Pete hovers next to Lucius’ hammock playing nervously with the hem of his vest.
“What’s up, darling?” Lucius asks, not looking up from the book he pretends to be reading. The twitch of the corners of his lips betrays his amusement, though. Or is it excitement? Pete isn’t so sure.
He stares at the wooden finger on Lucius’ hand, his thank-you kiss still prickling on his lips. Lucius has never kissed him before. Not like that. Yes, his lips have been in other places, but none of them had felt like this. Pete isn’t sure what to make of it or of the strange feeling dancing in his stomach.
This isn’t arousal. It’s weird. Softer, and still somehow stronger than the sometimes slow, sometimes fast ascent to erupting under Lucius’ ministrations. It’s been only Lucius for quite some time now. Not that they’re exclusive. At least Pete doesn’t think they are, it’s just…
Pete breathes a sigh.
“Want me to suck you off?” Lucius asks without preamble, his eyebrow arched in a way that looks more like an amused challenge than anything else. But it feels good, nothing like the men who thought him a good fuck but otherwise threw jokes at him. Pete didn’t even think about sex, looking at the man sprawled out before him. All he can think of are Lucius’ fingers on his cheek, tender lips kissing his, and the weird churning feeling whenever he so much as thinks about Lucius smiling at him.
“Nah. I…” He gets lost once more. What is this man doing to him?
“Wanna cuddle then?” Lucius asks and shifts in the hammock.
God, that sounds enticing. But Pete is a pirate. Pirates don’t cuddle, or do they? Not in full consciousness, at least. No one can blame them for snuggling closer through the cool night, but this? This feels dangerous. Just like whittling the finger. It’s the same strange mix of excitement, worry, giddiness, and fear of rejection.
“Come here, love,” Lucius says and pats the stripe of empty fabric next to him.
Love.
Is that what this is? Nah, it can’t be. Pete’s not a guy for stuff like that. He’s never been in love before. Sex was fun, but the rest looked rather tedious. Pete never understood the appeal of anything romantic. It creeped him out, really. Did the people around him make all that shit up?
His mother once told him that she and his father had been in love. Not that it had brought them any luck. Pete – much different than many men he had worked alongside – had never felt the urge to find ‘the one’. Did he stumble over him anyway, without even looking?
“I… I don’t know. I’m too heavy,” he says, feeling unusually insecure all of a sudden.
“You’re just right, darling. C'mere,” Lucius says and waves his hand invitingly. That strange feeling in Pete’s stomach grows like flames, licks at his insides, consumes him. Trembling slightly, he slips out of his shoes and next to the man who woke something inside him Pete hadn’t known existed for real.
They shift around, the hammock swaying precariously, but they manage. Pete ends up in Lucius’ arms, his ear pressed right above Lucius’ heartbeat. It’s quicker than it should be.
'Because of me,’ Pete thinks. He starts giggling. He must be going insane.
“What’s so funny?” Lucius enquires.
“Nothing,” Pete smirks. 'Just that I’m in love,’ he adds in his mind.
One day, he’ll tell Lucius. But for now, he’ll carry this newly discovered truth for himself, will nourish and cherish it like the sad plant they plundered. It’s his, and no one can take this away from him.
He snuggles closer and breathes a sigh when Lucius’ fingers brush over his head. He wants to hold Lucius’ hand, an urge so new it seems silly, but he can’t help it. He dares it, slots his fingers with Lucius’, and it’s glorious in its simplicity. He could do this for a lifetime.
Yes, Lucius is hot and cute, but he’s also tender and sweet. And if Pete’s not reading this wrong, he’s all his.
☠️ You can find more OFMD fanfics of mine here on ao3.☠️
Oluwande brushes his fingers over Jim’s skin, stopping at the first uneven spot.
“Where did you get that one from?” he asks quietly, his voice softer than the candlelight dipping everything in glow and shadows.
