The fire ship and the songbird (2/2)
Part 1
Hakyeon had spent two days after the raid of the Prism laid up in his bed in his room. The wound in his side hadn’t been deep, but it had required some stitching and had bled profusely. The crew had escaped relatively unharmed; a few had suffered worse injuries than Hakyeon and they had lost two of the hands, but considering the size of the Prism, it could have been much worse. Jaehwan’s information had been good, and the Steel Heart had left another ship stripped of its wealth in the seas.
He made good on his word, and instructed Sanghyuk to make for the nearest safest port, to drop off the prisoner and to perhaps spend some of their haul. The men deserved a reward for such success. It would be another couple weeks before they arrived, but they had to be certain to put enough space between themselves and peaceful waters.
Hakyeon had expected Jaehwan to throw a fit when he learned of the delay, but Taekwoon reported that the clerk stayed holed up in their room most of the time, doing apparently nothing.
“Sanghyuk’s a little worried, but honestly I just want him out of my room,” Takewoon hissed, pacing in front of Hakyeon’s bed one night while Ravi lounged on his somewhat ragged armchair. “Why didn’t you just throw him out with the Prism like you’d planned before?”
“He saved my life,” Hakyeon stated calmly, stretching carefully to avoid splitting his stitches.
Taekwoon stopped short. “He did what?”
Before Hakyeon could reply, Ravi interrupted, voice deceptively calm. “Are you sure? An accident isn’t the same as saving a life.”
Hakyeon pulled a face and threw a pillow at Ravi, who squawked indignantly. “Asshole, I know what I saw; he shot the guy from in front of me.” He paused, wincing at the sudden pain in his side and hoping he didn’t split anything or Yixing would actually murder him.
“I may be a pirate but that doesn’t mean I ignore something that big-I’ll repay him by dropping him off at an actual port instead of leaving him to flounder with the Prism.” He glared at Taekwoon and Ravi, who had both gone silent. “Treat him fairly. I don’t want people thinking that I treat those I owe my life like dirt. I’m a pirate, not indecent.”
Ravi laughed out loud at that, and Hakyeon threw a candlestick at his head, splitting his stitches wide open. Yixing didn’t kill him later, but he did deny Hakyeon any numbing spirits.
After two days of bed rest, Yixing had reluctantly declared him fit to walk around his ship, and so Hakyeon did, striding around his usual routine and generally getting in Ravi’s way. Sanghyuk had come to him and requested that Jaehwan be put to work, because he wasn’t really eating and Sanghyuk hoped that work might rouse is appetite again. He had even been cute about it, which was a rare and wonderful thing, assuming (correctly) that Hakyeon could never resist. So Hakyeon had arranged for Jaehwan to help Taekwoon with inventory management. Taekwoon had protested a little, but Hakyeon knew that Taekwoon was just as weak to Sanghyuk’s charms as he was.
Still, it was another two days before Hakyeon saw Jaehwan again. It was nighttime, and Hakyeon was casually patrolling the deck when he stumbled across the clerk crouched over the railing, staring at the wake of the ship.
He joined Jaehwan at the railing and was a little amused to see Jaehwan startle sideways.
“Oh, uh, I’m sorry,” he stuttered, quickly backing away. “I’ll just-“ but when Jaehwan made to leave, Hakyeon stopped him.
“Stay.” Jaehwan stopped, and warily returned to the railing, but much farther away, watching Hakyeon carefully.
“You haven’t ventured above deck in a while,” Hakyeon said, voice neutral. “What drew you out of your solitude?”
“I just...wanted some air.”
“The sea is very beautiful at night,” he replied, and Jaehwan seemed taken aback, grunting vaguely in agreement.
Hakyeon didn’t say anything more, and eventually Jaehwan returned to staring at the ocean. The moon was full tonight and it glinted off the crests of the waves, turning the wake of the prow silver. Hakyeon, meanwhile, stared at Jaehwan.
The clerk looked thin and tired, and Hakyeon wondered how long Jaehwan had even been at sea. Hakyeon had known the clerk of the Star was young but now, with his hair limp and face drawn, he really looked young.
Hakyeon had been young too, and his sword was clean once.
“Would you like a drink, Mr. Lee?” Jaehwan turned sharply, eyes wide, and Hakyeon smirked a little. “I took several decanters of expensive liquor from the Prism and I’d like to crack one open.” He gave Jaehwan an obvious once-over, eyebrow raised. “Can you even hold your drink?”
