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Fang is acting suspicious. In his old life, Ed wouldn't notice let alone care if one of his crew was acting suspicious. It’s not like any of them would dare mutiny and if there were any issues Izzy would undoubtedly catch wind of it and squash it before it became an actual problem. But now Izzy’s not here and Ed cares. He lets himself care. And he cares a lot.
As Fang slips away, shifty-eyed, Ed takes a moment before silently following him. He soon finds himself led to the Jam Room and stutters to a halt at what he uncovers: Fang, curled up on a tatty old blanket crooning quietly to a kitten wrapped up in his arms. “Oh,” Ed breathes. So it’s not mutiny. Not anything to be concerned about really.
Somehow Fang hears him and his head jerks up. When he sees Ed his eyes widen with something akin to panic and he curls protectively over the cat. “Please boss,” he begs. “Please don’t make me get rid of ‘er. Not again.”
Shit. Wincing, Ed makes his way into the room but when that causes Fang to lean back against the wall in an attempt to distance himself, Ed raises his hands up and slowly sinks to the ground. “I’m not going to, I promise mate,” Ed soothes before hesitating. He’s still not quite used to apologies (Blackbeard never needed to apologize) but he musters up an attempt at one now. “I’m sorry. For making you kill your dog. It was wrong.”
Fang’s brows furrow and his defensive curl relaxes slightly, though he’s still holding the kitten like he’s afraid at any moment Ed will reach over and grab it. “But. There are no pets allowed on your ship.” Now his voice hardens. “You said pets make a man weak.”
Ed flinches, brought unwittingly back to the past he tries so hard to forget. He scrambles for what to say to explain himself before eventually landing on simply the truth. Fuck, this whole vulnerability thing sucks ass. Sighing, Ed tilts his head back and studies the ceiling. “When I was a boy I found a stray pup and brought him home. When my da found out he slapped me, told me pets made me weak and made me kill him.” He closes his eyes against the memory. “When I saw you with your dog it brought all that up again. Thought-“ he releases a bitter laugh. “If I don’t get a pet no one does.”
“Fuck boss,” Fang breathes after a silent beat. Ed grits his teeth, fighting against the tide of memories and desperately wishing Stede was beside him to help banish them. There’s a shuffle and when Ed opens his eyes Fang has moved closer. “D’you wanna pet her?” Fang offers, opening up his arms.
Ed swallows, studying the tiny vulnerable thing blinking softly up at him. “You wouldn’t mind? After…” He trails off.
“If I was talkin’ ta Blackbeard I would. But Ed is a pretty good mate and looks like he could use something soft to cuddle right about now.”
Ed flicks his eyes up and studies Fang. “Why did you stay with me?" he can't help but ask. "After what I did?”
Fang’s gaze flickers towards the hallway before he shrugs his shoulders. “Ivan offered to go off with me if I wanted but it was always his dream to work on Blackbeard’s ship, even if he hated that you made me kill ‘im. And…” Fang trails off and ducks his head. “I wanna be wherever Ivan wants to be I guess,” he mumbles.
Ed’s eyes widen. Oh. He really was oblivious about what goes on on his ship. “So you and Ivan…”
“He doesn’t know,” Fang rushes out, eyes wide. “Please don’t tell ‘im. Don’t wanna ruin our friendship.”
Ed raises his hands and nods. “You have my word.” But his word doesn’t mean he can’t help things along. Because now that he thinks of it, wherever Fang goes Ivan is never too far behind, hovering protectively beside him. Maybe things aren’t as one-sided as Fang thinks.
“So? Wanna pet ‘er?” Looking back at the kitten who is now fast asleep and far too trusting, Ed gives a jerky nod. Fang reaches the cat towards him but Ed hesitates, fighting to banish the echo of his father’s voice, before trusting himself enough to brush a gentle finger along its grey head. “So soft,” he whispers. “So small.”
“She’s just a kitten,” Fang explains gruffly. “Found her cowering in an alleyway at our last port. Couldn’t find her mum. And she wouldn’t survive on her own.”
“It’s a good thing you found her then,” Ed says with a weak smile, things between them still feeling fragile. Fang meets his smile and shrugs. Clearing his throat, Ed moves to stand. “So, what do you need? Any materials or supplies or some shit?”
Fang’s smile spreads wider, more genuine. “Nah, Lucious snuck out and got what I needed.”
Ed chuckles. “You can always count on Lucius.”
Fang nods, smile turning soft. “He helped me set this whole thing up, promised to help me keep ‘er safe.”
“Well there’s no need to hide her now,” Ed reassures him. “I know you were doing it ‘cause of me but I promise no harm will come to her on this ship. And other than terrifying Frenchie I don’t think the crew will mind.”
Fang releases a low chuckle. “Kinda wanna see that fucker’s reaction.”
