Chapter Text
Seonghwa distinctly remembers discussing with Hongjoong the importance of keeping their work and personal lives separate. Seonghwa tries to stress the importance of work/life balance and not wanting their friendship to come between their work, or vice versa. His idiot of a friend is usually very good at understanding that.
Until he doesn’t.
Which is why Seonghwa is currently sitting tied up on the floor of some concrete warehouse-lair hybrid. And Seonghwa does get that Hongjoong is trying to sell the whole villain vibe to his lair or whatever, but would it kill him to sweep up and keep everything clean? Because honestly, the crumpled-up McDonald's wrappers his goons have left around the place make him more germaphobic than scared. If anything, Seonghwa is scared he’s about to have a cockroach crawl on him over having the “scary leader” break his bones.
Also, would it be so terrible to put a carpet down here and there? Maybe get some light fixtures that don't flicker and give certain tiny idiots headaches all the time! The carpets would certainly help keep the place warmer; no wonder Hongjoong was always cold. He spent his entire work day inside a concrete jungle of coldness.
Seonghwa managed to wiggle his body against a pillar to get himself to sit up. The goon who tied him up knew what he was doing, he couldn't untie his hands for the life of him. The goon also apparently doesn’t know that even if someone is a “superhero”, (Seonghwa does hate that term, it allows for the idea of “supervillains” and Hongjoong does not need his ego to be stroked with the “super” bit), doesn’t mean they don’t feel it when someone ties them up too tight and the subsequent muscle pain that accompanies it.
Seonghwa didn’t know how long he had been sitting there, but he was certain that every minute felt like hours. He knew Hongjoong’s schtick, he knew that the man liked to make his hostages wait for him, something about it “creating more fear Seonghwa, I have to make them scared!” Seonghwa didn’t understand how anyone could be scared of a man who spent half of his time in Hello Kitty pyjamas, his friends bought him as a gag gift. Now, being on the other end of this predicament, Seonghwa could happily say that he'll stick by his previous thoughts. Seonghwa was not getting more scared as time went on; in fact, all he felt was annoyance, which only fueled his plot to plant fake roaches in Hongjoong's room the next time the man left crumbs on the kitchen counter.
After what felt like hours (only like thirty-three minutes, Seonghwa knows Hongjoong’s schtick includes only thirty-three minutes of waiting), Sounghwa could hear Hongjoong start dragging his baseball bat over.
“Well, well, well… looks like I’ve got a little super-”
“Hongjoong, get me the fuck out of this rope right now or I swear to god I’ll tell the next goon who comes in here about how you're afraid of the ocean despite having the villain name of The Pirate King!”
Seonghwa cut off Hongjoong sooner than he was ready, which became glaringly clear when the man was unable to process what was being said after being shocked at being interrupted. The silences festered as Seonghwa watched his words process through Hongjoon's mind, his face slowly turning from shock to confusion.
“......Seonghwa..?”
“No dumbass, it’s God! Of course, it’s Seonghwa! Now get me the fuck out of here!” Hongjoong rushed over, his bat hitting the ground with a clank. Hongjoong did a double-take when he took in Seonghwa, or rather ‘Siren’. The goon thankfully didn’t take off his mask, leaving Seonghwa in his hero gear. Hongjoong knew his hero gear like he knew his own villain gear. And while he didn’t need to double-check by taking off Seonghwa’s mask, Seonghwa could understand why he did.
“Now that you’ve confirmed it's me, mind helping a roomie out and getting these ropes off? My shoulders have been cramping for over an hour!”
Hongjoong moved to start untying Seonghwa, laughing his ass off as he did, that bastard. “I didn’t expect you to be surprised when the goons said they had something special for me! Gotta say I don’t mind much!”
“Yeah, well, I do,” Seonghwa grumbled as he stretched out his shoulders, “next time to tell your goons to not tie it so tight. What was the goon's name anyway?”
“It was Jongho...”
“That rat bastard! No wonder he refused to say anything! I’m gonna kill him next movie night!” Hongjoong helped Seonghwa get up and started dusting him off. Seonghwa let him, he didn’t want the dirt to touch his ungloved hand, that was gross.
“You can’t! I need him for the next heist and if he’s incapacitated then, as per our agreement, I get to borrow Yunho…..” Seonghwa watched as Hongjoong stopped his whining for two seconds to contemplate having Yunho as his goon for the day. “Actually, you can take Jongho, the plan could work with Yunho.”
