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Looking down at his body, blood smeared over his shirt and sticky hot on his face Stede felt his body start to shake. He had two options to run toward his old life or his new one. One where he had inadvertently caused the death of two men or one where he was dead.
But more one where he could be happy and feel what love really felt like or one where he felt like he was sat a table where his family just kept getting further and further away. Did they even miss him, most likely not.
Stede let out the shakiest sigh and grabbed the sword that was strapped to BAdminton’s hip, he wouldn’t have a need for it anymore. And you never know there could be vicious animals out there, man-eating ones.
What he hadn’t realised was he was much further away from the dock than had been planned, and by the time he was almost there the sun was beginning to rise. Stopping he pulled the heavy shoes off his feet and began to run, the sword slipping from his fingers and clattering to the soft ground beneath his feet.
He kept running hoping he would get there in time for Ed, he had thought of names and backstories. Truly a fascinating one for Ed, a man like him had to have to lead an interesting life. One that he could fit his stories into. A man lost at sea and fighting his way back to civilization all the while falling in love with the least likely man in the world.
Bursting through the trees he felt his heart drop. No one was waiting on the dock, the sun was starting to get brighter and he ran to the end. Staring out and seeing the boat.
“Ed!” He shouted hands cupping his mouth, feeling the stick of dried blood and sweat mingling on his cheek. “Edward!” Jumping up and down and hollering as loud as he could just trying to get the man to turn and look at him. Stop the boat.
“EDWARD DON’T LEAVE ME!” Stede screamed, his voice cracking and knowing that people would hear him back at the camp if they were even awake yet. The boat seemed to stop.
He saw him stand, cup his eyes and his whole body seemed to relax. Stede saw arms wave at him to come and he figured with the sea as calm as it was he could swim to him. It was not like he had anything to carry with him bar his own body weight.
Freezing water had him gasping. Blinking his eyes to fight the salt that burned them. But he started to swim, it was harder than he thought. Nothing taught him to swim in the sea with it tides changing and waves hitting him in the face, he had only swam in gentle lakes or rivers growing up.
As he got closer he was sure he could hear Ed mumbling something.
But getting pulled over the side, feeling the hot rays of the sun already start to beat down on his tired body. It was warm and his thoughts were stopped by the brush of lips against his and fingers combing his hair off his face. They were slightly frantic in their movements, and that's when he realised Ed didn’t know.
“Not my blood.” He panted, the eyes widened and Ed just nodded. Leaning back and starting to row again, his eyes locked on where they needed to head. Stede knew he was going to get up and help the minute he had his breath back.
Ed started talking, “Need to head to the ship. Even if we want new lives still need things from the ship.” His eyes locked with Stede’s for only a second. “It will take two full days and nights to get to the rendezvous point. They will wait a week and if we don’t arrive, Izzy will be captain.”
It was silent for the next few hours, just rowing and soft glances at each other. Stede just wished he knew what it was like to kiss him with the full beard, how it would scratch his face or feel against his neck. He wondered what his hands would feel like on his chest, his hips just touching him everywhere.
Shaking his head because this was not the time or place. They had to make a successful escape or be hung by the neck. If Steede was honest seemed like the last way he would ever like to go.
They kept rowing only stopping to eat the small amount of food that Ed had brought, drinking the water and not talking still. Stede’s mouth dried up when Ed pulled his shirt off during the mid-day heat, using it to catch the sweat and stop it rolling into his eyes. He followed suit, a little conscious of the paleness of his skin. Knowing it would be a bright red by the time they reached the ship.
It went fast the day, in silence and with hard work. Night came down on them and Stede listened to Ed, “So if I am reading the stars correctly we are closer than I thought.” He grabbed his arm, “These are a lot stronger than they look.”
Stede squirmed as he rubbed his thumb over the bare flesh, his eyes darting to Ed’s face and seeing that softness still there. A look he had not seen pointed at anyone else like it was only for him. Letting him know that this man, the scariest man on the sea, was soft for him. Saw him as something fine and worthy to hold.
They lay back, eyes towards the sky. “I thought you had left me.” Was spoken out into the inky night. “Then you were there covered in blood and I thought, I’m still going to lose him.” Ed wiggled their fingers together, just running his rough thumb against the back of his hand.
