uncommoncold

[uncommoncold]

obviously people steal things from other people it's one of the oldest tricks in the book but it still always surprises me to learn that people plagiarise because my introduction to the concept was basically being told that if i ever plagiarised anything i would be executed by firing squad and my head would be removed and displayed on a spike outside the walls of the hallowed academic institution i was attending as a warning to others

[uncommoncold]

Who said this was okay? 

when you can dish it out but can’t take it back

bonus:

[uncommoncold]

The Immortal

Summary: Cursed and forgotten, Park Seonghwa walks the world alone. All he has are his memories of the one who is forever lost to him. Now he becomes the victim of a cruel game of the gods.

Word Count: 5k

Content Warning: Top Park Seonghwa, Bottom Kang Yeosang, Fluff & Angst, Nudity, 69 (Sex Position), Oral Sex

“It’s been a long time…” The young man didn’t look up from his piano at his guest. He knew he was there, it was impossible to let his presence go unnoticed. His fingers continued to dance over the keys as he plucked out a song yet unwritten. The fragile notes floated into the space between them and his guest gave exquisite voice to the same notes. The young man at the piano smiled and finally looked up. “Well don’t stand in the doorway, come in. You’re letting the cold in.”

“It has been a long time.”

“What brings you by?”

“Can’t I just miss an old friend?” The Guest took a seat on the piano bench beside its owner.

“Some people can but you usually only come by when you want or need something. So which is it?” The Pianist’s eyes fixed squarely on his guest.

“I thought we might play a game.”

“A game? You do want something, I see. What are the stakes?”

“What the stakes usually are, life and death. However, if I win then you’ll help me start another war. The world is too peaceful and they are growing too fat and happy. They need a reason to remember us again.”

The Pianist clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth with distaste. “I don’t care if they remember me or not.”

“If they don’t remember you then you lose favor and power. Doesn’t that matter to you? Never mind, it never mattered to you before, why should it matter to you now? It does, however, matter a great deal to me if I fade away.” It was unlikely that a god of his ilk would ever be forgotten, mankind needed music and love. It was core to their being. Yet he, himself, always worried that mankind might one day forsake their warlike ways.

“And what do I get if I win?” The Pianist dragged his fingers across the ivories of his piano, giving only enough pressure to allow for the faintest of sounds.

“True love.”

The Pianist lifted his head and flashed an accusatory glare at his guest. “You’ve found a couple truly in love and you would interfere?”

“Why not? It’s not like I’ve not got anything else fun to do.” The Guest smiled, his dark eyes alight with a dangerous fire.

True Love was one of the rarest and most beautiful things in the world. Two souls perfectly attuned to one another was rare but not impossibly so, however those souls actually finding one another and the threads of fate woven in such a way that they might actually be at the right place, the right time, and the right situation… It was exceptionally rare, that it would be interfered with, bothered him greatly. Which was exactly why his Guest had come. He knew that he cared enough about such things, it was his milieu after all, love and music.

“If you’re not interested, I can always go to-”

“What’s the game?” The Pianist asked carefully, from this moment on, he was in as much peril as the couple. This was a game for their lives and a game for their love. If he lost, then they died as well as a whole lot of other people. If he won, then they would live as would the other people who his Guest sought to kill.

“Sacrifice.” The Guest’s eyes sparkled in anticipation.

For a long moment The Pianist was silent, just looking back at his Guest. “Who else will be involved?”

“Death.”

“Alright, has she already agreed?”

“She has.” He didn’t add that she had made the first move for him seven hundred years ago.

The Pianist nodded, he hated this. It wasn’t fair to involve two innocent mortals in this despicable game but once his Guest had made up his mind, there was no changing it. If he didn’t agree to his terms, then his Guest would simply go to someone who was much more interested in blood, like Chaos. Then the couple would be doomed. At least this way they had a chance of happiness. “Who are the humans?”

“You’ll love them, here come see.” The Guest walked over to a table and laid out a strange board with odd geometry and multiple levels. As he waved his hand over it, a figure appeared on it's strange surface.

“This is Park Seonghwa and this …” He waved his hand again and a second young man appeared beside him, “...is Kang Yeosang.”

The Pianist leaned in close and peered at them. They were beautiful, he quickly read their souls and nodded. They were indeed intended for true love. How had his Guest gotten wind of this before he had? If he had found out sooner he could have put them under his protection. There was nothing to be done about it now, all he could do was play the game and hope beyond hope that he would win. Little did he know his Guest wasn’t entirely playing fair.

“When do we start?” The Pianist asked.

“I’ve already put the pieces in play, the game has already begun.” The Guest clapped his hands and then rubbed them together in anticipation. Mortals always reacted in the strangest ways but he was sure the terms he had set for the Sacrifice were perfect and that there was no way Park Seonghwa could break the curse.

“Let’s head down to the playing field, Seoul. Who will you be?” The Guest asked.

The Pianist was thoughtful for a moment, then he said, “Kim Hongjoong. You?”

“Hongjoong? Odd choice but you did always have unique taste. I’ll be Choi Jongho. Shall we?”

Kim Hongjoong reached out to the gaming board which immediately shrunk in size and reappeared in a snow globe he held in his hand. With that done, he ran a hand through his hair and down over his form. As he did so, his hair shortened a bit and changed color to a shade of cherry red and his clothing transformed into something far more fashionable than the old style he had been wearing. He looked over at Choi Jongho with his expensive clothes and coconut styled hair and gave a shake of his head. “There’s no changing you. Let’s go.”

"What? I like this hair!” said Jongho as they stepped through the door into the world of mortals.

***

The day was cold and crisp, with a brisk wind. It wasn’t quite snowing but there were a few flakes that danced in the air. With the sun shining brightly and the sky full blue with scarcely a cloud to mar its perfection, it hardly seemed like a good day for a funeral. Park Seonghwa stood off in the distance watching the mourners visiting the grave of Lee Byungho.

“Why do you come to these things?” said a voice from just behind Seonghwa’s shoulder. He knew who it was without looking.

“Because he was my friend. The least I can do is attend his funeral.” There were few enough people he could maintain friendships with, given his situation. He told Byungho his secret long ago and his friend seemed fascinated rather than disbelieving or frightened as some did.

The man stood behind him silently watching the proceedings for a few minutes before he said, “Have it your way. I’ll drop by your place later.”

“Don’t drop by on my account.” It wasn’t that he didn’t like Jung Wooyoung, in fact he adored him. It was just that trouble had a way of following in his wake. He was quite affable and above all loveable but he couldn’t quite manage to stay out of trouble. He also had the uncanny ability to drive him absolutely insane.

“I’ll drop by on my account then, see you later.” Seonghwa shook his head and turned to look but Wooyoung was already gone. Who would believe that impossible man was a god?

When Seonghwa turned back, a little old woman was approaching him. He should have left before he was spotted but it was too late now. Cha Sookja walked up to him, “I thought that was you.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” He said softly.

"You didn’t have to stay over here by yourself, Park Seonghwa. You lost him just as much as we did.”

“You know why I stayed away.”

Sookja smiled sadly and took his hand and gave it a little squeeze. “I know. Promise me you’ll come see me sometime this week. Byungho had something he wanted me to give you and I have a few things I’d like to say to you myself. Promise me?”

Seonghwa nodded. “I will.”

The little old woman squeezed his hand again and offered him a tired smile before she turned on her heel and returned to the other mourners.

Seonghwa drew a long shuddering breath. It was only Byungho’s first life, maybe they would meet again.

Seonghwa waited a little longer before he checked the time and realized that if he didn’t hurry he was going to be late. As long as there wasn’t traffic…

*** Kang Yeosang quickly made his way across campus, reading a book as he walked. Even with his earphones on and his eyes locked on the book in his hand, he still somehow managed to dodge the majority of the people on the sidewalk. He had just come from the museum but the curator was late and he didn’t have time to wait for him. He would just have to call his secretary and make another appointment. Normally he would have simply waited but he had a class and an exam in that class.

For all of the dodging he was doing, he still managed to bounce off of someone. When he looked up, he saw a young man with a bright smile and dyed red hair. “I’m sorry.” Yeosang stopped to help him pick up the things that he had dropped with the collision.

“No, it’s fine. I wasn’t watching where I was going either.”

“Sorry again,” Yeosang said as he re-shouldered his backpack and stood up.

“It’s no trouble at all, have a nice day.”

Yeosang half bowed his head and darted off at a light jog, this time keeping an eye on where he was going oblivious to the eyes that followed him. “So that’s him huh?”

Kim Hongjoong looked over at the man who stepped up beside him, “Yes, that’s him. I would have thought you would know him quite well at this point.”

“I’ve never met him face to face but at last the game is afoot.” said Choi Jongho with a mischievous glint in his eye. “This is going to be fun!”

“I don’t know how you can take such joy in this.” Hongjoong tsked and gave Jongho a look of disdain.

“You agreed to the bet.” Jongho pointed out.

“But I didn’t realize you had set it in motion so long ago. The suffering…”

“...Says the man who keeps himself mostly away from human affairs and just makes his music.”

Hongjoong wanted to argue but it was true. It didn’t mean that he wanted people to suffer though. He continued to watch Kang Yeosang until he disappeared into one of the buildings. The poor boy had absolutely no idea what was in store for him. He wanted to warn him, or better yet put an end to this whole thing but he couldn’t. There had been a bargain struck and Kang Yeosang’s soul lay in the balance. Neither of them could interfere in any way after the bargain was struck. However, Choi Jongho had begun his first move centuries ago, biding his time, waiting for the chance to implement his plan… waiting for his chance to defeat Kim Hongjoong.

Jongho nudged Hongjoong’s shoulder, “Come on let’s go get something to drink… it’s freezing out here.”

“Don’t tell me, let me guess... Americano?”

Jongho grinned broadly, “You know me well. Let’s go.”

Hongjoong took a last look at the door Yeosang had disappeared through before turning and following after Jongho.

***

The day was unmercifully hot, the summer sun unrelenting.  

Neither of them should have been there but they didn’t care. It was too hot to study, there wasn’t a whisper of wind to give respite from the heat. On days like that there was only one solution. It was their secret place, a small pond sequestered in a thick copse of trees at the bottom of a cliff with a small waterfall. It was more of fast flowing stream than a true waterfall. They had never seen another living soul there. The sound of splashing and their laughter was muted by the dense foliage.  

Despite the oppressive heat, they revelled in the lazy days they spent there. They laughed, they played, they wrestled, they just enjoyed being together. They’d been together since they were small children but they were children no longer. That didn’t matter, they would always be together, come what may. They floated on their backs and gazed up at the canopy that reached over the surface of the water, their fingers clasped to hold themselves together. Their long dark hair fanned out around them in the water.

“Do you think we should go back?” Seonghwa asked. It was several degrees cooler beneath the trees and while he was not keen to go back to the house, he didn’t want anyone to worry over them.  

“We’re supposed to be studying until sunset. You know Han Teacher, he’s probably in town drinking with some pretty girl and won’t come back until the sun goes down.” His friend commented. Their teacher was hardly the most diligent of men. He often left them to their own devices while he went into town on some errand or another.  

Seonghwa stopped floating and settled his feet onto the bottom of the pond. As he felt his arm tugged, his friend looked over and found Seonghwa watching him. He stood in the neck deep water with a small smile. His friend knew that look all too well and a playful, almost sultry smile curved his lips. As he found his feet, Seonghwa pulled him into a strong embrace, their lips coming together with a gentle sigh.  

“Mm… I like that.” Seonghwa murmured against his lover’s lips.  

His friend, his servant, his lover, pulled away just enough to grace him with his smile. His smile was radiant and bright as the sun but unlike the sun he never shied from its warmth. While Seonghwa stood on his flat feet, his friend didn’t quite reach the bottom and held himself aloft by putting his arms around Seonghwa’s shoulders. He pressed a little closer, feeling their nakedness together. He felt a little tremor traverse its way through his stomach.

Anticipation unfurled its wings and fluttered in his breast. His hands that held his lover firmly drifted, caressing his back, his hips, his thighs. He rocked his hips a little, pressing his hard length against his friend’s. He heard a breathless moan as lips found his ear, his neck, kissing, nibbling. Slowly they made their way to the shore, falling on its grassy bank together, no longer able to restrain themselves, Seonghwa pulled his lover in, desperate for his kiss. Seonghwa’s long elegant fingers found him, wrapping around his turgid length. His lover whimpered against his kiss.  

There was nothing more that he wanted at that moment than to be deep inside him but he didn’t want to go back to the house, not yet and neither of them had thought to bring oil with them. They had been more concerned with sneaking out undetected. Instead, he dragged his lips down, over his lover’s chin, his throat, over his smooth chest. His lover pushed him back onto his back as he progressed down over his trembling stomach. His lover peeked up as his tongue flicked out to drag across the glistening drop at the tip of the thick head of his cock. It jumped against his touch and he smiled before wrapping his lips around him. Seonghwa’s fingers wound in his lover’s hair, his hips raised slightly to make little thrusting motions. “Turn around, I want to taste you too.”  

His lover looked at him with desire flickering in his dark eyes, he turned as he kept up his lurid attentions. Seonghwa peppered little kisses and nips to his lover’s thighs before wrapping his lips around him. He loved this so much, completely surrounded by his lover’s scent, the taste of him, as he pumped his long, thick prick into his lover’s throat. They had always been close but since they began their physical relationship, they had only grown closer.  