“You can’t have Yunho, you already switched Mingi over to your side, and I can’t afford to lose another sidekick. And The Institute definitely won’t let me have another, especially if I keep losing them to the villain's side!” Seonghwa shoved off Hongjoog’s hands as he started dusting off his butt for the third time. “Now our friends kidnapped me just as I was about to go home, and now I’m too tired and mentally scarred-”
“Sure, Seonghwa, mentally scarred, whatever you say.” Hongjoong's sarcastic interruption was not appreciated by Seonghwa, despite the light laugh it pulled out of him.
“As I was saying, I am now too mentally scarred to both get myself home and cook dinner! So since it was your goons who did this to me, it only makes sense that you not only drive me home, but you buy us dinner on the way back!”
Hongjoong looked at him aghast, “I can’t afford to buy us both dinner! Have you seen the prices of things? It's too expensive!”
Seonghwa grabbed Hongjoong's arm and started dragging him towards the door. Hongjoong tried resisting, but Seonghwa knew it was only playful. Eventually, Hongjoong took the lead and started leading Seonhwa to his car. “Stop lying, Joong, you make more money than I do, you can always afford dinner!” He turned to smirk at his villainous roommate and gave him the cheeriest voice he could muster, “I’m feeling lobster, how about you?” Seonghwa skipped ahead before Hongjoong could reply.
“You bitch! You know I’m allergic!”
Seonghwa met Hongjoong when he moved into his apartment. Mingi, his (at the time) totally loveable, sweet, ditsy sidekick and still one of his best friends (despite his betrayal by moving to the dark side), decided that Seonghwa was far too lonely and needed a roommate. Completely ignoring the fact that Seonghwa, in fact, did not want a roommate, nor could he have one, because how could he possibly explain his random work schedule that just so happens to coincide with the evil-doings in the city.
Apparently, despite his totally valid reasons for not wanting a roommate, Mingi went ahead and not only put up the ad but also did two showings, created and had the man sign a lease without Seonghwa knowing at all.
So then Hongjoong moved into his apartment, into the spare bedroom that Seonghwa had been meaning to turn into a home office (when he complained to Yeosang about not being able to create his home office anymore, Yeosang let him complain before sarcastically reminding Seonghwa that he had been saying that for three years, which was completely uncalled for). He had been very kind about it, introducing himself to Seonghwa and even going as far as buying Seonghwa dinner that night.
And despite not wanting to have a roommate to begin with, Hongjoong is now one of Seonghwa’s closest friends. One of the reasons that Seonghwa never minded Hongjoong being his roommate was because Hongjoong never questioned Seonghwa’s weirdly timed work schedule; after all, Hongjoong was always on a weird work schedule too. Looking back at it, it should have been one of his first clues to Hongjoong’s job.
Actually, looking back, there were many signs that Seonghwa avoided. Like the fact that oftentimes Hongjoong would head out only an hour or two before Seonghwa was expected to go on some heroing. Or that Hongjoong’s closest friends, Jongho, Wooyoung, and San, seemed to switch between calling him by name or ‘boss’. Or the fact that Hongjoong seemed to always root for the villain during their movie nights. Or the time - admittedly, Seonghwa was a little oblivious to all the times that pointed out his roommate's very obvious job.
No, it wasn't any of the very obvious signs that told Seonghwa about Hongjoong’s job. It was actually the fact that Seounghwa’s favourite mug went missing. Seonghwa’s favourite mug was from the dollar store; it was lightweight and had a bunch of cartoonish-looking cats on it. It held the perfect amount of tea and coffee, not too much or too little. It was the perfect mug, and Seonghwa had made sure that Hongjoong knew not to touch it. So when one morning Seonghwa woke up to his mug missing, he was upset. He still remembers how he marched to Hongjoong’s room, banging on the man’s door until Hongjoong swung open the door, all sleep ruffled and confused as to why Seonghwa was disturbing him so early (Seonhwa never understood why he always felt pleasantly nauseous every time he thought of how Hongjoong looked that morning. It was cute seeing Hongjoong so confused and sleep ruffled, Seonghwa doesn’t understand why he feels almost guilty thinking that, friends are allowed to think of each other as cute, right? “Did you take my mug?”
