The Night I Found Home (The Forever Pirates) #1

007

A/N: So, I'm sort've sorry for this chapter. A part later is probably awkward and uncomfortable to read, lol. However, it is important to understand exactly what is going on with Hwa, so keep that in mind.

Seonghwa

I took my break whenever I could, beelining for Yunho so we could continue our conversation from earlier. I had been dying to tell him about something I realized about the maps.

It was extremely inappropriate and incredibly impulsive how I practically burst through the Captain's quarters doors.

Yunho is not the one I found where he had been sitting earlier, no. In fact, it was a very, very much half-naked Hongjoong who was changing his shirt.

I spun around, my eyes almost bulging out of my head. "I AM SO SORRY!"

Silence befell us, and it stayed like that for unnecessarily long. What was I waiting for? A fucking answer when it was clear he wouldn't give it?

I could've very easily just walked out and tried to put the whole thing behind me, but I had a strong need to explain myself and make sure I wouldn't get thrown overboard again. I couldn't leave without knowing how furious he was.

After the prolonged silence, I cleared my throat and very slowly partly turned. I didn't want to actually look at him, but it seemed quite unproductive to be completely faced away.

I cleared my throat once more, the first time doing nothing, I stood there, trying not to fidget. "I'm...I was scrubbing the decks, and Yunho wanted to continue a conversation with me, and he told me to meet with him in here. I should've knocked. I'm very sorry."

"Seonghwa?" Hongjoong asked, sounding gentler than I assumed he'd be. I assumed his quietness was due to him fuming.

I didn't look up immediately, I waited a couple of seconds before I could manage to do so. Sure, I saw the men here shirtless, San especially. It's like he grew great pleasure showing off his physique, and I guess it wasn't horrible.

I finally did, however, look up at him, and he was still very much shirtless, his tunic seemingly forgotten on his desk chair

His trousers were lazily laced up but not tied yet, and his hair was tousled.

I must've looked like a fool with how my eyes darted panickedly around the room to avoid staring at him.

"Seonghwa." He said again, his voice firm.

"Mhm?" I hummed, almost shaking like a leaf.

"Are ye alright? Ye look... not alright..." He chuckled.

"You're..."

"Aye?"

"Shirtless." I finally answered, my voice betraying my confidence. I had none. I was losing it a bit, and my mind was spiraling, I wasn't even sure where or why.

I have seen men shirtless before! I mean...only here, on this ship, but still! Again, San was shirtless all the time, especially as the heat increased. Why? Why was I freaking out? I hadn't the clue, and it was starting to bother my stomach.

He laughed.

Actually fucking laughed at me.

The gall on this man!