Minghao loved his job. The fact that he could design then model his own clothes was a dream come true, along with his fame and success, and his boyfriend and photographer, Junhui.

Or at least that's how he pictured it. It wasn't at all like this. His company had hired a new designer for Minghao, as they didn't like his, "style". The job gave him a hectic scheduled, and he barely had time to rest. Waking up at ungodly hours, and going to sleep nearly at sunrise. They monitored what he ate nearly 24/7, which was driving Minghao to the way of an eating disorder. But the cherry on top of this nightmare sundae, was Junhui. Him and Minghao had met through their first year at collage, doing shoots for fun together, in hopes for a dream like this, but not as horrible, to happen. Suddenly, like they were both shot by cupid with an arrow, they feel in love. Being close was easy at first, but the agency/company barely allowed them time together, only during photo shoots. Not many members of the company even knew, because their relationship could ruin their career, and they hadn't even spoke and come out about it yet. Jun remembered the day Minghao did, which he will never forgot.

Jun had already known he himself was gay, when he found himself checking out dudes rather than girls in high school, and the feeling only grew when he met the younger boy. He went about 2 years wondering what Minghao was, as he was so desperately in love with him. Minghao confused Junhui, to the point of madness. He couldn't figure him out. Until one night, at around 9pm, he came home late, and walked into the apartment to hear Minghao crying. He ran into Minghao's room and found him on the floor in distress, tears streaming down his face.

"Minghao........are you ok?"

The question was so obvious, as he wasn't, not in the slightest. But he didn't know what else to say, as he'd never seen the boy like this. Minghao couldn't stop tearing, not even enough for him to speak. Then Jun sat next to the boy, and wrapped his arms around him, comforting his small frame. This made Minghao feel so safe, his crying softened.

"What's the matter?"

"It's me."

"What about you?"

"I feel so lost. I'm so confused. Jun please help me."

"What is it hao?"

The nickname Jun gave him pulled on his heart.

"I-" He choked on his words.

"I think....

UH how do I say this...." Jun didn't say anything. He stayed will his hands on Minghao's shoulders, trying to comfort and hold him up, as he stood almost shaking.

"I..... I think I might be bisexual."

Jun had a small smile on his face when the words left Minghao's mouth. He nervously looked at Jun, when Jun's words were bleak, Minghao started tearing up again and tried to loosen from his grip, but Jun wouldn't let him. He gave Minghao the warmest hug he had ever felt.

Again, he felt that safety.

Minghao continued talking, saying now Jun's favorite phrase.

"And- I..... think I love you......"

"I love you too."

The two spent the night laying in Minghao's bed, with snacks and candy, wathcing a Comedy to lighten the mood. Minghao quickly fell asleep from the previous stress, and Jun covered him with blankets, before kissing his forehead, and whispering, "Goodnight."

Jun would do anything, anything for Minghao to stop. Stop putting himself down, and stop doubting himself. Minghao was an amazing attractive guy, and Junhui was boggled how he couldn't see that. Normally he felt like he could help the other boy with his confidence. By complimenting him, showing affection, or taking photos of him. But the elder never thought 1 photo would get them to where they are now.

It all started when the two were bored on a day in spring. Minghao had just bought some clothes and decided to would be fun to have a photo shoot. He normally had no trouble setting up his tripod, and taking pictues of hinself alone, but today was one of those not so normal days. He called the only person who he trusted in taking good photos, Junhui, and after a hour of clicking, the boys had decided on one they liked, and Minghao posted it on his Instagram. What they didn't expect was for the two to wake up so close to each other, and for the picture on Minghao's account to have almost 10,000 likes. Their new jobs had sky rocketed from there. The company that they were now in recruiting the two boys, pushing them for nearly all of their adds or products. It was chaos for the both of them, but more for Minghao. He was naturally thinner than most people, but that came in handy as a model. It didn't mean he didn't receive comments though. If Minghao could list how many times someones told him he shouldn't be modeling, or that he wasn't good looking enough, and all in between, he would need more paper. But he never thought this day would come. He was eating at the bar the company had set up that day, and after accidentally skipping breakfast, he was hungry. The boss come over and pulled Minghao aside, scolding him pretty loudly. He back back out and thew away his food. He was on the brim of tears before Jun grabbed his hand and walked them out of there.

"Jun stop!"

