Chapter Text
It started many years ago
On a ship far from its original port, on a hot sunny day. The wind was the right degree, the birds followed the sails and smell of fish, and even Hongjoong was happy to back on the waters again.
"Cap'n!" Yeosang yelled out, breaking his thought process out of a concentrated trance in his quarters. Hongjoong merely sighed and returned his quill and ink to under his drawer, shoving the rest of his materials in whatever corner could occupy them. He could hear his brothers clamoring and yelling about something, their boots indicative of something afoot. He joined them after pushing through the heavy old door shielding him from the ruckus, the sun's rays blinding him temporarily before settling on his skin in a warm manner. It comforted him knowing how good the weather was looking.
"What is it Yeosang?" He yelled back in response, using his better eye to examine the scene. His seven brothers, all fighting to have a chance to catch whatever it was the 'Prince' saw across the water. What a bunch of fools he thought, wordlessly stepping through as they parted once hearing his call.
Now of course the captain has seen his share of maritime mysteries, treasures, and weird...things on his adventures. His brothers too. But by far was this the most strange of them all to date.
A woman, bare and naked, stranded on a large bed of kelp floating asleep.
No wonder his brothers were fighting to see such a wonderful sight.
--
"Do you...remember anything?" The captain asked, handling his tone and posture as any man worthy of such a title could, being a pirate and all. He was used to putting on his stone cold facade and talking roughly to get his point across. Yet, you managed to bring that wall down some more and let him be more authentic. More Hongjoong.
You shook your head lightly, staring off at the wall as you took another sip of the herbal tea they managed to brew up. A horrible blend, old barley and something else your tongue couldn't place. But it was doing its job, keeping you awake and conscious.
"I remember you eight. I remember...wanting to be here." Wow, that helps Hongjoong thought sarcastically, electing to ignore his natural reflex to roll his eyes and turn back to the objective at hand. Getting answers from you. You seemed to sense this, suddenly turning serious and crossing one leg over the other. Hongjoong felt his mouth run dry at the idea he could've seen more if you hadn't pulled the blanket San managed to grab closer to your body, hiding away a sight he couldn't quite erase from his mind. Beneath everything he was, he was still just a man. "I know you must have questions captain, but, I'm feeling very underdressed and bare. If this request does not strain you or the resources on your ship, may I ask for some clothes and privacy to change?" Oh almighty god, drown me this fine evening if I don't do as she asks. He thought.
Smiling through his pained thought he nodded once. "It doesn't, m'lady. I will see what we can scrounge up, no promises." You flashed him a polite smile, saying nothing more as you went back to your foggy day dreaming you had been slipping in and out throughout your conversation with the captain. He simply left you, turning around to head towards the same door that led him out to you in the first place and closing it gently. He sighed again, mostly to himself as he thought of the hyenas that will jump him later. By the time they had hauled you to their ship from the waters, have Yunho attend to your medical state, and change course for the nearest harbor port for more supplies, not to mention making a temporary space in Hongjoong's living quarters for you (Seonghwa had berated him the whole time as six of them including him moved his things out just to make the space, Yunho insisted he needed more than the tiny room he was used to healing his brothers in), the sky had darkened and the rest of them reluctantly hid away in each of their rooms. Walking himself over to the bell, he pulled the chord connected to their rooms once and headed to their meeting room down below deck to beat them ahead of time.