“A run-in with two guys that were double my size. I would’ve cut their throats, but it was a vicious attack. They didn’t make it out alive,” Jim says, quirking a lopsided smile at their lover.
Oluwande hums and resumes his journey over Jim’s skin. He knows their body well by now. Still, it holds secrets that Jim hasn’t shared with him yet. One, in particular, unsettles Oluwande. The scars make no sense. They are thin, parallel and look systematic. So much unlike the other scars scattered over Jim’s body.
The number astounded him. He’d never seen anyone getting the better of them, so that many managed to actually land a blow came as somewhat of a surprise. But Jim was younger and less experienced at some point in their life, before Nana had trained them to the point of being a dangerous killer.
The scars are old. He had mistaken them for stretch marks in the beginning, when everything was too exciting to take the proper time to study all the details of their body. But now, Oluwande soaks in their naked closeness like others might in a luxurious bath. Oluwande loves it, loves Jim, wants to learn everything they are ready to share.
He runs his fingers over the thin lines adorning Jim’s thighs. They look faint. Jim doesn’t seem to mind his caresses, so he continues, goosebumps blooming under his touch.
“Where are those from?” he asks. Jim tenses, and Oluwande can hear them swallow hard.
“Don’t wanna talk about it,” they say curtly, but it sounds way too soft. Oluwande knows Jim by now. When they get quiet it’s especially important to listen.
“You don’t have to tell me, babe,” he says nonetheless and lets his fingers skim upwards again and spread over Jim’s stomach. He listens to their breathing, a little shallow as it barely raises their belly.
“Twas hard, you know? Life with Nana,” Jim says after a long while. Oluwande pushes himself back to wakefulness and hums. Sleep can wait.
“She trained me so hard. She expected so much. I often felt…” They trail off for a moment. Oluwande holds his breath, worried he might discourage them if he were too loud.
“I had no one to share my fears with. Nana meant well but showing weakness was something she detested. I prayed every night that she wouldn’t hear me crying.”
Oluwande’s heart cracks at the thought of little Jim crying themself to sleep. He cradles their adult form a little closer, cold comfort for the lonely kid, but he still hopes it helps to soften the pain.
“Sometimes, tears just didn’t cut it,” they say and chuckle without mirth. “So I cut myself at the only place that she couldn’t control. It was my little secret,” they whisper, voice raspy with emotions.
“Oh, Jim.”
They shake their head. “No, Olu. Don’t pity me. It’s a sign of my survival like every other scar on my body.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I just wish you wouldn’t have needed that. That’s all.”
Jim smiles at him. “Haven’t cut me in a very long time, man. You really don’t have to worry. I’m fine.”
“I know,” Oluwande says and brushes a thumb over Jim’s cheek. They lean into the touch, eyes closing, eyelashes casting shadows against their skin.
“Damn, you’re beautiful,” Oluwande breathes.
Jim laughs in surprise. It sounds warm and free, and the heaviness of the moment dissipates with it, leaving only tenderness and love behind.
“That’s weird,” Black Pete states matter-of-factly. It makes Stede wince. He thought so, but somehow, deep down in the scared part of his heart, he had hoped it would not be confirmed by someone who is much more versed in these kinds of matters.
“No it isn’t,” Lucius interjects. “Not wanting sex is absolutely valid, Captain.”
Stede makes a face. “Do you really think so?”
Lucius tilts his head to the side and nods a few times, a staccato of movements. Stede isn’t sure if he should believe him. The scribe has his eyes closed, and Stede – while often enough struggling with keeping eye-contact himself – would have felt better if he didn’t.
“It’s just as valid as desiring a person of any gender. It’s fine,” Lucius emphasises.
Stede knits his brow together. “But I do desire Ed. Just… not like that.”
Lucius puts a hand on his captain’s knee and squeezes. “The heart wants what the heart wants,” he speaks as if it were a big philosophical declaration. Maybe it is.
“Not wanting to bugger someone is weird,” Pete insists.
