Seonghwa awoke to the thumps of heavy boots on wooden planks and raucous male voices growing closer. For a long, confused moment, he stayed where he had sprawled on the uncomfortable ground and blinked himself awake.

He remembered getting knocked down; remembered his task and why he came to the merchant ship.

However, he found himself in some cell now, and the ground beneath him swayed precariously. With a silent curse, he turned around to lift his hands to the injury at his head. His skull hurt upon pressure and dried blood caked his hair, but apart from that, he seemed fine. The hit had been not as powerful as he had expected.

Seonghwa lifted his head as two men stepped into his vision and halted in front of the iron bars between him and the path outside. His stomach churned at their sight.

So far, he had hoped there had been some misunderstanding, some accident, and he could go home as soon as he woke up. But these two savage-looking men didn't rouse any trust in Seonghwa.

One of the two was the fellow who had knocked out Seonghwa. He was tall, and his dark eyes exuded a coldness that caused Seonghwa to lean back from him on instinct. He wore a sleeveless grey vest with nothing underneath, some brownish pants that had been mended countless times and crusty leather boots. His fiery red hair stood out in the dim darkness of the swaying room.

The other guy disclosed everything about their preoccupation.

He had a devious smirk lazily playing around his lips that were adorned with a silver piercing underneath his lower one. The jewellery had the shape of a snake that curled around his lower lip. The sight alone made Seonghwa incredibly uncomfortable. His hair was long and done into blonde and black dreadlocks held back by a red hairband, and further pulled up into a ponytail. His all-black clothing melted into the darkness apart from the mismatching red sash wrapped around his hips. A polished cutlass dangled from the piece of cloth.

Seonghwa was done for.

"Ahoy, landlubber. Care to explain yer sweet visit to us?" The smaller man addressed Seonghwa. His hooded eyes glinted with sinister thoughts.

Seonghwa swallowed. He glanced at the other man, not knowing what kind of explanation he gave already.

His hesitance got mistaken for fear. Both men chuckled at Seonghwa, full of mockery.

"Still can nay believe ye just forgot 'im 'ere. Capt'n will be angry." Dreadlocks grinned up at the other man, who just drew his brows together while his eyes never left Seonghwa's face. Seonghwa shifted, not understanding the drawl of the pierced man's tongue.

"What did ye want on this ship, prettyboy? Ye know ye be shark bait soon if ye do nay answer. We be the nice ones 'ere."

Seonghwa's every muscle was clenched in fear, and his panicking brain had difficulties comprehending him. The pirate. They were pirates.

"I wanted... To deliver something. But I got on the wrong ship." Seonghwa was sweating by now, wracking his head for some way out. He had no possessions to promise them, nothing to keep him alive. Even the truth sounded like a feeble excuse.

The one talking grabbed the bars between them. His fingers were adorned by heavy rings and clanged noisily against the metal. With rapt attention, he stared at Seonghwa. Like an animal under that glinting stare in a murderous face, Seonghwa cowered in his corner.

"Ye be truly no lad o' the seas, 'uh?"

Seonghwa shook his head, wishing for their sympathy. He had had no ulterior motives. He just made a terrible, naïve mistake. A mistake that might cost his life from how he got gawked at as if he were dinner.

"To the Cap it be." Dreadlocks reached into his belt and drew some hidden key out of a pocket. The red-haired man grabbed his arm before he could open the door. Fear and hope coiled in Seonghwa. Rapt with attention, he looked between them.

"Why nay throw 'im o'erboard without botherin' Cap?" The man's voice was deep and throaty, nothing like the shrill scream Seonghwa had heard from him earlier, but maybe he had just imagined that. Seonghwa clasped his clammy hands together in his lap, trying to stop their angsty tremors. If he found a person with sense in this place, he might explain himself.

"'tis a man, nay mere boy. 'e looks exotic, do ye nay think, matey?"

Yes, Seonghwa did. His blond hair was a rarity between all the dark-haired people in those lands, some legacy from one of his ancestors. Maybe he could declare his worth through them.

Upon those words, the redhair gave up his resistance. Shaking, Seonghwa sat up straight.