Seonghwa watched as Hongjoong scrunched his eyebrows in the way he did when he was confused, before finally processing what Seonghwa had asked. Hongjoong took on a little blush before schooling his face and answering the question, “No, Seonghwa, I didn’t take your mug.” Hongjoong sighed.
Which was weird, because Hongjoong had never schooled his expression in front of Seonghwa, and if Seonghwa didn’t know any better, he would be sure that Hongjoong was lying to him.
The thing is, though, at the time, Seonghwa didn’t know any better, never having had the shorter man lie to him. Seonghwa took his answer at face value and went with it. “Oh,” Seonghwa was embarrassed at his outburst over the mug now, it hindsight it seemed ridiculous to freak out over a mug (future Seonghwa has no regrets over freaking out over that mug because Hongjoong had stolen it like the little lying bitch he is) “well I’m sorry to bother you… See you later…”
Seonghwa made a hasty and embarrassing exit, he heard Hongjoong laughing at him from behind. If it were anyone else, it would have bothered him, but from Hongjoong's lips it sounded endearing, which had only made Seonghwa blush.
It wasn’t till much later that same day that Seonghwa found his mug. Seonghwa had been called out by The Institute to go deal with the villain, The Pirate King. Seonghwa had noticed that he was called out anytime that particular villain decided to do some evil; it seemed that he had been basically paired up with the villain. Which made no sense because Seonghwa never remembered writing in any of his reports that he wanted to be paired up with the villain specifically. Regardless, Seonghwa made his way over with Yeosang, Yunho, and Mingi as quickly as he could. On his way, he started his small tunes about ropes, handcuffs, and smoke bombs. And, no, Seonghwa was not a creep who sang songs that sounded vulgar out loud in public. But contrary to what some may believe, Seonghwa’s power was not manipulation through singing; he was not an actual Siren despite his supername indicating otherwise. Seonghwa’s power was that he was able to conjure up objects as long as he sang about them.
Yeah. He really won the lottery with that one.
Which is why videos of the Siren online were often of him singing songs that sounded wildly inappropriate and then having stuff just appear in his hands. The worst one was one where some five-year-old watched and started singing along when he had to sing lines from Rhianna’s “S&M” so he could get a chain strong enough to hold down a villain with super strength, he’ll never forget that mother's face when she realized what her son was singing with him.
The Pirate King and his crew of goons had decided to rob a bank that day, with no casualties (there never were with Hongjoong; he enjoyed petty crimes, not hurting others). When Seonhwa got there with his trio of sidekicks, he was quickly told by those on the scene that there were no injuries and that the Pirate King had let all hostages go except one, a young man by the name of Jongho.
Seonghwa remembered how his heart raced. It couldn’t have been his Jongho, right? Jongho was one of Hongjoong's friends who had quickly become part of Seonghwa’s little group that he cared for. Shortly after moving in, Hongjoong suggested a movie night with all of their friends. Seonghwa had invited Yunho, Mingi, and Yeosang. Hongjoong had invited Wooyoung, San, and sweet Jongho. All eight of them got along really well, and movie night had quickly become a weekly tradition as their friend group became inseparable. Seonghwa never understood how sweet little Jongho got caught up between the mischievous pair that was Wooyoung and San. Jongho was strong, but he was secretly very sweet. Seonghwa saw how he ran away from affection, only to give it so freely when he initiated.
The thought that the Pirate King had kidnapped sweet little Jongho made Seonghwa feel genuine fear. Seunghwa wasn’t used to that feeling, especially because he was usually the one who calmed people's fears. Seonghwa remembers how he whipped his head around to meet the mashed eyes of Yeosang, Yunho, and Mingi.
He remembers how odd it seemed that none of them were worried that it might be their Jongho in there; he knew that the three of them were just as fond of Jongho, if not more, in Mingi’s case.
Still, his three sidekicks seemed to just walk on ahead into the bank. Leaving Seonghwa to look at them in shock, how were those idiots not more worried?
Seonghwa gaped and followed behind them quickly, not before picking up all the supplies that his idiot sidekicks left behind. Seriously, Seonghwa sang for over half an hour to make all the ropes and stuff! They didn’t need to leave it all behind! Also, it was their job to hold onto it!
His sidekicks stink. (No, they don’t, but still).
Seonghwa stumbled into the bank to see it completely empty, he started looking around. He saw all of his sidekicks standing to the side of the room.
...Talking and laughing with the Pirate King’s three goons.
