TW: Rape, attempted sexual slavery

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The news that Cabezon had escaped the ship both sobered and made Hongjoong even giddier.

Cabezon? Fleeing from the ship? On this island, of all places? It was nearly too hilarious to be true.

Hongjoong had shrugged his warm coat over his shoulders once he came back to the cabin. Using a nail that Cabezon had wrenched from the wooden planks on the ship walls somehow, the commander had lock picked his shackles and disappeared. One of Hongjoong's guns was missing, as well as a sabre he had kept in a barrel with a few other weapons. If those weapons would save Cabezon's life had yet to be answered. Not that he didn't know how to use them. But they might be too little protection.

Hongjoong joined the few crew members he had around on deck. Wooyoung had equipped himself with his arms as well, and Yunho had gone to rest since his head was threatening to burst. Together, the two pirates left the ship in the dark of night. The town and the docks never slept, but many residents had retreated into their homes and shut the doors to keep the rowdy folk outside. Coat swishing behind him, Hongjoong descended the plank.

"'Ow did 'e escape yer spotlights?"

Wooyoung sighed. He had pulled his overgrown dark hair into a ponytail. Yunho would probably have to chop it off again soon. Even though everybody loved the cute hairstyle on their navigator, he himself found it impractical.

"Snuck out o' the window an' climbed around the ship. We did nay spy 'im swim off."

At ease, Hongjoong hummed. Seonghwa had nowhere to run. If he tried to get help in the city, he would most likely be recognised as a naval commander and executed by the pirates. If he tried to get around the town, he would most likely die of starvation or the cold temperatures at night.

The hunt excited Hongjoong. He wasn't mad at his mates failing their guarding tasks.

Near the stairs leading up from the docks and towards the main street, sat an old man. He had pulled his fisher boat on land and in a corner to fix the rigging and sails there. Hongjoong had spotted him in passing when they had gone to the city, and he was still there. By now, he had lit a lantern by his side.

Hongjoong approached him with steely confidence. The man didn't look up even when the pirate's boots halted right next to him.

"Ahoy, seadog. Receivin' questions?"

"Whatever ye need, lad." The man rose his old and watery eyes at Hongjoong to look him over. With a grunt, he focused back on his work.

"I lost a treasure. 'E walked right off me ship an' into the town, we presume. Spotted a jack tar in a white uniform?" Hongjoong put his hands on his hips as he waited. Vigilant and mindful of their surroundings, Wooyoung stayed back behind him to watch over Hongjoong.

"I did. Ol' days as a lookout pay off jolly, 'eh? 'E went down that there street." The man gestured a hand to one of the smaller alleys behind an inn. Hongjoong thanked him before he dragged Wooyoung along. His steps still swayed slightly, and it was difficult to walk a straight line, but Hongjoong felt his head clear by the second.

They dodged a duo of drunken pirates that stumbled along the docks and threatened to fall down the stairs any moment. Hongjoong caught something about a woman beyond their murmurs. He smirked. The warmth the redhead had gifted him earlier still lingered in his limbs.

"'E be gutsy, though. Did nay expect 'im to try anythin'. Ain't the 'elpless commander he looked like, eh?" Wooyoung followed Hongjoong as they rounded a corner. They delved into the darkness of the back street. Hongjoong didn't mind the black shadows. His eyes adjusted to the light of the sky above fast. Beyond them, something shuffled in the dark. A cat, most likely.

"Aye. 'E been patient. Could nay know this be a pirate island, though. I doubt 'e got far."

Hongjoong's head snapped around when a muffled yelp reached his ears. To their left.

With swift steps, the pirate stalked down the alley and peeked around the corner before he rounded it. His hand rested on his weapons at all times, ready to pull them faster than anyone could blink.

Several male voices whispered behind the corner of two houses. As far as Hongjoong could see, they had retreated in the dark overhang of a roof above a dead end. When the pirate blinked into the dark, he believed to detect a tattered white uniform that was full of grimy spots on the ground.

With a beckon of his hand, Hongjoong wordlessly signalled Wooyoung to follow him. Then he curved the intersection.

"'Old still ye darn- We be 'elpin' ye!"

A pained whine followed, instantly shut up by something that suffocated the noise. Chains jingled in the dark.

