Requested by Neon_J

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Raging arms of the ocean below crashed against the mighty ship of Wonderland. Rocking its sturdy barrier across the fruitful lands of the watery terrain. Aboard this fearsome vessel were eight men, for they needed no vast crew to prove their might.

The captain stood at the front of his boat, bowsprit indicating their course north. His red coat fluttered against the winds as he inhaled the salty-fresh air surrounding him with tranquillity. "Captain Hongjoong," A sonorous voice headed the redhead's attention, smile curling on his lips once he turned around.

"Ah, Seonghwa." He said pleasantly towards the quartermaster. Hand outstretched, he landed it on the older man's shoulder while his other went to stroke his raven hair.

"Why are you up so early, Captain?" Hongjoong rolled his eyes at Seonghwa's use of titles, growing slightly more irritated at the way his head swerved with caution.

"Aish," Groaned the younger. "Drop the formalities, will you? The kids aren't around. Can't you greet your Captain with a kiss?" When faced with the redhead's pout, Seonghwa allowed himself to grin. Leaning down, he delivered a kiss to Hongjoong's soft lips.

"Good morning, Hongjoong." His tone was higher, layered with adoration and delight.

"There we go. How are you, love?"

Seonghwa shrugged. "I would be much better if I didn't have to wake up to find that San has still ignored the one task I gave him. The canons are still full of ash..." The redhead puckered his lips.

"I'll talk to him about it." Both met one another with grins and Hongjoong placed another peck on Seonghwa's cheek. They relished the moments they had together as partners. Not just captain and quartermaster. However, times like this were few and far between because...

"Eww, Hongjoong and Seonghwa are kissing!"

The hardy crew of Wonderland were always one for jokes, especially if they were at the expense of their leaders, Seonghwa in particular. Said hyung didn't hesitate to let out an exasperated sigh as he removed himself from his partner's comforting grip to trudge away.

Hongjoong narrowed his eyes at the snickering pair of pirates, Wooyoung and San. "It's captain to you," He spoke, voice nearing a baritone. A clear warning for them to watch their next move. The two zipped their traps in response, posture becoming straighter. The captain approached the gunner, eyeing him up and down with disapproval lacing his sun-kissed face.

"I hear you still haven't cleaned the cannons? Why is that?"

San shrugged at him, lowering his head. "I got a little preoccupied. I was doing something else..."

Wooyoung attempted to speak. "Captain-" Yet was quickly shot down.

"I don't want to hear it, something else." His harsh tone shattered any ideas about speaking up. Both men kept their heads down, doing their best to avoid their leaders vexed glower. "Our last battle was four days ago. Everyone else can complete their tasks, why can't you?" San opened his mouth, leaning to answer this rhetorical question. However, Hongjoong beat him to it.

"See to it that your task is done," He barked. "If not, I'll make sure you two are the ones sleeping in the cells. Something you were meant to clean." Hongjoong turned his gaze towards a startled Wooyoung. "Got it!"

The duo shuddered, the thought hardly tempting them. "Aye aye Captain!" They hollered back. Clicking his tongue, Hongjoong march towards his quarters, likely to review his maps and check if they were on the right course. Wooyoung and San made sure to keep their heads at bay, waiting until they were sure he was gone to giggle.

San wrapped an arm around his partner's waist, pulling him close to plant a kiss on his lips. "Look at you. You've gone and gotten me into trouble," He pouted. "Are you happy now?"

"After last night, I couldn't be anything but delighted," Giggled Wooyoung, tilting his head to swerve his violet hair. "I'd do it again."

"What a little minx you are. Thanks to you I've got to go clean the canons."

"Better get to it before the old crone goes and tattles to the captain again." San rolled his eyes at the thought. He sent Wooyoung on his way with a firm smack to his rear, an action met with a quick and mischievous smirk that the gunner knew he would see again soon.

Scrubbing down the cannons was always the worst. San loved nothing more than to see them blast their ammunition into their enemy's ship, the powerful boom they made filling him with a euphoric sense of adrenaline. However, having to draw back the heavy brass base and shove that sponge in its bore tired him beyond belief.

Yet here he stood, pulling the long staff in and out of his cannons. "Why must I be my own cannon monkey?" Muttered the gunner. His hands were covered in ash, bits of the debris landing in his dark green hair from how aggressively he yanked the sponge out.

San could hear the snickers of his crewmates from behind, a low grumble escaping him in response. "Having fun, San?" Teased Jongho. The maknae was accompanied by Yunho, who chuckled alongside him.

"Next time we encounter those bastards, I'm not letting them off the hook." San seethed.

"It isn't their fault you have to clean up your own mess," He heard the older brunette scoff. "Wanna go play cards, Jongho? I'm tired just watching this." 2ho scampered off, their laughter following them.

"Dumb Jongho. Dumb Yunho. Dumb cannons. Why should I have to do this?" The pirate divulged into a fit of quiet curses, each blending into one another with their delivery. San never wondered how many cannons Wonderland had unless he was forced to clean them and when that time came, he knew they had too many.

