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Stede created what he thought would be the most comfortable place for a man in pain to be. He brought out his fluffiest pillows and softest blankets, laid out a set of silk pajamas, ran a hot bath, and brought out all the scented oils he knew Ed liked. Currently a raging storm was wrapping up and he knew Ed would be making his way down soon. He flew out the door earlier with a quick yell of “gotta help Iz!”
He knew the rest of the crew would take care of each other, they were just a big dysfunctional family. He would have been worried about Izzy if it wasn’t for catching the look of concern on Lucius’s face as he stared out at the main mast, Izzy clasped on like a cat refusing to lose its last life. Stede paused for a moment too, his heart clenched in his chest at the sight of the winds mercilessly blowing against Izzy. He spotted Ed underneath him, waiting for him to come down, and he knew it would all be okay. He rushed off to the kitchen to get some rags before he worked himself up more watching the dangerous things his crew and lover were doing.
He went to his bathroom one last time, checking the water to make sure it was still hot. He fidgeted with the various bottles of shampoo, conditioner, soap, and oils wishing he could do something more useful. After some time of very anxiously pacing back and forth, the door slowly swung open and Stede turned to see the dripping wet form of Edward make his way to the couch. Stede winced as he flopped down, stretching his legs out onto the coffee table, ‘that will definitely have to be scrubbed clean later.’ Ed looked exhausted, letting his head fall on the back of the couch as he winced and tried to undo his knee brace.
Stede rushed out of the steaming bathroom, “Stop hun, I got it” he reached out and started undoing the clips and velcro holding Ed’s brace together.
“Thank you Stede,” Ed said with a long exhale. His eyes scrunched up in pain as Stede slid the brace off, carefully setting it on the other side of the couch. Stede slid his hands over his knee, rubbing it gently before moving on. Ed sat like a dead man as Stede fumbled with all the belts and clasps on his attire. Ed felt his belt slide out from behind him, his gun and knife releasing him from their weight. The front belt of his jacket came undone and Stede was gently pushing his arms backward and through the arm holes. He let his body be pushed and maneuvered as Stede pulled his wet jacket off and threw it on the wood floors of their cabin. Ed let out the occasional hum as he was unburdened from his drenched clothes. Lastly, Stede knelt down and started undoing his boots, carefully sliding them off his feet and peeling his thick socks off.
“You really did a number on yourself out there huh?” Stede remarked as his fingers hooked under the front of Ed’s black crop top, separating it from his sticky wet skin.
“I had to take over for Izzy” Ed grunted as he sat up, letting Stede pull his shirt up and over his head.
“Is he okay? I know he doesn't do well in storms…”
“He didn’t look to great but Lucius was there to take care of him”
“Good,” Stede muttered, “that's good.” He reached up to push Ed’s hair back behind his ears. Giving Ed a second to rest as he tried to work some of the tangles out. If Ed wasn’t in so much pain he would spend much more time admiring the tattoos and scars that littered his chest and stomach. But, his love was tired and in pain and he needed to get him cleaned up before he risked getting sick.
“Okay come on, I ran a hot bath for you” Stede said as he shook Ed’s shoulder.
He leaned forward slowly, his back unsticking from the couch. Stede smiled as Ed’s little stomach drooped over the waistband of his pants, his chest expanding and falling as he took deep breaths. Bracing his hands on his knees he pushed himself up, his left knee buckling slightly. Stede grabbed his waist and wrapped an arm around Ed, gripping the skin on the opposite side of his body and pulling Ed into his side as he gently guided him to the bathroom. The pristine white of his shirt turned a grayish brown as the grime from Ed’s body smudged onto him. Stede settled Ed against the sink counter, leaning him on it as he started undoing the belt on his pants.
“One minute with my shirt off and you're already trying to get in my pants” Ed smirked, a chuckle shaking his chest.
“Oh shut it and help me get these off you twat” Stede laughed, finally unzipping his zipper and hooking his thumbs in the sides of Ed’s pants as Ed boosted himself off the counter. He pushed the rest of Ed’s clothes off with not much help from the man himself.
“Now, in the tub you go” Stede said with a hand on Ed’s lower back, guiding him to the tub of still steaming water.
“Yes sir!” Ed said with a laugh, still retaining his sense of humor despite his exhaustion. Stede tried to keep his eyes averted from Ed’s quite naked form and of course, Ed caught on.
“You’ve seen me naked Stede you can look at me, it's fine” He laughed, bumping his hip into Stedes.
“Yes yes you imp, I know, but now is not the time to admire you. You’ve got yourself quite roughed up” Stede remarked as he lowered Ed’s clumsy body into the tub, making sure none of his gangly limbs knocked over Stedes carefully arranged array of products.
