Seonghwa lay on Hongjoong's bed in the captain's quarters, his hand gently clasped in Hongjoong's smaller, weathered one. The room was dimly lit by a single lantern, casting warm shadows across their intertwined fingers.
"Why did you come to save me?" Seonghwa asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper, filled with a mix of gratitude and curiosity.
Hongjoong, sitting beside him on the edge of the bed, looked at Seonghwa with a tender expression. His fingers traced soothing circles on the back of Seonghwa's hand, a gesture of comfort amidst the lingering echoes of their recent ordeal.
"I never expected... this," Seonghwa admitted, his voice wavering slightly as he struggled to put his feelings into words. "To be saved by you, after everything..."
Hongjoong squeezed Seonghwa's hand gently, his touch reassuring. "You're not just a prize to be won," he said earnestly. "You're... important to me, Seonghwa."
"Thank you," Seonghwa whispered, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. "For seeing me... for saving me."
Hongjoong leaned closer, brushing a gentle kiss against Seonghwa's forehead. "Always," he murmured, his voice a promise of steadfastness and protection.
Seonghwa looked down, his emotions swirling in a tumultuous storm that threatened to overwhelm him. Tears trickled down his cheeks, betraying the vulnerability he felt in Hongjoong's presence.
"Why are you so affectionate with me, captain?" he asked softly, his voice trembling with a mixture of confusion and longing. "You confuse me, all the time."
Hongjoong's thumb moved tenderly across Seonghwa's cheek, brushing away the tears as he searched for the right words to convey the depth of his feelings.
"You're my precious hwa," he replied, his voice carrying a slight hesitation born from years of guarded emotions. "I'm fond of you."
Seonghwa's breath caught at Hongjoong's words, and for a moment, he was lost in the depth of the captain's gaze. The warmth and sincerity in Hongjoong's eyes were almost too much to bear. He felt a mix of gratitude, confusion, and something deeper that he couldn't quite name.
"I... I need to go," Seonghwa said suddenly, standing up from the bed. The abrupt movement caused Hongjoong to panic silently, his heart clenching at the thought of Seonghwa leaving.
"Why?" Hongjoong asked, his voice strained. "Stay a little longer, please."
"My father will be suspicious," Seonghwa explained, trying to steady his emotions. "I am to be crowned king tomorrow. I can't afford to be absent or raise any doubts about my loyalty to my people."
Hongjoong reached out and grabbed Seonghwa's hand, his grip gentle but firm. "Sleep here tonight, precious," he pleaded softly. "Take it as a proper farewell, hmm? Just one last night."
Seonghwa's heart ached at the desperation in Hongjoong's voice. He could see the longing and pain in the captain's eyes, mirroring his own internal conflict. The idea of staying, of sharing one final moment of closeness, tugged at his heartstrings.
"You know we'll never meet after this, right?" Seonghwa whispered, his voice barely audible.
Hongjoong's expression tightened, the weight of Seonghwa's words settling heavily between them. "I know," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. "But for tonight, let's forget about that. Just for a little while, let's pretend that tomorrow doesn't exist."
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ꜱᴏɴ ᴀᴍᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴀʀɪɴ ✧seongjoong✧
Fanfictionᴴⁱˢ ˢᵉᵃ ᴸᵒᵛᵉ Prince Seonghwa's world unravels when his sister disappears just days before his wedding. In his search, he falls into the hands of pirates who choose to imprison him instead of his sister. Among these cutthroats, Seonghwa unearths dar...