He wrapped his fingers around him, stroking as moist heat and his lover’s tongue caressed him. Seonghwa played his lover’s body as if he were the finest instrument, drawing his pleasure out and making him writhe against him. He pushed his lover toward the peak, his breathing growing ragged as he tried to concentrate, but it was just so difficult as his own pleasure began to engulf him. His lover pulled his mouth away as he moaned Seonghwa’s name just as he came. As soon as the madness rolled back, his friend dropped back down, wrapping his lips around his throbbing length. He reached up and put his hand over Seonghwa’s fingers in his hair. Seonghwa’s breathing changed to shuddering gasps he thrust deep into his throat, then the first wave of his seed arched over his tongue. His lover swallowed against him, pressing him to the back of his throat as he drank down every last drop.  

Seonghwa turned and pulled the man who held his heart into an ardent embrace, his lips and face plied with little kisses. “I can’t ever get enough of you.”  

The most precious little giggle floated through the quiet of the forest, as he smiled burying his face against his Seonghwa’s neck. The sun was just starting to dip in the sky, they should really get back but he didn’t want to go yet. He never wanted to leave their sanctuary.

How could it be that not a single moment of his memory would fade? After all of this time, he remembered every single touch, every kiss, every moment they shared. Seonghwa ran his thumb over a small glass bauble that sat in the palm of his hand. He was surprised the lock of hair he had snipped so long ago still lived within. He held it countless times. When he realized that it was degrading, he had it sealed into this small piece of glass. It was one of the very few pieces that remained of that time so long ago. A single tear dropped from the tip of his nose to land on the aged glass. In all of the years he had lived, not a single day had passed that he hadn’t missed him. Not a single day had passed that he hadn’t ached for him. How could a heart keep beating when it still hurt so much? Seonghwa closed his hand around the heavy glass before he put it back around his neck. He should stop wearing it, it was too precious to risk losing.

Seonghwa closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his closed lids before reaching for the box of tissue on his desk and wiping his face. With a deep breath, he gathered his things and headed back home.

The day had gone absolutely miserably but how often did a good day start with a memorial and funeral? Not that he had been able to attend the memorial. No matter how much time passed and no matter how many friends he watched grow old and die around him, it never got any easier.

After the day he had, there was little surprise that he had ended up being late for his meeting with the board and because he was late to that, he barely made it back to the museum for the delivery of paintings they were borrowing from the National Gallery in London.

Now he came home to what seemed to be a party at his house. All of the lights were on and he felt the bass thumping before he even got out of the car. He didn’t have to open the door to hear the music blaring and the sound of laughter coming from within. He stood outside his front door and contemplated going to a hotel for the night. It was obvious who was responsible and the last thing he wanted to deal with was on the other side of his front door.

He’d just about made his mind up to leave when his front door opened and an obviously drunk young woman appeared. She looked surprised to see him there before smiling, grabbing his arm and dragging him inside.

“No! I don-” he tried to protest but she dragged him along anyway.

“Seonghwa!” Jung Wooyoung yelled out, running over to him and pushing a drink into his hand.

“I thought I told you I didn’t want you holding parties at my house?” said Seonghwa tersely.

“I didn’t think you meant it. If it wasn’t for me, you’d spend your eternity reading romantic books and poetry, watching dramas, and generally keeping to yourself.”

There were times he rued the day he met the god of wine and revelry. This was one of those days. The woman who had pulled him inside leaned against him and yelled over the din, “I’m Ahn Ji-an!”

Seonghwa looked at her briefly and nodded before turning back to Wooyoung, “I’m going to go take a shower, get these people out of my house before I’m done or I’m going to a hotel for the night.”

“You’re no fun at all, Park Seonghwa.” Wooyoung pouted at him. His pouting game was mighty but after having known him so long, he was impervious to his manipulations.

Seonghwa peeled the girl who had introduced herself as Ahn Ji-an off of his arm and instead draped her over Wooyoung's, both seemed to be pleased with the arrangement, before he marched off and disappeared upstairs.

Seonghwa was half undressed when the door to the bathroom opened. He knew he had locked it but he also knew he’d changed his door code after the last time Wooyoung had made himself at home. Locks and privacy meant very little to him. Seonghwa yanked his pants back up as the door opened. “Oh for-” he grumbled in irritation.

“Come on! When’s the last time you went to a party? When’s the last time you really relaxed and had a good time? When’s the last time you had mind blowing sex?”

The look Seonghwa gave Wooyoung was positively hostile. “Look, I’ve accepted that I can’t keep you out of my house. I accept the fact that you’ve decided that you want to be my friend whether I like it or not. There are times I even appreciate it but why can’t you accept the fact that I live the way that I live because I like it? As for the last time I went to a party, that was last week. You dragged me to it, remember?”

“And the sex?” Wooyoung asked as he knocked back the cocktail that was in his hand and looked Seonghwa up and down with a hungry gaze. It was unfair, Seonghwa was a gorgeous man, he would have happily given him a tumble if he was so inclined but he wasn’t. He never was. He had thought it was because he was straight at first but it was more complicated than that… far more complicated.

“None of your business.”

“Have you even had sex sin-”

“Stop. Just stop alright? Wooyoung, just … Look, if you want to stay, that’s fine. Just get these people out of my house. I want a nice quiet night. In case you’ve forgotten, I was at a funeral this morning. I just want a nice quiet evening and to go to bed. Is that really so bad?”

Wooyoung looked back at his friend quietly for a long moment before he nodded, “Alright but I’m not going to quit trying to get you to blow some steam off every now and then. It can’t be healthy to be wound as tight as you are.”  

It was on the tip of his tongue to argue that he wasn’t uptight but in comparison to Wooyoung, everyone was uptight. Besides, given his life, he was entitled to be a little wound up. He watched as Wooyoung started to leave the bathroom but before he managed to make it all of the way out, he stopped and eyeballed the drink he had given Seonghwa. He picked it up and drank the contents before setting it back down and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, “No point in letting good booze go to waste.”

And of course he didn’t close the door behind him. Seonghwa closed and locked the door again, giving it a little shake to make sure it was in fact closed and he wouldn’t be getting any extra visits from any of the other guests. As far as he knew, there weren’t any other eternals in attendance, he hadn’t seen any when he had come in anyway. Not that he had met them all, he had only met a very small number of the world’s gods and immortals and he was happy to keep it that way. They were often troublesome.

As he showered, he heard the music quiet and the sound of voices fade away. He closed his eyes against the spray and relaxed. There were days that tried his patience and today was one of those days. How long was this going to go on? How long could he tolerate it before he simply went mad? It wasn’t as if he exactly had any other choices open to him. As much as he liked to complain about him, Wooyoung was one of the few things that helped to keep him sane and grounded. No, he had made his decision a long time ago and he just had to live with it. God how he missed him…

No, if he let his thoughts drift that way he would just become maudlin and morose. The past was the past and though he couldn’t let it go, he couldn’t let himself drown in it either. He had done that and it had gotten him nowhere. While he couldn’t say he was happy exactly, he was content and that was the best he could hope for. There were plenty who were far worse off than he, cursed thing that he was.

When he got out of the shower, Wooyoung was reclined on his couch, listening to music. This was a pass time he could appreciate, especially since it didn’t involve a house full of strangers making a mess. It was a Wednesday, his cleaner would be there in the morning but he hated the idea of going to bed in a dirty house so he started cleaning up the mess the party goers had made.

“Don’t you have someone who does that for you?” Wooyoung asked as he watched Seonghwa cleaning up.

“I do but Mrs. Yang won’t be here until the morning and I hate the idea of going to sleep in a dirty house.”

Wooyoung stared at him in mild disbelief but shook his head, “I did actually have a reason for coming to see you today.”

“You didn’t come just to annoy me?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, you’re so grouchy today… and no that’s not why I came to see you. I came to warn you to be on the lookout.” Despite delivering a warning, Wooyoung didn’t look overly concerned.

“Oh?” He stopped cleaning long enough to look up. He waited for him to continue.

“Supernatural energy is on the rise, something is happening. Something about a game between the gods.” Wooyoung looked down at the wine glass in his hand and swirled the liquid within before he upended it.

That was never a good thing. When gods played games, mortals tended to suffer. It was something he knew well. Not that he was mortal any longer. “Does it involve me?”

“I don’t know honestly. Lady Cho told me but when I tried to get more information out of her, she clammed up. You know how she is. I doubt it though, you’re not one of them.”

“I’m not exactly one of you either.” Seonghwa said as he went back to cleaning.

“Well no but you’re closer to what I am than to what they are.” Wooyoung lifted his glass to his lips, realized it was empty and reached for the bottle sitting on the coffee table.

Seonghwa flinched at that. He knew what he was but he didn’t exactly like being reminded of it. He had been a normal human once. It seemed like an eternity ago but in the grand scheme of things it wasn’t so long. It certainly hadn’t been long enough for him to forget. “Alright, thank you for telling me. Are you going to sleep here tonight?”

“I think I’ll go to a club, it’s still early. I’ll come back here when I’m done, if I don’t have company. You’re just going to stay up late watching a drama and then go to bed right?”

Seonghwa didn’t answer him, just looked back at him evenly.

“Yep, that’s exactly what you’ll do. I guess I’ll leave you to it. You sure you don’t want to come to a club with me?”

He shook his head, “I’m sure. You go, have a good time.”

“One of these days Park Seonghwa, one of these days…”

“But not today.”

“Fine, fine. Goodnight.” Wooyoung finished his drink, snapped his fingers and then disappeared.

Frankly, Seonghwa had to admit to being a little jealous of that particular skill. If he could teleport, his life would have been a lot easier.

Links to my other stories can be found here: Master List

#ateez #ateez smut #ateez imagines #park seonghwa #kang yeosang #seongsang #smut and fluff #kpop smut #kpop imagines

[uncommoncold]

Treasure

Summary: After a lengthy chase, Park Seonghwa finds himself face to face with the dread pirate Hongjoong. Will he find a blood thirsty pirate or dashing rogue? Will he lose the one thing that he holds most dear, his heart?

Word Count: 11.2k

Content Warning: Top Park Seonghwa, Bottom Kim Hongjoong, Pirate-teez, Boys Kissing, Oral Sex, Two Sex

The flag whipped violently with the gale winds and blistering rain. “Captain, if we keep going like we are, we’re going to break apart.”

“I know but unless you’re looking for a long drop and a short stop, we have to keep going.” He peered through his cabin window and into the storm, trying to make out the shape of their pursuers. The fact that he couldn’t see them gave him hope.

At first they had kept their distance, following just far enough away to make him think perhaps he was mistaken. But they had followed for two days, getting closer the closer they got to the islands. He knew what that meant, they were being hunted.

Not that he wasn’t sure that someone thought he deserved it. He had done more than enough to put himself a few people’s sights.

“They can’t possibly see us if we can’t see them.” Hongjoong mused.

“Let’s head for the leeward side of this island.” He pointed to the map. “There’s a cove there we can shelter in. Maybe we’ll get lucky and they already took refuge from the storm, or better yet, maybe they sank.”

His first mate, Yunho smirked and nodded.

A short while later, they were pulling into a sheltered cove. It was a risk, if their pursuers were still chasing them, then they were stuck with nowhere and no way to run. However, it was sheltered enough that if you didn’t know it was there, you could sail right by and never see a ship. The island wasn’t populated by more than flora and fauna but it would do to sit out the storm.

Normally, it would have been a good time to pull out the casks and enjoy some downtime but he didn’t dare when they didn’t know who was on their tails. It seemed unlikely that whoever it was was hunting him to give him birthday wishes. He couldn’t count out revenge or the authorities.

***

“We’ve lost them sir.” Seonghwa informed the captain.

“It’s this blasted storm, keep looking. I’m not letting that son of a bitch slip away again.”

“Again sir?”

“I’ve been looking for him for nearly three years since he took my last ship. Brazen, cocky, and slippery as an eel. I’ve been so careful… I’ll have the reward and see him dance on the end of a rope yet.”

Seonghwa wasn’t entirely sure he liked the malicious light that lit up his captain’s eyes as he talked about seeing the pirate they were chasing hang. It wasn’t that he was ignorant of crime and punishment, he just preferred not to watch it and he took no joy in death. The captain was no longer a young man and he was determined to have the pirate Hongjoong in his grasp before he died.

“Since we’ve lost him, I suggest we shelter from the storm at one of the nearby islands, sir.”

For a long moment, the captain was quiet before heaving a weary sigh and nodding, “Alright, take us in. We’ll pick up the search after the storm dies down.”

“Yes, sir.” Seonghwa went out on deck and informed the helmsman of the captain’s decision and they fought their way into the bay of a nearby island. It was just in time as well as the storm was only getting worse. It was just a little spit of land, mountainous and good for nothing unless you liked coconuts and sea birds.

***

“Captain!” Yunho tore into the room.

Hongjoong had been nursing a headache but he bolted upright from his bed, “What is it.”

“A ship pulled into the bay sir. They’re making no moves toward us but if they get any closer, they’ll surely spot us. What do you want to do?”

