Chapter Text
Namjoon stared up at the ship in front of him in awe, almost missing the alpha crew member who had come forward to greet him. "Welcome to Persona, the pinnacle of luxury cruise ships. Are you ready to embark on the summer of a lifetime?" The crew member immediately cringed. "Sorry, they make me say that." Namjoon chuckled as the alpha leaned down to grab his luggage. "Let me help you with your bags, Mr.…"
"Kim." Namjoon provided. "Kim Namjoon."
The alpha looked at him in surprise. "Oh, you're part of the group Mr. Bang has been waiting for." He gestured for the omega to follow him. "Right this way. From what I hear, you're about to get some very interesting news." Namjoon followed the alpha onto the ship and out to the main deck. "Have a seat. Trust me, this is a lot more scenic than our meeting rooms." He gave the omega a quick bow and smile. "I'll tell him you're here."
Namjoon thanked him as he rushed off, looking around the deck as he sat down at the bar. "Gorgeous…" He whispered, unable to believe he was actually there.
"I was just thinking the same thing." He turned to see a blond alpha with a tattoo sleeve on his right arm smiling at him. "Can I get you a drink, beautiful?"
"I'd love one." Namjoon returned the smile as he turned around on his stool, assuming the alpha was offering him a drink, and he was never one to turn down something free.
"What can I get you?" The alpha asked. "I make a mean Raspberry Flirt…"
Namjoon's eyes widened as the alpha moved to stand behind the bar. "Oh, you're the bartender?"
The alpha nodded. "But my friends call me Jungkook." He leaned against the counter. "So, what brings you to our corner of the ocean?"
"Actually, it's a bit of a mystery." Namjoon answered. "I'm supposed to meet my grandmother's lawyer here."
"Lawyer, huh?" Jungkook sucked air through his teeth, tilting his head a bit. "Sounds like you could use that drink. What'll you have?" He handed him the drink menu. "You know, I can tell a lot about an omega by their drink order…"
Namjoon raised an eyebrow at that. "I'll take some champagne."
"Interesting choice…" Jungkook hummed as he moved to pour his drink.
"Oh yeah?" Namjoon crossed his arms and rested them on the counter in front of him. "What does my drink say about me?"
"That you're very classy." Jungkook smiled as he slid a flute of champagne towards the omega. "How is it?"
Namjoon took a sip before answering Jungkook. "Perfect."
Jungkook smiled before begrudgingly backing away from Namjoon. "I better stop ignoring the rest of the customers, or it's going to be obvious that I'm playing favorites." The alpha shot him a wink before walking over to a customer at the other end of the bar.
The omega watched him, sipping at his champagne until he felt someone engulf him in a tight hug from behind. "You're finally here!" A familiar voice squealed. "Are you ready to get crazy tonight?"
"Taehyung!" Namjoon turned around to properly hug his younger brother. "I can't believe you're thinking about partying at a time like this." He scolded as he pulled away. "Aren't you even a little bit curious about this mysterious meeting with the lawyer?"
"Sure…" Taehyung shrugged before wiggling his eyebrows. "But that didn’t stop you from flirting with Mr. Hot Bartender."
Namjoon gave his brother a look. "We were just talking."
Taehyung rolled his eyes slightly. "I should have known. You're way too slavish-I mean loyal to your alpha." Namjoon immediately bit his lip, looking down at his champagne. "I mean, I never liked him, but he is your fiance." Taehyung then looked around, not seeing his brother's change in mood. "Speaking of which, shouldn't he be here right now?"
The older omega let out a small, humorless laugh. "It's a long story."
"Sounds boring." Taehyung clapped his hands together. "I say fuck him and let's kick this cruise off right! A toast!" He snagged a glass of champagne off the tray of a passing waiter, holding it out to Namjoon, who chuckled.
"Let's toast to the greatest summer of our lives." Namjoon said.
"That's what I like to hear!" Taehyung cheered as he clinked his glass against his brother's, sipping at his champagne until he spotted an alpha in a crisp suit approaching them.