The green-haired gunner sighed in defeat, halting his rambles just to breathe, before falling right back into them. His prayers for some sort of distraction came along in the form of someone resting their head upon his shoulder. The familiar scent of sea and lavender filled San's senses while he felt inclined to relax in his lover's hold. "So stressed," Purred Wooyoung, gripping at the older's shoulders and kneading them to do away with the knots. "And for what? A few cannons?"

San moaned at the way Wooyoung worked his fingers across his back. "Your hands do wonders, love." He sighed. "I hate cleaning the cannons..."

Wooyoung hummed at this, chuckling at the way his partner whined. "You're always the first one to pull out your sword, yet never stay to clean up the bodies. Not very gentleman-like, is it?" San scoffed at that, turning around and pulling Wooyoung closer to him.

"Gentlemen are pushovers and I am no such thing. Don't lie, you adore my rugged person, don't you?"

"I find it quite entertaining. Though others, not so much." Head tilted towards the deck, Wooyoung noted the quartermaster looking down at them, eyes narrowed. Both pirates stuck their tongues out at him, causing Seonghwa to scoff and then storm off.

"Shouldn't he be seducing the captain? Why must he be so bothersome?" The younger simply shrugged. When he saw that San was getting ready to return to cleaning, the violet-haired began to place kisses on his face, hardly bothered by the soot resting there. "Wooyoung-ah," Whined San. "The captain will see."

"Sounds fun."

"Wooyoungie~ I need to clean the cannons."

His face fell into a pout as that wasn't the response he wanted to hear. "And I need attention," Wooyoung sulked, pulling a face at his partner. "Be quick! How many have you done?"

"So far? One." The younger jutted his lip out.

"At this rate, I'll have to wait until I'm Seonghwa's age for you to finish." He grumbled. Wooyoung moved himself away from San, his lover watching as he stalked away, first clenched in annoyance. The gunner sighed. Hopefully, he'd be able to make up their lost time later.

~~~

By sunset, all six cannons were cleaned. At long last, every cannon had been wiped until they shined brighter than diamonds. Inspected by his two hyungs, Hongjoong and Seonghwa told San that he had done well but warned him not to let something like this happen again. Perhaps he would've been done sooner if he wasn't constantly interrupted by his own irritated grumbles and Wooyoung's flirtatious advances, but at least he was finally finished.

Speaking of Wooyoung, he was nowhere in sight. San scanned nearly every corner of the ship, peering into any spot he thought his partner may have hidden.

Finally, his eyes landed on the crows nest. Strangely enough, it was brightened by candlelight and San was unsure of how he had missed it early. With a shrug, he scaled the ropes allowing him to climb to the top. Though he prayed that Yeosang wouldn't be too bothered, as that was usually his domain and a place that those who weren't the captain and himself seldom visited.

Yet to his surprise, it was Wooyoung perched against the rim of the wooden hideout. His fellow pirate beamed at him, beckoning him closer while warning him to be cautious of the candles. They were surrounded by an array of pink and white drapes, coating the edges of the nest and a platter of cakes resting just in front of them.

"Do you like it?" Asked Wooyoung, his smile growing at the grin forming on San's face. "I figured it would be a nice reward since you worked so hard today."

San was speechless. He sat down right next to the younger, pulling him into a long, passionate kiss that left Wooyoung breathless. "Thank you," He whispered. "I love it."

"I'm glad. Because I had to convince the others to let me use the sugar for this as long as they got some food and needed to convince Yeosang to let us borrow the nest."

"Did you tell him you wouldn't make chicken for him anymore?"

"Possibly," The two of them snickered. They enjoyed the comfortable presence of the other, basking in the sweet words they told one another while enjoying the beautiful view ahead of them. The sun laid itself to rest, allowing the night sky to show off its charms.

Glistening stars brightened the world above them, allowing the candles to fizzle out for the remainder of the day. San sat with Wooyoung rested under him, head sitting comfortably on his lap. They listened to the calming sounds of the waves and the fruitful chatter of the pirates below them to set the mood.

The silence surrounding them was cosy and Wooyoung found that San's warmth was the only thing he would ever need in this lifetime. "San?" He whispered, earning a hum from the other male. "Can you sing for me?"

San chuckled. "Anything for you, Wooyoung." He hummed himself a tune to start, setting the mood.

"The words I haven't said until now I want to convey all my feelings to you now. Gather all your painful memories, I'll make you shine like a star." Wooyoung curled up closer to him, eyes resting as the sound of his soft serenade filled his ears.

"I spend my day thinking of you. That's the greatest happiness for me, come to me as a star." San stroked Wooyoung's soft locks, smiling at the way he grinned.

"Looking for star, looking for love. You are my star. I will always make you shine. Forever you're my heart. Looking for star, looking for love so that no sorrow can come here. I will protect you forever. Forever you are my star."

By now, the soft snores of the male next to him had reached San. Gently, he pressed a kiss against his dozing lover's cheek, a soft smile on his face. "Rest well, Wooyoung. I love you."