“I was sure you were not going to hear me. That I would be dragged back to camp, covered in blood and killed.” Stede sighed, rolling on his side. Making the boat sway. “And you would never know, you would think I had abandoned you. But instead, I was dead.” Pressing his forehead to the warm shoulder. “I think I would rather have died than live knowing that.”
Ed moved, his chest now against him. Pulling him close by the back of the head and kissing the crown of his skull. They lay there, confessions out in the open, expressing love without saying the actual words. Knowing that they didn’t wish to live in a world without the other.
Pulling back a little, he looked up. Ed’s eyes flickered open and he pressed up, bumping their noses together and completely missing his lips. It was messy and Ed huffed a laugh out at the mishap but only moved so their lips could join.
It was so very gentle. His the soft exploration of lips on each other, how they moved and felt. Cracked with the sea and when Stede brushed his tongue against Ed’s tasting like salt. They did nothing more than kiss like inexperienced teens, hands not straying from where Stede’s were resting on the warm plain of Ed’s chest. Ed’s resting delicately on his clothed him and guiding gently at the base of his skull.
Stede could say he had never felt more loved than he did at that moment.
The separation of their lips just occurred and they lay down to sleep, the sound of the sea and breathing. Lulled Stede into a deep sleep.
The bright sun woke him and he sat up to realise Ed was already rowing, smiling down at him and Stede Sat up and started to help row. They worked harder than the day before, Ed constantly kept looking about. Straightening up when he noticed where they were, “We are close.”
Stede laughed when they got close, Ed tied the boat up and started the climb onto the ship. Shouting loudly as he got on deck and Stede popped his head up, the crew had Izzy ready to be thrown overboard. And as soon as they seemed to spot both of them, he was dropped roughly to the deck.
Hands were all over him and Stede kept his eyes locked on Ed, wanting to make sure he could see him.
They moved away from the crew, Ed pointing out their co-Captain needed to get dressed and washed. Wee John grabbed Roach and they were off filling the tub in the Captain's cabin. Lucius stood and asked questions trying to find out what had happened in their captivity. Being very open with the fact that Ed looked better with the beard.
Stede didn’t want to agree but he did prefer him with a beard.
It felt good walking into the cabin, stripping out of the rough fabric. Letting his body sink into the bath, but he jumped when hands pressed him forward in the tub. Before the slip of naked skin was pressed against his back and his head was pressed back into a shoulder. He lay there as Ed slowly washed his hair using all the bottles needed.
The room smelt sweet with lavender and juniper. He turned once he was clean to take in Ed washing his hair, taking his time combing out knots with his fingers. Hands running soap over his skin. Making the tattoos glisten.
He left the tub as his skin started tightening and the water cooled, wrapping his robe around himself and making his way to where he kept his clothes. Sat at a mirror he looked over his shoulder at Ed stepping out of the tub, confident in his nudity and following into the clothes room.
He brushed his fingers along the clothes, letting his body dry with the air in the room. Until he came across clothes Stede had purchased in case Ed ever wanted new leathers to wear. The softest leather he could get, ones that would fit him perfectly.
Stede made his eyes focus on himself as he continued to ready himself, wiping cooling creams over his reddened skin and running oils through his hair. Before standing to find Ed clad only in the undone pair of leather pants.
His back hit the wall, Ed towering over him surrounding him with the smell of new leather and himself. Hands were in his hair, his mouth was devouring him. Teeth and lips, moans and hisses. This was more than Stede had ever felt, he turned away feeling the mouth descend on his neck.
“I have never.” He whispered, feeling Ed pull away eyes softening and searching his face.
A small smirk, “Kissed a man, I figured that.” He moved closer as if to kiss him again. “Oh.”
“I know, it’s embarrassing.” Stede whispered, “Mary never felt the need to do more than necessary for making children. A brief kiss and then copulation.” He dropped his eyes twisting his fingers in the red silk of his gown. “I did read that kissing could be like this but I thought that was an exaggeration.”
A deep breath, “The things I will teach you about kissing, lovemaking and so much more are going to amaze you.” Edward whispers, his lips brushing Stede’s. “I love you and cannot wait for you to feel that love physically, My Gentle Pirate.”