongjoong reached for his length to add more into it, Seonghwa's hips stuttered around their finishing thrusts.

Seonghwa pulled out first to move his hand over his shaft only a few times before his hot semen splattered over Hongjoong's stomach. The sight of his face scrunching up before it grew blank was enough to tip Hongjoong over the edge, too. He left his trace in the mess without ever looking away from the handsome officer.

They heaved for breath for several minutes afterwards. Hongjoong's hair stuck to his forehead, and Seonghwa licked his lips to rid them of their dryness.

When Hongjoong glanced at his middle, he found Seonghwa was still hard. A wry smirk twitched over his lips.

"The night only just began. Tell me what ye liked so we can delve deeper into that."

Seonghwa did without hesitation. They spent the night exploring and getting to know each other's bodies until there was no more nook and cranny they had missed. They shared hours of passion and gentleness unlike any Hongjoong had ever experienced before. Seonghwa didn't have a single complaint, and something in his eyes had changed when he washed himself and got dressed in the morning.

Something had changed in Hongjoong's eyes, too. It didn't take him a mirror to tell.

"It been a pleasure tradin' with ye, officer," Hongjoong said as they stepped out on deck again. Mingi was already back in the sickbay, and Seonghwa's ship was ready to set sail.

With another lingering glance, Seonghwa bowed his head politely to the pirate.

"May the winds be with you and carry you wherever you need to go, Captain."

When he sailed off, Hongjoong looked after his flag for a long time until it had disappeared on the horizon.

-

"You were so wild back then. Wild and untamed, beautiful like the sea."

Hongjoong blinked his eyes open where he had been resting them. The white sheets of his bed barely contrasted with the tidy interior of his mostly empty room. Even in his position, the only thing he got was more capacity. Personality was frowned upon.

Seonghwa shifted behind him. His warmth didn't quite reach Hongjoong, as he stared at the ceiling.

Instead of an answer, Hongjoong turned onto his back to look up at the white chamber, too. The sheets rustled around his bare hips as they released some tension.

"Back then, I first understood that it didn't matter which side of the law you were on. You could love the sea and your crew just as much as I did," Hongjoong murmured. When Seonghwa sighed, he glanced over to the man. His tanned skin and dark hair contrasted with the sheets just how they had back then. And Park Seonghwa had lost none of his attractiveness.

"Do you regret joining the navy? You said you were not cut out for the cruelty of pirate life but now that you rank so high... Do you ever question the navy's cruelty?"

Hongjoong stares at him, trying to make sense of his plush lips forming words.

"What are you saying?"

With a blink against the ceiling as if he had to reign his wandering thoughts in, Seonghwa returned to normal. When he rolled back on top of Hongjoong, the man received him without missing a beat.

"Nothing."

Seonghwa dipped down to kiss him again. The night brushed past them unnoticed as they got lost in each other's touch.

-

Paperwork had swept Hongjoong away like a flood for over a week. He had barely seen Seonghwa even in passing, and with every situation he solved appeared three other ones. The hydra behaviour took his last patience and nerve from him. By the end of the week, when no end was in sight, he severely lacked sleep. When his door opened without a knock to welcome yet another officer with issues, Hongjoong buried his head in his hands, exhausted.

"Fleet Admiral-"

"No. I don't want to hear it today. Leave it for tomorrow," Hongjoong barked at the man. The soldier had a shred of decency to keep his distance and remained at the heavy doors. Sunlight streamed in from the other side of the corridor and bit at Hongjoong's eyes.

His stomach grumbled fiercely when it picked up on the scent of food wafting from the kitchen.

"You might want to hear this today, Fleet Admiral."

Hongjoong waved him off. His head barely stayed up anymore, seconds away from crashing onto the table top painfully.

"I genuinely don't. Send out a troop to ensure a treaty until the morning but have them act peacefully. I can go after I got some rest." Hongjoong's voice was tight with barely suppressed tension. He just wanted to fall into his bed, not have dinner, not take a bath, just lay unconscious for more than two hours.

"It's about Admiral Park."

