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Stede and his rescued crew had finally gotten a lead on where The Revenge was planning to be, and couldn’t be more ecstatic. Oluwande was quite obviously missing Jim badly, letting out the most pitiful of sighs constantly. Pete also was getting lost in his thoughts more so than usual, and the lovesick look in his eyes told Stede exactly who he was thinking about.
Stede himself prayed each night and morning that they would stumble upon his old ship, and with it the man who held his affection. Since they had parted ways, his mind had been filled with Ed. He missed their breakfasts, their adventures, and most of all their long conversations that would at times lead late into the night. He regretted leaving the other man on the dock, but their separation had only solidified Stede’s feelings for him. What he thought was an incredibly strong platonic bond turned out to be fierce love, hiding beneath the surface of their relationship.
Some nights Stede wondered how it had crept up on him so covertly, only truly unearthing itself during the conversation with Mary, but he quickly found the answer. Stede had never felt love, towards another person or towards himself. While Mary and him had spent many years together under oath of God, he had never desired her touch or her presence. He would be satisfied with wandering their land, reading books, and playing with the children. Mary would answer the same.
Growing up he had no juvenile flames while stuck in his personal hell, the boarding school. He had been relentlessly bullied and had barely any friends to speak of, let alone anyone to hold any desire for. And for most of his life, Stede hadn’t thought twice about this fact, he assumed most people lived their lives similarly. Being without his soulmate hadn’t occupied his thoughts, he had focused on his love for the sea and the desire to escape the monotony of aristocracy.
It wasn’t until after he had returned to his station as husband and father that Stede had realized that he could never live his life without Ed. No one understood him quite the way the pirate did, and while the negative voices at the back of his head told him he was nothing but a curse to the other man, he knew Ed felt the same for him. He had been bloody willing to throw his whole life and identity away for Stede at the drop of a hat. And Stede now knew that he would be willing to sacrifice his own life for Ed to be happy and whole again. He would never be complete until he had returned to the pirate’s side.
This meant that when the crew spotted the familiar silhouette of The Revenge Stede momentarily thought his heart may beat right out of his chest. Any anxiety about how Ed would react to their reunion was shoved straight out of his brain by the all encompassing excitement to see Ed’s face. The men all cheered as they approached the vessel, eager to be reunited with their lovers and friends, but also to finally get off the small fishing boat they had acquired.
Stede worried for a moment that their old ship would fire on them, warning them to not get any closer, but he assumed they would be well enough disguised on their new boat. They themselves looked different as well, thin and worn from their month’s surviving on scraps. Stede himself had forgone his usual apparel of fine silks and embroidery for a practical pair of trousers and billowy blouse he could work in. The sun had tanned his skin a golden color and bleached his hair a brighter shade of blond. Stubble covered his jaw and he had lost the softness around his middle and face, replaced with the beginning of muscles from time hoisting sails, dragging up anchors, and paddling.
He was always shocked to see his new appearance, it was as if Stede Bonnet had died after he had left Mary for the second time. This was a new man, one who lived on the sea and would stand beside the pirate legend Blackbeard. He did miss the finer things, but it would all be worth it to have Ed in his arms once again.
They sailed right up to the vessel, undamaged and unchallenged before heads popped over the side, peering down at them. Stede did not recognize them, newly hired crewmates perhaps. Ropes were then tossed down and the mystery men climbed down them, swords drawn in defense. Stede tried to explain who they were, hoping to convince them, but it was of no use. Each of them were soon bound in rope, chafing their skin, and then brought aboard The Revenge. It looked just as it did the day they had been captured by the English, albeit a bit dirtier.
Stede and his men were all lined up and forced to their knees, at the mercy of Ed’s crew of leather clad hooligans. Loud steps alerted them to Izzy’s presence. He had a god awful smirk on his face.
“Look what the cat dragged in. Blackbeard is going to be so thrilled to see you if he doesn’t have us maroon you lot for the second time. This time with your hands cut off.”
