Take me home | Seongjoong

Tides of Change

For Seonghwa, life aboard the ship had become something of a routine. He helped with the cooking, organized the supplies, and spent quiet moments on the deck, watching the waves roll by. The crew had started to warm to him, if only a little. Wooyoung no longer rolled his eyes when Seonghwa offered to help, and even Yeosang had begun to ask for his assistance more frequently. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

But it was his time with Hongjoong that was most unexpected. Their late-night talks under the stars had grown longer, more frequent, and in some ways, more intimate. Hongjoong had a way about him—a certain charisma that made it hard for Seonghwa to tell if he was just being friendly or if there was something else beneath the surface.

Hongjoong had started flirting with him. At first, Seonghwa had brushed it off as nothing more than playful banter, the kind of teasing that might come naturally from a pirate captain. But the touches had started to linger—a brush of the hand here, the press of a knee against his when they sat close. Each touch was brief, subtle, but Seonghwa noticed every single one.

One afternoon, Seonghwa was walking across the deck, his mind wandering when he felt a hand on his waist. He froze for just a moment, his heart racing as Hongjoong lightly moved him aside, stepping past him.

"Out of the way, pretty," Hongjoong murmured, his voice playful but with an edge of something else. His hand lingered just a second too long before he let go.

Seonghwa swallowed, heat rising to his face as he quickly stepped aside. He wasn't sure if Hongjoong meant anything by it or if he was just messing with him. But the way his heart thumped in his chest told him that he was beginning to think about it too much.

That night, as the stars twinkled above them and the ship swayed gently in the calm sea, Seonghwa found himself standing beside Hongjoong once again. They were both leaning against the railing, watching the horizon.

"You're quiet tonight," Hongjoong said, his voice low and relaxed.

Seonghwa glanced at him, noticing the soft curve of his lips and the glint in his eyes that always seemed to hold a secret. "Just thinking," he replied, trying to sound casual.

"Dangerous thing, that," Hongjoong teased, leaning closer. "What's on your mind?"

Seonghwa hesitated, feeling his face flush again. "Nothing important."

"Hmm." Hongjoong's fingers brushed Seonghwa's hand on the railing, a light touch that could have been an accident—but Seonghwa was starting to realize that Hongjoong rarely did anything by accident. "You know," Hongjoong added with a smirk, "if you're planning on keeping secrets from me, you're not doing a very good job of it."

Seonghwa's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly looked away. "I'm not keeping any secrets," he lied, though his mind was swirling with thoughts he'd rather not admit out loud.

Hongjoong chuckled, the sound low and rich, and Seonghwa felt his pulse quicken again. Was he always this close? Seonghwa tried to focus on the stars, willing himself to ignore the warmth radiating from Hongjoong's proximity.

The next few days followed the same rhythm—small touches, lingering glances, playful words. Seonghwa pretended it was all in good fun, but deep down, he couldn't stop wondering if there was something more behind it. And, more disturbingly, he found himself playing along. He would catch Hongjoong's gaze and hold it for just a second too long, would laugh a little too freely at his jokes, would let himself stand a little too close.

***

The crew, meanwhile, carried on with their daily routines. Mingi and Yunho were often on the deck, maintaining the sails or working on the rigging, their voices carrying over the sound of the waves. Wooyoung continued to oversee the kitchen, though now he trusted Seonghwa enough to leave him in charge of organizing things below deck. San, always training, could often be found sparring with whoever was willing to take him on, his energy boundless even in the heat of the day.