Chapter Text
If there is one thing Jeongguk puts fault in, it's love. It lures you in, with promises of comfort, understanding, and a forever of happiness.
Now, Jeongguk isn't naive. He understands that there are flaws to people and relationships, and that perfection should never be expected from any of these. But he's also someone who wears his heart on his sleeve and that turned him into the jester he is now. A living joke. A fool. Someone who fell for the sweet allure of love and that wicked person's promises of a future. His mind was clouded, his heart was pounding. Flaws and faults were being tolerated, ignored even, because it was a necessity to turn the promised future into a tangible thing.
Oh, how Jeongguk wished to be able to grab that future and keep it close. But he was the one grabbed instead, and yanked away from that bright and shiny promise and thrown a rock. A fake gem, blurry in its visage and glow amiss. He was thrown reality. Not the promised future, but the real one. One where he was without his coat. Taken from him by a man he once thought would protect him. Who would love and care for him.
But now, Jeongguk is pissed. Guided by heartbreak and hatred (because you know what they say, there's a thin line between love and hate), Jeongguk intends to set sail and find that bastard so he can get his coat back.
He sometimes has doubts. Should he even try? So many selkies like himself lose their coats only to never see them again. He knows this. Which is why he can't help but blame himself. He should have known better and heeded the call of history, telling him it's bound to repeat itself even if the human claimed otherwise. He came, he made Jeongguk fall in love, and then he took from him one of the most precious things he possesses. Or rather, two precious things. His coat and his heart. The human's greediness keeps Jeongguk from returning to his family, returning to his home, breaks his heart beyond a case of just romantic love. He can't be with those he loves and has lost someone he loves. Although that's an okay loss. He was a manipulative, stealing asshole after all.
And that's why Jeongguk can't blame himself! He was manipulated, made to believe in falsehoods and empty promises. He is not to blame for someone else's rotten heart. He's not to blame for someone's evil intentions and actions. He is not to blame. So he's going to act like it. He's going to march up to that bastard and let him know he's no one to hurt Jeongguk, that his grip on him is from holding his coat above his head and nothing else. So long as Jeongguk wishes, that man is no one.
As Jeongguk grovels and solidifies his resolve even further, a ship is coming to town. Nothing new, it is a port town after all.
Samian, the hub for all ships trying to test the messy seas in their trips. It is filled with merchants that use the port not only to dock in for some rest but also do business with other seamen and the port town's citizens. Shops and market people are provided with some products in bulk, for a slightly cheaper price than normal, and manage to get rid of what would go bad and rot during the remainder of their trip and be useless afterwards. As a result, the townsfolk have access to products from outside territories and their sellers make some money by selling them at a higher price than they bought it at. A symbiotic relationship that benefits both.
Now, this one particular ship that is currently docking in the town will bring forward more emotional turmoil for Jeongguk, the unfortunate boy he is.
And all because of what it brings within it. Captain’s right hand Taehyung Kim.
Taehyung had brought his crew in for a rest in the port town of Samian. They've been at sea for 2 months now and their legs shake as they leave the ship, unable to immediately adapt to the steadiness of land. It's always nice to come back to land even if you live for the sea. It's a way to ground themselves, reaffirm that they exist and matter unlike how it might feel in the middle of the ocean, nothing but salty water around you, so full of life but so quiet still. And nature cares not for humanity. If the sea so decides, when a storm comes, waves will come crashing onto the sides of the ship and into it as well. No care for whether they can handle it or not. It's why many look at seamen with disbelief because why would someone choose to fight against nature just to survive. Nature is undefeatable by mere humans, especially those that isolate themselves within it. But there is a calling, something that lures them into that life. A sense of belonging.
Taehyung is the same. Joined a ship at the ripe age of 16, lack of desire to remain on land with his family regardless of how much he loves them. Because even if familial love is there, so is self-love. So he goes on a journey to find himself and, like to many, the sea was alluring.
So now he's here, at age 27, a full fledged pirate, getting ready for a couple of days of rest, restocking of supplies and rounding up the men that decide that they want to use his ship to face the sea.
He's working on resting his head by walking the docks to converse with other seamen as himself. Some seem to recognise him from other prior stops in Samian, others talk just because it feels nice to have casual conversation with those you know get you deep down. But there is one in particular that he finds himself inclined to speak to. A boy working on a small boat that has definitely seen better days. His expression is sour and irate, hands working hastily on the boat seemingly in a hurry. Taehyung approaches, wanting to know what it is that is bothering this person, intrigued.
As he's about to try and get the boy's attention, the said boy looks up, eyes snapping towards Taehyung. The pirate stops in his tracks, mouth snapping such now that he has the boy's attention on him. Or he did. Because the boy simply ignores him and goes inside a tiny house that seemingly is a part of the boat, almost like the boy lives there.
Now that Taehyung was left alone with the boy turning his back on him, he's now inclined to once again make the initiative to interact with the boy, so he resumes his attempts by walking closer to the house-boat contraption and crouching on besides it, knocking on its side. The small noises that could be heard from inside suddenly stopped before the boy leaned out the door, a frown directed at Taehyung.
