Black and white mixed together in harmony.

Where there is black there is white, and where there is white there is black.

You will find the one with both there.

 

---

 

inlustris | starlight

 

Kyungsoo grimaced at the number of people walking through the Hub. It not only gave him a sense of claustrophobia, but it made their job much more difficult. It was impossible to tell pedestrians apart from one another – who was a pirate? An innocent citizen? A sailor?

 

The only people Kyungsoo could tell apart from the others were the Marines stationed on the island. Kyungsoo gulped when he passed by his seniors. They both wore the same uniform, yet the difference in their characters was almost overwhelming. Kyungsoo didn’t smile often, but the Naval officers who stood guard at their post seemed like they didn’t even know what a smile was. They held their heads high as if to look down at all the people who passed them by.

 

Would he eventually become like that?

 

Kyungsoo shook the question out of his head. There was no way he would end up like those tense, presumptuous officers. After all, he had Yixing and Jongin at his side.

 

“Yixing, do you have a place in mind that you wanted to visit?” Kyungsoo asked.

 

“There’s this pub that a lot of pirates frequent,” Yixing started. “I think we should start our search there. It’ll be the best place to gather information about pirates who’ve recently visited the area.”

 

“Would they answer our questions?” Jongin asked. “We are dressed as Marines right now.”

 

“True,” Yixing replied. “We’ll find a store and buy some new clothes as a disguise.”

 

“Buy new clothes? Where are we going to get the money for that?” Kyungsoo gawked.

 

Yixing fished out a wad of cash and dangled it in the air like it was nothing. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered.”

 

“First the stupid S.S. Marina now a seemingly endless supply of cash. Not to mention he’s athletic and already secured a stable job as a top-rank Marine,” Kyungsoo muttered quietly under his breath.

 

Jongin, who was standing next to Kyungsoo, peered in close and whispered in the other’s ear, “And he’s handsome.”

 

“Yes, and he’s handsome,” Kyungsoo muttered bitterly, and in envy. When the meaning of Jongin’s words finally settled in, Kyungsoo turned to the other member and gave him a deadly glare. “You shut up.”

 

“I’m just saying,” Jongin shrugged his shoulders. “The man’s got money and looks.”

 

Kyungsoo pursed his lips and exhaled through his nose. He tried to change the topic, and exclaimed, “There are so many people here! We’ll never find the Lux Pirates.”

 

“We’re not exactly here to find the Lux Pirates,” Yixing replied. “That would be a miracle in itself. We’re here to gather intel, and if in the event that we somehow bump into them, we’ve got the camera to capture the evidence. It’d probably be impossible for us to catch them, so all we need is evidence to get backup.”

 

Jongin unfolded a few sheets of paper he held in his hands. They were the Wanted posters for Baekhyun, some members of his crew, and Princess Cirrus (hers was a missing poster). He had studied the posters long enough to know each of the Lux Pirates’ face by memory, but he felt the need to look at them once more. Jongin tried to match the facial features of each pirate’s poster with the pedestrians around him.

 

His eyes eventually landed on a couple walking towards them. They were still a good distance away, but Jongin noticed their striking resemblance to the posters immediately.

 

“I-isn’t th-that…” Jongin mumbled to himself. He glanced at his papers, then up at the couple, then back down at the posters. Even though the woman’s hair was concealed by a scarf, her soft facial features were far beyond average – they seemed royal. Even the way she carried herself seemed regal.

 

The man next to her had jet black hair and an even darker look in his eyes. A pair of glasses framed his face, and a thin scarf was wrapped around his neck. He certainly looked a bit off from his picture in the Wanted poster, but Jongin was almost sure the man was none other than Baekhyun Lux.

 

Jongin lifted a finger towards the couple and stammered, “That’s Baekhyun Lux… and Princess Cirrus… I think.”

 

“What? Where?” Kyungsoo demanded.

 

“Where, Jongin?!” Yixing exclaimed.

 

“Right in front of us! 12 o’clock, about 40 feet away!” Jongin replied.

 

“Kyungoo, the camera!” Yixing shouted.

 

“R-right, the camera! Where’s the camera…” Kyungoo mumbled to himself. He dug both hands into his bag and searched for the device. In a panic, Kyungsoo forgot exactly where he had kept the camera. His heart pounded so loudly against his chest and in that moment Kyungsoo realized he lacked so much experience. Reading about encountering pirates in textbooks and seeing them in real life were two very different experiences, and he couldn’t help but blank out in the moment.

