"I've heard there's some kind of feud between several pirates' crew recently!" A sailor exclaimed while lapping the halyard line beside a mast.

"And 'cause of that, the sea isn't exactly the safest place right now." His companion huffed, shivering at the thought of encountering some infamous pirates.

"Then, what're we doing here?" The first one sighed, wiping a few beads of sweat off his forehead with his tired hand.

"Pirates?" A young boy asked, dully looking at them with his lips drawn into a thin line.

The sudden realization of his presence made both the workers startle as they jumped on their feet, straightening their backs.

"Hum... We were just talking 'bout some stories going around." The stalwart looking one cleared his throat.

"Please, there is no need to act so stiff around me." The boy with hairs dyed in blond sighed.

"But—"

"I am merely a man just like you two, so treat me like one of you and overlook the fact about me being the Captain's son." He cut off the slightly older-looking man from spouting excuses he had grown tired of.

That said, the young man that had recently celebrated his eighteens walked away, heading towards the back of the prideful ship.

"Sir!" A husky voice — from one of the sailors he had just talked to — boomed behind the boy.

The latter came to a halt, slightly cocking his head to the side and peeked over his shoulder.

"How may we call you then?" He inquired after making sure the one he was addressing was listening.

The youngster raked his brain, searching for a nickname he would go by on the ship.

"Kris." The one with golden locks responded, content with the new name.

"Kris then." The one who had asked grinned, pointing at himself. "I'm G.O and that's Thunder." He presented himself and his friend.

"Let's get along!" The one called Thunder gleefully waved at Kris.

The one mainly known as Yifan — now nicknamed Kris — nodded, wearing a stoic face as he had always been used to. He then turned around and nonchalantly walked away. Even though he didn't show it openly, Yifan was actually beaming inwardly.

I have made new friends, normal friends, Kris mused in awe.

By normal, he didn't mean it in an exasperate way. It was indeed true that Yifan had inherited a noble title since the day he was born. However, that was what he hated. 

His title. 

Since his childhood days, he had been constantly surrounded by either spoiled or conceited children from the other families. Well, there were few exceptions such as Yixing and Jongin — whom he would describe as easygoing and sometimes crazy —, but it stopped there. What Yifan wished were friends he could hang out with without feeling constrained in keeping an image imposed by his unstained title or freely talk about anything or nothing without restricting topics. He sincerely wanted a relationship where things such as titles or ranks were trivial.

Neatly leaning his forearms on the wooden balustrade, he threw his head backwards, staring at the sky painted in a deep shade of blue by now.

I wonder if I will see a shooting star tonight. I have a wish I desire to share.

He pursed his lips in a thin line as he let his head idly fall forward, his nose brushing against his knuckles. He sealed his lids shut, his ears slowly growing fond of the soft swashing sounds caused by the waves. A slightly chilly breeze tenderly ruffled his golden locks, whispering sweet wordless verses in its passage. Yifan loved the quietness of the ocean. He tacitly hoped to meet his other half — whom he believed to exist — somewhere beyond the everlasting sea.

"Yifan." A deep voice behind him snapped him out of his trance.

By the time his peace of mind had been disrupted by someone, the night had gotten older. Countless stars had adorned the celestial canvas, dazzlingly shining alongside a beaming moon. Yifan raised his head, slowly opening his eyes as his fingers boringly tapped on the edge of the railing.

"Hmm?" The boy huffed, showing hints of slight annoyance.

"So, you are called Kris now?" The fatherly figure chuckled as he approached his beloved son, stopping beside him.

The latter simply nodded, without caring to face his father or give a glimpse at him. Respecting the silent moment, the old man casually leant his back on the wooden railing, letting out a long sigh as he lifted his head up.

"I simply wish to be part of them and be treated as a commoner." Yifan confessed, breaking the silence. "I do not want to be considered as someone who had climbed up the ranks because of my title, but because of my hard work and dedication." He added, feeling somewhat proud of his personal reasons.

Suddenly feeling a surge of nervosity welling up in his stomach, Kris unconsciously started to fiddle with his fingers, awaiting a response from his well-respected father. It came out as laughter and then a pat on the head.

"I am already proud of you." The Captain smiled, ruffling his golden locks. "It seems like you have matured."

"Father!" Yifan retorted, yanking the old man's hand off before it messed his hairs too much.

"Alright! Alright!" His father snickered, putting his hands up in defeat. "You better not deceive me. I am setting my hopes high on you. So, show me what you got." He muttered with a smirk plastered across his face.

"I will, Father." His son promised, wearing his signature smug across his face.

"Well, it is about time to settle for the night—" The Captain reminded him as he proceeded to walk away.

"It is still too early for me." Yifan cut him off, somehow feeling an eerily force persuading him to stay. "I wish to stay here a little bit longer if that is alright..."

