Aurora's Child - ATEEZ Pirate AU

Chapter II: Long Journey

A/N: I want say that I forgot to add a trigger warning in the first chapter and I'm sorry. I might dive into rather uncomfortable and dark subjects as the story progresses, so I'll fix the first chapter and add warnings later on.

//TW: Mentions of murder

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          The storm outside, still going strong, took over the silence between Mingi and Hongjoong. The wind was bending the trees, tearing them apart. Thunder and lightning lit up the otherwise dark room. The rain was beating heavily against the roof, the windows, the ground outside; the storm shook the whole world, but it wasn't enough to break their trance. After a few minutes, Mingi finally responded to this new information, although he still couldn't process it.

          "What... what are you...?" Mingi couldn't help but stare into Hongjoong's glowing green eyes. How was that even possible? He always had brown eyes.

          "Mingi... I remember now. I remember everything. My family, where I came from, and who I am."

          Mingi let out a shaky breath and stumbled back against a wall. He couldn't understand what was going on. What happened to Hongjoong?

          "But... Emerald People... Aurora's Children... It's-It's a myth!" The more he stared into his haunting eyes, the more he believed it, but he was still in denial. What could this mean? As far he knew --as far as everyone knew-- those were just folktales. This... This right here... Is so unreal. But there was something that disturbed him beyond that. Does that mean Hongjoong would leave him?

          Hongjoong kept looking into Mingi's eyes looking for answers. Was he scared? Of him? He can't let that happen. Mingi and he are brothers, regardless of blood, regardless of him recovering his memories. He would explain everything, answer any questions, but he couldn't lose his only brother. Besides his memories, he had nothing else. He would take Mingi with him, as selfish as it was.

          Before Hongjoong could say anything else, Mingi spoke. His question making any doubt he had dissipate. He knew what to do.

          "Does that mean... does that mean you'll leave?"

          Mingi's devastated tone broke something in Hongjoong's heart. There is no damn way he would leave Mingi behind. It was never his plan to leave him behind; he would take Mingi wherever he went if that's what it takes for them to stick together. He couldn't leave Mingi with that fucking monster.

          "Yes."

          Mingi wanted to protest, but...

          "But... I want you to come with me. I'll explain everything if you come with me."

          Mingi broke into a relieved smile letting out a breath he unconsciously held. He didn't know what it was, but he trusted Hongjoong with his life, even when they had just met as children. It was something about his presence that made him feel safe; at home. With that in mind, he already knew his answer before his hyung even thought of asking. He would follow Hongjoong wherever life took them.

          "I will come with you."

          Hongjoong was glad to hear that. He would've probably abducted him if he had refused. He wouldn't leave him behind just like that. Laughing at the thought a little, his expression went back to serious as he remembered what he had to do. They have to leave tonight. Begin a journey to an island that to this day he had thought was just a myth.

          Who knew what was awaiting them? The thought scared Hongjoong to the core, but in his heart he knew he had to go and find out. There's so much he still doesn't know and he needs answers. He had to find a ship, find the island, and find ATEEZ. He wasn't sure where to even start, or in what particular order, and he could already feel a panic attack silently settling in through his system. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. They had disobeyed Commander Song before but this far more dangerous than a simple act of mischief. They were going to betray the Crown altogether.