Chapter Text
Jongho ducked from a seagull. He scrunched his nose at it as he walked down the dock. Ropes creaked on either side while the waves slapped against the docks. Crates leftover from the workers framed the edges in spots.
Morning would soon shift to noon, making the waves glitter with bright sunlight.
Jongho adjusted the massive ax strapped across his back. He rolled his sleeves up which was the most fabric he would sacrifice for the heat. His forearms glistened with sweat. Sea breeze brushed over his hair dotting his forehead with saltspray and wind.
His jaw softened once he found Yeosang.
Yeosang spoke at the end of the dock with a gentleman in a postmaster’s deep blue uniform.
The postmaster noticed Jongho and his eyes widened, “Oh dear gods.”
Yeosang spun fast, but then looked puzzled at Jongho.
Jongho also stood confused once he reached them.
The postmaster pointed to the ax, “Do you have a name for the weapon of yours?”
Jongho reached up and nudged the handle, “Hetmongi.”
The postmaster took an intimidated step toward his small boat. “Yes, well, I believe Hetmongi needs its own island.”
Yeosang’s hand slipped to Jongho’s forearm and squeezed.
“Safe travels to all of you.” The postmaster headed toward the front of his boat. “Very safe travels.”
Yeosang tried not to laugh, and Jongho kissed the corner of his mouth in reward.
“Is it something I said?” Jongho asked as the postmaster hurried off to sea.
Yeosang tried not to smile, “No, you just look like you’re about to head to war.”
Jongho glanced his ax, “We don’t know what we’ll encounter in Hightown.”
Yeosang wrapped his hand around Jongho’s bicep, “Rich elites and snobby people who wish they were rich elites.”
Jongho strolled with Yeosang on the dock, “Exactly.”
Yeosang laughed.
“Did you send your letter to Vanessa and Yuriko?” Jongho asked.
“Yes, finally. If anyone knows what’s happening it’ll be them. Between not being able to ward the place, the creature, and Mingi’s magic destabilizing I think something really dangerous is happening. I hope they respond by the time we get back, but I know Cobalt Reef is far.” Yeosang said.
“Well, if they can’t figure it out then I don’t know what we can do.” Jongho would never admit it but both Yuriko and Vanessa terrified him in their own way. Their level of magic understanding was formidable.
They both went to Hongjoong’s ship. Jongho went aboard earlier in the morning to drop off their belongings while Yeosang handled his letter.
“How different is it?” Yeosang followed Jongho up the ship brow.
Jongho understood why he asked. Their first adventure together took place on this ship. Everyone getting to know each other, falling in love, mates, sex, devastation, parties…
It felt so long ago for him.
“You’ll like the changes. It’s mostly to our rooms.” Jongho led Yeosang down the stairs.
The storage room off to the right of the stairs got a new door. An archway added onto the second set of stairs leading down to the dining area. Hongjoong installed a new kitchen for Wooyoung, but the dining area remained the same.
Jongho brought Yeosang around the rooms and started with Hongjoong and Seonghwa’s. Both had a meeting with the lead worker of the construction on the island before they all left.
What started as Hongjoong’s room turned into a blend of both mates. Everything neatly organized in a spot to the point where Jongho worried stepping on the rug wrong would move it enough for Seonghwa to throw him off the ship.
Sea colored fabrics, navigation tools, expensive lanterns, and a new desk added to Hongjoong’s already there essence.
Yeosang knocked on the next room, and opened it when Yunho called, “Come in!”
Jongho looked over Yeosang’s shoulder as absolute chaos struck the room.
Tools littered everywhere. Yunho organized his crossbow bolts on the ground. Mingi half-worked on something on the wall.
He spun and gestured with his free hand to a bed, “Look! A real bed!”
“No more hammocks.” Yunho smiled.
“We can fuck like civilized mates now.” Mingi nodded in accomplishment.
Jongho whispered into Yeosang’s ear, “Remind me to get ear plugs.”
Yeosang elbowed him in the side, then asked, “What are you doing, Mingi?”
Mingi shrugged, “I don’t know. I found this old wood outside one of the homes that got built and Daejin, the contractor, said I could do whatever I wanted with it. I’m making a rack for Yunho’s crossbow.”
Jongho tilted his head, “If you figure that out could you make one for my ax?”
Yeosang looked back, “Why are you encouraging him?”
“Because I want a rack for my weapon too.” Jongho murmured.
“Sure!” Mingi bent to the side to examine the heartfelt crookedness to the weapon’s rack bolted into the wall.
Yeosang shut the door and then moved across the hall to San and Wooyoung’s room.
Yeosang went to rip open the door without knocking; all too comfortable with Wooyoung over the years to bother.
The door lock clicked and the wood rattled.
