Luck (Has Nothing To Do With It); for kojafras, (2/2)

[perfectingart]

Jongin has never seen the inside of a captain's quarters. The temptation was there, of course, at times when his old captain wasn't on the ship. He's always refrained, for the punishment would surely be severe if he were ever caught. But he still wonders, remains ever curious.

Baekhyun’s quarters are far less glamorous than he’s imagined. He was expecting grandiose opulence, trinkets and spoils. In reality it's basically bare, containing a table, a bed and not much else. There's also curtains, which are a luxury on their own. Jongin has never known someone so well off that they can afford to waste fabric in such a manner. Even before his time with the Navy, curtains were merely rags and nothing else.

“Leave us,” Baekhyun is pouring over maps as Jongin enters the quarters. He doesn't raise his head in greeting, merely dismisses Jongdae with a wave of his hand.

“I was going to bribe Luhan with gossip,” Jongdae whines. He’s part of the most feared crew ever to sail the ocean, yet he pouts like a child, “You can't take that away from me.”

“You can gossip with Luhan when you're on kitchen duty,” Baekhyun rises from his chair. He's small, yet still intimidating; it's easy to see why those who have met him and survived still speak of him in terror, “For an entire week.”

“One week?” Jongdae screeches, “Baek, you're killing me.”

“I could,” Baekhyun shrugs, “If that's what you want.”

“Kitchen duty sounds great,” Jongdae replies hastily, scrambling for the door, “I'll leave you to it.”

There's an echoing slam as Jongdae retreats, the framework shaking from the force. Jongin keeps his eyes glued to his feet, he’s too scared to raise his head, even as Baekhyun’s footsteps draw closer.

“Chanyeol told me what happened,” Baekhyun says quietly. Presses his fingertips into Jongin’s chin, gently encouraging him to raise his head. They make eye contact, and Baekhyun is just as beautiful as Jongin remembers, “I overreacted and I'm sorry.”

“I'm sorry, too,” Jongin says. The air is charged, and he has no idea what to do with his hands. Jongin has spent months imagining his reunion with Baekhyun, although none of his fantasies included being covered in mystery gunk and standing on a pirate ship, “You thought I stood you up.”

“You can't change the weather, Jongin,” Someone must have told Baekhyun his name, because they haven't yet been formally introduced. Baekhyun traces his fingertips along Jongin’s cheeks and jawline, softly and as if in awe. It would feel disgusting, as Jongin is dirty and covered in stubble, but Baekhyun doesn't seem to care, “Unless you can command storms as well as hearts?”

That makes Jongin laugh. He's disgusting, yet Baekhyun still finds him attractive. The command of hearts, indeed.

Jongin shakes his head, allowing his hand to rest on Baekhyun’s wrist.

“Oh I don't know about that,” Baekhyun laughs, “I'm sure my head isn't the only one you've turned.”

It's not, but Baekhyun’s gaze is the only one that's truly mattered. He's the only person Jongin has wanted to see the morning after, the only one of his bed partners he's wanted to find by his side as the sun rises.

“You're a pirate,” Jongin says, instead, “You told me that you're a merchant.”

“Would you have gone to bed with the infamous pirate Byun Baekhyun?” He asks, fingers tracing a path from Jongin’s cheek to his neck. Baekhyun is so close, and seems to want to kiss him despite the smell, “Would you have let me do what I did if you knew who I was?”

“Honestly?” Jongin breathes. If Baekhyun doesn't mind his lack of hygiene, then who is he to deny him? Jongin wants nothing more than to kiss the man in front of him, but their teasing banter is just too much fun, “I would have asked you to take me on the spot.”

“In front of everyone?” Baekhyun’s voice hitches, his hands shake as they come to rest on Jongin’s chest, “My, aren't you naughty.”

Jongin hums in response, licking his lips. Baekhyun watches with dark eyes, and Jongin is secretly thrilled.

“You're attracted to power and danger, aren't you?” Baekhyun’s question is rhetorical, Jongin doesn't even have to confirm his musings, “You're even more perfect than I remembered.”

“I wanted you to take me to your ship,” Jongin tilts his head, angling their faces so his lips brush against Baekhyun’s as he speaks. The hand on his chest tightens into a fist, gripping at the damp fabric, “Then take me to your bed.”

“Well, you're already on my ship,” Baekhyun breathes, “And my bed is just there…”

He trails off, eyes closing.

A knock sounds at the door, Chanyeol’s voice echoing through the wood.

“Land!” He shouts, and Baekhyun breaks into laughter. He drops his hands from Jongin’s shirt and steps backwards, wiping the grime onto his pants. Chanyeol’s comment confuses Jongin. By his calculations, they're still at least three weeks from arriving in Singapore.

“There's an oasis ashore,” Baekhyun comments, answering Jongin’s question before he has a chance to ask, “We'll wash up and resupply.”

Baekhyun exclaims suddenly, rushing to his trunk and rummaging through the interior in a flurry of moment.

“Here,” He throws several items of clothing over his shoulder, expensive pieces made of dark velvet and trimmed in gold. If Jongin saved his old Navy wage for a year, he still wouldn't be able to afford even one of the garments in his hold, “I got these for you. Or rather, I stole them for you. I was supposed to gift them to you in Singapore, but we both know how well that turned out.”

“They’re beautiful,” Jongin whispers. The clothing in his hands are clean, new and unworn. They're the first things he's owned that haven't been partially owned by someone else. The first gift he's ever received, “Thank you, captain.”

“Out there, I'm captain,” Baekhyun says sternly, “In here I'm Baekhyun, and I'd much prefer you to be moaning my name than saying it.”

“You're insatiable,” Jongin laughs, giddy because of his gift, giddy due to Baekhyun’s presence alone.

Baekhyun grins, advancing on Jongin until he's within enough distance to smack him squarely on the ass.

Jongin gasps in shock and arousal, hands still holding his new clothes and unable to react.

“We're talking about that later,” Baekhyun mutters darkly, pushing past Jongin and out of his quarters, “We're talking about it, and then we're doing it again, and you will not be wearing clothes while it's happening.”

