Isle of the Captain's Oath | Seongjoong AU

𝟙𝟘

♥╣[-_-]╠♥

- ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔢𝔫 -

Soft Smiles, Sharper Words

Seonghwa carried a small basket of supplies, its contents clinking softly as he made his way down the dimly lit corridor toward the captain's quarters. The faint scent of antiseptic and sea salt followed him, mingling with the wooden musk of the ship. Hongjoong's wound would need to be cleaned, the bandages replaced, and Seonghwa knew with absolute certainty that the captain wouldn't bother to take care of it himself.

That left Seonghwa with little choice.

Now he stood outside the door, his knuckles hovering inches from the wood. The faint light from a lantern nearby cast long, flickering shadows along the hallway, but Seonghwa's thoughts were elsewhere. He stared at the door, remembering the last time he had stepped through it.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked softly, the sound barely audible over the creaking of the ship. When no answer came, he hesitated. Was he asleep? Should he come back later?

No. Knowing Hongjoong, he was either ignoring the knock or too stubborn to admit he needed help. Seonghwa adjusted his grip on the basket and pushed the door open slowly, peeking inside.

The room was dimly lit by a single oil lamp, the golden glow casting long shadows across the sparse but well-kept space. A desk cluttered with maps and charts sat against one wall, and a large window overlooked the endless expanse of the ocean. On the bed, Hongjoong lay propped against a pile of pillows, his shirt hanging open to reveal the bandages Seonghwa had painstakingly wrapped the night before. He was awake, his sharp eyes focused on a book in his lap, though he didn't look up as Seonghwa entered.

"You didn't answer," Seonghwa said softly, closing the door behind him.

"Didn't realize I had to," Hongjoong replied, his voice low but steady. He glanced up, his gaze meeting Seonghwa's briefly before flicking back to the book. "What do you want?"

Seonghwa lifted the basket slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Your bandages need to be changed. And don't tell me you've already done it, because we both know you haven't."

Seonghwa moved to a stool beside Hongjoong's bed, setting the basket down on the small table next to him. He let his gaze settle on the captain for a moment longer than necessary, taking in the sight before him. Hongjoong's shirt hung open, the edges resting against his sides, exposing the bandages that wrapped snugly around his chest. Beneath the soft, golden glow of the lamp, his skin seemed to glisten faintly, the deep hue contrasting against the stark white of the bindings.

Seonghwa swallowed, forcing himself to look away and focus on the task at hand. He reached into the basket, pulling out clean bandages and a small bottle of antiseptic. "This isn't going to be pleasant," he warned, his tone sharper than he intended.

Hongjoong smirked faintly, setting his book aside. "Do I strike you as someone who can't handle a little discomfort?"

"No," Seonghwa admitted as he leaned closer. "But you strike me as someone who would rather suffer silently than admit they need help."

Hongjoong's smirk didn't waver, but his gaze softened slightly. "And yet, here you are," he said, his voice quieter now.

Seonghwa ignored the comment, his hands steady as he reached out and began unwinding the old bandages. The fabric peeled away, revealing the raw, angry wound beneath. Though it was healing, the edges were still red, and Seonghwa could see the strain in Hongjoong's jaw as he fought not to react to the sting.