Jaehwan straightened indignantly, and Hakyeon could see something spark back into his face. “Can’t hold my drink-of course I can!” He sniffed in an attempt at bravado, even if the shadows under his eyes stayed put.
“After you,” he gestured with an overexaggerated flourish, and Jaehwan even dared to roll his eyes as he walked by. If he scurried a bit faster than was completely confident, Hakyeon said nothing.
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For the next two weeks, Jaehwan joined Hakyeon in his room for a drink after the night watch change. The first few times, they didn’t talk more than that first time, exchanging short pleasantries and a few weak barbs. Jaehwan would sit at the small desk in Hakyeon’s room and finish his drink while trying not to look at anything but the amber liquid in his glass. Jaehwan could feel Hakyeon staring from his armchair, and kept waiting for him to say something or perhaps for the alcohol to poison him or for Hakyeon to kill him, maybe.
Though as the days passed Jaehwan felt the fear of dying on the ship becoming more and more unlikely. Not long after the raid, Minseok had reappeared in the few times Jaehwan had ventured out from the room, but his attitude was neutral rather than hostile. Sanghyuk hadn’t changed, but Taekwoon had become noticeably nicer, especially when Jaehwan had proven to be equally, if not more meticulous at record-keeping than Taekwoon, and had managed to restructure his complex, if rudimentary, system into a monster of organization in a matter of days.
Jaehwan suspected that maybe someone had heard about him saving the captain-though generally quiet during their nightly drinks, Hakyeon was incredible above deck, commanding and strict, and when combined with his quartermaster, a force of nature to be feared and respected like any good sailor would. Losing Captain Hakyeon would have set the Steel Heart adrift and perhaps taken her down from her dominant position in pirate waters.
Jaehwan had met other members of the crew as well, finally running into his other assailant, Hongbin, while conducting inventory in the surgeon’s room.
“You!” Jaehwan cried, dropping the list of damaged medical equipment to the floor.
“Me!” Hongbin had chirped, grinning as Jaehwan lunged for his neck. Eventually Jaehwan gave up throttling the man, since he seemed to think the whole thing hilarious and instead of fighting back, was giggling madly with Jaehwan on top of him.
“Don’t forget the bandages,” the surgeon, Yixing, had said mildly as Jaehwan watched Hongbin’s face scrunch up in hysterics. Yixing brought his bone saw up, examined it with a placid grin in Jaehwan’s direction, and Jaehwan immediately resolved to avoid the surgeon’s area and its creepy dimpled inhabitants as much as possible.
On the fourth day of Jaehwan and Hakyeon’s nightly drinks, the crew held a party in the galley, finally breaking into the stock of rum lifted off the Prism. Jaehwan heard the revelry from his usual spot above deck, the raucous singing wafting through the air. He sighed, figuring tonight he wouldn’t need to join Hakyeon in his room, but Jaehwan found himself going to the room at the same time as before anyway. The room was empty, and Jaehwan decided to wait just a minute.
Soon enough, Hakyeon returned to his room, wobbling a bit from the amount of alcohol he’d consumed. He peered at Jaehwan suspiciously, and Jaehwan suddenly thought this may have been a bad idea.
“You weren’t at dinner,” Hakyeon said, collapsing into his armchair. How he even managed to make drunken flopping look graceful, Jaehwan didn’t know.
“No, was I supposed to be?” Hakyeon flapped his hands quickly in dismissal, reaching for the brandy in the cabinet next to the chair.
“Nooo, no but you missed the singing!” Hakyeon opened the bottle and brandished it at Jaehwan accusingly. “Do you dislike singing?”
“I like to sing plenty,” Jaehwan was quick to assure. “I sang often with the purser on the Star.” He allowed himself to preen a little. “We were quite good.”
Hakyeon grinned slyly, and Jaehwan instantly regretted his moment of hubris. “Then sing me a song, clerk!” He waved the brandy in Jaehwan’s direction. “Sing for your drink!”
Jahewan hesitated.
“Sing or you go overboard!” Jaehwan wasn’t sure he was serious, but he’d rather not test the drunken captain. So he sang.
And he hadn’t sung in so long, hadn’t felt the need to sing or even hum in weeks, and his voice was somewhat stiff but it felt so good.
He sang a short, simple shanty, nothing complex, but he couldn’t help putting a bit of a flourish on some notes. Jaehwan could feel the weight of the past week finally begin to lift as he lost himself in hitting notes and embellishing the melody.
When he finished, Hakyeon was staring at him hard, eyes clearer than before and brandy bottle in his lap.
