I’m sad so I’m fixing the ending of S1. Spoiler Warning.
—
As far back as he could remember Blackbeard was told that he wasn’t meant for the finer things in life. His family wasn’t royalty, they had no money and lived in squalor. Hell, he killed his father, Edward was the Kraken, the most feared pirate on the seven seas maybe even the entire world. Legends and certainly horror stories would be told about him for centuries.
But, he yearned for something more, something different.
Blackbeard needed a change he was growing bored, days became mundane. After all, a man could only kill and plunder so much before longing for something more.
Blackbeard was not meant for the finer things in life, but maybe Edward Teach was, maybe that was something he could have. Everything changed when the Gentleman Pirate known as Stede Bonnet entered his life, well more like fell into his life, after being hung, then cut loose, on the deck of a Spanish navy ship. Edward’s natural curiosity won over after he boarded the strange pirate’s ship. It seemed that everything on the ship, from the library in the captain’s courters to even the odd way he ran his ship was curious. It seemed to be run with kindness and patience, which had not been seen on any of the previous ships Ed had conquered. He figured that was why he spent time nursing Stede back to health like a wounded animal. Specifically, one of those sweet little blonde dogs, with big eyes and the cutest puppy dog, face all wrapped in nice fancy clothes and robes.
There was something in the look that Stede gave Blackbeard when he opened his eyes and looked into his own. The gentleman pirate didn’t recognize him as the devil known as Blackbeard but instead as Edward Teach. Edward Teach wasn’t feared and instead was some random pirate who deserved to understand Stedes’ kindness and his secret closet full of fine silk and cotton. All of which was soft to the touch, all beautiful and fair, Edward looked at the man in front of him with a boyish smile it seemed like the man who owned them was the same as the fabric itself.
The look Stede gave him when he found out Ed was Blackbeard was delicious. It was a look of shock mixed with a hint of adoration. But not fear, never fear, it was ingrained in Blackbeard to see that emotion. He had almost forgotten what adoration looked like on another person. He felt his stone heart skip a beat, and pink glossed over his cheekbones. All the Gentleman pirate seemed to want was to learn how to become a better pirate and who was Blackbeard to oppose teaching the eccentric man. Ed would teach Stede how to become a better pirate, and, in turn, Stede would show him the wonders of the finer things in life.
The only person who seemed to have a problem with the situation was Izzy.
But for once in his life, Ed felt like he was worth something, so he disregarded his first mate.
Ed was having fun.
Stede was delightful, Stede was curious, and Stede was beautiful.
Ed decided that Stede Bonnet was his finer thing.
Ed remembered the fear he felt when Izzy plunged his sword through the left side of Stede’s chest. Stede met Ed’s shameful gaze, and with a shy smile, he murmured, “Did I do it right? Aim for the left side? Cause they’re no important organs there?”
He choked back a laugh placing an arm around Stede’s shoulders; Ed dug his fist into the top of Stede’s head and messed up his perfect hair.
“Alright,” Ed turned to Izzy with a tight-lipped frown, “you lost mate.”
“Capt’n you can’t be serious-”
“You heard him!” Black Pete shouted over Blackbeard’s shoulder, “Get off our ship.”
Just like that Izzy Hands was gone and the viscous Blackbeard was left to patch up the captain of the Revenge. Stede hissed as the blade was pulled from his side, immediately slumping against Ed’s chest. “I gotcha,” He assured in a soft voice, far too tender for the fearsome pirate captain. Ed felt eyes staring into the back of his head over his shoulder he saw Lucius eyeing both of them almost with curiosity. Ed ignored the stare and helped Stede back into his courters, Ed spread him on the couch. “Keep pressure on it,” Ed commanded as Stede whined softly as he pressed his hand to the bleeding wound. Ed collected some bandages and ripped open the buttons on Stede’s shirt, Ed ignored the slightly startled sound from Stede’s mouth.
“Hey! I’ll have you know I liked this shirt, be gentler!” Stede argued as Ed gave him a stern look, Stede seemed to swallow thickly before he shrunk in on himself “Please?“
Edward sighed, and gently slid the soft fabric off of Stede’s arms Ed could see the muscles in Stede’s shoulder tense as he ran his fingers across the heated skin. Now shirtless, Ed was able to get to the wound to clean and patch it up; the entire time Stede made small whimpers and whines that sent chills down Ed’s spine. By the time they finished sweat had beaded on Stede’s brow from stress and his face contorted like he sucked on a sour piece of fruit.