Hongjoong headed up on deck and looked through his telescope at the ship’s colors. Shit. He knew exactly who that was, he had been chasing him for nigh on three years now, ever since he took his ship. In fact, it was his ship that he was using now. He tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the railing. He could send the men with the cargo inland but there were no promises they wouldn’t go looking for them and they would be vastly outnumbered… “I have an idea.”

Yunho turned slowly, Hongjoong was grinning broadly at him. “I don’t like that smile.”

“It’s a really stupid idea that just might get me killed but will ensure everyone else’s safety.”

“I really don’t like this idea.” Yunho crossed his arms and glared at his captain sternly.

“You haven’t heard it yet.”

“I’ve heard enough to know I don’t like it, not if it might get you killed. The last time we went with a plan that might get you killed, I ended up running naked through town.”

“You won’t end up naked this time. I promise.”

“I still don’t like it.”

“No, you won’t like it.” Yunho tended to think of himself as Hongjoong’s keeper, he chased after him when he needed to be chased. He protected him from his own most dire instincts. He was the best first mate and friend Hongjoong could ask for. This time he wasn’t joking, it really might get him killed. It was a roll of the dice, then again, life was a roll of the dice.

Yunho groaned, “Alright tell me.”

Yunho listened to Hongjoong’s plan and it was absolutely the daftest thing he had ever heard in all of his life but if he could pull it off, it would save the lives of everyone on board but it still would leave his own life in a precarious place. Honestly, he couldn’t think of a better plan. They were a small ship and they had two guns out of commission. He also knew that Hongjoong put the lives of his crew above his own, it was part of why he was so well loved. He was a great captain… and friend. “Why do I get the feeling if I say no, you’ll do it anyway.”

“Because I will.”

“Shit.” Yunho ran his hands through his hair and braced his hands against his hips. “Fine, I can’t stop you.”

They set to work, loading one of the dinghy’s with provisions and a small amount of the treasure they had accumulated. It took a little cajoling but he had Yunho punch him a few times.

Hongjoong then cut his head with his trusty knife and let the blood run down over the side of his face and ear. “How do I look?”

“Like a man who has had a rough time.”

“That’s how I want to look. Let’s go.”

“Be careful.” Yunho grabbed Hongjoong in a tight hug. “If you get yourself killed I’ll never forgive you.”

“How do you think I’d feel about it? I’m not ready to die yet.” Hongjoong grinned brightly and stepped into the dinghy. He waved as it hit the water. Happily, the wind was on his side, he sailed out to where he should be able to be seen by the larger ship and lowered his sail. He then lay down in the boat and waited. It didn’t take long before he saw two boats break away from the larger boat and come his way. “Ahoy!”

Hongjoong put on a show of struggling to lift his head before raising a hand, “Ahoy!”

They towed him back toward the bigger ship, when he was brought on board, he spun a tale of intrigue. There had been a mutiny on his ship and he had just barely managed to escape. The men who had picked him up were enraptured by the tale he told. Seonghwa stood by and listened, he certainly looked the part. He had seen better days. There was something about his story that niggled at the back of his head but their guest was still a man alone with few provisions and just looking for a lift to the closest populated island.

They were a full crew of able bodied men with arms. Seonghwa was just about to show him to a cabin when the captain came out. Immediately he began pointing and sputtering. Hongjoong paled when he saw the captain. The old man immediately lunged at Hongjoong and caught him right on the chin with a forceful left that knocked him to his knees. In all truth, it had taken Hongjoong by surprise. He wouldn’t have thought that someone of his age could have come up with such speed.

“What’s he doing here?” The captain said as he stepped back nursing his sore knuckles.

Seonghwa told him the story that had been relayed to them. The captain’s expression slowly shifted from incredulous to gleeful. “All of these years and I’ve finally got you where I want you. Toss him in the brig.”

“Yes, sir.” Seonghwa grabbed one of Hongjoong’s arms and another sailor grabbed the other.

Hongjoong shot a look of pure venom at the captain.

“What are you going to do? Swim? We’ve got your boat and this island is uninhabited. Maybe the magistrate will be lenient on you but considering you're a wanted man, I doubt it. Oh and one more thing…” The captain hauled off and punched him again and again. “That’s for my ship.”

By the time he was thrown into the brig, his head was swimming and his ears were ringing. Yunho hadn’t pulled his punches, nor had the captain. He was alive… for now. Considering that they didn’t go into battle, nor were the rest of his crew joining him, his ruse had worked. He breathed a sigh of relief and waited.

Eventually, the storm passed. He could hear sounds overhead of the crew making ready to get underway. It was another hour that he strained his ears for every little sound before deciding that they really were underway and heading back out to sea. Only then did he risk laying down and closing his eyes.

Seonghwa lay in his bunk and stared at the ceiling. It seemed almost miraculous that the very man they were looking for just happened to have a mutiny and just happened to end up in their hands. He couldn’t think of a reason why he would just hand himself over to someone who wanted him dead. Surely stranger things had happened in the history of the world. Still, he couldn’t help feeling a bit sorry for him, pirate or no. He had had a string of really rotten luck.

Since the captain hadn’t given him any orders to not feed the prisoner, he took it upon himself to bring him down some food. The fact that the captain just so happened to be busy when he did was purely coincidental… mostly.

The prisoner looked a good deal worse for wear, bruises had formed on his cheek, jaw, and left eye into his hairline. The swelling had gone down though. “I brought you some breakfast.”

Hongjoong lifted his head and offered a half smile as their eyes met.

Seonghwa’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately looked away, unable to account for the strange feeling.

“I’m going to guess this wasn’t the captain’s order?” He said as he reached out to take the bowl of porridge. There were bits of some sort of meat in it, salted fish if he were to take a guess.

“How did you know?” Seonghwa looked back surprised.

“Someone who has been chasing me as long as he’s been chasing me, is not likely to be the forgiving sort. I doubt he would be worried at all about my comfort and would probably like to see me suffer as much as possible.” He took a bite, their ship’s cook wasn’t as good as Wooyoung was but it was passable. He was lucky he was getting anything at all.

“I guess you weren’t expecting to end up here.” Seonghwa watched Hongjoong take another bite.

“No, I have to admit, it was a big surprise to me. I’m not sure what I thought would happen when I left my ship.”

Hongjoong paused for a moment before asking, “Are you supposed to be talking to the prisoner?” Despite what might be a harsh question, there was an almost mischievous light in his dark eyes.

“No, probably not.”

“A man who likes to break the rules, I like men like that.”

“Are you trying to charm me?” Seonghwa asked. It was unusual to find someone as charming as he found their prisoner. He found himself wanting to get to know him. His smile was a physical weapon he could wield as surely as a sword or a pistol.

“Only if it’s working. If not, then of course not.” Hongjoong flashed an easy smile.

That forced a surprised laugh from Seonghwa. There was that smile again, the weight of it hit him and he found himself gazing at Hongjoong’s lips. For some reason Seonghwa was suddenly wondering about the details of his mutiny. He seemed like an easy man to like, which meant that wasn’t why his crew had mutinied. Still, he was going to have to face the fact that they were probably taking him to his death. Then again, maybe he was entirely different here than he was with his men, perhaps he was a tyrant but something whispered to him, told him that wasn’t the case.

He didn’t like it.

If the prisoner was a pirate, then he had killed dozens of people. He found himself asking, “How many men have you killed?”

Hongjoong looked surprised at the sudden question, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you?”

“That means it’s either very high or very low.”

“Very low.” There was no hint of teasing when he said it. There were times when killing someone was unavoidable but every single death had repercussions, if not for himself then for someone, somewhere and he took each death as something that should be respected and honored, no matter who his foe was.

“Really?” Seonghwa asked, genuinely curious.

“There are usually many, many ways to get what you want without resorting to murder.”

“Then why are you wanted?”

“Ah, now just because I’m not a wanton murderer doesn’t mean that I haven’t broken any laws. I have broken more than a few laws and I don’t feel bad about that in the least.” The smile was back and this time he turned its full power on Seonghwa who felt more than a little shaken by it. Bruises and all, the pirate Hongjoong was a beautiful man and a fascinating one. He opened his mouth to ask another question when someone bellowed his name from above.

“I’m sorry, I have to go. I’ll bring you something later.” He turned and started to walk away.

“How far are we from shore?”

“We’re about three days out from the nearest port that I know you are wanted at.” He might be a pirate but he wasn’t a big enough name to be wanted everywhere. However, one group of people that wanted to hang you was more than enough.

“Three days… I didn’t catch your name.” Hongjoong said.

“Park Seonghwa, you?”

“Kim Hongjoong. For what it’s worth, I appreciate the food, even if it is going to waste in a dead man’s belly.”

“If it gives you comfort, then there’s no waste.” Seonghwa walked away then, heading up to find out who was calling him.

Hongjoong played with his food while he thought about his guest. He wondered if he might be inclined to help him escape. He drummed his fingers against his knee as he contemplated it. Yet his thoughts kept drifting back to the man himself, he was almost heartstopping in his physical beauty. There was a gentle aura around him that made him seem like someone he would want to protect. He sighed and pushed the thought of his sparkling eyes and sweet smile out of his head.

Despite what he said, he had no intention of dying. There were a thousand ways to get what you wanted, he had managed to save his crew now hopefully, he could find a way to save himself.

Over the next few days, Seonghwa continued to bring Hongjoong his meals and they spoke at length. Seonghwa told him all about his home, his family. His father used to have his own ship but he had decided that with the pirates, it was safer on shore so he had retired from the sea to run his own shop, which proved to be an excellent move on his part. Their family business did far better than expected and he had managed to secure an excellent retirement for himself and his family.

Hongjoong had planned on playing it close to the vest but he found himself opening up to Seonghwa, he told him of his ill-spent youth, why he had turned to piracy. He told him a good deal more about himself than he ever intended, he found himself waiting anxiously for just a glimpse of Seonghwa’s face through his day. It wasn’t just because he was bored either, it was because he genuinely enjoyed his company. He loved listening to his deep smooth voice, he loved listening to his stories. He was going to be sorry to lose him when there was still so much he didn’t know about him. Unless he could swing it so that he didn’t have to.

There was a buzz in the air on the fourth day since Hongjoong had been captured. He wasn’t sure what time it was when two burly men came down to his cell to let him out. When he was brought up on deck, the captain was standing there looking like the cat who caught the canary. Seonghwa was standing nearby but the expression on his face was conflicted. There were three men waiting, they looked like town guards and perhaps a magistrate. They handed the captain a small purse, presumably the reward for catching the dread pirate, before they clapped Hongjoong in irons and began to drag him away.

“Bye bye, I’ll see you at your hanging.” The captain called after Hongjoong.

Now that Hongjoong was taken care of, the captain turned a brilliant smile on Seonghwa, who couldn’t help feeling a little sick. “Now that I’ve seen to it that that miscreant will hang, what say you we have a talk eh?”

Seonghwa took a last look at Hongjoong’s back, he wanted to run after them but he managed to suppress the impulse before following after the captain who headed into his cabin. “You’ve proven to be an excellent first mate, have you ever thought about captaining your own ship?”

“Sir?” Seonghwa looked puzzled at the question.

“Well now that I’ve done what I wanted to do, I’d like to retire, head back home to my wife and family. That means this ship will need a captain, I’d like to hand her over to you. You keep running it in my name and we split the profits, what do you think?”

It sounded like a dream come true, “Are you sure, sir?”

“I think it sounds like a fine plan. Your first task as captain is to let the men have shore leave for the next week.”

“Yes sir!” Seonghwa did as he was bid to the delights of all of the crew

Seonghwa himself headed into town and found an inn. He was looking forward to sleeping in a bed that didn’t sway and a fresh meal. As he sat down to his lunch he couldn’t help but imagine Hongjoong in jail. In the days they had spent  together, they had grown to know each other quite well and he just couldn’t stand the idea of him locked up without a friend nearby to hear his woes or maybe help to make him a little more comfortable. If he were completely honest, the man he had gotten to know didn’t deserve the hangman’s noose. He deserved his freedom. He kept telling himself that he wasn’t going to interfere but still he found himself asking the locals as to the location of the local jail.

It was in a small wooden building, the front was where the guards sat and the back was the jail. It was a small town and it didn’t look like their city guard was the largest employer in town. It was a small and run down building. He couldn’t imagine it would be particularly warm or well insulated.

“What am I doing?” Seonghwa paced back and forth. He wanted to go see him, make sure he was alright. But he already didn’t like the idea that he was going to die. He didn’t like the idea of him being hurt or suffering at all. Maybe he was too soft hearted. By the time he finally made up his mind to go, it was getting dark. He marched up to the guardhouse. There was an exceptionally tall man talking to one of the guards animatedly.

He approached the other guard who was sitting behind a desk smoking a pipe and looking bored. “Excuse me, I was wondering if I could see a prisoner.”

“Sure, I’d ask who but there’s only the one?” The man drawled as he pulled his feet from the desk and sat up.

“Kim Hongjoong.” Seonghwa said anyway.

The man who was talking to the other guard looked momentarily surprised and stopped talking but seemed to shrug it off and returned to his conversation. He couldn’t tell since it was at his back but the man was now watching him.

The guard took him back into the back of the jail, there were only two cells and only one of them was occupied. Hongjoong was stretched out on the floor staring blankly up at the ceiling, when he heard the footsteps stop in front of his cell, he said without looking over, “I was wondering if you were going to come see me.”

