News about Adrienne reached them after three days. The crew spent the time in hushed whispers, sneaking among the serene oracles so they wouldn't disturb their work. And though they still got wary glances from the inhabitants of the temple, no trouble came their way.

Seonghwa participated in the prayers and classes as usual, but he also spent a lot of time dictating their adventures to the scribes so they could keep the information for future generations. His fellow oracles didn't pry into his adventure otherwise. They prayed for him and left him to his silence to ponder his decisions, but as before, their ignorance was impersonal and cold. Nothing mattered outside of Selene.

Seonghwa had to admit that he was glad when someone came to fetch him with news about Adrienne. Time seemed to drag on forever in this place, and he yearned to laugh with the crew again, missed Wooyoung's cheeky grins since he looked so forlorn here.

They all gathered in front of the west wing, where Adrienne had spent the last three days with the healers. They hadn't seen or heard anything from her, and though the pirates had been getting antsy, they trusted Seonghwa and his people. Now, they hoped for good news.

Finally, the heavy doors to the western hall opened. Adrienne was standing there, nervously playing with her fingers. She peered at her caretakers to check with them first, but once they nodded her to go, she came jumping their way.

Everyone tensed up when she opened her mouth, then a light, cheerful voice met their ears.

"Hongjoong!"

She crashed into the captain's arms for a tight hug, and he immediately squeezed her close, in disbelief at what he heard.

But now that her voice was back, Adrienne was unstoppable.

"I can speak again! I really can! The goddess healed me! Oh, she is such a marvel," she babbled, beaming up at the pirates who had gathered around her, full of awe. Just as when Seonghwa healed Hongjoong, they couldn't believe their eyes. It had been long years since they had heard her, and now they asked her if this was real and whether she could keep her voice.

Seonghwa grinned when he caught her eye before he bowed to his fellow oracles, thanking them for their kindness. They disappeared into the shadows again, and only the moon remained to shine down on them.

"I can't believe it either! So much moonlight poured into me, and it fixed me all up. I am healthy again, and I feel great," Adrienne told them, and Hongjoong was the first to glance at Seonghwa, caught his fond smile.

"All thanks to Seonghwa an' 'is people," he noted slyly, to which the oracle immediately played it down. Adrienne, on the other hand, looked at him sternly when she wormed through the crowd to take his hands in hers, holding them gently.

"I am in your debt. Please, if I can ever do anything to repay you..." she began, leaving the sentence open for suggestions. But Selene's blessings were not given for payment.

"Just be healthy and be happy. I'm glad we could help," he told her instead, to which she grinned bright enough to rival Wooyoung.

"You are a good person. Take good care of my brother for me, yes?" She asked him, making Seonghwa chuckle and Hongjoong swat at her without heat.

"I be the one takin' care o' 'im," he protested, but it drowned when Adrienne immediately whirled around to San.

"San... Thank you so much for everything you've done for me. For giving me life again. I'm so happy," she told him, and Seonghwa stepped aside to leave them some privacy. He wandered the exalted hallways of the temple one last time, soaked in its familiar air. Once he found the elders in the library, he bowed to them.

"Thank you for everything you have done for me and my companions. We will take our leave now and shan't bother you again," he promised, to which they bowed back at him.

"May the moon shine on you."

And that was it. Seonghwa packed their bundles and, the very same day, they bid their farewells to the temple. They left without bloodshed and with Adrienne in their midst, humming to herself and talking about everything she could see because she enjoyed sharing her thoughts so freely.

The affection in Hongjoong's eyes when he looked at her mirrored his glances at Seonghwa. And the oracle felt fulfilled at having done good for them.

Soon, they set anchor to sail into the warm afternoon. Their tension stayed behind with the fog, and the crew managed to shake off their chill, unwinding on deck together once they were back out on the sea they loved.

Wooyoung sprawled out on the wooden planks like a starfish, relieved to breathe freely. Even Mingi rubbed the back of his stiff neck.

"I 'ated it there. They all stared at us the entire time," he grumbled with a groan, and Yeosang jumped right in.

"With all due respect, Seonghwa... They be much worse than ye." He peered at the oracle to make sure his opinion wasn't slandered for ungratefulness, but Seonghwa understood. They lived a different life, and their relationship with Selene was also unique compared to the faithful.

"Maybe for the best that you picked me, then," he replied, and the pirates exhaled when he took it lightly. He chuckled at their dread of him and his covenant when they had been so bold in their approach beforehand.

They lifted their attention to Hongjoong when he came marching over to their little group with Adrienne. She looked so giddy now, no longer worn by the worries about her brother and his mad ideas to heal her. Seonghwa gladly kept him from angering the next deity.

"Where to next, Captain?" Yunho asked him, and Hongjoong placed his hand on Adrienne's shoulder.

"Let's anchor at some nice island so Adrienne can 'ave some fun before we brin' 'er 'ome. An' then, more monsters need 'untin'," he called, no longer questioning Seonghwa since he chose to be right here, doing this with them.

"Aye, Captain!"

Their cheer echoed across the ship when they jumped to their feet to get ready. Seonghwa accepted Hongjoong's hand with a grin to let himself be pulled up.

He cherished this man and his care of his sister. Would stay with him for as long as he would have him.

And Adrienne also looked pleased to see them together.

"We need to sail fer the capital to register our names with the monster huntin' guild again. It will be a long journey," Hongjoong told him.

