Chapter Text
★★★Minho
Minho inhaled as he stared out the ship's window, admiring the sky. Part of him wished he could go out there and just... bask in the space. But he couldn’t. He’d freeze to death and suffocate. But it was nice to imagine. Space was so vast, and he was usually confined to this ship.
He couldn’t wait to land.
“Captain—.”
Minho frowned at the mention of his title, turning slowly to look the shorter man in the eye, “what?” He asked, brushing his hair from his eyes as he scanned the man’s expression. He didn’t seem upset or worried about anything. Which was good.
“We found a shortcut.”
“A shortcut? Is it safe?”
The silver haired man nodded, “Jisung mapped everything out. It’s safe.”
“Why didn’t it show up earlier?”
“No idea, but the faster we get there, the faster we can get a hold of this bounty.”
Bounty.
Minho took a deep breath, “go ahead. If it’s safe there’s no reason for us to not use it.”
“Alright, I’ll let him know—.”
“Hey Changbin,” Minho started as the silver man started to turn, “when we land... you and Jisung should get fresh air. I hear the planet has a lot of it.”
Changbin turned back to face Minho, arching his brow curiously, “what’s gotten into you?”
Minho shook his head, swaying on the balls of his feet.
“I just... don’t really want to rush this one.”
“This ones pretty big...”
“He’s not going anywhere.” Minho whispered back calmly as he looked outside again, “besides I want a breather too.”
“Are you sure you’re doing okay? You’re not sick, right?”
Minho shook his head, “Jeongin might need the break too.”
Changbin frowned at that, patting Minho’s shoulder, “okay. I’ll let Jisung know that it’s safe to go down that route.”
“Can you check on him for me too?” Minho asked, “just... how is he doing?”
Changbin let his hand slip from Minho’s shoulder, “you know that’s going to take a long time to recover from...”
“Just... let me know if he’s okay.”
“You could always check on him yourself.”
Minho shook his head, eyes fixating on the dark sky, “I don’t want to upset him... anymore than I already have.”
“Minho—.”
“Jisung’s probably awaiting confirmation about the route.”
Changbin stood there a moment before nodding and walking down the hall, the sound of metal shaking with every footstep making Minho turn and slink down the wall.
Minho wished he could travel back through time. If he could just take back the last six months...
He brought his knees to his chest, burying his face with a huff. He would do anything to change the last six months of time. For Jeongin. It’s what he deserved... and god, Minho hadn’t meant any harm. He was just doing his duty. How was he supposed to know that the man Jeongin had been in love with was the man they were out on bounty for? And how was Minho supposed to prevent the outcome? Times like this Minho regretted turning the man in. And then other times... he didn’t regret a single thing.
Minho dragged himself to the control room, eyeing Changbin and Jisung talking by the controls as he stayed against the entryway wall.
They deserved this, didn’t they? A break. After the shit that had transpired over the last few months... they truly deserved a break. And Minho would do everything he could to ensure they received one.
Jeongin too. Even if Jeongin had refused to talk to Minho in... months. It had been months.
Minho frowned as he watched Changbin lean over to press a kiss to Jisung’s pointed ear before laying onto Jisung’s shoulder.
He wished he could change everything.
“You okay?” Minho heard from behind him, turning to capture the taller man standing behind him, hair curtaining around his face, “don’t stare at them.”
Minho scoffed, shaking his head as he wrapped his arms over his chest, “I’m not staring.”
“Are you going to look for that when we land?”
Minho gave the tall man a scoff, “there is no way on any planet in the solar system... that I will ever find what those two have.”
“You’re a pessimist, Minho.” The man laughed as he lay his head over Minho’s, “Changbin told me you’re planning on keeping us there for a while. You’re not worried about the bounty?”
“Why would I be?”
“He’s dangerous. He might catch on to us.”
“We’ll be fine, Hyunjin... I doubt he’d even leave that planet.”
Hyunjin sighed before moving his chin to rest on Minho’s shoulder as he wrapped his long arms around his waist, “you’re tense.”
Minho rolled his eyes, “you can’t wait for us to land?”
“Maybe I don’t want to.”
Minho backed away from the control room slowly with Hyunjin wrapped around him, Hyunjin snickering as Minho shoved him into the wall in the hall, “fine.”
Hyunjin was... interesting. They could probably pass for best friends, him and Hyunjin. Hyunjin had been with Minho almost as long as Jeongin. He was an amazing bounty hunter and Minho was ecstatic to be placed with him years before.
Now? They were... a little complicated. There were no feelings between them. Hyunjin liked sex and Minho liked to relieve stress. They loved each other in a platonic way that didn’t end in bone crushing pain.
And it worked.
Minho sighed out as Hyunjin nipped at his lobe, tongue running along his cartilage as Minho bucked his hips up against him.
They worked fine. No attachments. Just... relief.
“Captain... you’re making that face.” Hyunjin snickered as he rode Minho, teeth tugging at Minho’s lobe.
That face. Hyunjin had mastered the art of knowing when Minho was about to cum. Minho wasn’t sure how he did it, but he’d catch it every time, and every time he made sure to pull himself off of Minho’s cock to avoid the mess despite the protection from the condom.
Hyunjin hated messes.
And Minho loved to make them.
Minho gasped out as his cum sprayed against his stomach as he pumped himself, Hyunjin already sliding on the silk cashmere robe.
“You’re so messy, Minho.” Hyunjin laughed before tossing a rag onto Minho’s lap as he shuddered through the after effects of his release.
“You’re too clean.” Minho whispered once his body calmed.
Hyunjin scrunched his face up before taking a hair tie and putting his hair up, grabbing his phone and seemingly checking the time, “you should get a shower before we land. Otherwise they’ll know we fucked again.”
