Aurora's Child - ATEEZ Pirate AU

Chapter V: Gold

//TW: angst, cuss words, mentions of polyamorous relationships, mentions of human trafficking, mentions of prostitution, sexual themes.

A/N: I'm so excited for this chapter!! Two new ATEEZ members are gonna make their appearance. Can you guess who they are?

UPDATE: Errors and mistakes fixed.

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          Finally on course to Tortuga. The tension in Hongjoong's veins and the rapid beating of his heart keep him from getting proper sleep at night. Only one more day for them to reach land. Mingi still refuses to leave the room. He only comes out to do his assigned chores, but once he's finished he turns back to his chambers. Nobody has been able to pry him out of the room, seemingly still heartbroken. Hongjoong stopped trying to talk to him through the door at this point.

          He had just come back from a failed attempt of trying to get Mingi out of his room for dinner. He sits on the railing of the ship thinking of the future of his journey. The salty smell of the sea in the air doesn't serve to calm his nerves. Through his connection with the sea, he can feel it vibrating with excitement, as if the sea below him knew of the journey that awaits them.

          "Excited?"

          A voice startles him away from the view of the horizon before him. Hongjoong sighs as he looks at the intruder of his thoughts. Keonhee looks at him with a mischievous grin as he sits besides him on the railing to the side of the ship.

          "Terrified would be a better way to describe how I feel, to be completely honest," replied Hongjoong as he swung his legs back and forth.

          "Understandable," Keonhee sighs, "Y'know, matey. Ye've been great company and we've really enjoyed having ye lot join us on the ToMoon. E'en Cap'n agrees."

          Hongjoong smiles slightly at that. "Thank you. You guys have been a lot of help and I really appreciate it."

          "Ah, don' get all sentimental 'ere," Keonhee laughs. He suddenly turns serious as he looks down at the sea below them.

          "What're ye and Mingi gonna do once ye reach Tortuga?"

          Hongjoong ponders for a moment before answering, "Well, I'm gonna need a crew and a ship if I wanna get to Utopia. I also need more information regarding Utopia and Aurora's Children. There's so much that the Captain knows anyways. I must search further."

          Keonhee hums in acknowledgement.

          "We... we're gonna miss ye, y'know."

          Hongjoong turns to him in surprise, but Keonhee just keeps his eyes downwards. Him and Mingi were overworked most of the time, and barely had enough time to interact with anyone. It came as a surprise that they were even noticed. Youngjo did mention that ONEUS were like a family, but he never thought they would be considered a part of it. It was heartwarming to say the least. A lump formed in Hongjoong's throat at the thought being considered a part of something.

          From the corner of his eye, Hongjoong noticed Seoho approach them. He stretched both arms and laid them over Keonhee's and Hongjoong's shoulders. "It wasn't me intention to eavesdrop, but I 'eard bits of the conversation. I wanna add something to what Keonhee was saying."

          "When our Cap'n met Mingi back then, the lad quickly became our friend. Cap'n is really bad with words and he probably broke Mingi's heart, but we truly care for 'im, and for ye. Mingi was just an impressionable boy when he met Cap'n.