He's a Pirate - ATEEZ Reader-Inserts

Game of Pirates - Jongho

Shots rang out above my head. The ringing in my ears almost distracted me from the gag muffling my tormented cries and pleas for help. Maybe it's for the better that no one hears me. After all, I seem to be naive to the ways of pirates.

As much as I resent my status as a royal, there's a reason I can't exist without being told what to do. My tantrum disguised as rebellion exemplified my tendency to romanticize treason. At least when I'm tied up and thrown into a cellar back home I know no true harm will come to me, I know who's behind it all. Now I'm not even sure if I'll survive until nightfall, or if I want to.

The chaos gradually faded until a lone pair of boots wandered the deck. My attempt to steady my breathing proved ineffective when the footsteps settled above me, and a blinding light filled the hold. I desperately shuffled away from the shadow in the opening, but a strong hand grabbed me and pulled me to the deck, lifting me like I was nothing more than a sack of flour. I remained as curled up into myself as I could as the sun prodded at my eyelids. I managed to pull my arms away from my ears and was met with the calming sounds of the waves crashing against the side of the ship. The lack of loud grunts of brutish men is what finally brought me to open my eyes.

Bodies were scattered around the deck, some breathing, some not. I scanned the puddles of blood and splinters of wood before I met the gaze of the boy in front of me, resting on his knees and catching his breath. He's alone. Nothing but a few scrapes and bruises were visible on his face and arms, and his ornate clothing was hardly skewed. Even if there wasn't a gag restricting my speech, my voice was rendered useless the longer I studied his face. His soft and steady voice only added to the awe, "I want to help you. Can I please cut the gag from your mouth?"

What little remained of my instincts was telling me not to let a stranger get so close to my face, and neck, with a dagger. But even as it slipped between my cheek and the jagged cloth in my mouth, I remained calmly lost in his eyes.

A strong hand gripped my chin and he looked over my face, "Oh, dear. You're bruised. Cut a bit too. You'll be in trouble for that sort of thing. Won't you?"

How would he know that?

Once he had finished cutting the binding from my hands and ankles, he pulled me to my feet. His soft smile appeared when I started to wobble and clung to him for balance. The damage done to my captors' ship was even more detrimental than it seemed from the ground. Men lay sprawled out over the deck and the ship itself was torn to shreds.

"Don't worry, Princess. They're not all dead. But, we should get out of here before any of them wake up. Will you come with me?"

I nodded as he dragged me along, suddenly very aware that I'm still in my nightgown and nowhere near being presentable at the level a princess should be. His chivalry and concern for me had shattered my suspicion that he might hail from royalty, but why else would he be here?

He settled me on a boat, one that looked suited for a small crew docked alongside some fishing vessels. Below deck was a mattress fitted with soft quilts and down pillows. As he dabbed at my light injuries and hummed a soft tune under his breath, I allowed myself to once again admire his gentle beauty.

He's so...cute.

Aside from the way his hands managed to handle me with care, his appearance had entranced me to a daydream. His silky brown hair was fixed over an equally silky sash that covered his forehead. His cheeks added to the youthful look his eyes created and his lips pursed into a small pout. The color of his glowing skin managed to fall perfectly between that of gold and that of bronze.

He finally pulled away to look over my face, catching the entranced haze that had clouded my eyes. His laugh filled my ears like music. "What are you looking at, Princess? Is something wrong?"