Chapter Text
♛
THE morning came with ease and warmth, a first for Taeyong in years. Sunlight fuzzy filtered over brown and light blue hair on to white sheets. Taeyong didn’t want to disturb the man in charge but alas he had to make breakfast as the new chef.
Borrowed clothes thrown on, he walked down to where he remembered the cafeteria. Unexpectedly, there was a slight tall man sweeping the lower deck, Taeyong reconsidered him as the man from breakfast the previous day.
“Oh! It’s you again, sorry for scaring you.” The dark hair man said, leaning on a nearby table.
Taeyong gave a small smile and shook his head, “I uh am supposed to be the new chef, Johnny appointed me last night.”
“Ah well, let me show you around! I’m Doyoung!” The other said, offering a handshake.
♛
TAEYONG took a look around the kitchen, the ship was barely stocked enough for a couple more days (but that was fine, they would reach the next stop the day after next). Taeyong slowly but surely assessed his materials and began to cook.
As predicted by Doyoung, the slow trickle of shipmates came a few hours after sunrise. Mostly the older crew members and a few odd ball youngsters with bountiful energy, though everyone was thoroughly surprised to be served by some new mystery man.
The questions came lightning fast at first until Doyoung and another smaller broad man from the previous morning calmed them down and gave them regulation.
“Alright, one at a time guys. But, first he may want to introduce himself first?” the small friendly man said implying the question for Taeyong to fill in.
“A-ah I’m uh your new cook or chef or w-whatever from now on. Johnny appointed me uh last n-night.” Taeyong filled in softly, “I’d rather not expose my n-name though.…”
Doyoung’s face light up in remembrance, “Oh I thought Johnny told you, none of us use our real names, you can tell people if you want but for the most part they won’t call you that in public. So, do you have a nickname or something of a sort?”
“mmmmm Yong, call me Yong” the cook said with a bit more confidence.
“Yong are you sleeping with Johnny?” A loud deep voice spoke from a tall but childish looking man.
The broad kind man scolded, “LUCAS-”
But before the other could even think of responding a confidence commanding voice came from the stair way along with a sliver of light. “Not in an impure way, no Lucas, though I’m guessing you meant in bed and the answer to that would be yes. Not that it’s anyone’s business.” Youngho said with a slight knowing smile on his face. “How’s our new cook? Is everyone satisfied with the arrangement?”
The captain received plenty of affirmatives as he sat in the empty space next to Taeyong to begin his breakfast.
“They call you Johnny?” Taeyong quietly inquired remembering part of the previous day’s conversation.
Youngho became a bit abashed, “Ah yes but in private you can call me Youngho or Johnny, can I still call you Taeyong in private?”
Taeyong turned in to Youngho more to hide his light blush, “Y-yeah but they call me Yong.”
🏴☠️
THE crew had warily excepted Taeyong, if Johnny trusted him then they would too (the excellent cooking helped, along with Doyoung’s trust in Taeyong). Of course Johnny was practically glued to Taeyong the whole day, because today was a port day.
First order of business was pairing the younger memebers off and keeping note of where everyone was going to be before, during, and after their given tasks.
“With that said I want everyone back here by afternoon time, ok?” Johnny reminded everyone, as they left the docks and in to the town.
As the two were walking, Taeyong tugged at Johnny’s billowing sleeve, “Um, what are we doing today if I may ask?”
Johnny raised his eyebrows in surprise at his own forgetfulness, “Ah yes, you and I are going to fetch the seller to look at our uh goods, and then head to the market after. If you have something you need to do or want to try let me know.”
The smaller man’s face lit up like a small candle in a night festival, “I don’t think there’s anything I need, but I’ll let you know. T-thank you, Youngho.”
Johnny smiled and nodded before heading off their middle man pawner.
THE small seaside island hadn’t changed very much since Johnny’s last visit, but as usual the tiny pawn shop did. Johnny entered the dusty and shabby shop with confidence, Taeyong walking silently behind him.
“Aye, hyung?! You there?” Johnny hollered from the wooden counter.
A distant voice Johnny knew very well shouted, “Yeah, gimme a sec alright?!”
Johnny turned around to look at the every changing interior, only to notice Taeyong inspecting an object. Johnny noticed it was a pair of matching necklaces, after walking up to Taeyong. Each had a naturally broken half pearl, with one chain a thin shining chain the other a slightly thicker darken chain.
Taeyong softly whispered to himself, “They're gorgeous”
“Do you want to get them?” Johnny inquired, prompting Taeyong to turn around.
