"Land ho!"

Hongjoong blinked against the sun breaking on the wood of the mast. Up in the crow's nest, Wooyoung excitedly beckoned his arm in the direction they were going. A familiar coastline shimmered in the haze of the sun-bathed ocean. Waving palms and a few hills greeted them; the Buried Lagoon.

"Reef 'em sails an' ready to anchor!" Hongjoong's call bellowed over the ship. As his mates dashed around each other with practised ease, he took the wheel from Yeosang so his navigator could study the bay with the spyglass. Only parts of the lagoon were safe to approach for pirates. Though Hongjoong trusted Yongguk to find his way inside, they still had to tuck the Precious behind some rocks.

For now. Once their plans succeeded and they took over the island, no pirate needed to duck away in fear anymore. The lagoon would become a haven for everyone to rest in until they were ready for another adventure.

Seonghwa swung over the railing without hesitation. His liveliness had returned to him as he filled his role as Hongjoong's second-in-command once more.

By Hongjoong's legs, Tikki held onto the railing and matched the fond look he sent after the man.

"Is this where you live? With my brobro?" She asked. Red curls that reminded so painfully of her mother cascaded over her shoulders. They were tangled from the sea wind, but the scarf Yunho had tied around them kept them from her features.

"Aye. Whenever we do nay live out at sea, we come 'ere."

She frowned at the nearing island. It looked so different from what she was used to. No towering cliffs and cities of stone. Just golden beaches, palms and settlements built of bamboo.

"You better make him happy here," she warned with a sharp side-eye. He snorted, massaging his throat with one hand when he gasped in a breath of salty, rotten sea air.

"That be all I do. What worth does a king 'ave if 'e can nay please 'is 'eart's jewel?"

"I know how you pirates and your jewels can get." She rolled her eyes. After watching Jongho lug the anchor to the railing with his bare arms flexing under the sweltering sun, she looked down at her own fingers. They were soft with youth, though not dainty anymore.

"Yunho said I need to be careful since I will hurt my loved ones otherwise. I don't want to hurt my Ddeonghwa. I only have him now..." Concern marred her brow.

With a sigh, Hongjoong leaned against his wheel. His heeled boots crossed over one another. This pair was a striking red. Seonghwa had gifted them to him after they robbed an island mansion together and the golden buckles matched Hongjoong's mountains of jewellery.

"If ye be careful, ye will nay. We also lose course sometimes. But so long as we do nay pull our sabres on each other, we be jolly. Yer mates just 'ave to come first. Think about 'em."

"I'll become a pirate, too," she said, voice determined. When Hongjoong scoffed, she turned to punch his side. The blow got cushioned by his coat, and she regretted it a moment later when a wave toppled her over. Hongjoong laughed with the seagulls when she stood and dusted off her butt, humiliated.

"Ye? A gentleman o' fortune? Ye make a stuffed bird laugh."

"Wait and see!" She stomped her foot, making Mingi snicker as he passed behind them. "I will become much stronger than you and beat you in a fight! And then I will marry Seonghwa!"

A challenge flashed in Hongjoong's shrewd eyes when he leaned in. Tikki gulped, standing her ground when his clicking hair dangled before her.

Hongjoong's grin was broad and demonic with the scar splitting across his face.

"I would like to spy ye try. Last time I checked, ye been on yer way to a rogue witch. A witch ain't what Seonghwa needs." He beckoned over the horizon, the ship. "Look at this. This be all mine. Me ship, me island to rule. While I grow stronger, ye need to catch up."

She glanced and ground her teeth together since he was right. Though she disregarded his progress, she couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the goal she picked.

When she replied, her voice trembled, but she didn't give in to the insecurity flashing through her eyes. The bracelet the crew gifted her dangled from her wrist that clutched to the railing.

"I will do it. I will become better than you. While you lean back and relish in your success, I will rise. And once you got old and lazy because you think you won, I will come to take it all away."

Not for the first time, Hongjoong considered kicking that brat into the ocean, loud mouth attached.

With a sneer, he withdrew. He didn't do it only because Seonghwa would get mad.

"Do nay wail later when ye lose an' Hwa chooses me o'er ye. 'e already wears me ring." Mockingly, he wriggled his fingers at her, showing her the bindings of their vows. While she howled bloody murder and how she would hack off his finger, the crew got loud with barked orders as they steered into the Black Bay. The anchor plummeted into the ocean, sending water spraying everywhere. Wooyoung swung from the ropes and everyone trampled about to have their weapons ready and be on the lookout for an ambush.

However, the Black Bay was already secured under Hongjoong's personal protection. The settlement tucked into a private corner of the island, away from naval rule. When he killed the overseer and declared it a pirate's nest, swashbucklers flocked from far and wide to buy land and have a safe port to return to. In the past few years, many relocated their families here, safe among other pirates. A community of outlaws formed.

The Jolly Roger of the skull encircled by a whip sent the port into a frenzy. The fishermen and merchants who didn't care whose grimy hands paid for their wares scurried to end their lounging and ready for trade. Another docked ship yelled at their powder monkeys to remove the crates blockading the dock.

