Taehyung's POV

I could breathe normally as I ate dinner with Jimin and some others.

Minimal crew was around us tonight which made the table quiet.

I enjoyed the break from all the orders though.

Whenever I was at home I'd do the same thing.

Eating was the one time I got peace because words were rarely spoken.

However I was sitting beside Jimin who chewed a bit louder than my thoughts but it was okay because he is my best friend after all.

I can put up with his not very royal behaviour.

Since being on this boat, I have noticed Jimin's true self because I know this is more how he acts whereas he is way more confined in the castle.

He probably feels more normal here than even being inside the castle.

After Jimin and I ate, we walked alone back to the deck of the ship.

Only to our surprise, the ship was docked up at Japan again.

"Maybe we could escape?" Jimin asked me quietly as we wandered into the centre of the ship deck.

"We don't speak the local language though." I told him.

He sighed while nodding as he sat down on a barrel that was on the deck.

I sat down on the closest one beside him and we gazed out at the sea.

Only it was hard to see because of the looming darkness of night.

"Do you like being here Tae?" Jimin asked me quietly.

I didn't know how to answer.

"Sort of. Like it is far from the life I was born into but I have always dreamed about having a different life where I could work my way up and have people listen to me without being told what to do, at least as much." I explained while considering myself being a pirate captain.

Jimin nodded.

"But?" He asked.

"But my responsibilities are at home, it's everything I have ever known and I guess it feels like home. It's where my family is too." I explained.

"It's not where the captain is though. And people can change their homes." Jimin pointed out to me.

"I couldn't possibly get away with staying here Jimin. Too many people would go looking for me." I explained.

"Not if you have a killer boyfriend who knows how to sail the seas and gets you and him far from your duties." Jimin romantically cooed.

"But who would rule? My father still? Jin? I don't know how either of those would work out because they are so similar and are already failing." I exclaimed.

"I thought you stood by your fathers decisions?" Jimin muttered.

I sighed, "The captain pointed out that he isn't the best king and the more I think about it, he is right. But I know I'd get controlled by his associates to do the same so I am worried that my morals and values won't align with how they want me to rule." I told Jimin.

"That's why you'd be a good king though, you are different." Jimin chimed.

"I wish you could have everything you'd hope for though." Jimin insisted.

Hopefully I can make that happen.

My eyes looked over hearing footsteps.

I warmly smiled seeing the older lady who I helped carry the dishes for the other day walk over to us.

"Ye didn't escape and no one's looking? You boys are too good." She scoffed as she stood in front of Jimin and I, leaning her back against the ship.

"Your skills wouldn't let us get far." I explained.

"Nah, it's the captain ye should worry about." She hummed.

"Why?" Jimin asked curiously.

"In fights, I have never seen someone be so strategic. His brain is so calculated that he could hunt you down without you even expecting him to find you. If you go to the least obvious place, he will still find you." She warned.

"Good thing we didn't try to escape." I muttered.

"Not that he would hurt you though hun." She cooed, standing up straight to rub her bony fingers along my soft cheek.

"He'd hurt me though?" Jimin gulped.

"Probably, you aren't as valuable to him." She said, letting go of my cheek to look at Jimin.

Jimin sighed.

"Royalty perks." Jimin muttered.

"What about Jin?" I questioned.

"Hm, he'd probably scratch him but he'd not hurt him much more." The women cooed.

"But Taehyung and Jin are brothers, they should both be treated pretty equally." Jimin protested.

"Do you see the captain stealing necklaces for Jin? He does not treat you both the same. You aren't the same as your brother and he can see that. Not even just because you are going to be king but because you have a kind heart and he hopes you can save us." The women proclaimed.

"Save you? What do you mean?" I questioned.

"Pirates come about because we have no money, we have to steal for money and resources. If the King of Korea focused on the minorities, the lower class then crime would be critically repaired to some degree." She explained.

I nodded understanding what she meant.

"So the captain is using Taehyung?" Jimin whined, feeling frustrated for me that I may not end up with a boyfriend out of this.

"I am not sure. The captain is very secretive so there could be more beyond what I understand going on between you both." She suggested now leaning against the boat edge again.

"What do you mean by secretive?" Jimin wondered out loud.

"For example, he is not on the ship right now, not sure if either of you noticed." She began making my eyes widen.

"Where is he?" I asked her.

"That's a question that we have been asking for years. Whenever we pull up at places, he goes out at night, whether that be drinking or to hook up with someone, we are not sure." She explained.

"You think he has a partner beyond the ship?" I asked, feeling uncertain of whether I want to know the answer or not.

She shook her head, "No, he goes out every place we go, unless he manages to find a mate and is cheating on them constantly. I think he just tries to find a lone person to hook up with." She explained.

So my crush could be having sex with someone else right now, isn't that lovely to think about.

"You aren't saying a gender?" Jimin questioned the women.

"Women or men, who knows. You can take your pick guessing his sexual orientation but we do not even know. We have had speculations he may differ from heterosexuality but his leading dominance corners us back into removing those speculations. It will be his choice someday if he is willing to be more open with us." She explained.

"Do you know his name?" I asked to change the subject slightly.

Her eyes landed on me, they squinted as she shook her head.

"No. He's secretive. But yet we trust him." She responded.

Her eyes stayed on mine, watching my reaction.

"You know it, don't ye?" She asked.

Jimin's eyes now fell on me because I had not mentioned this information to Jimin.

Before I could answer though I heard boots landing on the deck.

Our attention was drawn upon the Captain.

"*Ahoy *matey, set sail south." He directed upon seeing the old women with us.

(Ahoy - meaning hello. Matey - meaning friend or crew mate)

She nodded, heading up to the steering wheel on the boat which was up a flight of stairs, probably above Jungkook's room.

"You know?" Jimin gasped while standing up.

I nodded looking at him.

"He trusts you even more than his crew, you have a pretty good chance with him if you can establish a relationship." Jimin whispered to me as he walked past me.

"Where are you going?" I questioned the male.

He turned to face me, seeing as he'd already walked past me.

"I'm tired." He said faking a dramatic yawn before giving me a wink.

Leaving me on the deck with Jungkook as the older woman was up the top.

Jungkook had untangled a rope that he tied around the wharf and now was leaning against the side of the ship behind me, looking out at the dark water as we turned around to head back towards hopefully Korea.

His hair didn't look a mess so there was no evidence of him having sex with someone.

Would he tell me where he went if I asked him though?

I guess I am about to find out...

Thoughts? Feelings? Concerns? Should Jungkook be trusted if he's so secretive, even to his crew who he's lived with for years?

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