“Ah, shut up,” Lucius says. Pete looks disgruntled. “I’ll explain later,” Lucius adds a little softer.
“Could you explain it now? I want to understand,” Stede all but pleads.
Lucius sighs and brushes his hands over the fabric of his trousers. “I once was in love with a beautiful boy. He was perfect, inside out. He loved kissing and holding hands. We walked through the forest and along the beach, stealing smiles and glances. It was perfect. But then, he told me he wasn’t comfortable lying with me. I thought it was because he was worried to be caught. I gently pressured him, tried to ease him into it. At least that’s what I thought I was doing. But I harmed him, and for that I’m deeply sorry.”
Stede looks at Lucius with wide, damp eyes. “You…”
“No, no, no, no, no,” Lucius rushes to say. “None of that. I did things I thought would make him feel good, but I stopped as soon as he told me to. We were together for some time longer without me touching him ever again.”
Stede breathes a sigh of relief. “Puh. That’s good.” His eyes grow even more sad right after. “But you parted ways,” he states.
Lucius takes Stede’s hand and holds it gently. “Yes. But I’m sure he found someone who fit better with him and made him really happy.”
Stede nods. “But I don’t want someone else to fit better with my Ed.”
Lucius presses his lips together in a sympathetic display.
“I know, Stede. But who says that anything needs to change between you two? You love each other.”
“Oh, I think he should be scared. Blackbeard is known to chase all the skirts and all the breeches. He can have anyone,” Pete blurts out.
Lucius sets his jaw. “Not helping,” he hush-grinds.
“But he’s right, isn’t he? A man like Ed can snap his fingers, and someone will follow him gladly to his chamber,” Stede says and presses his face into his hands. He tries his best to keep himself from hyperventilating. He can’t imagine a world without Edward’s love. It would be void and colourless. What is a little discomfort in bed against being held by the love of your life through every night?
“He may well be able to, but who says he wants that? A relationship is more than sex, right darling?” Lucius addresses Pete. The man blushes and nods.
“I would still be with you if you didn’t… you know,” he whispers.
Lucius touches his arm and smiles at him gently. “I know, sweetheart.”
Stede smiles at the couple, still sorrowful, though. His Edward shouldn’t be forced to settle on the little he has to offer.
“I suppose I should tell him sooner rather than later, huh?” he asks, hoping for someone to let him off the hook.
“I really think you should,” Lucius says softly. Pete nods in agreement. Stede just sighs. He knows they’re right. But the fear has a tight grip around his racing heart, and he knows he wouldn’t be able to keep his mood hidden from Edward. Not for long, at least.
He swallows through the tightness in his throat and gets up.
“Thank you, gentlemen,” he says before he disappears through the door.
***
Stede stops still in the vestibule leading to their chambers.
Their.
Not for very much longer, he fears. Izzy’s voice coming from inside doesn’t help in the slightest, but if he keeps on waiting out here, he might collapse from a lack of oxygen as his breathing grows more and more shallow. This just won’t do!
He pushes the door open and walks past the two men and straight into the en-suite. It’s time to get ready for bed, and he has this whole thing rather happening freshly washed and in the softests of clothes. He takes his time, even shaves. It’s a futile act in a hopeless endeavour. He knows that. But at least he can pretend it’s going to be alright for a few more minutes.
“What’s taking you so long?” Edward calls through the door.
“I’m with you in a sec, darling,” Stede chirps. He hopes his wavering voice carries enough not to raise suspicions.
He pushes the bathroom door ajar and glances out. Edward is already in the red dressing gown, his leather clothes lying over the backrest of the chaise longue. Stede’s heart that had settled slightly speeds up once more. Edward is so beautiful, his lean muscles looking soft with the flow of the fabric. Sadly, that he’s not wearing anything underneath isn’t really helping the situiation.
Stede watches him for a moment, soaks in every detail and files them to memory. His heart is aching, and his eyes fill with tears even before Edward realises his presence.