What the hell? Seonghwa was so upset he barely noticed that right in front of him stood the Pirate King, holding his mug.
Barely is the key word because Seonghwa did, in fact, notice the Pirate King holding his mug, and suddenly Seonghwa was a lot more confused. All the stuff he carried dropped to the floor, and the room suddenly went very quiet. With all three goons and all three of his sidekicks looking at him.
Which is when Seonhwa noticed that the goons weren't wearing their signature masks. And that the three faces looked very similar, probably because they were the three faces who passed out drunk on his couch last week, and the three faces he was expecting at his apartment tonight.
Seonghwa looked back at his mug. Which was held by the Pirate King, who was also unmasked and looking at Seonghwa in a very amused manner.
“Sorry about the mug, I thought it would be funny!” Hongjoong let out a sheepish chuckle. Which quickly turned into full-on cackling, the longer Seonghwa took to understand what was happening around him. Seonghwa heard the other six starting to laugh as he started walking towards Hongjoong.
Seonghwa walked over and grabbed his mug (if Seonghwa had half a functioning brain at that moment, he might have noticed the mini flower bouquet that was sitting in the mug, but he didn’t). He watched as Hongjoong, finally free of the mug, patted him on the shoulder. “I can see you in shock….We’ll all talk tonight, okay?” Seonghwa just nodded his head, “Great! See you tonight!” and before Seonghwa could process any further, Hongjoong and his goons, no, Seonghwa's friends, left. Well, they left behind Jongho. Jongho explained that he was the hostage, so it looked better if Seonghwa brought him out to make him look safe.
Yeosang, Yunho, and Mingi had taken the lead. After giving the press statements and telling them some made-up story about how Seonghwa had heroically negotiated for Jongho’s life, the youngest acting up the tears on his face for the camera, and then having almost caught the Pirate King if not for the tunnel he had dug under the bank for a getaway.
Once the scene was clear, his four friends took him home. Where Seonghwa finally processed that Hongjoong was the Pirate King.
Seonghwa wasn’t upset; if anything, he was confused. He was sitting on the couch, staring down at the mug (which still held the flowers). Seognhwa finally noticed them and thought they were an odd way for Hongjoong to apologize for stealing his mug, especially because all it did was put gross dirt in his mug. His friends explained how all of them had slowly realized that during movie nights, they all had similar bruises, how they overheard each other's names being whispered while they were facing each other off. How Hongjoong had connected the dots when he looked at his and Seonghwa’s work schedules. How Seonghwa was always bruised in the places that the Pirate King would hit the Siren. How Mingi, Yunho, and Yeosang had been adding to Seonghwa’s reports so that they always faced off against each other, hoping that Seonghwa would get the clue…
Honestly, Seonghwa felt stupid. How he hadn’t seen that his roommate was a villain was beyond him. But Seonghwa also felt something else, something that only came up when the door opened to reveal Hongjoong.
Seonghwa got up and made his way over to Hongjoong, ignoring all of their friends asking him to calm down.
He watched as Hongjoong walked back until his back hit the very door he had just walked through. He shook off his friend's hands as they tried to pull him back.
For the first time since meeting him, Hongjoong looked stressed. And Seonghwa hated it because Hongjoong was meant to always be happy and excited and just have a kick-back, relaxed attitude. Not this tense mess of emotions that was in front of him, someone who was scared of rejection. Who, for the first time, looked unsure of themselves.
“So…. you're angry, huh?” Hongjoong tried to bring a joking tone into his voice, but anyone could hear how his voice also trembled. And the thing was, Seonghwa was angry, and he was about to make sure Hongjoong knew that.
“Yeah, Hongjoong, you could say I’m angry.” Seonghwa felt the stillness of the room as everyone watched the confrontation, “I mean, seriously, how could you, Hongjoong!?” Hongjoong flinched back, opening his mouth to defend himself, but Seonghwa interrupted him before he could start, “I mean, seriously, not only do you lie about stealing my favourite mug!” Seonghwa had shoved the mug into Hongjoong's hands as Hongjoong looked up at him with shock, “But you fill in with dirty flowers! You got dirt in my mug, Hongjoong! That's so gross!”
Silence enveloped the room once more. Seonghwa continued glaring, and Hongjoong continued to look up at him in shock.
Until Hongjoong seemed to process what Seonghwa had said and burst into laughter. The others also joined in, and Seonghwa was left fuming in anger at how no one took his favourite mug seriously.
