Treasure | Ateez

| 35 |

"Incertus animus dimidium sapientiae est"

- A mind that doubts is halfway to wisdom

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Hongjoong prided himself on knowing the habits of his crew. 

And try as hard as he might he made sure he was never caught as he observed them. Call it a stalker decision, he considered himself to be the all knowing instead.

So it was no surprise he saw their new arrival sneak out every night to sit with her legs dangling over the hull every night only to disappear at the slightest hint of sound that emanated from the sleeping quarters.

"How unusual" his thoughts were his own, a slight look of amusement sparking his face as he looked at the girl who gazed towards the rising dawn.

The night had been rough, rain battering down on them while the map they followed led them through even more treacherous waters than even he had never tread on before. He has told them all to get some sleep, they would need it when they docked.

"You can stop hiding"

Hongjoong startled out of his thoughts at the sudden call, head rising as his eyes met with the girl who had turned around - hair whipping her face in the wind and the dagger he had stolen on their first meeting twirling around her fingers.

"You're lucky I didn't throw it at you" she smirked as the gold on the hilt caught the light.

"You think too lowly of my skills" he pushed himself off of the wall, raising two fingers to the brim of his hat in a mock salute before making his way towards her.

"And you regard yourself too highly"

They were facing each other now, postures mirroring each other as they stood with their hands crossed and a mocking expression on their faces.

"Do you think we are going to make it?" The breeze lifted some of the heat of the night as it pulled at their clothes. The question was one that had lingered in Aeris's head for far too long before she had managed to say it.

"Why wouldn't we?" Hongjoong challenged.

"It's never been done before,"

"So was climbing the Mistt mountains but it happened didn't it?"

"Hongjoong it's because everyone knew they existed" an exasperated sigh left her lips. "We're going after something heard only in stories-"

Were the signs and the map not enough to convince you Aeris?"

"Yes but-"

"You're scared" Hongjoong scrutinised her expression, the slightest bite of her lip as she looked down before she scoffed, waving a hand in front of her face.

"No!"

"Yes you are" He grinned.

"No I'm not!"

"Don't try to deny it"

"I'm-"

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, I'm sure Yeosang could make you some herbal tea to calm your nerves if needed-"

"I told you I'm not-"

The boy opened his mouth to respond when suddenly a warm hand covered his lips- "mmph-" eyes widening at the sudden touch as he tried to ignore the sudden beating of his heart as the look on the girls face overcame his own. She was inches away, eyebrows furrowed and a pout on her lips as the moonlight obscured the top of their heads, accenting her eyes that glow like

molten silver and for a second Hongjoong caught himself staring.

"I said I wasn't"

He nodded- slowly reaching his hand towards her and gently pulling it away from his lips, a spike of electricity racing up his body as she suddenly pulled her hand away from his own- the warmth disappearing almost the minute he had gotten used to it.

"Well then, we are approaching land soon-" the flustered boy cleared his throat, turning away as a confused Aeris watched him gaze out towards the waters- not clearly being able to see as he fiddled with the rings on his fingers, desperately trying to hide the light red that grew on his cheeks.

"You should get some sleep"

"I should say the same" she replied. "You might be needing it the most"

"And why would that be? Are you planning on launching another attack in my cabin?" He smirked, watching as a shudder passed in her body as she remembered the attack.

"If I had to I assure you I would get the job done this time" she replied in spite, sniffing daintily as Hongjoong crowed in laughter.

"And I assure you-" he mocked "that you wouldn't make it past the door without handcuffs around your wrists "

"Is that a challenge Captain?" She challenged, taking a step closer to the boy who only tilted his head in response.

"Would you like it to be?" 

Taken aback, he saw her gaze turn scrutinising, eyeing at his posture and at the lilt of his words before she continued. "Honeyed words flow like wine from your mouth" 

"I never took a challenge to be a way of wooing" 

"Quit smirking at me" she scowled.

"I'm not smirking" he shook his head, trying to - but failing miserably- hide his expression from the girl whose face soured with every second she saw his. 

"Then stop laughing"

"I'm not laughing- woah-" the threat of a dagger suddenly made its presence known to the boy who swerved to his left as she raised it out of her pocket.

"Then stop whatever it is you're doing!" 

"This is my normal disposition-" they were dodging now, weaving in between the wooden planks with feet that hardly made a sound as the knives they had kept in their scabbards now danced against each other with the twang of steel against skin. "A ray of sunshine in the middle of rainclouds, you wouldn't want to put a cloud over it would you?"

"It's an excuse to laugh at me" Her face came close to his once again, her hair cascading down her shoulders and a grin on her face as she realised she had the upper hand in the twos duel as the edge of the ship fast approached her opponent. "I don't like it"  

He glanced back wearily before pushing against her waist- free hand quickly grasping her waist and and causing them to switch positions as the astounded girl stumbled slightly- the twang of his necklace against her neck was what separated them yet again as the girl ducked to avoid his strike. 

Quickly she kicked at his feet, only for him to jump in the air and catch her blade mid strike right above his waist- pushing her down in her already crouched position.  There was only one opening- as inconvenient as it may be, Aeris knew she had to win this fight. 

Hongjoong was just opening his mouth when she relaxed her grip, making him stumble forwards the slightest as she slid through his widened legs and uprighting herself behind him with the edge pointing straight towards the exposed part at the back of his neck. 

"Drop it" she breathed heavily, biting her bottom lip to even out her breath as he did the same. The weapon clanked onto the floor as he slowly raised his hands, turning around to face her and she realised that smile had never left his face. 

"Rain Cloud" 

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A u t h o r s     n o t e

1k words of Hongjoong and Aeris bickering cause i live for it.