He glanced at the necklaces, thoughtfully, and then at Johnny, “No, I wouldn’t want anymore debut.”
Johnny nodded softly, then turned to the just entered shopkeeper. The older man spoke, “Sorry about that fellas, how can I help ya?”
♛
AFTER the shop owner inspected and confirmed the purchase of the loot, The three and the hired strength carying the goods headed back to the aged building.
Taeyong contemplated the small weight in his pocket, Should I sell it to him? Selling it shouldn't cause any issues right? But the other might ask about the money…
The item in question was a heavy diamond engagement ring his mother had chosen for, what would have been, his marriage. Taeyong didn’t want a reminder of his ugly past that was probably chasing after him at this very moment.
Once at the shop, Taeyong knew what he had to do. He taps Johnny on the shoulder, “H-hey, uh Youn-, Johnny can I talk to the owner privately. It’s just-“
“No, it’s okay, no need to tell me. Go ahead, i just need to talk to him after.” Johnny said with an understanding smile.
Taeyong gave a small sigh of relief before entering. The shopkeeper was talking, expecting Johnny to have entered the shop, “Your payment should be ready some- oh hello young man how can I help you.”
The ex-noble stood, straight as a mast, with nervousness, “I n-need to sell you-u something, a uh secret.”
The middleman sat at his counter, “Ah I see, well what is it? Stolen loot, pleasure toys, family heirloom? Hm?”
Taeyong blushed at the inquisition, “The third, uh sir.”
“Oh hahah no need for such honorifics,” the owner gave a comforting smile, “let’s have a look shall we.”
Taeyong walked up handing over the ring, anxiously watching the man inspect the rings, “Wow, it’s real, good quality, and big. I don‘t know if I could pay it off it may take a couple of years.”
“Oh no money please.” The slight man said rushed.
The other looked shocked, “Well I can’t just take this, I have to repay you some how. It there anything else you want? A favor? Something?”
“Hmm”, Taeyong considered before concluding, “Can I maybe I don’t know trade it in for something else?”
“For sure! You can take a couple of things all right now or come back later, something catch your eye?”
🏴☠️
Johnny entered the shop after Taeyong had beckoned him, “You got the package, ready?”
The man behind the counter confirmed, handing him a small burlap drawstring pouch, “Everything is all in order, we’ll be in contact soon Johnny boy.” Johnny and the pawner smiled, their aged friendship showing, “ See ya next time.”
The door rings on the way out before Taeyong softly asks, “So what’s next, Youngho?”
Johnny through his mental list, “Not much, shopping if you’d like since it’s a bit early for lunch.”
Taeyong agreed, and Johnny lead them to the bustling markets, “It’s very crowded, may I take your hand?”
Taeyong confusingly agreed, Johnny did’t understand why exactly (Taeyong was quite touch starved as a royal, and such an action was very intimate for him).
The two shop for food and supplies hand in hand, enjoying the comforting companionship, the warm sun, and the small moment that are a world unto there own where they just people in a market.
The two exited the ship with satisfied smiles, having gotten everything they need. They headed for Johnny’s favorite pub, though a rare drinker, he loved the food there plus the also had resources for job scouting. But today, it was just lunch.
The pair are seated and served, Taeyong had become surprisingly inquisitive, “May I ask a couple of questions? Y-your free to say no of cours-“
“Hm.” Johnny curtly responded.
Taeyong cautiously preceded after a few bites, “So uh, how did you find me? And f-frankly why did you take me in?”
Johnny spoke with ease, “It just felt right, instinctual, a pull you could say. Especially since all of my crew are essentially misfits, runaways, orphans, and the like.” Yeah, and mother sea‘s nagging insistance.
“Hmm, Oh uh also m-may I get some clothes.” Taeyong asked with slight nervousness.
“Oh why yes, I completely forgot I‘m sorry. It must be weird in someone else‘s clothes.” The captain said with a slight chuckle in remembrance of Taeyong tip-toeing across the upper deck in Johnny’s large baggy clothing.
“No no it’s okay.” Taeyong said with a bit of lightness.
THE two went back to the venders briskly, as it was almost time to return back to the docks. Taeyong choose a simple yet beautifully fitting set of clothes. A flowing white shirt, a dark turquoise vest, some high waisted pants, and some boots that actually fit.
Taeyong looks handsome as ever. Johnny thought as Taeyong happily ran to the ship, pulling him by the hand.