Originally, Seonghwa had planned to stick around for long enough to help the pirates send off Yunho's body. When he emerged with Hongjoong from the captain's quarters in the morning, however, he was met with irritation by his crew. Hongjoong halted near the helm while Seonghwa leaned his elbows on the railing to heed the calls of his name.

"Commander Park! I must insist that you refrain from spending any more time aboard the pirate ship. There is only so much we can excuse, and we can safely assume trouble is already brewing. Some men are getting impatient and I bet rumours will spread."

It was his right-hand man and navigator complaining. His uniform differed from those of the others, softer and lighter since he was likely a man of studies and not a sailor. The gazes he spared Hongjoong were wary and distrustful, but less hostile than of some other jack tar. With a smug grin, Hongjoong crossed his arms under his chest. His fur coat wrapped around his form warmly.

Seonghwa nodded at the man. They had left the ships anchored next to each other, but both groups strictly stayed in their place apart from Seonghwa. Guards watched the other ship at any minute. Hongjoong was glad neither party had made trouble.

When the commander returned to the pirate, Hongjoong greeted him with a crooked grin.

"So, ye'll go aft? What punishment will be bestowed on ye fer this?"

"Depends on how much my crew tattles. I will figure it out somehow and accept whatever sanctions they think of." Seonghwa rose his hand to play with Hongjoong's collar. He pulled the pirate closer until they stood crowded against each other.

Tilting his head, Hongjoong studied his features.

"Will ye forget me again?"

Seonghwa shook his head before Hongjoong had even finished wording his question. His upset frown pulled a triumphant smile from Hongjoong.

"I will refuse that. I would rather be demoted fairly and get locked out from reaching higher positions than going against my moral code again. Who am I to instruct a pirate when said pirate has always been kinder, and more just than me? I won't forget."

The bracelet at Seonghwa's hand reflected in the sporadic rays of sunlight from above. Entranced by the shining gem, Hongjoong's eyes followed it.

"Jolly. Then I will nay 'ave any qualms to kill ye next time we spot each other," Hongjoong grinned. The sinister glint in his eyes got reflected by Seonghwa.

"Only if I don't kill you first, pirate. Don't overestimate your abilities. You may have gained an advantage over me while you had me trapped on your ship, but if we meet on equal grounds, you would surely lose."

With his eyes fixated on Seonghwa's lips that spewed ever so many pretentious and snotty words, Hongjoong just nodded along sarcastically. The taste of the man still lingered on Hongjoong's tongue, and his heat had found a memorable place under his skin.

"That be what ye blabber now, but ye will spy 'ow cruel I can be when needed."

Seonghwa's lips twitched into a dry smile. Ready for a crude remark, he just opened his mouth to retort. When Hongjoong grabbed for his collar first, he faltered, surprised.

"Just stop blabberin' an' kiss me, Cabezon."

He understood that.

With no care for the nearby crews, both criminal and judicial, the pirate and the navy commander shared a passionate kiss. For a moment, all pain and anxiety drifted off with the waves and only Seonghwa and the way that the wind whipped his hair into their foreheads mattered to Hongjoong.

Before Seonghwa pulled back, he bit Hongjoong carefully. No more than a little nip, sharp in its wake and tingling in the seconds after. A reminder.

"Stay away from me oceans if ye do nay want to find yer head speared on the bowsprit," Hongjoong murmured hotly against the other man's lips. Seonghwa's throat bobbed as he swallowed. Without ending their eye contact, he dipped to leave another peck on Hongjoong's mouth. The pirate smirked.

"Wouldn't be the first time, Hellborn Captain. You and all your Executioners will be hanged under my supervision, however, if we catch you. So I reckon you should be the one trying to hide away."

Hongjoong let go of him to take a step back. His hand came up in a mocking salute. Seonghwa clasped his heels together and swung one arm behind his back. The other hand copied the gesture. A warm grin passed between the two of them.

Seonghwa turned to retire to his crew. When Hongjoong moved to follow him down the stairs, his ribs protested. Yet he carried on.

Until he froze abruptly at the telltale noise of a gun being cocked. It was quiet, nearly dulled enough that he didn't pick up on it over the waves. At the same time, Seonghwa's and his gazes snapped over to Seonghwa's ship.

