Chapter Text
Hongjoong
"The sea's a liar."
That's what I was always told. What I always believed. 7 years on the sea, and I still believe it. But it's beautiful. Unpredictable, strange, but... Beautiful.
If the sea were a person, it would be like the very person you think of when you hear the word 'perfect'. The one with those... Captivating eyes, and an air of grace around them that draws you in and never lets go. Ethereal. Perfect. Just...
"Captain?"
Kang Yeosang, our navigator. Soft-spoken, gentle. Doesn't belong on a pirate ship, much more suited to a castle, but I wouldn't trade him for the world.
"Captain!"
Jung Wooyoung. Chef. Not so gentle.
"Yes?" I turn to Yeosang.
"We're approaching new waters. There's nothing in any scriptures about this area. We could be at risk."
See, I adore Yeosang, but he relies solely on the scriptures. Not in the scriptures, doesn't exist.
"Are you sure? We've explored uncharted waters before, we've always been fine."
"But Captain, I'm really not sure-"
Wooyoung steps forward and shoves Yeosang on the shoulder.
"Oh come on, Yeosang, you scared?"
"No, I'm just healthily concerned about-"
"We'll be okay, Yeosang." I smile.
"And if we're not... We'll go back at the first sign of danger. Okay?"
Yeosang exhales and nods, eyes down, but keeping his chin up. He's pretending to be okay with it. He's not. But he knows he'd be overruled anyway.
My crew don't tend to think before going into things. I can't say I always do, either, but I'm better than the crew.
"Right, then. Mingi, we continue as before."
Mingi sets us back on course, and the ship falls silent as the crew return to their duties. Wooyoung goes back to the kitchen, San resumes sharpening blades, and Jongho... God knows where he is.
As I turn back to the sea, a mist settles over the ship. The air takes on a chill, and shadows move in ways I didn't think possible. It's... Unsettling, but not dangerous. And besides, I can't bring myself admit Yeosang was right.
He's not. Yet.
Looking out on the water, however, I feel calm. There's a serenity in the depths that pushes away the feelings of uncertainty. A stillness, a-
I swear I saw something move. Really. Just below the surface of the water, something-
"What the-!"
I jump away from the side as water splashes on my face. San looks up from his blades, and Yeosang's eyes flash with concern. He dashes to me.
"What?! Captain, what was-"
"It's okay, Yeosang. I just... Got startled. By a... Fish or something."
A flash in the water, and I'm splashed again. Drenched, more like.
"Oh my-" Yeosang grips my arm, eyes wide. "That's not a fish, Captain. It's not too late to turn back, let's just-"
"I'm afraid it is, Yeosang." The deep voice I know belongs to Mingi cuts through the fear like a knife.
"The wind's too strong now. We're sailing straight to the middle of this area. We have to let it take us out before trying to steer. All we'll do forcing ourselves to turn is put strain on the ship."
Jongho's head pops up from below deck. "And if you give me more work by damaging the ship, I will actually break your arm this time."
And he's gone, disappeared right after the threat. Classic Jongho. Yeosang, still shaken, grips my arm so tightly his knuckles turn white and I know he'll leave marks. His gaze lingers on the waves. As much as I think he's overreacting, I do worry for him.
"Yeosang, what is it, really? Why are you so concerned?"
He tears his eyes from the water and looks at me, his gaze piercing. "We don't know what's in the water, Captain. It could be dangerous."
"What's been dangerous so far? Nothing!"
"Something splashed you!"
"Yes, a fish!" Another, larger column of water hits me square in the face.
"Okay! Not a fish!"
A small spray of water comes up, but doesn't hit me. Odd. Definitely intentional, but I guess it's just the weird sea here.
"Hongjoong!"
"Captain." I remind him.
Yeosang looks... Wounded.
"Right... Captain. I don't like this. The sea here, it's all wrong. I told you we should never have-"
"Yeosang!" I snap, and he stops abruptly. "Calm down. Go below deck."
His face falls and he trudges below deck in silence. I don't like upsetting my crew, but sometimes, order is more important. I can't have him causing panic on the ship. Whether there's something to be worried about or not, panic will cause more harm than good.
"You're too harsh on him, Captain."
Yunho's gentle voice. First mate. He walks over to me slowly, placing a hand on the side of the ship beside me. The floorboards creak as he approaches.
"Yunho, I appreciate your concern, but-"
"But you dismiss his concerns? When has Yeosang ever been wrong before?"
"Never, but-"
"Then don't ignore him! Yeosang is a fine-"
"Jeong Yunho, when did I say you could question my choices? My crew, my decisions."
With a bitter scoff, Yunho turns on his heel and goes back to talk with Mingi. San, the only other one on deck, wisely keeps his mouth shut.
The mist descends further on the sea, and the chill on my skin is more than a little unsettling. I keep my eyes on the water, like maybe staring hard enough will make it confess its secrets. It never does. The sea’s not the type to be honest.
But gods, it’s beautiful. That infuriating kind of beautiful that makes you forgive it every time it tries to kill you. Smooth one moment, wild the next. Like it’s daring you to get comfortable so it can knock you off your feet.
I’ve learned to stop trusting it. I’ve also learned I can’t stop looking at it.
A bright bell snaps me from my thoughts. Wooyoung pops up from below deck, calling us for dinner. I send them down, but I won't join them tonight. Something's calling me to stay out. San gives me a concerned look before heading below.
The deck’s quiet now. Below, I can hear the faint clatter of cutlery and Wooyoung’s voice carrying through the boards - probably arguing with Jongho over portion sizes again.
Up here, it’s just me, the wheel creaking, and the sea breathing. The mist’s thicker than before, curling low around the railings like it’s trying to climb aboard. Every so often, the wood groans, but it’s not from the ship, it’s the kind of sound that feels like it’s coming from underneath.
I lean on the railing. The water’s dark enough to be a mirror, if the mirror didn’t shift and ripple like it was alive. Something flickers under the surface. Not fast. Not darting like a fish. Just… gliding. The air smells different all of a sudden. Less salty, more… sweet?
No, that’s not right. Something that makes you want to breathe deeper without knowing why.
"A faint mirage..." A soft whisper.
"Dreamer in a dream..." A ripple.
"A sea of fear..." A face.
"...and joy."
A beautiful face. Emerging from the waves, droplets clinging to his skin. There's a shimmer to his skin, a shine to his hair. Such deep eyes, divinely sculpted features. And... Gills. On his neck, and his hips.
Siren.