Hongjoong's befuddled mind took a long moment to connect the title with Seonghwa. Then he directed his burning eyes at the messenger sharply. Kang Yeosang, one of their youngest officers.

"What about him?"

Finally, the man saluted and stood straight to over bring his message. His eyes were directed at the wall straight ahead rather than Hongjoong as he rattled down the memorised words.

"This morning when tasked with the extermination of the pirate fort Fortaare, Admiral Park Seonghwa committed treason by Article 4. By aiding the enemy and giving away crucial military information, the law hereby declares him an enemy of the empire. You are to judge over him."

Hongjoong couldn't trust his ears. For a moment, he faulted it on his fatigue that made him hear things. But the wood of his chair that he dug his fingers into was very real.

"What are you saying? Treason?"

"Yes, Sir. He is hereby sentenced to the death penalty by hanging followed by drawing and quartering. Park has escaped our troops to the sea, so we require your orders to track him down."

Blood rushed in Hongjoong's ears so loudly that he could barely hear himself mutter disbelievingly anymore. Seonghwa? Committing treason? And by aiding pirates, of all things?

If Hongjoong had met him under any other circumstances, he would have brushed it off as nothing. But even back then, if anybody would have found out about Seonghwa's mercy and the treaty with Hongjoong, he would have been punished already.

"What happened in detail?"

Hongjoong slumped back in his chair, unable to raise his head. He had a front to upkeep, but he couldn't rid himself of the feeling of deception. Seonghwa had done something unspeakable and escaped. He hadn't come to Hongjoong, hadn't begged him for help.

Hongjoong swallowed around the knot in his throat.

"He parted from his troops this morning to expose to the townspeople how many men would come. We suffered losses of a dozen men and couldn't catch a single pirate. Many others fill the beds in the medical wing now, some in dangerous condition." Yeosang recounted the facts coldly, as if he had nothing to do with all this. Blind to Hongjoong's inner turmoil.

"To the depths with you, Seonghwa," Hongjoong muttered under his breath. He couldn't do anything. Not after Seonghwa had acted out of line and fled, knowing fully well that the entire navy would be after him.

"Shall I send out a ship with a search party? Or do you want me to create a wanted poster first?"

With both hands, Hongjoong rubbed his face and his lifeless hair. Then he stood and took the long coat from the back of his chair.

"Prepare a war ship. I will go after him myself. In my absence, I want Admiral Jeong to fill in and take over my duties."

The messenger nodded and scurried off. Hongjoong followed slower and with a trudge to his steps as if heavy stones were bound to them.

He would find Seonghwa. If anybody could, it was Hongjoong.

-

"Fleet Admiral," the soldier halted in front of Hongjoong to salute and stand at attention. "We are approaching a cluster of islands nearby. The Captain asked for your guidance on further procedures."

Hongjoong twirled on the spot, his long blue coat catching the wind behind him as he did.

"Thank you."

With long steps, Hongjoong left his position at the railing where he had stared out at the sea he missed so dearly. His rank trapped him to the office most of the time, and even if his room had a gorgeous view of the ocean, it came nowhere near living on a ship.

The reminder of his pirate days lingered once more. Free days full of misdeeds and enjoyment at the same time. But they were no more. Not since he had become a privateer and then switched over to naval duties.

Hongjoong didn't need to rap his fingers on the door to the captain's quarters. With authority billowing around him like his coat, he marched right in. The captain and the navigator stood bent over a map together, and both of them jumped into position when Hongjoong marched in.

"Fleet Admiral Kim! Thank you for your fast response!" San called out. He had put off his hat to let the sea wind tousle his dark hair. Usually, it would be considered lacking appearance, but Hongjoong didn't mind. Out at sea, pesky perfection and pretence didn't exist.

"I had nothing else to do. You presume Park fled to the islands?"

The navigator, Jongho, nodded and shuffled aside to point them out for Hongjoong. Despite being the smallest, the air with which Hongjoong crossed his arms made him seem taller than the other two.

"Here. This island is relatively hard to reach for larger ships. We would need to abandon the artillery to approach this bay that he likely chose for a hiding spot. And as we advance on smaller boats, he could plan an ambush from the sides. He knows we are after him, undoubtedly," Jongho explained sharply. Hongjoong studied the maps, the excellent spot that they had discovered.