“Sing another one,” he said quietly. Jaehwan almost protested, but the next song was already on the tip of his tongue, and so he did.
Jaehwan sang three more songs before Hakyeon finally sent him away quietly, brandy untouched.
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From that point on, their nightly drink was accompanied by Jaehwan singing at least once. Sometimes Hakyeon joined him, and Jaehwan discovered that he had quite a lovely voice. The singing opened up more avenues for conversation, discussing innocuous things, and Jaehwan even began to complain some, whining about sailing in a way he hadn’t since he’d been taken.
“Why are you here?” Hakyeon asked one night, after a particularly long rant about the pains of sailing inspired by the rough waters they’d had earlier that morning.
Jaehwan looked indignant. “Because you kidnapped me?”
Hakyeon scoffed. “No, I meant why a captain’s clerk? Why that job, if you hate sailing so much?”
Jaehwan paused, and sipped his drink. “I am very good at it.” Hakyeon raised his eyebrow at the self-praise, but Jaehwan continued, ignoring him. “I am good at it, and this was the fastest way to gain the respect I deserve from those who value titles.” He paused again. “Plus, it’s all I have.” He went quiet then, and decided that was maybe enough. Hakyeon didn’t press, for once, and they finished their drinks quickly.
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Ravi cornered Hakyeon one afternoon on the quarterdeck after Hakyeon had sent Sanghyuk off to reconfigure their route.
“What are you doing?” he said, voice low so as not to carry off the deck.
“I have no idea what you mean,” Hakyeon sniffed, and Ravi squinted at him from under his frankly ridiculous hat.
“Your debt is paid, isn’t it? I know how you feel about debt and this has been paid off in full.”
“He’s a good drinking partner. I find him entertaining.”
Ravi sighed. “You find a lot of things entertaining, but usually that doesn’t include navy men.”
“He’s not really navy.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Do I?”
Ravi threw up his hands. “Look, I don’t care who you fuck but this has Bad Idea written all over it, especially since the only people you let in your room are myself and Taekwoon.”
Hakyeon sneered, straightening up and trying to look imposing over Ravi’s own towering height, with marginal success, damn that hat. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
Ravi appeared unperturbed. “For all your ruthlessness you’re also soft sometimes, and I think you need to rethink your priorities, is all.”
“Well that makes two of us, with how you treat Hongbin.” Ravi opened his mouth to protest and Hakyeon ignored him, waving him off. “Nothing is wrong, he will be gone in a few days, and we’re not fucking.” Ravi raised an eyebrow. “Really, we aren’t. Not that he’s not attractive, and not that I haven’t considered it, but no. No fucking.” Ravi’s mouth quirked as if he was going to laugh. “And you should perhaps forget this conversation happened if you know what’s good for you,” Hakyeon continued, quickly.
Ravi rolled his eyes, but raised his hands in surrender. “Fine, but when things go poorly I will be right there saying I told you so.” He turned and strode off, leaving Hakyeon to fume and ponder ways to covertly deface that goddamn hat.
That night he was more reserved, not requesting a song as quickly, instead staring perhaps too much at Jaehwan, who didn’t notice anything at first. But when Hakyeon made it a point to brush purposefully against him as he poured drinks, he noticed Jaehwan shudder in something familiar and Hakyeon felt warmth in his gut unrelated to alcohol. He didn’t do anything more, but the rest of the night he noted Jaehwan’s gaze was for once trained mostly on Hakyeon and not his drink.
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The next night was the same, Hakyeon “accidentally” brushing against Jaehwan, staring intensely and Jaehwan thought his head might burst. Jaehwan was no stranger to attraction, but this was a dangerous game and the last time he had played he’d come away with a headache and shackles.
He finished his song and got up to move towards the bottle sitting by Hakyeon, intending to pour himself another drink. Hakyeon was humming the song still, absentminded and low as he sipped his drink. His hair was down again, swishing over his eyes and Jaehwan found himself admiring how the black strands glinted in the candlelight as he poured. They looked impossibly soft, not like they had been bleached by the sun and salt for years, and Jaehwan on impulse reached out to touch the lock just above Hakyeon’s ear.
The humming suddenly stopped, and Jaehwan froze, terrified. He made to yank his hand back but suddenly there were tan fingers around his wrist and Jaehwan looked down, expecting to see anger on the captain’s face. But Jaehwan found himself looking into eyes impossibly dark and he felt a flame ignite the alcohol in his blood. Suddenly those eyes were surging upwards and Jaehwan felt himself shoved backwards into the wall, wrist still tight in Hakyeon’s grip. The other came up to tangle in Jaehwan’s shirt collar, and Jaehwan took a desperate breath before lips on his cut him off.
