Chapter Text
The last thing Isolde expected was for the star to visit her. Ever since Hongjoong broke her wrist, she hadn’t seen anyone else. It had been almost a week and, short of some scrawny kid bringing her food, Isolde hadn’t seen her captors.
So, for the star to appear, glancing furtively around sent warning signals to Isolde. His arms were full of medical supplies, but she didn’t buy it.
“Come to gloat?” she called out. “Or put me out of my misery?”
“I’m here to help,” the star said softly. “I don’t care what anyone else here says. You don’t deserve this.”
“I’m their prisoner, I deserve worse.”
The star shook his head. “Not to me.”
Frozen with shock, Isolde watched as he opened her cell. Her feet were shackled together, so there was no chance of escape, even if she was whole. The star took her broken wrist, wincing when she whined.
“You didn’t know anything, did you?” he said softly.
“Captain had plenty of secrets,” Isolde said through gritted teeth. “I wasn’t exactly her favorite.”
“You don’t know why the Prince wants me?”
“You’re a star, everyone wants you,” Isolde rolled her eyes. At least this conversation was keeping her mind off her injuries. “He announced it at the last meeting of the Court. Your captain would know if he bothered to show up.”
“He’s not my captain.”
“He wasn’t supposed to be anyone's captain,” Isolde sneered. “He was never supposed to take that ship. There’s an order to these Isles, Star, and Hongjoong is ignoring all the rules.”
The star didn’t say anything. He carefully wrapped up her broken wrists and fingers, wiped the blood from her arms, bandaged the cuts and burns. There were no scathing remarks, no harsh pokes or jabs, no mocking words.
In all her memory, Isolde had never been treated so delicately. She stared at the star, the slope of his nose, the tenderness in his eyes, the softness of his hands. He was pretty when they captured him, glowing in an ethereal way. He seemed untouchable, otherworldly, and Isolde had wondered if they could even taint him.
But now, seeing him on his knees in front of her, delicately tending to her injuries, he no longer appeared as just a star, just a celestial being trapped on earth, just a battering chip to change the course of the seas.
He wasn’t just a star. He was a person, someone tangible and real, with his own feelings and emotions. He had every right to hate Isolde, to leave her here to die slowly. Anyone else on the ship would’ve done that, and yet here he was, showing care that Isolde had never felt.
“I’ll check on you tomorrow,” the star muttered as he closed and locked her cell. “Try and keep the bandages clean, if you can.”
“Wait! What’s your name?”
He turned, surprised, before melting into a soft smile.
“Seonghwa.”
--
Seolla was in the far north of the Pirate Isles, at least a month away with a good headwind. As much as Hongjoong wanted to chart a course straight there, they were still dangerously low on supplies.
“We could stop at any port town,” Yunho suggested. He pointed to three on the map. “Any of these would be a good place to stop.”
“Too small,” Hongjoong shook his head. “We need to resupply and not tip off the Prince that we’re heading his way. If we go somewhere small, we’ll stick out like a sore thumb. If we go somewhere bigger then we can blend in. Besides, we need to get things for Seonghwa.”
Yunho hummed, tapping his fingers on the table. “He’s been visiting the prisoner.”
“Oh?”
“He thinks he’s being secretive, but Wooyoung’s a light sleeper. Apparently, he’s been seeing her for a few days now.”
“Interesting.”
“Captain, do you think he’s interrogating her still?”
“I doubt it,” Hongjoong said. “He’s far too gentle to hurt her.”
--
San checked on Seonghwa every morning, prodding at his back. The stitches were healing nicely and with each passing day the pain lessened until, a little over a week later, San said he could take the stitches out.
“You’ll have a scar,” San said as he meticulously snipped the stitches.
“That’s what she wanted,” Seonghwa said softly. “She wanted me to remember that she got to me first.”
San trailed a finger over the skin and Seonghwa could barely feel it, his skin numb beneath San’s finger.
“Why are you taking care of the prisoner?” San asked and Seonghwa stiffened. “Wooyoung followed you. He hasn’t told anyone else what he saw, just me. So why? Why are you working so hard to heal her injuries?”
“It’s not right to hurt her,” Seonghwa said slowly. “She’s told us everything she knows, why would we continue with the torture? Is it not better to show her kindness now?”
San hummed. “The Captain would disagree. He believes in fighting cruelty with more cruelty.”
“He was kind to me.”
“That’s because you’re a star, Seonghwa. Only a fool would dare cross you.”
“Ah,” Seonghwa sighed. “My power.”
“We’ll be landing in port today,” San said, changing the subject. “Hongjoong insisted on making sure you’re taken care of. He’ll buy you anything you want.”
