Somewhere Between the Sea and the Sky.

Episode 2: Chapter 7.

The sound of a sword being unsheathed.

That was the last thing Hongjoong heard before he found himself unable to move, not from fear but from caution. The captain didn't know if the person who found him was another pirate, maybe someone from Oneus who wasn't as calm as the demon, or a soldier who followed them looking for a trophy. His best option was to call the others, in the worst scenario he could get killed. Nothing he cared about, really. But the guy could be stronger than expected, perhaps doing as he wanted could save a life or two from his crew.

So, he waited. What would it be?

Suddenly, he felt something cold. Iron against his skin, the sword touched his neck and made a chill run through his body. Slowly, the sword moved a bit and freed him from the cold. It was pretty, golden and white with some black details, clearly a fancy one.

Huh?

He knew that sword.

"You son of a bitch—"

Hongjoong sputtered and turned around, only to see him. Seonghwa was in front of him, one knee on the floor and a stupid smile on his face. The guy almost gave him a heart attack and he seemed so happy about it.

Honestly, he wasn't even mad at it. It wasn't the first time they did that shit.

"Couldn't you just— Call me or something?"

"Wanted to make sure you're not a hostage." The blond went silent for a moment, probably making sure the others weren't listening. "You are not, right?"

"What? No, why would I—"

The captain interrupted himself, giving the other a point there. He was walking with a demon and a soldier to what probably was a trap, he really could be a hostage.

A pretty bad one, though.

"I am not."

Upon hearing the answer, the blond gave himself a moment and just nodded. He seemed to be fine, Joong was grateful for that, but then he paid more attention to the guy. Not only his clothes were dirty (something that wasn't that weird, honestly, they had been dragged through the fucking forest), but his eyes felt heavy. Not only that, but the dark circles under them had a slight reddish hue. He knew what that meant, he saw them before.

He cried. And he cried like a bastard, those marks were from the effort and exhaustion.

What the hell happened to Seonghwa after they were separated from each other?

"What about you?" He finally asked.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not."

Hongjoong wouldn't usually force anyone to speak, even then it wasn't his intention, but he knew Seonghwa for too long. He slowly raised his hand and, after making sure the other was okay with it, he gently caressed the area around his eyes. The blond closed his eyes at the touch, something that made Joong's expression soften.

He expected a rejection, honestly, given the situation they were in.

"I'm fine knowing that you are."

And those words felt like the sincerest ones ever pronounced, making Hongjoong's heart drop to the floor. Did he... Did he cry for him? Was he so worried he cried his heart out?

Or was it something even worse?

Hongjoong took a deep breath, the other probably didn't want to talk about it and he was no one to make him do so. Teasing was the usual between them, it had always been, but there was a line he wouldn't cross.