Yeosang wiggled the handle and realized the door had been locked.
Jongho paused, then moved Yeosang away from the door, “They’re busy.”
Yeosang winced when he heard Wooyoung’s muffled moan through the wall.
Jongho opened the door to their own room. Still as simple as it was the day they moved in with a cozy atmosphere, orange lantern light, and fur blankets. A new wooden dresser sat in the spot of the old one with more drawers and surface space.
Yeosang’s knitted bag of cards, crystals, and tomes sat at the edge of the bed on the floor.
Jongho leaned his ax against the wall, then unclipped his harness. He threw the harness on top of the dresser.
“I don’t want to go back to the continent.” Yeosang admitted.
Jongho stilled with his back to Yeosang. He rested his hands on the dresser’s top as fear crashed through the bond.
He thought about it too. Enforcers, witch hunters, fear of magic, persecution of anything out of The Great Upheaval, and Yeosang’s own trauma.
“I didn’t want to worry you by asking about it, but I understand.” Jongho said.
He moved to Yeosang and tugged him close by the waist. Their chests molded together.
Jongho nudged his nose with Yeosang’s, resting there so his breath dusted over his lips.
“Nobody’s touching you.” Jongho promised. “If something goes wrong I’ll just lock you in our room at Mingi and Yunho's for the entire trip.”
Yeosang’s cheeks bloomed with heat, “That sounds less like protection and more like a threat, Jongho.”
Jongho shrugged, “Depends on how you look at it.”
Yeosang kissed Jongho.
Jongho moved his hands to Yeosang’s shoulders, “You’re a strong witch, Yeosang. You can handle all of that mess that’s on the continent. And if you can’t protect yourself then I will protect you.”
Yeosang smiled, “Promise?”
Jongho nodded, “Of course I promise.”
For one small moment, Jongho beamed at the safety gracing their bond.
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
Hongjoong adapted to the lingering scent of sawdust and sea salt of the man across the table. He and Seonghwa sat together in the meeting room with the head carpenter before he departed back to the continent in an hour.
Hongjoong anticipated them following after Yeosang met with the postmaster.
Daejin was almost as wide as he was tall in a sturdy form. His kind face weathered from years of work and his hands scarred over from accidents over his career.
“You know most places like this treat laborers like tools. You have been so patient with us during this time. They say you pirates are villains, but you treated us more like neighbors than the Crown ever has.”
Hongjoong could sense Seonghwa’s tender heart implode.
“You helped build this place. We’re so grateful for you all.” Seonghwa said with sincerity.
“You’re always welcome here.” Hongjoong promised Daejin. “All of you. I promise if you choose to move here in the future I can make a contract including continued payment for work you do here on the island and housing accommodations.”
Daejin glanced down at the table, refusing to meet their eyes.
“Are you okay, Daejin? It’s only an offer. We don’t expect you to uproot your life on the continent.” Hongjoong worried he pressured him.
“I know you have magic, Park Seonghwa.” Daejin said.
Hongjoong’s skin chilled. He went to stand, ready to defend his mate.
Seonghwa paled, “I…”
Daejin finally looked at the two of them, “My son’s beginning to present his own magic. I fear for his life on the continent.”
Hongjoong frowned. He heard Seonghwa’s fingers wrap around the arms of his chair harder.
“We’ve been so careful, but my wife is terrified.” Daejin then added, “I think we could be safe here.”
Hongjoong took a breath. This was why he started the island to begin with. To give people a place to be safe, heard, and taken care of.
Seonghwa’s response left him immediately, “He would be. No child should have to fear what they are.”
Hongjoong watched Seonghwa, and it dawned on him once more why he fell in love with his mate in the first place. Seonghwa spoke, but it went unheard by Hongjoong.
Seonghwa’s compassion, elegance, and diplomacy intoxicated him. His natural charisma stemmed from his siren instinct, but Seonghwa did not use it as a weapon. He used it to help others.
Instead of becoming his strength, he equipped it to the best parts of himself.
Hongjoong’s mate bond tumbled. Heat crawled through the bond without him realizing. Fire warmed his stomach. A magnetic tug made him want to reach out and touch him.
Seonghwa continued his and Daejin’s conversation, completely unreactive.
Hongjoong tried to maintain professionalism, but shocked himself when he reached over under the table. He rested a firm, affectionate hand on Seonghwa’s thigh.
“And we’ll ensure…” Seonghwa paused, then cleared his throat, “…proper port accommodations for future arrivals.”
Hongjoong brushed his thumb in light strokes along Seonghwa’s inner thigh; the thin material of his skirt not doing much to create a barrier.
Their bond burned hotter.
Daejin stood, “Thank you, Seonghwa and Hongjoong. You have built something good here.”