Jongin trails behind him, grinning happily, “Maybe you should be naked too,” He replies. The crew have already detached the lifeboats, a small trail of them dot the expanse of ocean in between the ship and the shore. They're alone, and Jongin can speak freely, “Naked and inside me? How ‘bout it?”

“Now who’s insatiable?” Baekhyun mutters, lowering their lifeboat into the sea below.

“Then sate me,” Jongin wraps his arms around Baekhyun’s waist, kissing a line down the captain’s neck as he feeds the rope through the pulley, “Captain.”

“The sooner we do our jobs, the sooner we get back on the ship,” Baekhyun breaks free of Jongin’s hold. He swings his leg over the railing, grabbing onto a length of rope in preparation to abseil down the side of the ship, “And stop saying captain like that.”

“Aye, captain,” Jongin responds with a laugh.

He takes the rope as Baekhyun’s weight slackens it, sliding down with one hand and cradling his new clothes in the other. There's a fresh set of burns on his palm by the time he reaches the lifeboat, and the oars do nothing but aggravate it. His hand stings, his muscles ache from lack of use, but Baekhyun is smiling and basking in the sunlight.

Jongin’s palm hurts a little less.

------

Washed, fed and shaven, Jongin feels like a new man. The clothes Baekhyun gave him fit perfectly, and he's been promised a visit to a cobbler whilst in Singapore. His Navy issued shoes are awfully restrictive and look far too respectable to tread aboard a pirate vessel.

He spends the afternoon gathering coconuts, native fruits and fresh water to be kept on board. Their haul is enough for all of them and a little more to trade, as apparently the life of pirates occasionally involves honest work. It makes Jongin smile.

“Can't be too pirate-y in Singapore,” Junmyeon informs Jongin when asked, “We trade on occasion, just to keep the navy off our trail.”

He hands Jongin another net full of fruit, and directs him towards the lifeboat with a wiggle of his fingertips, “Be a good boy and take that to the ship, will you?”

They return to The Lady Luck at sunset, the sky illuminated with pinks and oranges, the first stars of the night peeking through as it bleeds into midnight blue. It's only at sea that Jongin notices the skies, which is a shame, because the view is breathtaking.

------

“Jongin will sleep with the captain tonight,” Chanyeol proclaims loudly over dinner. A few people choke. Sehun and Tao, still with mouths full of food, nudge Jongin in the ribs and wiggle their eyebrows suggestively. Sitting between them, Jongin laments, was a terrible idea.

“I don't quite trust him,” Baekhyun doesn't usually dine with the crew, but he's made an exception for the evening. Jongin was confused at first, but after Chanyeol’s outburst his presence makes a little more sense, “He'll stay with me until properly initiated.”

“We told you,” Sehun whispers.

“Totally his type,” Tao finishes for him.

“What's the initiation?” Jongin asks, ignoring Tao and Sehun completely. Luhan, for all his quirks, is an amazing cook. Having lived off nothing but stale bread for a week, the simple plate of meat and potatoes in front of him is like a feast, “Do I have to kill someone?”

“You can kill Chanyeol if you want,” Baekhyun mutters, resting his head in his hands, “It might cheer me up.”

“He doesn't mean that,” Jongdae says, mostly to Jongin. The story of The Lady Luck may have started with Baekhyun and Chanyeol’s prologue, but Jongdae was introduced in Chapter One. He's known them longer than anyone else, “The captain loves Chanyeol, really.”

“Not like that!” Chanyeol scrambles desperately, “His tongue hasn't been anywhere near my---”

“Chanyeol,” Baekhyun hisses, striking his fist against the table, “That's enough.”

“Initiation?” Jongin asks weakly. Baekhyun seems intent on hiding their relationship for whatever reason. Chanyeol and his lack of filter are danger to secrecy.

“You have to try and out drink Minseok,” Kyungsoo’s grin is scary. Again. Jongin likes to drink as much as the next man. Judging by Kyungsoo’s reaction, Jongin won't want to drink again for a long time.

“Try being the operative word, here,” Junmyeon adds. He reaches across the table to pat Jongin’s arm in a sympathetic manner.

“You're going to fail miserably,” Kyungsoo finishes. Unlike Junmyeon, he seems rather apathetic to Jongin’s forthcoming hangover, “But we're going to have fun watching you try.”

“What are initiations like under the King?” Yixing asks as an attempt to distract Jongin. Or cut Luhan off, the cook’s mouth hangs open in preparation to speak. Jongin doesn't want to imagine what Luhan’s input may be, “Surely the Navy would have some sort of welcoming ritual?”

Jongin’s first day on The Excalibur was cold and cruel. The older sailors dousing new recruits with buckets of dirty water, tripping them and subtly kicking their sides as they lay on the ground. Their soft hands, all but shredded by the ropes, were smeared with salt at the end of the day. Out of care, they said, the salt would help heal the wounds. But the sailors pushed the coarse grains along the torn skin without remorse, only amplifying the pain.

Cold, wet and aching, the new sailors were left to sleep on the floor with rats.

“Awful,” Jongin says quietly. His admission stuns the crew into silence. Even Tao, whose utensils are primed and ready to fling unwanted potato at an unsuspecting Yifan, lowers his fork out of respect, “You're better men than they could ever be.”

More silence, an approving nod from Jongdae and a curious gaze from Baekhyun.

“That's what we like to hear!” Roars Luhan. He's apparently taken sight of Tao and his plans, and launches a handful of potatoes straight at his unsuspecting, unguarded face.
In celebration, or something. Jongin still doesn't quite understand how pirates operate.

The reaction is immediate, with Tao, Sehun and to Jongin’s surprise,Yixing, all reaching for their leftovers. Yifan yelps and hides beneath the table. Jongdae and Junmyeon leap across the table, restraining as many limbs as possible. Kyungsoo simply stands, before walking straight out of the room.

Baekhyun sits with his head in his hands with Chanyeol patting his back.

“You're the most feared pirates the world has ever known,” Baekhyun says slowly, hands curling into fists, “Act like it!”