San played with a compass next to him, nervously waiting for orders.

It took Hongjoong a few moments to get behind Seonghwa's mind. Just as well as Seonghwa would know Hongjoong was chasing him personally based on this decision, Hongjoong could read Seonghwa's mind. They had always been like this.

"We'll stay on sea. Sail west," Hongjoong ordered ultimately. When both men gaped at him surprisedly, Hongjoong gave them a savage smirk.

"He fled with pirates from that village, didn't he? They would have to hide their ship from us to plan this ambush, and I doubt we will be able to oversee the traces. They are still out there fleeing."

The two men marvelled at each other. Then San stepped out onto the helm to bark his orders down to his crew. With the wind in their sails, they went west, chasing after Seonghwa in the distance. Just beyond the line of the orange-tinted horizon, he was somewhere. With the wind in his hair, that suited him so well.

"Fleet Admiral, I heard rumours going around."

Hongjoong opened a book he found on San's table and idly flicked through the pages. It told the story of the whales populating this area of the sea and fishers reporting their size and aggression. An excellent read, if scary out here.

"What kind of rumours?"

Jongho fidgeted with the divider in his hands.

"The crew mumbles during dinner time that Admiral Park's rouse was the morally right thing to do. The village targeted was popular to be a pirate nest, but they mostly had their children and wives there. Only a handful of actual pirates fought the incoming battalion and fled with the admiral. Those with families among the crew say it was a just thing to do. To protect the innocent."

The corners of Hongjoong's mouth twitched. Slowly, he closed the book again. When his chilly gaze met Jongho, the man visibly shrunk between his broad shoulders.

"I will pretend as if I haven't heard that. You better remind the soldiers in question that aiding piracy - even if just marrying and having children with them - is by all means a crime punished by death. And your men would do better keeping their mouths shut if they don't want to greet the cat."

"Right," Jongho muttered quickly. "Right, because they only get more as they have kids."

At Hongjoong's frosty nod, the man relaxed. With a deep bow, he scurried out of the room. San stepped back in moments later, his eyes curiously following the fleeing man. He didn't question his haste.

"Once more, you baffle me with your skill. At this point I surely would have made the wrong decision," San praised Hongjoong in awe. Chuckling, Hongjoong crossed his arms under his chest. His elbows brushed his sword, ready for the draw.

"Working together closely with people allows you to predict their behaviours. Let's hope you won't ever have to prosecute one of your own."

San thanked him repeatedly before he watched him go. The riddle of why the fleet admiral had joined their little voyage for a lower-ranking traitor remained a mystery.

And Hongjoong didn't need him to know. He denied the truth himself.

-

Hongjoong didn't join the nightly festivities of the crew. It had been a long time since he had found any joy in boisterous drunk men that yelled obscenities over each other and groped at whatever their eyes liked to see. He much rather preferred to lean against the wooden railing at the far bow of the ship and stare out into the ocean and its lulling up and down. Tonight, he had brought a bottle just for himself and he sipped on it from time to time to have the spirits of the alcohol warm his body.

It was still the same rum he had drank back then. Seonghwa recalling his past and fleeing out to the sea, felt like a cruel joke to play on Hongjoong's heart. As if he had wanted to drag him out here. To remind him of their first meeting.

Distantly, the merry festivities and music of the crew thundered below the creaking planks. Hongjoong heard them cheer and whistle in their delight. The sea, however, remained serene.

As Hongjoong swiped his eyes over the dark ocean, he spotted a little light in the distance. A lantern, just lit and swaying hypnotically. When the person lifted it above their head, Hongjoong recognised Seonghwa even so far away. They stared at each other for a moment. Then, Hongjoong left his post.

With his bottle still clutched in his grip and the other hand never having weakened from being used to steer a ship, he pulled the wheel around. They hadn't anchored yet, still drifting, and the few crew members on deck that had been cursed into standing watch glanced at Hongjoong curiously. At his stormy expression, they said nothing. Wordlessly, they followed his unspoken order to turn the ship.