“I almost didn’t.” Seonghwa said as he grabbed a chair from the corner and dragged it over to sit by the cell.

“What made you change your mind?” Hongjoong sat up and turned to face his visitor.

“I had a question for you.”

“Oh?” Hongjoong perked up and gave a curious tilt of the head.

“Is it true?” Seonghwa leaned forward, lowering his tone and resting his elbows on his knees.

“Is what true?”

“How you came to be on our ship?” It was the one question that he hadn’t asked that he had wanted to.

Hongjoong was quiet for a moment as he contemplated Seonghwa, “Let me ask you a question, how close are you to the captain?”

“He’s my employer. He took me on after my father retired. It’s purely business and if I’m completely honest…” He looked around and added, “I don’t really care for him much.”

Hongjoong pursed his lips thoughtfully, “Hm… Then in that case, I don’t feel bad letting you know the truth. It was a plot.”

“A plot?”

“A plan, a ruse, a machination, you see… my ship was harbored in the bay that your ship sailed into. If I didn’t do something, then we would have been stuck with no way to run. Your ship is a good deal larger than mine, we were outgunned, outmanned and trapped. My crew means everything to me and if I could save them by sacrificing myself then I would… and I did. I was kind of hoping for an opportunity to escape but one never came.” Hongjoong sniffed and brushed the back of his finger against the tip of his nose.

“Is that why you were so friendly with me?” Seonghwa asked.

“Yes and no.” He answered honestly. “If you would have given me the chance, I would have taken it but you didn’t. I don’t hold it against you and I don’t regret having spent time with you. I-”

Hongjoong looked thoughtful, carefully thinking about what he wanted to say. He finally gave up with a sigh and shrugged, “I like you. I like talking to you, spending time with you. Even if we had met under different circumstances, I would have still liked you.”

Seonghwa opened and closed his mouth a couple of times and dropped his head thoughtfully. Conflicted emotions reflected in Seonghwa’s face, “I almost wish I had, you sacrificed yourself for your men. That’s not an act that should be punished but celebrated. I think, believe it or not, you might actually be a good man.”

Hongjoong smiled brightly, “That’s a hell of a thing to say to a man sitting in a cell waiting for escape or the hangman’s noose.”

“I believe it.”

“Then,” Hongjoong scooted closer to the bars, “if I asked, would you help me?”

“Help you how?” Seonghwa was completely cognizant of the fact that he might be being played but he didn’t think that Hongjoong was playing him.  

At the skeptical expression on Seonghwa’s face, Hongjoong waved his hands. “No, it’s nothing like that. Could you take a message to one of my crew, I know they are here. There’s no way they would let me swing without trying… something.”

“Only a message?”

“Only a message.”

“What’s the message and who am I taking it to?”  

“There’s an inn on the far side of town, away from the harbor, near the blacksmith. There’s a man named Choi Jongho, he’ll be staying there.” He proceeded to describe him down to the fact that he dressed far more nicely than you would expect of a pirate, a bit of a dandy and his jewelry.

“Would you tell him that if the weather’s fair then open the sails and if the skies are threatening, to fold up the sails and ride out the weather.”

Seonghwa frowned at the message, it sounded plain and harmless enough but he wasn’t a total fool. He knew there was meaning to what he was being asked to say. “Alright, I’ll deliver it.”

He took a deep breath and looked at Hongjoong squarely, “If you get the chance…”

Hongjoong turned a brilliant smile on him, “Absolutely. I’m a man who takes every opportunity he gets.”

“After I deliver your message, I’ve got some business to attend to but I’ll come back to see you again.”

“You know,” he paused and then nodded, “I think I’d like that very much. I’ll look forward to it.”

Seonghwa bid Hongjoong farewell feeling both better and worse than he had when he had arrived. He now knew the truth of how he had come to be on the ship but now that he knew the truth, he couldn’t just let him sit in a cell until they hung him.

He followed the directions he had been given to the inn near the blacksmith. When he asked for Choi Jongho the man eyed him coolly until he said he had a message from his captain. He repeated it back to him word for word. “He would say that. Idiot.”

He looked Seonghwa up and down, “Why did he send you with it?”

“I told him I wanted to help him if I could. I don’t think he deserves to be executed, maybe some prison time but not executed.”

Choi Jongho laughed outright, “Hopefully, it won’t come to that. Thank you for the message.”

If the captain trusted him, he felt like he ought to extend him the same but the captain tended to fly by the seat of his pants sometimes and he was more cautious than that. He bid Seonghwa farewell and called together the other members of the crew to tell them about the captain’s message and then they all waited for Yunho and San to return to find out whether or not the guards were bribeable.

It was quite late when Seonghwa got time to go back to the jail. He should probably just wait until the morning but he didn’t want to leave Hongjoong waiting to know that his message had been delivered, assuming it was as important as he thought it might be. Much to his surprise not only was the door unlocked but there were no guards to be seen. Did they go home at night? That would be strange wouldn’t it? It wasn’t as if they had a lot of prisoners to watch but what if something happened? What if someone escaped? Although, in this case, he wished someone would escape. If it was empty and the keys were nearby...Yes, he would let him out.

If his men were here then that meant that his ship was here and they could escape. The captain would be livid if Hongjoong escaped but he didn’t care about the fragile ego of one vindictive old man who spent three years chasing someone because of one lost ship when he owned a whole fleet.

Seonghwa turned back to look at the open guardhouse door when he heard a sound behind him. He turned to see Hongjoong and then just as suddenly, he felt the other man’s lips close on his, his hand reaching up to cup Seonghwa’s cheek. He was too startled to remember to respond or push him away or react at all. He felt the hot wet brush of his tongue against his lips before he pulled away.

All he could manage was to gape at the shorter man who had just kissed him. Finally he managed, “You’re out.”

Hongjoong smiled, “I am and I’m getting out of here. Wanna come with me?”

“With you?”

“Whether you're coming with me or not, let’s get out of here. The guards won’t be gone forever.” Hongjoong grabbed Seonghwa’s hand and tugged him out of the guardhouse and toward the docks. As they walked, Seonghwa looked down at their still joined hands in total bemusement. He didn’t know what to do or say but he did notice when a man intercepted them.

“Captain.”

“San, is the ship ready?”

“Sort of.”

“I can’t really linger around these parts, we need to go - Now.”

“We had more damage from the storm than we realized and by the time we got into port… There’s no way the shipwright can have the repairs finished by the time we needed so…” San gestured for the pair to follow him. He spared a glance at Seonghwa, wondering if that was the man who had delivered the captain’s message to Jongho.

If the captain thought he was good to join the crew then it was alright by him. The more the merrier. However, the way they were holding hands made him think it might be something else.  He guided them to the docks and right to Seonghwa’s ship. Seonghwa stopped before following up the gangplank when Hongjoong pulled up to a stop, “Are you serious?”

“It really was the best option,” said San.

“And Yunho was feeling vindictive.” said another man who was a little shorter than San and bore an open smile. “It’s good to have you back captain. If you ever do anything like that again, I’ll keelhaul you myself.”

Hongjoong laughed, “It’s good to see you too Wooyoung.”

Wooyoung grabbed Hongjoong up in a warm hug and squeezed him tight. Hongjoong gave a little squeak at the force with which he was hugged.

“Where’s the crew?” Hongjoong asked as he canted his head toward the ship.

“Shore leave.” commented Seonghwa. All heads turned to look at him questioningly.

“This is Park Seonghwa, he was the first mate on this ship but he’ll be joining us now. Right?” He turned to look at Seonghwa.

Finally Seonghwa snapped out of the haze that he had been pitched into when Hongjoong kissed him. “I-”

Did he want to go with them? It surely meant being hunted, they were wanted men after all. Hongjoong was an escaped prisoner, a thief, a pirate, and who knew what else. Yet he was thinking about it, seriously.

“Go on, I’ll catch up.” Hongjoong said to the assembled men before he turned back to Seonghwa. “Are you scared?”

“Yes.”

“But you want to.”

“Yes.”

“Well then there’s only one thing to do, come with us and you can say you were asleep in your room when we took the ship, so we accidentally kidnapped you. If you change your mind later, then we can let you off at the next port of call.” Not waiting to see if Seonghwa agreed with him or not, Hongjoong grabbed his hand again and dragged him behind him up the gangplank.

“Captain.” Yunho walked out onto the deck and smiled broadly.

“How much did it cost?” Hongjoong asked.

“They really should pay their guards more because it didn’t even take a quarter of our last haul to see to it that they found something else to do for half an hour.”

Hongjoong nodded, “Good, good if everyone’s on board, let’s shove off shall we?”

“Aye, aye captain.” Yunho turned and began to bark out orders. The men all jumped to and began to make way to set sail.

“By the way Yunho…”

Yunho stopped what he was doing and turned to look at his captain.

“Thank you.”

Yunho smiled and nodded, “You’re welcome. It’s good to have you back captain.”

“It’s good to be back. This is Park Seonghwa, he’ll - hopefully, be joining us permanently. He was the first mate of this ship but I think he needs a little time to get to know us first… or maybe just me. Seonghwa, this is my first mate Jeong Yunho. After we get out of here, I’ll take you around and introduce you to everyone. We’ve got some really good people on this ship.”

“Energetic people.” Yunho added with a touch of mirth.

“Maybe we have too much energy.” Hongjoong posited.

Yunho snickered and went back to work. As they cleared the harbor, the town bells sounded, likely announcing that there had been an escape. Hongjoong turned to Seonghwa, “Want to show me around? Show me the captain’s quarters. I know the brig well enough, it’ll be nice to see the rest of the ship.”

Seonghwa still wasn’t quite sure this all felt real. One minute he had been trying to think of the best way to help Hongjoong escape, the next minute he was on a stolen ship making their escape. Then it occurred to him exactly what they had just done. They had stolen yet another ship from the man who had spent three years chasing him down for having stolen his ship.

Would he immediately outfit another ship and give chase again? He knew that his wife held the purse strings and she wanted him back home. Somehow he couldn’t imagine her sanctioning another three year long wild goose chase. He was likewise sure that Hongjoong wouldn’t allow himself to be caught again so easily, unless his men were on the line again. That didn’t seem like the kind of situation that happened more than once. The real question was, now what was he doing here? Was he perhaps infatuated with the dashing pirate? That was the only reason he could think of that he had accepted the offer of joining them as a trial run. His family was going to kill him if he became a pirate. He was supposed to take a few years out to sea and then come home and learn the family business with his brother, not take up piracy because he had a crush on a pirate.

“Sure,” he said after perhaps too long of a pause. “I’ll give you a tour, we can start at the bottom and work our way up.”

Fifteen minutes later they were standing at the door to the captain’s quarters. The door was locked but Seonghwa had the key.

“I guess he trusted you.” Hongjoong commented as he watched Seonghwa unlock the door.

That gave him a pang of guilt as he pushed the door open, “He offered me the captaincy of this ship after they took you away.”

“So I stole your ship?” Hongjoong asked as he followed Seonghwa into the room and closed the door behind them. It was poshly appointed. The furnishings were over the top in the extreme, it was as if the former captain was furnishing a mansion instead of a room on a ship. No wonder he had locked it.

“I hadn’t exactly taken control yet.” He said. It hadn’t actually sunk in yet that this ship was going to be his. Perhaps it was his ship that had been stolen but it didn’t feel that way.

“That’s not right, I don’t steal from friends.”

“Friends?”

“We are friends aren’t we?” Hongjoong took a step toward Seonghwa.

Seonghwa felt his heart pick up pace and he swallowed hard in a suddenly dry throat. “Are we?”

“Unless you want to be more…” Hongjoong reached out and brushed the backs of his fingers over Seonghwa’s cheek.

“What do you mean more?” Seonghwa’s voice cracked and he cleared his throat.

“I want to be your lover. You don’t know that already?” He asked.

Without really realizing he was doing it, Seonghwa took the final step forward, closing the distance between the two of them. There was nothing that separated them now. He leaned down, eyes intense as they met Hongjoong’s before he kissed him. The softness of their lips played together, their tongues met giving an electric thrill.

Seonghwa gave a small sound of pleasure as they sank into one another, their arms stealing around one another, bodies flush together. Their hands began to roam over each other. Seonghwa’s lips traveled down over Hongjoong’s jawline, down to his throat. He tasted his pulse thrumming against his lips, he scraped his teeth over the silken skin of his neck. “Why am I so captivated by you?”

“The same reason that I can’t get you out of my head.” Hongjoong gasped and sighed.

“I know the feeling, every time I close my eyes I see you, hear your voice, I can’t stop thinking about you. God you taste so good…” He leaned back in and reclaimed Hongjoong’s lips.

Running his hands up over Seonghwa’s stomach, he caught the material of his blouse and pulled it up, his fingers grazing against his bare skin as he did so. They traveled further, slipping under the soft linen as they moved over his bare chest, the slightly long tips of his nails raking over Seonghwa’s nipples. They tightened at the delicate scraping. A soft moan slipped between their joined lips, let out with a sigh.

Seonghwa pulled his jacket from his shoulders and let it drop at their feet, Hongjoong caught his shirt and pulled it up over his head, immediately dropping his head to rain kisses over his bare chest, to taste his skin.