The crew pause, lowering their utensils and hanging their heads. They murmur a chorus of apologies, and it seems to pacify Baekhyun to a degree, as his fists uncurl and he lets out a disappointed sigh.

“Jongin,” The captain stands, motioning for Jongin to do the same, “Come with me, please.”

“Aye, sir,” Jongin responds. Sehun wolf whistles. The murmured apologies of the crew turn into conspiratorial whispers ad Jongin dutifully follows the captain from the dining hall.

“If he's limping tomorrow…” Jongdae trails off. Junmyeon elbows him in the ribs, offering a small, encouraging smile.

“You forget that I can easily find a new crew,” Baekhyun says, hand settling on the door handle. He stops so suddenly that Jongin almost runs into him, “One that doesn't thrive on gossip.”

“You wouldn't,” Pipes Luhan, “You're worse than we are.”

Baekhyun doesn't offer a reply. Surely there's a story behind Luhan’s comments, one Jongin is not yet privy to.

“Clean up after your little food fight,” Baekhyun says. His back is facing the crew, yet he knows them well enough to assume that their utensils are being primed with ammunition, ready to fire once he's departed, “If I don't see any evidence, I can pretend it never happened.”

“Aye sir!” The crew chorus.

Baekhyun takes Jongin by the hand and leads him into the night.

------

As much as Jongin appreciates his new clothes, he likes them better on the floor than on his body. Especially when his skin is stripped bare, covered by Baekhyun’s hands and lips instead of clothes.

“I've missed you,” Baekhyun sighs into Jongin’s neck, punctuating his sentence with a nip of his teeth, “I can't believe I nearly killed you.”

“I'm glad you didn't,” Jongin’s breath hitches as Baekhyun’s tongue slides along his collarbones.

It's not unlike their time in Singapore, unhurried pace and careful touches. Clothes stripped with dizzying haste, only for the tempo to slow dramatically as skin touches skin.

Jongin has missed this, whatever this is, as much as Baekhyun has. The moment is something to be treasured, cherished. They may serve on the same ship, but their time is limited; there's only a small window in which they can be together. A few short hours where they are not captain and crew, but two men on the brink of something beautiful.

It's like Singapore but in a way, it's completely different. Jongin now has a name to whisper, a counterpart for Baekhyun to groan into soft skin. Hushed murmurs and pants replace the once loud and free flowing noise; there is always someone awake, someone to overhear. It is not their business what happens in the captain’s quarters as night falls.

The sounds Jongin makes as he comes a treasure only for Baekhyun to keep.

On board The Lady Luck, water licks the side of the ship as Baekhyun pushes into Jongin. The ocean aids the rocking of Baekhyun’s hips, and it's so wonderful, so fitting; Jongin gives his body to a man of the sea, and the waters in which they sail set the pace.

Jongin became a sailor out of desperation, out of wanderlust. He's still desperate and lusting, but now it's for an entirely different reason.

Baekhyun kisses his mouth and swallows his moans as he comes.

Jongin has never loved the sea, but he just may be falling for it.

------

If the crew has any suspicions of Jongin and Baekhyun’s relationship, they don’t voice them.

Jongin spends his days manning the ropes and cleaning the ship; he's a good sailor and he pulls his weight, both figuratively and literally.

When the seas are calm and the sailing true, Jongin’s crewmates invite him to spar and sharpen his skills with a blade. In return, he teaches them about the ship, ins and outs and secrets they would never have known.

“This isn't your first ship, is it?” Jongin asks one day. They're about a week out of Singapore, the air still hot and humid despite the ocean breeze. The current version of The Lady Luck is a newer model of Navy vessel, one that wouldn't have existed when Baekhyun first staged his mutiny.

“We've upgraded a few times,” Jongdae shrugs. Jongin likes him a lot, and often finds himself climbing the ropes to aid Jongdae in his tasks. Kyungsoo’s threats have upgraded to cleaning both Jongdae and Jongin’s brains from the deck, “We see a pretty ship, we take it.”

“No one's ever been suspicious?” Jongin’s learnt a trick or two from Jongdae, they converse while upside down, ankles looped around sections of rope as they dangle in mid air. Jongin has taken to performing showy tricks as he descends from the sky, antics that always cause Baekhyun to gift him with a fond smile.

“We've made a few adjustments,” Jongdae gestures vaguely towards the ship. Of course there are differences to The Excalibur, but Jongin always thought they were minor, signs of a newer fleet. The crew have altered the ship to look as if it's a good copy of a naval vessel. Something not entirely unheard of. While having a young crew would definitely be cause for alarm, a well spun story of an old captain leaving his ship to fresher blood isn't all that unbelievable. Especially when both the crew and the captain are gifted with silver tongues.

“Have you seen our colours?” Jongdae asks. Of course, Jongin has seen the British flag they keep on board. It's good for sneaking up on unsuspecting ships, he assumes.

“No,” Jongin shakes his head to the best of his abilities. Being upside down requires a whole new set of motor skills, “What are they?”

“Hoist the colours!” Jongdae yells, alerting the crew below, “Jongin hasn't seen them!”

They scramble, all hands to the flagpole as the colours-- the true colours are hoisted into the sky.

They're beautiful. Jongin has never felt a sense of loyalty or pride at the sight of the King’s flag. But the interlocking white boxes and pure black of the background instill something within Jongin that he can't quite place. He's never truly understood the loyalty of men who would die for King and country, but he's honoured to serve on board The Lady Luck.

“He's seen them, now take them down!” Baekhyun barks. The closer they get to Singapore, the higher the chance they have of running into another ship. The colours are flown as an intimidation tactic, a declaration of war. It would bring nothing but trouble to display the flag of pirates so openly in such waters.

“Awesome, huh?” Jongdae says wistfully. There's another story there, another anecdote for Jongin to hear at a later date.

“Oi, you two!” Baekhyun’s shouting orders again, this time directed at Jongdae and Jongin, “Get down from there, you've got other things to do!”

“Aye sir!” They reply in synch, righting themselves in preparation for their descent.