“You okay man?” Ed spoke in an uncharacteristically soft tone, and Stede gave a shaky smile.
“I’ll live.”
Ed frowns, “can I get you anything? Tea? One of those kiddie stories you like?”
“They’re not kiddie stories Ed.” Stede said with a huff as Ed smiled, he watched Stede look at him and pout, “ah, you’re making fun of me.”
“Only a little, can you sit up?”
Stede followed his orders like a good little pet and sat up on the couch to the best of his ability. Ed made his way into Stede’s secret room and came out with the softest robe he could find and wrapped Stede in it. Stede hummed in contentment and snuggled into the fabric, Ed felt his heart skip a beat.
Cute.
Stede’s brown eyes fluttered from under his eyelashes and shyly held his hand out to Ed, “Sit with me?” Ed’s cheeks felt hot, he looked behind him briefly before he pointed to his chest,
“Me?”
“You’re the only one here.”
Ed shuffled his feet momentarily before he slid in next to Stede, who was still sweating and dizzy due to the blood loss. Ed felt Stede move and press his cheek against his shoulder and Edwards’s face burst into a million shades of red. He moved to open his mouth but noticed Stede was already asleep on his shoulder, and his heart melted. Ed’s arm moved to pull Stede closer so he could be more comfortable as he recovered. His hands brushed sweat-soaked hair from Stead’s forehead but pulled away when Stede stirred slightly. Ed looked at his hands and noted the scars and calluses, his eyes trailed over the perfection that was Stede, who had no scars or imperfections.
Stede was immaculate and perfect and Edward wasn’t. But, maybe for this one moment, he could pretend he was as he pressed a hesitant kiss to the top of Stede’s head.
It lasted a moment but meant the world to Edward Teach.
Ever since that day, there was a shift in the air on the ship. Most of the crew either chose to ignore it or try to get to the bottom of it like Lucius. The man knew something was going on between the two captains, for starters, they dueled in the moonlight almost every night. The second was that the air on the ship seemed gayer than usual and that was saying something when you considered the crew. Lucius was sure the two captains were in love, at least in the beginning of love. It was confirmed when they took a stop for oranges to help the Swede. Stede was acting odd, which said something, going on and on about a treasure map and he forced Lucius and Blackbeard to join him in the search. When they finally stopped to eat it seemed like they forgot Lucius was there altogether. They seemed to get lost in whatever fantasy Blackbeard made up about owning a restaurant. Whatever was going on it was the gayest thing he’s ever seen. He thought he was going to witness his captain’s kiss.
They didn’t, which wasn’t fun for Lucius.
Lucius figured they’d have all the time in the world, he could eventually nudge them both in the right direction. After all, this type of thing is what Lucius was good at, just ask Pete.
Just as things went back to normal, it was decided that Blackbeard would stay onboard The Revenge permanently. Ed wasn’t sure how it would work but Stede called it Co-Captianing. Things seemed set, they would sail the seas together as captains until the day they both died and Ed could drink in the beauty that was Stede Bonnet. However, everything changed when the British navy showed up. The crew of the naval ship took everyone on the Revenge prisoner, Ed and Stede were tied up and thrown face-first on the deck. Ed’s head snapped towards Stede’s his eyes were wide and for the first time, Stede was genuinely fearful. Ed took a breath in and moved his foot to nudge Stede’s, I’m not going anywhere, was the promise hidden within the nudge, I’ll protect you always.
When the Navy boarded the ship the first thing they did was separate Blackbeard from Stede. Blackbeard was locked within the ship’s prison cell and Stede was taken who knows where. Now that scared Ed, the unknown and the aloneness, not knowing if Stede was about to die and not being able to do anything about the situation. He huffed and sat down on the small bed in the cell, all he could do was wait. Ed was impatient but found when it came to Stede’s he would be as patient as needed. Chauncey came into the hull where the cell was, face flushed from anger at the situation and Blackbeard knew what he was going to say before he even said it.