Seonghwa moved to pull off Hongjoong’s clothes as Hongjoong worked at his partners’. They moved in concert back toward the bed, Seonghwa moving over the smaller man as they moved. The heat of their bodies grinding together, their cocks sliding together. Hongjoong reached between them, wrapping his fingers around their lengths, trapping them against one another as he stroked.

Seonghwa’s golden skin was beginning to glisten in the low lamp light. A drop of sweat trickled down over his smooth chest, running down to where their naked bodies pressed together. His kisses traversed their way down over Hongjoong’s chin, his throat, suckling and biting his nipples before continuing down. The muscles in his stomach trembled as Seonghwa’s lips brushed down over his ribs to his hip bones. Hongjoong squirmed, his hips rising up as Seonghwa’s beautiful lips wrapped around the head of his cock. His finger’s winding in Seonghwa’s thick dark locks, a heady sigh falling from his parted lips.

He had never wanted anyone so badly as he wanted Seonghwa and his body was on fire and Seonghwa’s touch were the flames that consumed him. He watched the way his lips glided over him, consuming him. He was so beautiful, their eyes met and Hongjoong smiled, “You’re going to make me cum if you keep that up.”

“Maybe I want you to cum… or maybe I just want to make you squirm.” Seonghwa smiled in return as he flicked his tongue against the sensitive underside of Hongjoong’s throbbing prick. Then quite suddenly, Seonghwa dropped his head down, pushing Hongjoong’s cock all the way to the back of his throat before bobbing his head up and down.

A sudden hiss and a sharp inhalation of breath as Hongjoong slammed his hands down against the bed, his hips arching upward without his bidding. His orgasm was ripped from him as he fucked back against Seonghwa’s face.

The first spurt of sticky sweet cum hit the back of Seonghwa’s throat as he sucked milking him for every last drop.

Slowly he let his lover’s cock slip from his lips as he crawled back up over his body. He caught Hongjoong’s lips in a sultry kiss before murmuring against him, “We need-...”

“I came prepared.” Hongjoong interjected before he turned and leaned over the side of the bed to capture his clothes. From a pouch tied to his belt, he produced a small corked bottle. As he wiggled back onto the bed, he held it up and shook it slightly.

“See?” He pulled the stopper and poured a liberal amount of oil into his palm and reached for Seonghwa’s swollen length. Seonghwa’s head fell back, throaty groan slipping past his full lips. He rested back on his hands, presenting himself for Hongjoong’s attentions.

The teasing smile was back on Hongjoong’s lips again as he lifted the bottle and poured some of the oil over Seonghwa’s chest and stomach, leaving him glistening as he ran his hands down, to return to stroking. He bowed his head to suckle Seonghwa’s balls and nibble the insides of his thighs. God he was so beautiful in the lamp light, his eyes filled with a universe of stars as he stared at him with unabashed lust, his golden skin aglow.

His breathing grew short, he could feel himself getting close so he reached out and caught Hongjoong’s hand and brought his fingers up to kiss them. “I want more than that now, I want you.”

Hongjoong licked his lips and nodded as he leaned into Seonghwa’s and kissed him. Seonghwa’s arm slipped around his waist as he leveraged Hongjoong back into the mass of pillows, slipping easily between his thighs. He buried his face against his throat and breathed, “I want to be inside you.”

Hongjoong gasped at the nip of teeth at his neck, he could feel Seonghwa’s cock sliding against him, not as eager as his words made him seem but slowly and methodically grinding against him. He wriggled against his touch as Seonghwa’s reached between their bodies and slid his slick, oiled fingers against him and into him.

“I’ve never done this before…” Hongjoong breathed. “But for you, I want you.”

Seonghwa raised his head and looked down at Hongjoong, instead of teasing or darkly lustful, there was supreme tenderness and affection. “I’ll go slow.”

As he promised, he slowly worked against him not going any further than his virgin’s body was ready for. Incrementally, Hongjoong began to relax beneath him. Only when almost all resistance was gone did he begin to enter him. Jesus, so hot, so tight. As he hilted himself he let out a sigh and for a lingering moment, he just held still, “Are you alright?”

Hongjoong nodded, “Yes.”

While the slow entry had spared him any discomfort, it had driven him slowly insane so that now he would have killed any man who dared to try to separate them. “Now fuck me.”

Seonghwa’s tongue flicked out to lap at Hongjoong’s lips before he languidly and fluidly began to move. “As you command.”

With little rolling lifts of his hips, Hongjoong rose to meet each and every thrust. His lover’s cock stimulated something deep inside of him, driving him nearly wild. They moved together, their pace increasing with a shared urgency.

Hongjoong’s fingers dug into Seonghwa’s back, leaving small crescent indentations. His balls tightened as molten sugar unwound in his stomach, slowly reaching its burning tendrils through him. The first spasm forced him to slam his head back into the pillow, the second brought a cry as his cum shot up between their joined bodies. Seonghwa’s arms sealed around him as he began to fuck him with ferocity. Each thrust brought a deep guttural growl, his cock swelled, balls tightened, and then he came, filling his lover with wave after wave of his seed.

For a lingering moment, they lay still, both lost in their own little world of pleasure. Seonghwa was the first to move, turning his head to pepper Hongjoong’s neck and ear with little kisses. Eventually, he sighed and rolled off to the side, grabbing a pillow and tucking it behind his head as he pulled Hongjoong into his arms. Hongjoong took a deep breath and let it out in a rush as he laid his head on the pillow beside Seonghwa.

“I think,” Hongjoong began as he adjusted himself in the bed. “I’m glad this all happened. Sure I had to spend a few days in a jail cell but I got you.”

Seonghwa chuckled and let his eyes fall shut. He hadn’t realized exactly how stressed he had been, not until he felt the last of that stress flow out of him with his orgasm. “My new captain is making me feel quite welcome indeed.”

“Are you sure you can do it?” Hongjoong lifted his head and looked at Seonghwa seriously.

“Do what?” He reached up and ran his long, slender fingers over Hongjoong’s sweaty hair and face.

“Piracy.” While he had no doubts that Seonghwa would stay with him if he asked him to, he wanted to make sure that it was actually something that he wanted. He was equally sure he had the other man’s affections but was this life really what he wanted or had he allowed himself to be swept away.

Seonghwa bit the corner of his bottom lip thoughtfully, “I don’t know, really. I never thought I would become a pirate. I also never thought I’d help a fugitive escape jail and a hanging and then steal my ship.”

“Take some time and think it over.” Hongjoong sighed and laid back down. “It’s late and being in a comfortable bed reminds me of how little sleep I’ve had the last few days. It’s late, what say you we get some sleep?”

“Alright.” Seonghwa hadn’t really been giving any thought to his predicament. He had, as Hongjoong thought, just allowed himself to be buoyed along. Now that he had time to think about it, would he be able to do it? He wasn’t a fighter, he never had been and had only fought when his life had deemed it necessary and that wasn’t more than a couple of times. What would it do to his family? He was quite close with his family and he didn’t want to hurt them.

There was another matter, he was quite sure he was falling in love with Hongjoong at breakneck speed. If he were to stay with him, he would hurt his family and perhaps shorten his life. If he were to leave then… then he would break his heart? He wanted nothing more than to give into his heart but what should he do? It was the same thoughts chasing each other around his brain until he finally fell asleep in the small hours of the morning.

He awoke early as he felt Hongjoong slipping out of his arms. He opened his tired eyes to see the other man smiling down at him before brushing a kiss across his lips and whispering, “Go back to sleep, you deserve it.”

Seonghwa didn’t argue. His eyes were already closed before Hongjoong’s feet hit the floor and he was already returning to slumber before he reached the door.

Yunho gave him a look as he sat down at the officer’s table, a knowing smile on his lips.

“What?” Hongjoong asked the younger man.

“Me? I didn’t say a word.”

It was obvious from the expressions on the faces of the assembled men that the entire crew probably knew but none of them seemed inclined to ask the questions. Silent smirks and two looks of feigned innocence, one from San and the other from Mingi, were all Hongjoong received as he looked down the table.

“So!” Jongho broke the silence, “What position is our new crewman going to have? Yunho is the first mate, that’s not to say you couldn’t have two first mates… I think I heard Park Seonghwa was supposed to be captain of this ship?”

Hongjoong’s own smile faded a little at that. He wanted Seonghwa to stay but he wasn’t sure he should. Most of the men under his command had come to him from other pirate vessels or had their own situations that made serving with him ideal. Seonghwa’s situation was quite different and as much as he wanted to keep him with him, he wasn’t sure it was best for him. The thought of letting him go twisted his heart into knots. He had never been in love before but he was getting dangerously close to loving Park Seonghwa. Maybe he already did, it was hard to say never having felt this way before. Sure he had slacked his lusts but love? Never.

“What new crewman?” Mingi asked.

All of the heads at the table turned to look at him.

“The new crewman who came aboard with the captain last night.” Wooyoung answered.

“I didn’t see him. Where is he now?” Mingi asked for more information.

Yunho dropped his head into his hand and Wooyoung’s grin grew a little wider as he decided to answer again, “I imagine he’s still in the captain’s quarters.”

Yunho peeked up at Mingi through his fingers as if to beg him with his eyes alone to cease his line of questioning before it got uncomfortable.

Mingi started to open his mouth when he yelped in pain. He was seated at the end of the table between Yeosang and Wooyoung. He shot a look at Yeosang who was an expert at looking like a beautiful serene statue. Whatever he had done, his expression hadn’t changed but Mingi seemed to get the hint. He reached under the table and rubbed at his leg.

Hongjoong shook his head, “We can decide that, if he decides to stay. I’m not sure he will yet.”

“Why wouldn’t he stay?” San asked curiously.

“I’m not sure he’s cut out for the pirate’s life. He’s got a good family, a good job if he wants it.” Hongjoong shrugged and reached for his breakfast.

San straightened his spine as he said, “We’ve got the best family.”

All of the men hurrahed at that and breakfast settled down into something more normal… and boisterous.

The next three weeks were like a dream for Seonghwa. He sailed with the men of the Treasure, spent his days working beside them, spent his nights with the man he had come to love but there was a growing unease. He knew that Hongjoong was avoiding other ships but he was a pirate and he couldn’t avoid other ships forever. The men were looking forward to their next great haul. Hongjoong was not just a pirate but a successful one and the day they rather accidentally ran into some low hanging fruit was the day he knew.

Seonghwa stood outside the door listening as he heard Yunho and Hongjoong arguing about the validity of the target, a poorly defended merchantman carrying fewer than 8 guns. He knew Hongjoong was avoiding getting into any scrapes to protect him, he couldn’t let him keep doing it. A very angry looking Yunho stormed out of the captain’s room and he went in. “You should take it.”

Hongjoong didn’t look up from the map he was looking at, “Why’s that?”

“Because the only reason you haven’t already gone for it is because of me. The men are restless as it is. You can’t keep avoiding it because you think I can’t take it. This is, as much as we might like to have it otherwise, a pirate’s ship and you are a pirate. If I’m to stay with you, I have to learn to live with this part of life. If I can’t do it then…” Seonghwa let his words trail off, a knot forming in his throat.

Hongjoong finally looked up and met Seonghwa’s eyes and sighed. He was determined. Hongjoong was silent for a long moment before he nodded and walked over to Seonghwa and kissed him. “Alright, tell the men.”

Seonghwa clung to Hongjoong for a lingering moment before he turned and briskly walked out of the cabin. The next few minutes were an absolute whirlwind of activity. All of the usual silliness, chaos and levity were gone and they became a force of nature. They were focused and deadly accurate. They carried out the strike perfectly. Seonghwa watched with a semi-detached air. Could he do this? The first thing that hit him was the thrill, the exhilaration but he wasn’t sure.

The two ships collided. The men from the Treasure poured onto the decks of other ship. Blades clashed and the men of the Treasure worked as a well oil machine. Hongjoong found their captain readily, he was old but still defiant as they crossed blades. What he lacked in youth, he made up for in sheer bloody mindedness. He concentrated as he fought the captain, there wasn’t a man alive who wouldn’t tell you his next move if you were attentive.

There! Hongjoong feinted to the left as his opponent made a move to block but he left himself open. He struck, bringing him down. Just as he struck he heard a voice yell, “No!”

The rapport of a pistol shot rang out across the deck and momentarily all fell silent. Directly behind Hongjoong, a man lay supine. He had been just inches away from burying his blade in the pirate captain’s back. Seonghwa stood with perfect form, holding his pistol, smoke wafting up from the tip.

Seonghwa had just saved Hongjoong’s life.

The men were elated with the booty they had looted, it was far more than anyone expected. The casks were opened and the alcohol poured freely as the men rejoiced.

Seonghwa sat silently in the captain’s quarters in the dark. He hadn’t even realized that the sun had set, so deeply lost in thought was he. It wasn’t the first time he had killed a man and he had done it in defense of another. He didn’t feel badly about it and that was what bothered him. The captain had been the only man who had died today but he wouldn’t be the last. Every single man of the Treasure would fight to the last to protect one another and their way of life. They loved it, they thrived on it. He too had felt the touch of exhilaration, the rush of blood in his veins. The only thing that came close was making love with Hongjoong.

He knew he could do it. He knew he would grow to love it if he stayed. That was what scared him.

“I thought I’d find you here.”

A voice yanked him from his quiet reverie. “Oh, yes.”