“You alright, mate?” he asks. Stede quirks a feeble smile, which makes Edward’s worried frown only grow deeper. “What’s wrong, love?” he asks. The sound of Edward’s tender voice – the one only Stede ever has the honour to hear – aches in his chest. He wants to play it down, but he’s not a coward. Not anymore.
Stede takes his beloved’s hand and tugs him down on the chaise longue. Edward sinks next to him into the cushion, his body facing his beloved swaying to and fro as if he wasn’t sure how close would be too close for Stede’s liking. It makes Stede’s heart ache.
“You must know, Ed, the time I spent with you was the happiest of my life,” he starts. His eyes settle on Edward’s chest that barely moves. Stede never wanted to hurt him again. But he will, won’t he?
“You… are the most attractive man I’ve ever set my eyes on, Ed. The only person that ever made me feel seen,” he continues. He has more words for him, but Edward knocks the breath out of his lungs with a searing kiss and every coherent thought right with it.
Stede gives into it without resistance. It’s likely their last, and he’ll be damned if he doesn’t make the most of it.
But… Edward seems to have way more in mind than this spectacular slide of lips and tongues. Stede finds himself pressed into the pillows, breathless, mind grasping for words, but none of them ends up in Stede’s mouth. Too wonderful are Edward’s lips on his neck, too strong his hands gripping his hips. It would be glorious, if… Yes, if.
“S-s-stop, Ed, we need to talk,” Stede huffs.
“Words would only destroy the mood. Don’t you agree, sweetheart? Let me make you feel good. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long,” Edward says and seals Stede’s lips with another kiss.
That doesn’t sound so bad, does it? He managed to do it twice with Mary. It can’t be that bad with the man he loves, right? The kisses feel nice, so he nods. Yes. He wants to try this. Maybe he could even enjoy it.
‘Breathe,’ Stede reminds himself when Edward’s lips and hands travel lower and lower with clear intent.
“I love you,” he breathes, more to remind himself than to confess his feelings. Edward tilts his head up, a bright smile adorning his face. Stede could look at him for all eternity.
“I love you, too. Relax. You’re all tensed up,” Edward says and runs his hands up and down Stedes sides. “I’ve got you.”
Stede chuckles nervously and nods. He lets his head fall back and closes his eyes. Edward shoves his nightgown up and dives right in. Stede’s body surrenders to warm hands, even hotter lips, and other body parts Stede doesn’t want to think too much about. This is worse than wir Mary. With her, he at least had the prospect of offspring. This here is… is… He doesn’t find words for it. He hates it. Everything about it. He wants to scream, wants Edward to stop. But if he does, everything will be lost. Stede wouldn’t survive this.
He thinks of Mary writhing under Doug, the joy and pleasure he could see on her face. This is nothing like it.
He’s broken. Beyond repair. He can’t do anything right. He’s such a disappointment. He’s truly a lighthouse, just that Edward is ignoring all the warning signs.
Edward moans and shudders between his legs. Stede throws his arm over his eyes. Not that it would help anything with the noises that Edward makes. But they are easier to handle without having to look at the man swallowing him down.
The whole chaise, much too small for this endeavour anyway, shakes under Edward’s sudden eruption.
‘Thank god, this is over,’ Stede thinks. He didn’t know that someone could be so aroused from this to orgasm.
“What?” Edward’s voice, still breathless and a little slurred, cuts through the space between them.
Fuck! He said that out loud, didn’t he?
“No-nothing, love.This was nice,” Stede says, but he sounds like a bad liar to his own ears.
Edward’s eyes burn into him, setting his skin aflame, but not in a good way. Stede’s cheeks catch fire, too, and he pushes his nightgown to his knees as Edward sits up, body on display as the dressing gown falls to the side, framing his spent cock.
Stede consciously ignores the wet patch on his chaise longue and the cum drying on his leg. He’ll have to ask one of the crew to wash the furniture. The mere thought to touch it makes him sick. But even worse than that thought is Edward’s sad face in front of him, all deep lines, heavy eyes, and furrowed brows.
