Chapter Text
Seonghwa wakes up alone, the space beside him where Hongjoong should be empty.
His chest immediately tightens, making it hard to breathe as he reaches out blindly, looking for Hongjoong's sleeping form.
Fighting down the initial rush of panic when he doesn't find him, he forces himself to think about this logically. Hongjoong would never get out of bed unless he was needed for something; it's likely he's on the deck with Yeosang.
Seonghwa has to repeat that to himself several times before he begins to believe it, his heartbeat echoing in his ears.
Before he can even fully register what he's doing, he is sitting up in bed and throwing the blankets aside. If Hongjoong is on the deck, Seonghwa will be able to confirm his presence in just a few moments.
Seonghwa is slipping out of their bedroom seconds later, shivering slightly at the draft in the passageway. It has been steadily getting colder as the seasons begin to shift, and the Ateez's course further north hasn't helped. Seonghwa wraps his arms around his torso and walks faster, breath billowing in the cool air.
He is soon pushing the door to the deck open, climbing the stairs quickly. He can hear the murmur of voices, and he can already imagine Hongjoong and Yeosang standing at the wheel, talking quietly.
Seonghwa reaches the deck before he realizes he doesn't recognize these voices. He stands at the top of the stairs for a moment, the wood of the deck cold beneath his bare feet, trying to make sense of the scene in front of him.
He's still half asleep, which makes it much harder to understand what he's seeing. He first recognizes Hongjoong, clearly identifiable even with his back turned. He is talking to three other men that Seonghwa doesn't recognize, their faces dimly lit by a lantern placed on a nearby barrel. They are wearing heavier coats because of the cold, but he knows they’re likely concealing various weapons underneath.
Seonghwa tentatively moves forward, his steps soft. The conversation isn't threatening from what he can tell, but he doesn't let his guard down. The men are clearly pirates, and while Seonghwa trusts Hongjoong he does not trust them.
He manages to get a bit closer before a wrong move makes one of the planks of the deck creak under his foot. Seonghwa immediately freezes, hoping that none of them noticed, but one of the unfamiliar pirates looks up, squinting in his direction.
"Who's there?" he asks, clearly unable to see well outside the circle of light from the lantern.
Hongjoong turns as well, and Seonghwa is immediately relieved at just the sight of his face.
"It's me, Hongjoong," he says softly, stepping close enough to lay a hand on his shoulder. "What’s going on?”
Hongjoong turns, taking Seonghwa's hand from his shoulder and bringing it briefly to his lips.
"I'm sorry, love," he murmurs, eyes soft in the lantern light. "I was hoping you would be able to sleep through this."
Seonghwa hums at that, glancing over at the three pirates who are watching with vague interest.
"Who are they?" Seonghwa asks, regarding the three of them with cold indifference.
"Friends," Hongjoong replies easily. "Old friends."
"You'd think friends would visit at better times," Seonghwa says carefully.
At this, one of the pirates shifts, standing straighter. He is young, but carries himself with a confidence that screams he is the captain. He has a surprisingly friendly face, and even smiles slightly before beginning to speak.
"Our apologies," he says, a light accent edging his words. "But the Ateez is a dangerous ship to be seen with."
Seonghwa holds his gaze for a long moment, considering his words. Based on a few things Hongjoong has shared with him, he knows the captain is right. Hongjoong’s challenge to the Hae Agma sent waves through the pirate world, leaving them with many more enemies than before. It’s even dangerous to openly be an ally of the Ateez, which is the reason these pirates are here in the middle of the night.
“I hope you finish your business soon,” Seonghwa finally says, turning to talk to Hongjoong. “You know I can’t sleep without you.”
Hongjoong grins at that, squeezing Seonghwa’s hand. He is looking at Seonghwa like they are alone on the deck, sending warm tingles through Seonghwa’s chest.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” he murmurs. “Please don’t wait up for me.”
Seonghwa nods, even though they both know he won’t really be able to prevent himself. He reluctantly pulls his hand out of Hongjoong’s, heading back the way he came.
"Picking up new crew members?" he hears one of the strange pirates ask. "I don't remember him from last time."
"He's been with us for a couple months now," Hongjoong easily answers, keeping his voice neutral.
"Long enough to break your rule about not sleeping with the crew?"
Seonghwa doesn't hear Hongjoong's answer, already reaching the steps. He heads below, eager to be out of the wind.
The merman smiles to himself as he walks down the hallway. Those pirates have no idea the complexities of a mate relationship. In all honesty, Hongjoong doesn't either but he at least knows it means more than just sleeping together.
Seonghwa slips back into their cabin as quietly as possible, closing the door carefully. He drags his favorite blanket off the bed, wrapping it around himself as he settles down in the desk chair to wait. He does his best to keep his mind empty, focusing on the quiet murmurs of the ocean through the window and the steady rock of the Ateez around him.
By the time he hears footsteps coming from the hallway, he is having a hard time keeping his eyes open. Seonghwa sits up straighter in the chair, rearranging the blanket around himself.
Hongjoong’s gaze lands on him the second he opens the door, and he sighs fondly as he comes further into the room.
"I told you not to wait up," he scolds gently. "Do you think you can ignore me that easily?"
Seonghwa shakes his head, rubbing his eyes.
"I wasn't ignoring you," he protests. "Just not obeying immediately."
Hongjoong laughs softly at that, sitting on the edge of the desk to pull his boots off. Seonghwa notices the stress he is now carrying, easy to read in the set of his mouth. He moves to his belt next, fingers easily undoing the worn leather.
"C'mon dear," he tells Seonghwa once he has set his belt on the desk. "Let's go to bed."