Minghao was already upset enough, but his biggest fear is being exposed as a couple, as it wasn't accepted in China. That was the last thing Minghao wanted. Jun on the other hand, seemed more okay about it. It wasn't that Minghao was nervous..... well....it was. He didn’t know what everyone would think or view him, and he'd rather keep it that way.

"Minghao... I need to talk to you."

Junhui sounded serious. He sounded like he had on the night they both confessed. His voice was so soft, yet it felt hard like sand paper.

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

How Jun found himself in a situation like this was beyond him. It was very cliche and he never thought life would ever play out that way for him, no matter how cringeworthy his pick up lines were.

His current circumstance is as surreal as any commonplace romantic tragedy.

He had two best friends: Minghao, someone he's had in his life since childhood, and Meili, the girl he's been in love with since high school. Together they battled against tough times. Together, they created unforgettable memories of bliss. Together, they got into their desired college.

They built themselves up together...and Jun felt as though he would ultimately be the one to shatter everything.

He felt selfish for wanting her attention only on him but he also felt ashamed for hating the object of his crush's affections - Minghao.

The rage within him was unreasonable because Minghao had been there through thick and thin, he's the most amazing friend Jun could ever ask for. Without him, Jun wouldn't have taken on dance and...he would never have met Meili.

During the entirety of high school, Jun had strived to capture her eye the way Minghao effortlessly did. In his own way, Jun disguised his intimate emotions behind seemingly innocuous skinship with a touch that always lingered a second too long, selfless gestures that didn't always benefit him and playfully making teasing comments that he was sure made his emotions clear.

She was blinded though. Blinded by the imperfect perfection that Minghao was. Everything about him was perfect and the only stubborn blemish staining his golden reputation was the fact that he continuously remained ignorant to Meili's fondness.

Now that years had gone by, Jun hoped that he would've gotten over his feelings but her charm was shining brighter than ever now that she was a young woman in her early twenties.

He knew that he had to end things but he just couldn't...

However, it wasn't until she brought up the terrifying idea of having him help her make Minghao jealous, did he finally decide to ask his best friend to accept Meili's affections as a way of liberating him of his own regretful feelings.

He was just so sick of the pathetic situation he was in, but a conversation that was supposed to solve everything only made things worse. It began and ended on harsh tones from both ends.

They had never fought this intensely before but they had to keep Meili content for her birthday party and sucked it up.

To Minghao, Meili was just a little sister, he hadn't and doesn't believe that he will ever develop any romantic feelings for her because, to him, there was only Jun.

It was wrong, he knew that, but, sometimes, the wrong things were the ones that felt the most right. They shared a connection and bond that was stronger than family and he couldn't understand why Jun didn't see that. The one thing he understood, however, was that Jun was desperately in love with Meili and what was unfortunately for the both of them was that she seemed to be in love with him instead.

The night Jun tried to set things straight, Minghao revealed that he had knowledge of Meili's emotions, a fact that enraged him. They went on to argue and he could tell that Jun was desperate to relieve his infatuation for Meili.

Reluctantly, Minghao declined with the simple reasoning of not having any mutual emotions. Painfully, he watched as his best friend and love broke down, almost becoming hysteric.

"I can't stand seeing you like this..."

"Then why don't you just ask her out already?! Please Minghao, I can't take this anymore!"

"I already told you that I can't."

"Why?!"

"Because I don't love her!" 'I love you...'

"I can't believe how selfish you're being right now!"

"Selfish? Me? That's rich coming from the guy that's forcing his friend to go out with someone he doesn't like just so he could finally relieve himself!"

"You know what? Fuck you Minghao!"

"Fuck you too!"

It ended with harsh tones but also harsh tears.

That was several days ago though, and, right now, it was Meili's birthday, they had to make sure that she was blind to their fight. In spite of that motive staying strong for the most part, Jun could only take so much.

"Hold my hand so he gets jealous." it was more of a demand than a request and as they stood in full view of Minghao, Jun brushed her inching hand away.

"Don't touch me. We're fighting."

"What? Why?" he only walked away as she followed him out, "Jun! Are you going to tell me anything?" she gently pressed.

Sucking in a breath, he wore his heart on his sleeve, he confessed everything.

He talked on and on about how he was entranced by her, how he dreamt of holding her dainty hands, how he yearned to kiss her cherry-red strawberry-sweet lips.

There was a blissful faintness that came after and if he knew that confessing would feel so liberating, he would've done so years ago.

It wasn't until he looked up and saw the sympathetic look on her face that he remembered the reason behind his fright, however. The reality he was so desperate to avoid was coming true.