Seonghwa was too scared to be graceful as they opened the protective bars and the smaller one intruded to haul Seonghwa to his feet. He trembled like a leaf in the wind and his knees threatened to give out on him any time, but he shuffled forward when he was forced to.

Seonghwa needed to go home, needed to see to his mother, who had to worry for him. He sincerely wished for mercy.

The pirates dragged Seonghwa through the ship's hull. They passed a few other cells to take a few steps up to the storage area with the hammocks. Then Seonghwa got led up on deck through the same scuttle he had entered before.

The first thing that hit him was the smell. Seonghwa had never been out at sea before, and the intense stench of fish and stale water hit him, accompanied by nausea. The top of the ship swayed worse than its bottom, and his knees wobbled.

Only after a few adjustments to his balance as he tripped like a newborn horse, Seonghwa noticed the people around him. Some were working; some gawked at him without restraint. It was a smaller ship, so he counted seven men at first glance, one looking more terrifying than the next. Seonghwa's heart hammered in his chest as he regarded their weapons and their threatening eyes.

Even more critical: they were in the middle of an endless ocean with this crowd.

Seonghwa was lost.

Seonghwa got shoved forward again, towards the back of the ship, where another staircase led up to a wheel. Some people scampered out of their way as if Seonghwa might be poisonous upon touch. The redhair left their side to march to the imposing door underneath the gallery. He knocked on what could only be the captain's quarters. Threatening, the knocks echoed in the tense air.

Seonghwa was forced to a stop a few steps away. In the middle of glancing around cautiously, he was kicked into the back of his knees brutally. He tumbled to his knees without resistance. The abrupt attack had taken the last nerve from him, and he was glad to sit even when he rammed his elbow.

Laughter tickled his ears when he had to support himself with his hands. His worried peers around did not soothe him. The pirate with the dreadlocks stood at his side and had the audacity to wink at Seonghwa.

Seonghwa stayed where he was. A moment later, he flinched up as the door in front of them slammed open.

The man who stepped out looked... terrifying. He appeared absolutely wild, like some beast that wore human skin. Judging by his features, he was far too young to be a captain, but the roguish grin that split his youthful face made him just the more fearsome.

His brown hair was short at the front and long and entangled in the back. Some colourful pearls and fish bones were braided into it and dangled noisily around his neck. He also bore a white shirt that was closed halfway and held together by what looked like a leather belt. Black pants and brown calf-high boots that had dried blood caked over them ended his appearance. The sharp, high heels of his shoes were unlike any Seonghwa had seen before.

Despite the boots, the captain advanced gracefully. As he stepped close, Seonghwa got a clearer view of his tanned chest and the many necklaces and rings and wristbands he wore. He took his aura of captain with him and Seonghwa felt as if gravity had doubled. His body was glued to the spot. His shaking eyes didn't dare study the sharp features of the man.

The piercing guy seemed oh so harmless now.

Seonghwa was caught in the savage eyes of the captain like prey. He gawked up at him with wide eyes as the pirate closed in on him. Seonghwa wished he had more information on pirates so he would know how high of a tier this guy was. Was his name a known one? How much skill was behind that confident smirk?

"What did you say happened? He just walked on board?" His curt voice was harsh, showing no hospitality at all, and Seonghwa lost all hope. Repeatedly, his stomach twisted in painful knots.

"Aye. I knocked 'im out."

The captain nodded and halted one step away from Seonghwa. His hand rose to his hips, and with one smooth movement, his belt slithered to the floor. Seonghwa noticed with dread that this was no belt at all, but a whip that glinted as maliciously as the pirate's eyes.

Seonghwa was not prepared to dodge the pirate's move. He recoiled when the leather cracked through the air but couldn't escape its draw. More giggles travelled through the crew as the whip snugly wrapped around Seonghwa's throat and cut his breath short. It still allowed him to speak, but Seonghwa's panic drove him beyond words. Out of reflex, he lifted his hands to claw at it. Flat breaths escaped his lungs that fluttered like a bird's wings.

The captain gave a disapproving hiss as he jerked on the leather. Terrified out of his mind, Seonghwa yelped as he was yanked forward.