"What did your friends want?" Seonghwa asks, choosing to ignore his suggestion.
"They didn't want anything," Hongjoong answers. "They were just passing some information along."
"Anything good?"
Seonghwa's words are almost swallowed by an enormous yawn, earning him another look from Hongjoong.
"I'll tell you in the morning," he says, stepping closer to Seonghwa's chair. "Sleep first."
Seonghwa shakes his head, pulling the blanket tighter around himself.
"I'm comfortable," he protests. "You can tell me now and then we can go to bed."
"What am I going to do with you?" Hongjoong asks, putting his hands on his hips once he’s standing directly in front of Seonghwa.
“You could tell me what your friends said,” Seonghwa suggests helpfully, blinking up at him.
Hongjoong frowns, looking like he’s seriously thinking the suggestion over.
“No, I don’t think I will,” he finally declares. “We’re going to bed.”
Seonghwa’s protest is cut off as Hongjoong reaches down and picks him up easily, blanket and all.
“Joong,” Seonghwa protests, now clinging to his neck. “You can’t just manhandle me into bed.”
“It looks like I can,” Hongjoong grins, turning his head to kiss him quickly on the cheek.
Seonghwa grumbles indistinctly the whole way to the bed, muttering about pirates who have no idea how to carry out a civilized conversation. Hongjoong easily ignores him, knowing he doesn’t really mean it.
He sets Seonghwa on the bed as gently as possible, and tries to straighten up only to find that Seonghwa hasn't loosened his hold on Hongjoong's neck.
"Hwa, dear, you have to let me go," he laughs, patting one of Seonghwa's arms.
"No, I don't think I will," Seonghwa tells him, grinning at the chance to echo the captain's own words back to him.
"Is that how it's going to be?" Hongjoong asks, raising an eyebrow.
Seonghwa mirrors the action, not releasing his hold.
"Can't say I didn't warn you," Hongjoong tells him before digging his hands into the blankets to tickle Seonghwa.
The merman immediately lets go of Hongjoong’s neck, barely holding back a shriek. Thankfully Hongjoong doesn’t press the advantage, choosing instead to flop down on top of Seonghwa with his entire weight.
“How are you so heavy?” Seonghwa groans, slapping Hongjoong’s arms uselessly.
“All the muscle, love,” Hongjoong tells him, burying his face in the crook of Seonghwa’s neck happily.
“What muscle?” Seonghwa demands, pinching his arms now.
Hongjoong is able to resist the first few times, but a particularly vicious pinch sends him lurching off Seonghwa as fast as possible.
The merman laughs softly at that, always aware of the rest of the crew sleeping only a few rooms away.
“You’re mean,” Hongjoong gripes, collapsing against the mattress. He reaches for the closest blanket, but isn’t fast enough to prevent Seonghwa from snatching it and wrapping it around himself first.
“I am not,” Seonghwa informs him, sticking out his tongue in victory.
“Are too.”
They go back and forth for a few minutes before Seonghwa decides he has had enough, shifting to curl up with his back pressed against Hongjoong’s side.
“Oh so now you want to be friends?” Hongjoong asks, his tone teasing.
“We aren’t friends,” Seonghwa loftily informs him. “You’re warm. That’s it.”
Hongjoong gasps like he’s been shot, earning a slight giggle from Seonghwa.
“Is that the only reason you love me?” he asks. “I thought I had a few more selling points than that.”
Seonghwa flips over at that, now facing Hongjoong.
“A few?” he asks, eyebrows raised.
“Well,” Hongjoong drawls with a grin. “More like one.”
Seonghwa flushes, and Hongjoong can’t resist the temptation.
“It is pretty big, though,” he adds. “I can understand why you’d be confused.”
Seonghwa blushes even brighter, ducking his head to rest against Hongjoong’s chest.
“Are you going to tell me what that was all about?” he asks after a moment, voice slightly muffled.
Hongjoong sighs, wrapping his arms around Seonghwa.
“In the morning,” he says, voice rumbling pleasantly around the merman. “Let’s just enjoy right now, ok?”
Seonghwa pulls away slightly, concerned at the weariness in Hongjoong’s voice.
“Is everything alright?” he asks, reaching up to trace careful fingers over the pirate’s cheek.
Hongjoong leans into the touch, letting his eyes close briefly.
“It will be,” he murmurs, turning his head to press a kiss against Seonghwa’s palm. “It always is with you.”
Seonghwa watches him, a soft smile on his face. He knows there is something bothering Hongjoong, but he also knows now isn’t the time to press the issue. Right now, his mate just needs his support, something he is fully prepared to give.
“Do you want some blanket?” he whispers lightly.
Hongjoong drags one eye open, regarding him lazily.
“You would share with me?” he asks. “Me, a poor filthy pirate?”
Seonghwa giggles at that, slapping Hongjoong’s chest lightly.
“You went swimming this morning,” he tells him. “You better not be filthy.”
“Fair point,” Hongjoong says. “Let me into your blanket nest then.”
Seonghwa obliges, having to untangle the blankets to be able to cover both of them. He quickly lays back down once he’s done, snuggling even closer to Hongjoong.
“I love more things about you than your warmth,” he sleepily informs the pirate.
Hongjoong grins, ducking his head to press a kiss into Seonghwa’s hair.
“I know, love,” he whispers. “Sleep now.”
“You too,” Seonghwa says, trying to sound commanding.
Hongjoong laughs quietly, reaching up to stroke Seonghwa’s hair a few times.
“I’ll try,” he says softly.
Seonghwa quickly drifts off to sleep, vaguely aware of Hongjoong’s hand running through his hair slowly.