Hakyeon’s lips burned, both from heat and from the alcohol Jaehwan could taste on them. He was demanding and aggressive, almost frantic, and Jaehwan found himself fighting to keep up. One of his hands shot up to grip the soft black strands at the back of Hakyeon’s head and he wasn’t sure who made the soft groan that followed. Their lips slid roughly over each other and when Jaehwan felt teeth bite down on his lower lip, he gasped shakily, blood whirling in his head as he sucked in his first bit of air in several moments.
And then just as suddenly as it had happened, Hakyeon was backing away, hair slightly mussed and lips shiny. Jaehwan was certain he looked a mess, and didn’t care, he wanted those lips back on his, and on his face, and on his neck and god everywhere else... He whined a little, and saw Hakyeon almost move forwards again, but unfortunately collected himself.
“I think that’s enough for tonight,” he said, and Jaehwan was annoyed that his voice sounded as clear as ever. “Go back to your bunk.” Hakyeon turned away, collecting the abandoned brandy, and Jaehwan frowned. This was painfully confusing, but the look in Hakyeon’s eyes as he pulled away had been strange and guarded, and Jaehwan felt he had played enough with fire tonight. So he quietly left for his bunk, where he laid awake for hours, replaying the night in his head and wondering if tomorrow he wouldn’t be invited to drink.
But the next day the invitation for a nightly drink had come as usual, and Jaehwan had seen nothing different on Hakyeon’s face when he had arrived around the same time. But this time Jaehwan had barely finished his first drink when hands were once again on his collar, hauling him upright to crash into the wall and Hakyeon’s mouth.
“What are you doing?” Jaehwan managed to gasp at one point, hands buried in midnight hair and pinned to the wall by Hakyeon’s hips.
“Having a drink,” Hakyeon had replied, before moving to latch onto the pulse in Jaehwan’s neck, and any protests Jaehwan had dissolved into low moans.
And so their nightly drinks turned into a drink, followed by a song, and finally frantic kisses before Jaehwan was dismissed almost as quickly as they had started, to try and find release on his own. It was mildly frustrating, and entirely confusing, but Jaehwan decided he didn’t care enough to stop.
About two weeks after the raid and several days after that first kiss, The Steel Heart finally arrived at the safe port to spend their haul and unload Jaehwan. The clerk had parted ways with the crew quickly, and Hakyeon had watched him disappear into the town. They had said some sort of goodbye last night, if drinking a few more glasses than normal could be counted as a goodbye. Hakyeon had once again invaded Jaehwan’s space to claim those beautifully plush lips, and perhaps something more could have happened but still, he pulled back after several minutes. But the strange light in Jaehwan’s eyes after each time made it worth it, even though he found himself finishing alone.
Ravi was right-Hakyeon didn’t have time to play with confused navy clerks, not when he had to fight to keep his position as the captain of the most feared vessel in the seas. Hakyeon would be glad to see Jaehwan go, even if his evenings would be much quieter again.
The crew gathered in the local bar, an old establishment long used by the more unsavory inhabitants of the seas, and the Steel Heart was one of its more celebrated patrons. So when the crew swept in, it was easy for them to claim drinks and tables in the otherwise packed bar.
Hakyeon, Ravi, and Taekwoon had claimed their usual table, far in a corner and away from the worst of the crowd. Sometimes Sanghyuk joined them but tonight he appeared to be more interested in the group of young women gathered by the window. The other three were well on their way to being drunk, and Taekwoon was clearly eyeing Sanghyuk and the same group of ladies with some intent, when suddenly Minseok appeared at their table.
“Can I join you?” he asked, and Taekwoon eagerly gave up his seat to head in the direction of the window, Ravi and Hakyeon laughing at his back. But both stopped laughing when they caught the look on Minseok’s face.
“I will be quick,” he muttered grimly. “I heard talk at the bar about the Lucifer being engaged in pirate waters by navy vessels not far from here. The Lucifer is not a small target, and the sudden tenaciousness to take her on in unfriendly waters is unnerving.” He glanced at the captain and quartermaster, eyes sharp and-to Hakyeon’s surprise-worried. “It may have been too bold to take on the Prism, and I think we are no longer safe here. We should leave.”
Hakyeon barely had time to process this information and decide what to do when the decision was suddenly, violently, taken out of his hands. Shrieking sounded from outside the bar, and the door suddenly burst wide open, as dozens of soldiers marched in, rifles cocked.
