#junhao action

The water is cold and stretches for as far as the eye can see. The ocean is vast and blue, calm on this day.

Minghao stands at the helm, hands firm on the steering wheel as he gazes over his crew. After that raid he led in the Great Eastern Sea some years ago, he never thought his crew would grow to include Koreans. But there's no mistaking the men before him.

Seokmin is manning the masts, a handkerchief wrapped tight around his head, shielding his dark hair from the fiery rays of the sun as he makes sure their new white sails are being set up correctly. Sweat runs down Mingyu's arms as he lifts barrels of gunpowder down into the cargo hold and Minghao can't help but stare at the slightly older man. Seokmin and Mingyu are older than Minghao, but they've never faltered in showing their respects to him. They owe Minghao their lives and enjoy working under his rule, making sure that his strict code is enforced throughout all of Minghao's fleet which Minghao appreciates, considering how many men work for him.

Seungkwan and Hansol are bickering at the bow and Minghao rolls his eyes, debating whether or not to break up their argument. He decides against it when Chan pushes in between them and forces them back to work, the teen laden down with heavy coils of rope Minghao is surprised he can carry. Seungkwan pushes at Hansol's arm and follows after Chan, leaving Hansol to look after them, an offended look on his face. Minghao is still partially confused over whether Hansol is actually Korean or not due to his European features, but he doesn't voice it because race and ethnicity have never been important things to Minghao.

Appearances don't make up a person's worth in his opinion, it's their actions and willingness to improve that really matter to him.

Minghao watches as his small crew works to keep the ship steady and flowing easily across the bright waters. They're in the South China Sea at the moment (Chan had made a big show of his maps and markings, proclaiming their location in an excited voice once they'd passed the borders) and the water is calm.

Too calm.

Minghao doesn't know why he's so bothered by the relaxed lull of the sea around them. He's in a hurry to find what he's been searching for for years. After meeting with the captain of his northern fleet, Yixing, a month ago, Minghao had been given the last puzzle piece of the information he needed. Now he and his most trustworthy men are on their way to find the treasure.

He should be relieved about their lack of run-ins with the Qing Imperial Navy and other enemy pirates, but he just can't shake the feeling that something terrible is about to happen. It's like an itch he can't scratch and it's been bothering him ever since they set sail for the island.

Still, Minghao continues to watch over his crew, laughing to himself when Seokmin wipes his brow then flicks his sweat at Seungkwan. Seungkwan's squeals are loud and overdramatic, but the man himself has always been dramatic so it's really nothing new. Chan flicks his fingers at Seungkwan's arm and darts away when Seungkwan turns to face him, a look of irritation deforming his features. Hansol is next to strike, slapping Seungkwan's ass before he runs past Minghao and up towards the poop deck.

Minghao ignores them again, instead focusing on Seokmin folding up their old red sails and putting them away in an inconspicuous box. It'd been Minghao's idea to change their sails. Waving the red sails of the Red Flags would most definitely draw unwanted attention to their average-looking ship and though Minghao is itching for any kind of action, he also doesn't want to put the lives of his crew at unnecessary risk. Better to pretend they're a neutral ship in unfamiliar waters instead of entering with guns blazing.

Seokmin finishes putting the sails away, nodding at Mingyu when the tanned man comes forward to pick up the box. They exchange a few words that Minghao can't quite make out over the roar of the sea, humming of the ship and snapping of the new sails against the wind, but there's no mistaking the matching grins that spread across their faces once Mingyu turns to head below deck and deposit the box into their stores. Minghao's grip is as firm as ever on the steering wheel of the ship, but there's a blurb of something coming up on the horizon and Minghao's already turning to port side where Chan is scampering up the ratlines to get high enough on the masts to use his telescope.

"Captain!"

Chan is waving his hands around, pointing at the blurb that's getting closer by the second and Minghao doesn't know whether to be alarmed by the black sails or not.

