Mors Per Mare (ATEEZ FF)

20

The breeze was strong from your place on the rigging.

It had been a week of sailing without much occurring. There wasn't much Yeosang could do for broken ribs, except maybe help you with the pain.

Things resumed as per usual, or as usual as they got on the Journey. You continued practicing with the rapier, and you were getting quite good. Even Yunho said so. You helped as much as you could around the ship, in the kitchens with Seonghwa, on the sails and rigging with Wooyoung and San, charting courses with Yunho and the Captain. Although you were really only there for input on the sea witch situation.

Even now, Yunho was holed up in the navigation room, continuing to map out the ship's course toward the navy port where the witch was most likely buried.

"Y/N!" San called down the side of the crow's nest in greeting, distracting you from your thoughts. You looked up, shielding your eyes with your hand. "D'you mind taking my spot for a bit?"

You grinned, beginning your ascent up the ropes. You'd gotten much faster in the last few days, having done it enough to finally build up your strength. Still, you were no match for San, who descended far quicker than one should be able to.

You made it up to him and took your usual spot. No longer did you feel the necessity to stay in the crow's nest, instead choosing to perch yourself on the beam that supported the sail.

You chose then to cast a glance down at the men working below. Mingi was polishing a cannon, and Seonghwa was coming up the hatch with food presumably for Yunho who'd not yet left the navigation room since he'd gone in after your lesson this morning at dawn. It was nearly dusk.

Boom.

You looked up, scanning the horizon for the source of the muffled sound. Had anyone else heard it? They didn't give any sign of it if they had. You were starting to doubt your ears when...

Boom.

There it was again. You squinted your eyes against the sun and looked as far as you could. Were you going crazy or were there two dots out on the horizon?

Boom. Boom.

It was a little louder now, and you looked down to see if someone had heard it yet. Still nothing, you looked up again. There were definitely two dots on the horizon, and they were getting bigger.

"Captain!" You shouted, turning towards the helm. "Two ships ahead! It looks like a chase!"

"Jolly Roger or not?" He called.
A thud beside you alerted you to Wooyoung's presence in the crow's nest before he called to the captain.

"One's navy! The other's... Captain! It's the Kids!" Wooyoung called.

"The Kids?" You asked, but Wooyoung was already swinging down towards the Captain.

"All hands hoy!" Captain shouted, and you grabbed hold of the rigging and descended quickly. The remaining crew of the Journey was emerging from wherever they'd been just moments before.

"Ready the Cannons! The Navy's got The Kids in a chase!" He called, it took no time at all for the crew to disperse, working quickly. "Y/N, go down the hatch and wait in the kitchens until I come for you, do you understand me?"

"But Cap-"

"Do you understand me?!"

"Aye, Captain!" You turned towards the hatch, and headed down towards the Kitchen, stopping only at the water barrels to fill your flask.

Ridiculous, what was all the rapier practice for if he wasn't going to let you use it?

Dropping the flask, you turned on your heel and went back up the hatch.  "Captain, I really must protest!"