“Good to see you as well Izzy,” said Stede, always one for manners. “Please, if I could just speak to Ed, I’m sure we could sort thi-”
Stede was interrupted with a small knife pressed to his throat by Ed’s right hand man. “Ed isn’t here you fool. Blackbeard runs this ship so don’t get too cocky you fucker.”
With that he walked away towards the captain’s quarters, shouting out an order to throw them in the brig. The crew seized them and began dragging them down into the underbelly of the ship. While Stede knew he wasn’t guaranteed a particularly warm welcome, this wasn’t exactly going well. No worries, this could still be turned around.
Suddenly, a familiar voice was whispering in his ear. It was Jim! He hadn’t noticed him from behind when they grabbed him and shoved him forward to head to the brig.
“What are you doing here? Don’t you know Blackbeard hates your guts? Who knows what he’s going to do to you when he hears you’re aboard.”
“Jim! It’s so lovely to see you again! Oluwande will be thrilled to see you, he's been quite lonely without you,” Stede whispered, careful not to let their other captors overhear. “And about Ed, I just need to tell him I’m sorry and explain what happened. I knew he wouldn’t be thrilled to see my mug but I’m sure everything will be worked out.”
“You sound a little too confident. You don’t know this new Blackbeard, he’s barely human,” Jim hissed. “I’m not one to worry but Stede, listen to me, I’m worried for you.”
He let out a small huff in amusement. “You exaggerate, I will handle this and everything will return to how it was. We’ll all be a crew again and we'll get on with it all. Don’t worry.”
They had made it to the brig where Jim unlocked the metal door and shoved him inside. Soon the rest of his rescued crew followed suit, the door slamming behind the last of them. Jim shook their head from the other side of the bars, fear clouding their eyes as they scanned their former crewmates, especially lingering on Oluwande’s bound form. They gave their head a small shake before closing their eyes and walking away. A quiet ‘good luck’ was barely audible.
Stede took a look at his crew, they all looked understandably apprehensive at their current situation.
“Do not fret men, I will have this all solved in a jiffy,” Stede promised before they settled into their cell and waited for something, anything, to happen.
By the time Izzy returned the sun had set and some of the men had started to doze off, arms still bound by rough rope.
“Blackbeard wishes to see you Bonnet, lucky you,” he chuckled, unlocking the door of their cell.
Stede awkwardly stood with a smile on his face, wobbling without the use of his arms. “Finally, I was starting to worry.”
Izzy simply smirked at him, locking the door once again and grabbing Stede’s upper arm. He dragged him all the way to the captain’s quarters, he wasn’t sure why exactly since he already knew the way. Once there, Izzy knocked before opening the door and throwing him in. Stede landed on his front, chin slamming into the hard wood of the floor and narrowly avoiding biting his tongue. Asshole.
He heard the door shut behind him and he carefully got up from the floor, shifting from his belly onto his knees. The wood was chilly on the bare skin of his shins. He looked around the room, searching for his lover in the darkness. Stede finally spotted him seated in front of the fireplace.
“Ed!” he shouted, unable to contain his joy at seeing the other man. If he wasn’t tied up in an excessive amount of rope he would have run over to him and thrown his arms around him. He would have to settle with unsteadily getting to his feet and jogging over.
Before Stede would make it to his side, Ed was up out of the chair and slamming him into one of the empty bookcases lining the wall. A thick arm was shoved into his throat, pressing until he could scarcely breathe.
“Who do you think you are? Approaching my ship as if I’m your little friend. You must be the biggest idiot that’s ever set foot in the sea,” he hissed.
Stede managed to position himself on his toes to gain some balance and take the pressure off his neck where Ed had him trapped. There he was able to finally take a look at the man who had captured his heart. Stede was taken aback by what he saw. Black kohl was smeared around his eyes and jaw, reminiscent of the war paint a warrior would wear. His hair was a wild mess, hanging in his face and partially hiding his furious expression. Stede almost didn’t recognize him, anger disfiguring his usually handsome features.