“Hm. Sorry mate, I killed your brother. Wasn’t Stede I’m afraid, cut your brother right up.” He mused as he kicked one foot over the other on the bed. Chauncey raised an eyebrow who was he to argue with him, after all, there was no way Baby Bonnet could kill anyone. He was just as weak now as he was as a child, Chauncey only clicked his tongue and disappeared presumably to speak to Stede. Ed could only hope Stede would let Blackbeard take the blame for the situation, Stede was too precious, too important, to be put to death.
Stede, ever the gentleman, wasn’t about to let someone take the fall for a crime they didn’t commit in his steed. At the end that’s how Ed and Stede found themselves on the upper deck bound by the wrists and standing in front of the King’s Navy. Ed turned to the right and saw Izzy standing beside the Naval officer and dread pooled in his stomach. Almost like the sea could sense his dread it was declared that Blackbeard would be handed over to Izzy and Stede was to be put to death by firing squad. Blackbeard growled as Izzy cut the binds from his wrists,
“This is the way it must be.” Izzy growled right back, “you’re too attached. You can’t be Blackbeard and have Bonnet it makes you weak.” Ed turned to face Stede, whose eyes were covered by a blindfold, five guns were aimed at his body. Blackbeard would let Stede die, Blackbeard would get on with his life and not care about the self-proclaimed Gentleman Pirate and his crew.
But Ed didn’t want to be Blackbeard anymore…Ed just wanted to be Ed…and what Ed wanted…he looked over at the tense mop of blonde hair who jabbered for his life.
“Act of Grace!” His hand shot in the air, a loud hissed ‘what’ cut through the air right after the words left his mouth by Izzy.
“You can’t be serious!” Izzy argued, red in the face, “You’d rather serve the rest of your life loyal to the king and the Navy than let this frivolous man die!”
“Act of Grace,” Ed repeated and ignored Izzy’s protests he walked over to Stede and removed his blindfold, “say it. Say Act of Grace.”
Stede looked confused briefly before clearing his throat, “ah yes! Two Acts of Grace please!” He smiled, albeit nervously. “As soon as you’re able preferably!” Chauncey practically snarled at the idea,
“Stede Bonnet isn’t a real pirate! Therefore the Act of Grace only applies to Blackbeard.” Ed cursed and pushed Stede’s body behind his own to protect it from the bullets that were sure to follow.
“Untrue!” One of Stede’s crew members yelled, “Capt’n is a real pirate!”
“We’ve stolen and plundered ships and islands!” Oluwande continued holding up the little plant they plundered from a group of merchants.
Ed smiled in thanks at the crew, but Chauncey wasn’t satisfied, instead, he chose to throw a fit much as a baby would. However, the Navy seemed to have other plans and accepted the Acts of Grace and their forever servitude to the King of England. As the evening drew close the pirates had no choice as they signed their life away. Before both men knew it both Ed and Stede were on their way to the naval training camp. Ed noticed Stede’s anxious fidgeting the entire trip and placed a gentle hand on his thigh and squeezed. Luckily, Stede seemed to relax under his reassuring touch.
As they made it to the mainland they were shoved into a line to get supplies and garments for the grueling days to follow. However, unlike his grumpy companion Edward wasn’t in the same mood he felt light, his skin hummed with excitement. This was a new adventure he wasn’t Blackbeard any longer and had no obligations to be the notorious pirate.
“Okay.” Stede whispered behind him in line and Ed hummed, “Ed what’s the plan?”
“I have no plan man.” He chuckled and strode forward in line with a pep in his step,
“Ah of course you have no plan. Wink, wink.” Stede hummed cheerfully hands clasping behind his back, Ed looked over his shoulder to give him a look.
“No mate I mean I don’t have a plan. This is a brand new start we should embrace it!” Stede sputtered from behind him,
“Embrace it?” He gaped, “But-but we’re pirates! You’re Blackbeard!”
“Not anymore I’m just Edward now.” Ed hummed as he stood in front of the man handing out supplies, “Edward Teach at your service.” The man scribbled his name down on the paper and handed him some clothes and soap. “Look Stede! Soap!” He sniffed it strolling into the room, “Yummy! Lavender!”
