sky pirate – (hongjoong, k.)
genre ㅡ ⋆ fantasy, skypirate!hongjoong, pirate!reader
cw ㅡ ⋆ none
word count ㅡ ⋆ 2.6k
synopsis ㅡ ⋆ the sea would be boring to see when you’ve been a pirate your whole life. how about being a sky pirate? but… uh-oh… lady luck isn’t on your side now, is she?
note ㅡ ⋆ a lil’ squint and you shall see a ff xii balthier reference ;P
⋆ masterlist | request/ talk?
“Move, move!” The browned hair girl commanded, standing on the head of the sky ship flying across the horizon. You stood up straight, eyes wandering here and there, watching your crews busying themselves running around the sky ship under your very command.
A pirate is who you are, as well as your dad. You’ve spent almost your whole life voyaging across the ocean. As people started learning about those things called Science, Engineering, or probably selling things as mercenaries – it’s all rubbish for you to learn. The ocean is where you belong to, and that’s why you chose to be there. Then one day the oceans bore you, despite having an endless love for it, then you looked up towards the sky. If one can voyage across the ocean, why can’t they voyage across the sky?
You paid a visit to Cid, the most popular Engineer on the city. Alongside Seonghwa, a close friend which he claimed himself as your personal assistant. Hours and hours did you and Seonghwa waited to meet Cid. His assistants, self-claimed, labelled themselves to only ‘doing their job properly’ when they’re actually just a bunch of scurvy dogs who prevents you to meet Cid. You’re meeting Cid to request for a sky ship design, none other. You’ll pay him for it, in which means the money you paid to Cid will be his assistants’ pay checks as well – why on earth are they preventing you to meet Cid?
“Good ser.” Seonghwa called out, trying his best to flash out a made out tremendous smile. You checked out on your nails before retreating a few steps backwards to give Seonghwa some space on bargaining with these two so called gentlemen.
“Do our clothing resemble who we are?” your best friend continued. Both old men threw each other a gaze before looking back at Seonghwa before Seonghwa repeated, “Do our outfits really resemble who we are?”
“Pirates?” the first one questioned as Seonghwa nodded, with a smile. Before Seonghwa could even continue his bargaining with both men, the second one already pointed out, “Look, kid, we can’t get you inside to meet Master Cid—”
“Okay, okay, but you should know something.” Seonghwa said, throwing both of his arms to the air. Looking over your shoulder, Seonghwa threw his arms around both men’s shoulders as he leaned down to their ears. Despite Seonghwa whispering, it’s audible enough for you to hear what he was saying.
“Her father… Blackbeard… Calico Jack… and the others… in one coalition,” Seonghwa said before pulling back to see both men’s reaction. It’s quite obvious that both of them froze before they threw other gazes at each other. The first one then went to the door in a hurried motion before opening it. You took some steps closer to Seonghwa.
“Master Cid is just upstairs, do knock his door before going inside,” The first one said as you snickered, walking past him and went straight upstairs. Seonghwa patted his shoulder before pulling out a small sack from his belt satchel as he handed it to the first man, “Do divide this awesome gold with your friend, good ser.” before he closed the door and followed your steps upstairs.
Cid is kind, unlike two of his assistants which made everything hard. Seonghwa said that he thought Cid will be really complicated, convoluted, but no. Just mentioning your names, your dad’s name, and your purpose coming here quickly moves you and Cid to the discussions of your desired sky ship. After doing a furthermore discussions, you reached an agreement as you left Cid’s office alongside Seonghwa and a few months waiting would do.
A little bit more of voyaging across the sea was done, you didn’t even count how many months passed but one of his complicated assistants showed up at your doorstep with a good news, your ship is ready!
To Cid’s laboratory did Seonghwa and you marched to mirthfully. You’ve been waiting for this day and you’d be lying if you say you’re not filled with joy upon receiving this news. The idea of you voyaging across the sky itself is enough to make your stomach do flips in excitement.
Once you entered Cid’s laboratory, you knew that you wouldn’t be able to get that small smirk of satisfaction off your lips. The baby is gorgeous. Designed precisely like the ships your dad owned, only that it’s designed to be used to fly.
