Take me home | Seongjoong

The Price

The Black Siren sped through the open sea, its sails straining against the wind as the crew worked tirelessly to maintain its pace. The sun was beginning to set, casting an eerie orange glow over the water, but there was no beauty to be found in the sight—not with the Crown's navy closing in behind them.

Panic had begun to settle on the ship. Wooyoung, usually so composed and quick with a quip, was pacing the deck, glancing nervously at the horizon as the navy's ships grew larger with each passing minute. San and Jongho were at the rigging, pulling the sails as taut as they could, their movements rushed and frantic. Yunho stood near the bow, scanning the distance, but his usual calm demeanor had long since faded. Even Yeosang, quiet and steady, looked rattled as he double-checked the ship's supplies, his hands trembling ever so slightly as he tied down loose crates.

"They're gaining on us!" Wooyoung's voice cut through the tense air, his eyes wide as he glanced back at the black sails of the Crown's ships. "Damn it, they're too fast!"

Seonghwa stood frozen near the railing, his hands gripping the wood so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. His heart pounded in his chest, fear surging through him in waves as the realization hit him fully: the Crown's navy was after him.

His mind raced, a thousand scenarios playing out in his head, each one more terrifying than the last. He knew they wouldn't kill him—he was the Crown's runaway prince, after all—but what about the rest of the crew? They wouldn't be afforded the same mercy. Pirates were dealt with harshly by the Crown. If they were caught, Hongjoong and the others could be imprisoned, tortured, or worse—executed.

Seonghwa's stomach churned as the weight of that truth settled over him like a shroud. He wasn't just afraid for himself—he was terrified for the crew, for the family he had found on this ship.

"I won't let this happen," he whispered to himself, but the words felt hollow in the face of the reality bearing down on them. His promise to Hongjoong echoed in his mind, a bitter reminder of how much things had changed. He had sworn that his presence wouldn't bring harm to the Black Siren, that he would keep the crew safe. But now, here they were—being hunted because of him.

His gaze flicked to Hongjoong, who stood at the helm, his hands gripping the wheel with a determination that Seonghwa had never seen before. The captain's black coat billowed in the wind, and on his head sat the hat Seonghwa had given him back at the last port—a small, quiet gift, meant to be a token of their growing bond.

But now, as the navy ships loomed ever closer, Seonghwa couldn't help but feel the crushing weight of guilt. It was his fault that they were in this situation, and no matter how fiercely Hongjoong was fighting to get them away, Seonghwa knew the odds weren't in their favor. He had endangered them all.

Seonghwa's eyes lingered on Hongjoong, who remained laser-focused on steering the ship. There was no fear in the captain's eyes, only a fiery determination to escape their pursuers. Even as the distance between them and the Crown's ships grew shorter, Hongjoong never wavered. He would fight until the very end to protect his crew, no matter the odds.

Seonghwa swallowed hard, the lump in his throat growing heavier with every second. He had promised he wouldn't be a burden, but he was the reason they were now running for their lives. He was the reason Hongjoong had that look in his eyes—the look of someone who was fighting a battle they knew they couldn't win.

"They're almost on us!" Yunho's shout broke through the chaos, and Seonghwa turned to see the navy's ships drawing even closer. The banners of the Crown fluttered ominously in the wind, and the gleam of cannons along their sides sent a shiver down his spine.

Then, the first shot rang out.

The cannonball splashed into the water just off the starboard side of the Black Siren, close enough to make the entire ship shudder, but not close enough to hit. Seonghwa's heart leapt into his throat, his body tensing as he watched the plume of water shoot into the air.