Ed grins. “Maybe we can ask Lucius to chronicle it in a drawing. I’m sure it’ll be golden.”
***
“WIIIIIITTTCCHHHH!” Frenchie shrieks, pointing at the kitten stumbling towards him on unsteady feet. “Oh fuck THERE’S A WITCH ON BOARD!” He runs towards Wee John who thankfully throws down the sword he was sharpening as Frenchie jumps into his arms. “Someone kill it before it kills us all!!”
“Frenchie,” Oluwande says calmly, hands outstretched. “Cats are not witches. They’re just animals.”
“No cats are evil! Th-they have knives in their feet and steal children’s breath and they’re WITCHES!” Frenchie cries.
“Wait since when do we have a cat?” Roach asks, looking around. “Have we always had a cat?”
“Nay, Karl or Livie woulda told me if we had a cat aboard the ship,” Button remarks with a solemn nod. While half the crew break into a debate regarding how long they’ve had a cat and the other half attempt to calm Frenchie down and keep him from jumping overboard, Ed and Fang hold each other up and cackle in the corner.
However, Ed’s mirth rapidly evaporates when a sword is pointed at his face. “If you lay one finger on that thing’s head I won’t hesitate to cut your fucking hand off,” Ivan says calmly, eyes dark and promising. Ed straightens and Fang looks wide-eyed at where Ivan is staring him down, sword arm not trembling in the slightest despite the fact that he just threatened Blackbeard himself.
His instinctual response to put Ivan in his place and make him remember who he works for rises up, but then Ed catches Stede’s worried gaze as he hurries over to them and he remembers who he is now. Who he tries to be. Taking a slow breath Ed raises his hands up. “I swear on my life I won’t harm or demand any harm to be placed on that creature. She’s safe on this ship.”
Ivan seems to falter, brow furrowed before he turns to Fang. “You alright Fangy?” Ivan murmurs, eyes searching Fang worriedly. “This bastard didn’t threaten you or nothin’ right?”
“No, the captain’s cool with it Ive,” Fang reassures him, stepping closer. “It’s a long story but you don’t gotta worry.”
Ivan softens and lowers his sword, pressing his forehead to Fang’s. “You sure?” he murmurs, bringing a hand up to grasp the back of Fang’s neck.
Fang smiles softly. “Yeah, mate.”
They stay there for another beat before Ivan steps back and searches Ed’s face for something, cocking his head to the side. “You really have changed,” he remarks after a weighted moment.
Ed swallows, and he averts his gaze. “Yeah, guess I have.”
Sheathing his sword Ivan nods. “Right then. C’mon Fang, it’s almost her feeding time. Lucius has her food ready.”
And as the two of them trudge off together side by side Ed shakes his head. “Yeah, friendship my ass,” he snorts.
***
“So, Ivan and Fang huh?” Ed remarks, lounging in the doorway.
“Oh do not get me started,” Lucius mutters as he fusses over the new bedding they’ve scrounged up for Talon. “They’re worse than you and captain and you two could’ve won an award for most oblivious pining.”
“I take offense to that,” Ed grumbles.
“And yet you know I’m right,” Lucius retorts, straightening and putting his hands on his hips. Ed shrugs languidly in response but Lucius only glares. “D’you know I once asked Fang if anyone’s ever told him he had lovely cheekbones and he said ‘once or twice’ and later when I was drawing him and asked him about that he said Ivan’s the one who’s said it but it was when they were both sloshed so of course he didn’t mean it? How am I supposed to work under those kind of conditions? I’m not magic!” He exclaims, throwing his arms up helplessly.
Pushing off the door Ed meanders into the room. “Well looks like you need a partner then,” he observes. “After all, two minds work better than one.”
Lucius squints his eyes at him. “What d’you have in mind?”
***
Ed and Stede are in the middle of a slow morning consisting of languid kisses and lazy groping when an ear piercing shriek is heard above deck. Flashing out of bed, Ed sprints to the top deck, sword brandished before skidding to a halt with an exasperated sigh when all he’s greeted with his Frenchie attempting to climb the mast. “What now?” he asks patiently.
“It’s trying to curse me,” Frenchie cries, pointing accusingly at the ball of fluff laying down what looks like a dead rat by Frenchie’s scrambling feet.
“Aww, she wants to give you a little gift,” Fang croons, crouching down to pick up the cat.
“Huh.” Ed cocks his head. “Maybe there’s some merit to having a cat aboard a ship after all.”
“You mean besides the free cuddles they provide?” Lucius remarks, unfazed by Ed’s returning glare.
“What happens in the pillow fort stays in the pillow fort,” he growls, but Lucius only shrugs unapologetically.
“But why me?” Frenchie moans into Oluwande’s chest while the man in question gently pats his back now that he's retrieved the idiot from his mad scramble up a vertical pole.