 

When he finally pulled the camera out, Kyungsoo brought it to his eye and was about to take a picture when he realized the lens cap had yet to be taken off.

 

“Kyungsoo, what’s taking so long?” Yixing asked impatiently.

 

Kyungsoo fumbled with the cap before removing it at last. “S-sorry I… the first step is to bring it to your eye. The second step is to focus on the target and the third step is to-“

 

“Make sure to take a picture, and quickly! They’ve noticed us, and they’re running away!” Yixing shouted. He dug his heel into the ground and took off after the pair.

 

Just before Baekhyun and Cirrus turned the corner, Kyungsoo managed to take a clumsy shot of the two of them. The polaroid picture came out within a few seconds, and he eagerly shook the film as he waited for the black surface to transform into a picture.

 

“We have to follow after Yixing!” Jongin exclaimed, and dragged Kyungsoo with him as he started running after Yixing. “How’d the picture turn out?”

 

Kyungsoo stuffed the camera into his bag and stared at the polaroid picture. It was blurry, and didn’t even capture the two of them completely. But their faces were turned towards the camera, and although the picture couldn’t be used in a Wanted poster anytime soon, it was enough evidence to prove that Captain Baekhyun Lux and Princess Cirrus were together.

 

They eventually caught up with Yixing and they ran through the crowd together. Cirrus and Baekhyun were about 30 feet away from them when a blue ball flew into the air above them and popped. White smoke poured out of the balloon and covered the area in a cloud. The 3 Marines swatted the smoke away from them, and in the distance they could just make out a faint voice exclaim, “Good job, Niteo!”

 

By the time the thick white fog lifted, Baekhyun and Cirrus were nowhere to be seen.

 

“They got away,” Yixing panted.

 

“I got a picture. It’s not the greatest, but it should work I think,” Kyungsoo said as he handed the polaroid picture over to Yixing.

 

Yixing inspected the picture and let out a sigh. It certainly wasn’t the greatest shot, but in Kyungsoo’s state of panic it was a surprise that he was even able to take a picture at all.

 

“I’m sorry for fumbling earlier, this is all my fault,” Kyungsoo said dejectedly. “If I didn’t blank out we’d probably have gotten a clear picture of them. We might’ve even caught them.”

 

“No, it’s fine,” Yixing assured him. “This picture is all we need to get the entire Navy, and the royal family of Pileum on our side.”

 

.::.            .::.            .::.

 

Baekhyun and Cirrus raced through the town and into the forest. Now that they were concealed by the tall trees, Baekhyun felt like he could stop and breathe. He placed a hand over a tree’s trunk and focused on regulating his breathing.

 

“Before we left, you said ‘Good job, Niteo’. Niteo was nearby?” Cirrus asked inbetween short breaths.

 

Baekhyun nodded his head in response. “They’re never too far. My crew’s always in my field of vision – even if they’re hiding.”

 

“And the ball…?”

 

“Smoke bomb,” Baekhyun replied. “Niteo probably bought a couple of them from a stand, because I know for a fact that he didn’t have any left when we got to Piscari. Except, you can’t just walk up to any old store and find them. You have to know the right people, since smoke bombs are really only used by pirates and bandits.”

 

Cirrus revealed a faint smile. “You pay a lot of attention to your crew.”

 

“It’s one of the perks of having a small crew.” Baekhyun shrugged like it was no big deal, but managing 14 other people in a busy crowd was no easy feat. Baekhyun may have acted like it was nothing, but Cirrus thought it was admirable. He was admirable, in some senses.

 

“We were lucky that those Marines were novices,” Baekhyun said as he started walking. “If it were anyone else, I don’t think we’d have gotten away so easily.”

 

“Wait! What about the rest of the crew? They’re still in the city, aren’t they?” Cirrus gasped.

 

“It’s fine. It’s clear that those Marines were after me and you. The guys should be able to slip out of there with ease,” Baekhyun mumbled. An unsettling feeling welled up in his gut. Just before they had turned to run away, Baekhyun saw one of them holding a camera. Had he taken a clear shot of them? If so, the world would soon know that Cirrus was with him…

 

“Baekhyun?”

 

The captain turned his head to Cirrus. “Hm? What?”

 

“They had a camera,” Cirrus said in a low voice. “And I saw a flash from it just before we ran away. So much for keeping a low cover.”

 

Something about her words made Baekhyun’s chest swell with euphoria. Her dejection showed that she actually cared about being a part of his crew, if only temporarily. It went to show that her words earlier were real, and not just a pretty cover up.