The blond briefly felt a cold chill run through his body, fear. Stede was afraid of Ed. The blond took a few breaths, made difficult by the solid arm still pressed against him. Ed was just upset, Stede could fix this. Ed loved him, even if he was upset by Stede’s actions, deservedly so.
“Ed, please. I’m here to make amends, please listen to me,” Stede choked.
“I have no plans on listening to whatever you have to say. I understood everything perfectly well when you abandoned me!” Ed growled, the glow from the fireplace making him look nearly possessed. Abruptly the arm keeping him in place was gone and Stede collapsed to the floor. He felt the skin where he had been pinned and it was red hot and painful.
“Please, let me explain,” Stede begged to the shadowy figure as Ed stalked away, returning to his place beside the fireplace. “Edward, I love you.”
Ed had one hand on the mantle of the fireplace, staring into the flames as they flickered and illuminated the dark. A humorless laugh came from where he stood.
“I don’t believe in love,” he replied. “And even if I did, what you did to me, that was beyond cruelty. If that’s love, I wonder how you treat people you hate.”
“I was going to join you! I promise! But Chauncey, he threatened me and was going to kill me. He dragged me from the barracks and was going to shoot me but he shot himself instead.”
“You’re not doing a very good job convincing me.”
“Before he died, he told me I was a sick person. That I was bad for everyone around me, Mary, the kids, and most of all you. And I was an idiot and believed him! I thought leaving you was the best thing to do, you wouldn’t be throwing away everything you had made for yourself. But now I see how wrong I was!”
Ed made no sound from across the room, figure unmoving and unreadable. Stede took the opportunity to continue his pleas.
“It wasn’t until I was home and away from your side that I realized I could never be happy without you. And then I understood that no matter what Chauncey or Izzy said, the best Ed wasn’t Blackbeard, it was the Ed that let me teach him the finer things, the Ed that let me take him treasure hunting and spar with late at night. You wanted me and I tore that choice away from you and I’m so sorry.”
Stede hung his head, afraid of what his other half’s response would be. He had poured his heart out to him, desperate to make him understand his feelings and actions. He jumped slightly when Ed finally spoke.
“You say such pleasant words, but they’re worthless. Perhaps they would have moved Edward Teach but you murdered him that night, threw him away like trash. The Kraken took his place, and he knows exactly what to do to you.”
The blond stilled in confusion, Kraken?
“Izzy!” Ed yelled out. Immediately the door to the room opened and the shorter man walked in. “Take our prisoner back to the brig. And make preparations, tomorrow we will maroon them. This time their captain won’t be able to come to their rescue.”
“Edward please! I don’t believe for a second that you’re not in there. These are your men, if you want to maroon anyone throw me off! But leave them alone!”
“They were never my crew. You were their leader, and now like any other captain your crew will pay their consequences for following you. Take him away.”
Stede felt a pair of hands grabbing him and leading him out of his familiar quarters. His shouts fell on deaf ears as he was led across the deck and back down to the brig.
“I told you, you idiot. Edward is gone. Prepare for your death.”
The blond’s wrists were freed from the rope and he was shoved back into the darkness of the cell, the door clanging behind him as Izzy locked it and left the space.
“How did it go, Captain?” asked Pete.
Stede shook where he sat, neck still painfully sore where he had been pinned by Ed. Any hope for reconciliation was slipping away by the second, tomorrow they would be stranded on some random island with no hope for rescue. Stede had led his crew once again into certain danger, and this time his co-captain would not be able to bail them out. Damn it.
“They plan to leave us on some deserted island tomorrow. Ed, he-,” Stede choked, tears welling up at the memory of what had just transpired. The other man had been so hurt by what Stede had done to him. He had practically killed the kind Ed he had met back some months ago with his actions. Stede reminded himself his crew was depending on him, nothing was to be gained sitting here in their cage crying like a child.
“Fuck, man,” Olu swore. “Maybe Jim or one of the others can sneak us out.”
“I’m not too sure, the crew is tightly guarding the ship,” Stede said, clearing his throat and blinking back the moisture in his eyes. He made quick work untying his small crew from the rope that kept their arms behind their backs. “Perhaps I can try again tomorrow to convince him.”