“Oh shit,” Ravi cursed, as people began yelling and shooting. “This way,” Minseok yelled, and the three of them quickly slunk behind the bar and out through a door in the back.
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Jaehwan’s day had not gone much better. After leaving the Steel Heart, tamping down an sense of regret or memory of shining jewelry and dark glittering eyes over the lip of a glass, Jaehwan had made his way to the local inn to find a room to stay and perhaps someone to barter passage from. But when he had given the innkeeper his name, he’d gotten a funny look on his face and had disappeared to the room behind the desk. The next thing Jaehwan knew, two soldiers had appeared, but instead of returning his relieved greeting, they grabbed him and roughly escorted him out of the inn, Jaehwan protesting loudly.
“What the hell is this?”
“Mr. Lee, you are under arrest and awaiting trial for desertion and piracy,” one of the soldiers curtly responded. “You will be tried and hanged in the morning,” he continued and Jaehwan’s mouth fell open in shock.
“But I was kidnapped! I’m not a pirate!” The soldiers said nothing.
They dragged him to the local jail, which clearly had been unused for years, and threw him into one of the cells. Jaehwan rushed at the bars desperately.
“I swear, I am innocent! Let me out, please!” But the door locked with a final click, and the soldier disappeared up the stone stairs. Jaehwan was left to sit on the cold, dirty floor of the cell. Angrily, he threw himself at the bars but despite their age, they merely clanked. Jaehwan was jailed, again. At least this time he was on land, but his death seemed almost more certain.
For hours he lay on the cell floor, listening to the sounds of the town above, pondering the cruel ironies of fate and regretting every choice he made to join the navy and follow his childhood friend to sea. Briefly, he considered the fact that the presence of navy soldiers in town meant that something was off, but that thought was superseded by the looming threat of his death. Sometime after dark, however, the noises outside changed from ones of general revelry to more panicked sounds. Then there were gunshots, and Jaehwan sat bolt upright.
Not ten minutes later, a group of soldiers came clattering down the stairs, shoving several shackled figures down the stairs ahead of them. Jaehwan recognized a few faces from the Steel Heart, but then yelled aloud.
“Sanghyuk! Taekwoon!” The two men briefly looked his way before they were shoved into the opposite cell with the others. The soldiers disappeared and Jaehwan pressed his face against the bars. “What the hell happened?”
Sanghyuk, sporting a split lip and a massive shiner, coughed out, “the Navy is in port, they pulled in sometime after nightfall.” He winced, rubbing at the blood on his lip. “Must’ve been waiting on the other side of the island for us to dock.” Taekwoon said nothing, merely growled.
“Who else got captured?”
“Not sure, but I didn’t see the captain or quartermaster in the bar after the navy arrived. A couple may have been shot, can’t be sure, but most escaped pretty quickly, I think.” He paused and seemed to realize something. “Wait, but why are you in jail?”
Jaehwan spat. “I’ve been accused of desertion and piracy and they’re planning to hang me in the morning,” he said, voice quavering with anger. Sanghyuk’s face fell in pity-Jaehwan could even see Taekwoon’s thunderous expression falter for a brief moment, and he could feel despair welling up, so he turned away from the bars.
“I am sorry, Jaehwan.”
Jaehwan didn’t respond, face tight and throat clogged.
An hour or so passed, and the noises aboveground had died down. Sanghyuk hadn’t tried to talk to Jaehwan again, but was murmuring quietly with the other sailors and Taekwoon. Jaehwan was trying very very hard not to cry.
Suddenly, there was a loud clatter on the stairs and the body of a soldier slid into view at the foot. A figure leapt over the body and Jaehwan felt his chest clench as the pirates yelled at the sight of their captain.
“Yes, hello, you cockroaches,” Hakyeon grinned wickedly as he rummaged through the belt of the dead soldier. “I really should have left the lot of you to rot here and be hanged, but I can’t sail without a bos’un and sailingmaster.” He sprung up with the keys and pointed them at Sanghyuk and Taekwoon. “You two, and the rest of you, get no grog or rum for six days, you pathetic excuses for pirates.” He flung the cell door open and the pirates spilled out and up the stairs with shouts of joy, though Taekwoon shot Hakyeon an annoyed grimace. “To the Heart, you rats!” Hakyeon cried, and turned to follow them when he spotted Jaehwan in the cell behind him.
“Jaehwan? What are you doi-“
“No time!” Jaehwan cried. He was suddenly struck with a plan. This was it, this was his out, and he was damned if he was going to die before he got a chance to clear his name. “Just get me out, please!”