"...I'm so sorry Jun..."

"...don't worry about it," he choked, "go off and enjoy yourself, it's your birthday."

After watching her walk away, he took the time to reflect.

Just five small minutes turned into a long half hour of contemplation.

Inside, Minghao assumed that Jun had told Meili his secret of knowing her feelings as she gravitated towards him the instant she re-entered with a sombre look. Apologising in his own way, he invited her to dance with hopes of her depressed expression lifting but there was no change.

Deciding to finally give in, sacrifice his potential happiness for hers and finally setting his best friend free, Minghao invited her for lunch.

"Just you and me..."

"Does this mean..." her eyes glowed with hope as he smiled weakly. Mistaking the weakness as timidity, she rose up to capture his lips in her own.

There was no point in resisting, he never had a chance with Jun anyway. Kissing her cold lips back with a stiff pucker, he closed his eyes to the teary, red and swollen muddy pair that looked on from the sidelines.

Once there was a man who couldn’t help but love all those that he met.

He loved all and was kind to many, but he never knew what being in love actually felt like. Because for all that he loved, no one had ever been able to win him over completely and without restrictions.

Junhui knew what love was and he knew how rewarding it was to care for others, but he has never known what it meant to love someone and have them love you back in the same way and with the same intensity.

He left his home in China and came to South Korea to train in the hopes of joining an idol group. He worked as hard as he could and studied the new language until he was confident enough to hold a decent conversation with the boys he trained with. Even though it took some time, Junhui learned to love them all.

It broke his heart when some left, but others were added and he struggled with all the changes, with his own longing to give up and go back home, but he persevered and pushed through. He only ever ate, studied, and trained to make up for all those that had left. If they wouldn't debut, then Junhui would make sure that he got to debut for them.

And then, he met Minghao. A boy, not so much a man when they first met, who had a quick tongue and witty attitude. He was quiet at first and very respectful, but he was from China, from home, so Junhui took a liking to him easily. Junhui soon discovered that Minghao was the roughness to his soft edges, and it came to no one's surprise that Junhui already loved him. Just like he loved all, but when Minghao began returning his swift glances and soft touches, that’s when it really began.

For the very first time, Junhui fell in love. He fell completely and irrevocably in love with Minghao.

But he didn’t know what to do about it. He had zero experience with something this delicate and serious, and not to mention that they were both striving for the same dream and this path they had chosen wouldn't tolerate a real relationship between them. Junhui knew this and he didn't want to ruin anything by letting his feelings get in the way. He didn't want to mess this up for him, but he definitely didn't want to mess this up for Minghao either. So Junhui decided to pretend as if nothing was happening.

Junhui decided to pretend as if he couldn’t feel his heartbeat in his ears whenever Minghao smiled at him, as if his face didn’t flush every time Minghao caught him staring, as if he didn't dream of Minghao at night. As if his brain didn’t turn into a jumbled mess of squishy thoughts whenever Minghao so much as touched him casually on the shoulder or arm. Or as if his fingers didn’t twitch and ache to touch the younger every time Minghao was near.

Junhui thought he was good at pretending. He thought he was so good that no one but Minghao seemed to notice the difference in his behavior whenever the younger was around. Very good in fact because he'd always had a talent for acting, but when it comes to love, Junhui should’ve known that he wasn’t fooling anyone.

They debuted though and Junhui pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. He focused on practicing and improving, hoping to show their fans his best sides. They grew and grew and sometimes Junhui couldn't walk to his favorite corner store to restock on jelly candies anymore because a group of fans would follow him around until he signed something of theirs and took pictures with them. But this was what he signed up for though so he never complained about it. The idol life was everything he had expected and then some.

But for all the success and the vigor with which Junhui threw himself into becoming better, he knew that Minghao still questioned why they weren't the same anymore. Why Junhui couldn't even be in the same room as him on some days and why Junhui avoided all talks about relationships and crushes whenever Jeonghan tried dragging something out of him.

Minghao cornered him one night after the others had left the practice room and they were left alone with a ribbon linking their wrists. Minghao used his own hips to pin Junhui to one of the mirrors lining the walls and asked why he was avoiding him, why he couldn’t look him in the eye anymore, and why he had started acting so different ever since their trainee days.

But, of course, Junhui denied that nothing was wrong, that he had no idea what Minghao was talking about.

Except, Junhui had forgotten that Minghao wasn’t a boy anymore.