His face planted directly in the heated crotch of the pirate. Hot blood filled Seonghwa's face in embarrassment and panic as the crew roared with laughter. He tried to pull back futilely, not allowed to move without asphyxiating himself. Gasping and struggling, Seonghwa cowered at the pirate's feet. He reminded himself not to panic, not to fight back to live longer, but fear rendered him jumpy.

After a moment, a hand fisted into Seonghwa's the hair. The pressure on his throat lessened, but the whip never deserted its place. Sharp edges cut into Seonghwa's skin.

Seonghwa's head was wrenched back. Right away, the muscles of his thighs protested against the rough treatment and tears sprung to his eyes from the pain in his scalp as he looked up at the pirate with wide and panicked eyes. His sight blurred as he stared into the perverse features of the barbarous man.

"No, what a sweetie you are. What is it, sugar? You not man enough to fight back?" The captain grinned, and Seonghwa did not quite dare to grab the man's legs to balance himself. He blinked the tears away, only for the harsh grip to get stronger. Once more, he whimpered in agony as his eyes clouded over.

"I-I'm no fighter, Pirate- captain! Piratecaptain! Please-"

The captain gave a disappointed sigh and threw Seonghwa's head away as far as the whip allowed. Seonghwa felt the leather chafe his sensitive neck like a vicious snake that bit at his skin.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

Seonghwa attempted to gather his thoughts to get out of this situation, but his brain ultimately failed him.

"I'm- not from around here." Yes, his hair, he could use his heritage.

The captain waited impatiently and played with the pressure around Seonghwa's throat. Every so often, Seonghwa choked on his words. The captain chuckled at every loss of breath that ghosted over Seonghwa's lips. Overwhelmed, Seonghwa swallowed his sobs when nothing but terror found his brain.

"I-"

"He looks a little princely, don't you think?"

Another man, somebody tall and dark, spoke up on the stairs next to them. Seonghwa cried without a sound as he gazed at him with wide eyes. Compared to the rest, he conveyed a peace that was cold rather than fiery. He was also not dressed like a pirate at all. He appeared to be a simple man of the city.

"A prince? Did you get us a little prince, Mingi?"

The red-haired fellow shrugged and considered Seonghwa. Everybody expected his answer.

Seonghwa wanted to answer; he really did, but he was getting lightheaded. Dark spots danced in front of his eyes. He grabbed the captain's legs and clutched onto him with meagre pressure.

Seonghwa feared for his life by now. All rationality got overwhelmed by anxiety.

"There, there, don't faint on me already." Seonghwa was dragged right against the guy's middle, and as degrading as it was, Seonghwa did not care for he could breathe again. He gasped against the man's middle, sucking in all the provided air with greed.

When he heard the crew's hooting again, Seonghwa was quick to consider his options.

A prince? Maybe he could pass for a prince with his looks. Maybe he could trick them into allowing him to live for money? He gambled for his life now.

"I-I am. A prince, I mean. I'm from the west, however, far from here. I was travelling and got onto the wrong ship. I apologise, captain. Please spare my life." Seonghwa had not moved away. Instead, he merely tilted his head to peer up at the man towering above him. Seonghwa did not know how ambiguous of a situation he was in, he just fought the mortification.

"So he indeed is. Nice catch, Mingi."

The redhair seemed very content with himself as he garnered a few shoulder pats from the people close to him.

Seonghwa was sure that by now, the entire crew watched him.

"You're an excellent prince, begging me so finely. What do you expect from us? What do you want us to do with you, prettyboy?" The captain fisted his hand in Seonghwa's hair again, more polite than before as he tugged Seonghwa's head away from his body. He winked at Seonghwa cheekily. A speck of a furious blush dusted the blond's cheeks.

Did he just get the captain hard in front of his entire crew?

Yes.

Would he rather choose the sharks right now than stay here?

Also yes.

"You- My people will search for me... I can get you huge amounts of money if you let me live and allow you to roam in our waters. My father is a powerful man." Seonghwa rambled by now, trying not to look at the captain so his nervous lie wouldn't get discovered. Shamefully, he dodged the view of the faint trail of dark hair that led downwards from the pirate's abdomen to his nether regions, right next to Seonghwa's face.

The captain smirked.

"What a wonderful idea."