“You've got yourself a good man,” Jongdae’s comment is offhand, but he casts a curious gaze in Jongin’s direction. It's a terribly kept secret, what Baekhyun and Jongin do when the sun sets. Jongdae is the first person to assume so openly, “Don't break his heart.”

“If I break his heart, he'll kill me,” Jongin laughs, “Actually, he'll let Minseok kill me. That’s a far worse way to go.”

“I'll be the one killing you both if you don't hurry up!” Kyungsoo yells. He's steering the ship, positioned a little higher than the rest of the crew and evidently able to overhear their conversation, “We need to adjust the main sail, and we can't do that while you're hanging from it!”

Jongdae offers a rude gesture before sliding down his rope, and Jongin follows suit.

Minus the gesture, of course. Kyungsoo is still terrifying.

------

“We're swapping rosters today,” Baekhyun addresses the crew. They've dropped anchor close to a set of uninhabited islands, pausing all duties in favour of a ship meeting. Minseok and Luhan are absent, having been sent ashore to look for supplies, and hidden storage facilities to plunder.

“Yes!” Chanyeol hollers excitedly, “No more Second Watch!”

Even Kyungsoo seems thrilled by the turn of events, patting Sehun excitedly on the shoulder as Baekhyun relays the news.

Jongin usually works the Second Watch with Chanyeol, working from dawn until early afternoon and awaking occasionally for dinner. They aide the Forenoon crew, currently consisting of Minseok and Luhan, until they retire to the sleeping quarters.

Forenoon and Afternoon workers have a harder job but more time to rest, as the ship sails mostly in daylight. The tasks are more taxing, and all shifts cross over for a few hours shy of dinner, all hands on deck to prepare the ship for night time sailing.

“Everyone will rotate as expected,” Baekhyun says, casting a glance at his wayward crew to ensure he holds their attention, “Except Jongin and I. We'll be taking the First Watch.”

The crew nod in agreement.

“I want us to make good time, try and get to port a few days earlier than planned,” Baekhyun continues. He has this habit of pacing as he talks, arms crossed behind his back and staring off into space, “We're all due for a little leisure, don't you think?”

“You just want to hole yourself away with Jongin for a week,” Sehun scoffs. The room stills. Baekhyun stops his pacing. Finally, the proverbial elephant in the room is being addressed. Jongin was scared that the crew would treat him differently. He's definitely on the end of some preferential treatment. It's not necessarily attention the crew want for themselves, but it definitely means that Jongin is held in higher regards in the eyes of the captain.

Jealousy is an awful thing among sailors, countless mutinies spawned by misguided feelings of envy.

“Please don't fuck on the deck,” Junmyeon says, shaking his head in disgust, “I don't want to pick splinters from Jongin’s back.”

“Speaking from experience, are we?” Yixing replies. The navigator is full of surprises, often offering quips and gossip that Jongin never expects.

“I don't want to know,” Tao mutters, curling into Yifan’s side for comfort.

“Ever had that moment where things that didn't make sense before suddenly start to make sense?” Chanyeol adds, wringing his hands together nervously, “Because I just had that moment, and I'm not quite sure how to process it.”

Jongdae, usually the first person to join in on the teasing, remains suspiciously silent. Baekhyun catches Jongin’s eye and offers a wink.

Interesting.

“I don't know,” Jongin says slowly. He reads the room, trying to gauge the crew’s reaction before he continues, “I was hoping to be bent over the railings, not fucked on the deck.”

The change in mood is instantaneous; the crew roar with laughter, save for Chanyeol who promptly chokes on oxygen. Baekhyun smiles brightly at Jongin, both pleased with his comments and the reaction from the crew.

There's no malice, only lighthearted teasing. The crew see Jongin no differently now that he's openly admitted to being the captain’s lover. In their eyes, he's the same man he was only minutes ago-- a new crewmate, still finding his feet and place on the ship.

It's the best reaction he could hope for..

------

The First Watch is by far Jongin’s favourite shift. He shares a small meal with Yifan and Yixing before he starts, the brief snack acting as his breakfast and their final meal of the day. They're joined by Baekhyun on occasion, Luhan when he can't sleep, and it's always a calm affair. Just a group of men bound by sea and service, taking a moment to enjoy each other's company.

There's no a lot to do. Mostly, he talks with Baekhyun, alters their course as needed. When Baekhyun sits in his quarters and maps their course, Jongin practices his tricks on the rope. He's getting good, perhaps even better than Jongdae.

The time alone with Baekhyun is wonderful. Though despite the crew’s teasing, it's rare for the two of them to go past the point of heavy petting whilst on shift.

Of course, Baekhyun bends Jongin over the railings as requested, sucks marks into the skin of his neck. Jongin inhales the ocean air, and kisses Baekhyun with the salt still on his lips.

“Hey,” Jongdae wanders onto the helm, blinking back sleep. He often joins Baekhyun and Jongin on First Watch, his sleep patterns disrupted. Jongdae is scheduled on for second watch, his time on deck beginning as the sun rises above the horizon. Sometimes, sleep escapes him, so he chooses to aid Jongin in his tasks instead of listening to Chanyeol and Minseok attempt to out snore each other, “The view is much better from the forecastle.”

Baekhyun’s hands are on the wheel while Jongin’s hands rest on his waist. It’s their preferred position, one that allows them to keep in physical contact at all times whilst also doing their jobs. Every now and again, Baekhyun instructs Jongin, teaching him how to handle The Lady Luck as she glides through the waves, claiming that every crew member should have the ability to steer the ship. Just in case.

“Someone needs to man the wheel,” Baekhyun points out, leaning back into Jongin’s hold. They’re becoming more at ease when showing affection in front of the crew. Most of them find it hilarious; a feared pirate captain reacting like a lovesick teenager. They’re particularly relaxed around Jongdae, his frequent appearances during First Watch have him almost accustomed to the levels of intimacy they display, “And I am only one man.”

“I’ve manned the wheel before,” Jongdae rubs at his eyes tiredly, but his grin is bright, “I am more than capable of doing it again.”

“If you insist, Mister Kim,” Baekhyun replies sternly.