None of Hongjoong's crew members were in any health to shoot someone. They also had no reason to, they knew Cabezon.

But those soldiers over there who watched their goodbye full of malice from the other ship, harboured enough hatred for a foolish decision.

Hongjoong's eyes still searched their stiff and unsettled ranks for a weapon. Before he could find it, the shot already rang through the air. Surprised, the pirate stumbled back, when instead of pain, a heavy weight hit him. Seonghwa forced him backwards, putting himself between Hongjoong and his crew.

"Commander, please! We can end this quickly and no witnesses will be left behind for your misdeeds!"

The yell came from the right. Seonghwa's keen eyes spotted the offender first. His arm sneaked behind him, under Hongjoong's coat and around his waist. His fingers grabbed onto the gun in the back of his belt, pulling it free.

Before the remaining jack tar had to take a side, Seonghwa already fired. His shot hit the man in the dominant shoulder. The loaded weapon dropped onto the deck dully. Another soldier snatched it while two of them apprehended the man.

Seonghwa handed the gun back to Hongjoong. The warmth of their bodies separated when he strode forward again. Hurriedly, his crew connected a plank to both ships.

"That is not for you to decide. I am the commanding captain. You may take him to the bilge," Seonghwa ordered snappishly. Hongjoong spotted no blood on him, glad that he had evaded the bullet.

The commander twisted once more. Another one of his genuine smiles tugged on the right corner of his mouth more than the left.

"As you can see, work is getting messy without me. I better get going. Send your crew my regards and delay a kind goodbye to Yunho for me." With a respectful bow of his head, Seonghwa called an end to their time. Satisfied, Hongjoong crossed his arms once more, mindful of his ribs. His heart pounded against his chest, but he doubted he had been scared for his life.

"Aye, Cabezon, 'ave a safe voyage aft where ye came from."

They parted there. Cabezon returned to his ship with squared shoulders and his chin held high. Hongjoong leaned against the wall of the forecastle and watched him order his men around to set sail. He looked good like this. Fully in his element.

As the red ensign disappeared on the horizon, Jongho opened the door to the sickbay behind Hongjoong. The crew had politely held back in the moment of weakness the captain had exposed to Seonghwa. Now, the musician gave a knowing smile.

"Me captain. Be ye ready fer our festivities?"

Hongjoong ripped his lingering eyes from the ship on the horizon. Full of new motivation, he turned to his mate.

"O' course. Where do we start?"

Jongho nodded his head towards the sickbay behind them.

"Yunho." With a quick glance over Hongjoong's torso that had bandages peeking through the V of his shirt, Jongho leaned back to glance at the room behind him.

"Matey, could ye lend me a 'and? I do nay think Cap be in the position to carry a body."

Inside the sickbay, a hum sounded. A moment later, Wooyoung emerged. His haunted eyes softened at the sight of Hongjoong.

"Did ye send off yer jack tar?"

While the two of them went over to the barely barricaded hatch to pull the last few planks and crates off, Hongjoong turned his body to face them. He leaned in the open door while Yeosang and San muttered inside.

"Me jack tar? 'E'd come fer yer 'ead if 'e 'eard that."

Wooyoung threw Hongjoong a doubtful look. Another plank clattered onto the deck.

"Aye, that be what the two o' ye settled on. Nay the truth. But I will nay question it."

"'E sends 'is regards an' prayers fer Yunho," Hongjoong replied disinterestedly. He dug out a splinter from under his nail.

Wooyoung's scoff garnered a fond smile from Hongjoong. Whenever his mates mentioned Seonghwa, he had to reign over his features so they wouldn't give his grin away.

"Savvy, Cap... Will we bury 'im on land? We'll need to set course fer shore soon because o' San, too."

San needed to heal, and a ship was the worst place to do so. For now, no pirate adventures were on his agenda until he felt better.

"Aye. Yunho told me 'e would prefer 'is 'ome island but it be too far to reach in a timely manner."

Jongho set the last crate aside with a groan. His muscles strained from the heavy load.

"Aye, would nay want 'im to come aft an' 'aunt us," he muttered. Hongjoong couldn't agree more. Burials at sea would be the last of their options when absolutely no land was anywhere near. The pirates had seen too many ghost ships and read reports of madmen that got punished by the souls of the dead. Yunho deserved a much calmer rest.