Hongjoong squared his shoulders and lifted his head to full height as he marched right up to them. The noise of his boots on the rough pavement alerted the men. One of the three detached from the group to stand in front as a blockade. Hongjoong could still spot the tanned bare body that the other two handled roughly in between them. A criss-cross of not yet healed wounds painted his back. Wounds that Hongjoong had put there.

"Ahoy," Hongjoong greeted the first man with a mock smirk. Behind him, Cabezon inhaled sharply at his voice. When he stilled for a moment like prey in the eyes of a predator, the other two wrestled him to the ground.

Hongjoong couldn't see much in the dark, but the exposed crotches of the two men flashed pale in the moonlight. White hot anger had the pirate grip his sword tight. He forced himself to exhale slowly.

"Ahoy, bucko. Ye 'ave bad timin'. We did nay restrain this one yet."

No pirates. Slave traders.

Hongjoong's grin broadened. It distracted him from the heat and instead filled icy danger into his veins.

"Fascinatin'. What kind be 'e?"

"A feisty jack tar. Bet ye pirates will slit each other's throats to get a try at 'im once 'e be available." The man's rough laughter filled the street. Patient, Hongjoong nodded along.

"I fear I 'ave to ruin yer business, though. That one escaped from me ship."

Scoffing, the man waved him off.

"No 'ornswogglin' me, ye scallywag. Ye got no proof an' I can nay play favourites."

A pained groan escaped Seonghwa. When Hongjoong glanced over, he found him collapsed on the floor. One of the men had his hips flush to Cabezon's behind. The other one was trying to get the commander to take his arousal into his mouth.

"'Ow else would a jack tar reach this island?" Hongjoong's eyes stuck to the way Cabezon's body tensed and resisted, clearly not used to this. The hands holding him down pressed into his injuries.

"Yet, 'e stumbled 'ere without ye. Let us break 'im in, captain, then ye get a fair price fer bringin' 'im to us an' makin' 'im our best ware." The man turned, abandoning their conversation. Faster than he could push his pants down to do vulgar things to Cabezon, Hongjoong's pistol laid in his hand.

Before the man behind Seonghwa acted out on his first brutal thrust that no doubt would have brought an explosion of pain over the commander, he shot. The bullet found the forehead of the left man right between his eyes. Abrupt, the force blew him away, his fingers slipping off of the commander.

A wet sob escaped Seonghwa when he collapsed again. The two remaining men jerked around to stare at Hongjoong.

With a frosty smile on his lips, Hongjoong rose the barrel to the man that he had just talked to. Surprised, he stared into the dark opening of the gun. Death would be a onetime surprise.

"Keep yer whore pipes away from 'im."

Wooyoung beckoned his gun, too, and the second man stepped away from Seonghwa. In a trembling heap, the commander curled up on the ground.

"Ye be takin' this too far! 'E be an enemy!"

"An enemy currently under me protection, aye. Greet Jones from me."

Two shots fired at the same time. Hongjoong put his weapon away as he stepped over the fallen body.

Seonghwa's eyes wavered, not quite daring to meet his. When Hongjoong grasped his chin with as much respect and caution as he could muster, the man didn't flinch away from the touch. He shut his lids tightly when Hongjoong rose his head to inspect the iron collar they had put on him. A heavy chain that dragged his weight towards the ground dangled from it.

"Woo, search the bodies fer a key."

Traces of a struggle were all over Seonghwa's body. Bruises on his shoulders and neck, the scratch of a knife over his ribs. Blood smeared over his thighs as he tried to curl up and hide his exposed body from Hongjoong's eyes.

At the sound of Hongjoong's belt snapping open, Seonghwa froze.

Hongjoong watched how confusion clouded his eyes, something akin to recognition crossing them. A moment later, the dread was back, and he cowered away from Hongjoong.

The pirate sighed.

"It be fine. All fine." He shrugged his coat off to place it around Seonghwa's shoulders. With more patience than he ever knew he possessed, he helped the man put his arms in the sleeves. Then he used his belt to close the coat shut around Seonghwa's waist. For a moment, they were close, as Hongjoong hugged his waist to get the leather around them. Then the pirate retreated.

Seonghwa's lashes fluttered as he lowered his eyes.