Hakyeon paused, but quickly opened the cell, and turned to leave, when Jaehwan grabbed his arm.
“I don’t have time to explain but I need to get back on your ship.”
Hakyeon frowned. “I don’t have time to deal with your proble-“
“You can dump me at the soonest opportunity if you like, I don’t care, I just need to get out of here, now.” His grip on Hakyeon’s arm tightened slightly and he tried to look as pleading as possible.
Hakyeon’s frown deepened, and Jaehwan thought for a moment he would refuse. But then his lips curled and “fine, follow me,” he spat, wrenching his arm away and flying up the stairs.
Taking the Steel Heart and escaping the port was surprisingly smooth, all things considered. Ravi had met up with the rest of the crew and removed the soldiers guarding the ship, while Minseok had done what he did best and quickly taken out the rudder chains of the three ships in port. Hakyeon and Jaehwan had raced aboard just as Minseok was returning, and the Steel Heart was pulling out of the docks. Ravi had started to say something when he saw Jaehwan with Hakyeon, but Hakyeon had cut him off as he took the wheel and started directing crew. The Steel Heart pulled out of port amidst gun and cannonfire, most of which whizzed by harmlessly, and they were soon out of range. The Steel Heart slipped away into the night, taking Jaehwan with it.
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Hakyeon had wrestled Jaehwan into his quarters not long after the port disappeared behind them. He slammed the door behind him and stood, arms crossed and face hard, lightly fingering his pistol, and Jaehwan gulped.
“Explain, and quickly.”
“Someone must have recognized me on the Prism, I’ve been accused of desertion and piracy, and they’re going to hang me.” Hakyeon raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, and Jaehwan continued. “I have a plan to clear my name, maybe. I need to get to Fort Belltower.”
Hakyeon’s eyes widened in surprise. “Fort Belltower? Why the hell would we want to go to Fort Belltower, when we were just ambushed by the navy?”
“I need to speak to the governor.”
Hakyeon laughed. “And the governor with just let you walk in and listen to your problems?”
“He will, if he values our friendship.” Hakyeon stopped at that, taken aback, and Jaehwan continued. “Governor Do is my close childhood friend, and I sailed with him for a year on the Star before he was injured and appointed governor. I need to speak with him.”
Hakyeon was silent, and Jaehwan straightened up. “You can leave me at Belltower and that will be that, my fate will be my own.”
Hakyeon’s gaze was sharp, and Jaehwan couldn’t read his expression. “Why should I help you at all? My debt is repaid, I have no need to help you further.”
Jaehwan laughed, slightly hysterical. “I have nothing to offer you, not now.” He looked Hakyeon in the eyes, trying to look as defiant as possible. “But if there’s a question of debt, then you owe me this favor, since it’s because I saved your life on the Prism that I am in this situation at all.” It was weak, and Jaehwan knew it, but it was all he had and if Hakyeon was so concerned with debt…
Hakyeon was quiet, unmoving from his spot on the door, and Jaehwan couldn’t tell if his excuse had moved him at all. His eyes never left Jaehwan’s, searching him for something, Jaehwan didn’t know what, but he tried to match his gaze with as much confidence as he could muster, but probably more desperation than anything.
Finally, after what seemed like an age but was probably a couple minutes, Hakyeon spoke.
“Alright,” he said slowly. “I will take you to Belltower in two days and bring you to the governor. I will escort you there myself, to ensure you make it there freely.” He suddenly stood up from the door, and was in Jaehwan’s space, face very close and eyes like razors. Jaehwan felt his heartbeat racing, both from fear and from something else he couldn’t name, gaze flickering between dark eyes and lips. “But after that, my debt is considered paid in full, no more owed between us.”
Jaehwan swallowed thickly, and nodded. “Yes.”
A beat, and then those lips were finally, finally on his and Jaehwan could feel a strangled sob wrench its way out of his clogged throat. Where Hakyeon’s lips had burned before, now they seared, sliding across Jaehwan’s mouth and branding marks into the skin of his neck. This time was different, this time Jaehwan fought back, desperate for more, to spur Hakyeon to burn more, bite down on his skin and let the blood bruise into red marks.
He’d almost died, could still be a dead man, and Jaehwan had never felt so alive.
So he yanked at Hakyeon’s hair, dragging him back up to his mouth and shoving his hips forward inelegantly, and was rewarded with a low moan and Hakyeon’s hands on his hips, pulling them forward and flush with his own. Jaehwan moaned loudly at the feel of a growing hardness against his hip, and bit down too hard on Hakyeon’s lip, a slight coppery taste on his tongue.