While the two men retrieved Yunho's body, Hongjoong threw a glance inside the room. Seated on the bed, San's face was still pale. Yeosang had burnt out the stump under his knee where his leg ended with an iron blade. Still, the man had lost a lot of blood, and the injury exhausted him.

When he noticed Hongjoong's eyes on him, a dimpled smile formed on San's cheeks.

"Capt'n, what be yer log? 'Ow mad be ye fer nay 'avin' beaten the enemy o' the depths?"

Hongjoong shrugged. When his face contorted in pain right after, Yeosang gave him a glare from where he was seated at his desk.

"I do nay know if it died, but I be willin' to take its defeat as me win. Cabezon did me a service. I ultimately be glad that I could save as many o' ye as possible. I consider our voyage a success."

San's sunny grin broadened. From the corners of his eyes, Hongjoong watched Jongho and Wooyoung drag up Yunho's corpse from the storage hold. They struggled on the stairs, but he didn't have to step in.

"Captain, could ye get me 'is 'ammock? I will stitch 'im up." Yeosang rose from his chair. As Hongjoong scurried off, he heard the surgeon ask whether he San wanted to be included in their preparations for Yunho's burial or if he needed his time. San asked him to keep the door open.

Yunho had always been a popular guy on board. Some mates hadn't known him for long since they joined only recently when Hongjoong hired for his kraken hunt. Yet the gentle soul of the pirate had bothered no one. The loss of a great man saddened all of them.

Hongjoong found Mingi downstairs. The red-haired man had already rolled up the first mate's hammock. He held it in his hands and stared at it emptily. Not even when Hongjoong's heavy boots thumped on the corridor, he rose his eyes.

"Mingi?"

Finally, he startled. His flickering eyes found his captain. He looked tired.

"Captain... Ah, ye came fer this here?"

Hongjoong nodded, but he didn't take it from him yet. Instead, he patiently waited for Mingi to share his troubles with him.

"I apologise fer nay bein' able to 'elp 'im, Captain. Though I wonder if 'e would 'ave made it e'en if Yeosang 'ad shown up." His nimble fingers brushed over the canvas forlornly. Sympathy and the same guilt rose in Hongjoong and had him swallow.

"Ye did yer best, matey. Did 'e tell ye anythin'?"

Mingi nodded jerkily. Then he sniffed.

"I spent the last minutes with 'im. 'E reassured me everythin' would be jolly, an' 'e been the one to 'old me when I could nay move in fear. 'E said to thank ye, Captain. Fer takin' 'im on the best voyage o' 'is life, an' makin' 'im a pirate."

When Hongjoong detected the wetness shimmering in Mingi's eyes and voice, he tipped his head back with a curse. Harshly, he blinked his eyes at the planks above him.

"Son o' a biscuit eater. Thank ye fer takin' care o' 'im. An' fer tellin' me."

"Captain, I know ye 'ate 'ugs, but can I 'ave one?"

Hongjoong wanted to scowl, but he couldn't. A burst of laughter that mixed with a sob tumbled over his lips. When he had blinked all burning tears off, he opened his arms. A welcoming nod at his shoulder was enough to have Mingi on his feet.

"Be gentle. Me ribs 'urt."

All too eagerly, Mingi wrapped his smaller captain into a warm hug. Their size difference made it difficult for both of them to adjust since Hongjoong couldn't move much. Mingi smelt of blood, but neither minded.

"Will ye join us upstairs to spy 'is face the last time? Or do ye want to keep yer memories o' 'im alive?"

Hongjoong's mutter nearly got lost in Mingi's chest. The boatswain put his chin on the man's head, getting comfortable.

"I will join. Want to send 'im off together."

With a nod, Hongjoong retreated from him. They shared a brief smile to comfort each other. With Mingi, Hongjoong had never needed many words.

They grabbed Yunho's hammock and went back up the stairs together. With the rest of the crew, they sat in a solemn circle as Yeosang sewed the thick material shut around Yunho's tall body. The last stitch through the first mate's nose sealed the body in its last resting place. The pirates remembered his pale and peaceful face for their mourning.