"Capt'n, key."

Hongjoong reached out to take it from Wooyoung. When his fingers grasped the collar to open it, Cabezon stiffened. Yet, he forced himself to sit still. Hongjoong bit back a comment about how good he was doing. With a clank, the metal came free. More bruises of hands squeezing tight got revealed when Hongjoong dropped the collar to the ground.

"Can ye walk?"

With a hand on his arm, Hongjoong supported the soldier in his attempt to stand up. Once he found his footing, Seonghwa promptly slapped his fingers off.

"Don't touch me," he hissed, his voice rough. He trembled all over.

Hongjoong waited for him to continue.

"I want to leave you and your darn ship. Don't hold me back."

"Oh, I will nay. Ye can continue down this path an' walk right into the next group of people that want to take advantage o' ye. I can merely offer safe quarters an' a doctor to check on ye."

Faltering, Seonghwa eyed him full of uncertainty.

Hongjoong shrugged. He knotted his badly sewn pants around his weapons belt so they would stay in their place. Then he beckoned at Wooyoung to follow. One step, two.

Seonghwa called out.

"Wait! I-"

Hongjoong didn't need to turn to know that he visibly struggled to get the words out.

"Fine! I'll return with you. But please... No whip tomorrow."

Joy filled Hongjoong's heart. Cabezon had never pleaded with him before and hearing the desperate tone in his voice seemed like music to Hongjoong's ears. He swallowed his smirk before he turned to face the man.

"Aye, no whip. Want us to 'elp ye walk?"

Swift, Seonghwa shook his head. Wooyoung hid his grin in his collar as he ducked behind the man. With Hongjoong at the front, they made their way back out of the labyrinth of alleys. No more shady people crossed their paths. The old salt on the stairs nodded at Hongjoong when they passed. The captain nodded back.

Back on the ship, Jongho already stood at the ready with a pair of shackles. When Hongjoong shook his head at them, the boy cocked his head in confusion like a curious bird would.

"I trust ye not to run off again. An' just know that we will notice if ye try to stab us in our sleep. Even when heavily drunk."

Cabezon responded slowly at that, disbelief clouding his eyes. Nobody mentioned how he was dressed in nothing but Hongjoong's long coat.

"Did Yeosang return already?"

At their helpless faces, Hongjoong turned to Wooyoung. Without needing to be told, the man sped off to search for their mate. Probably drunk on a table in some inn with San in his arm.

Hongjoong accompanied Seonghwa back into his cabin. While the man gingerly sat down on his damaged butt, Hongjoong pulled a basin from under his desk. Unhurried, he busily ran around to get it filled with the rainwater they had collected during the storm. Seonghwa watched him with hawk eyes. Skepticism stood written in them clear like ink on paper.

"'Ere. Wash yerself." Hongjoong gestured to the water. Then, he set down some of his clothes on the desk for Seonghwa to wear.

The commander didn't move at first, still distrustful. Then he cleared his throat before he spoke up.

"Can you... Leave? To give me some privacy? I won't climb out again."

Hongjoong believed that. With a salute that was more jest than real, he spun on his heel to spend his time on deck. Jongho and Mingi sat there with a dice game between them. They were willing to include Hongjoong for a few rounds.

Wooyoung returned with a Yeosang who was surprisingly sober. He often tended to be the responsible one in the group who kept a clear head so they wouldn't lose any mates or money pouches on their way. When the two of them scaled the ship, Hongjoong rose to join them.

Wordless, he led the surgeon up the stairs to his cabin. When he knocked on the door, no answer came from inside.

Hongjoong wondered for a split second if the man had changed his mind and riskily sprung into the ocean after all. However, when he pressed the door open, he found the candles still flickering. The tub was empty, the water dirty with grime, salt, and blood.

Cabezon had curled up on the bed. Wrapped in nothing but Hongjoong's coat again, he had spread out and slumbered under the protection of the warm fur. It had slipped from one shoulder, tantalisingly exposing it. His hands held a pillow pressed to his cheek as he slept peacefully.

Chuckling, Hongjoong turned to look back at Yeosang. The surgeon smiled pleasedly.

"I'll be aft once 'e wakes up."

Hongjoong closed the door to go back to his game of dice.