The rest of the night was spent plotting, trying to come up with any feasible plan to escape their fate. As the hours passed Stede ordered the men to get some sleep, they would be no good tomorrow if they couldn't stay awake. And so they did, settling down onto the cold floor, soon the room was filled with quiet snores. Stede had intended to follow his own orders but found he was unable to turn off his mind. Flashes of the crazed looking Ed overtook his mind, anxieties telling him that there was no chance of escape tomorrow.
Suddenly Stede’s attention was grabbed by the glow of a lantern. It was Frenchie!
“Captain!” he whispered from the otherside of their cell.
“Frenchie! So good to see you chap!”
“I’m happy to see you too! I heard about what Blackbeard’s planning tomorrow, what are you gonna do?”
“So far all I’ve come up with is trying to talk to him again. We can’t take on this crew, we’ve been drifting across the ocean for months now, everyone’s exhausted.”
“Damn, I wish I could be more help. They have me on kitchen duty,” Frenchie hissed.
Stede gave him a small smile, even after Stede’s absence the younger man was still loyal to him and their crew. “Is there anything useful you’ve learned while under his command that we could use?”
“Nah not really. It’s all normal piratey activities except he’s turned up the saveragy up to like an eleven.”
“Ah I see, damn,” Stede sighed.
“By the way, Captain, I almost didn’t recognize you! You’re looking like a proper marauder these days! The beard adds a great touch of burlyness.”
“Why thank you,” Stede smiled, never forgetting his manners.
“I bet Blackbeard barely recognized you too. Probably made it easy to turn you away,” Frenchie mused. Stede nodded his head in absentmind agreement. But then, a desperate idea struck him.
“Frenchie! You genius!” he quietly shouted, careful to keep his voice low.
“What’d I do?”
“I have a plan, it’s a bit crazy but it may just work. Come close, I need you to do a couple of things tonight.”
“Sure what?”
Frenchie came close and Stede whispered a list of things to get him before shooing him away to his tasks. He then sat back amongst the sleeping crew, praying as he did every night to be reunited with Ed.
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As the sun rose that morning the crew of The Revenge stirred and came to life. Stede could hear the clangs and bangs of the ship’s cook preparing the day’s breakfast. He had gotten a few hours of sleep, but didn’t feel tired at all as he anxiously awaited the events of the day. He figured there was enough light for him to begin working on his scheme. He grabbed the small razor Frenchie had snuck him along with the small amount of water and soap and got to work. Shaving one’s face blind was never easy but he took his time to make sure he didn’t miss a whisker.
Once finished he wiped any remaining soap off on his ratty shirt, patting his face dry. He then made quick work changing into some of his old clothes. Frenchie had found his blue jacket and trousers, a clean linen shirt, and his gold vest. Once changed he folded his dirty clothes and tucked them into the corner, slipping the razor into the pile. The razor would be more trouble than benefit if found on his person.
Stede took a moment to feel the fine fabric, a gentle smile on his face. He felt so much more himself, along with the fresh shave. The clothes fit a bit on the looser side, but it would do. He used the leftover water to freshen up his curls, luckily they hadn’t grown too unkempt, he was able to brush through them with his fingers and part them so a few bounced in his face. Perfect.
As his crew woke up and took a look at him they were shocked by his appearance. Their reactions told him he had done a job well done. When they had all awoken he hastily filled them in on his plans. Their reactions weren’t what he expected, they told him it was a suicide mission and would never work. Stede tried to convince them but none of them were persuaded, but they also understood they were powerless to stop him from going through with it.
A few hours later Frenchie slipped into the room with breakfast for the group of them. He unlocked the cell and handed them each a plate of unappetizing slop. But it was warm to the delight of the crew so they dug in, hungry from the months of sailing with little rations to spare. Frenchie wished them luck on the plan and left after locking the door.