Seonghwa had never minded Hongjoong being the Pirate King, sure, he would rather his roommate not be a villain, but Hongjoong’s villainy was a Robin Hood type. The only reason The Institute really cared about him was so that shareholders would get off their backs about being robbed. So the Institute would send a hero to ‘apprehend the evil Pirate King,’ but they never truly cared.
Seonghwa also never saw the Pirate King as particularly bad. The Pirate King never hurt anybody and seemed to give back to the community, so really, there was no harm in letting him continue. Even heroes break laws when achieving the greater good, the only difference between heroes and the Pirate King was that Hongjoong would actively go out to break laws, while Seonghwa only did it by accident while trying to save people, as shown by the fact that Siren has no public indecency charges despite the time he had to conjure up items while singing very vulgar songs. Seriously! Why are all the songs about ropes also about sex?
So life went on for Seonghwa and Hongjoong.
But now with some added fun. The Institute had officially assigned the Pirate King to Siren, so it was now Seonghwa’s sworn duty to keep the city safe from the Pirate King (or at least make it seem like he was trying for shareholders).
Knowing the Pirate King personally made it a lot more fun to fight him. Hongjoong had a lot of fun with the ‘fights’ now, going as far as kidnapping Yeosang. Twice. The first time was fun, the second time felt a little personal.
“Yeosang? Again? Really, Hongjoong?” Seonghwa threw a punch that Hongjoong dodged.
Hongjoong shrugged and then attempted to kick Seonghwa, “Jongho thought it would be funny to kidnap him again.” Hongjoong grunted when Seonghwa finally managed to get a punch in, on his shoulder, so he was fine, but Hongjoong knew he had to play it up for the camera. “Besides, Yeosang has a blast when we kidnap him!”
They could now watch over each other more easily while on the job.
Seonghwa waited for Hongjoong at the Museum of Art, dressed up as the Siren. The look Hongjoong, or well technically The Pirate King, had on his face when he saw Siren waiting for him at the entrance was perfect.
“Seonghwa?”
“Technically, I’m the Siren. But yeah, it’s Seonghwa.”
“Why aren’t you at home? I thought I saw you in your bed before I left?”
“Those were pillows that I placed so that I could be here," Seonhwa gestured around them, "So that I could drag your sick ass back to your blanket! Seriously Hongjoong! You can heist this place next week when you aren’t high on cough syrup!”
“Did Wooyoung put you up to this? I told him I’m fine! I’m The-” Hongjoong was interrupted by a violent coughing fit. Seonghwa let him finish his fit, and then let him finish his rant, “Pirate King! I’ll heist whenever I damn well please!”
Seonghwa shot Hongjoong an unimpressed look, hoping it would make the man back down. The stubborn idiot just levelled him with an equally determined look. Seonghwa sighed. This wasn’t going to be as easy as he thought. “Hongjoong, c'mon man. Let’s get you back home, you look like you can barely stay awake, and I can see snot coming out of your nose! And your cough sounds worse from how much you’ve used your voice today!”
“Seonghwa.” Hongjoong sounded very sure of himself and very out of breath. “I am. Totally fine.”
“Hongjoong." Seonghwa levelled back, "You shouldn’t be losing your breath having a conversation with me while standing perfectly still!”
“I am fine, Seonghwa! The word can’t stop just because I have a—” more coughing, “a cold! I can’t push back a heist because I’m sick, what will my henchmen think!?”
“You’re goons aren’t even here! They understand that you are sick and that it was pushed back! Wooyoung, San, and Jongho explained it to them and are running things just fine until you get better!” Hongjoong just replied with a glare (as fierce as a kitten that man was). “But fine! Go ahead on your heist!” Seonhwa stepped out of the way and gestured towards the entrance with his whole body.
Hongjoong started walking forward, “Thank you,” he huffed out, entirely too pleased with himself.
“Just know that the press are gonna have a field day seeing the Pirate King pulling a heist alone…. In Hello Kitty pyjamas.” Seonghwa sang out, very much wanting to tease Hongjoong.
The taunt seemed to work, and Hongjoong froze where he was, looking down and noticing that Seonghwa was right. The look of horror would have been priceless if the man hadn’t hyperventilated too hard at that moment and fallen into another violent coughing fit. Eventually, the coughing died down, and Hongoong turned to face Seonghwa. “I swear I put on my costume.”