“We’re headed in, we should make port in about eight days.”

“Eight days? I didn’t think we were that far from shore.”

“We aren’t but I thought it might be nice for you to go home, see your family.” Hongjoong didn’t put on a lamp, but just walked over to stand behind Seonghwa’s chair, putting an arm around his shoulders.

“I see.”

The silence was thick and heavy between them but neither seemed inclined to break it.

“How did you know?” Seonghwa asked at long last.

“One of the things I love best about you is your tender heart. What kind of man would I be if I destroyed the one of the things that I loved best about you?” Hongjoong’s voice was barely above a whisper but it carried in the darkened space.

“Promise me something.” Seonghwa said as he turned to look up at the moonlight kissed visage of the man he loved.

Hongjoong cocked his head slightly to one side, reaching to run his fingers over Seonghwa’s hair, “What’s that?”

“Promise me that if you ever decide to retire from piracy that you’ll come find me.”

Hongjoong smiled and drew a slow breath, “I will come find you.”

“Bring the rest of the crew too, we always need more hands.”

“You’re part of the crew. They’ve grown as fond of you as I have.”

“Have they really?”

“Well, maybe not quite as fond as I have.” Hongjoong turned his head and pressed a kiss to Seonghwa’s cheek.

Seonghwa closed his eyes and concentrated on the warmth of that small kiss. Eight days…

***

Seonghwa stood on the cliff by his family home looking out toward the sea. It had been three years to the day since he had said farewell to the crew of the Treasure and its exceptional captain. He hadn’t really known whether he would see Hongjoong again and he regretted his choice everyday. Now with three years between him and the roguish captain’s smile, he could see clearly. Life only gives you chances at real love maybe once if you’re lucky.

He had his chance and he had surrendered it because he was afraid of change, because he was afraid of the lifestyle. He had been wrong and now there was no way to go back and change it.

Hot tears trickled down his cold cheeks and he sniffed before reaching up to wipe them away. He knew now he would never see Hongjoong again and he had to live with that, as much as it hurt him everyday.

“Can’t you find him?”

Seonghwa turned and saw his mother standing behind him. She was the only one he had ever told the truth about his ‘accidental kidnapping’. The only one he had ever told the truth about the only love he would ever have. Not entirely trusting himself to speak, he shook his head before looking back at the sea.

“You don’t have to go through with this you know. I know your father is pressuring you and Soojin is a nice girl but…” His mother sighed. The wedding was in two days and she had tried to talk Seonghwa’s father out of it but he didn’t see the problem. Seonghwa was a good looking, polite boy from a good family. Soojin was a good looking, polite girl from a good family. They made for a good match and they seemed to like each other as friends at least. It was as good of a start for a marriage as any, so her husband thought. It was better than the beginnings of most marriages these days. She understood his reasoning but he hadn’t been the one to hold Seonghwa as he cried his heart out as he explained what happened.

She knew it wasn’t as if you could just post a letter to a pirate. If she could see his broken heart mended, she would go find this pirate herself and send her son to him but she didn’t know any better how to find a man who was constantly on the move and didn’t want to be found any better than her son did.

“Come on, let’s go inside. You’ll catch a cold and you don’t want to catch a cold right before your wedding.” She caught Seonghwa’s hand and he gave one last lingering look at the horizon before turning to dutifully follow after his mother.

“Why don’t you go down to the market and buy some of those buns you and I both love?” His mother suggested to take his mind off of things.

“Why don’t you come with me, mother.”

“Your father will be home soon, I wanted to talk to him when he gets home.”

“You’re going to try to talk him out of the wedding again aren’t you?” he asked with a sad smile.

“I’ll talk to him about what I’ll talk to him about. If it was for your ears, I would ask you to be there. Now shoo.” She swatted his behind lightly and bodily shoved him off toward the market while she stood watching him go.

The market was bustling, he had to squeeze his way between bodies to make his way to the vendor he was looking for. Someone bumped into him without apologizing or even slowing down. They hit him hard too. He turned and caught a glimpse of a familiar face, Choi Jongho? No, it couldn’t possibly be. He turned and tried to follow after the man, trying to push through the throngs of people who were all trying to go in the opposite direction. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make any leeway. He finally caught a pocket of space and managed to break through. He raced after the man he thought he had seen and caught up to someone wearing a jacket the same color as who he thought he had seen. The man turned and it wasn’t him.

Of course it wouldn’t be.

It was all he could do to keep from breaking down there in the middle of the market. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He turned around and made his way back to the vendor who was selling the buns he had been sent to buy. He wasn’t hungry anymore but his mother wanted them. The entire way home, he scanned the faces of the crowds of people around him. Surely who he had seen had just had a resemblance to his old friend.

He realized how much he missed them then, not just the love of his life but the entire crew. He had grown close to them all and it felt just as much home to him as the place where he had grown up.

What a fool he had been.

The entire next day, he moved through a haze. It didn’t feel like he was going to get married. He liked Soojin, she was a nice girl but she never could or would be the one he loved. Yet he would do what his father wanted him to. Maybe she could help him find some kind of, if not happiness then contentment.

His wedding day dawned bright and early. The families had planned the wedding for the late morning. He honestly hadn’t been too bothered by it one way or another. Actually, he hadn’t really cared about any of the wedding arrangements and only nominally cared about the choice of the bride. He checked the time and got dressed. He was just checking the mirror before heading out when a sound caught his attention. It sounded like someone saying, “Sorry about this.”

Just as he started to turn, there was a sharp and sudden pain behind his left ear and consciousness faded. The last thing he saw was the ground rushing up to greet him.

When he opened his eyes, it was dark but the room was warmly lit with lamp light and candlelight. At first, he had no idea where he was. There was something familiar though, a scent, old paper, candle wax, the tang of the sea. No. He had to be dreaming there was no way.

“How’s your head?”

Very slowly, he turned to see Hongjoong sitting beside him. His jaw slowly dropped open and he stared open mouthed at the very man he had been dreaming of for the past three years. “Hongjoong?”

“I’m glad you remember me. I would be heartbroken to think we had gone to all of this trouble and you didn’t even remember me.”

“Like I could ever forget you.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Hongjoong smiled and put down the book he had been reading.

“Wait.”

“Hm?”

“You kidnapped me!” Seonghwa accused.

“Well, technically I didn’t do it. San, Jongho, and Yeosang kidnapped you but I did ask them to and I was in on the planning. I was on the distraction team, I didn’t think I could hit you.” He reached out and gingerly brushed his fingers over Seonghwa’s hair.

“Why did you kidnap me?” Seonghwa asked, wholly bemused.

“When I found out you were getting married, I wasn’t sure that you would walk away from it. You know I can be a little impetuous sometimes and I’ll be honest, I was a little hurt.”

“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. It’s been three years…”

Hongjoong winced, “I know but I wanted to be sure that I was the man I wanted you to come back to… and I love you.”

“Hongjoong…”

“I’ll be completely honest, I was so hurt I was ready to walk away and let you get married. Wooyoung was the one who decided we needed to kidnap you, for your own good. If you want to go back then we can take you back. If you want to stay-”

“I want to stay. I know I was wrong, there hasn’t been a day I haven’t regretted the choice I made. I missed you, every minute of every day. Every night I would lay in my bed wishing I could turn back the clock to make my choice again. If I could have, I would have never walked off of this boat.”

“Are you sure?” Hongjoong asked leaning forward, elbows on his knees.

“I’ve never been more sure about anything. I want to be here. I want to be with you. I want … I want the ocean, I want to sail the world beside you. I want to be part of this family.”

A slow smile curved Hongjoong’s lips and he blinked his eyes, overbright with unshed emotion. “How dare you try to make me cry.”

“I’m not trying to make you cry.” Seonghwa said innocently.

“I know, that makes it worse.” Hongjoong drew a shaky breath and reached out for Seonghwa’s hand, lacing their fingers together. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being on my side, for wanting to be with me.” He leaned in, their noses almost touching.

Seonghwa squeezed Hongjoong’s small hand in his, he leaned further, closing the distance between them, sealing Hongjoong’s lips with his. God how he missed the taste of him, the smell of him, the feel of him. He tasted tears, he wasn’t sure to whom the tears belonged but he didn’t want to stop kissing him, not ever.

“This is only the beginning,” whispered Hongjoong against Seonghwa’s lips.

Seonghwa smiled, his eyes still closed. “Here’s to our beginning.”

Again their lips came together, Seonghwa reaching up, his fingers slipping into Hongjoong’s wild locks, pulling him closer. Hongjoong rose and climbed into the bed beside his lover.

“I missed you so much.” Hongjoong murmured into their kiss.

“I’ll never leave your side again.”

“You better not, I’ll just have to kidnap you back again.” he teased with a nip of Seonghwa’s lips.

“Who knows, I might start to like it.”

Their lips, their bodies, their destiny came together in joy and love.

NOTE: Other words can be found on my master list.

#ateez #ateez imagine #Ateez hongjoong #ateez seonghwa #seongjoong #honghwa #ateez smut #ateez fluff #ateez smut and fluff #kpop smut #kpop imagine

[uncommoncold]

san: on all levels except physical, i am a hamster

bonus:

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[uncommoncold]

Yeosang, ATEEZ’s assigned shorts guy.

[uncommoncold]

[uncommoncold]

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful angel

[uncommoncold]

talk shit, get… hugged (?)

[uncommoncold]

2020 year in review: jongho x stages

[uncommoncold]

[210113 | 10th Gaon Chart Music Awards]

⇢ San cut:

“Please protect me, and I’ll also protect all of you“

trans. © gourgeousanie_

[uncommoncold]

san // gang

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[uncommoncold]

TAKE A BREAK WITH 홍NIGHT

merry christmas to @hanatiny 🌹🧡 !! 

Keep reading

[uncommoncold]

seonghwa + inception stages

merry christmas crisis, @jaemtens

[uncommoncold]

Snowblind

Summary: After Hongjoong get stuck a snowstorm, they are blinded by more than snow, discovering their feelings for one another.

Word Count: 6.5k

Content Warning: Boys Kissing, Oral Sex, Anal Sex

After Wooyoung going on about skiing forever, the company decided that it could be good to give them a working vacation. Of course, for Hongjoong, all vacations were working vacations. Still, the boys were excited and delighted in equal measure. The last two days they were left to their own devices, a real vacation for all of them. It was only two days but two days on the frosty slopes and Seonghwa elicited a promise from Hongjoong when he was half asleep about going skiing with him. He knew that if he didn’t he’d just stay in the lodge and work.

They frolicked in the snow until they were all hungry and ready to head back and warm up. Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho were able to squeeze onto the bus back to the lodge. Seonghwa and Hongjoong were left to wait for the next bus, it should be fine, they ran every ten minutes or so. Now that he wasn’t moving, the cold was starting to creep in and it was making Hongjoong a little grouchy. “Aren’t you cold?”

“Freezing.” Seonghwa said as he did a little dance around the bench that Hongjoong was sitting on.

Hongjoong opened his mouth to give a pithy reply when a sound like a gunshot made him jump nearly out of his skin. The mountains played havoc with the sound, reverberations pummelled their bodies. A second sound went off and then a third, Hongjoong turned a concerned look up at Seonghwa who was peering off up the mountain with narrowed eyes. His eyes suddenly widened, “RUN!”

Hongjoong’s head whipped around and followed Hwa’s line of sight. He could see something moving but he couldn’t quite work out what it was. Then he realized it was snow. There was a lot of snow. It was coming toward them. One word drifted through his mind, avalanche.

Seonghwa remembered having heard not to run away from an avalanche but to run perpendicular. He grabbed Hongjoong’s wrist until he was sure he was running under his own power. It was getting closer a lot faster than his feet were taking him, then he was hit with a white wall of cold. Then he blacked out.

Hongjoong felt his feet sweeped out from underneath him, for a while, it was like a cartoon, he just floated atop the wave. He saw Seonghwa’s bright red snowsuit and he tried to move toward it but then the world up ended itself. When everything stopped, he was shocked to find himself still alive. He was buried completely in snow with his hand fisted in Seonghwa’s snowsuit. For a minute, he gave into a good old fashioned panic and screamed. After a few minutes, he managed to calm himself down enough to realize that if he didn’t, he would die. Okay, first he needed to work out which way was up.

He concentrated, feeling for his phone. He wasn’t expecting to see service because he hadn’t had service up on the mountain before but he was thinking about the fob. While he couldn’t tell what was up and down, the fob would dangle whichever way the ground was. It took a little work but he managed to hold it up and the fob dangled down toward his face. So he was upside down. He started to dig up. He found that he was only buried to his thighs, pulling Seonghwa out was a lot harder.

He had tried calling for him repeatedly and got no answer, “Please don’t be dead. Please, please, please.”

After several minutes of combined yanking and digging, he pulled an unconscious Seonghwa out of the snow. He looked terrifying, his hair wet, face pale, lips blue. “No, no, no, no…” He pulled off his glove and laid a hand to Seonghwa’s face, he was so cold but he was breathing. He had to get him out of the snow and somewhere warm and dry. He knew that if he left him to go find help, he might lose him. He could hear a helicopter but nowhere near where they were.