He was almost as tall as Junhui, his shoulders broader, but his frame just as skinny as when they first met. Minghao wasn’t the wide-eyed boy who looked up to Junhui anymore.

Minghao was a man now, a man who wanted to know what was wrong and wanted answers and wasn’t afraid of confrontation like Junhui was. And Junhui didn’t know what to do.

He mumbled an excuse out, tore the ribbon off his wrist, and ducked out from under Minghao’s caging arms before he made a break for it, running as fast as he could. He never once looked back over his shoulder and that was the first of many mistakes Junhui would make.

He should have just said how he felt that night, should have confessed to everything, but he was too afraid. Minghao hasn’t forgiven him for that, much too straightforward to deal with Junhui’s confusing signals and touches for so long. Junhui knows he messed up, he messed up everything by running away, but his heart still jumps into his throat whenever Minghao looks at him and his palms sweat whenever he comes too close.

Junhui is too scared to do anything except look and pine from afar.

Even now as he glances across the practice room to look at Minghao, the same ribbon linking them once more, Minghao doesn’t look back.

And that’s what breaks Junhui’s heart for good.

a/n: ah angst,,,so much a-angst!! hope you guys liked this though, and remember that you can always yell at me about this too!

Weeks after they managed to escape, Minghao’s crew has since then taken a long pit stop on a quiet town near the coast.

Minghao would think that it’d be relaxing, not having to be the Captain of the Red Flags for a little while, but he can’t get Wen Junhui out of his head. The man’s very existence has haunted Minghao for years, and now after having met him in the flesh, it’s only made him that more desperate to find the treasure Junhui left behind.

Because the survival of his crew depends on that treasure. He's spent too many resources and too many years chasing after this for it to ー to just bust. Or even worse, for someone else to get to the treasure first and swipe it out from right underneath Minghao's nose.

Or the worst possibility yet: Junhui coming back to dig up his treasure and take it from Minghao.

And sure, the treasure is technically Junhui's, but Minghao is first and foremost a pirate. Minghao is a pirate before anything else and a pirate would never let a treasure like this get away from him.

Now that he's met the infamous man, that has to mean that he's on the right track. The treasure just has to be close by at this point. There's no doubt about it.

When it comes to how he acted, however, Minghao doesn't want to think about it. Wants to burn that memory from his mind and that of his crew's. How awful it was, how degrading. Just thinking of the way Junhui looked at him sends a shiver down his spine...a shiver of disgust, obviously. No way in hell that Minghao's actually attracted to that asshole. He definitely doesn't think that all of the night sky's stars could fit in Junhui's eyes or that every honeyed word ever spoken resides in that man's sweet, sweet mouth. Minghao isn't attracted to him and no way in hell would he ever be. Ugh!

He honestly doesn't know what possessed him to behave in such a way and he curses the fact that his seduction skills have suffered horribly to the point where he couldn't even get one word of importance out of Junhui's much too pretty mouth. But so what if his seduction skills are a little rusty? He'll have to work on bettering them at some point, it's just that for now, Minghao wants to take a breather and focus on his crew while they restock their ship before sailing off once again.

Mingyu is off in the town's pub, trying to gather intel on anything he thinks Minghao might be interested in while Chan and Seokmin guard their ship. Minghao doesn't know where Seungkwan and Hansol are at most of the time, but whenever he's seen them around, Hansol is wincing with every step he takes so Minghao can already guess what those two have gotten up to. It doesn't surprise him by a long shot either because this was a long time coming and no way in hell would Minghao ever try to make his crew unhappy.

Minghao doesn't mind if his crew want to shack up together, that's their decision after all, and he is a captain. Meaning that, if needed, Minghao can wed anyone on his deck as long as the two are willing to be with one another. He's performed four marriages so far and he has a feeling that number five isn't very far away from now.

Now if his crew happened to have sex with a captive, Minghao would have to kill them. It's one of his most fundamental core rules. No one is allowed to have relationships with their captives unless they mean to stay committed and support them in marriage. If found breaking this rule, Minghao has given all of his fleets strict orders to throw the pirate overboard bound and gagged. Minghao was raised in a brothel and he knows all too well the screams of a woman or man being taken against their will and for as long as Minghao shall live and serve as the Captain of the Red Flags, he will make sure that he'll never have to hear those heartbreaking screams again nor submit anybody to that kind of fate either.