Seonghwa made a faint noise of agreement. San patted him on the shoulders and left, closing the cabin door firmly behind him. Seonghwa stood up, holding his shirt in his hands. There was a small mirror in the cabin, hanging above a wash basin, and Seonghwa walked towards it.
He’d been avoiding his reflection since arriving, scared to see what had become of him since falling, worried that his fear and terror were plain to see on his face. Holding his breath, Seonghwa stared at his reflection.
The first thing he noticed was his hair, thin and limp but still framing his face perfectly. His eyes looked a little more sunken in, his lips were dry and chapped, his cheekbones more pronounced. His skin, which was normally bronze and glowing, had shifted to an unhealthy pallor. Seonghwa knew he was still beautiful, that these changes were superficial – nothing a hot bath couldn’t fix – but he couldn’t deny how damaged he looked.
Slowly, Seonghwa turned around, peering over his shoulder at the scar on his back.
Even braced for the worst, Seonghwa couldn’t help but gasp at the sight. The scar was jagged, the skin bumpy where it had started to heal, and a stark reddish-brown against his skin. His back looked mangled and no amount of medicine would return him to whole.
Captain Sari got her final wish – Seonghwa would always remember her.
The port was loud and bustling and Seonghwa could barely keep track of everything. There were horses and carriages hurrying along cobblestone roads. The port itself was lined with stalls and vendors, each one louder than the last, with the smell of salt and fish in the air. The city itself seemed to sprawl on forever – shops and homes and other public buildings spreading from the port, cutting deep into the island. Seonghwa could never imagine such industry. Hongjoong walked by his side, a comforting hand on his back, gently guiding him through the busy streets.
“Gather everything you’ll need for a month-long journey,” Hongjoong said as his crew dispersed. “And quickly. We need to leave port by sunset. Make sure you all travel in pairs, understand?”
The crew all shouted their assent. Wooyoung dragged San and Jongho with him down one street while Mingi and Yunho escorted Yeosang down another. The rest of the crew filtered through the streets, laughing and talking.
“What about me?” Seonghwa asked.
“You and I, dear Star, are going to buy things for you.”
“For – for me?” Seonghwa repeated. “Like what?”
“Clothes, books, jewelry,” Hongjoong listed off. “Anything to make your stay with us more comfortable. I hear that a star’s power is only as strong as their happiness.”
Ah, of course. He was only a weapon in the eyes of Hongjoong.
“I don’t need anything,” Seonghwa said softly.
“Nonsense,” Hongjoong waved his concern away. “Now that you’re healed, I want you to have the first mate cabin and I want you to be comfortable there. You can’t keep wearing Wooyoung’s borrowed clothes, now can you?”
Seonghwa looked down at his clothing, a baggy shirt and pants with loose sandals. It was a far cry from the dress he had when he fell.
“Let’s at least look, okay?” Hongjoong said. “If you see something you like, let me know.”
Seonghwa nodded and let Hongjoong lead him into the city.
--
Isolde fumbled with the shackles around her ankles. The piece of wood that was splinting her broken finger was not an ideal lockpick, but Isolde was determined. The star – Seonghwa – never locked her cell after visiting her, just kept the door closed and no one else bothered to check.
When she heard the sounds of port, she knew what she had to do.
She wasn’t completely healed, but Seonghwa had done a good job of taking care of her. Most of her cuts and burns were starting to scab over, her broken wrist and fingers were starting to mend. If she could break out of these chains, escape to this city then…
Then what?
Isolde had no talents other than sailing. She had been sold to Sari as a child and grew up on the seas. There was a chance she could barter her way onto a ship, but even that wasn’t a guarantee. Still, supposing all else failed, Isolde’s life would at least have some future, but only if she escaped Utopia.
She tightened her grip on the wooden split, redoubling her efforts.
After much struggle, Isolde finally got the shackles off her ankles. They were bruised and swollen, but she could walk. Gingerly, she stood up, holding onto the bars of her cell for support. She pushed open the door to her cell and crept away.
Isolde barely made it to port, stealing down a dark alleyway, when someone grabbed her by the arm. Panic flooded her body. She was expecting to see one of Hongjoong’s crew, getting ready to drag her back to Utopia. Instead, she was met with someone she thought she’d never see again.
“Rheena?” she whispered.
The last Isolde saw of Rheena was when they escorted the star back to the ship. Time had been rough on Rheena; her hair, usually silky smooth and dark, was tangled in messy knots and there were dark circles under her dark eyes that greedily looked over Isolde. She looked thin, pale and gaunt, but undoubtably alive.
“Oh stars, it is you,” Rheena gasped, pulling Isolde in for a tight hug.