He takes Jongin by the hand, all but running towards the front of the ship. Jongdae is right, the view is stunning. From their vantage point, Jongin can see the stars, the moon, the vast stretch of ocean. It looks like a scene from a painting, one worth more money than Jongin could ever imagine. If Jongin could paint, he’s depict a scene such as this, then gift it to Baekhyun so that the sea could always be with him.

“Jongin,” Baekhyun says, breaking the silence. His thumb slides across Jongin’s knuckles, comforting and affectionate, “Look at me.”

The view is stunning but Baekhyun is breathtaking. As Jongin is kissed, soft and wet, he realises; he is so unbelievably lucky to have him.

------

“Captain!” Chanyeol is often heard before he is seen, and this is no exception. With clumsy hands he fumbles with the handle to Baekhyun’s quarters, cursing loudly as his fingertips slip from the polished metal, “Captain, we’ve caught sight of a ship.”

It's midway through the Second Watch, most likely during a tea break for the crew. Chanyeol is acting captain during this time, as both Baekhyun and Kyungsoo are asleep, having control over First Watch and the Afternoon shift respectively.

Only Baekhyun is not asleep.

Baekhyun is currently between Jongin’s legs, sighing dramatically into the skin of his thighs. They've wasted precious water for Jongin to clean himself in preparation for this, both he and Baekhyun impatient and eager to have tongues in places Chanyeol probably doesn't want to see.

“Baekhyun!” The handle rattles as it's turned, Chanyeol all but falling into the room, “Orders, sir?”

His sentence trails off.

Jongin covers his face in mortification.

Baekhyun simply lowers his head and resumes the task at hand.

“Do you have to?” Chanyeol groans. Jongin peeks through his fingers to see Chanyeol doing the same, “I don't want to see this.”

“I don't want you seeing this,” Baekhyun says simply. He says it, but continues anyway, making a show of the way he spreads Jongin’s cheeks and drags his tongue across his hole, “Yet here we are.”

“What's taking so long---”

Sehun joins the spectacle, gaping rather unattractively as he takes in the sight, “Well, I'll go keel haul myself,” He says. Through his fingers, Jongin can see the utter mortification on his face. Baekhyun simply pushes his tongue deeper, completely unphased by his audience, “The mental image is never going away.”

“There's a merchant ship ahead,” Chanyeol stutters out, hands still firmly across his eyes, “We want to know if we should make contact.”

Baekhyun sighs, the puff of air hits the saliva soaked skin of Jongin’s rim and causes him to shiver.

“Keep the distance for the time being,” Baekhyun says. He’s too busy speaking, so he uses his fingers to play with Jongin’s hole in the meantime, “Once I'm finished, we’ll raise the colours and engage.”

“How long are you gonna be?” Sehun enquires. Apart the initial shock, he seems completely unbothered by what he sees, “Jongdae will need to adjust the main sail, because we're gaining on them.”

“I'll take as long as I please,” Baekhyun says simply.

“You're insatiable,” Chanyeol replies, “Honestly.”

“So I've been told,” Baekhyun has a shark-like grin, too. Though while Kyungsoo’s grin makes Jongin shiver in fear, the same expression on the captain’s face makes him shiver for an entirely different reason.

Chanyeol replies, but Jongin doesn't hear it; not with the way he moans as Baekhyun’s finger pushes inside.

The door slams and Baekhyun laughs, sucking a mark into the skin of Jongin’s thigh.

“You're awful,” Jongin says, finally. He swats at Baekhyun’s arm half heartedly, but curls his other hand through the captain’s hair, “Truly awful.”

“Pirate,” Baekhyun smirks, “You'll get used to it.”

------

They're greeted with wolf whistles as the emerge onto the deck, hastily clothed and bearing fresh hickies. The whole crew is present, armed and ready, though a few members still look a little sleepy.

“Alright,” Baekhyun’s voice booms. Jongin has never seen him in true captain mode, has yet to experience the Captain Byun everyone fears, “What have we got?”

“Merchant ship,” Kyungsoo replies. He stands at the rails, telescope pointed ahead and slightly to the right. There's a vaguely ship shaped blob nearing the horizon, but Jongin isn't sure if it’s blurry due to distance or his god awful eyesight. “No colours, but the design looks French.”

“Ready to translate?” Baekhyun addresses a sleepy looking Yifan.

“Always,” He says with a yawn, “I've taught Jongin a few phrases, so he should be able to join in with the threats.”

Jongin was under the assumption that he'll stay on the ship. Baekhyun obviously treasures him, would assumedly want to keep him from harm.

“Excellent,” Baekhyun says, “They'll be more cooperative if they're scared.”

“So I'm coming along for the raid?” Jongin asks, playing with the hem of his coat nervously, “I'm not staying here?”

“You're good with a blade, able bodied and capable of yelling at them in their language,” Baekhyun deadpans, “Of course you're coming along.”

“I wanna see Jongin fight using his rope tricks!” Tao exclaims, “Imagine the rumours they'll spread about him.”

“Can you do that?” Baekhyun addresses him. He doesn't speak to Jongin like a lover, not in times like this. It's a good thing, and Jongin respects him so much more for it. The crew too; they're completely devoted to Baekhyun, unrelentingly loyal and protective. No one has said anything, but the fact that Jongin’s preferential treatment doesn't make him a freeloader is greatly appreciated, “The more fear we can generate the easier our jobs become.”

“I'll try,” Jongin stutters nervously. Sure, he's sparred on the ropes a few times, but it's hardly been in life or death situations. The crew members have avoided cutting the rope from above his head, making sure their blades connect with his and nowhere else. Sailors defending their ship will not hold the same courtesy.

“Not good enough,” Baekhyun says calmly. He speaks to Jongin as he would speak to the rest of the crew, “You either can, or you cannot.”

“Then yes, I can do that,” Jongin replies. He's proven himself useful, what with his knowledge of the ship and willingness to aid the crew. But he's not yet proven himself worthy; if the crew so demands it, he could be left in Singapore when they make port, or simply thrown overboard to save them the trouble. Baekhyun’s feelings come second to the will of the crew and he knows it.

