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Stede was familiar with pirate law. Before leaving Mary to begin his life as one he made it a point to find out as much about it as possible. As such, he was aware that the relationship he and Ed shared was quite common among pirates. The British Navy would have them killed for it in an instant but out on the sea, where pirates claimed the waters, they were free to love whomever they wanted.
And Stede wanted Edward.
Now, he knew he wasn't perfect and frankly, might not even be the best partner for him. Really, the feared Blackbeard, in a relationship with the Gentleman Pirate. The notion was utterly ridiculous and frighteningly accurate. Stede could picture Badminton in his mind, laughing about the mere idea of that being possible but Badminton was dead and he made it a point to not let himself be held back by the people in his past. Ironic, really, given that both of the Badminton brothers were the exact people that kept getting him in trouble.
But that wasn't important. At least not now. He was sure on where he was standing next to Edward and he at least hoped that Ed, too, knew how much Stede was in love with him. It should be enough for him. Just that. Being content together on board the Revenge after escaping from the Navy. But it wasn't. He wanted with Ed what he had with Mary, though perhaps on a more emotionally involved level. He wanted to be with him until they ultimately died of something that was utterly preventable, like stabbing each other to teach the other swordfighting.
Stede wanted to be married to Edward with an urgent, terribly, horribly, violent need that grew with each passing day. Not that it would even change much. They already shared all they had. Living quarters, the wardrobe, the library. In a way, they even shared their crew. Co-Captains, just like they had agreed on. Swearing his eternal loyalty to Edward was, at this point, only a formality. A formality he would – figuratively – kill to archieve. Stede was still unsure about the whole murder thing. Surely there were less bloody ways to make a living as a pirate. But that, too, was off topic. A luxury he couldn't afford when Edward could come in at any second and interrupt his entire thought process.
His tea was cold by now, sitting on the table along with a half-finished orange. They had to go restock them soon, or The Swede would loose the few teeth he still had left. As – well, he couldn't actually remember who said it, but it was quite well said – the teeth wouldn't go back in after falling out and Stede, for his part, preferred to keep all his teeth inside his mouth, where they belonged.
He startled when the door to his living quarters was opened, jumping up perhaps a bit too quick when it was Edward who walked in.
„God. You scared me, Ed,“ he complained, melting into the kiss his partner greeted him with before remembering that Edward did, in fact, interrupt very important planning of his that had the potential to go horribly wrong if mentioned at the wrong time so it would be very fortunate if Edward was planning to leave and not stay and kiss Stede some more. Though perhaps one more kiss, which was completely reasonable when one was planning to leave a room their partner was currently in.
„I had an idea,“ Edward began. So not leaving, then.
„What is it?“ he gestured for them to sit down, „And have some orange.“ Stede took a slice for himself before handing one to Ed. He took it, even if he didn't eat it directly.
„Marriage,“ right now, Stede would have preferred if he didn't eat his slice either. It would have spared him the embarassment of starting to choke on it.
„I'm sorry?“ he finally managed because surely that couldn't be it. Edward wasn't supposed to ask him. And not in such an unromantic way. They were supposed to be on a beach and there was a full moon and the stars were particularly bright and then Stede was going to ask him and he would say yes and then they would be happy forever.
„Marriage, Stede. We pledge our eternal union and then I give you a ring and you give me one and then we're married,“ Edward explained, as if the unterstanding on how a wedding worked was the problem and not the entirely unprompted question of wether he wanted to do so with him.
Of course he wanted. But his plans.
„Yes, yes, of course I want to marry you,“ he said instead of any of the other word he was currently thinking, half of them being disappointment about not being able to ask himself and the rest unintelligable screams of happiness because Ed wanted to marry him.
„Good, yes, good. You got a ring?“
It was a stupid question. Of course Stede had rings.
„You know that I do,“ Ed kissed him again, even as he tried to look offended at the question.
„Perfect. Now, Stede,“ Ed took his hands, his rough thumbs stroking his fingers as he locked eyes with him. It was truly unfair how perfect he was, „I, Edward Teach, pledge to be with you at all times, share everything that is mine with you and promise you my love even after death rips us apart. I love you, Stede.“
He paused then, waiting for Stede to begin his pledge. If he hadn't already thought about this multiple times, Stede would most likely felt put on the spot, but he was in love, so he came prepared. Or, at least, not completely without preparation.
„I, Stede Bonnet, pledge to honor our eternal union by staying with you through sickness and health and sharing even the smallest loot that we find. My heart belongs to you and I am greatful for every second that we spend together and with our crew. I love you too, Edward.“
It wasn't surprising that he cried a bit when they kissed and exchanged rings and then cried some more when he found out that the crew had already been informed and prepared a small celebration for them. Happy tears, he reassured Ed, because this was, perhaps, the happiest Stede had ever been. He was in love and he was loved in return, finally within a marriage that was sure to fulfill all of his dream.