The sky ship ranged nearly over than 103 feet long, 24 feet in beam, and had 200 tons of burthen. The ship body are covered with cedar wood, the best ones Cid said. The deck completed with the strongest and shining wood as the floor also the deck’s necessity is enough to be considered as consummate. Three large poles stood up ever so dashingly as they hold up a red coloured sail. Perfect, your most desired colour. On the head of the sky ship installed an artificial siren skull. You’ve killed three sirens before and those are great achievements you could say – makes you feel stronger and stronger. Then you checked the inside of the sky ship, there are rooms for the ship’s needs, including one captain cabin for you, two smaller cabin for Seonghwa and another of your right hand, Karina, and others for the crew’s quarters. Perfect.
“Ah for the payment…” Cid said with a small chuckle as he rubbed his arms together before raising his gaze to meet yours, “I added some paddles to the side so it costs you some extra more gold,” Cid stated, “Paddles, what for?” Seonghwa questioned, looking at the slightly shorter older man as the older man took off his goggles, “Thieves are now wandering around the sky and more populous than before, my child. Newbies like you guys would want something to get away with fast before they could chew you away,” you then nod upon hearing Cid’s explanation, although deep down you couldn’t help but to feel slightly pissed knowing you can’t dodge the extra charge without him giving you an early notice but what else can you do? He’s right. You’re a newbie, and you would be needing something to get away quick if those so-called thieves hunts you down.
“Getting a hang of it?” Seonghwa asked, stopping by next to you on the flying sky ship, also looking at the busied crews, making sure they carried out their jobs perfectly. You smiled at Seonghwa, continuing to feel the breeze of the sky air blowing towards the surrounding.
“Trap’s done, captain.” Karina, one of your dad’s best crews who then became your right hand said. You nod at her as she retreated back to the crews.
It’s such a blessing to have Karina join you and your journey of becoming a sky pirate. She’s one of dad’s best and most valued crews. She’s one of the five female pirates, part of dad’s crews, and the closest to you during your childhood days aside from Seonghwa. And how do you know Seonghwa? As you remembered… you were too young back then to go out for sailing. Usually on that time, you would meet your dad once or twice every two months since you would just stay back home. At times, dad will arrive home with treasures he claimed was suitable for you: necklaces, earrings, anything. But one day it’s just different, he brought home… a kid. Quite surprised you were for he won’t be working that kid as a powder monkey. The kid then grew up becoming your eternal best friend, Seonghwa.
“You’re getting the hang of it. Then this shall be titled as a beginner’s luck, I suppose?” continued Seonghwa, flashing out a smile towards you as you hit his shoulder in a joking manner. Perhaps he is right. Everything is going good so far, and you’re hoping this will go well fully.
“Then let’s leave sea and voyage the sky?” You said, walking closer to Seonghwa to throw your left arm around his shoulder as your eyes wandered far towards the horizon and hopingly, you could see the edge of it, but the world’s round, we can’t see no edge. Seonghwa flashed another small smile towards you.
“Deal.” he said as you turned your gaze to him, flashing out a smile as well. As you made your thoughts back lost to the sky and horizon, a loud crash voice was heard as you turned to look at the source of the voice with such a confused gaze. Right. Really on a first day.
“What the—” Two sky ships came as fast as a blink of an eye squeezing the sky ship your crew and you currently stepped on. The whole deck panicked knowing the trap we installed earlier didn’t work to them but backfired instead. It was seen from the distance that two ships have their own crews ready to jump off to your ship, but judging by the same ship body and sail colour on both ships, you assume both are led by the same captain.
“Get yourselves ready!” Seonghwa yelled as the whole crew pulled out their weapons. Some pulled out their daggers, swords, some pulled out their guns, some climbed to the crow’s nest, and some even went inside to retrieve some equipment. As they jumped into your ship and started attacking you crews, you pulled out your sword and dashed towards the quarterdeck.
It turns to be a riot. Some of them aimed towards your crew on the crow nest so they climbed there, some of them went inside to find your crews there, and they even fought at the deck. Well, this isn’t a beginner’s luck then. It’s your first time flying, and you got attacked.
