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Blackbeard could only look away as Izzy forced Stede to the ships edge at swordpoint.
“Ed, please, I’m sorry!” Stede cried, struggling against the ropes binding his hands and feet. “Please! Ed I- I love you! Please!”
“His name is fucking Blackbeard, you imbecile. Shut up!” Izzy snarled, digging the edge of his sword into Stedes shoulder. Blackbeard said nothing, refusing to even look at him. Stede whimpered at the cut of the sword, or maybe at his refusal to acknowledge his words.
“You have no power over him anymore, Bonnet. Your days of seducing him with your fancy clothes and ideas are over.” Izzy continued, forcing Stede back even further. One more step, one push, and he would fall into the inky blue waves.
Stede didn’t even seem to hear his words. “Edward, this isn’t you. I’m so sorry I left, but if you’d just let me explain-”
“You don’t get to explain anything.” Blackbeard's resolve broke, and he whipped around, drawing his gun as he walked over to face his former love. “You left me! You told me you wanted to run away with me, we made a plan, and then you just left me on that dock, by myself. You did this to me! You don’t love me! How can someone do that to someone they love!” he shouted, getting nearer and nearer to Stede, his gun pressed firmly to his stomach.
“Ed, I didn’t- i didn’t want to hurt you! I do love you, please, I didn’t know it, didn’t understand it, but I do, I did then and I still do now. Whatever you wish to do with me, I will still love you.” Stede was openly crying, his whole body shaking, but he still met Blackbeard's gaze.
“I don’t believe you.” With a shove, Stede was falling backwards, backwards, and down into the water, a startled gasp all he managed before he hit the cold water.
Blackbeard watched the ripples and bubbles hitting the surface for a moment, a strange feeling burning in his chest. He was aware of Izzy’s eyes on him, watching him closely. The water calmed, he could no longer see any sign of him, he had sunk too far below the surface. The ship was completely silent. Blackbeard stood there, eyes on the water, the burning overwhelming.
“What have I done.” He whispered to himself.
“What was that, captain?” Izzy asked, stepping closer.
“Get the fuck away from me!” Blackbeard yelled, cocking the gun in his hand and aiming at him.
“What the hell are you doing?” Izzy dropped his sword and raised his hands, but didn’t move from his spot.
“I didn’t want this, Izzy. I didn’t want to come back. I am not your Blackbeard anymore. My name is Edward Teach. I don’t fit here anymore.” Blackbeard lowered the gun, and, after a moment’s thought, tossed it offboard, into the water with Stede. “Do not try to fight me, or come after me. If I see you again, I will kill you on the spot.” And with that, he dove into the water, the icy shock of it stealing his breath.
It was nearly impossible to see, but out of sheer dumb luck, or maybe fate themselves, he spotted the loose white shirt floating down, down, down, away from him. He swam towards it, grasping out wildly trying to catch it.
He finally did, and got tugged down further by the weight. He yanked him up, and caught his arms under Stede’s, and began hauling him towards the bright surface. His lungs were on fire, and Stede was already passed out, maybe dead, he wouldn’t know until he got him to the surface.
He finally broke the surface, gasping in painful breaths as he tried to regain his bearings. The dinghy was attached near back of the ship. Not too far.
He readjusted Stede in his grip, and began treading toward it, his breathing heavy.
“Blackbeard!” He heard a voice yell from above. He stopped swimming and looked up, squinting in the harsh sunlight to try and see who spoke.
“Need a hand?” He was shocked, and kind of impressed, to see Lucius, sitting on a piece of board hanging from the deck, lowering himself down.
“How in the- Nevermind. Can you get that boat to us?” He yelled back. He was given a thumbs up, and he turned his attention back to Stede.
“C’mon Stede, you gotta be alright.” He demanded, feeling for any sign of breathing. “Wake up, please”
“Here, Blackbeard, give him to me.” Lucius grabbed a hold of Stede’s arms and began to haul him up, when he began to sputter and cough.
“Stede! Are you alright? It’s okay, let it out, we got you.” Lucius was hitting him on the back, trying to help get the water out, while Ed held him up by his armpits.
“Ed?” Stede said, once he could suck in a full breath.
“It’s me. I’m here. Stede I’m so sorry. I can’t- I don’t know- I” Edward felt tears sliding down his cheeks as he tried to find the words. But Stede shushed him.
“Edward. My Ed. I forgive you, you lunatic. I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same.” Stede let out a weak chuckle, reaching for Ed’s face.
Ed surged forward, pressing their lips together. He sobbed into the kiss, pulling away to look Stede in the eyes again.
“I love you. I love you. Stede Bonnet, I love you.” Ed liked the way the words felt on his tongue. A mantra he could say every day for the rest of his life. He kissed Stede again, messy and salty and desperate.
“I love you too, my Edward Teach.” Stede laughed, trying to catch all the little pecks Ed was trying to give him as he talked.
“This is cute and all, I am so happy for the both of you but maybe we should get you two out of the water? It’s freezing, and you both need a change of clothes.” Lucius broke in, resuming his efforts to haul Stede onto the boat.
“Yes, you’re right.” Ed helped push him onto the boat before climbing in himself.
“I don’t suppose you kept any of my clothes?” Stede asked, taking a seat beside him.
Edward blushed, thinking about the wardrobe he kept a secret, and the robe he wore to bed every night. “A few things.”
“Well. I am thankful for that. I only brought one set of clothing. An oversight on my part, I'm afraid.”
“Isn’t Izzy still on the ship? Won’t that be a problem?” Lucius asked.
“I don’t think so.” Edward said confidently. Stede and Lucius followed his gaze, and saw Izzy, his hands tied to two oars, rope gag in his mouth rowing away from The Revenge.
“Surprised they didn’t kill him.” Lucius said, smirking. Stede made a noise of agreement, looking back at Ed.
“They didn’t need to. The man ended up being nothing more than a coward. Besides, if he comes near us or the ship again, I’ll kill him.” He said simply, smiling down at Stede. For once, he didn’t look horrified at the idea of murder.
“Well, then. Let’s get back to our crew.”