“I thought you liked it,” he says, and Stede has never heard him sound so small.
You’ve even managed to bring history’s greatest pirate to ruin.
Yes. He truly defiles beautiful things.
“I’m so sorry,” they say at the same time.
“What are you sorry about?” Edward asks and brushes tears gently off Stede’s face. When did he start shedding them?
“I hid something from you,” Stede snivels.
“What is it?” Stede shakes his head. He can’t say it. “Come on, mate. Tell me. I hate seeing you like this.”
“Could you…?” Stede asks, gesturing to Edward’s clothings. He looks downs at himself and nods before he wraps the fabric around his body. Stede relaxes instantly. It’s only a thin barrier, but it’s enough to put him at ease. At least, a little.
“I’m broken, I’m afraid,” he presses out, brushing the sleeve of his nightgown over his face.
“Then we’ll fix you,” Edward says.
Stede snorts a laugh. “This was the last trial to fix me, Ed. If not even you can break the spell…”
“You don’t like a nice roll in the hay?” Edward asks softly.
Stede shakes his head. “I’m afraid not. It makes me physically sick.”
Edward deflates visibly. “Why didn’t you say something, man? Now I feel awful.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying that!” Edward growls.
Stede stares at him for a long moment, watches Ed burying his face in his hands.
“You can have the bed, I’m sleeping here, if you don’t mind me staying,” Stede presses out, suddenly dead tired. His heart collects in a pile of tiny shards in the pit of his stomach. There’s no answer for a long time. Stede runs his fingers over the woven fabric of the chaise longue and follows the movement with his eyes. He can’t look at Edward, or the rest of him will shatter into pieces, too.
“You stupid…” Edward suddenly growls but stops himself. “Come. I wanna hold you,” he says softer. “I need to feel you.”
Stede looks up at that. “You don’t have to, Ed. It’s okay. I won’t do anything stupid. I promise.”
Edward breathes a long-suffering sigh. “Of course, you won’t. That’s why you get into bed and cuddle with your…”
“Ex?” Stede helps out.
“Extremely attractive gallant,” Edward says as if that was what Stede meant. “I’m not going anywhere, Stede. Buggery or not.”
“But you…”
Edward shrugs. “I wanna be with ya. The rest… Pff. I don’t care. I’ve got two healthy hands, haven’t I?”
“Maybe I could…” Stede trails off.
“Maybe. But not without talking it through… as a duo.”
Stede chuckles, and it conjures a smile on Edward’s face. He cups Stede’s face and runs his fingers over his cheeks.
“Promise me to never do anything that you don’t enjoy or that you don’t want to feel,” he says.
“But, Ed—”
He shushes him. “Never!”
Stede swallows. “Never,” he whispers.
“Good.” Edward smiles. “I just fetch a damp cloth, and then we snuggle, hm?”
Stede nods. He watches Edward taking care of everything and especially him as kneeling between his legs, he cleans his spent off Stede’s thigh.
“I love you,” Stede says under his breath.
Edward smiles up at him.
“Love you too, sweetheart.”
He leans forward, lips brushing over each other in a familiar dance. They kiss for a long moment until Stede pulls back.
“Are you sure?” he asks.
Edward presses his forehead against Stede’s shoulder.
“Yes,” he says.
It’s the most beautiful word Stede has ever heard.
You can find more OFMD fanfics of mine here on ao3.
Where time and outward form would show it dead. (Sonnet 108)
Stede lets the words hang in the air for a moment before he marks the page of the chapbook he just read from and puts it on the windowsill above their bed. He brushes a hand through Edward’s hair and smiles down at him. Edward presses his cheek into Stede’s thigh, his eyes still closed from concentrating on the words his beloved just read to him.
