Chapter Text
“Ed!”
With his legs shaky from the dinghy ride, Stede Bonnet stood atop the railing of the Revenge. His hair was unkempt and doused with salt water. His military-issue clothing smelled of the sea and was wet with mist. His joints were sore from the journey, and his arms were weak from rowing.
But none of that mattered to Stede, because standing in disbelief in front of him was Edward Teach. The legendary pirate Blackbeard. Or, lovingly, Ed.
Ed looked almost unrecognizable. Charcoal was smeared around his eyes and jawline; Stede wondered where he had found the charcoal. His clothing was ripped, his hair was tatty, and his face had the stunned expression of heartbreak.
This wasn’t Ed. This was Blackbeard.
“Ed!” Stede repeated, breathless from the climb up the ship’s ladder, “I’m so glad I found you!”
Ed remained silent, his jaw clenched shut and his eyes facing the deck. Stede scanned Ed’s face for any break in demeanor.
“You’re back,” said Ed. His tone was deadpan and devoid of any emotion that Stede was used to. It jarred Stede; he took a deep breath to steady himself.
“Yes, I am,” said Stede, offering a tired smirk, “I had some loose ends to tie up.”
“Loose ends?”
“I…I went to see Mary. Turns out, she was actually glad that I was dead.” Stede gave a sad chuckle. “That was a shock.”
“Was it?”
Stede raised an eyebrow. “What was what?”
Ed shifted his weight, keeping his gaze diverted from Stede. “Was it a surprise that she was glad you were dead?”
“Well…” Stede wrung his hands together. “Yeah, at first. It was a foolish choice to go back, but I’m glad that I did it. We made things right again. And now— well, I’m back now.”
“I thought you were dead.” Ed raised his chin, finally making eye contact with Stede. The rims of his eyes were swollen and pink, with stripes of smeared charcoal descending down his cheeks. “Does that surprise you?”
A wave crashed against the ship, throwing Stede slightly off-balance. Flailing wildly, he threw his arms out to the side to steady himself. It didn’t work. Stede toppled off of the railing, falling onto the main deck with a harsh thud!
Wincing from the inflicted pain, Stede brought himself to his knees and dusted off his pants. When he glanced up, he found himself face-to-face with the blade of a sword. His sword. The scratches on the blade still had specks of Ed’s dried blood caked within them.
“Ed? Put that down!” Stede’s voice was wavering. “Ed, please. We can talk about this.”
“Can we?” Ed’s voice had a biting edge to it. “You left me.”
“I…I did, but—”
“I thought you hated me! Worse, I thought you were dead! I mourned you!” Ed brandished the sword with a firm, steady hand.
“I know! I should’ve said something!” Stede exclaimed frantically. He raised his hands by his temples, a plea to Ed to not hurt him. “It wasn’t entirely my fault!”
“Shut up!” shouted Ed, his voice reverberating around the empty deck. “Just shut up!”
“Ed—”
“Don’t call me that.” Ed pressed the sword against Stede’s forehead. It wasn’t pressed hard enough to draw blood, but any sudden movement could change that. “I’m the Kraken now.”
“The Kra—”
Ed brought the sword over his shoulder, then brought it swinging down against the wooden deck. Stede threw himself to the side, barely dodging the swing. Small wood chips flew out from under the blade, nestled in Stede’s hair.
“Ed! Stop it! What’re you doing?” shouted Stede. Ed didn’t respond. Instead, he raised the sword again.
Stede scrambled to his feet and darted away from Ed. The first swing had been his warning. Ed was not going to warn him again.
Stede’s thoughts were frantic. His eyes darted around the deck, desperate to find a weapon to defend himself with. There was nothing. The deck was pristine, not a barrel out of place, and certainly no spare weaponry.
“Ed! We can— we can talk about this!” Stede shouted.
“What is there to talk about?” Ed was beginning to gain on Stede. “I think your stance is clear!”
“It’s not that simple! I can explain!” Ed swung the sword. The sweeping wind from the blow rustled Stede’s hair.
“Yeah? I’d just love to hear it.”
Stede ran around the central mast—the same mast where Izzy Hands had once impaled him. A blade-sized notch remained as a memento to the day, complete with the tip of the sword still intact. Stede swallowed; he didn’t want a repeat of that day.