He stood up and looked around, he could see a chimney or he thought it was a chimney. That meant a house and a house meant people and that meant help. He began the slow laborious process of dragging Hwa with him toward the chimney. Every few dozen feet he had to stop and rest. While Seonghwa was slender, he was tall and weighed… well what a full grown person weighed.

Finally he saw the house, he dragged Hwa out onto the driveway and ran up to the door. He pounded and pounded, there was no answer. It didn’t seem like anyone was home. What he did know was that inside that house was probably the difference between life and death for Seonghwa. Hongjoong walked around the house and found the lowest window he could find and then looked around on the ground. He found a rock and smashed the window. With a little effort, he managed to get himself up and through it without cutting himself. He ran through the house and went to get Seonghwa. Getting him up the stairs was another trial but he managed.

Now that they were inside, he was able to take a look around. The house was furnished but all of the furniture was covered with tarps. He was beginning to think that this might be someone’s summer home and no one would be coming home. On the upside, no one was going to come storming in wondering who had broken into their house.

He had to try to take care of Seonghwa and then maybe he could find the main road or something. He rifled through the closets and found some towels and blankets. He was aware that his own teeth were chattering and he was shivering so badly he could barely work his fingers. With blankets and some towels, he went back down into the living room. Dragging Hwa up the stairs was completely out of the question for right now, he would just lay some bedding out on the floor.

He stripped out of his soaked clothes and then did the same for Seonghwa, drying him off and then rolling him onto the bedding and wrapping him up in blankets, he was just so cold. He was so cold, Hongjoong wasn’t convinced that he was producing enough of his own body heat to warm himself up even when he was dry and wrapped up. He quickly hung up their clothes and laid down with Seonghwa and pressed his naked skin against Hwa’s. He yelped as Hwa’s cold skin touched his own warmth but he didn’t know any other way.

He was completely exhausted.

It didn’t take long laying beside Hwa that he began to feel the other man start to warm. The rhythmic rise and fall of Seonghwa’s breathing mingled with the shared warmth, conspired to lull him to sleep. He wasn’t sure how long he slept, he was only aware of movement, arms wrapping around him and lips brushing across his forehead. It was a sweet dream as he heard someone whispering, “I think you probably saved my life and I don’t know how to thank you for that.”

Hongjoong forced his heavy lids open and saw Seonghwa looking back at him, “It’s okay, go back to sleep. We’re safe for now and we’re both exhausted.”

Too tired to argue, Hongjoong fell almost immediately back into dreams, accompanied by the quiet humming of a plaintive tune. It sounded familiar, maybe something from an OST but he couldn’t say. Those were his last coherent thoughts.

When he awakened again, his thoughts were far more clear. Seonghwa was sleeping. He tried to move, to see the window and perhaps judge what time it was. Surely everyone would be losing their minds right about now with both of them missing. He remembered hearing that sometimes it took months to find victims of avalanches. They were better off than most, they were both largely uninjured, just lost and with a roof over their heads, they could hopefully hold out for however long it might take for them to be found. As he shifted, Seonghwa made a small sound and clung to him a little more tightly.

He couldn’t repress a smile, even when he was asleep he was a glutton for skinship. Slowly and carefully as to not wake him, he extracted an arm and reached over to feel the bottom edge of his pants, nope still wet. That led him to think they hadn’t been asleep all that long.

What he needed to do was to extricate himself, put on his clothes and go outside to see if he could pick up a signal. However, the idea of putting on freezing damp clothes didn’t instill in him any sense of urgency. He hated the idea that everyone would be worried about them though. With a sigh, he resolved to go look through the house and see if he could find any clothes that they might borrow. Then he wouldn’t have to put his wet clothes back on. As he started to move again, Hwa’s grip tightened around him. When he spoke, his voice was heavily laden with sleep, “Don’t go.”

“We need to see about getting a message out, getting help.” He wasn’t completely convinced he was awake.

“You don’t ever let me hold you.” He buried his face in Hongjoong’s hair.

“Sometimes I do.” This had actually long been a point of contention in their relationship. It was hard to explain for him. It was just easier for him to be physically open with some people than others. He wasn’t sure why it was hard with Seonghwa but it was.

“Let me hold you.” His voice was a sleepy pout.

He wanted to complain that they were both naked. He wanted to complain that they were trapped in a stranger’s home in what was effectively a survival situation with their friends and family probably worried sick. He knew logically all of the reasons he should get up but instead, just this once, he turned back toward Seonghwa and settled his arms around him. Seonghwa made a small pleased sound, he was so easy to please. The fact that Seonghwa didn’t actually seem to be awake counted heavily in his favor.

Hongjoong lay in the circle of Seonghwa’s warmth thinking a thousand things and nothing at all. Somewhere close there was a clock ticking. He assumed it probably ran on batteries since there hadn’t seemed to be any power when he had tried a light switch.

Why did he have so much trouble with skinship with Seonghwa? At first, he thought maybe it was because he was older than him. Yeosang, Yunho, San, Wooyoung, they were all younger than him. Jongho had his own problems with skinship though he had gotten a lot better about it over their time together. He had gone out of his way to try to cuddle Seonghwa more but he was always so … aware of him. It was different from cuddling Yeosang or San or Wooyoung. Wooyoung simply wouldn’t be denied. It didn’t matter whether you wanted to cuddle him or not, he would cuddle you, your opinion didn’t factor into the equation.

But Seonghwa… a fleeting idea teased across his idle thoughts and he wasn’t sure he liked it. It wasn’t an idea he had entertained before but now that it had flitted into his head, it dug its claws in and wouldn’t shake loose. Was he attracted to Seonghwa and that’s why it was different? It was dark enough that he couldn’t see his face but he suddenly felt transparent, like all of his secrets were on display for the entire world to see. Whether he was attracted to Seonghwa or not was entirely immaterial, Seonghwa was straight. He was straight… wasn’t he?

Regardless of what sleepy Seonghwa wanted, he pulled away and got up. Seonghwa mumbled something about it being cold but curled back up and buried himself in the blankets.

Jesus Christ it was cold.

He took the stairs as fast as he could and searched through the closets and drawers in the bedroom. He found a pair of women’s jeans which were way too small for him, there was a suit jacket which for lack of anything else to put on, he held onto. Then he found a robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door, it was thick terry cloth and warm. He put it  on his shivering frame.

When he turned around, Seonghwa was standing in the door with a blanket wrapped around him in a toga style. “Found you.”

He took note of Hwa’s sleep mussed hair, the bits of bare skin that were visible beneath the blanket. He was sexy.

No, not sexy.

Definitely not sexy.  

Hongjoong averted his eyes, “Our clothes are still wet, I couldn’t find much but if you’re okay with wearing a blanket until they dry then I’ll just wear this.”

Seonghwa frowned. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, lemme go see if I can get a signal.” Hong made a move to dart past Hwa who had taken note of a sudden strangeness in his behaviour.

Hwa hesitated for a moment before moving to the side to allow Hongjoong past him. He literally ran down the hallway and down the stairs. What the hell? Had he groped him in his sleep or something? If he did, he would need to apologize and fix this. They certainly couldn’t live and work together if Hong was afraid of him and being molested. He followed after him and found him holding his phone up in front of him.

“Did I do something?” Seonghwa asked cautiously.

“Do something? What do you mean?” Hong looked genuinely puzzled.

Okay, well he didn’t molest him while he was sleeping then. If he hadn’t, then what was this about? “Why are you acting weird?”  

“I’m not acting weird.” Okay, he was acting weird but how the hell did he explain that he was suddenly questioning everything he knew? Not to mention, if he explained it to Seonghwa, he was quite likely to be scorned and ridiculed. He liked to think that Hwa would accept him no matter what but probably not what he had been thinking about.

“Besides, how do you know this isn’t perfectly normal for when we’re in an avalanche?”

That was a fair point actually but he was willing to go out on a limb and say that Hong was acting like he was uncomfortable with him. “You’re acting nervous and like … like you’re uncomfortable with me. Are you sure I didn’t do anything weird while I was sleeping?”

Hongjoong sighed and slumped down on the tarp covered sofa, “You didn’t do anything okay? I’m just worried okay? I’m worried and I’m scared. I don’t want anything to damage everything we have.”

That sounded like the truth, it sounded like a deep truth, the sort of thing that Hongjoong usually had trouble with but it didn’t make any sense at all. Adjusting his blanket toga, he moved over to sit next to him on the sofa. “You don’t have to be afraid, I’m here for you. I’m always here for you, you should know that by now.”

Seonghwa put his arm around Hongjoong’s shoulder and hugged him warmly. At the first contact, he immediately stiffened but after a moment or two began to relax. Hwa rubbed Hongjoong’s shoulder and back. When Hong looked up, he could see the concern plain on Seonghwa’s face.

Had Seonghwa’s eyes always been so beautiful? From the light of Hong’s phone, they danced with stars.

Something was different. Hwa was hard pressed to say what it was but he felt almost like he was crawling toward the first drop off of a roller coaster. He couldn’t quite explain the expression on Hongjoong’s face, he looked almost like he was entranced. It was that moment he had seen in hundreds of dramas, right before the leads kissed but there was no way that Hongjoong was going to kiss him and if he were to kiss Hong…

Hongjoong leaned closer and Seonghwa felt it, like an irresistible draw. He wasn’t sure who closed the distance first but their lips touched. Hongjoong said, “I need to know…”

Then there was absolutely no mistaking Hongjoong kissed him. Seonghwa’s breath caught, at first in simple shock then with something more. All of the hunger, all of the fantasies he had kept to himself these years, now here they were in the right place at the right moment and Hongjoong was kissing him. One of Seonghwa’s hands lifted, fingers sinking into the mussed silk of Hong’s hair as he breathlessly returned his kiss.

They pushed, they pulled, they gave, they took. When they parted they were both breathless and panting. “I-” Seonghwa began but Hongjoong put his fingers to his lips.

“No, don’t say anything. Not now, just tonight is for us.” If he gave himself a minute to think, he would question everything but right now, he just wanted to feel. There was so much of himself that he gave and left so little for himself, he was being selfish for the first time in a very long time.

Hongjoong reached out and laced his fingers together with Seonghwa’s, “I only want to hear one thing, if you want this too, I want to hear yes.”

There were so many things that Seonghwa wanted to say. It seemed an eternity of yearning but he had always kept it to himself, resigned to his dreams never being fulfilled. What would happen between them tomorrow, or next week, or next month? What did it all mean but right now, there was nothing more that he wanted than this. He didn’t care about anything else.

“Yes,” Seonghwa breathed. “Yes.”

Outside, a snow storm raged. Inside, their shared heat kept them warm. Skin glistened, sweat ran. Their lips met in desperate concert as they pleasured one another in turn. There was so much more that Seonghwa wanted but he daren’t ask for more, not now. Now he would accept what was given and melt in the heat.

Hongjoong’s lips were inexperienced but earnest as they moved down over Seonghwa’s bare skin. When they wrapped around his length, white hot pleasure shot through. It was all Seonghwa could do to keep his head enough to guide him. His balls tightened and he came, the world going white behind his eyes. Hongjoong continued to pepper Seonghwa’s stomach and thighs with little kisses until Seonghwa recovered, sweating and still panting, he reclaimed Hongjoong’s lips.

Seonghwa was a little more experienced and his touches were practiced and they were driving Hongjoong insane. He writhed and wriggled, heady moans and hoarse whimpers fell from his lips. One of Seonghwa’s fingers teased its way inside of him and stimulated a place deep inside, that was the end, he could no longer think, he could do nothing but ride the waves of pleasure that threatened to drown him. He arched up, pressing his cock to the back of Seonghwa’s throat. He could feel the way his tongue moved as he swallowed every last drop.

Afterward, they lay together in each other’s arms watching the storm. The snow rose higher and higher, “You don’t think we’ll get snowed in do you?” Hongjoong asked.

“I might have minded before but I don’t think I do now. One way or another we’ll get out of here and I think the time we spend together will be quite nice, don’t you?” There was a smile evident in Seonghwa’s voice as he let out a blissful sigh.

Seonghwa’s stomach gave a loud and pronounced growl. Hongjoong raised his head and looked at him with lifted eyebrows. “Hungry?”

“Maybe.”

Hongjoong laughed, “Maybe there’s something in the kitchen.”

He could imagine clearing out your fridge but you might leave something in your cabinets in a summer home. Having never had a summer home he couldn’t be 100% sure. He picked up his robe and put it back on and started looking around for the kitchen.

Seonghwa refastened his toga and followed. He stood watching as Hongjoong started looking through the cupboards, “Do you think our clothes will be dry soon? I’m freezing.”

He noticed a phone on the wall and picked it up. He wasn’t expecting to hear anything but there was a dial tone. He blinked and dialed the emergency number and was connected. “Yes, I was in an avalanche and I was forced to take refuge in someone’s summer house, to get out of the storm.”

“What?” Hongjoong asked as he turned and inexplicably saw Seonghwa with an old fashioned phone up to his ear. He ran over and pulled the phone down just enough so he could hear too.

“They’re tracing our location.” Seonghwa informed Hongjoong.

“I can’t believe we went through all of that and there was a working phone here the whole time.” Maybe there was a lot to be said for old fashioned landline phones. “I’ll go check our clothes.”