“Well it’s either ‘cause she likes you or she really is a witch and is attempting to place a curse on you,” Roach suggests, pouting at the slap upside his head Wee John gives him.
“No need to terrify him more than he already is you little fecker,” he chastises with a roll of his eyes.
“That’s it. I’m finding another ship. I’m finding another crew who’ll protect me from evil magic and curses and I’ll find a ship that doesn’t allow witches on board!” Frenchie declares, striding purposefully towards the edge of the ship before pinwheeling his arms and legs when Wee John picks him up with ease.
“How ‘bout instead we check out the en suite thing so you can chill the fuck down, yeah?” he suggests, serenely ignoring Frenchie’s squawking and carrying him below deck.
“Well. Since we’re all up might as well get to work, yeah?” Ed suggests to the assembled crew. “Except Ivan and Fang why don’t you two uhh go into port with Lucius now that we’re in rowing distance. Think there’s some errands he needs to run.”
“What? I don’t-” Lucius trails off at Ed’s pointed look. “Ohhh yeah. Yep got all sorts of…errands I gotta, yep,” he nods.
Ivan and Fang trade a look. “Um. Okay?” Ivan shrugs.
“Who’ll look after Talon though?” Fang frets, pressing the cat to his chest.
“Um. I can?” Ed suggests, scratching the back of his neck. And after a brief hesitation, Fang nods and Ed shoots him what he hopes is a reassuring smile. After all, it's just a kitten. How hard can it be?
***
“So, this trip is suspicious, yeah?” Ivan murmurs, leaning over to Fang as they trail after Lucius who's been muttering to himself ever since they met land.
“Super suspicious,” Fang agrees.
“You don’t think the boss is leaving without us or some shit, right?”
“Without Lucius?” Fang scoffs. “The crew would mutiny.”
“Good point,” Ivan nods. “But maybe keep our eyes peeled anyway.”
***
“HAS ANYONE SEEN TALON?!” Ed yells, frantically upturning a nearby barrel. “She was just eating and then I stepped away and she’s GONE and oh fuck if she’s dead I'm dead!”
“Shhh,” Stede hushes him gently before nodding his head towards the stern. Ed blinks and follows Stede's direction before choking on a laugh. There, slumped against the railing, is Frenchie dozing away while Talon is curled up in his lap.
“Holy shit,” Ed breathes. “I can’t wait until he wakes up.”
“Oh you’re so bad,” Stede grins, gently slapping Ed’s chest.
Crowding him and wrapping Stede in his arms Ed whispers in his ear, “And I know you love it.”
He smirks at the way Stede shudders before turning to shoot him a heated glance. “Are you teasing me Edward Teach?”
“A tease implies no follow through which I strongly intend to do.“ Before Ed can go into more detail and find out how red he can make Stede’s cheeks however, they hear a shriek and a thump.
“It was trying to steal my breath!” Frenchie yelps, scrambling back and pressing against the rail.
“Or you were lying in a good sun spot so she decided to join you,” Jim suggests reasonably from where they’re slouched against some rigging and subtly eyeing up Oluwande who's been carrying cannonballs to the poop deck for some inexplicable reason.
“This here is a toxic work environment and I have had it,” Frenchie declares, climbing atop the railing in an attempt to get further away from the cat peering up at him.
“You might wanna look out for- and he fell. Hey Swede, mind fishing him out again?” Ed calls.
“Frenchie don’t forget to swim towards us this time, not away,” Swede reminds him helpfully, leaning over the deck and throwing him a line.
“Here you go cap,” Jim says, walking over and handing him a docile Talon.
“Why is she so calm and obedient with you?” Ed says in what is definitely not a whine.
Jim shrugs. “You’re trying too hard. She probably likes me ‘cause I don’t care either way whether she does or not. And she likes Frenchie ‘cause cats are menaces to society.”
“Maybe she likes you ‘cause she sees you as a fellow cat in that case,” Oluwande teases, flicking Jim’s hat who glares at him half-heartedly.
Leaving them to flirt, Ed carries Talon off. “Let’s leave Frenchie alone for now, yeah? Don’t want the poor man’s heart to give out.” Blinking up at him, Talon releases a soft meow. “Gonna take that as agreement,” Ed decides with a nod. “Hopefully.”
***
“That’s it,” Ivan declares, shoving Lucius against a wall. “You’ve been dragging us across town all day with nothing to show for it, you’ve been shifty as fuck, and you haven’t given us a straight answer for why the boss wanted us fo tag along in the first place. So what the fuck is going on? You trying to get rid of us? Finally decided you couldn’t stand Blackbeard’s old crew?”