With the wind in his hair and a grin on his features, Hongjoong angled them to a stop. He rolled his shoulders as Jongho and Mingi threw the gangplank down to a waiting Seonghwa, who jumped off their broadside as soon as they arrived. The sun announced the captain's presence as he descended from the Precious with thundering steps.

A lone figure stood out among the raucous pirates attempting to look less drunk and appreciative of their king's efforts. Hongjoong's arrival meant additional money to upgrade the port, and it meant expansion. Though he didn't know these people, they joined hands to banish the navy off this island and have their peace.

Yongguk leaned against a pole on the walkway. He scanned their rows as one more person than usual came bounding between their feet. While San and his group of bickering youngsters carried off their loot to sell, Wooyoung dashed after him with a shirt in his hands. Ever since they got married, Wooyoung was touchy about showing off his gorgeous mate.

Not that it mattered among the crew.

"Ahoy," Hongjoong greeted their favourite warlock as he came to stand before him. He shrugged off his coat, warm in the coastal breeze. His loose red shirt fluttered in the wind.

Seonghwa's hand found the small of Hongjoong's back. The other one nervously rested on Tikki's shoulder. The girl scanned Yongguk with guarded eyes.

"Good to see you relatively in one piece," Yongguk greeted. Age hadn't touched upon him, not in the time they last saw each other, and not since Hongjoong first met him.

Sometimes, he wondered if Yongguk was more than he claimed to be. If he was star-touched, like Kira, Youjin's wife, had been. Or if some other odd enchantment Hongjoong wouldn't understand for the life of him prolonged his youth.

"It been a while," Seonghwa smiled. Though each of his grins was devilish thanks to his scars, Yongguk recognised when it was friendly. He turned on his heel to accompany them through the settlement.

"You built a society here. I'm impressed. Though I am the last to question your leadership, I didn't consider it would apply here. The people speak fondly of you."

Glad he found approval despite allowing in anyone who sought refuge, Hongjoong looked around the village. It was grimy and run-down, not as elevated and tended to as the naval ones. The gardens were overgrown and empty bottles hovered in every corner.

Yet, the laughing pirates swaying in their stupor and relishing the sun on their features made it homey. No one feared Jack Ketch here. And so long as Hongjoong didn't have to experience mutiny again, they could be whatever the hell they wanted.

Despite the drunkenness, however, the arrival of their rulers demanded attention. People dragged their eyes along Seonghwa's shape, his long legs and elegant coat that swished behind him. Though Hongjoong wore no grand hat or coat, his presence made them whisper.

Intimidation was a good way to gain respect among pirates. Especially those greedy for the infamous Pirate Prince.

"Jolly to 'ear that. We 'ave no office, but I will show ye the 'ouse I reserved fer ye. Ye do nay need to use it, but this be a safe place fer ye. If ye e'er need a break, come 'ere." Hongjoong directed their step up the sandy road to the hill. Lush grasses cradled the only tavern in town. It played merry music, and the barkeeper lifted a mug in cheer when they passed, inviting them for later.

Seonghwa grinned back at him and kept Tikki close. She looked around with curious eyes, not afraid of the rugged pirates and their black teeth.

"I have many homes. Perhaps this can become my retreat when no shady figures require my services."

Hongjoong smirked a crooked grin. The wind rustled in the palm trees and carried their longing gazes to the cerulean blue ocean waiting behind their backs.

Soon. First, Tikki. Then the Black Bay.

"The closer ye be to the local shady figures, the less ye 'ave to travel fer another unreasonable request o' ours."

They reached the house, up on the hill and secluded from the others. It huddled into a patch of forest surrounding the estate on top of the cliff, where Hongjoong put his quarters. Though it wasn't so isolated as others Yongguk fancied, he trailed an appreciative hand down the white facade of the terrace.

"True words. After all, you are my neediest customers who are always up to no good." They entered and Yongguk took in the sight. All the furniture was still intact after the hurried departure of the prior owners. It was light and exotic with items from far settlers, but Yongguk hummed in satisfaction. Hongjoong leaned in the door while he looked around and tested the dry and robust beams. Near the ocean, all wood soaked and softened with time, but this was excellent craftsmanship. Whatever rich lord built these before the pirates came left them a treasure.

When Yongguk turned with a content nod, the couple grinned and gathered back outside. Yongguk followed, ducking his head under the doorway.

"Speaking of, I have a matter to discuss with you. Perhaps we talk first, then I settle in?"

Hongjoong beckoned up the road. By his side, Seonghwa's eyes lit up. Expectedly so, their home in the Black Bay had become everything he ever wanted. Something he could tend to and own the same way Hongjoong owned the Precious. Their mansion was fully after Seonghwa's tastes.

"We also 'ave a favour to ask. This way."

Yongguk glanced at Tikki, who poked at a bug on the road.

"I can imagine," he replied. He followed them deeper into the thicket of the humid forest, protected from the sun and the eyes of other pirates.

While they caught up, the rest of the crew would tend to matters like restocking supplies and checking on the newcomers and their conditions. Hongjoong wanted new maps for abandoned hideouts, so Yeosang promised to look for them. By the time they would make it to the tavern, Yunho would have organised a full meal.