“And so a pirate is born,” Luhan sighs wistfully, darting across the deck with swords in his arms. He hands one to Jongin, before all but dancing in the direction of the rest of the crew.

“A truly beautiful moment,” Minseok follows, far less gracefully but still with an unsettling skip to his step. In his arms lies a pile of pistols, all contained within holsters. Each one is decorated and personalised; Jongin can tell which one is Chanyeol’s, purely because his name is etched into the dark leather.

Eventually, he'll have personalised weaponry of his own. The thought alone is enough to bring a smile to his face.

“Do me proud, Jongin,” Baekhyun says, resting a supportive hand on Jongin’s shoulder, “Do me proud.”

------

Kyungsoo’s knowledge of ship design is truly remarkable, Jongin notes. From such a large distance, he’s able to correctly identify a vessel’s country of origin. The French sailors are slightly less appreciative of his talents, however, the entire crew scrambling as they’re boarded.

Yifan sounds absolutely terrifying in every language he speaks, rapidfire French spitting from his tongue and adding to the overwhelming nature of the situation. They’re but simple merchants, a group of traders who rarely have to fight for their lives. It’s exhilarating, exciting in ways the Navy never was. He repeats the phrases Yifan has taught him, adding his own comments of On the ground, before we kill you to his crewmate’s declaration of their identities.

“We are the crew of The Lady Luck,” Yifan says to the crew, “I’m sure we need no other introductions.

One of the Frenchmen speaks up, says things that Jongin doesn’t yet understand. Whatever it is makes Yifan laugh before his own response. Tao looks at Jongin questioningly, a silent request for a translation. Jongin shrugs his shoulders, the extent of his French already exhausted.

“Ask them if there’s anyone else on the ship,” Baekhyun says, pacing in front of the kneeling crew. There’s just over fifteen of them, but they keep squirming and shuffling about, so it’s hard for Jongin to take a proper head count.

Yifan relays the question, the man Jongin assumes to be the captain replying, rage and hatred filling his eyes.

Jongin’s crewmates take no notice of the loathing stares, carefully stepping around puddles of saliva as the French crew spit at them from the deck. It’s the only way they can accurately show their distaste for the pirates, anything else would result in a bullet to the head.

Their ship is filled with things to pillage, spices and cloth, a few pieces of jewelry here and there. Jongin, as requested, makes a show of climbing the ropes with grace and ease, jumping from the main sail onto a connecting line and swinging himself onto the helm. The French crew put up too little of a fight, most of them already subdued by the time Jongin clamoured aboard their ship. But he’s been asked to make a spectacle with his aerial skills, and so he obliges.

“There’s a cabin boy!” Yifan yells. The crew nod in acknowledgement, “But he doesn’t care if we kill him.”

A pause, more French. Jongin picks up a few words, but it’s not enough to make sense of it all.

“Actually,” Yifan says, his voice dark and rather displeased, “He asks us to do him a favour and kill him anyway.”

“Find him!” Baekhyun barks, motioning for Chanyeol and Junmyeon to search the ship, “He’ll probably be hiding in the brig, you know how we were as cabin boys.”

“I never hid in the brig,” Jongdae says, rushing past Jongin with his arms loaded with stolen goods, “That was more Baekhyun’s thing.”

Jongin still needs to make an impression. He shrugs the jacket from his shoulders, balling the fabric around his hand. With the added padding, he slams his fist through the glass of the captain’s quarters, shattering the window and allowing him to unlock the door from the inside. He’s under the assumption that the captain of this vessel is the type of man who keeps the spoils for himself, living lavishly as his crew remain tired and hungry.

His assumptions are correct, as the quarters reveal to be filled with luxuries and art worth quite a pretty penny.

Jongin smiles.

“Help me with this?” Jongin pops his head out through the doorway, motioning for Yixing and Kyungsoo to join him, “The captain is an art collector.”

They strip the ship almost bare, leaving only the smallest amount of food on board and taking the rest. The cargo hold and captain’s quarters are completely emptied, leaving nothing but the bed. Kyungsoo and Sehun argue for a good few minutes over the merits of bed theft, deciding at the last minute to leave it behind, solely because it’s far too big to fit anywhere on the ship.

Sehun does, however, take a blanket and a few pillows for himself, claiming their usefulness during the colder months.

“Found him!” Chanyeol yells, emerging from the brig with a struggling boy hoisted over his shoulder. He looks to be no older than fourteen, thin and malnourished. His clothes are in poor condition and Jongin can see splotches of red blooming along the back of his shirt.

Chanyeol would not have harmed the boy, not usually. And any wound created by Chanyeol would result in a tear or damage in clothing. The cabin boy’s injuries are preexisting. He slumps to the floor next to his crew, exhausted and terrified, the second Chanyeol removes him from his shoulder.

“Yifan,” Baekhyun motions towards the boy, “Tell him to remove his shirt.”

As he’s told, Yifan translates. Another member of the crew spits in Baekhyun’s direction, muttering darkly.

Yifan shoots him through the head. It happens so quickly that Jongin doesn’t even notice his weapon being drawn, only hears the crack! followed by a thump! as the crewmember’s lifeless body hits the deck.

“Ahh,” Baekhyun hums thoughtfully, tapping his pointer finger against his chin, “Now, I don’t speak French, but I can imagine what he said.”

“The usual,” Yifan replies with a shrug, “The rumors are true, you’re disgusting and so on.”

Baekhyun smiles. It visibly unsettles the crew, even more so than the dead body lying amongst their ranks.

“All hands!” He cries, and the pirates of The Lady Luck assemble.

Jongin hasn’t been briefed at all, but it’s easy to understand that he’s expected to stand behind the French crew. Beside him, Jongdae and Junmyeon have their pistols pointed at the heads of their captives. Jongin moves to do the same.

“You look more like an angel than a demon,” The man before him says. His hands are folded behind his head in surrender, he speaks Jongin’s native tongue, “Why does a messenger of God sail with the Devil’s crew?”

“What makes you think I'm an angel?” Jongin asks. His lips curl into a smirk, and he's inwardly delighted at the look of terror on his captive’s face. It's a rush of power, something almost addictive.