After the crew finished their meal they sat in silence, waiting for their captors to return and retrieve them. Around ten a.m., based on the position of the sun in the sky, Ivan came and bound them back in rope restraints before leading them up to the deck. He did shoot Stede a look about his new appearance, but made no other comment. He and Ivan had many fond memories when aboard The Revenge together, he had considered the man a friend. Perhaps that was the reason he had kindly bound their hands in front of them and not behind them.
Above, Ed’s crew waited for them, including Izzy who leaned against the wood of the mast with an ugly grin on his face. Off in the distance Stede could spot a small bit of sand and assumed that was their destination. They wouldn’t arrive for another thirty minutes at the most.
He found him and his crew lined up along one side of the vessel, armed goons on each side of them. No way out.
Izzy strutted forward, square in front of Stede and began to speak, shouting so everyone could hear.
“Prettied up for your death have you? Who helped you?” Izzy demanded.
“A mysterious benefactor, couldn’t tell you who. But you can’t blame a man for wanting to go out in style?”
Izzy approached him, his face only inches from Stede’s own.
“You can’t begin to understand the joy I feel at sending you to your death. Especially as it’s signed off by Blackbeard himself. The man you thought adored you has sealed your fate you prat.”
Satisfied with his taunt Izzy returned to his spot on the deck.
“Stede Bonnet and his loyal crew, due to the actions of your idiot Captain you will receive the punishment of banishment to an uncharted island. There you will hopefully starve to death.”
Stede’s crew let out a couple of groans and unsavory remarks, unafraid of Izzy the Spewer, much to the man in question's chagrin. The men guarding them on each side drew their swords, quieting them.
“Will Blackbeard be joining us?” Stede asked. “It’s only good manners.”
Abruptly Ed revealed himself from behind the mast, black makeup still smeared across the tanned skin of his face. It really did look quite ridiculous out in daylight, but Stede saved any comments for himself as to not make his love any angrier. As he approached where they were being held, Stede noticed his pace slow and his eyes widened. Stede hoped that meant his plan was on its way to being a success.
“Edward. Please rethink this, I adore you and wish no harm on you. And my men have nothing to do with us.”
“The decision has been made Bonnet. Your fate is sealed,” Ed stonily replied. “You made your decision that fateful day, now you will live with the consequences.”
Stede’s imploration fell on deaf ears, the plan would then have to continue.
“Any last words?” Ed asked.
“Perchance, instead of words may I be granted a request?”
“Depends, what is it?” the pirate asked cautiously.
“Come closer.”
This left Ed puzzled, unsure of whether or not to approach the blond man. He heard Izzy quietly mutter to his boss to not do it, but ever the renegade he slowly came closer. When he stopped only a few feet or so from Stede, the blond took a step closer. He swore Ed was staring at him at least a tad fondly.
He felt the wind blowing his golden curls around his head. As quickly as he could Stede grabbed one of Ed’s empty hands with his bound ones and placed it on his throat. He had grown quite agile while under the other man's tutelage. While the taller man was stunned Stede gave him his best doting smile.
“I love you to the end of the world and back,” Stede vowed before taking a few quick steps back, keeping Ed’s hand on his neck. He gave Ed one more look, taking in the bewildered expression and wide brown eyes, just in case this was a shit plan before releasing his hand and falling backwards off the side of the ship into the deep blue waters below.
The fall felt like ages, the blue of the sky enveloping his vision. The shock of hitting the water disoriented him badly, leaving him paralyzed for a moment. While Stede was an adequate swimmer, with his hands bound and the choppy waters he was as good as dead. He felt himself sinking down under cold water, flailing as his lungs screamed for air. The sun shone through the water above his head, but as he sank the water around him grew dark. As the seconds passed he felt himself growing weaker, his body freezing in the sea. His eyes fluttered close, accepting his fate, but just as he’d given up he felt a hand grab his arm and begin dragging him to the surface. Lights danced in front of his eyes just before he broke the surface, gasping for air.
He felt his rescuer throw Stede’s bound arms around his neck, keeping him afloat as they treaded water.
“You fucking lunatic! What the fuck was that?”
Stede continued gulping air but recognized the voice. It was Ed.