The alpha cleared his throat. "Excuse me, I am Bang Sihyuk, and I have some paperwork for you to attend to."
Taehyung's eyes widened. "You must be Halmeoni's lawyer."
"Precisely." Sihyuk bowed slightly. "Thank you for meeting me here. I know it's highly unusual."
"You mean highly awesome!" Taehyung corrected with a laugh. "I can't believe Halmeoni's last with was for us to take this cruise together." His face fell. "I mean, it would be way more awesome if she were here…"
Sihyuk nodded solemnly. "From my short time knowing her, it was clear that this summer trip was very important to her. I imagine she wanted you to enjoy your time together as she did when she was your age on this exact cruise."
"Halmeoni never wanted us to worry about her." Namjoon agreed but couldn't help the sadness that flooded over him. "I miss her so much…"
"I have something that just might help with that." He pulled out a stack of envelopes. "She left each of you a letter. There's also letters for your other two siblings and cousin when they arrive."
"They're running late." Taehyung shrugged. "Might as well give us ours now."
He handed the envelopes to them, and Namjoon just stared at his for a moment. "Her last words to us…Tae, do you think we should do something special-" He cut himself off as he turned to see that Taehyung was already reading his.
"Oh my god!" Taehyung gasped. "Namjoon, open your letter now!"
Namjoon did so, quicky reading over his grandmother's words.
My dearest Namjoon,
I hope you'll forgive me for keeping this from you, but I've seen wealth ruin many happy families, and I never wanted that for my children or grandchildren. But now that I'm gone, I want you to know the truth. And I hope you'll honor my last wishes and find happiness from them.
"What does this mean?" Namjoon asked, furrowing his eyebrows before he even finished the letter.
"Your grandmother was a very, very wealthy omega." Sihyuk explained. "She's left a 550 billion won fortune to split among you, your three siblings, and your cousin."
Taehyung gasped again. "That's 110 billion each! We're rich!"
"I can't believe this is actually happening…" Namjoon breathed out, his eyes wide.
"I assure you, this is very real." Sihyuk stated with a small smile.
Namjoon turned to his younger brother. "I could end world hunger!"
"Great! If you've got that covered, then I’m using my money to go shopping. Gucci, here I come!" Taehyung squealed, turning back to the alpha in front of them. "Okay, lawyer, I'm ready for my money now. I'll take it in 10,000 notes."
Sihyuk chuckled. "Actually, your grandmother left you each specific instructions for how to receive your inheritance."
Namjoon blinked. "Instructions?"
"They're detailed in the letters."
Both omegas immediately flipped to the second page of their letters. "Oh no, this is bad…" Taehyung whimpered as he read off his grandmother's words. "Taehyung, you've never learned the value of hard work. To get your inheritance, you must keep a job on board the ship for the entire summer." He looked up at Namjoon with a pout. "Halmeoni's making me work for this money! Didn't she love me at all?"
"Come on, you know Halmeoni adored all of us." Namjoon nudged his brother. "She practically raised us after Eomma and Appa passed."
"Yeah, except my life was all student loans and instant ramen when it could have been private jets and solid gold Ferraris!" Taehyung huffed. "Besides, it's going to be impossible for me to do her task." He turned back to the lawyer. "Are you sure there aren't any exceptions?"
"Unfortunately not." Taehyung's pout deepened. "Your grandmother was very specific with the wording in her will."
Taehyung groaned. "How am I even supposed to get a job here?"
"Arrangements have been made for you to work in the ship's finest restaurant, Shadow." Sihyuk informed him. "You start this week."
"This week?!" Taehyung stared at him incredulously before sighing. "At least Namjoon's going to be there with me, right?"
Namjoon turned back to his letter to finish reading it.
Namjoon, you've already found the love of your life. I know you've always struggled with being decisive and making commitments, so I want to help you overcome that. At the end of the summer, when the cruise reaches its final port, an elegant wedding has been prepared for you and your beloved fiance. You only need to make your vows and bear each other's mark to earn your share.
Taehyung huffed after reading Namjoon's letter over his shoulder. "That's easy! You've got it made!"