“How did you like it, dear?” Stede asks. He always does. And without fail, it makes a swarm of bees fly through Edward’s head and then down to his stomach. He knows Stede would never judge him for anything he said, no matter how silly, but as much as Edward enjoys watching his partner stumble over the most basic piratey things, he hates it when his own shortcomings become visible. The brief insight into aristocracy had been enough to illustrate what different worlds he and Stede had grown up and lived in for most of their lives.
Edward loves Stede’s innocence with which he sees the world, even after the rough grounding reality tries to inflict on him, again and again. Seeing Stede smile at a butterfly or a stupid poem is the most beautiful thing on earth, and Edward hopes Stede will never change regarding this.
But there’s also fear. Fear that, one day, Stede might get fed up with him and leave for good. Not to return to a family long gone, but to a life fitting his standards, to people who are like him. There must be more. People he wouldn’t have to read to for them to get a grasp on poetry, who wouldn’t embarrass him at the dinner table or by using words that don’t beseem a nobleman and his escorts.
“Are you alright, darling?” Stede asks above him, and Edward pries his eyes open. He hums quietly and pulls on his beard as if it would regrow faster from it. “Did you enjoy the poem? It’s by Shakespeare.”
Edward huffs a laugh. “Should that name ring a bell?” he murmurs. It likely should when Stede speaks it with such adoration lacing his voice.
Stede blinks down at him, then shakes his head. “Nah. He just wrote a few sonnets and plays.” Edward can see in the twitching corners of Stede’s eyes that he’s lying.
“You must be fucking bored with me,” Edward says without really meaning to. He can feel Stede tense underneath him, and he sighs, embarrassment rising from his stomach to his tightening chest.
“I could never be bored around you. You’re a legend and the holder of my heart, Edward Teach. Your wit didn’t need books to grow. That doesn’t make it any less exciting to have a first-row seat to you demonstrating how smart you are.”
Edward scoffs. “I’m sure you have better things to do than read that stuff to me, just because I can’t.”
Stede lets out a long-suffering sigh. Edward loves his antics, the drama that surrounds his beloved like a natural fragrance.
“I enjoy doing this. I could never share my love for poetry with Mary. She loved art, but I was too stupid to cherish the part she wanted to share with me. I ignored her for hours, my nose stuck between pages. I’m glad I can share this with you. Unless you are bored.”
Edward’s lips curl into a smile. His eyes glitter with joy when they meet Stede’s.
“No. Never. I love the sound of your voice. And the crew is right—you’re the best at doing voices.” Edward’s face grows sombre. Stede’s morphs into a frown in return. Edward brushes his thumb over the crease between Stede’s eyebrows. “I just wonder what you see in me,” he says under his breath.
Stede’s face falls, his eyes growing sad.
“Oh, my love,” he sighs and runs his hand through Edward’s hair. “This,” he says, gesturing over Edward’s body. “And this.” He taps the shirt over Edward’s heart. “And this,” he ends, brushing his fingers over his beloved’s temple. “You are so much more than I ever expected. The books painted such an enticing picture of you, I thought. But meeting you, everything is so much more vibrant, and colourful, and exciting.”
Edward smiles at that. “I haven’t been the real Blackbeard for a very long time.”
“And I, for my part, am glad about it. I’m sure you wouldn’t have sat next to my bed, overlooking my recovery, if you had been fully him.”
Edward hums in agreement.
“Still, don’t you want someone who could read to you?” he mutters. He doesn’t even know why he’s asking that. A futile attempt at making Stede see his errors in judgement? He knows he can’t get rid of the man. He’s like a leech, just of the good kind. Not that he wanted to lose him, ever. Stede is the first person who ever saw him. He saw him and wanted him. Edward still hasn’t gotten used to that fact. But Stede doesn’t tire of showing him, every single day.
“Oh, it would be lovely, I suppose. I could teach you to read if you wanted to.”
Edward squirms. He had never thought about that. That was something people like him didn’t do. They didn’t eat for fun, they didn’t wear fine clothing, they didn’t learn to read. What for?