“T-that was just a bit of fuckery,” Stede mumbled, shivering in the water, a large silly grin plastered on his face.
Ed stared at him in total exasperation, looking quite silly with his theatrical black kohl now ruined, running down his face in large smears. Stede saw the look in his eyes turn from frustration and anger to amusement. He let out a loud laugh, one Stede hadn’t heard in ages and missed so bloody much. It was quite contagious and Stede found himself laughing as well with the man he loved.
“Edward,” Stede said as he finished chuckling. The other man hadn’t stopped yet, and looked unable to. Didn’t the idiot know he wanted to kiss him? Instead of waiting for him to stop, Stede hiked himself closer using the pirate’s shoulders and planted a kiss on his lips.
The taller man instantly stopped, kissing Stede desperately. He kissed him like he was a starved man, hungry for the blond’s lips. Unfortunately their moment was ruined by a particularly large wave attempting to drown the two of them.
“Let’s continue this on the ship ya?” said Ed, spitting water out of his mouth.
“I would like that.”
By then ropes had been thrown by the crew to help pull them back aboard. Ed managed to grab one and let them be hauled back to The Revenge. A ladder awaited them and Ed had Stede climb on his back as he climbed up. Stede much appreciated it as his legs were shaking rather badly.
Once aboard Ed set Stede down on the deck and unsheathed his knife, quickly cutting through the rope and releasing him. The blond thanked him before letting himself be pulled into a tight embrace. The crew, both Stede’s and Ed’s stood by silently, unsure of what this all meant. Izzy was practically fuming.
Noticing the stares, Ed decided to say something.
“Ah, well I guess plans have changed. Um, you lot got the day off! Go ahead and have a vacation on the island, and let the prisoners go! You’re dismissed.”
Stede’s crew cheered, amazed his stupidly brillant plan had worked. But of course it had, no one knew Ed better than Stede. He knew that putting Ed’s hands on him like he had been the one to push him to his death would trigger that protective edge of his. Even when he planned to maroon them, he was sure he knew there was a chance they’d survive as they had previously. Stede was sure Ed didn’t want to kill him.
As the crew awkwardly lingered around the deck, unsure of what to do with themselves, Stede grabbed Ed’s hand in his own and led him towards the captain’s quarters.
“Come along darling, I think we need a change of clothes.”
Ed let himself be dragged by Stede into the auxiliary wardrobe. He slowly began to shiver just as badly as Stede was so he found them both a night gown. The pair changed after stripping off their sopping wet clothes, leaving them a heap on the floor to clean up later. Stede fingered through all his clothes, looking for his robes but coming up empty.
“Love, have you seen my robes? I can’t find them anywhere.”
“Oh, erm, I actually have.”
Ed left the closet and Stede followed close behind. The taller man walked over to the bed and grabbed one red and one yellow robe from where they laid at the head of the bed. Stede simply grinned at him as Ed handed him the yellow one, he did prefer that one.
“What?” Ed asked, noticing the glint in Stede’s eye.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
The blond grabbed a towel he saw conveniently hanging from a chair nearby and closed in on his lover.
“What are you doing?”
“Stay still will you!” Stede commanded. Ed allowed the smaller man to rub his face clean, erasing any and all of the black makeup that he previously masked his features. “There you are.”
Ed looked like he would jump over the moon at any second, a goofy grin on his face after Stede’s words. Instead he grabbed the blond’s waist and pulled him into bed with him.
“Let’s warm up shall we?”
“We shall,” Stede giggled, pulling Ed close so the bearded man rested his head on his clothed chest. The pair settled, huddling for warmth under blankets, sheets, and each other.
“Please don’t ever try to drown yourself again,” Ed asked.
“No promises, desperate times call for desperate measures,” joked Stede.
Ed pinched his cheek in response before planting a sweet kiss on his lips. And together the two remained for the day, unaware of Lucius creeping out of the auxiliary closet and onto the deck to reunite with Pete and the rest of the crew. He would tell his captains of his miraculous survival, but for now they would celebrate.