Even though they were both in rough shape, they still fit together like a glove. Rheena’s arms were strong around her waist, holding her just shy of too tight. Isolde couldn’t remember the last time they were able to indulge in this, but it was long before they found the star.
After a long moment, Isolde finally pulled away, but she kept Rheena within her arms, unbelieving that she was here – alive.
“I thought you died during the raid,” Isolde said.
“I got lucky,” Rheena said. “I was paying attention and I heard them cut through the others. So I hid between some crates in the cargo-hold. As soon as they got the star, they left. If they looked just a little harder…” she trailed off. “I managed to barter my way here on some passing ships. But what of you? How did you survive?”
Isolde looked down at her feet, bare and bloody, at her mangled hand, her scarred arms and legs.
“I was a prisoner,” she whispered.
Rheena’s eyes lit up. “Hongjoong?” Isolde nodded. “This is perfect! You can get information about the star! We can send that to the Prince!”
“What?”
“Think about it! The Prince wants the star and you know where it is. If we give it to him then he’ll reward us. You just have to go back on the ship.”
Back to Utopia? Back to Captain Hongjoong? Isolde flexed her fist, feeling the odd gap where her fingers were missing. Her joints still ached.
“I can’t go back,” she said between her teeth. “I’m useless to them. They probably won’t even notice I’m gone.”
Rheena reached out and cradled Isolde’s face. “We would be rich, Izzy. We could make a new life for ourselves, the way we always wanted.” She leaned forward, their foreheads pressed together. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
“If we bring the star to the Prince, then we’ll never have to be apart again,” Rheena said softly. “You just have to go back to the ship. Spy on them and tell me everything. We’ll take the star to the Prince and then we can start our life together.”
A life with Rheena, free from pain and suffering, was all that Isolde wanted. It was a distant hope, a lofty dream that gave her courage but, ultimately, was unattainable – just like catching a star.
But a star had fallen; Isolde had spoken to him – to it.
“Okay,” Isolde nodded. “I’ll do it.”
Rheena smiled, sharp and beautiful, and pulled Isolde’s face in for a kiss.
--
Seonghwa stared at his reflection. He didn’t have any experience with clothes and just trusted whatever Hongjoong picked out for him. He barely recognized himself. The corset showed off his waist and the pants fit his legs well, making them look miles long. The shirt, with its ruffled collar and sleeves, brought attention to his face. Everything was chosen with purpose.
“You look beautiful,” Hongjoong said. “How do you feel?”
Seonghwa turned slowly in the mirror, taking in every angle. This outfit looked threatening, powerful. It was designed to strike fear into the hearts of men.
“Dangerous.”
Hongjoong laughed. “You don’t need clothes for that, my star.” He turned to the owner of the shop. “We’ll take it all.”
Seonghwa spun around. This was only the first outfit. Hongjoong had a chair full of clothes for Seonghwa to wear, from elegant vests to comfortable pants to a long black overcoat.
“Excuse me?”
“Now that I know your size, why not?” Hongjoong said with a shrug. “You deserve it.”
Seonghwa felt guilt swell in the pit of his stomach. Hongjoong believed Seonghwa to be powerful like his sister before. He expected Seonghwa to have the power to overthrow the Prince of Pirates.
Would he still give Seonghwa these gifts if he knew the truth?
“C’mon, Star, we have more places to visit before sunset.”
Seonghwa bit his tongue. He didn’t deserve these gifts but if Hongjoong knew the truth about Seonghwa’s ability, then he would surely be killed. No pirate would want a fallen north star, after all.
🌟
San patted Mingi on the shoulder before standing up and stretching.
“You boys aren’t bored yet?” San asked, faking a wide yawn.
There was a chorus of “no’s” and Mingi tried not to preen. San rolled his eyes but he was smiling.
“Well, I’m bored,” San said. “Mingi needs to work on his storytelling.”
“Excuse me?!”
“I’m kidding!” San laughed. “I just promised Wooyoung that I’d meet him for lunch. Don’t leave out any good parts!”
And he left with a jaunty wave.
“Excuse me, Mingi, sir?” Hyunwoo spoke up. “How do you know so much of Isolde’s story?”
Mingi grinned. “Spoilers.”
🌟
Isolde snuck back onto the ship, her lips still warm from Rheena’s kisses. She had told her how much the Prince was offering for the star and Isolde would be a fool to turn down that kind of money. Besides, Rheena was right. With that kind of money, they could buy themselves a plot of land, start anew without the threat of Sari or other pirates hanging over their head. They could be free.
All she had to do was capture the star and bring him – it – to the Prince.