"Maybe not…" Namjoon bit his lip as he turned to his brother. "Taehyung, can we talk in private?"
"I'll take my leave." Sihyuk said. "Should you have any questions, your grandmother stipulated that I stay on the ship for the duration of the summer to see her wishes carried out."
Namjoon and Taehyung bid him goodbye before heading towards Namjoon's cabin. "Okay, we're alone now. Spill."
Namjoon sighed. "It happened last night. Hasun had to work late at his startup, and I finished packing for the cruise early…so I decided to surprise him with his favorite dinner…"
Namjoon entered Hasun's startup office with a bag of takeout from his fiancé’s favorite restaurant. He was about to call out to the alpha and ask why it was so dark when he heard it. "Oh, Hasun! Yes!"
The omega froze. "Hasun?" He called out. "Hello?" He fumbled around for the light switch until he found it, the office lighting up and revealing his fiance on the couch with a female omega on top of him.
"Uh, a little privacy please?" The omega snapped, glaring at Namjoon.
"Privacy?!" Namjoon scoffed as Hasun scrambled to attempt to cover them up.
"Namjoon!"
The omega's eyes widened. "Oh, so you're Namjoon…this must be, like, really sad for you."
"Yeah, that's one of the things I'm feeling." Namjoon nodded, staring at his fiance with a hurt filled gaze.
"I thought you were packing!" Hasun tried to defend himself. "What are you doing here?"
Namjoon wordlessly held up the bag in his hand. "I was bringing you dinner, asshole."
Hasun blinked. "Oh, uh…thanks?"
"No problem, here's your food." He pulled out one of the containers and threw it at them, noodles bursting out of it and landing directly on the alpha's face. Namjoon didn't bother to wait for the reactions as he turned and ran out of the office, tears already streaming down his face.
"…and that's what happened." Namjoon sighed.
Taehyung frowned, rubbing his brother's arm comfortingly. "You caught your fiance cheating on you and you just ran off?"
"Not my best moment, I know."
"Okay, look, that guy was an asshole." Taehyung placed his hands on Namjoon's shoulders. "None of us really liked him and we all were secretly hoping you'd dump him anyway."
Namjoon blinked at his brother. "We really need to work on your pep talks."
Taehyung ignored him. "I guess the big question is whether or not it's worth 110 billion won to mate a lying, cheating, cunt like Hasun."
Namjoon groaned. "Never in a million years. To tell you the truth, I don't even know if I can handle facing him ever again." They stopped at his cabin and froze. "Why is my door already open?"
"Housekeeping?" Taehyung offered as Namjoon nudged the door open.
"Namjoon, baby!"
The omega glared at the alpha in the middle of his cabin. "Hasun?"
"I'm so glad I found you!" The alpha walked over to him. "I can't believe you just left without me! I have something to say-"
"I don't want to hear it." Namjoon crossed his arms.
Hasun pouted. "But I brought your favorite chocolates!"
Namjoon scoffed. "You think you can fix this with chocolate?"
The alpha blinked. "Yes?"
"Get out."
"This is my room too."
Namjoon crossed his arms. "Fine, then I'll leave." He walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
As he and Taehyung walked off, he could hear his ex fumbling with the door and following after them. "Slow down!"
"No!"
"Namjoon! Stop being childish!" Hasun chastised him "We need to talk!"
Taehyung scoffed looking over his shoulder to glare at the alpha. "He caught you cheating on him! You're the last person he'd want to talk to!"
"Taehyung, stay out of this." Hasun snapped. "I've listened to podcasts that last longer than your relationships." Taehyung rolled his eyes. "This is between me and Namjoon. He knows he's not blameless in all of this." Namjoon's steps faltered for a split second. "A relationship is a complicated thing." Namjoon sped up, rushing out onto the main deck all while Hasun continued to try to talk to him. "Namjoon, I never would have cheated on you if you hadn't been so distant! You practically pushed me into Minkyung's arms!"
Namjoon finally whirled around to face him, staring at him in disbelief. "I what?"
