Transient Waters

3

WooYoung glanced at the Captain at that, a smile brightening his face. It would not take much for the others to agree to take SeongHwa in, especially if he begged them, he knew that he would manage to get them to agree. Then SeongHwa would not have to worry, he would be with them. Plus, he already knew that the Captain had some sort of amusement with SeongHwa, he would want to have him around, at the very least. He jumped up, causing SeongHwa to startle slightly, but moving upwards as he did so, keeping a close eye on the Captain, and keeping his body in between them and WooYoung, not trusting them quite enough yet, unable to stop himself from the natural feelings of protection that he felt when it came to WooYoung. WooYoung said that he knew the others, but for some reason, he just was not quite able to stop the instinctive need to keep him away from threats, and at the moment the Pirates were the threats.

Then again, they sort of did murder the entire crew. Although, SeongHwa was not complaining. The Crew was cruel, and they had taken to depriving him and WooYoung of suitable meals in an attempt to keep them further under control, mostly because WooYoung had been getting horribly restless, and Seonghwa was not doing a good enough job at keeping them under the radar. He always felt like he failed WooYoung, in some ways. He knew that there was only so much that he could do in the end, but that did not really make the feelings of failure go away, it just mad them worse.

It was not the first time they had attempted to control SeongHwa through WooYoung, and it had likely probably not been the last should they have survived longer on the boat. There was usually a pattern. SeongHwa had been rather...chastised, thoroughly, for allowing WooYoung to speak too loudly, but the only other alternative was letting WooYoung take the punishment for it. SeongHwa knew how cruel the others sailors were, and though he could not do much to protect WooYoung from their cruelty, taking on the other's punishments without his knowledge was definitely one price he was most willing to pay.

WooYoung moved towards the Captain, SeongHwa letting out a startled sound, fingers grasping the other's sleeve quickly, staring at the younger with big eyes. WooYoung gave him a small, calming smile. "Youngie," He whispered, worry in his tone. WooYoung sighed knowing what he was feeling, and was quick to calm him down, pulling his wrist away from SeongHwa, who let him go, not wanting to hurt him inadvertently.

"Hyung," He whispered, "Don't worry, let me talk to them." SeongHwa grit his teeth, not really wanting to but he held his body tense as WooYoung walked towards the Captain, who turned on his heel and they moved together towards the rest who spoke quietly, enough so that SeongHwa could not hear what they were saying. SeongHwa, feeling exhausted, just moved to the side, leaning himself against one of the pillars that held the look out. He leaned his head back, his eyes fluttering closed. He opened his yes enough to look at WooYoung speaking with the others that he apparently knew.

A part of him felt betrayed, he knew. A part of him felt jealous, but in the end, at the current moment, he just felt tired. Exhausted, and he wanted to go to sleep. He did not know what he was going to do. Sure, he probably did not have to worry too much about being sold to some slave traders anymore, but he also did not exactly have anywhere to go to anymore either. He had been gone for so long, he knew that even if there were people waiting for him, it just was too late. They had probably moved on, and he really would just prefer to do so as well. He did not want to leave the place that he had previously called home, but it had been...so long.

He felt his body slip under him, crashing to the floor, leaving him blinking blankly. WooYoung turned to glance at him, his eyes widening and a rather colourful curse falling from his lips. SeongHwa had the words to reprimand him on his tongue, but for some reason he did not think he could really say anything. WooYoung rushed over to him, his fingers trembling as they took his head in his hands.

"Hyung?"

"Youngie," SeongHwa slurred slightly, and WooYoung cursed. Of course, he should have figured that something like this would happen. He pat the other's cheek slowly.

"No, no, Hyung, stay awake okay?" WooYoung said, nerves lit up suddenly.

I thought I would have noticed if they had been hurting him again. WooYoung thought to himself, but he realized, SeongHwa often did things to keep WooYoung from trouble, even if he thought WooYoung did not know, it was somewhat obvious. He cursed himself. I should have known something was up when Hyung refused to eat this morning. I had just attributed it to the nervous feeling that he was getting. How stupid.

"Yeosang Hyung!" Wooyoung called out, his eyes panicked and sorting through the others before catching the doctor's eyes. "Can you come here for a moment please?" The other hastily made way towards WooYoung who was still struggling to keep SeongHwa awake. "I think...I don't..."

"It's okay," Hongjoong said gently, pulling WooYoung away from SeongHwa, the other fighting against the Captain to try and get back to the fragile elder.

"Hyung, he is hurt." WooYoung said in a whisper, guilt flooding through him. "He said that they were just making him do basic chores." He felt stupid for believing SeongHwa. He had just not wanted to think that they were truly beating him. He should have figured though. HongJoong sighed.

"Yeosang, we don't have the time. Bring him on board with us," HongJoong said, leaving WooYoung to curl into him thanks on his lips. HongJoong just curled his hands in the other's hair soothing him silently. "We need to leave," He said to the younger gently, trying to keep him from panicking.

"He gets to come with us right?" WooYoung whispered, wanting to make one hundred percent sure. "I know that you don't like adding more people to our group but, Hyung...I would not have managed this long without him. He protected me, for so long."

"I know, Woo-ah, but...I think you should be aware, he may dislike the fact that you are a Pirate." Wooyoung slumped.

"I don't think that's the part I need to worry about," He muttered. HongJoong sighed, but did not press further, instead ordering Mingi to help YeoSang move SeongHwa onto their boat so they could finish sinking the one that they were on. They had already spent way too much time on this venture.