“And I swear that your fever is high enough to hallucinate. Now let's go home, please?” Seonghwa sympathized with his workaholic roommate when Hongjoong finally let his head drop in silent defeat. He trudged over to Seonghwa and rested his head on Seonghwa’s shoulder.
“I’m sooooo tired Seonghwaaaa”
Seonghwa smiled as a wave of fondness shot through him at his roommate's antics. “I know Joong,” Seonghwa’s hand came up to pet the back of Hongjoong’s head, “Let’s go home now, I know there's a bed with your name on it.”
There was one downside to being best friends/roommates with your villain.
Apparently, it is very common for villains to have enemies that are other villains. This means that when one of Hongjoog’s enemies found out that he had a roommate, he decided to kidnap Seonghwa.
Seonghwa, not Siren. So Seonghwa couldn’t even save himself without revealing his identity.
Seonghwa was tied up for the second time this week. But this time, Seonghwa didn’t know what the schtick was. He didn’t know how long he’d have to wait. He did know that this villain, Nightshade, as his goons had called him, did not have a thing against beating up innocent civilians, as Seonghwa was beaten up harshly before being thrown on the floor and left to wait for Nightshade to come for him.
He knows that he’s in a lot of pain. He knows that the tears running down his cheeks would be embarrassing if he were in his hero suit. But currently, Seonghwa was just Seonghwa, and he was terrified.
“So,” Seoghwa flinched back when he heard the voice infiltrate the quiet of the room he was put in. Seonghwa hadn't even heard Nightshade walk into the room. “My henchman tells me you are not only friends with The Pirate King but also live with him?”. Seonghwa watched as the man walked around to face him, a sleek black mask covered his face, and the man was covered from head to toe in black, a solid black sheet meant to disappear into the dark. “Are you two dating or something?”
Seonghwa’s heart clenched. The answer was no, they weren’t dating. But Seonghwa would be so happy to be dating Hongjoong. Seonghwa had had feelings for Hongjoong for a long time, but he knew the other didn’t feel the same, and Seonghwa was too much of a coward to even attempt to try and kindle something stronger than friendship with Hongjoong, too scared of scaring off Hongjoong, and friendship with some heartache was better than no Hongjoong at all.
“No, we’re not dating. Only roommates.” Seonghwa made sure to keep his voice level and not make too much eye contact; the last thing he needed was for Nightshade to have any reason to get upset with Seonghwa, it would only lead to more injury.
That was not the right move, though, as Seonghwa felt pain flare up at the base of his neck as Nightshade grabbed the hair to pull his face up, forcing the two to meet eyes. “Look at me when you speak, boy, especially if you're going to mumble the way you are! Disrespectful little bitch!” He threw Seonghwa’s head as he finished growling out his displeasure at Seonghwa’s ‘disrespect’.
“Now, what can you tell me about The Pirate King boy?”
Were all villains this stupid? There was no way in hell that Seonghwa was going to be telling this man anything about Hongjoong. Not only would that put Hongjoong in danger, but also a significant part of his friend group!
Seonghwa made sure to look at Nightshade’s black eyes, anger stirring up from the harsh treatment, “I don’t know shit about The Pirate King, and if I did, I sure as hell wouldn’t tell you.”
Seonghwa thought his delivery of the line was perfectly calm.
Seonghwa knew that his following screams were not.
It had to have been two days since Seonghwa had been kidnapped. Two days of being beaten up by Nightshade every time he refused to answer him. Two days of wishing he could break out, knowing that he could, but refusing to reveal his identity. Revealing his identity reveals Yunho and Yeosang’s identities, and as much as it hurts being here, it would hurt more to have them in his position instead.
So Seonghwa endures. Seonghwa thinks back to his training at The Institute. They always said to distract the mind. So Seoghwa thought of his friends and their movie nights, how he loves to laugh with his friends, and how he loves fighting over what movie to watch every week. How he loves scolding them all when the fighting inevitably leads to a popcorn fight, and how he loves remaking everyone's popcorn because Mingi complains until there is a bowl in his lap. Seonghwa thinks of how much fun he has as a hero, and how he loves going to break up Hongjoong's schemes.