You turned to look at your crews, some fell down injured, or even off the sky ship. As you were busy trying your best to take of three attackers with two of your crews, you didn’t realize that you’re just getting outnumbered. Two of your crews fell down, injured, leaving you dumbfounded of the battle between the now, two attackers. Frankly speaking, your sword skills aren’t that great too, but flaunting it off in hopes it could get you somewhere to victory wouldn’t hurt. Cursing under your breath, both swordsmen are really pesky skilled ones who seemed like they have been holding a sword since the second they were born. Skilfully, one of them twisted your sword with his and throw it off the ship, leaving you with no weapon.
Even though the attackers swarmed your ship right now, the only hope for you is to run to your cabin since it’s locked, and you have the key with you. Just when you were about to run after turning around, both swordsmen caught you by your arms as you struggled to flee from their grips. The dark haired one, undeniably attractive then smirked, leaning down to your struggling figure, “Can’t run away, doll face.”
In a blink of an eye, you were pulled to the deck where all of your remaining crews were held captive and tied up. Either they were tied up, or they were on their knees with one or two attackers pointing their guns or swords to them. You can see Seonghwa being tied up on the southeast pole with two other crews and there’s no Karina in sight – you just hope she’s still here and you just didn’t see her. Two men then tied you in the middle pole, alone. Great, what a day to not have a pocketknife with you.
“Bring the boss.” The second one said, signalling towards the other attackers as they nodded before jumping back to the attacker’s ship to get their so-called boss. Your gaze fell towards the hot one’s belt, it has two letters carved to it; CS. Is it an initial or something?
“Quite impressed to see such youthful, appealing, slinky looking lass on board.” The hot one said, slipping his index finger just below your chin. You wanted to swing a kick to him, you really do, only if the ropes bounding you not being this tight. So you do what you can do, you tried biting his finger. Such a swift person he is, he immediately pulled his hand away before scrunching his nose and looked at the second one.
“Wooyoung, you fancy fierce lasses?” He asked to the second one, who also then flashed out a smirk before looking at you.
“Aw, San. They’re hot.” The second one said. Scoffing lightly, you know how to handle this.
“A group of lousy thieves aren’t you, gentlemen? You’re bad, bad, thieves you’d only be a shark bait if you voyage across the ocean.” You said, taunting both men standing in front of you. The San guy furrowed his eyebrows hearing what you just said. You know just well, that skilled pirates won’t appreciate being insulted like that, but hey, just fuming his anger here.
“Watch your mouth, woman—” San furiously grabbed your chin and looked like he’s about to spit out probably a series of mean harsh stinging words or even his fist, but a voice interrupted. San retreated back to his position next to Wooyoung almost immediately.
“Your mistakes were twofold, I'm afraid.”
Then San and Wooyoung took some steps backward, giving you clear access to see a guy walking on the connecting plank as he then hopped towards your ship’s deck. The boss is here, should you just taunt the boss? The smell of defeat isn’t good, but how about him being fair on this? You didn’t even see his nose on the fight earlier.
“You sprung your trap without looking to see if the game you hunted was the one you'd snare.”
He walked closer and closer to you, the atmosphere remains calm as the sound filling everyone’s hearing was his shoes tapping against the wooden floor. You raised your gaze to find his, just when he stopped in front of you, “And you sold me short.”
The boss here looks somewhere near your age, perhaps older. His black hair slicked back, his eyes somehow twinkling and sharp at the same time – but just one, as his other eyes completely covered with a black eyepatch. His body gracefully covered with a white ruffle shirt topped with a somehow beautiful mixture of black and gold colour of an embroidered vest. A belt wrapped loosely around his hips and also a belt satchel wrapped around his hips. A gun and dagger slipped tidily on two different places of his belt, also a black calf boots completed his look.
“I’m no thief, sweetheart.” he continued. You retreated your gaze from his eyes to his belt, there’s something interesting carved there, and it lured your attention.
Kim Hongjoong.
The deck remained quiet. All filling your hearing was Seonghwa calling out for your name, only being shushed by the attacker’s crew. You still have your eyes focused on the belt as Hongjoong seemed like knowing that you’re not even focusing on his words. With that, Hongjoong slipped his fingers to your chin and lifts it up to meet his twinkling gaze with your confused ones. Even on dangerous situations like this, you despise yourself for admiring his beauty on this position. A small smile did Hongjoong pull out upon noticing how your confused gaze is slowly infused with a look of terrify. Leaning down, he finished his sentence with a gentle whisper on your ear.
“I’m a sky pirate.”