𝓕𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓞𝓾𝓻 𝓣𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮 2: 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑡 (ateez)

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝓤

"So, Mingi, will we find your treasure next?" Iridessa asks him as the two of them do a cannonball check down in the hold.

"Huh? Oh, haha we're in the middle of my treasure hunt actually."

"We're in the middle of it?! Already?"

"Yeah! Haha since before you joined, up to now."

Iridessa holds the lantern up higher as he wipes a smudge from a cannonball with his finger.

"What's your treasure then?"

Mingi turns to her with a small smile, "Bravery."

*Flashback*

[Mingi's POV]

I've been scared all my life. My list of fears grew daily as I went through my life. Some fears were common than others like fear of bugs, heights, closed spaces. Others were rare and were weird to have in others' eyes like fear of being judged, fear of large and small crowds, even fear of the number 8!! Why is it so twisty than the other numbers?! It freaks me out.

Regardless of how many fears I had, I knew I wanted one thing more than anything in the world. I wanted to prove to myself that I can overcome all the fears I have and that I can be brave. I've read so many stories about heroes and how courageous they are and they can do anything. That's what I wanted. Their bravery, their courage.

My only problem was...I didn't know how to achieve that bravery. I bluff a lot, trying to prove to those around me that I'm not scared of anything, but little lies like those can only take me so far through the fearful situations.

"Boy oh boy, Mingi, you really are a scaredy-cat." My friend told me as we walk past the ship port.

I rolled my eyes, "Shut up, I know."

"You should be a pirate!! They're strong and fearless! Just look at that ship! Boy, the crew that belongs to that one must be so courageous."

I looked to the massive ship at the dock that they pointed at. On the side of the ship was the word, "ATEEZ" on it.

"I mean, you have a point. But I have a fear of sailing and trying new things." I said with a sigh.

I could never be a fearless pirate. How could I make the seas fear me if I'm too nervous to ride their waves? The crew would make me walk the plank for sure if they discovered my many fears. My friend grabbed my shoulders and made me face them.

"Look at me, my friend. You can't keep walking around trying to overcome your fears by yourself. That's not gonna get you anywhere. Maybe if you just had a new life and a new perspective on things, maybe you could attack your fears from another angle!"

I smiled at my friend's encouraging words. Maybe they're right. Maybe I just need to come at this from another angle. We saw a sign by the plank of the ship that read, crew members needed!

"Maybe you should start with that first fear of trying something new." my friend said to me.

I nodded in agreement and took a breath and took my first steps up the plank of the ATEEZ ship.

When I made it to the top of the deck, I was greeted by a pirate.

"Ahoy there! Are you here because of the sign?" he asked me.

I just nodded in response and he gave me a small smile and shook my hand.

"I'm Seonghwa and I'm the Quartermaster of this ship! If you'd please follow me to the captain's quarters so I can introduce you to the captain and we can decide your position."

I followed the kind pirate across the ship to the captain's quarters and he knocked on the door.

"Captain, we have a possible new recruit!"

"Oh! Come in!" The captain on the other side said as Seonghwa opened the door, allowing me to go in first.

The short captain stood up from his seat with a friendly smile and shook my hand, "Hello! Nice to meet you! I'm Captain Hongjoong! Welcome aboard my ship! So, you're interested in being a pirate, aye?"

"Y-yes, sir." I studdered nervously after feeling the boat lightly rock on the water.

Will I really be alright here? How long am I going to last?

Seonghwa and Hongjoong looked between each other after my nervous response yet they still gave me comforting smiles.

"Hey, no need to be nervous here. I get it, being a pirate for the first time is a lot." Seonghwa said as he pats my shoulder gently.

"N-no it's not that sir. I'm actually nervous about a lot of things. I-I just want to try something new to overcome my nervousness."

The two of them looked at each other and mouthed "treasure" to each other before looking back at me.

"What's your name, boy?" The captain asked me.

"S-song Mingi, sir."

"Well, Mingi, you came aboard the right ship. I think we can help you here with that. You'll be our 6th crew member after today if that's alright with you."

I showed a small smile, "Yes, sir. Thank you."

"Seonghwa, if you could prepare a room for him below deck, please."

"Aye, captain!" The quartermaster said then left the two of us in the room.

"Come with me, Mingi. I'll teach you all about cannonry. After today, you're the master gunner."

*Flashback End*

"Wait. Hongjoong put you in the position of one of the most dangerous jobs on this ship so you could work on your bravery?" Iridessa asks him.

Mingi closes his logbook after they count the last cannonball, he gives her a happy smile, "Yup! He did that so I could get out of my comfort zone. I was his apprentice for a while. Now, I'm way better at it than I thought! I love my job a lot!"

"Do you think you're braver than when you first joined?" I ask him curiously.

He thinks for a bit then gives a slight nod, "I think so. When I was first starting out my pirate life it was difficult, but I always had the crew especially Hongjoong to support me. I'm still a scaredy-cat, but my list of fears has gotten shorter these past years and I think as I go along our journeys, I'll eventually overcome the whole list! Hongjoong taught me that, I never had to go through my fears alone, they're easier to overcome with some support and that's where the crew fits in. I used to be scared of the number 8 but after we became 8 members, it became an important number to me. 8 means, Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Wooyoung, Jongho, and me. Now the number 9 with you! You all are my support and I'll eventually reach my treasure with you guys."

Iridessa gives Mingi a smile and pats his back, "that, Song Mingi, was the bravest response I've ever heard."

[A/N]
We love you Mingi ❤️ plz get well soon ^^ I hope you find your treasure while you recover ☺️