“Is this lavender?” Ed asked quietly as his dirty hands gently clasped blobs of bubbles.
“Well it is your favorite isn't it?” Stede smiled.
“Thank you” Ed whispered as Stede’s hands found their way into his hair again. He pushed Ed down the tub, dipping his head back until his black and gray hair curled around his head like a halo. His fingers made their way through Ed’s long hair, washing out the initial grime of the pirate life. He reached over to grab the orange spice scented shampoo, pouring a good dollop into his hands. Stede soaped Ed’s hair up until the suds began to drip down the sides of his face. He carefully wiped them away from his eyes and Ed hummed comfortably as Stede scrubbed at his scalp and down his hair all the way to the ends.
“You're the best Stede, you know that?” Ed blurted out after a particularly hard scratch to his scalp.
“Yes sweetheart, thank you, just relax for me” Stede hummed as he grabbed a pitcher filled with warm water to wash the soap out of Ed’s hair. Movement at their door caught his eye as he saw a scrap of paper slide its way under the door and heard footsteps receding down the hallway.
“One moment love, I’ll be right back” Stede muttered as he wiped his hands on a towel and stood up, making his way to the door. Picking up the ripped scrap of paper he read an obviously quickly scribbled note ‘Ed’s limping, take care of his knee please, he won't admit it but it’s bothering him a lot. I got Izzy so don’t worry about him -Lucius.’ Stede chuckled, Lucius didn't have to sign his name, he's the only crew member with neat handwriting. He thought about how he could be offended that Lucius didn’t think he’d notice Ed’s pain but knows the man just cares about his captains. He set the note on the counter and headed back to the bathroom.
“What was it?” Ed questioned the moment he saw him, an undertone of worry laced in his words.
“Nothing, just a note from Lucius, he’s taking care of Izzy”
Ed hummed and settled back down into the tub until his mouth was submerged under the water, his knees crunched up and sticking out of the water to make room for his tall form. Stede reached down and repeated the washing process on his beard, Ed tilting his head up to give him adequate access. Stede smiled with the thought that Ed would bare his throat to him without a second thought, no concern whatsoever of Stede harming him. He was honored that he was the one to take care of Ed like this, that he could love him.
Stede put his hand under Ed's head and brought him up out of the water.
“Turn so your back is to me darling” he spoke softly, not wanting to shatter the gentleness of the moment.
Ed swiveled and the lavender bubbles whooshed with him, he continued to play with them as he tilted his head back for Stede. Parting his hair, Stede started braiding it into a simple braid, making quick work of it.
“Ok there's that” Stede slapped his hands on his pants, drying them off as he squirted some conditioner in his hands. Ed turned back so he was sitting normally in the tub. Stede smeared the conditioner over Ed’s braid in a light layer.
“Aren’t you supposed to wash that out?” Ed quirked his eyebrow and glanced at Stede.
“It's leave in conditioner hun” Stede smiled fondly as Ed nodded slightly. Finally, Stede dripped some oil into his hands and rubbed them together, soothingly working his hands through Ed’s beard. Stede couldn't help but admire Ed as he reached for a rag and lathered it with lavender soap. As he worked the grime off Ed’s body he thought about how he was only the second person to ever see Ed vulnerable. Izzy was the first of course, knowing each other since they were teens, Stede was sure they shared experiences Ed hadn’t told him about. Ed told him stories before about how Izzy would massage his bad leg, peel his clothes off when he was too tired to move, bandage his wounds, and tattoo his skin. He originally felt a flare of jealousy over how close Izzy and him had been. All that time Stede had missed out on. But soon he considered the current situation. Now he was the one taking care of Ed, washing his hair and body, tucking him in, and kissing his forehead. Izzy had been all but kicked out of Ed’s life. He knew that Ed still needed Izzy, that he would fall into a dark place without him, but he didnt think Izzy knew this. His chest tightened up with empathy, he realized how lonely Izzy must be. No wonder he hated Stede so much, he practically stole Ed from him without even realizing it. His mind steeled in determination as he decided to work Izzy into their little cozy fold. It would definitely be hard with how stubborn and angry the man is but Stede would squeeze him in a hug for hours if he had to.
He came back to himself as he rung out the wash rag one last time. Ed’s body was no longer smeared black with sweat and dirt but his bronze skin glistened with water beautifully. Stede sighed as he went over Ed’s tattoos one more time, bringing the rag down his arms to clean any knicks Ed had gotten in the storm.
“What are you thinking of darling?” Ed questioned softly, his eyes breaking open, “I can hear your thoughts from here.”
Stede hesitated and met Ed’s eyes, resting his hand on his shoulder and rubbing circles into his muscle.
“It’s just… Do you ever think about how lonely Izzy must be?”