But the thought tickles him, mixed with worry. What if he’s a bad student? What if he doesn’t manage what Stede’s children did a long time ago?
“Ma-maybe,” he stutters. “If you promise not to laugh.”
Stede shuffles around until they’re lying face to face on the bed that is way too small for two grown men. They somehow still make it work.
“You make me laugh a lot, Ed,” Stede says softly. “But I could never laugh at you.”
“Because I would slit your throat,” Edward says half-seriously.
Stede snickers, not the least concerned, as usual.
“No, you wouldn’t, my love. But even if, I never would. Because there’s no shame in learning and failing, and trying, again and again, until it sticks. Didn’t you teach me that with every single weapon on this ship?”
Edward laughs out loud. “Right.” His cheeks grow hot. “I really like this Shake’s pear. I’d love to read you something from him, one day.”
Stede smiles. “I think I have the perfect book to practise in my secret stash.”
Edward gapes at him. “You have a secret stash? Of books?”
“Of course, silly. Where do you think I got this book from. You threw the others into the sea, remember?”
Edward presses his face against Stede’s neck. “Izzy misunderstood my orders. And technically, your crew threw them into the water.”
“Oh, suddenly it’s my crew now,” Stede teases. He grows serious again when Edward doesn’t take it in stride. He pulls back enough to see Edward’s face.
“Those were only books. Things can be replaced. Broken hearts are much harder to mend,” he sighs. Edward knows Stede still hasn’t forgiven himself for the pain he inflicted on him.
“I wonder if anyone found and saved them,” Stede says.
“Would make an awesome story, for sure,” Edward chuckles.
“Not as awesome as ours. Someone should write poetry about us.”
Edward scoffs. “Two old men falling in love? Who would wanna read that?”
“I,” Stede says quietly. “If I had known that love like ours existed, not only in hints and hidden messages throughout literature, but for real. If I had known that I could still fall in love despite my age. Which isn’t old by the way. Only talk for yourself,” he says, struggling against the smile tugging on his pursed lips.
“If I had heard songs about this, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Edward muses.
“Maybe not with one, but what if you’d heard hundreds. Wouldn’t you have believed deep down in your heart that it would be possible for you, too?”
Edward ponders the question for a long moment.
“Nah. Would’ve thought I didn’t deserve it.” ‘Still don’t,’ he adds in his mind.
“Oh, I shall find a poet, to tell the truth, so that others like us may hear and gather hope,” Stede says, excitement carved into every line of his face. Edward needs to kiss him, so he does. Because he can.
“Maybe I should write them,” Edward murmurs against Stede’s lips, breathless as this man always leaves him. “I wrote a song while you were gone.”
“Let me hear it!” Stede asks, beaming at him.
“Nah, it’s… sad.”
“Oh,” Stede says. “Of course. My bad. But… maybe we could write one together, each line starting with a new letter of the alphabet.”
Edward smiles shyly. “That would be great.”
Stede breathes a sigh and looks at him with those puppy eyes that make Edward always melt into a puddle of goo whenever he sees them.
“I can’t wait for it,” Stede breathes.
Edward presses his forehead against Stede’s.
“Yes,” he speaks into the barely-there space between them. “I already can read the T, you know? And I have the perfect line for it.
“What is it?” Stede asks, vibrating with excitement.
Edward smiles. “Thou are mine and I am thine.”
You can find more OFMD fanfics of mine here on ao3.
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.
My friends know just how to encourage me. There was discussion of mer-may related stuff and I was lamenting the fact my brain wouldn’t give me anything for it this year, then one of them - a perfect genius - suggested were-mers who change on the full moon.
The early morning air prickled at Oluwande’s skin as he unlocked the front door to the coffee shop. The custodian, Mr. Buttons – a tall, thin older man with stringy, graying hair and a thick Scottish accent – was always there before him, standing and watching the sky, where just the tiniest hint of light played at the horizon.