"What?" The boy asks, the frown deepening once Taehyung gives him a small smile.
"Just wanted to talk to you. You seemed to be having trouble. I could try and help if needed." Taehyung offers.
The boy simply sniffs, tilting his head to the side and narrowing his eyes at Taehyung, who just crouched there as the boy looked him up and down. "Yeah, no thanks. I'm fine."
"Come on!" Taehyung insists, "Everything about you expression screamed that you were having a hard time. I can help, I have a ship of my own."
"And I couldn't care less about your possessions." The boy counters, "It doesn't matter to me that you can help, just that I don't want you to. And just so you know, my expression isn't one of someone who's having trouble, but instead of someone who will bite the head off whoever decided that messing with me is a good idea." The smile he gives has a strain to it, almost like a threat. If you don't believe me, then give it a try. I'll have you regret it. Taehyung makes the good choice of believing him, which ultimately saves him from being thrown into the water by the boy.
With this interaction done, the boy returns into the 'house' compartment of the boat before leaving it immediately after, swiftly getting his feet on the dock and walking in the direction of the town. With a last glance at the small boat, Taehyung makes haste in going after the boy. He doesn't know why he does it, just that his intrigue has peaked. He's a pirate, most regular people respect him because they have a fear of retribution even though pirates don't attack suddenly, only if it was planned or if it was in self-defense. Pirates don't just participate in meaningless fights over a little insult or too much casualty for the relationship. Other people ignore that he's a pirate in general and treat him like any other person that they'd encounter on a daily basis. So unless the person is an asshole, then there is never any provocation. Taehyung is never made to feel disrespected or personally attacked. So to be disregarded so easily pulls at his interest, to have his good will be rejected. And he has nothing better to do for now, so he follows where his interest leads him. After this boy.
Taehyung doesn't walk besides him but he does make haste to make sure he's close behind. The boy seems to notice him following, from the glances he throws behind him, but overall ignores him. That's fine, Taehyung is patient. But it seems the boy isn't, because soon after the "chase" started, the boy turns around and crosses his arms, a glare directed at Taehyung.
"What do you think you're doing?" He hisses. Taehyung simply shrugs and that seems to make the boy's annoyance increase, "You said you have your own ship? Why don't you go there instead of following me around?"
"I don't have to be there right now so I'm free to walk around."
"And you chose to walk behind me. Constantly."
"Yup."
The boy just looks at him with a blank stare before he sighs, practically giving in, "Do whatever you want. It's not my decision to make if you want to act like a creep."
Taehyung gapes as the boy turns around and resumes his walk, quickly snapping out of it to follow him again. "Hey! I'm not a creep! I just want some company."
"Then go to someone else, I have no company to give."
"Come on, I won't bother you so just let me be."
"If that's what you wish to do then you're already failing, because I am bothered." The boy counters. Taehyung huffs, feels himself growing upset that the boy won't just let him be. And then his mind pauses. He's a pirate, a menacing one at that. The most fearsome one out there. He's compared to the sea god himself for the control he has over his ships and crew is so vast that it's as if the nature of the sea has no power over him, that his men are everywhere and remaining loyal even with him not present. He doesn't need permission to do whatever he wants so he steels himself and keeps following the boy around on what seems like errands. He's really just talking to some people and moving on to someone else. Almost like he's searching for something.
And it seems he finds it with how he marches out of a pub in a haste, a determined look to his face. Taehyung speedwalks after him, curious to what goes on in the life of this boy.
They seem to be making their way back to the dock, specifically the boy's boat. He jumps on and Taehyung just stands there, awkward because this doesn't seem to be something he should interrupt with questions or too looming of a presence. But it seems that he's in for a surprise because the boy walks back out of the boat and sits at the dock, looking at Taehyung and pointing down. "Sit." He orders. Taehyung doesn't even hesitate to do it, sitting down in front of the boy and the map he has laid out in between them. "Since you have a ship, I'm correct to assume you have experience and knowledge on traveling by sea, right?"
"You are correct, my captain even views me as the most trustworthy person to manage part of the fleet." The boy stares at him for a while, silent, and it makes Taehyung give him a smug smile, "What? Didn't think I'd be that amazing? You'd know if you talked to me at all during our romantic long walks on the beach." The boy stares at him still but now he just looks fed up with Taehyung. Probably would have gotten up and walked away if not for the fact he seems to be interested in what Taehyung could tell him.
"Are you done gloating?" Taehyung shuts his mouth but a smile is still present. The boy narrows his eyes but proceeds, "I want you to tell me how to get to Armadia. I need to go there quickly but I don't know how. Also some supply stops, if possible, along the way." Now it's Taehyung's turn to stare and say nothing. Some seconds of it seem to irk the boy. "If your very important self can't tell me this then say so, so I can go and ask someone else."
Taehyung shakes his head, "No, no, I know how! Sorry. It's just…" He glances at the boat the boy was in. He sighs, "Are you gonna do this trip in… that?" He points at the boat. The boy frowns, confusion obvious in his face.
