Deep In My Heart (YeonBin) ✔️

5.

The next few days were a blur for Soobin.

They reached Tsuki and fortunately, ATEEZ came just two days later, and then they boarded and were off to the Kingdom of Crocus once again, this time reaching there by the same night. The boys said goodbye to them once again, wishing them luck for what they were about to do once they told them the truth.

"Make the world a bit easier for us too, yeah?" Wooyoung smiled toothily as he spoke. "We pirates already have it hard."

"I'll try but you're still criminals," Yeonjun said teasingly.

"As if you aren't a friend of those criminals," San nudged him playfully and they all laughed at that, wondering and worrying on the inside if everything will really go okay.

"Don't forget us when you're there," Hongjoong said with his usual easy smile. "We will be waiting for the news of your revolt! Make sure to write us a lengthy letter of all the details, yeah?"

"We will be anticipating it," Seonghwa nodded, slipping his hand inside Hongjoong's. "We will be rooting for you from here."

"Thank you."

And then they were off once again, sailing as the night wore on, the secret cave in Cruz echoing the haunting silence they couldn't unhear.

✿

"You dyed your hair black?" Yeonjun said in surprise. They were going to travel to Verda that day. It was a week after they had arrived in Cruz. They had spent that time planning around how to do it and despite luck being on their side, none of them could deny the nervous balls rolling inside their stomachs. Soobin nodded, running a hand through his freshly dried black hair.

"I had dyed it to hide who I am," Soobin answered. "But now I don't have to. And anyway, my roots were getting longer too so it was all just a mix of blue and black anyway. Does it look bad?"

"Not at all," Yeonjun whispered, pressing a soft kiss on Soobin's left eyelid. "In fact, I think I might like this more than your blue hair."

"Why?" Soobin smiled outwardly as he felt giddy with happiness at Yeonjun's affection. Yeonjun gave him a small smirk.

"Atleast you won't go bald," his answer made Soobin whine and hit him playfully. "Hey, it's not my fault that I had to colour my hair like crazy ever since I was young to hide who I am!"

"Well, you don't have to do it anymore," Soobin whispered, not wanting to be loud to Yeonjun whose face was very near to his. He wondered if he could sneak a quick little peck before they had to get their bags out–

"Ahem," someone cleared their throat from the doorway and Yeonjun jumped back, acting casual as he started picking up his bags. Kai looked at them in amusement as he said, "The ride is here. We are all waiting for you."

"We're coming," Soobin said, blushing furiously at being caught by the younger boy.

"Oh, and hyung, black looks good on you," Kai said with a bright smile before slipping away. Yeonjun quickly gave a quick but intense kiss on the lips to Soobin before following Kai out and Soobin nearly dropped the room keys in his hand as he felt his knees go weak.

✿

"Atleast it was only for four hours," Taehyun offered as the cart tumbled over the roads on the outskirts of Verda. "We're there now."

"Don't forget what you're supposed to say, okay?" Yeonjun said nervously, not having wanted all of them there but they had insisted and hadn't let him and Soobin go alone.

("We're not going to let you go in the lion's den all alone, hyung," Taehyun said sharply.

"By that analogy, I'm the cub," Soobin said with a frown. "We can't risk your lives like this."