Edward didn’t get to hear the rest of Stede’s conversation with the man signing the books. As soon as Ed entered the barracks he was pulled off into the bathroom to get his namesake, his beard, shaved off. Ed felt like a baby once he was finally clean-shaven. He patted the smooth skin of his face, his face wasn’t something he’d seen in decades. He found that his first thought as he was shoved back into the barracks was,
What if Stede didn’t like him without the beard?
He sat on the bottom bunk albeit a bit uneasy as Stede sat on the bed beside him, Ed was still hiding his face a mix of nerves and pretending to unpack. Once he faced Stede fully the blonde let out a frightened yelp, and Ed flushed nervously. Shit, he didn’t like it,
“You’ve shaved-”
“Apparently beards are against the dress code here.” He rubbed his chin as he played off the nerves he felt, “Does it look bad?”
“No! No of course not! Just it’s different.” Stede assured and held his hands up defensively, “not bad though.” Ed let out a small breath he hadn’t known he was holding in, at the smile Stede gave him. A small bought of silence settled between them, “So about a plan, I was thinking since you shaved we can use your beard hairs and make a fake head-”
“Stede I don’t have a plan alright? Let’s just enjoy life enjoy the now. Together.”
Stede didn’t seem happy with the response, and he frowned, it wasn’t his normal cute pout either it was a full-on frown. Stede stood up and seemed lost, lost in his own world in a way Ed had never seen. Ed licked his lips as Stede left the barracks, he took a breath pulling the red cloth from his pocket. He rubbed it gently against his face feeling the soft silk of the finer fabric his mother had given him all those years ago. He thought about Stede and how long ago he had decided for himself that Stede was his finer thing. The thing that his mother claimed he could never have, Ed wouldn’t let him go so easily and it was time he told him that.
Ed found Stede sitting by the water and plopped down beside him with a smile, “hey man. You know the fake heads idea wasn’t that bad.”
“Oh come on stupid idea.” Stede let out a small laugh, before his eyes drifted to the floor, “I’ve only got stupid ideas.”
“Oh shut up.”
There was a beat of silence where Stede looked over at Ed with a soft expression, “How are you handling this so well?” Ed looked at him and Stede had the puppy dog pout on his face that Ed just adored. Ed tilted his head to the side allowing his long hair to fall over his shoulders,
“I don’t know…It’s just kind of nice just to take a load off.” He looked out into the rolling waves of the ocean. “Just to…just to be Edward.” He breathed a fond smile forming on his lips, before he grew serious again, “I don’t know if I want to go back to the old days. Just drinking all day and biting the heads off turtles or making some poor bloke eat his own toes with a laugh.” He looked over at Stede whose face morphed into one of disgust before muttering an eloquent
“Yuck.” He shuffled, “Where’s the laugh there?”
Ed didn’t look over at Stede and felt his heart beating in his throat, “I suppose what I’m saying is right now I just want to do what makes Ed happy.” Ed glanced at the sand beneath him and sighed,
“And what makes Ed happy?” Stede asked and Ed could feel his soft gaze on his back.
“These past few weeks have been…the most fun I’ve had in ages.” He laughed a little with a shake of his head and glanced over at Stede, “years…maybe ever.” Ed saw Stede straighten a proud, almost haughty, smirk on his delicate features. “So…so I reckon what makes Ed happy is…you.” He looked up and locked eyes with Stede, he let out a breath and saw Stede’s eyebrows shoot up into his forehead. A little smile poked at the edges of Stede’s lips as he took a shaky breath in,
“Well that’s uh- that’s-” Before Ed could even comprehend what he was doing he cupped the back of Stede’s head and pulled him into a kiss. It wasn’t a storybook kiss, after all, these were two grown men who knew nothing about romance. The kiss was messy and inexperienced teeth knocked against one another and lips slowly slotted against each other. Ed didn’t know what to do with his hands, hell, he barely knew what to do with his lips. He brought one hand up and placed it gently on Stede’s chest while the other cupped Stede’s face fondly. As Ed went to pull away he found that Stede chased the kiss and allowed it to last for a few more blissful moments. When Ed officially pulled away, he swore he heard Stede let out a small wanton whine as they parted. Their lips were barely touching as Stede opened his brown eyes. They were hazy with what Ed thought was love and adoration. “You make Stede happy,” Stede whispered like it was a secret between lovers. Edward felt himself grin and moved away from Stede, only slightly, he made sure to keep a hand placed firmly on his chest.