Seonghwa put up the lantern at the side of the other ship's mast, signalling the path. He waited patiently, his arms crossed as Hongjoong aligned both vessels. The largest part of the naval soldiers remained blissfully unaware.

At Hongjoong's signal, the few soldiers in his view angled the sails flat with the wind, slowing their momentum. They floated near the other ship, not having had to hoist the sails.

Seonghwa stood in the middle of the deck of the pirate ship. He still donned his uniform, but some dirt had got on it and roughened up his appearance. Behind him, just outside the beam of light, stood a group of people. Women cradling their children close to their bodies, flanked by grim pirates with their blades drawn.

Hongjoong stepped over to the railing, and once more they faced each other.

But this time, the roles were reversed.

"We didn't get to pack much food and water before we fled. These people need to go on land to replenish, but I know you will hunt them down if they do," Seonghwa said, his voice stiff. When no emotion crossed Hongjoong's features, his shoulders tensed.

"I want to offer a deal. I will surrender myself, without making troubles, if you let these people go."

Hongjoong's eyes swiped over their rows. Over cowering, malnourished bodies. Over children with missing hands. His face remained cold.

"All of you deserve a death penalty. Whether or not you fight," Hongjoong said sharply once his eyes found back to Seonghwa. Agitation crossed the other man's exquisite features. Features that Hongjoong worshipped and spent every free minute staring at. Features that had decided to force Hongjoong into handing them the death penalty.

Features he would have to part from soon. He couldn't fall for them once more.

"Hongjoong," Seonghwa pleaded. His doe eyes grew impossibly soft and begging. They pulled on the strings of Hongjoong's heart that he had locked away so carefully in its stone prison. The same eyes that had gazed upon him so curiously during their first night. The eyes that held a special shine reserved only for Hongjoong.

"You know that this is wrong. You aren't aiding piracy with this. You came to capture a traitor. Leave the rest to those who are responsible and don't waste your time. You know I will fight back and quite some soldiers will have to die if you don't seize this chance."

Once more, Hongjoong stared at the people Seonghwa had saved. At their poor souls, that were cursed to damnation for meddling with a pirate. For loving who they loved.

Hongjoong grit his jaw. He had never been good at telling Seonghwa off, and he knew that the man could mean serious harm.

Especially since Hongjoong wouldn't be able to hurt him.

Seonghwa saw the moment the denial left Hongjoong's eyes. His head tipped back triumphantly.

"You win. Desert this ship. No harm shall come upon them from our hands. We will return right to the headquarters."

At Hongjoong's beckon, two sailors carried the plank over to join their ships. Another one stepped up with a pair of heavy iron shackles.

Seonghwa smiled at the people behind him. Hongjoong guessed they didn't even speak English. The crumbs of Spanish that Seonghwa spoke must have been enough to communicate his empathy.

As the man stepped over the plank, he was received with metal snapping around his wrist and two soldiers grabbing onto his arms. Hongjoong coolly stared him down, but Seonghwa wasn't afraid. A patient smile curled around his lips. The gratitude in his eyes shone brightly like the stars in the night sky.

"Park Seonghwa. From this day onward you are considered a traitor and criminal in the eye of the British Empire. Your crime is piracy. You shall be hanged for your misdeeds as soon as we reach port. No trial needed," Hongjoong announced. Seonghwa swallowed, but he nodded in understanding. As the soldiers led him off, Hongjoong returned to the wheel. He tipped his hat at the wary pirates. Then, he pulled the ship around to sail back to the headquarters.

-

On the day of Seonghwa's execution, the sun stood high in the sky. Like a vengeful god, it glared down at the scurrying soldiers and heated their bodies until their uniforms became portable ovens.

Hongjoong stood in the shade under the canopy of the headquarters and oversaw the tiring process with crossed arms. The hanging man sat nearby in the shade, too, and readied the noose about to lie around Seonghwa's elegant neck.

Hongjoong hadn't visited the man in the time since he captured him. His rank had allowed him to dodge both the handling of getting Seonghwa from the ship's bilge into the prison, and today's preparations. There had been no trial either. Betrayal of such a grand scale would not be forgiven, no matter how good his excuse.