 

“It’s okay,” he reassured her. “I’ve always wanted my name on the front of every newspaper. The world should know about Baekhyun Lux.”

 

“Well aren’t you humble,” Cirrus rolled her eyes.

 

“Fame is just as important to a pirate as treasure. In its own way, it is treasure,” Baekhyun winked at her. Cirrus turned away from him but couldn’t hide the growing smile on her face. There was something about Baekhyun’s confidence that was reassuring. It made her think that everything would be okay – that they would be okay. She would be okay.

 

With Baekhyun, it seemed like anything was possible. He was an impeccable leader, and his love for his crew was second to none. Even she felt it, despite not being a crewmate. They were embarking on a quest no other pirate had accomplished in the past, and they were almost half-way there. What seemed like an impossible feat was slowly falling into place.

 

In a way, Baekhyun resembled Cumulus. Confident, with a knack for adventure. Strong-willed, and determined. They were both bright individuals, and belonged in the Sun. She belonged in their shadows – for the better or worse, she couldn’t tell.

 

With Cumulus, she lived in his shadow since she would never have the crown. She was expected to follow her brother for the rest of her life, providing him with support and information extracted from the ancient scriptures. It was a sad fate, as if her future had been truncated prematurely. She had no future there with him. Cirrus knew that her entire life, but she still couldn’t bring herself to hate her brother.

 

During the rare occasion when she would spite her brother, Suho acted as her saving grace. His kindness and smiles saved her from fearing the future. If she married him, she could at least be free by his side. There were times when Cirrus was so close to slipping into hatred for Cumulus, but Suho’s presence calmed her. As they grew older however, his duties bore greater importance and their meetings became less frequent. What if there was a day when Suho wouldn’t be there for her in time, and she succumbed to the hatred and jealousy locked in her heart? It was a scary thought, and one of the reasons why she found herself feeling less than enthusiastic to return to the palace.

 

Cirrus looked at Baekhyun. They were completely different, he and Suho, and yet she felt they were somehow similar. Perhaps it was the way they were both able to reassure her, and give her confidence in the future. Unlike Suho however, Baekhyun was always around. Sometimes, he was too close but she had gotten used to it.

 

“Baekhyun!” Ardent’s voice rang throughout the forest. All 14 crew members ran towards them, with big smiles plastered on their faces. “We lost the Marines. They didn’t even notice us slip out, to be honest I’m not even sure they knew the rest of the Lux Pirates were right behind you. But to be safe, let’s jet.”

 

“Agreed,” Baekhyun smiled at him, and gave Ardent a high-5.

 

They started running towards the beach, and since Cirrus had promised herself to follow Baekhyun until they reached the ship she decided to not stray too far from him. In that moment, she also decided that she needed to stop comparing him to Cumulus and Suho. They were different, all of them. Besides, comparing the three of them left a bad taste in , and a twisting guilt in her heart.

 

She wasn’t sure whether she disliked the idea of comparing Baekhyun to Cumulus and Suho, or the other way around. There was a fine line between the two.

 

They took a shortcut through the woods and didn’t pass by Minseok’s house. When they reached the beach, Cirrus spun around to look for the tiny cottage. From where she stood, she could just make out a tiny speck of brown hidden amongst green forestry. It was Minseok’s cottage. She spent a few moments staring at it before finally turning around to board the ship.

 

She never got to thank Minseok, she realized – for lending her a room, for teaching her how to cook, for sharing his story with her and finally, for giving her a glimpse into Baekhyun’s past.

 

The anchor lifted and the ship wobbled against the waves. Cirrus watched as the image of Piscari got smaller, her eyes never leaving the island for a second. When she first stepped foot onto Piscari, she knew it simply as the island of fishing. But now? Piscari was far more than that. It was a home, namely Baekhyun’s. Minseok and Hana’s too.

 

Cirrus reached into a pocket of her dress and gripped the orange seashell she had picked up from the beaches. She found her thoughts drifting to Hana. Cirrus didn’t know her personally, but she knew one thing. For someone who had passed away so young, she was sure Hana had a regret or two.

 

So, Cirrus decided that she would stop keeping her desires at bay and start living her life to the fullest. She wanted to live, not survive.

 

“I hope you’re ready to learn from the best. He’s a bit hard to get along with, but his skills are second to none,” Baekhyun said to her. His voice startled her, and Cirrus glanced to her side to find the captain standing with his back against the edge of the ship.

 

“If it’s someone you’re willing to call ‘the best’, they must be good,” Cirrus mused.