“Well, see, Badminton came to my room that night,” Stede frantically exclaimed. “He held a gun to me! Then he got s-shot!”
Ed thrust the sword, causing Stede to duck. Ed hovered the blade over the wooden mast—no doubt knowing better than to get his sword stuck.
“He tripped! Fired his gun. It was…God, it was awful.” Stede was backing away slowly. “He’s dead. I…I freaked out. I went home, Ed. I went to see Mary. I needed to fix my mess!”
Ed raised a curious eyebrow, the sword wavering in his hand. “You went to go fix your mess?”
“Yes! Yes!” Out of his peripheral vision, Stede saw the walls of the captain’s quarter creeping up behind him. “I’m dead now! Well, actually, everyone thinks I’m dead. See, Mary and I worked it all out—”
“You went back home…to fake your death?” asked Ed, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Stede nodded hastily. “It was what needed to be done. And I should’ve told you—I know I should’ve—but I was scared!”
“Of me?”
Stede’s tense shoulders softened. It was a foolish move, he knew that, but Ed’s words had struck a chord with him. “No. I’ve never been afraid of you, Ed. It was— it was other things that scared me.”
Stede’s back struck against the oak door leading to the captain’s quarters. Never breaking eye contact with Ed, Stede reached a cautious hand behind him, twisting the knob of the door.
“And what about you?” Stede continued, “What’ve you done to your face?”
Ed pointed to his face. “You said I wear fine things well. I think that that was a lie. I think this suits me better.”
Stede could hardly recognize his old room. His bookshelves were barren, including the trinkets he’d displayed. Clothing was strewn about everywhere—across the floor, draped over furniture, even piled atop his bed. The desk was in disarray, with weaponry and empty liquor bottles littering the space. Curiously, the lighthouse painting remained hung on the wall.
“What happened, Ed?” Stede pleaded.
“You happened.”
“Wh—”
Ed lunged forward, brandishing the sword with ferocity. Stede toppled backward, tripping over his exquisite red robe. He caught himself on the desk, knocking over an empty bottle. It shattered to the ground, spreading minuscule glass shards across the floor.
“Please put the sword down,” Stede begged, taking small steps around the broken glass.
“I’m not going to do that, mate.” Ed kept walking forward, glass crunching underneath his boots.
Stede was trapped. All that remained behind him was his bay window bed. If Ed came any closer—which seemed to be his plan—Stede would have nowhere to turn.
This was the end of Stede Bonnet. Farewell to the Gentleman Pirate.
Stede sat on the bed, wanting to accept his imminent death with dignity. If it was to end this way, he couldn’t say that he didn’t deserve it.
Ed stopped in front of him, the sword held proudly in front of him. He pressed the tip of the blade to Stede’s torso.
It occurred to Stede then. Ed was aiming for his right side, not his left.
He was going for the kill.
Stede stood cautiously, only long enough to kneel at Ed’s feet. “Ed,” said Stede, his voice barely above a whisper, “Please don’t do this. I beg you.”
Ed looked down at Stede, his eyes glassy with impending tears. “No.”
“Please. I beg for your forgiveness, Ed. I was wrong. I know I was wrong. Let me fix this.”
Ed’s sword shook in his hand. “I’m sorry.”
Stede bowed his head. “I deserve this,” he sniffed, “I should’ve seen this coming. I defile beautiful things. It serves me right.”
Ed furrowed his eyebrows. “You…what?”
Stede took the edge of the blade in his hands, taking care to not cut his fingers. Gently, he positioned the tip of the blade over his heart. Letting go, he bowed his head. “Just make it quick, please.”
“No. No,” Ed loosened his grip on the sword. Stede felt the pressure of the blade relieved. “What do you mean? You ‘defile beautiful things?’”
Stede sniffled, nodding his head sadly. “B-Badminton said so. First Mary, then Nigel, and now…you. I ruin things. I ruin lives. And w-what do I do? I remain unscathed! I deserve this. I need to atone!”
“Badminton said that?” Ed let out a slow exhale. “He’s wrong.”
Stede looked up. Ed was looking away from him now, his sword hanging limp in his hand.
“I don’t think he’s wrong,” said Stede.
“Don’t…don’t say that, mate. You don’t defile things! Put that out of your mind! And, stand up, please. I’m not killing you.”