He thinks of Hongjoong. He thinks of how Hongjoong always leaves the tiniest crumbs on the counter, and no matter how much he wipes the counter, he can never get them off. He thinks of how Hongjoong is always cold. How the man always has headaches from flickering lights. He thinks of how Hongjoong is so good at baking, but so bad at cooking, and he thinks of Hongjoong as he hears the footsteps approach him again.
Nightshade didn’t make noise when he came to see him, always able to be silent no matter how he moved, but the goons tended to make noise, and Seonghwa always tried to ignore it when he heard them coming, but it was difficult.
But Soenghwa kept trying to think of Hongjoong. If he could focus his mind on the man, he could ignore everything else about to happen to him; he knew it, he just had to think of Hongjoong.
Of Hongjoong. Hongjoong. The footsteps got louder as they approached the room; they sounded like they were rushing.
Hongjoong. Hongjoong. Hongjoong. Seonghwa heard them start opening each door, the slamming of doors opening and closing.
Hongjoong. Hongjoong. Hongjoong. Hongjoong. Seonghwa heard his door slam open. His heart started beating faster, his head screaming Hongjoong's name louder and faster, desperate to think of something happy.
“Seonghwa! I found him! Hongjoong! He’s over here!” Seonghwa’s eyes snapped open when he heard the familiar voice. His eyes squinted, trying to focus on the door as light poured in from the hall
“Mingi?” Seonghwa’s voice cracked as he spoke, likely from the days of screaming and dehydration.
“Yeah, it's me, Seonghwa,” the boy answered softly, tears in his eyes. He rushed forward and started to untie Seonghwa.
Seonghwa heard rushing in the hall, he turned to Mingi. He was about to warn Mingi to hide, to run away before Nightshade or his goons caught them, but he was cut off by a familiar face reaching the room.
“Seonghwa,” his name sighed out by a familiar face. It was Hongjoong, his voice softer than velvet, “Thank god you’re okay”. Hongjoong rushed forward and brought Seonghwa into a hug. Seonghwa felt tears on his neck as Hongjoong started to cry. Seonghwa said nothing. Just took in the feeling of the hug, of seeing Jongho, Wooyoung, and San standing at the door, looking in on them protectively. He let the happiness of being found surround him.
Seonghwa felt the rope loosen on his wrists, and before the rope could even fall, he surged forward to pull Hongjoong closer to him.
“Hongjoong,” Seonghwa could feel his tears starting to fall, his voice cracking, “Thank you”.
It turned out Nightshade was mad that The Pirate King had hit a heist at the Science Museum days before his own heist was planned. Hongjoong had gotten his hands on some tech Nightshade was looking at, some sort of heat ray. Hongjoong had picked it up on a whim, only wanting it to heat his lair without having to pay for gas.
Hongjoong had apologized profusely, saying that if he had known that Nightshade would go as far as kidnapping Seonghwa, he never would have even touched the damn heat ray. He went as far as destroying the ray on a live broadcast the next day just to prove the point.
Seonghwa had assured him it was fine, no (serious) harm, no foul!
During the next movie night, everyone was showering Seonghwa with love. Not letting him get up for a thing, and even allowing him to have the comfy seat on the couch, the corner seat obviously.
Hongjoong sat next to him, and Seonghwa recounted what had happened for all his friends to hear, minus the parts of his endless thoughts of Hongjoong; he didn’t need the man to know how he felt. Seonghwa started to lower himself as he spoke so that his head was lying on Hongjoong's shoulder. Hongjoong adjusted himself so that his arm was wrapped around Seonghwa’s shoulder.
They all, in turn, recounted how they figured out Seonghwa went missing (apparently Hongjoong called an emergency meeting when Seonghwa didn’t come home the first night), and how they proceeded to find him (Hongjoong stopped all projects and put his goons to work). Seonghwa could feel Hongjoong starting to play with his hair as he spoke, and in turn, Seonghwa took his free hand and started playing with the man's fingers.
“I’m really happy you found me.” Seonghwa cut off Yeosang's story of how he used city security cameras to try and find where the van took Seonghwa. “Thank you.” Seonghwa didn’t look up, didn’t want to face the silence that enveloped the room at his words.
“Of course, we do it one hundred times over for you, Seonghwa.” It was Jongho who spoke, he could see from the corner of his eye that everyone's heads nodded in agreement.
Seonghwa smiled at his friend, “I know, I just wanted to thank you all once more.”
Seonghwa felt the arm around him tighten and loosen, almost like it was hugging him; he tried not to think about how hard his heart fluttered.