Yifan decides their interaction needs to be translated, informing the crew of the discussion happening within their midst.

“You are too beautiful to be a man,” The terrified sailor replies, almost shaking in his fear, “And too beautiful to be a demon.”

“Is he tempting you, sailor?” Jongdae sneers, grabbing a handful of the poor man’s hair and tilting his head backwards, “Does he make you want to sin?”

“Yes!” The sailor cries. Though in desperation or pain, it's not quite evident, “Yes he does!”

Jongin’s crewmates laugh.

“Mine,” Baekhyun replies simply, before repeating the phrase in awkward French, “Sorry about that.”

“Um,” Chanyeol interrupts, pointing at the cabin boy sobbing quietly at his feet, “Sorry to interrupt, but what are we going to do about this?”

He nudges the boy with the toe of his boot. Jongin can clearly see the wounds on his bare back, deep and oozing with blood and pus. There's five of them, all of them relatively fresh.

Five lashes on a boy that size is practically an attempt on his life, Jongin notes. It's a cruel punishment, and on most ships the result of a ridiculously large mistake.

“You,” Baekhyun seethes, pointing his pistol at one of the Frenchmen, “Captain?”

It's a word everyone knows in their language, and it's obvious that the man understands as he nods just a second later.

His head barely straightens into position before there's a bullet through it, smoke rising from the barrel of Baekhyun’s pistol. His face is calm, passive as he re-holsters his weapon, clearly unbothered by the fact that he's just committed murder.

It's the first time Jongin’s seen his lover take a life, and he's slightly unnerved by the fact that he doesn't think any less of him for it. If anything, it's increased his affections. Jongin resists the urge to kiss the captain, just to see how their captives will react.

Baekhyun may be cruel, but the men he kills are often worse. A man who issues harsh punishment unto children is not a man worthy of life, Jongin believes. The condition of the poor cabin boy-- starving, beaten and mistreated--- must have struck a chord in the captain, dredging up painful memories and inciting his rage.

“Ask the boy who whipped him,” Baekhyun commands. Yifan translates obediently. Jongin’s arms ache as they're extended in front of him, but he watches with glee as one of the men under Sehun’s watch squirms nervously.

As expected, the boy extends a shaking finger in the crewmemeber’s direction. Sehun smirks, before pulling the trigger.

“Goddamn it,” Baekhyun curses, “I wanted to chew him out before you killed him.”

“Whoops,” Sehun looks entirely unapologetic.

“Why don't I get to shoot anyone,” Luhan whines, stomping his feet, “It's always Sehun.”

“I think we're done here,” Baekhyun cuts Luhan off before he launches into a tirade. Yifan dutifully echoes his words in French, “On your knees until we're out of sight, if you follow us we kill you all.”

Baekhyun waves his hand flippantly, “I’m sure you’re aware that we've shown both mercy and restraint,” He continues, pacing, “We will not be so kind the second time around.”

The sailors nod in understanding.

“Well gentlemen, it's been an absolute pleasure,” Baekhyun bows mockingly, gesturing for his crew to return to The Lady Luck, “Your cooperation has been greatly appreciated.”

A quiet murmur of conversation arises as they make their way towards the ship. Jongin has done well, he thinks, or well enough given the circumstances. He’ll at least have another opportunity to prove himself the next time they confront a ship, perhaps one filled with sailors more skilled and willing to fight.

“Filth,” One of the crew mutters. It’s not the man enamoured with Jongin, but another who speaks. It’s surprising, for no one else showed any understanding of Jongin’s crew as they bickered in their native tongue, “You sail under an abomination, your captain’s existence is an insult to God.”

The man charges, unarmed and blinded by fury. Jongin understands, to a degree. If a group of men walked onto his ship, stole their belongings and killed members of the crew, he’d be angry too. But what Jongin cannot comprehend, is the issue this man has with the captain, has with him.

It’s entirely on reflex that Jongin draws his sword, entirely on happenstance that he’s the first pirate the sailor meets. He rants and raves, slings insults at Baekhyun, curses him to the depths of hell. Without thought, Jongin swings his blade, the metal slicing through skin and bone. In one swoop, his head flies clean from his shoulders, severed by the force of Jongin’s attack.

The ship is silenced. Wordlessly, Jongin takes the head of the fallen sailor, blood from the wound dripping onto his shoes and pooling around his feet.

“Anyone else got a problem?” He asks. Yifan doesn’t bother with the translation, as Jongin’s stance, the look of pure rage on his face, speaks for him. Silence greets him, “That’s what I thought.”

He resists the urge to smile, summoning an air of nonchalance about himself. He throws the head overboard, sauntering back towards the ship without a care.

“You did good, kid,” Kyungsoo says, smile a little less unsettling than normal. He extends a hand, helping Jongin back onto The Lady Luck. There’s a commotion on board the French ship, two members of the crew lifting the lifeless body up and over the railings. From the corner of his eye, Jongin sees the man who called him an angel help the struggling cabin boy to his feet, “We’ll make a pirate out of you, yet.”

“He cut a man’s head off,” Yixing points out, follows Jongin over the rails. Kyungsoo doesn’t offer to help at all, “That’s the most pirate-y thing I’ve seen all day, and we just robbed a ship.”

“Jongin hasn’t had his initiation,” Tao points out, “No pirate title until we see him lose to Minseok in a drinking competition.”

“It’s a rite of passage,” Sehun adds, “Everyone’s gotta do it.”

The rest of them murmur in agreement.

There’s no time to revel in their spoils, as there’s no guarantee that the merchant ship won't attempt to follow after them. The crew will be in shock, without a doubt, but by the time they recover, The Lady Luck will be long gone.

Coarse ropes slide through Jongin’s hands; they’re calloused and worn, and the burn doesn’t sting like it used to. His crewmates sing as they work, Jongin joins them in places, still learning the lyrics of pirate shanties. From his place at the wheel, Baekhyun leads them; both in song and as captain, his voice ringing loudly over the crew.

Their gazes meet and Baekhyun offers a smile.