"I mean, yeah, it's my boat."
"Then you're getting nothing from me." Taehyung crosses his arms. The boy looks ready to argue but Taehyung interrupts him. "I'm not gonna tell you because of I do then you'll go on your merry way and die."
"Oh, come on." The boy rolls his eyes, "I won't just die."
"You will because that," he points at the boat, "is in no way capable of making this trip and you'll capsize and drown where no one can save you. And no," he raises his hand to a stop motion when the boy was about to interject, "there is no preparation you can possibly do to change that. And even if there was, I still wouldn't tell you because you seem to be in too much of a hurry to go out there for me to believe you'd do things properly."
The boy purses his lips and looks down the maps he splayed out in front of them. He looks disappointed and Taehyung does not like it one bit. Sure, he was in this for the amusement of following this boy that just lured him in for some reason. He was simply an enchanting presence. So, Taehyung does what he never does, he offers himself up.
“Look, I think I know of a way you can get to Armadia.” He sighs when the boy looks at him with an expectant look, wide eyes and a small anticipating smile, obviously eager to be able to make the trip. “I take you there.” Taehyung watches as the boy’s expression seems to freeze, just as his body tenses. Then a confused look. Taehyung just waits for him to finish processing everything.
“What?” The boy mutters, looking at Taehyung with an expression that doesn’t need a genius to understand. He’s in disbelief. “Now why would you, a stranger that has done nothing but follow me around without a care, offer to help me out that much and without any prompt when all I asked for was how to get somewhere? It just doesn’t make sense. You’re being unnecessarily helpful.”
“I don’t think it’s unnecessary. In fact, it’s much necessary! You’re wanting to go on a voyage to your death with me being aware of that! I won’t just stand around knowing about that without doing something about it.” Taehyung gives a heavy sigh, “I’m sure you’ll go off and find someone else to give you the details of a trip to Armadia if I don’t deal with this myself. Heck, you said it yourself that if I don’t know you’ll find someone else.”
The boy isn’t looking at him anymore, he’s looking at his boat. He looks conflicted. As if he understands what Taehyung is talking about, maybe even believes it, but he doesn’t want to because that wasn’t the plan. He was supposed to just figure out how to go there and then go. But now, if he were to believe Taehyung when he said that he was trusted fully by his captain to manage the fleet’s ships, he should believe him when it comes to this. Taehyung seems so certain that his death will come if he leaves on his boat, but the only other option is…
The boy looks back at Taehyung, trying to assess the man properly since he just ignored him these past hours of ‘romantic long walks on the beach’ like he had put it. If Taehyung was genuine, then there would be no way of making sure he’d survive out there. Honestly, looking back, it probably really was ignorant of him to just decide that traveling alone on a small boat that could be in better condition was a viable option. So now, he has two ways to go. Either he accepts Taehyung offer, or finds another ship to take him. That last one would cost a lot of money probably, or a lot of labor that would destroy his body since denying to work would get him kicked off. Unless… the person taking him in was kind enough to relieve him from that.
“I don’t have a lot of money to give you as payment.” The boy chokes out, Taehyung gives him a soft smile, “And I have conditions.”
“I don’t need your money and say all the conditions you have, I’m sure we can work something out.”
Taehyung is being soft. Too soft for the image he’s created for himself. But this boy. Something about him just screams discomfort, like he doesn’t want to take anything from anyone in any circumstance. Taehyung doesn’t mind helping someone out when they need it and not just want things easy. This boy was willing to face certain death to achieve what he wants, Taehyung thinks he doesn’t mind helping such ambition even if he doesn’t know its origin. It’s this fearlessness that he wants in his men.
The boy stands and goes back to his boat, a quick ‘stay there’ being muttered as he goes. He doesn’t take long and brings out a knife. Taehyung’s body is on alert, years of looking at weapons as a sign that combat is coming his way. But no attack comes. The boy sits back down and places the knife between them. “My conditions…” The boy takes a deep breath. “I don’t want any hard labor as I am not there to be free labor, I want my boat to come with since it’s also my home and…” He picks up the knife and shows it off, “I want the right to defend myself with whatever means necessary without retribution. I don’t know who you sail with, but I won’t take any chances. I’ll strike if anyone comes at me and I expect that I will in no way be seen as the perpetrator.”
Taehyung grins, “All fair conditions that can be accepted and implemented immediately!” The boy looks hesitant but still ready to march. If he’s willing to face the sea, he should be up to face his crew. Taehyung puts his hands out “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I have accepted your conditions and you are welcomed aboard “The Rake”.”
The boy looks at his hand and takes a deep breath before reaching out and shaking it on his own, “Thank you for having me aboard…”
“Taehyung, Kim Taehyung.” The boy nods, seemingly muttering his name to himself.
“I’m Jeongguk.”
While Taehyung is excited for having him aboard, Jeongguk is still on guard. He’s wary of trusting anyone else after what happened. But he has no other choice. Besides, what could be lost was already taken from him, so he’ll take the opportunity and push through whatever obstacle that comes his way. He will get his coat back. No matter what it takes.