Minho laughed, tucking himself into his pants as he slid himself up from the chair covered in a towel per Hyunjin’s request, “I think they probably heard us.”
Hyunjin gave Minho a look, “Jeongin, maybe.”
And then Minho frowned, “why would you say that...”
“Because. You probably deserve it.” Hyunjin leaned in briefly to kiss Minho’s forehead before wiping his mouth on a tissue and grabbing a clean towel from his bed, “go shower, you smell like desperation.”
Hyunjin. He was brutally honest. And Minho couldn’t lie when he thought that’s exactly what he deserved and needed. For someone to keep him grounded. And aware. And Hyunjin always delivered.
Minho dragged himself down the hall, hands in his coat pockets before he stopped at the familiar door with a child’s drawing in the top right corner. A stick family. Dated from twelve years ago.
Damn.
Twelve years.
Minho rose his knuckle to the door before lowering it with a frown.
He would go inside. He’d knock. But he knew what the occupant would do.
So he walked on, beating himself internally for the damage that he wasn’t sure would ever repair. Not after this.
“Morning, captain.” Hyunjin smirked as he walked into the control room, running his fingers along Minho’s waist casually before taking his spot beside Jisung, hands crossed over his stomach as he leaned back in the chair.
Minho watched him briefly before looking back at the incoming planet, bright and large. A blue glow wrapped around it while a pink haze ran across the sky.
“Close.” Jisung yawned, “we should be there in under an hour.”
“That was fast.” Minho sighed, eyes fixating on this planet. He was glad they’d be here awhile. The planet seemed beautiful from the testimonies Minho had heard.
“I can’t wait to eat some real food.” Jisung spoke out, turning in his rolling chair to offer Minho a bright grin as his cheeks flickered a soft shade of blue, “thank you for arranging for us to stay around for a bit. I missed bread.”
Changbin laughed, patting the top of Jisung’s head with a huff, “we’ll get plenty of bread this time.”
“We better. I heard that this planet has an amazing bakery too! Actually multiple bakeries all over the planet!”
Minho smiled at that before looking back at the screen.
“They have bathhouses too. Rejuvenating ones with that sticky goo that makes your skin feel soft.” Hyunjin sighed pleasantly, settling back further in the chair, “and the brothels... the most clean and high class around.”
“Full of aliens.” Changbin added, getting a shrug from Hyunjin and a pout from Jisung, “I mean... I don’t need to go to any. I have my alien right here.” Changbin corrected, leaning down to press kisses to Jisung’s glowing cheek.
“Well, I don’t care what slithers inside of me as long as it’s clean.”
“Ew,” Jisung grimaced before turning back and looking at the planet in excitement, “I’m just excited for the vacation...”
“What are you excited about, Min?” Changbin asked as Jisung and Hyunjin went back and forth about the wild life and food.
Minho shrugged, “I’m just here to collect the bounty.”
Changbin shook his head, “you’re hopeless. You know that?”
Minho inhaled sharply, “so what if I am?”
“Indulge. Let loose. Drink expensive wine, find a hookup, breathe a little.”
“What about Jeongin?”
“He’ll enjoy the fresh air. He’s been locked in here for months.”
Minho winced at that, “we stopped for fuel a week ago...”
“He didn’t leave the ship.”
“I hope he enjoys it...”
Changbin frowned, “don’t dwell on what happened so much. He’ll get over it soon.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“That’s not your problem. As his captain—.”
“He’s my brother. Not my subordinate.” Minho whispered before scratching the back of his neck.
Changbin offered the slightest smile, “he’ll be okay. There’s nothing you can do to change the past. Besides, it wasn’t any more your fault than it was anyone else’s here.”
“I’m the one who...”
Minho paused as there was a soft tap at the metal entrance, Changbin and Minho turning in sync at the white haired man standing there.
“Hey sleepy head!” Hyunjin called back as he stretched himself in the chair again.
Minho locked eyes for seconds before turning away, shame pounding in his chest.
“We’re about to land in Verruckt.”
“Lovely.” The man whispered, not sparing Minho a glance as he walked past to stand behind the control panel, “Verruckt of all places...”
“Pleasure city!” Hyunjin chimed in, “the best food, the best scenery and the best sex.”
The man scoffed at that, “a vacation.”
“The bounty is somewhere on this planet.” Changbin cut in, “but yes, a vacation. We all need one.”
“I want to pick my own stay.”
“It’s better if we stay together—.” Minho attempted before the white haired man turned and gave Minho a glare that cut like a knife.
“When we land, I pick where I stay.”
“Jeongin...” Changbin started before getting a hush from Jisung.
“Fine.” Minho whispered, “you can go wherever. I won’t bother you.”
“Good.” Jeongin snapped back, turning to look at the planet before shaking his head and shoving passed Minho back towards the hall, “fucking Verruckt.”
After the footsteps stopped down the hall, Minho heard a whistle from Hyunjin.
“You’ve got it really bad right now, huh? He’s not gonna let up the whole trip.”
“Hyunjin... stop.” Jisung sighed before pulling up from his chair and standing in front of Minho, Minho’s eyes meeting the soft ones of their navigator, “just let him blow off steam. He needs a break. So do you. We all do. Don’t take it too hard, okay?”
Minho nodded before his gaze left Jisung to settle back onto the planet, “land us safe and wake me when we do...”
Jisung nodded, offering a gentle smile, “get some rest, Captain.”
Minho didn’t wait to hear anymore. He just left down the hall, passing the room with the little drawing before he made his way into his own room, collapsing onto the bed with a huff.
Verruckt. He hoped this place was worth the hype. He hoped it would relieve his crew's stress, especially Jeongin’s. And maybe it was selfish, but he wanted some peace of his own too.