Minghao is many, many things. A captain, a pirate, a man, a runaway whore, but he isn't evil. Nor is he cruel nor heartless. Minghao's acts of piracy are justified and if his men didn't agree with that, then they never would have voted for Minghao as their captain anyway. He knows exactly what he's doing and who he's doing it to as well and anyone who says otherwise clearly doesn't know a thing about him.

But Hansol and Seungkwan are different. Minghao knows that the two care for each other, despite their god-awful bickering and their teasing remarks, they care for one another an awful lot. He's actually been prepared to wed them for some time now, but neither men have stepped forward to ask him of it yet and so he continues to wait, glad that with each passing day, the two only continue to fall deeper and deeper in love.

Minghao wants something like that, even if the concept of love is terrifying, he wants that kind of support, trust, and affection with someone.

And at one point, he thought Mingyu might be that person, but as time wore on, Minghao realized that it was one thing for his crew to be together and another thing altogether for him to be with one of his own crew members like that. Mingyu had never been more than a good friend and amazing first mate anyway and Minghao is more than glad that he managed to save Mingyu from the grip of that tribe of cannibals a few years prior.

Seokmin, now he's the one Minghao is most concerned about sometimes. Seokmin is a bright and cheery pirate, an amazing quartermaster that's barely able to hurt a fly, and Minghao has never once forced his hand when it came down to the act of killing. Luckily, there has never been an instance where Seokmin would have to use his sword to take the life of another and Minghao would rue the day should that event ever befall them.

Seokmin is too gentle for the normal life of a pirate and Minghao knows this, but who was he to refuse when a boy covered in dirt from head to toe came to him asking for work so that he could feed his siblings? Minghao had taken one look at his too skinny wrists and his much too skinny frame and shook his head no, following Seokmin home afterward when he turned around, dejected. Minghao found the alley that Seokmin and his two younger sisters were sleeping in and watched over them that night as they slept, keeping away anyone who might have bothered them in one way or another.

The next day, Minghao returned with Mingyu and Hansol, bearing food and offering to pay for their boarding somewhere in town until Seokmin was healthy enough to get work.

Seokmin reluctantly agreed and that was how Minghao happened to meet Seungkwan as he and his small crew spent a year in a coastal town much like the one they're resting in now. Minghao had agreed to take Seokmin and Seungkwan on as the newest members of his crew and they sailed about with Seokmin's siblings for a while until Minghao's fleet really began to build. Within a few months, Minghao had enough men to make up an army and that was when the Red Flags were born.

The eldest of Seokmin's younger sisters came of age a few weeks after that and it was only a month later that Minghao was wedding her to one of his newest men. They left the life of piracy after that, taking Seokmin's baby sister with them, and while Seokmin had cried for an entire week after they had gone, he still sends them funds back to their home in Japan so that they know that he's alive and well.

They began raiding then, pillaging any towns where the Qing Imperial Navy held their posts, where towns had not sworn their allegiances to pirates. Those were the ones they hit.

Through those raids, they found Chan. Sweet wonderful Chan who refused to comply with his men's wishes when they took him captive and demanded to see the captain of the ship. His eyes were fierce and his voice betrayed nothing and when Minghao handed him a sword, Chan took it without hesitation before dropping into perfect form.

Minghao was more than impressed.

He admired the teen's nerve, his unswerving bravery, and confidence, but it was Chan's knowledge that Minghao found most valuable. All Chan had to do was take one glance at a map and he knew what Minghao was looking for.

Junhui's treasure.

Chan was quickly appointed as their new sailing master and the rest was history.

Hansol, however, had been with Minghao the longest, the one who got him out of that damned brothel he'd grown up in. Hansol was pretty, one of the prettiest boys Minghao had ever seen. He was a new customer and he'd been set up by his friends so coming to a brothel to celebrate his coming of age wasn't really something that he would have chosen to do himself, but he was there and Minghao was more than glad that he'd been able to snag him for the night.

Hansol was rich and his father was a captain in the Qing Imperial Navy so it was all too easy to steal his father's ship that night and set sail with a crew that had been lying in wait that night. Minghao had been swept into Hansol's talk of a better life, of all the riches in the world and poor Minghao was sold. Piracy was his destiny.

Minghao had taken Hansol's hand on that night and never looked back.

Seungkwan had no sob story or such, he'd simply followed Hansol back to the pub where they were scouting for new crew members and the deal had been sealed from the first moment Seungkwan's eyes caught sight of Hansol. Despite what those two may say, Minghao knows that Seungkwan would follow Hansol to the ends of the earth if he so much as asked and Hansol would do the same in return.