Jongin used to think he was unlucky. But every misfortune he’s ever experienced was just leading him here, to this moment. It wasn’t so much bad luck, but the intervention of fate; on board the ship, in the captain’s bed. That’s where Jongin belongs.

He’s hardly unlucky, in fact, he might just be the luckiest man in the world.

------

“Best be careful,” An old man joins Jongin at his table, sipping thoughtfully at his mug of ale. The Singaporean tavern is as loud and lively as Jongin remembers, filled with yells and cheers, music and chatter, “I’ve heard The Lady Luck has been spotted in these waters.”

“I’ll keep an eye out,” Jongin replies. He tries to keep the smile from his face and his expression schooled into nonchalance. He’s not quite sure how successful he’s being, but the elderly sailor is most likely too drunk to notice, “Thanks for the warning.”

“You talking about The Lady Luck?” Another sailor joins them. He’s a little younger, dressed a little nicer. Behind him trails a teenager, sixteen at most. Probably the cabin boy from the newcomer’s ship, “Because I’ve heard a few things.”

“We’ve all heard a few things,” The old sailor says, downing his ale, “Big ol’ ship filled with demons and all that.”

“You know what I’ve heard,” The younger man continues, ignoring his elder in favour of addressing Jongin, “They say the demon crew has a new member.”

“Now this I haven’t heard,” Mutters the old man, waving down a barmaid and ordering a drink. Jongin recognises her as one of their informants, and Luhan’s date for the evening. She winks at Jongin goodnaturedly, skipping away to retrieve his companion’s order, “C’mon, tell us. What do you know?”

“They say,” The young sailor says, leaning forward and pausing in order to create tension, “They say he’s fresh out of hell and craving human blood. There’s not much to say about him, apparently, because not many of his victims ever live to tell the tale.”

“I’ve heard differently,” Baekhyun appears behind them, swinging an arm around Jongin’s shoulder. To anyone else, it looks like a friendly gesture, but he plays with the hair at Jongin’s nape in a manner that’s not at all platonic. The old and young sailors pay his actions no mind, but the cabin boy looks at Jongin with understanding, “I’ve heard he’s an angel, tempted from heaven by the devil himself.”

“The captain,” Their companions muse in unison.

“The captain,” Baekhyun confirms. They’re on shore leave but still working, to a degree. Notoriety makes their job a whole lot easier, and so Baekhyun and the crew make sure to spread as much gossip about themselves as physically possible.

Jongin’s reputation as an angel is somewhat of an in joke. Following Jongin’s admirer on board the French vessel, Baekhyun is the only one to call him by name, the rest calling him “Angel” instead. The decision to portray him as a celestial being a unanimous decision of the crew, much to Jongin’s chargin. Even Luhan, still desperate for a reputation of his own, gleefully spreads the misinformation to anyone who listens.

“But why would an angel fall for the devil?” The cabin boy speaks for the first time. The way he smiles causes Jongin to believe he's seen right through them, can guess that they tell their own story. Then again, he could just be paranoid, “Aren't angels pure and good?”

“Angels are beings of love and protection,” Baekhyun continues, unbothered that their story is being questioned. It's not often that sailors show disbelief in regards to tales such these, lapping up every detail eagerly and without doubt, “So this angel fell in love, and now protects the captain with his life.”

“He,” The young sailor mutters, “So those rumours are true as well?”

“Without a doubt,” Baekhyun nods solemnly, “A friend of a friend had the unfortunate luck of running into Captain Byun and his crew, and apparently the angel is so beautiful he can tempt righteous men from their paths.”

“The power of God harnessed by the Devil,” Jongin recites his lines, trying not to wince at the cheesy dialogue, “Truly, the captain holds incredible power.”

“Does the angel have a name?” The cabin boy asks, eyes dancing in mischief. So not paranoia, then, Jongin realises. A teenager has seen through their story so easily.

“No idea,” Baekhyun says, waving his hand airily to dismiss the question, “But I've heard he kills in the name of the captain, so most people tend to call him The Angel of Death.”

“I hope I never run into him,” The old sailor shudders. At least their story is believable to one person at the table. With any luck, he'll be the one person to spread their carefully spun tale, “A fallen angel sounds far more terrifying than a devil.”

“What's more,” Baekhyun says, voice filled with anticipation, “I hear he's the only being to have the captain's initials carved onto his chest and survived.”

Baekhyun plays with the fabric of Jongin’s shirt, right over his heart. The skin underneath still itches something awful, the tattoo on his chest still healing. After befriending some lovely Islanders, the entire crew left their hospitality bearing some sort of intricate mark on their person. Jongin and Baekhyun have matching designs, completed during a ritual not unlike marriage. The thought brings a smile to his face, small and unbidden.

The cabin boy smirks. Jongin internally reminds himself to ask Baekhyun if they're in need of a new kitchenhand, because he's pretty sure he's found the perfect candidate for the job.

“What's your name, kid?” Jongin asks, peering at the cabin boy curiously.

“Taeyong,” He replies simply, offering his hand to shake, “Anyway, this angel,” His fingers curl into quotation marks, “Do you think he regrets it? You know, falling from grace and loving a demon?”

“No,” Jongin answers sincerely, “If he fell, he wasn't destined for heaven, anyway.”

“Besides,” Baekhyun adds, slowly picking up on the situation. Their companions grow bored of Taeyong’s unusual line of questioning, focusing their attention on the barmaids instead, “He's got a fantastic lover, if you know what I mean.”

Taeyong’s nose wrinkles slightly, not at all unlike Chanyeol’s whenever they show too much affection in front of the crew. He'll fit right in.

“He fell from grace and into the arms of a demon,” Jongin says, “And he doesn't regret a thing.”

The share a smile, small and secret. Baekhyun glances around the room, making sure the patron’s attentions lie elsewhere, before pressing a kiss to Jongin’s mouth.

Somewhere in the background, Taeyong whispers something to the effect of I knew it, grumbling quietly to himself about pirates and their stories.

Jongin doesn't notice, he's enthralled by Baekhyun to care; his captain, his lover, the man he'll serve as long as he shall live.