Well kept in its cage of ignorance, Hongjoong's heart faintly still beat for the man. It kept him awake at night and asked him for action that he didn't take.

The only person responsible for today's execution was Seonghwa himself. And nothing could save him from his current predicament.

Hongjoong's eyes travelled from the wooden platform with the gallows over the far wall surrounding the inner court below him. Beyond the docks dotted with majestic ships stretched the ocean with his brilliant blue that seemed to melt into the sky to create a gorgeous hue. The rushing of the waves reached over until here, and it carried the salty breeze that stuck to the soldier's skin. Hongjoong breathed it in, revelling in the peace it brought.

It tasted of freedom.

As Hongjoong waited, the seats for the crowd below gradually filled with people. Only a few dozen would attend, since the execution of an admiral was a private matter within the headquarters. Women in their heavy gowns fanned air at their faces and discreetly gossiped over Seonghwa's case. A few servants got sent over to hold their umbrellas for them and screen them from the sun.

Time passed by too fast. When the hanging man left after a while, dread clenched up Hongjoong's guts. He reasoned with himself to stay steady. He had the upper hand; he had to give the order. Hongjoong couldn't allow himself a mishap.

When a soldier notified him he was to take his seat, Hongjoong parted from the shadows he had lingered in. He followed the soldier to the balcony that oversaw the scene.

Hongjoong wore his formal uniform today. It's deep blue hugged his figure and was accented by his numerous medals. His white coat swished behind him as he took a seat. The sweltering heat dawned upon him through the umbrellas meant to supply shadow.

The fellow admirals and high-ranking officials of the headquarters had assembled around Hongjoong. He sat in their midst on the front seat, exposed to the people's interest.

From his viewpoint, Hongjoong looked down on the gallows like a king throning above the mighty Colosseum in Rome. The crowd observed him curiously and whispered about his stony features. Hongjoong picked something up about how tired he looked. And he felt tired. He had barely slept since Seonghwa's verdict had been published.

Uncaring about the rumours and theatrics the elite in their society liked to share, Hongjoong stared to the left of the building. Beyond the crowd and hidden in the shadows was the door that Seonghwa would come through.

When the hanging man strode up onto the wooden podium to ready the noose, Hongjoong rose from his seat. He stepped to the balustrade of the balcony and peered out over the crowd. All whispers quietened down as they raised their respectful eyes at him. Some with bitter expressions, but most with the macabre excitement that death brought upon people.

Hongjoong wanted to grimace at them. The vultures that got their highs out of attending another person's agony were worse than any pirate pack Hongjoong had ever met.

Yet he reeled in his foul thoughts and steeled his voice to speak to them.

"Today marks the day when we execute a traitor in our midst. Admiral Park Seonghwa will be hanged to death as punishment for piracy and betrayal of the royal crown," he announced loudly over the sound of the ocean. When he stepped back to his place, the soldiers below gave a signal.

And finally, that door opened.

Hongjoong had prayed not to see Seonghwa step out of it, but his foolish hopes were met with the unpleasant truth. Hongjoong had been the one to bring Seonghwa here. And he would be the one to order the man's death.

Seonghwa's long legs were dressed in black pants and just as black boots that would soon join the pile of still usable shoes in their dungeon. Shoes taken from dead men, many of them. A pile that Seonghwa would join to get carted off to an unnamed mass grave in a few hours. The man wore just a white shirt that fluttered in the ocean breeze. No long coat decorated his shoulders, and all of his shiny medals had been stripped from him.

Two guards accompanied him to the middle of the path between the two sections of the crowd.

The heavy iron shackles around Seonghwa's hands jingled as he got into position. With no regrets, he rose his eyes to look up at Hongjoong from his disadvantaged position.

Hongjoong nodded at him. Seonghwa's signal to go.

The first step fell onto the hot pavement. Seonghwa appeared between the crowd that began to snarl all over again.

The second step brought him into the vicinity of a dog that had rested under a chair. It barked at him, not quieting even when his owner hissed at it.

The third step had the admiral behind Hongjoong lean over and whisper to another how glad they were to see the arrogance that Seonghwa carried himself with finally come to an end.

