Where the sea sleeps [HoonHao] ✔

20

This time when Woozi offers to assist in cleaning up, Mingyu declines it. ("You should rest some more while you can. Seriously, it's okay." With the way he insisted, how could he possibly say no to him?) With no idea where else to go, he makes his way to his usual position. He's almost to the ladder when a hand rests on his shoulder and without much thought, he turns around to face Minghao.

"Is something the matter?" he asks softly, almost so softly he has to strain to hear his own words; his own voice. He can't quite read Minghao's expression, so all he can really hope is that whatever he's come to say isn't anything bad. He can see the uncertainty in his eyes. "If you wish to say something, it is quite alright to do so." He hopes the assurance is enough to rid the uncertainty; he wouldn't have said anything if there was a possibility of it not, though.

"You're going up there?"

"That was my intention, yes. Why, Captain?"

He hasn't called Minghao that before, despite that being his position on the ship. There wasn't any exact reason except for the fact that he never felt he needed to. The surprise on Minghao's face when he uses the word is momentary, but it's there. Long enough for him to consider whether he should be using it more or not. Nobody else seemed to use the term, so he wasn't sure. He had to admit, he preferred using Minghao's name. He liked the way it rolled off his tongue; it seemed a better fit than the word 'captain'.

Pulling himself together, Minghao clears his throat. "You know you don't need to go back up there yet, right?"

"But it is not a requirement to remain down here either, correct?"

Minghao's brows furrow. "You don't want to rest?"

"Not particularly. I would feel better up there. It would give off a better distraction as well," he admits, subconsciously scratching at his cheek sheepishly. When he and Minghao lock gazes, it appears that the other understands what he means. Though what stands out more is the slight hint of worry in his eyes.

"Will you be able to get up there alright?" he asks. Ah, Woozi thinks. So that's why he was worried. He tries to smile it off, but he can't seem to.

"I hope so," he says eventually, glancing up at the rope ladder. He wasn't sure whether he'd be able to climb up there much less jump without falling. He was just hoping his body would cooperate. Once he was up there, he'd be okay; he wouldn't move, so he'd be resting in his own way.

Minghao chuckles, earning his attention. "C'mon," he says, already grabbing onto the ladder. "I'll go with you."

"Oh. There is really no need," he starts, but his words are futile as Minghao is already making his way up. ("I'm going with you, Zi," is what he says and is essentially what has him following. How could he argue when Minghao was shortening his name the way that he was? Plus, this way he'd have support when he needed to jump over.)

He almost falls, but Minghao's quick, grabbing his hand and pulling him onto the platform. "Gotcha," he says with a quirk of his lips. He barely breaks a sweat lifting Woozi. With his feet solidly planted on flat ground (or what could substitute for flat ground in this sense), he releases a steady, relieved breath.

"Thank you," he says as he takes a step over to the telescope device. He curls a hand around the metal of the narrowed section where he usually put his face to and sucks in a breath. He can feel Minghao's presence beside him, though he can also tell that he isn't being looked at. Turning his head, he follows Minghao's gaze out onto the ocean. Calm and steady. The ocean breeze is louder than ever tonight, the silence cutting it a close second. He wasn't sure whether Minghao liked it, but he definitely did. There was a comfort to Minghao's silences. Like no unnecessary words were being spoken. It made every conversation seem all the more important.

Tonight, he felt like talking. Silence only reminded him of that cell; it made him feel alone and while he knew more than anyone else on this ship that he was not alone, the mind could be one of the biggest tricksters. The mind was dangerous, having the ability to convince one of things that could be deemed untrue and silly. So tonight, the last thing he wished was to be alone with his mind.

"Is it odd?" The words finally find a gap, slipping past his lips and strolling through the air for Minghao to process them.

"Is what odd?" Minghao fires back, unable to take a guess at the numerous possibilities the question could be referring to.

"I wonder whether it is odd that, while I have no recollection of my past, I am almost certain I have never been out onto the ocean. Not the way I am now. And I cannot help but wonder if it is odd that, despite that, the ocean seems to be the most comforting place I could imagine right now." His voice cracks, but he manages to cover it up with a clear of his throat.

A chuckle fills the air; light and gentle, and in total agreement with what he's just said. Minghao acknowledges him with a soft expression, one as gentle as his chuckle. "Why do you think I'm a pirate?" he asks, but the question doesn't require an answer from Woozi but rather from Minghao himself. "I grew up on the ocean. So maybe my opinion is a bit biased, but I couldn't imagine a place better than this."

He sort of understands. While he can't remember anything, he can understand. To Minghao, the ocean is sentimental. It must be nice having something like that.

They sit like that for a while, staring out into the ocean without exchanging words. When Minghao has to take his turn in steering, he wishes Woozi a good sleep and makes his way down. It's not even a moment later when Hoshi jumps over. He's got that eye smile of his as he joins his side, resting his head against the wood. "I hope you don't mind," he says, turning to Woozi. "I'm gonna be a bother up here for the next few days."

The corners of his lips quirk up. "I suppose it is okay."

Hoshi grins. "Good, because you don't really have a choice."

Something in that should have bothered him; he should have a choice. Hoshi said it playfully though, and at the same time, him saying it didn't bother him in the slightest. He actually didn't mind having company. Especially someone like Hoshi who he knew would find a way to make conversation every chance he got.

He needed that right now.