Hakyeon pulled back, and Jaehwan panicked, thinking that this was the end as usual, he was going to be sent away and he was burning too hot for that. Not this time. Not when he needed something, anything to chase away the grim specter of death.
But his panic was unwarranted, as Hakyeon pulled back but kept his grip on Jaehwan’s hips, dragging him backwards to the small bed, rolling to pin Jaehwan to the sheet. He licked at his cut lip, and Jaehwan decided that he wanted to do the same. He surged upwards, biting down again on the same lip, Hakyeon’s short laugh buzzing across his skin.
“Bloodthirsty,” the pirate had whispered, and if the next morning anyone noticed that Jaehwan spent the night watch in the captain’s quarters, they said nothing.
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True to Hakyeon’s word, they arrived at Fort Belltower in two days, the dramatic structure for with the town and fort were named visible above the hills even from where the Steel Heart was concealed in a cove. They had easily outrun any pursuing Navy ships, though no ships would have followed them into navy waters anyway, assuming that the pirates would flee to friendlier seas. Jaehwan didn’t know how Hakyeon had managed to convince Ravi or the crew to head for Fort Belltower, and Hakyeon didn’t say. But Jaehwan was well aware of the displeased expression on the quartermaster’s face when Hakyeon and Jaehwan had packed into a rowboat to move around the island.
Jaehwan had been worried about sneaking up to the governor’s mansion, even under the cover of night, but strangely Hakyeon seemed to know the stealthy route to his door by heart. They arrived at the front door, and Jaehwan expected Hakyeon to try to sneak in, but much to his surprise, he simply knocked.
The footman answered, and merely glanced at Hakyeon before leading them into the waiting room. By this point, Jaehwan was thoroughly confused, but Hakyeon ignored any of his hissed inquiries.
It wasn’t long before the governor appeared at the door in his dressing gown and looking bewildered.
“Jaehwan?” Kyungsoo exclaimed, and Jaehwan smiled at the sight of his friend. “Hello, Kyungsoo.” Kyungsoo grinned, and rushed over to embrace him, but quickly pulled away, expression still confused. “What the hell are you doing here?” But before Jaehwan could answer, Kyungsoo’s gaze cut over to Hakyeon, and his tone became more formal, but with a note of teasing resignation that Jaehwan didn’t expect. “Hello, captain. Didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
Hakyeon grinned widely. “Hello, governor. Brought you a present, this time. Hope you don’t mind.”
Kyungsoo rolled his eyes, and looked back at Jaehwan, who by now was thoroughly confused. “Sit down, let’s talk.”
Throughout Jaehwan’s story, Kyungsoo was quiet, eyes wide in concern and surprise, only cutting over to Hakyeon when Jaehwan mentioned the kidnapping, and the fight on the Prism. Jaehwan couldn’t read the expression in his friend’s eyes, but Hakyeon seemed almost…embarrassed, and Jaehwan just felt more confused.
When he finished, Kyungsoo sighed, and rubbed at his face. “I had heard about the warrant for your arrest but I’d hoped it was a mistake. However,Capt. Kim sent me a letter that arrived just today, and paired with your story, I see that it is true.”
Jaehwan felt panic rising again. “Is there anything you can do? Anything at all.” Kyungsoo sighed again, and stood up to pace the floor, a sign that he was thinking seriously. After a moment, he spoke.
“I can try to get you back on the Star, in your old position. It would require some serious groveling, and I cannot guarantee success. I would burn a lot of connections and favors, even with the influence I have now as governor and the Star’s former captain. But, Capt. Kim’s letter was not cruel, and I believe he considers you to be innocent.” He looked at Jaehwan, brows furrowed and gaze serious. “But you have to be certain that you want to return to that position, knowing that the promotions you want may be even harder to obtain now, and knowing that even the best favors do not erase rumor.”
Jaehwan swallowed, and Kyungsoo’s expression softened, his voice quieter. “Jaehwan, to be honest, I was surprised when you followed me into the navy.” Jaehwan’s eyes widened in surprise. “You always hated boats, and while we were on the Star that didn’t seem to change. You’re a fantastic clerk, best I ever had, but are you happy?”
Jaehwan thought, hard. Returning to the Star would put him back on track to position of Purser, and perhaps then he would finally gain the respect he deserved and that came so easily to Kyungsoo, with his birth title and captaincy. But that struggle had been nearly impossible so far, and Kyungsoo was right about the future being even harder, now.
