Till the world's end|| (pirate!au) -'๑'-Ateez

Aztec

6 days until the full moon

"How can we sail to an island that nobody can find with a compass that doesn't work?!" Jongho yelled over the wind.

Seonghwa, adopting a calming tone, approached Jongho. "Jongho, precious. It's the asscrack of dawn; it would be nice if you don't scream and wake the crew up." His eyes conveyed a sense of assurance, urging Jongho to trust in their unconventional methods.

Hongjoong stepped into the conversation, holding up his broken compass. "My compass doesn't point towards North, but it isn't North we're going to sail to. Aye?" He gestured with a flourish, emphasizing the peculiarity of their journey.

"This is absurd," Jongho muttered in disbelief.

Hongjoong smirked. "This is a gift from Maia Dalma. If you don't shut up, I will ask her to curse you to turn into an insect."

"Who the hell is Maia Dalma now?" Jongho questioned a mix of confusion and skepticism on his face.

Seonghwa turned to face Jongho, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Maia Dalma is a witch, she's aided me and Hongjoong in many voyages before." The cryptic nature of Seonghwa's explanation left Jongho with more questions than answers,

Hongjoong smiled slightly as the arrow on his compass pointed him in a specific direction, a bit to the right.

"We've found it, mates," he announced.

Jongho's eyes widened, and he rushed towards his captain. "Is this trustworthy?" he inquired, uncertainty etched on his face. The two captains exchanged glances before shrugging in unison.

Suddenly, a familiar female voice chimed in, breaking the air of anticipation. "Good morning, Captain, Seonghwa, and Jongho," Hypaxia greeted with happiness. Hongjoong looked up at her, offering a small smile.

However, as he returned his attention to the compass, his smile faded. The arrow on the compass wasn't pointing in the right direction anymore. It had shifted to the left, pointing directly at her. Flustered, he quickly closed and reopened the lid, and the arrow returned to pointing at the island. Hongjoong sighed in relief.

Seonghwa couldn't help but smirk at Hongjoong from the side, a playful glint in his eyes. The compass, like the captain's heart, seemed to waver momentarily before finding its true direction.

Seonghwa let out a subtle cough and playfully nudged Hongjoong's shoulder, earning a bemused look from Hongjoong.

"Seems like your heart desires the young lady more than the island, Captain," he remarked with a teasing tone.

Hongjoong scoffed and shook his head. "Nonsense," he replied, though the hint of a blush betrayed his words.

Jongho let out a snort hiding it with a cough

Hongjoong's gaze lingered on Hypaxia for a moment, as if gauging her reaction, before he decided to address her directly.

"Daphne," he began, his voice carrying a note of sincerity, "we're sailing towards Isla de Muerta as of now."

"Why are we going there, captain?"

Hongjoong hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering between her and the compass in his hand. The weight of unspoken truths lingered in the air.

"We're searching for treasure," he finally replied his words carefully chosen. "Isla de Muerta is rumored to hold riches beyond imagination. A pirate's dream, you could say." The captain's eyes held a glint of mystery

As Hongjoong spoke of treasures and the allure of Isla de Muerta, Hypaxia couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more beneath the surface. The crew's secrecy, the unspoken tension, and now this mysterious island-they all formed pieces of a puzzle she was determined to solve.