The life of a pirate has never been easy, but these men, his crew, they make it all worth it.

And that's why they need that treasure, to make an even bigger name for themselves, to bring honor and glory to the Red Flags. Minghao is done with bowing and scraping down for a handout. He commands over twenty thousand pirates and fifteen hundred ships.

Xu Minghao, Captain of the Red Flags, will let no one take the treasure which is rightfully his. No one.

Not even Wen Junhui, Captain of the Black Flags, the one who escaped Davy Jones' locker. Absolutely no one will take Minghao's honor and glory from his crew.

The treasure will be his. Without a doubt.

The island isn't exactly small.

It's not big either, but it's large enough that at least Minghao won't starve so soon.

He can still see their white sail blowing in the wind as his ship sails away. He knows that the tiny speck near the top of the mast is Chan and that Mingyu is behind the steering wheel, but watching his ship sail off into the open water is beyond strange. It's almost indescribable, the swooping feeling in his gut like his stomach is about to fall right through or feeling like his heart is beating in his ears, his blood thrumming with an emotion he can't quite put his finger on.

It's strange.

He's finally on the rumored island Junhui's treasure is hidden on though and he gave his crew two weeks tops for their return. They have to restock once more after being at sea for so long again. Minghao couldn't afford for his entire crew to disembark and help him in his search so Seokmin gave him a week's worth of provisions ー food, clean water, two blankets, a shovel, one single change of clothes and enough bullets to fend off fifty attackers ー and Minghao gave the crew over to Mingyu while Seungkwan and Hansol hung off every word of Minghao's stern orders to take care of themselves while he's gone.

Chan didn't cry, but Minghao knew he wanted to, so he left Chan with his first ever compass and a kiss to the crown of his head while he hugged the rest goodbye then took the rowing boat towards the sparkling island, his blood racing as hope began to blossom in his chest.

The island is still sparkling even up close and Minghao's glad for the foliage and the coconut trees he can see from here. He intends to make a complete sweep of the island soon, but for right now, he needs to drag the boat the rest of the way onto shore, find a clean source of water, and check for any edible fruits or plants that he can resort to when his supplies begin to dwindle.

There's hope heavy in his chest, making it hard to focus on much, but there's also excitement running through his veins and it's with those feelings that Minghao finally collapses on dry sand as his ship disappears in the distance, the ocean twinkling a beautiful blue, unobstructed now.

At least until the wreckage of what Minghao presumes is a ship begins to drift in from the east. Minghao watches it, squinting as the broken pieces of the ship move away from shore, checking to make sure there isn't anything living stuck in it.

From what he can see, it's only wood and fabric and ropes, with ripped pieces of nets here and there, but no living person.

He relaxes back into the sand then, content to just watch.

Minghao smiles as the sound of the sea croons to him, the birds chirping behind him in the trees making him feel at ease. This is the life right here, the life he fought and strived for. The treasure is near-by, he can feel it.

All he has to do is dig.

A wave begins to rear up in the distance, close by the ship wreckage and Minghao watches as it makes its way towards the shore he's laid out on. He isn't concerned, not even mildly, but when the wave reaches the wreckage and it begins to shift, Minghao sits up when he realizes that he recognizes that shock of white against a plank of wood.

Before Minghao can think of what he's doing, he's pushing the rowing boat back into the water, jumping in and rowing as fast as his skinny arms can take him. The wave passes the wreckage quickly, but by the time it reaches Minghao, he easily rides it out, still moving frantically to get to the man in the water as fast as he can.

When Minghao finally reaches him, he feels as if he must be too late because he has no idea how long he's been drifting out at sea, drenched to his core in the cold saltwater, but Minghao can't think about that right now or else he'll start to hyperventilate. Right now he needs to get him into the boat and check if he's breathing ー check if he's alive.

His body weighs close to nothing as Minghao drags him into the rowing boat, laying him down on his back as he brushes the wet, white hair away from his face. He looks pale, a bluish tinge to his skin that worries Minghao as his clothes stick to his thin frame. But he isn't breathing, there's no movement in his chest, and Minghao leans forward to press his ear to his sternum, almost sobbing with relief when he hears the faintest of heartbeats.

"You're not going to die that easily," Minghao gasps out, feeling numb to the world as he presses his hands to his chest, pushing down repeatedly before pinching his nose between his fingers and blowing air into his mouth, then doing it all over again as panic begins to set in. "I won't let you."