Hongjoong smiled, “You’re too kind.”
Daejin bowed at the waist then left, shutting the door gently behind.
Seonghwa cracked his neck because he looked at Hongjoong so fast. “What the fuck has gotten into you?”
He sounded annoyed, but he blushed. His chest heaved breathless.
Hongjoong dipped his hand further between Seonghwa’s legs. “You.”
His bond starved for anything his mate would give him.
“We were in a business meeting.” Seonghwa stood fast, straightening out his white skirt.
“I kept it professional.” Hongjoong shrugged.
Seonghwa stumbled over his words, “W-We can’t right now, Hongjoong.”
Hongjoong pulled Seonghwa closer to him once he moved onto his feet. “Seonghwa, we’ve been so disconnected lately and I know it’s my fault. Seeing you care and put your heart into all of this work reminds me I really have missed this.”
Hongjoong pulled Seonghwa into a hard kiss.
Seonghwa yelped in surprise, but he let Hongjoong explore his mouth in desperation.
Hongjoong gripped Seonghwa’s corset, unlacing the back with practiced fingers.
Seonghwa stumbled back against the table as tension broke.
Weeks of pent up frustration poured out.
Hongjoong tossed Seonghwa’s corset aside, then ripped open the white flowy dress shirt that remained. A button clattered across the table and landed on a finished map of Cobalt Reef.
Hongjoong pinned Seonghwa to the wood, then licked down the center line of his abdomen. “I’ve missed this.”
Seonghwa tossed his head back against the table. “I’ve been here this whole time.”
Hongjoong groaned, “And what an idiot I’ve been.”
He abruptly got up, and locked the meeting room door.
Seonghwa laughed breathlessly, “We only have an hour before we leave.”
“I need nothing in return.” Hongjoong walked back to Seonghwa, then pressed a kiss on his lips.
Seonghwa countered, “People will know what we’re doing.”
“Then I suppose my navigator should stay quiet while we go over business.” Hongjoong stroked his hand down Seonghwa’s stomach, tracing down the wet trail he created before. “That’s an order.”
Seonghwa’s eyes went heavy-lidded. “Yes, captain.”
Hongjoong surged forward and connected their lips. Tongue and teeth lashed against each other.
“I’ll show kindness more often if this is how it’s rewarded.” Seonghwa whispered before he trailed kisses over Hongjoong’s neck.
Hongjoong cradled Seonghwa’s head as he bit at his neck from underneath him.
He pulled back, “You reminded me of why we started this.” He bunched up the skirt to Seonghwa’s waist. “It’s never been about proving anything, but to give people hope.”
Seonghwa opened his mouth to speak, but stopped as Hongjoong peppered kisses on the inside of his thigh.
“Seonghwa, I am no leader if I do not have you by my side.” Hongjoong slid Seonghwa’s briefs off.
Seonghwa gasped as Hongjoong hooked a leg over his shoulder. “All of this didn’t come from the meeting.”
Hongjoong rubbed his hands up and down Seonghwa’s legs, “No, but you’ve reminded me of what’s important. For that I will always be grateful.”
Seonghwa jerked his chin up at Hongjoong, “Show me how grateful.”
Hongjoong tugged Seonghwa to the edge of the table. He leaned down and licked up Seonghwa’s hardened member.
Seonghwa moaned, but then flung his hand over his mouth to stop the noise.
Hongjoong delved his mouth down on Seonghwa’s cock. He pinned his hips to the table with possessive hands. Each muffled whimper and moan encouraged him to continue his hot licks on his mate’s hardness. He moved his mouth to the tip, kissing and enjoying every part.
Hongjoong nosed down to the base, wrapping his tongue the best he could.
Seonghwa’s back arched off the table and his unoccupied hand flung to Hongjoong’s hair.
Hongjoong growled at the tugs, shooting pleasure down to his own cock.
Seonghwa dropped his hand from his mouth, “Hongjoong…”
Hongjoong sank back down until Seonghwa nearly hit the back of his throat. He moved his hands to find a grip in Seonghwa’s gorgeous skirt. He would buy him a hundred more.
“Hongjoong.” Seonghwa moaned loud.
Hongjoong pulled off, “Shh…”
Seonghwa pursed his lips in as Hongjoong continued.
Hongjoong reached into his own pants, matching the pace of his mouth on Seonghwa’s. He sped up.
Seonghwa’s pleasured hums elevated. He panted, then anchored both hands in Hongjoong’s hair again.
Hongjoong’s hand worked his own cock until a heated tightness exploded. He moaned around Seonghwa’s cock, and soon Seonghwa released down the back of Hongjoong’s throat with a silent scream.
Hongjoong swallowed every bit.