"Actually, Hasun, it's good you're here." Taehyung crossed his arms over his chest. "Perfect, really, because my brother's got something he wants to tell you. Right, Namjoon?" He nudged his brother in the side when didn't say anything. "Come on, this is your chance to really let him have it."
The older omega cleared his throat. "You're right, I do have something to say." He turned back to Hasun with a glare. "Relationships aren't that complicated. You cheated on me! You whose fault it is when someone cheats? The person who is doing the cheating!" Taehyung silently laughed to side as Hasun opened his mouth to respond, but Namjoon spoke over him. "You were never a good fiance. You never remembered my birthday, you took me for granted, you belittled my feelings, and you were absolute terrible in bed!"
"Namjoon, we are in public!" Hasun gasped, looking around to make sure no one had heard that.
"Why not in public?" Namjoon shrugged while his brother was dying of laughter next to him. "You're the one who follow me here and wanted to talk!" Hasun's face turned bright red as Namjoon started to bash his bedroom skills. "When it comes to sex, you are totally selfish! I've never met someone lazier, and trust me, no one should be that into elbows!"
"Way more than I needed to know." Taehyung said, shuddering at the image.
"Namjoon," Hasun took a step towards him. "You don't know what you're saying right now. You're obviously getting way too emotional. I think you're going to regret this when you've calmed down.
The omega scoffed. "The only thing I regret is not breaking up with you sooner."
Hasun narrowed his eyes. "I'm not letting you go that easily."
"Back off!" Namjoon exclaimed, grabbing a random cocktail from the bar and throwing it in his ex's face.
The alpha groaned as he wiped the drink from his face. "You know I hate tequila!" He was too focused on trying to wipe his shirt to notice the ice on the deck in front of him, causing him to slip as he tried to take a step. He cried out in surprise, arms flailing as he tried to regain his balance near the edge of the pool. Unable to help himself, Namjoon stepped forward and shoved at the alpha's chest, laughing when he fell into the water. "Namjoon!" The alpha growled once he broke the surface, wiping water out of his eyes. "This is completely immature! You've probably ruined my cell phone!"
"And you ruined our life together." Namjoon retorted, glaring at the alpha as he climbed out of the pool.
"So, you're saying you don't want to work this out?"
Namjoon groaned. "Oh my god, it is so over between us! I can't believe I ever wanted to mate you." He crossed his arms over his chest. "But at least now I know the truth. You don't deserve me."
Hasun stared at him in disbelief. "How can you say that? We've spent the last five years together. Are you really going to break up with me and just hope you find someone new? Who else is gonna put up with all your little quirks and insecurities?" He stepped closer to the omega. "I know you. I'm the only one who'll ever love you. Just think about that."
"Go away, Hasun." Namjoon stood strong.
"I get it." Hasun sighed. "I'll give you some space because you obviously need it. But this isn't over."
As the alpha walked away, Taehyung groaned in disgust. "What an asshole."
Namjoon bit his lip, his anger fading away to make room for anxiety. "He's not wrong…" Before Taehyung could argue, Namjoon was turning towards him and voicing his worries. "My whole life was built around him. What if he's right? I mean, I know you enjoy being single, but I hate it. And even Halmeoni wanted me to mate him. It's the only way to get my inheritance."
"I'm sure Halmeoni wouldn't have wanted this." Taehyung assured him. "Let me see that letter again." Namjoon pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to Taehyung, who read over it again. "Halmeoni never said you had to mate Hasun specifically, just your fiance. You've got the whole summer to find a new one!"
"That's not a lot of time…"
"That doesn't mean it's impossible!" Taehyung started bouncing in excitement. "Ever heard of love at first sight? You totally have a chance at this!"
Namjoon paused for a second, feeling confidence start to bubble up. "You know what? I can do this. I'm not going to let Hasun ruin my life and make me miss out on 110 billion won. I've got a dream wedding waiting for me at the end of the summer and three months of a luxury cruise to the most romantic places on Earth. There's an alpha out there who's going to love me for me and I’m going to find him."