He continues, his eyesight growing blurry with each passing second that he doesn't wake up, but Minghao won't give up. He won't let him die.

Because he's important, for some reason Minghao doesn't understand. He's important and he's beautiful and he's cocky beyond belief, but there's nobody else exactly like him and despite all else ー despite what Minghao is right down to his core ー he won't let him die.

Minghao won't let Junhui die. That's a promise.

a/n: i know, i know. this update took so damn long!!! i couldn’t help it ;; i ran out of inspo and steam on this au right after i finished the first chap and i didn’t pick it back up again until last week

"Minghao, you look fucking terrible."

Minghao laughs humorlessly in response, wincing through it when his spread lips make his busted lip split open again. Junhui tsks at him and grabs more gauze, pressing it firmly against the wound on Minghao's bottom lip.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Junhui asks, his tone gentle and reassuring and Minghao really wishes he had it in him to hate him.

But he doesn't and that's exactly his problem.

Instead, Minghao's actually pretty sure he's in love with the rich bastard. Which only makes his life that much harder because Junhui doesn't want him.

To be very blunt, Minghao is a prostitute. Not by choice, but by force. He was taken from his home in China and smuggled into South Korea where he was smacked around by Viper for only being able to speak Chinese, therefore not responding properly to his questions and being "disrespectful". He'd been tricked into meeting up with a boy his age for a movie and the last he'd seen of Anshan was what he could glimpse from the back of the van they'd dragged him into before he blacked out. When he woke up, Viper had been standing before him and his hands were tied.

He'd cried the first week there, but the others ー God, the others ー they huddled into him and centered their too thin bodies around him until he was completely cocooned by their reassuring murmurs and furious whispers of keeping his cries down before he came in to check on them. And Minghao really only understood that much because anyone would be able to understand what "Sh!" means in practically any language. Still, the others. There are kids younger than him with Viper, older, even a few around his age, but with the drugs Viper forced onto them, Minghao can't really pinpoint a certain age for any one of them. Their bodies are mere skeletons now and their eyes are lifeless, barely with the will to live.

Minghao has tried, tried so hard to leave ー to get back home ー but he can't. He can't and it's breaking him apart. He's hooked on the drugs just like the others and if Minghao were to leave the country right now, he'd only get caught again because of the withdrawal symptoms he'd be sure to undergo. Viper could very well kill him if he left as well, but Minghao honestly prefers death over this life he's being forced to live. He's only seventeen and yet Minghao feels old beyond his years.

The only good thing that has come out of this is Junhui.

In Viper's eyes, Junhui is a client, but Minghao knows better.

He and Junhui have never had sex. Yes, Junhui does pay the full-night fee each and every time he "picks up" Minghao, but they have never once had sex with each other. Junhui rents out a hotel room each and every time they're together, then lets Minghao do whatever he wants.

He lets Minghao shower, lets him dress in comfy clothes that aren't littered with week-old stains, and lets him sleep for their entire time together if Minghao so desires. But each and every time, Junhui makes a point of cleaning his wounds, of dressing them and bandaging them properly. Junhui is a nurse from a rich family and his medical knowledge has helped Minghao prevent a number of certain infections. Sometimes, Junhui will even have an STD kit with him to test Minghao and make sure he hasn't caught anything from his clients and Viper alike. So far, Minghao has managed to remain clean thanks to the ever constant condoms Junhui always supplies him with.

Since Junhui's entrance into his life, the others haven't been as welcoming as they once were, but Minghao knows it's only because they want rich clients as well so that Viper will leave them alone more often. Minghao doesn't blame them for being jealous, this is survival after all and only the most resourceful will be able to win.

There are some nights though when Junhui will talk with Minghao.

Now even after being in Korea for a year, Minghao still can't speak the language very well. But Junhui is Chinese himself and only came here to work because the hospital is owned by his family. So Minghao takes comfort in the familiar language that he craves to be surrounded by again.

But they talk. A lot, sometimes and other times, not enough. Minghao doesn't know what to make of Junhui most of the time, but he knows that without a doubt, Junhui would never want him like that. Junhui is much too absorbed with the fact that Minghao was brought here against his will and his body is now being sold off against his wishes as well. He's hooked on drugs that Minghao would never have voluntarily taken in the first place and it makes Junhui sick to his stomach that a child, a child is being used like this. Minghao knows this, he knows all of this, but that doesn't stop him from falling for the elder, doesn't stop him from wishing that maybe one night Junhui will want to have sex with him because Minghao definitely wants to have sex with Junhui.