“Not really, I mean he’s just angry all the time” Ed shrugged
“Just because he’s angry doesn’t mean he doesn’t have other emotions” Stede scolded but his eyes softened as he saw Ed’s face scrunch into confusion.
“I think you should do something with him, like you used to. I came over and basically took you from him, that's why he hates me. Maybe we can work him into our dynamic?” Stede questioned bashfully.
“If that's something you're even comfortable with..we don't have to. Not at all” Stede stammered, backtracking as Ed stayed quiet.
“No your right hun, I guess I never thought of it” Ed said with his eyes focused on the pile of bubbles he had made, “you know I care about him but he's just so standoffish.”
“I know sweetheart, enough of that though” Stede said with a deep exhale, standing up and grabbing the fluffiest towel he had.
“Come on, get up and we'll get you to bed” Stede said, reaching down and helping pull Ed up by his arm. He rested him against the counter again, keeping any weight off his bad knee. Stede gently soaked up the water from Ed’s body with the towel, wrapping it around his waist when he was sufficiently dry. The whole room smelled of lavender and he could just barely make out the citrus smell of Ed’s hair. The steam had long since condensed on the walls and mirror, trickling down in drops. He smiled at Ed, studying his relaxed face. His hair pulled back in a braid and beard shining with oil. His eyes crinkled at the corner as he smiled back at Stede, his smile lines proof of the happiness Stede had brought him. ‘Beautiful, ' he thought.
Stede quickly grabbed the lavender body oil he especially picked out for Ed at their last stop. Ed followed him with his eyes, watching him cover his hands with the oil before grabbing Ed’s own hands. He gently massaged his palms and fingers, paying special attention to his calluses and cuts. Making his way up his arms he spread the oil over Ed’s skin, continuing his massage of Ed’s muscles along the way. Ed tipped his head back with a long breathy exhale, reveling in the attention he was getting from this kind man. He felt Stede run his fingers along his scars causing him to shiver. Stede paid no mind as he continued on spreading oil on his tattoos. Across his arms, shoulders, chest, and neck, Stede continued and focused on digging his fingers into Ed’s tight muscles. He knew the man worked hard and decided to give him more massages after feeling the tight knots that rested in his muscles. Moving to his stomach, Stede gently spread the oil over the raised thick scar where Ed had been stabbed so many times. He frowned slightly remembering he was responsible for one of those times. Running his fingers over it to soften the skin, Ed held his breath. Scars were sensitive parts of the body, reminders of the pain and trauma endured in the past. Stede knew this but also knew that every part of Ed deserved to be cherished. Lastly, he moved onto Ed’s legs, making sure every part of him was moisturized, god knows he needs it after being in the sun all day.
At this point, Ed was basically touch drunk with a stupid goofy smile on his face. Stede smiled back at him and poked him on the nose.
“Come on, come with me” Stede wrapped his arm around Ed’s waist again and guided him next to their bed where he had laid out pajamas. He picked up a pair of silk boxers he had got Ed and knelt down. Holding Ed’s calves, he steddied him as Ed stepped into them, pulling them up to rest on his hips.
“Shirt or no shirt?” He questioned as he held up one of Ed’s clean t-shirts.
“No shirt” Ed mumbled
“Okay, you're done then sweetheart, into bed you go” Stede said sweetly, holding up the comforter for Ed to climb under. He did, albeit very clumsily, before dropping face first onto one of the fluffy pillows and closing his eyes. Stede turned around to go change himself but stopped when he heard a whine.
“Stedeeee, come backkk” Ed called like a child who was left alone.
“Give me a second hun, I'm just gonna change and brush my teeth” Stede said while quickly changing into his pajamas. He heard Ed huff in response as he went to the bathroom, his robe billowing behind him. By the time he came back he could tell Ed was almost asleep. He stood and stared at him for a second. It was the middle of the night and the moonlight was shining through their window, the blinds open but windows shut tight after the storm. Ed’s gray hairs shone brightly, standing out from the black strands. His braid fell on the pillow next to him, his cheek squished into the pillow. Stede knew he would start snoring if he slept like that. He crawled into bed quietly. Ed’s eyes cracked open, squinting at him in the dark.
“Come here” Stede whispered, holding out his arms as Ed rolled into him. Using the last of his energy to wrap himself up in Stede. His hands grabbed the front of Stede’s silk shirt, bunching it in his fists and fitting his head under Stedes chin. Stede twisted his leg around Ed, wrapping both his scarred legs inside his own. Stede could smell the orange and spices in his hair. He dropped a kiss to the top of his head, mumbling a quiet “goodnight sweetheart”
“G’night” Ed grumbled back, barely audible as he started drifting off to sleep. Stede rested his chin on Ed’s head and looked out their window, watching the ocean waves crash continuously against the boat.