Stede obliged, standing shakily on his feet. “What did I do then, Ed?” he said, his voice rising. “I mean, look at you! I made a selfish choice! I left, and you turn into a bloodthirsty killer! I’ve ruined you!”
“You didn’t ruin me, Stede!”
“Then enlighten me!”
“You just— you just didn’t, okay?”
“I did, Ed! I— Everyone is right! I should’ve listened to Izzy and Badminton—”
“Stop it! Stop talking like that!”
“Ed, what—”
“Don’t you get it? I love you!”
The room went deathly silent, interrupted only by the creaking of the ship.
“You do?” Stede’s voice came out squeaky.
Ed rolled his eyes. “Wh— why did you think I kissed you?”
“No, no, I got that part,” Stede stammered, “I mean…after everything I’ve done to you? You still love me?”
The sword was lowered to the ground. Ed’s face softened, his eyes finally spilling their tears. “Of course,” he muttered, “That’s why it hurts.”
“I…I understand. And if you want me to leave, I can. Whatever you wish, Ed, I’m ready to listen.”
“Stay.”
Stede looked intently at Ed, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He stuttered for words, but none came to mind.
“Stay with me,” Ed continued, “Be my co-captain again. Please.”
Stede sputtered. “Ed, I don’t understand. Do you want me dead or not?”
“No!” shouted Ed, his sword clattering to the ground. “Of course, I don’t want you dead, you idiot! I never, never, want you dead!”
“Then why do all of this?”
“Because…God, I don’t know!” Ed covered his eyes with his hand. The tears were flowing freely now. “I thought you— I thought you were dead, Stede. It broke me. I put on a terrifying face for the others. But in private, you know what I did? Mourned.”
“Ed…”
“One day, I just…grabbed your drawing charcoal and smeared it on me. I closed myself off. I wanted to be the Kraken. I wanted to strike fear in people’s hearts for real. But you know what, I don’t want that. I never did. That’s not me. Maybe it was once, but that was so long ago. You made me better, Stede.”
Stede walked slowly forward, praying that his shaky knees wouldn’t give out. He was face-to-face with Ed now, standing the closest he had stood to him in many weeks. It sent a pang through his chest.
“Ed, look at me,” Stede gently pleaded. Ed shook his head, his hand remaining over his face. “Edward. Please.”
The use of his full name drew Ed’s attention. With a sniff, he dropped his hand limply by his side.
Ed’s face was a shock to Stede. Standing this close, Stede could see how bloodshot his eyes were, how charcoal was caught in the waterline of his eyes. Traces of charcoal remained on his cheeks, unsuccessfully scrubbed away after his tears had spilled. He looked exhausted and, above all else, like a man who’d seen death.
The sight was enough to bring Stede to the brink of tears.
“I’m home, Ed,” Stede muttered softly, “My home is wherever you go.”
Ed threw his arms around Stede’s shoulders, pulling him into a tight embrace. Ed, his sobs heaving his shoulders, buried his nose into Stede’s neck. The charcoal would smear on his white linens, Stede acknowledged, but he couldn’t bring himself to care any longer. With Ed in his arms, nothing else mattered. He was home.
Stede rubbed his hands up and down Ed’s back, whispering words of comfort in his ear as he sobbed. Ed clutched onto the folds of Stede’s shirt, as if desperate to prove that Stede was solid and real.
I’m sorry. I’m here. I love you. Stede repeated those phrases through tears and chaste kisses to Ed’s hairline.
I know. Me too. I missed you. Ed repeated those words as tears poured down his face.
As the tears began to dry, Ed relaxed his grip. He brought his head up, just enough so that his words wouldn’t be muffled by Stede’s shoulder.
“I…I threw away your books,” he muttered. He blinked back more tears that threatened to fall. “I messed your room up. And I th-threw Lucius overboard. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry—“
“Lucius is fine, darling.”
This caught Ed’s attention. He pulled back from Stede to examine his face, keeping his arms looped around his waist. “He’s what ?”
“I found him holding onto a piece of scrap wood. He’s in the dinghy, soaking wet. I’m convinced that he’s invincible. Little guy has been through it, but he always gets back up!” Stede said, a chipper grin on his face. Ed breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
“And don’t worry about the books,” Stede continued. Ed bowed his head, avoiding meeting Stede’s gaze. “I’ve read them all before. This just means I get to build a new library! You can help me. We can go buy new books together.”
