Servant's Pride

8. Red Hair

"Ye 'ave to agree that me lettin' ye stay inside despite yer misbehaviour be a kind gesture. Believe me, as much as ye despise me, ye would nay wish to be out there as we be speakin'." Hongjoong glanced at the windows in the back of his cabin that wrapped around the stern of the Grief. The skies and oceans outside were pitch black as they threw themselves against the ship with all their might. As if wanting to throw them over and swallow them. The crew outside yelled orders across the deck as they ensured all of their survival. Seonghwa and Hongjoong stayed blissfully dry inside the cabin since they weren't needed outside.

Seonghwa's scowl tightened the corners of his lips. His body strained against his shackles when he once more uselessly attempted to pull himself free.

"Not even ye would want to spend the night in that storm."

"You trapping me in here is no act of kindness, I know that. Either you did it so your surgeon wouldn't criticise your behaviour again, or for your own twisted pleasure. I see through your lies, pirate." Seonghwa's shoulders pulled his uniform taut as he tried harder.

"Ye will get yer whippin' tomorrow after we return from the next island. Yeosang may only allow me so much but I can an' will make it worse fer ye if ye do nay obey."

The fire in Seonghwa's eyes gave every answer away. He would never bow down for a pirate. And Hongjoong looked forward to changing that.

"You will only get a rise out of me for so long. Once I get numb towards it, you will just throw me to the sharks and set sail to capture your next victim."

Intrigued by the way Cabezon thought about him, Hongjoong swayed his head in his direction. His fingers wrapped around the neck of a bottle of rum. As their eyes met, Hongjoong took a big gulp. Seonghwa's features crawled with disgust over the vile drink.

"Ye think so? I keep tellin' ye that ye be the one I be fixated on. Yer rotten brain just ain't rememberin' why. If ye did, I be sure ye'd know."

"Then tell me!" Desperation laced the commander's voice. As if his own lack of understanding of the situation was driving him madder than his actual life as a prisoner. "Tell me what I forgot! Whatever you want of me, I would deal with it far quicker! I may not accept any request, but I can at least have an attempt!"

Hongjoong chuckled and sipped his rum again. Burning, the alcohol slid down his throat.

So Cabezon was developing a sense of dissatisfaction.

"Nay. I want ye to recall by yerself. That may be me greatest enjoyment as o' now."

Upset, Cabezon leaned back against the headboard. His teeth worried his lip as he tried to find a suitable answer on how to trick the pirate. Amused, Hongjoong watched him try.

"I spy the questions burnin' in yer spotlights. Try an' ask me. I be in a jolly mood tonight, an' I may reply if ye blabber smartly." The pirate's voice was rough from the treatment of his drink to his throat. Seonghwa gave him a disdainful glare. His eyes snapped back to look straight ahead when Hongjoong rose his bottle in cheers.

He had offered the nasty drink to Seonghwa several times, but every time the man had refused it vehemently.

As Seonghwa came up with a question, the pirate slumped some more in his chair and adjusted his legs on his table. He had yet to pull off his boots since he wanted to be ready to storm out if needed. But his coat and vest had already found their way on a barrel nearby. The laces on his white shirt were undone.

"I presume that we've met for your misdeeds before. I recognise your face from the wanted poster, but I am sure that I have never captured you. So it must have been a meeting before you became a pirate."