"Do not stay up too late." His father amusingly warned him. "Kris."

Thank you, Kris mouthed, glad to have had his request accepted.

His father's footsteps gradually faded away, leaving Kris alone with the appeasing soundtrack the ocean had to offer once again. Losing track of time — not that he minded —, the young man blankly staring beyond the skyline, wondering what was its plans for him.

Treasures? Mystic creatures? Or perhaps his soul mate?

When the last possibility crossed his mind, a sly smile was tugging at his stubborn lips, slightly curving them up. Yifan would admit it. He wasn't a person eager to show much expression. He just never felt like having a need to do so. He had long forgotten how it had exactly started, simply shrugging the thought off.

Why bother?

In the middle of his trance, he had surprisingly noticed the messy shipwreck lingering upon the contradictorily peaceful waters, a few flames slowly meeting the end of their lifespan. How he managed to notice it would most likely remain a mystery even for him. He sadly shook his head at the view stinking of death before him, letting out a sorrowful sigh.

As he was about to slip away, something inexplicable withheld him from disregarding the unfortunate scene. That was when he sensed it although it would have usually gone unnoticed under normal circumstances. Following his instincts instead of his brain for what seemed to be a first, Kris looked down, tightening his grip on the wood in the process. Narrowing his eyes, he saw it. A sullied seemingly large wooden board had lightly bumped onto the hull. He vaguely distinguished a figure lifelessly lying on it.

Is he alive?

His heart skipped a beat as Kris rushed to the stern — where jolly-boats were stowed — without thinking twice. He was acting so out of character, but at that moment, he didn't bother to question his own confusing acts. He loosened the cordage and quietly let the pinnace slide down until it gently reached the watery surface in a faint swashing sound. He sighed out of relief to not have messed up as he proceeded to climb down a swaying ladder. His feet cautiously touched the boat and lightly jumped on it when he found balance, slightly shaking it. Taking a deep breath, he grasped an oar and somehow managed to use it without causing any causality.

The lifeboat pierced a path through a thin layer of foam, approaching the mysterious figure that had wiped all sanity off his mind. The small embarkation meekly collided onto the damp wooden platform. Putting down the oar with one hand, Yifan reached out the other and carefully stirred the tarnished boards so that the weakened being would be somewhat closer to him.

He held up his breath as he stared at a young boy lifelessly lying there. Dark powdery was partly coating his face and his worn-out clothing. Raven locks were sticking to his stained skin, hiding his sealed eyes behind bangs. His cracked lips were slightly parted away. At first sight, Kris would have assumed the nameless boy to be a lost case. However, he happened to have noticed the weak rising up and down of his chest.

I need to save him.

That was all Yifan could think of, as if the slovenly stranger's well-being had suddenly become his highest priority. Kneeling down, Kris reached out his arms and gently wrapped them around the boy's fragile shoulders, pulling him closer to where he was. Slowly, the youngster's small frame idly fell on his savior's lap in a muffled thud, his head oh so naturally resting on Yifan's chest.

The sudden contact made Yifan stiffens, widening his eyes in awe. Why am I feeling this way? Why, I wonder, towards this stranger...? He shook his head in deny, tickly gulping down a lump of saliva. Realizing his limbs had remained over the edge of the small boat, lightly being rocked by gentle waves, Kris mentally face-palmed himself. How could he have forgotten? He hastily — though, keeping it harmless to his severe state — placed them in the safety of the embarkation. Letting out a sigh, his hands had unconsciously traveled up to his dirtied face.

You. Who are you? Yifan pondered as he tenderly the stranger's ebony hairs, fondly wiping off stains of fire ashes. Why do I feel the need to protect you?

A weak wince escaped from his lips as Kris accidentally rubbed on a burnt bruise on his left cheek. He coughed a few times, a string of crimson liquid trailing down from the corner of his mouth.

"I am sorry! I did not mean to—" Yifan rambled on, backing his fingers off from the spot.

"Loud..." A whimper.

A chuckle found its way out from Yifan's mouth.

"Sorry. Though, do not worry! I will treat your wounds." Kris reassured him as he grabbed an oar, proceeding to head back towards the ship.

I hope it will not leave any scar.

"Do you have a name?" The Captain's son inquired, wrapping a protective arm around his waist.

A distressing silence engulfed them before a reply came.

"Tao." A whisper.

"You can call me Kris." He beamed, showing him a warm smile.

"Kris..." A broken sob. "Thank you."

Little did Kris know, he had unconsciously held Tao's hand, intertwining their fingers.

Credits to BennieDerHamster and --YatLuvG for the poster @Hackneyed Pictures☆Graphic Shop

Credits to KPopFan4Ever101 for the review @eternal angel reviews

A/N: Woah! I've been wanting to write fluffy Taoris since a while ago. Subscribe and leave comments~