"I'm ready," Seonghwa replied with a light grin before he took off with Adrienne, paying her company while the rest of the crew was busy. They read together, laughed together, and she told him stories about Hongjoong and his stubborn pursuit of her healing. Seonghwa shook his head at his other foolish ideas several times. It was a miracle Hongjoong was still alive.

Adrienne liked him. They got along well, often whispering to each other when Hongjoong looked away and then making him pout since he wanted to hear what they were so secretive about. Sometimes, he barked at her to leave Seonghwa alone so he could spend time with the oracle instead, and seeing this side of him was beautiful.

"He can relax around you and play around like a fool. It's good to see. He blamed himself after mother's death and then was never home, always searching a cure. He looks so much less haunted now," Adrienne chuckled one of those times when they ran off after teasing the captain, but he had to grin to himself once they were gone.

Seonghwa also smiled his way across the distance of the ship.

"I get to know so many charming sides of him, and I'm glad. Your brother is a good man," he sighed dreamily, to which she rolled her eyes before she dashed off to go find Wooyoung and play his card game together as a trio.

No one could deny how attached the siblings were to each other, and seeing Hongjoong love Adrienne made Seonghwa only yearn for him all the more.

Their journey took them to other beautiful places, and while Seonghwa was sad to see Adrienne go when they brought her back home, he promised to visit. She also wanted him to stick around, telling him to be healthy and return soon. The crew's name protected her anew, and San left her one of his notebooks so she could continue her medical studies. She cradled it against her chest when she waved them goodbye at the beach, yelling at Hongjoong to take better care of himself.

The days passed, and Seonghwa found himself wearing blue more and more often, discovered how much he liked the colour of the ocean, as much as it frightened him. Soon, his glum dark garments were exchanged for blues that connected him to the sea and the night.

Selene didn't speak to him again. She still watched over Seonghwa, and he sometimes felt her presence on his nape, but she had fallen silent toward him. Instead, Hongjoong rose to full health, becoming so lively and handsome that it sometimes made Seonghwa nervous even just to look at him. The rumours of Hongjoong's return soon spread with his sightings, and his name was whispered with more fame than Seonghwa initially expected. Everyone knew the red feather on his head, but enough time had passed that he didn't get hunted for his piracy and could be a monster hunter instead.

They adopted a red hawk, a rare species native to the island where Hongjoong once found his feathers. Her name was Eclipse, and she liked to perch on Hongjoong's shoulder when his boots came thundering.

Even when Adrienne was gone, Seonghwa lived with Hongjoong in his cabin now, so San could have his sickbay back. They fooled around often, so addicted to the feelings between them that they could barely keep their hands off each other. Seonghwa learned so much more about affection and pleasure, and he inevitably suffered some awkward moments when Wooyoung once walked in on them intertwined and then marched right back out with loud laughter when Hongjoong yelled bloody murder and Seonghwa tried to disappear through the floor.

But the crew was fine with him and the captain. Never took any issue with them. Yunho even offered to string their bones onto the same necklace once they died.

Seonghwa did find the time to talk to Jongho, though. Found it important to check in with him when he glanced their way less and less often.

So they found a nice evening at the stern of the ship, looking over the ocean together while they spoke.

"Are you really fine with this? With him and I? No more animosity?" Seonghwa asked him, and Jongho tied up his long hair, enjoying the salty breeze on his neck.

"I still be workin' on it. Still find meself wishin' 'e 'ad chosen me. But I can nay force that man to anythin'; I learned that. 'is 'eart chose already," he sighed, sharing a rum bottle with Seonghwa. The sun was setting in its gorgeous colours, and the moon already made its pale appearance, waxing again. Eclipse was perched on the mast above them with her gorgeous dress of red feathers, giving the captain back his identity.

"Right."

Jongho handed the bottle back over to him. Grinned when Seonghwa grimaced at its taste since they recently purchased a barrel with a nasty note, but it needed to be drunk.

"Let's look out fer 'im together. I know 'im in jolly 'ands. Tell me if ye e'er need 'elp. With 'is stubbornness especially," Jongho offered, and Seonghwa knew exactly what he meant. Hongjoong wouldn't sit down anymore now that he was full of energy. Wanted to slay all the monsters and gather treasures around the world to gift to Adrienne. He could be near dead and wouldn't rest.

"Thank you, Jongho. I appreciate you."

The vice-captain turned away, shrugging off the long day.

"Whatever. Just close the door when ye do it, I do nay wanna spy ye," he grumbled before he took off to get some shuteye. Seonghwa grinned after him.

"Will do."

And that was Seonghwa's new life. Every day spent out at sea, quivering before monsters and exploring beautiful places in return. He got to see Serra and the main continent, got to explore the capital and its many streets and buildings, and he learned about many more kinds of people than he ever thought possible.

And when they grew wearied, they sailed back home to Adrienne to listen to her sing, unwinding on sunny beaches while the wind played in Hongjoong's crimson hair.

Seonghwa no longer ducked into the shadows. The moonlight led him to Hongjoong and ignited the adoration between them.

So that was where he stayed, blessed by his lady's design.

********

Eeend!

Did you all like this journey? Been a while since we had pirates, but it felt right to bring them in again for this concept. I hope it was still interesting and new to you!

Thank you everyone for reading and for leaving feedback for me, it's always much appreciated. I don't have any current plans for one shots here, but if inspiration strikes me, I will notify you on my twitter Susimau_s

In another week, I shall be back with my new Seongjoong au. We are going big and we are going dark with a Bloodborne/Van Helsing inspired monster/vampire hunter au, so please check in if that sounds good to you!

See you soon and have a good and healthy time. Byee!