Seonghwa had never been arrogant. Aware of his worth, yes. But never arrogant.

Every step brought him closer to the wooden stairs that would lead to his demise. And every step had Hongjoong's heart throw itself against the cage he had locked it into. Desperate and unwilling, while his eyes stared ahead, emptily.

Sweat trailed down Hongjoong's temple under his hat with the elegant feathers on it. He could feel the eyes on him, gauging his reaction and waiting for him to break under the pressure.

Seonghwa had yet to detach his eyes from the fleet admiral. No blame crossed his features. Only pride in what he had accomplished with his betrayal. A goodbye for his lover.

Hongjoong's leg bounced with nerves.

Another step, and another.

Seonghwa looked so slender and delicate without his uniform. His elegant collarbone was tanned from the sun's kisses.

Hongjoong grit his teeth when Seonghwa arrived at the bottom of the stairs.

Once Seonghwa's boot came down on the wood, Hongjoong jerked up in his seat. Seonghwa didn't halt, his head lowered as he climbed the few stairs to his end.

And Hongjoong ran. He ran while his heart burst out of its cage and shattered all inhibitions as it went.

The ocean air carried Hongjoong like a bird as he rushed down the winding stairs. An admiral had come after him, but Hongjoong was in too much of a hurry to heed his yells.

When Hongjoong stormed through the door downstairs, Seonghwa had arrived on the platform. The gallows towered over him, menacing and ready to have him dance his last dance.

Through the surprised mumbles of the crowd and the confusion of the hanging man, Hongjoong sprung up the stairs. His coat swished behind him as he motioned the executioner to halt and move off. Perplexed, the man did as he was told, while the admirals attended the spectacle with their eyes bulging out of their skulls.

Seonghwa's features were gentle and handsome, ever so charming to Hongjoong for many years now.

"What are you doing?" Seonghwa asked him when Hongjoong pulled his sword.

"The right thing."

With that, Hongjoong slashed off his coat and let it drop to the ground. With it came his hat to expose his tousled hair and let his scalp breathe some fresh air.

"Fleet Admiral Kim!" One of the admirals squawked at him. The others turned to storm down the stairs.

Hongjoong grabbed onto Seonghwa's arm and dragged him down the stairs. The crowd shrieked when he pointed his sword around, and gradually, they backed away from the dreadful place that had been meant to separate them for all eternity.

"I'm not your admiral anymore! Curse me for my misdeeds, but I will take this prisoner with me! Anyone daring to follow us will run into their bitter demise!" Hongjoong barked across the patch.

In their confusion on who was the enemy and which orders to follow, the guards stood confusedly, when even the admirals didn't know what they had to do. Never had the fleet admiral resigned into crime like this before. They had nobody to report to. He was the highest instance.

Hongjoong and Seonghwa made use of their moment of disorientation and turned. They raced over the heated pavement and out of the stifling walls the building put around them. The guards at the doors eyed them curiously but didn't come after them once they recognised Hongjoong.

Heaving, the two of them burst out of the main gate. Simultaneously, their eyes fell onto the nearby forest.

And once more, they ran. They had no breath to spare to wait and the call of freedom claimed for them as they ran further and further without slowing down. Only when Hongjoong's legs were ready to collapse and his every breath rattled in his lungs, they slowed their pace.

Seonghwa collapsed on the ground, panting and curling up until he could breathe normally again. In no better condition, Hongjoong dropped to his knees next to him and pried the man's shackles open with his dagger.

They looked at each other with wild freedom reflecting in each other's eyes.

"What now?" Seonghwa whispered once he could communicate again.

With uncertain eyes, Hongjoong looked into the distance.

"Let's find one of the abandoned huts in this forest and hide far away from any people. Away from heavy decisions and responsibility. Just the two of us. And once we feel safe, we'll return to the sea."

A bright smile, shining like the stars and full of every courage Hongjoong could ever need, spread on Seonghwa's lips.

"I will follow you anywhere."

They tumbled to their feet and took off again. To a place where nobody could ever find them. Where they didn't have to meet on opposite sides anymore.