Her cell was just as unguarded as when she escaped and she slipped inside, closing the door and placing the shackles around her ankles. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a warm stone, cradling it gently in her hands.
The stone was smooth with the faintest carving of a face. Magical runes encircled the edges, faintly pulsing with power.
Isolde don’t know what price Rheena paid to get a set of messaging stones. Magic was a rarity on the Pirate Isles and the cost for a spell this powerful would be high. Still, Isolde was grateful. She lifted the stone to her lips, rubbing her thumb along the runes to activate it.
Made it aboard. I miss you already.
The runes flashed then faded as the message was sent. Isolde leaned against the wall of her cell, holding the stone tightly.
Good luck. Message me as soon as you know where Hongjoong is going. I miss you too.
--
Seonghwa stepped back abord Utopia with a trunk filled with clothes, a few bags of books, even and old record player with a few records. Anything that grabbed Seonghwa’s attention was bought and sent aboard. Hongjoong truly spared no expenses to ensure Seonghwa’s happiness and comfort.
The first mate cabin was below decks and Seonghwa ended up following Mingi down towards his new accommodations. While he’d stolen below deck to tend to Isolde, Seonghwa didn’t see anything – just made a beeline for the prison hold. Now, however, he could see the cramped sleeping quarters with dozens of hammocks swaying with the ship, the cargo hold that was stuffed with crates and barrels, the galley with worn benches and tables.
“Hongjoong’s never had a first mate apparently,” Mingi said as he led Seonghwa. “He’s got Yunho and me and I guess that’s enough. I’ve never even been in here.”
Mingi opened the door to the cabin and gestured for Seonghwa to enter first. Someone had brought in all of Seonghwa’s newly purchased items, leaving them stacked up by the door for him to unpack. The large bed in the corner had fresh bedsheets but the rest of the limited furniture (a weathered desk and chair, a rickety table, a battered wardrobe) had seen better days.
“Do – do you want some help?” Mingi asked, looking around the bare room. “I mean, I don’t have anything else to do and there’s a lot of stuff here…”
“I’d love the help,” Seonghwa said.
Mingi gave Seonghwa a wide and toothy grin and Seonghwa couldn’t help but smile back.
“Can I ask you something?” Seonghwa asked.
He and Mingi had just finished putting the mountain of clothing away and were working on organizing the books and records. Seonghwa knew Hongjoong spared no expense, but he didn’t quite realize how much stuff he could now call his own.
“Of course.”
“What’s your issue with Isolde? The prisoner?”
Mingi froze, his back tensing.
“It’s my job to interrogate her,” Mingi said slowly, bitterly. “That’s what a quartermaster does, after all. But I’m not strong enough to do it. Even when I tried, even with her blood on my hands, it wasn’t enough.” Mingi looked down at his hands and Seonghwa noticed they were shaking. “Yunho and Yeosang say it’s fine – that I don’t need to be like that – but Hongjoong thinks I should.” Mingi sighed. “Maybe he’s right. Maybe I am too soft.”
Seonghwa thought back to that day, when he first saw Isolde in the prison hold. He remembered the dark look in Hongjoong’s eyes before he broke her wrist, the grim satisfaction from harming another person. It was such a contrast to the way Hongjoong looked at him today, his eyes warm and bright.
“It’s no bad thing to value human life,” Seonghwa said. “Is it not possible to gain more allies through kindness and mercy than through violence?”
“I dunno,” Mingi shrugged. “Maybe.”
Over the past several days, Seonghwa had ample time to watch the rest of the crew. He noticed how San and Wooyoung circled each other like planets, diligent in their own tasks but always aware of each other. It was sweet, seeing how clearly they adored each other. San had wasted no time telling Seonghwa how they met, beaming all the while.
He watched as Mingi, Yunho, Yeosang, and Jongho navigated their unique relationship. Seonghwa loved seeing the four of them eating together. Yunho and Yeosang doted on Mingi, always making sure he ate enough, while Mingi told every embarrassing story about Jongho he knew.
Seonghwa had seen what kind of quartermaster Mingi was; selfless, honest, hardworking. He was in charge of maintaining the crew and ship, of ensuring the chores were done correctly and that no fights broke out. According to the rest of the crew, they all admired and respected Mingi. There was a strong feeling that Mingi’s soft heart was a much-needed counterbalance to Hongjoong.
The crew loved their captain, would follow Hongjoong to hell and back, but they also loved Mingi, the guard dog princess.
Seonghwa scooted closer to Mingi, their knees touching.
“Your soft heart is valuable,” Seonghwa said. “And someday, Hongjoong will see that.”
Mingi let out a long breath and leaned against Seonghwa.