“Maybe we can just get away,” Ed’s other hand moved to rest in Stede’s lap, “start over, reset.”
“But you said there was no escape.”
Ed laughed and sent a devilish smile Stede’s way, “there’s always an escape. We could be gone tonight.”
“What about the English? They’ll be all over us-”
“No, no, no we could get a new boat.” A look of hope and realization spread across Edwards’s face, “new names, new backstories. Everything. We’ll go somewhere they’ll never find us. We can go to China!” Stede blinked a few times in stupefaction, and let out a small laugh of disbelief,
“China?”
“China.” Ed insisted,
“It’s quite far away.” Stede insisted back, and Ed placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
“Yeah,” He licked his lips, “That’s the point, our old lives would be gone, dead. What do you say?” He saw Stede take a deep breath in, looking lost in thought and Edward squeezed his hands tightly to snap him out of it. “Yes?” Ed asked with longing in his voice, Ed saw Stede nod his head,
“I think so,” a smile broke out across Ed’s face as he shouted,
“Yes!” Jumping up from his spot, “yes, yes?”
“Hmhm.” Stede nodded and pressed his lips together in bashful a smile,
“Again, this is great, okay, we leave at dawn. I’ll work out the details!” Ed was practically bouncing on his feet, “You think of some new names! Cool ones!” He commanded as he left to figure out a plan for the two of them to escape together. It was perfect, he’d mug some guy and get dingy with just enough space for the two of them to fit. He’d get a bag of food and fresh water and they’d go off together to start a whirlwind romance meant for the storybooks. Ed’s smile couldn’t be wider as he told Stede the plan that night, someone would give him the signal to meet Ed at the docs. Ed made his way there a few hours before dawn, the boat was tied to the dock and set up, all the food and drinks were stored away and kept safe from seagulls. Now all Ed had to do was wait for the love of his life to appear before him.
So Ed waited.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited.
As dawn approached a wave of bitter anger began to form in his heart as he sat on the edge of the docks. The sky began to fill with pastel blues and pinks that only served as a reminder that Stede wasn’t coming. Ed stood on the dock cruses left his mouth as he moved to get into the boat, he would sail back to The Revenge, take the ship and the crew, and forget Stede ever existed.
“Ed!” A shout and Ed spun around on his feet, his hand was wrapped around the rope of the boat. Ed was blindsided as arms, frim arms, wrapped tight around his torso which caused him to stumble back off the edge of the pier. Both men let out a respective noise of surprise as they landed in the boat. Ed breaking Stede’s fall not so elegantly, “Were you about to leave without me?” Stede asked and pulled back to look Ed in the eyes, his classic pout on his face.
“It’s well past dawn,” Ed argued with a scowl on his features,
“Don’t brood that’s not very gentlemanly of you. Plus I…” He looked away from Ed to let out a small huff, “I got held up.” Ed gave him a look, “no really! I was held up at gunpoint! By Chauncey!”
“What?” Ed snarled and scrambled to reach back out towards the dock to get them back to land so he could kill that sonofabitch.
“Ed, Ed listen! He’s dead…tripped and shot himself in the head, while going to shoot me so it’s kind of ironic when you think about it. Especially, considering how his brother died and-” Stede was abruptly silenced by a kiss. He let out a long whine and kissed Ed back with just as much vigor. He pulled away and panted lightly, his pupils dilated, “What was I saying?”
“Nothing important.” Ed assured and pressed a kiss to Stede’s lips once again, “So?”
“China?”
“China.”
Edward Teach was certain his mother was wrong. Ed deserved the finer things in life and his finer thing was and always will be Stede Bonnet.
I hope the tumblr OFMD fandom is aware that Stede and Ed switched rings at some point. that massive turuise ring Stede wears from the beginning can be seen on ed after they meet.
Its so cute im foaming at the mouth
What!!!?? Does anyone have scream grabs? I love them so much