Suddenly, Hakyeon spoke, voice quiet and speaking for the first time. “Work on a navy ship will not be peaceful, either.” Kyungsoo looked confused, but Jaehwan could feel something churn in his gut at the pointed look in Hakyeon’s eyes. The memory of a body falling to the deck, eyes lifeless and the gun in Jaehwan’s hand flashed briefly, and he shuddered, choking down a flare of nausea.
He looked at Kyungsoo, and he was glad to hear his voice remain calm. “No, thank you, Kyungsoo. I think...I think I will stay off boats for a while.” Kyungsoo smiled a little and seemed to relax.
“Well, then this is much easier. I can call in some favors and get your name cleared with those who matter. Capt. Kim and the other officers on the Star will be easy, I think, and there are some perks to being the Governor.” He grinned slyly.
Jaehwan felt his face split into a massive smile, and he rushed to embrace Kyungsoo, despite his friend’s protests. Jaehwan ignored them, burying his face in Kyungsoo’s neck as he lifted the much shorter man off the ground. If Kyungsoo noticed the wet spots on his neck, he said nothing.
Jaehwan’s joy was interrupted by a short cough, and he quickly placed Kyungsoo on the ground to look at the pirate behind them.
“Well, then I will be taking my leave,” Hakyeon said, voice neutral. “I will be in touch, Governor, especially since the Navy seems to want to make life in these waters more difficult for those of us on the wrong side of the law.” Kyungsoo nodded, and Jaehwan decided that later, he was going to have to ask his friend a lot of questions.
Hakyeon swept his hat back onto his head with a flourish, and stood to leave. He saluted Kyungsoo casually, almost mickingly, then turned to Jaehwan.
“Goodbye, Jaehwan,” he said, grinning, and Jaehwan thought he saw something rueful in his face, but couldn’t be sure. “I could have used a clerk of my own, but at least our time together was entertaining.” His grin turned sharp, and too late Jaehwan noticed the glint in his eyes. Hakyeon strode forward suddenly, taking Jaehwan’s chin in his hand, and planted a deep kiss on his mouth. Jaehwan could hear Kyungsoo’s surprised squawk beside him, but Hakyeon’s lips were gone as quickly as they’d come, and he was grinning widely at Jaehwan, chin still in his hand. “One for the road,” he chuckled, then was gone out the door with a swish of his coat.
“So dramatic,” Jaehwan muttered, but the wide grin didn't leave his face for hours, even as he tried to calm his significantly flustered friend. Perhaps that would be the last he saw of the captain of the Steel Heart, but somehow, he doubted it.
--------
One year later
A droplet of sweat rolled off Jaehwan’s nose to plop directly onto the middle of his letter, and he nearly snapped his pen in half in frustration. The morning was already crushingly hot, humidity trapping the heat like a blanket even though Jaehwan had had his apprentice fling all the windows in the firm wide open searching in vain for a crossbreeze.
Maybe I’ll hire an assistant just to fan me while I work, he mused. His accounting firm had certainly been doing well-between managing Navy and merchant assets as well as the assets of those less savory, the cash flow had been more than satisfactory. He probably had enough to manage it. A personal fan boy would be quite nice, if completely irrelevant in two months.
Jaehwan groaned, tearing the paper in two and sitting back heavily in his chair. This particular letter was one of congratulations to the recently-promoted Commodore Kim, and required near-perfect penmanship. He’d rewritten it three times.
Suddenly his apprentice appeared at the door to his personal office, knocking lightly on the doorframe. “Mr. Lee, sir, there’s a visitor here for you.”
Jaehwan scrubbed at his face and tried not to groan. “Are they here for business or pleasure, Jongdae?”
“Well, I was hoping for maybe both,” came the reply in a voice that was decidedly not Jongdae’s, and Jaehwan quickly sat up, grinning.
“Hello, Captain,” he said, and Hakyeon grinned, earring glinting as he swept off his hat. Jongdae had already disappeared, and Jaehwan gestured for Hakyeon to close the door. He opened the bottom cupboard of his desk, and pulled out a crystal flask.
“Would you like a drink?”
--end--
Original A/N: I just want to say thank you for this lovely prompt, I hope I did it some justice, I really enjoyed writing and planning this fic (and I may have gone juuust a bit overboard. Haha, overboard. Pirate pun). Most importantly, though, a huge thanks to both my beta naegastar and the mods for being wonderfully understanding and accommodating. I really appreciate it; I know I didn’t make it very easy. But as a first-ever exchange this was a great experience! :D