"Captain! Incoming ship!" Chan yells again, this time gaining the attention of everyone on board.

Mingyu rushes up onto the main deck, a little breathless and immediately spots the ship. Minghao frowns at the approaching black sails but makes no move to alter their course. They have nothing to worry about, not when Minghao has both his swords, his guns and a couple of knives up his sleeve.

He can easily handle whatever's heading their way.

At least, he hopes he can.

The ship continues to approach, curving subtly to the side so that it'll end up on Minghao's ship's port side. Minghao squints against the sun and tries to pinpoint any moving bodies on the ship, but so far, he can't make out much. Mingyu is suddenly at Minghao's elbow, worry and nerves radiating off him like body heat, but Minghao is used to this kind of behavior whenever they happen across something unknown. It's why Mingyu is his first mate, after all, something that has made Mingyu a bit of a laughing stock since first mates aren’t meant for pirates.

“Captain, they’re requesting to come aboard,” Chan says from his perch, telescope permanently attached to his eye.

Minghao nods. “Let them aboard.”

“Captain, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Mingyu murmurs beside him.

“Don’t worry. We’re pretending to be a neutral ship, remember? Just let me talk,” Minghao mutters, stepping forward until he’s able to look at all of his crew members. “No one speaks unless I give the signal. Got it?”

“Yes, Captain!” They all respond, eyes glued to the oncoming ship.

Minghao gulps when he catches sight of the black sails coming closer. They stick out, especially when the ship drops it’s anchor and comes to a stop beside their own white sails.

Black and white.

Yin and Yang.

Minghao steps down onto the main deck with Mingyu hot on his heels, making sure Chan has come down from the rat rails before Seokmin and Mingyu rush forward to catch the wide plank the ship beside them is sliding forward. There aren’t that many men on the other ship, seven in total and only three of them walk across the plank to board Minghao’s ship.

A built man with large, doe eyes far too big for his face and equally large ears takes the rear of their tiny party, doing his best to look standoffish. Beside him is a slimmer man who radiates calm, a strange curl to his mouth that Minghao isn’t sure if he likes or not yet. In the forefront though, that’s where all of Minghao’s attention is being diverted to.

Because in the front, leading the three is the most beautiful man Minghao has ever seen. His skin is a gorgeous hue of brown, making him look like honey. His hair a stark white-ish color that Minghao has never seen before. Tall and thin, but not thin like Minghao, Minghao who’s grown accustomed to their sea rations and one meal a day rule. His brows are straight and lie heavy over his eyes.

And his eyes.

Minghao feels lost in them. There’s a sparkle in them that he can see from where he stands and the man smirks at him, knowingly, as if he can read Minghao’s mind.

Or maybe Minghao’s gaping mouth is a big clue enough.

Minghao feels his mouth clamp together with a sharp snap, eyes screwing up in distaste at his own response. Even Mingyu is a little entranced by the man in front, but Minghao doesn’t let that reassure him. Mingyu is his first mate and all, but he isn’t the smartest when it comes to other people if Minghao’s being totally and completely honest.

Hansol steps up to welcome them, stunned when the man in front nods at the slimmer one on his left and the slim man asks Hansol something in a language Minghao doesn’t recognize. Hansol answers back after his eyes have returned to their normal size and it isn’t in Minghao’s imagination when Seungkwan steps forward to shadow Hansol.

Hansol then shakes his head and points at Minghao, his pleading gaze drawing Minghao closer with Mingyu only a step behind him. Hansol says something else and the slim man says something to the man in front, in Korean this time before the man in front steps forward and holds his hand out to Minghao.

“Captain Wen Junhui of the Black Flags. Jisoo here says you’re Captain Xu Minghao of the Red Flags. But I don’t see any Red Flags. Either way, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” the beautiful man says.

Minghao startles when he realizes that he spoke in Mandarin and that he knows who Minghao is. Hansol blinks innocently at him and Minghao scowls before shaking Junhui’s hand.