Now that rescue was in sight, the thoughts he had pushed to the back of his head now came screaming to the forefront. What did this mean for him and Hwa? It was obvious that he was indeed attracted to him, he had to have been to do what he did. He couldn’t believe he had been so stupid to do that. However, once he realized that he was attracted to him, there was no going back. He couldn’t pretend anymore, he just wasn’t that good of an actor. However, Seonghwa was because he hadn’t even blinked when he was offered the chance to spend the evening together. How long had he wanted to? What were the depths and extent of his feelings? Did he want to know? What were his own? He didn’t know and he wasn’t sure how to find out. A relationship with Hwa would be a good deal easier than it would be with any other group member, not just because they were roommates but also because of their position in the group but it would still need to be kept secret. Was that what he wanted?

He didn’t know, he just didn’t know. What he needed was some time away from… well, everything so he could get his head together. He realized he had just been standing in the hallway. He kicked himself into gear and made his way to their clothes. They were mostly dry but not completely. He wished he knew how to light a fire but he was a city boy, the only way he knew how to get heat was to turn the knob on the thermostat. It certainly wasn’t the same as operating a barbeque. Not to mention, there was a very small pile of firewood beside the fireplace. He remembered hearing something in a movie saying that when you think you have enough firewood to double it.

Hongjoong put his underclothes back on along with the thermal underwear he had also been wearing. Those were dry, it was his snowsuit that was still wet. When he looked up, Seonghwa was watching him with a little smile. His stomach flip flopped and his breath caught. Again he inwardly reproached himself for his hasty, though pleasurable, actions. “Your underclothes are probably dry…”

There was a lengthy silence between them before Hongjoong asked, “What did they say?”

“They said they would get a rescue unit out to us as soon as possible. This whole area is effectively snowed in, so it will probably take a few hours.” There was something wrong, Hongjoong seemed terribly tense. He had been so open and giving and now it felt like a wall had gone up. Maybe he hadn’t been ready for what had happened between them either. It had been his idea but it had been sudden for both of them. The only difference being, it had been a dream, a fantasy that he hadn’t expected to ever come true. He didn’t know what it was for Hongjoong and at the moment, he was afraid to ask. They were trapped together for who knew how much longer and he didn’t want to make it anymore uncomfortable than it already was.

“Do you know how to light a fire?” Hongjoong pointed toward the fireplace and the pile of wood.

Seonghwa nodded, he had gone camping with his family many times and had to light the fire fairly often. He looked around and found some matches and some kindling and began to set up in the fireplace. He opened the flue and slowly the fire kicked to life. As it did he added more wood before moving to hang their clothes up closer to the fireplace. He sat down nearby and held out his hands.

“Hong?”

As he had worked on the fire, Hongjoong had merely stood watching, fearing the moment that Hwa would want to talk. He tried to think of something to say, anything to head off the conversation he was sure was forthcoming.

“Yes?” He couldn’t think of anything.

Hwa turned his head to look at him and was just about to open his mouth when the phone rang. Hongjoong jumped and whipped around toward the sound, “I’ll get it.”

Thank fuck for that.

“Who was it?”

“The emergency people wanted to make sure that our situation is stable. Here.” He handed Seonghwa a packet of ramyeon, “Not the best thing in the world but it will at least put something in your stomach until they come to find us. We can tack it onto our bill for what we owe the house owners, their window, robe, blankets, and ramyeon.”

“Why did you kiss me?” Seonghwa asked as he took the packet.

Shit. Way to start the one conversation he wasn’t ready to have yet. “Hwa… I want to tell you but I’m not sure. I want to talk it all out with you but I need to think, I don’t know what’s in my own head yet. Can we wait until after this is all over and I have a chance to think about it?”

Seonghwa had known Hongjoong long enough to know how bad he was at discerning his own emotions and how it was even harder for him to express them. He had a feeling if he let this go then he might never get the answers he sought but it was a valid request and he would give him a chance to think but he wasn’t going to let this go, he couldn’t let this go. It was too important to both of them, whether Hongjoong knew it yet or not.

The first sounds of heavy machinery started about three hours later. By the time there was a knock on the door, their clothes had fully dried and they had redressed. Hongjoong had found some tape and taped up the broken window as well as he could and left a note for the home owners with a tally of the things they had used and asking for them to call with an estimate for the window. Soon, they were back home much to the relief and delight of their friends and family.

In the blink of an eye, nearly two weeks had passed and Seonghwa’s fears were coming to fruition as he had scarcely seen Hongjoong alone for more than five minutes glued together. He wasn’t surprised, he had a feeling it would happen but he had hoped. This couldn’t go on. There were matters that needed to be settled between them. Seonghwa finally got his chance when Hongjoong came home to pick up some clothes, Seonghwa followed him into their shared room and locked the door behind him. He walked purposefully toward him, “I would use your own words against you and tell you all I wanted to hear was a yes but that would be a lie. I want to hear a lot more than that. You’ve been avoiding me.”

Hongjoong opened his mouth to deny it but instead just lowered his head and nodded slightly.

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

Seonghwa took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh, “I thought that might be your answer too. I don’t think you know how much you mean to me Hong. I do know how much I mean to me though. I can’t keep waiting for someone who doesn’t know himself well enough to know whether he wants me. Don’t worry, everything will be exactly the way it was before, just as if nothing happened because that’s the truth of it isn’t it?”

Hongjoong looked up startled, “What?”

“I’m doing what I need to do, I’m letting you go.” He half raised his hand toward Hongjoong’s face before lowering it again.

“I’ll see you whenever I see you, I’m going to go take a shower.” With that he turned and walked out of the room.

“Hwa, wait. Hwa!” Seonghwa didn’t stop or even turn around to look behind him.

He couldn’t. It hurt too much.

Hongjoong lowered himself onto his bed and dropped his head into his hands. This wasn’t what he wanted. This wasn’t how he envisioned this happening at all. He hadn’t imagined Seonghwa walking away from him. His heart hurt. Then he realized it.

He did want Seonghwa.

He wanted more than the few hours they had shared during the snowstorm. He wanted more than the friendship they shared. He wanted … he wanted him.

“Seonghwa…” He whispered his name and jumped up from his seated position to pace back and forth. It took the one he wanted saying goodbye for him to realize the truth, no… the one he loved. He wasn’t sure how long he paced for but he heard the front door open and close. Panic clutched at his heart and he ran from their room and out the front door, passing a startled looking San who he grabbed to ask, “Did Hwa leave?”

San nodded, “Just now.”

“Thanks.” He bolted out of the door and chased him down, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him into a small alcove between buildings. “I need to talk to you.”

There was a pleading look in Seonghwa’s eyes. Don’t do this to me. This is so hard, please just let it go.

“The thing is… I realized I want you to be the last one I see before I go to sleep. I want you to be the first one I see when I wake up. I want you to be the one to drive me crazy, to make me laugh, to make me cry. I just want…”

“You want what?” Seonghwa’s voice was a tremulous feather on the wind when it reached Hongjoong’s ear.

Hongjoong dropped his hands to his sides, “You. It’s you, I love you.”

Seonghwa bit his lips together and looked up, fanning his face to try to keep the tears at bay but failed utterly as tears broke free and ran down his cheeks. “Maybe we should go somewhere else to talk?”

Hongjoong smiled and squeezed Seonghwa’s fingers in his before nodding and heading back out of the alcove. They were largely quiet as they made their way back to their room.  

The house was surprisingly quiet as they entered but Seonghwa was fixated on the warmth of Hongjoong’s fingers which held his. His hand was small and soft in his and a little smile played on his lips as they crossed the threshold. He closed and locked the door behind them. Hongjoong turned, “We don’t have anything to do tonight.”

“There is one thing…” Seonghwa said, catching Hong’s hand again and pulling him forward into his arms.

Now it was Hongjoong’s heart hammering, his breath growing short as he stared into the beautiful eyes of the man he now knew he adored. Slowly their lips came together, gasping as they tasted one another. Something hit the back of Hongjoong’s legs, when he looked it was the bed. He hadn’t even realized they had been moving. He wanted Seonghwa but he was nervous, he had never gone as far with anyone as he had with him and now he was going to go further. “I’ve never- I mean I’m- you know.”

Seonghwa smiled and cupped his face tenderly, smiling gently into his eyes. “I know. It’s okay, we’ll go slowly.”

Hong nodded and lowered himself onto the bed. Seonghwa pulled his shirt off and lowered himself down beside Hongjoong. Again, the same fire that had kept them warm when they were trapped erupted between them. It threatened to consume them, leaving nothing but ashes. Seonghwa’s lips trailed down over Hongjoong’s jaw, his neck while his fingers slipped beneath his shirt. He could feel the muscles of his stomach tremble beneath his feather light touch. As promised, he went slowly, taking his time removing their clothes, letting the hunger slowly build. He wanted him to want it, to need it, to be driven mad by the desire to be filled.

Naked, they writhed together. Seonghwa played his body like a virtuoso, knowing just how and where to touch him. A riot of sensation threatened to overwhelm him as Hwa’s lips wrapped around his hardness, teasing him to the edge but not letting him fall over it, not yet. They had all night together and he had every intention of making the most of it.

Their bodies were slick with sweat as Seonghwa rose over him, slipping between his thighs. Immediately, Hongjoong stiffened. It seemed a strange state of mind, to desire something and to fear it at the same time but Seonghwa kept his word, he didn’t rush. He simply found his lips again and slowly devoured him, sucking his lips, his tongue, playing, teasing as he rocked his hips, grinding against the tight entrance of his body. He didn’t try to enter, just that slow, inexorable grinding.

Between the play of Seonghwa’s tongue, lips, fingers, and body he forgot his fear and began to relax. He began to grind back against the deliberate, rhythmic friction. Without breaking the contact of their lips, Seonghwa reached over into his bedside table and pulled out a small bottle of lube and slicked himself and for a moment, stroked their cocks together before letting his touch glide down to slide over the tight ring of muscles, not trying to enter. Again he shifted to grind the thick head of his cock against Hongjoong.

It was driving him crazy, every time he arched up to meet the thrusts against him, Seonghwa pulled away. What began as an almost imperceptible itch had gone beyond need and was now driving him out of his mind.

“Please…” he breathed.

Seonghwa smiled and nipped at Hongjoong’s lips. The next time he rose up to meet his thrust, he didn’t pull away, he slipped almost effortlessly inside. Tight heat enveloped him and he whispered, “Oh god you feel so good.”

Hong gasped as his head fell back against the pillow. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought that it would feel like this. There was no pain at all, only a feeling of fullness, relief, and pleasure. Hwa began to move inside of him, his entire body arched up to accept him. They moved together, the music of their sighs and gasps the only sound.  

Their bodies moved together, Hong clinging to Hwa as he fucked him. Seonghwa’s hand slipped between them, wrapping his long fingers around Hongjoong’s throbbing prick. That added sensation was enough to push him over the edge, he dangled from the precarious edge, reaching up to pull Seonghwa down into a torrid kiss as he came, hot seed shooting up between their sweaty bodies. Hwa groaned as he felt Hong’s hot cum spatter against his chin and drove deeper, their fingers lacing together. He raised Hong’s hands over his head, relinquishing his lips to bury his face against his neck and let the control he had been holding slip away.

So many years of wanting, so many years of yearning washed over him, his balls tightened. Through gritted teeth he growled Hongjoong’s name as he filled him. As he lifted his head, their lips came together again and Seonghwa smiled, “Did you mean everything that you said.”

“Do you have to ask after everything we just did?” Hongjoong’s face was flushed but his smile was breathtaking. “Do you-”

Hongjoong reached up and caressed Seonghwa’s face, for a long moment he was silent just smiling into his beautiful starlit eyes.

Seonghwa shifted to the side, the pair laying side by side in Hwa’s narrow bed. “I do.”

“How did you know what I was going to ask?” Hong cocked his head to the side with a grin.

“What else would you ask at a time like this? Besides, you told me how you felt and I hadn’t told you but you knew didn’t you?”

Hong shrugged, “You didn’t even blink when we … when we, while we were trapped.”

He wasn’t even entirely sure what to call it. They hadn’t gone quite all the way but they had definitely done something, the first and only time he had tasted Seonghwa. “How long have you been in love with me?”

“It seems strange to hear you say something I’ve never said out loud even to myself.” He took a deep breath, “I- I love you.”

It sounded strange to his own ears but as he looked into Hongjoong’s smiling eyes, it felt right.

Hong chuckled as something occurred to him, “Does this mean I’m a shinestar now? Maybe I should start collecting your pictures and writing fanfiction.”

Seonghwa lowered his head and groaned, “Don’t you dare, I’ll never forgive you if you start writing fanfic about me romancing barista San or pirate Wooyoung.”

“Oh no, don’t you think it’d have to be a SeongJoong fic?”

“Are you going to be the pirate king then and I would be your wary prey who joins your pirate crew after I fall in love with your roguish ways?”

“I don’t think I’m very roguish but would you be my prey?”

“I already fell for you, I guess I’ll have to join your group… wait, I’m already in that too. I guess I really am yours.” Seonghwa laced their fingers together and brought them to his lips to kiss Hong’s fingers.

“Then I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t see anyone but you, you keep your eyes on me too.” Hongjoong leaned in so their lips were only a breath apart.

“I don’t ever want to look anywhere else, I love you Hongjoong.”

“And I love you, Seonghwa.”

NOTE: Other works located on my Master List.

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