“I— I’d love that.”
“See? It’s okay. It’s all okay.”
“It’s all okay,” Ed repeated. “You came back.”
Stede’s smile was tender. “Never left. Well, physically I did. But I always wanted to be here. With you.”
Ed cupped Stede’s face with his calloused hands. The touch was careful and tender, as if Stede was as delicate as a feather. The two men held each other’s gaze, relishing in the company.
“We should wash that muck off your face,” said Stede, brushing the pad of his thumb underneath Ed’s eye. Ed leaned into the touch.
“It’s absolutely disgusting. I don’t know what I was thinking,” chuckled Ed. “It makes my face so grimy and greasy.”
“It makes you look quite intimidating. If I were one of your rivals—” Stede gave an exaggerated, sarcastic sigh— “I’d be abandoning my ship!”
“Well, I’m glad that you’re not scared of me. That would be bad.”
“I couldn’t be scared of you. You’re— you’re too nice.”
Ed snorted. “Imagine that. The terrifying, bloodthirsty Blackbeard is nice.”
“It’s true! You’re a charming man!”
“Ooh, I’m charming!”
“You are charming! You— you understand me. A-And you take an interest in the things I like. You make me feel welcome. I think that makes you very charming.”
Ed blinked in a dazed manner. “No one— I’ve never been told that before.”
“Well, Mary helped me realize a few things,” replied Stede.
“Yeah? Like what?”
“Well, she—” Stede sighed— “She has a new boyfriend.”
“No way.”
Stede held a hand up. “I know, I know. He’s a good man, though. Helped me with my scheme and everything. Anyway, I asked Mary what it felt like, being in love and all. And Ed…” Stede placed a hand on Ed’s jawline. “It made me think of you.”
“What did she say?”
“She said that it’s easy. As simple as breathing. You love to be around them. You learn new things, and you love to listen. I was stupid—”
Ed grumbled. “You’re not stupid.”
“No, I was stupid. I didn’t put the pieces together. But Mary helped me understand. I’m here to stay, darling.”
Ed ran his hand through Stede’s tousled hair. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Me too, Ed.”
“I…I really want to kiss you now.”
Stede gave a relieved exhale. “Oh, thank God. I was afraid to ask first.”
Both men leaned forward, pressing their lips together in a joyous kiss. It was slightly clumsy. Their noses hit each other, and charcoal from Ed’s jawline smeared on Stede’s hand and cheek. They laughed through their kiss. Neither would have it any other way.
Ed gently brought his hand behind Stede’s head. Stede threw his arms haphazardly around Ed’s shoulders.
Stede broke the kiss momentarily. “Do you still want to run away?” he asked, breathless.
Ed nodded fervently. “Wherever you want to go.” He pressed a kiss to Stede’s forehead.
“China’s pretty far. What about Europe? I haven’t explored much outside of England. We’ll go somewhere in the country. We can bring the crew with us!” Stede said, bouncing from his excitement.
Ed gave an admiring smile. “Europe it is then.” Stede stood on the tips of his toes so that he could kiss Ed’s forehead. Ed closed his eyes, savoring the intimacy.
“We’ll do whatever we want,” Stede continued, “I can read to you if you want. There are so many books I want to read! I’ve got some in mind that I think you’ll love.”
Ed leaned his forehead against Stede’s. “We can do that, mate.”
“Oh! We should go sightseeing before we settle down! We can see the world!”
“I’d love that.”
Stede gasped. “Ed! It just hit me! I’m really dead!”
Ed pulled back, a bewildered look on his face. “Come again?”
“That came out strange!” exclaimed Stede. “So, Mary helped me fake my death, right? It was excellent if I do say so myself. You should’ve seen it. But Ed, I’m free! We’re free! No one would look for us! We can get new names and backstories, just like you said! We’re finally free!”
Ed’s head fell back in laughter. “Stede Bonnet, you’re a legend.”
“Well, that’s an exaggeration,” said Stede, wringing his hands in embarrassment.
“I say you’re brilliant,” replied Ed.
Stede grinned. “I could say the same to you, darling.”
Ed leaned forward again, kissing Stede with tenderness.
“I love you,” he said, placing another kiss on Stede’s forehead.
“I love you too.” Another kiss.