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A full moon, bold and bright in a sky already crowded with stars, cast a cool glow down on the Earth. This fluorescent shine struck the waves, highlighting each little movement. It was a calm night. The ocean was flat and still for miles and the only landmark in sight was the mighty vessel of Stede Bonnet, The Revenge. The waves lapped softly at the sides of the ship, the gentle movement allowing it to drift without need for steering. The ship's crew was taking advantage of the tranquil sea and no one was visibly on deck. Except for one.
Aboard The Revenge, Edward Teach was leaning against the railing of the deck, idly stroking a piece of red silk. As he carefully dragged his thumb back and forth across the smooth surface of the fabric, he recalled how he got it. His poor mother, bless her heart, gave it to him years ago. A gift, really the only one she could ever afford to give him. But Ed never really understood its purpose. It was too small of a cut, not even big enough to be a scarf. All the rich bastards must have bought these but it made no sense.
With a scoff, Ed tucked the silken square into his pocket, making sure that not a single scrap of scarlet was visible. He wanted to hide it; he shouldn’t have it at all. Raised with nothing, now a bloodthirsty pirate at sea…he was not meant for soft things, for beautiful things. It would only bring him embarrassment to be caught with it and his pride would not let happen. Besides, even if Ed was more dapper than he was, this ship was filthy. Obviously a crew only cleans the bare minimum without threats. Stede hasn’t figured that out yet.
Stede. That absolute lovely dope. Ed smiled to himself, flipping over so that his back was against the railing. He gazed up at the stars. Their twinkling reminded him of how the light shines off of the buttons on Stede’s fancy coats, how the bright pastels he favored brighten any room that he walks in. Though he would brighten up a room even if he was wearing a dirty gray frock. His beaming smile and captivating voice, the way his laughs come out as eruptions of joy. With the way Stede looks at people, you’d think each and every one of them were treasures. ‘He looks at me like that’, Ed thought and his heart seemed to beat faster. Nothing had ever made him so happy as to think that Stede could see him as precious, as beautiful. Those were words to describe him, not me! Not Blackbeard! And yet…
A hand on his shoulder yanked Ed from his daydreaming. In less than a blink, his blade had been jerked from the sheath at his hip and pressed against the throat of the person to his left.
“Woah there! Didn’t mean to startle you!”
Standing beside Ed on the moonlit deck of The Revenge was none other than Stede, as if Ed’s thoughts somehow summoned him. His hands were up by his shoulders in a show of surrender, his eyes wide as the cold blade rested against his throat. Their eyes met and Ed relaxed.
“I could’ve killed you!” He exclaimed as he removed his dagger from the throat of his fellow captain. He placed it back in its sheath
“I am well aware,” Stede chuckled nervously as he relaxed himself, straightening his posture. “I truly didn’t mean to frighten you. You were quite gone, lost up in your own head I reckoned. Figured the best way to get your attention was with a gentle touch.” He smiled at Ed. “What were you thinking about anyway?”
“What?”
“Well, you were smiling. Must have been something nice,” Stede said. Ed nodded slowly, his eyes shifting to the side.
“Uh yeah…just the stars,” He lied, turning to face the railing once more. “They’re always so damn bright on clear nights like this. One of the joys of being out at sea.” Stede hummed, standing at his side as they looked up at the stars together.
“I was shocked my first night at sea by how bright they were,” Stede agreed. “Almost didn’t get any sleep that night.” He shifted his gaze to look at the bearded man beside him. Ed didn’t notice; he was looking up at the inky black sky. The moonlight calling focus to the highpoints of his face and the curls of his long hair, the way his arms looked as they rested on the wooden railing, the eagerness that burned behind those dark eyes. He saw how beautiful he was, even if the rest of the world saw him as barbaric. As Stede admired every little feature, he recalled the reason he had come out of his quarters in the first place. “Oh, that reminds me…I wanted to teach you another part of uppercrust life.”
“Oh?” Ed grinned. “Aside from snail forks and passive aggression, what else is there to teach me?”
Stede turned fully towards Ed, a knowing smile on his as he clapped his hands together enthusiastically. “Well, not every party has as much talking as that one. Some of them have dancing–”
“Oh, I know how to dance,” Ed chuckled.
“Not this type of dancing,” Stede promptly corrected as he took a few steps backwards. “I want to teach you how to dance properly, fit for a ball!” As Ed stifled a laugh at the phrase “fit for a ball” out of context, Stede swung one hand out and eloquently bowed low in front of the bearded pirate. Glancing upwards, he saw Ed’s smile fade into a look of hesitancy. Ed eyed him for a moment or two more before giving a much stiffer bow. Stede then straightened himself and offered his hand to his dancing partner.
Taking it, Ed found himself being suddenly yanked closer to Stede. His face grew hotter, something he hoped his beard distracted from. Hands instinctively seemed to find their rightful places: his right hand in Stede’s left, his left hand resting on Stede’s shoulder as Stede’s right found a place on his waist.
“Now…” Stede began slowly, his eyes meeting Ed’s. He was noticeably a little shakier than usual, a nervous smile on his face. “Since you are new to this, I will lead. Just follow my steps.” He was noticeably a little shakier than usual, a crooked smile on his face. “You will just have to imagine music; Frenchie is already asleep”
‘God, he’s perfect’, Ed couldn’t help but think as he smiled back. His grip tightened a bit, pulling the gentleman closer, as he said, “I can do that. Lead the way.”
And following a deep breath, Stede did just that. One step, then another. Swaying and rocking. Everything was slow and hesitant at first but slowly, Ed’s confidence in their movements grew. As their gaze met, all nervousness seemed to drain away, dissipating like paper tossed to the waves. Inexperience in dancing no longer mattered. They focused on each other, their bodies moved to their own inner rhythm. The two pirates happily drowned in each other’s embrace, holding tightly to each other. Neither of them knew if it had been minutes or hours. They only knew each other. The two captains danced aboard the deck of their ship, their hearts seemingly beating as one. Although neither man could read minds, it was clear that to each other…they were the most beautiful, precious being to ever exist upon land or sea.