The sharp sound of swords being drawn are all that he registers when Junhui tugs him forward so that they stand pressed chest-to-chest. Minghao gulps at the proximity but doesn’t let any other emotions apart from irritation flicker across his face.

“Let go,” Minghao spits out through his teeth, a glare leveled at Junhui, his irritation only building when he realizes he has to look up to meet his gaze.

Junhui laughs and steps back, hand still holding onto Minghao’s. “No need for the weapons. Tell your men to stand down.”

Minghao looks between their joined hands and the sparkle in Junhui’s eyes before he sighs and barks over his shoulder, “Stand down.”

Chan is the last to put his sword away, his gaze wary as he watches the three newcomers. Minghao can’t say that he blames them when Junhui still won’t let go of his hand, even after Minghao tries to shake him off. Junhui merely gives him a smile that could outshine the sun and Minghao feels something strange curl in his chest.

“So, you know who I am. I know who are you. The question is, what is the Captain of the Red Flags doing all the way out here?” Junhui murmurs.

Minghao feels his face twist with anger now, but he stomps it down and forces himself to remain civil. “I could ask the Captain of the Black Flags the same thing.”

Junhui only smiles. “Oh, you know. The usual.”

“Same here,” Minghao murmurs in response, still trying in vain to make Junhui let go of his hand.

And then a thought strikes him, his most brilliant plan to date if you ask him.

Minghao takes a deep breath and looks up through his lashes at Junhui, drawing his other hand forward to let it rest over their joined hands. Junhui’s eyes widen at the sudden change, but he says nothing as Minghao takes a step forward.

“Since we both seem to be doing something we shouldn’t, why don’t we do it together?” Minghao asks, fluttering his lashes for good measure.

It’s demeaning to be flirting in front of his crew, Minghao is all too aware of that, no matter how willingly forced it is, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Minghao thinks he might have Junhui anyway if the drop in the volume of his voice is any indication, plus fluttering his lashes is Minghao’s best trick.

“And if we did, what would I get out of this? Wouldn’t you rather submit to me now instead, aye, pretty one?” Junhui mutters.

It takes everything in Minghao not to draw his hand back, curl it into a fist and launch it into Junhui’s face right now. Granted, Minghao’s smile does come out forced now, but he’s saved from answering when Chan’s voice bursts their bubble.

“Captain! The Imperial Navy!”

Minghao jumps into action then, pushing Junhui away with all his might. “Go, you idiot! Go!”

Junhui stumbles back, being caught by the built man on his right who tugs him backward on the plank onto their own ship. Seokmin kicks the plank off their main deck once the three are safely off it and Hansol lifts the anchor while Mingyu unfurls the rest of their sails. Minghao runs back to the steering wheel, eyes glued to the three ships quickly approaching them, relieved when the black sails begin to move as well.

Minghao can see Junhui at the steering wheel of his ship now too, his white hair sticking out like a sore thumb and it isn’t in Minghao’s imagination when Junhui meets his gaze and winks.

What theー Minghao begins to think until the thought is interrupted by the loud sound of cannons firing.

Chan is waving frantically at him, hands pointing in the direction they need to take and Minghao spins the wheel, relieved when the sails catch on the wind and they begin to speed along. Seungkwan is pulling Hansol along the main deck, trying to check what direction everyone is going and it’s only when Mingyu and Seokmin run into the cargo hold does Minghao realize they’re readying their own cannons to fire back.

Minghao glances a look back and finds that Junhui’s ship is still anchored where they left them and he frowns, visibly put off.

Idiot, Minghao thinks before Junhui’s cannons fire off and Minghao realizes the Black Flags Captain is giving them an easy escape route by bringing all the attention of the Qing Imperial Navy upon them instead.

Minghao focuses on getting his crew safely out of harm’s way then, forcing himself more than once not to look back again.

a/n: if you can guess who minghao's character is based off, then kudos to you, you've gained +54 points in my book