Tonight feels different somehow. It's not something having to do with Junhui though, this is their usual routine after all, Junhui treating his wounds, cleaning him up, giving Minghao some comfort and human affection to latch onto and save for other nights ー for the bad nights ー and just being there for Minghao in general. Junhui is the same kind man as ever and it's all Minghao right now. Minghao is different than usual. He misses China, not that he ever really stopped missing it, to begin with, but tonight it's like an ache in his chest. He misses Anshan and he misses his mother and grandmother, his misses his friends, and his heart aches for the pain he must have caused them all when he was taken away.

Minghao has been clean enough this week that he's not too worried about having withdrawal symptoms, but he isn't too sure either. Because he's still on drugs, just not as high of a dosage as usual. Viper thought it'd been a good idea to cut back ever since another client told him Minghao was too doped out to do anything. So he's cleaner than usual, but maybe not as clean as he should be if he decides to finally take Junhui's offer tonight.

He wants to go home and hug his mom again, wants her to smooth his hair back and kiss his forehead before holding him tight in her embrace again. Wants his grandmother to make his favorite soup for him as she pats him on the back and coos at him for eating it so well. He wants to go home to his tidy room and spread out on a bed that's all his own, not a hotel bed Junhui got for him or that air mattress he shares with three others.

Minghao wants to go home. He wants to leave and never look back again.

"I want to go home."

Junhui doesn't freeze up, doesn't pretend like he didn't hear Minghao. He merely nods and continues to clean and dress Minghao's wounds. It's only when he's done that he finally acknowledges what Minghao said.

"You're ready to go?" Junhui asks with his warm brown eyes on Minghao.

Minghao nods, tears springing to his eyes as he thinks of his mother and grandmother again. "I want to go home," he repeats.

Junhui opens his arms and Minghao falls into his embrace, muffling his sobs into Junhui's chest. He cries like he did that first week, but this time, there's relief mixed into the whirlwind of his emotions. There's relief and a sense of safety as Junhui holds him close, with his sturdy arms wrapped tight around Minghao's too skinny frame and Minghao's own skeleton arms curled around Junhui's torso. And Minghao cries and cries and cries until there's nothing left for him to cry over and Junhui still holds him tight.

"Once you're back home, I'm pulling the plug on Viper," Junhui murmurs. "I should've done it when I first found you, but I couldn't risk you getting hurt in the struggle. I needed you safe and, preferably, out of the country before I did."

Minghao nods, his eyelids tear-swollen and cheeks flushed. "And the others?"

"I'm getting them out. I'm getting them all out." Junhui's voice does not shake when he says this and Minghao believes him. He trusts Junhui to save the others as well.

"And you?"

Junhui smiles and pushes Minghao's hair away from his face. "I'll meet up with you when it's all said and done. Think you can get rid of me that easily?"

Minghao laughs, pressing his face into Junhui's neck. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Junhui's laugh rings like bells in Minghao's ears.

Eventually, they find themselves sitting on the edge of the bed, side-by-side while Junhui holds his cellphone out to Minghao. Minghao eyes it and takes it cautiously, not sure about what Junhui is trying to tell him. Junhui only smiles at him, nodding at him to go ahead.

"I have international calling on my plan. If you still remember her number, try calling your mom," Junhui clarifies, smiling again when Minghao's fingers fly across the screen in a panic to call his mother as quickly as he can.

The line rings and Minghao waits with a baited breath, his nerves on edge. It's been a year since he's heard his mother's voice. Will she know it's him? Will she think it's some kind of prank? What if she gave up on looking for Minghao months ago? Does she even want him back?

"Hello?"

Minghao freezes, his breath caught in his throat as his mother's voice rises from Junhui's phone. Tears prick his eyes but Minghao blinks them back, dragging in a deep breath before he speaks, already imagining how tight his mother will hold him once he's back in Anshan. Once he's home.

"Mom. It's me."

a/n: i never expected to write something like this actually and i didn’t go with the typical fic you’d expect with this au because that’s not really my kind of style.

i tried to handle all that went on as delicately as possible, but if there’s something else you think i should warn for, please let me know!!!!

junhui is in like his early twenties in this fic btw, i couldn’t pick an actual age so i just didn’t mention it. and i also didn’t know whether to use sti or std instead bc growing up, i was taught that it’s std and then college came and kicked that out the window with sti instead v.v