“Oh for goodness sake this isn’t some elaborate ploy to get rid of you two, it’s to get you two idiots together!” Lucius exclaims with a push at Ivan who stumbles back with a blink. “I fucking swear if I need to play third wheel and watch two oblivious idiots pine after each other again I just might lose my bloody mind,” Lucius rants, throwing his arms up and pacing. “Captain wanted me to get you two alone but every time I try to make an excuse you decide to follow me and I can’t work under these conditions!!”
While the lad continues to rant Ivan tunes him out, turning to Fang with trepidation while the other man stares at him wide-eyed. “We don’t…do you…I mean I…” Ivan trails off, words never being his strength. Stabbing is his strength. Maybe there’s something he can stab?
Fang takes a hesitant step forward. “Do you- I mean I know we’re been mates so if that’s what you wanna stay as that’s okay but-“ Fang trails off as Ivan cups his cheek. “Yeah?” He whispers, those dark eyes brimming with hope.
Ivan licks his lips, heart pounding. “Yeah,” he replies before bridging the final space between them.
***
“So did you do it babe?” Black Pete asks, wrapping an arm around Lucius’ waist.
“Never again. I’m never again volunteering to do anything nice,” Lucius declares, thumping his head against Black Pete’s chest. “It’s not worth the stress.”
“Aww you don’t mean that,” Black Pete cajoles.
“I most certainly do. Until I get a raise or a promise to be kept out of any more relationship drama I’m on strike.”
“But you love drama!” Black Pete protests, scratching Lucius’s head and watching pleased as Lucius melts into him.
“Huuummmpph,” is his only reply.
***
Frenchie eyes the creature making its way to him during tonight’s story time with dawning horror. “No,” he whispers. “Go that way. Back to Jim. Jim loves giving you scratches.” He gives a soft high pitched whine as the cat ignores his request and climbs into his lap instead. “Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck,” he chants, squeezing his eyes shut. “Please don’t curse me please don’t curse me please don’t curse me.”
“Shhh I’m missing the story!” Roach complains, elbowing him.
“Oh I’m terribly sorry the current attack on my personal and spiritual defenses is inconvenient to you!” Frenchie hisses.
“If you’re really concerned about being cursed I would just do what the witch wants which is clearly for you to give her some scratches,” Oluwande suggests reasonably. “If she’s happy she’ll be less likely to curse you.”
Frenchie’s eyes narrow and he studies him suspiciously. “I thought you didn’t believe cats were magic, just animals.”
“I dunno mate, I mean anything can be true can’t it?” Oluwande shrugs, snuggling closer to Jim and keeping his eyes riveted to Stede's animated storytelling.
Slightly convinced, Frenchie looks down at the creature before, after a brief hesitation, he places a hand on its head. “Please don’t curse me please don’t curse me please don’t curse me,” he chants again as he rubs behind its ears. He startles as it begins to vibrate, turning to Jim and shaking their arm frantically. “It’s vibrating! It’s gonna explode!!”
“She’s just purring idiota,” Jim says with a roll of their eyes, and Frenchie might not know much Spanish but he can guess what that word means.
“Oluwande! Your partner just insulted me!” Frenchie hisses.
“You know if we’re not interested in this story I suppose we could all turn in early,” Stede proposes with that disappointed tone they all hate. Frenchie shrinks under all the glares subsequently sent his way.
“Purring means she’s happy and less likely to attack,” Wee John explains helpfully. “Now shut the fuck up so we can find out whether the horse escapes from his asshole owner.”
“Gonna stab the book if it doesn’t end happy swear to god,” Jim mutters darkly.
Frenchie sinks down with a sigh, ally-less and all alone. “If you don’t want to pet her I can take her,” Swede offers quietly, crawling up to him.
Frenchie looks down at where the cat is now gently rubbing its face against his fingers and hesitates. “No, think I’m gonna keep going at it. So as not to get cursed of course,” he adds with an awkward clearing of his throat. He turns away from Swede’s crestfallen expression and gently scratches beneath her chin. As he does the vibrating starts up again and Frenchie realises it’s almost soothing in its own way. Huh. Maybe if he keeps making her happy with scratches she won’t curse him. Besides, having knives in your feet is pretty badass. So maybe she’s not too bad.
***
When Talon lost Mama Talon she was sad and scared. Who would take care of Talon? Talon is so small! But now Talon has Two Legged Papa Talon and lots of two legged littermates like Loud One and Soft One and Fluffy One and Pointy One. Talon loves her littermates lots, and loves loves Papa Talon. Plus in Talon’s new home that rocks back and forth Talon gets to catch lots of yummy snacks. Loud One gets very loud when Talon gives him yummy snacks so Talon thinks Loud One really likes them. Talon snuggles between Soft One and Papa Talon who spend the dark time close close together now. That’s nice for Talon ‘cause that means she gets more cuddles than before! Yes, Talon’s life is very very good now. Talon is a lucky four legged.