 

Baekhyun smirked, but kept his gaze focused on the sky. Within a few hours, the sun would set and their path would be illuminated by starlight. Baekhyun liked the stars. Constellations were filled with history, each one telling their own tale. They also reminded him of his first few months out at sea. Baekhyun had had a friend by his side at that time though, someone who he often liked gazing at the stars with. But nowadays, he admired the stars alone.

 

.::.            .::.            .::.

 

Chanyeol stumbled into another alley and collided with a brick wall. He panted heavily against the cold surface and slammed his fists into the wall.

 

“!” he yelled. Something in his heart wrenched for some reason and his face contorted in pain. It was a pain far greater than a slash from a sword, and it only ever triggered when he saw Baekhyun.

 

It’s all Baekhyun’s fault, Chanyeol repeated the thought like a mantra. Baekhyun was the cause for his pain, but it wasn’t always like this. Once upon a time, Chanyeol and Baekhyun had sworn to sail the seas together. But that was a very long time ago. It was so long ago that Chanyeol forgot why they acted so differently to each other now. Speaking of which, when was it that he had wanted to inflict pain upon Baekhyun?

 

“Chanyeol,” a low voice spoke behind him.

 

The red-haired pirate didn’t even have to turn around to know who was speaking to him. “What do you want, Roger?” Chanyeol groaned. Roger always appeared at the most convenient times.

 

The black-haired male known as Roger hopped down from the barrel he was sitting on and walked over to Chanyeol’s side. “You failed.”

 

“I know,” Chanyeol snapped. He turned around to meet Roger’s nearly black eyes and in a breath of air.

 

“Don’t you understand, Chanyeol? We need the map, and the princess to find the treasure! It’s not enough that you lost one, but you had to lose both to Baekhyun,” Roger spat.

 

Chanyeol’s shoulders fell in shame and he slouched against the brick wall. “We wouldn’t need the map, nor the princess if you didn’t forget everything.”

 

“But the reality is that we need the map, and her,” Roger said in an ice-cold voice. “You do want to be the best, don’t you, Chanyeol?”

 

Something flickered in Chanyeol’s eyes. Yes, he wanted to be the best. That was all he ever aspired to become.

 

Roger’s lips curled into a devilish smile as he inched closer to Chanyeol. In a whisper, he added, “That’s right, Chanyeol. I can make you the best. But you need to get rid of Baekhyun. The sea doesn’t need two Kings.”

 

That’s right… I need to get rid of Baekhyun… Chanyeol thought. He opened his mouth to agree with Roger when he noticed a piece of broken glass just a few feet away from him. In the reflection, he saw his own red hair and suddenly a throbbing pain bloomed in his skull.

 

“B-but I… don’t want to hurt Baekhyun,” Chanyeol forced himself to say.

 

Roger clicked his tongue and stepped on the piece of glass with his shoe. “You want to become the best, Chanyeol. That’s why I came to you. You know it in your heart.”

 

The flickering in Chanyeol’s eyes dimmed, and his brown eyes became clouded by a dark mist. “I want to become the best.”

 

Roger chuckled. “That’s right, Chanyeol. In order for you to become the best, you must kill Baekhyun.”

 

“I must… kill Baekhyun,” Chanyeol repeated robotically.

 

---

 

A/N: Were some of you expecting that at the end or nah? I know some comments I read theorized that Chanyeol was being manipulated, and while it may seem like this "Roger" is manipulating him that's not entirely correct. Speaking of which, who is this Roger I wonder???? He definitely plays a big role in Baek and Chan's past, and I know some of you are looking forward to the unveiling of their background story :) I'm looking forward to writing it (I have it all planned out in my head).

Also many thanks to bubble_tissue for the poster!!

And here's a little fun skit I wrote in celebration of 1000+ subs and 150+ upvotes <3

 

Baek: "Wait... when did my crew grow from 14 to 1000?!?!? ARDENT HOW MANY PEOPLE DID YOU RECRUIT?!#?!?/!"

Ardent: "I'm uh... not sure... to be very honest."

Baek: "We haven't even had a celebration for them yet aND OHMYGOD that means I gotta prepare a speech but I don't have a speech-"

Ardent: "Just improvise!"

Baek: "You know I'm bad under stress!"

Niteo: "Our captain, ladies and gentlemen! He's a mess but Cirrus loves him!"

Cirrus: "WHAT?!"

Baek: "WHAT?!"

Niteo: "I meant... we love him" :^)