Chapter Text
Six months had passed since Stede Bonnet, aka Captain Edwards, and his crew returned to their ship . The Revenge had been renamed “Love’s Victory” much to the chagrin of the more serious pirates on board. Izzy Hands took to calling it “Victory” and so that is what most of them used to reference the ship. They fell into an easy rhythm of sailing the Caribbean and, well, being pirates.
With daily lessons on sailing, navigating, weather and ship maintenance, Stede was learning quickly and spent most of his days on the deck engaging in the business of being co-captain. Gone were the days of him needing help up and down a rope ladder. It seemed that each day made him stronger and able to earn the respect of his crew on his own merits. Even his decision making was coming along with Edward’s coaching.
Edward, who thought he couldn’t feel any stronger about Stede than he already did, felt a swell of love and pride every time he mastered something new. There were days that he worked so hard that Ed had to remind him that they had a crew for a reason and the captain wasn’t supposed to do everything on the boat. If gentle chiding didn’t work, Ed would sidle up and whisper into his ear. Stede would simultaneously break into a huge smile while a deep red flush crept across his face. It normally did not take long after that for the two captains to retire to their cabin for the rest of the evening.
The content of those whispers were the subject of much speculation on the part of the crew.
For the sake of the Blackbeard reputation, raids remained violent affairs. Edward and Stede let Izzy take the lead when it came to plundering. It gave him an important purpose and provided an outlet for his more aggressive tendencies. No one would say that Izzy was happy about life on Victory, but he was a man of his word. He did his best not to abuse the crew and most of his bile towards Stede was kept behind closed doors. He was not perfect and there were times he slipped up but a quick, sour look from Edward normally made him back down and mumble an apology.
It was a line that Edward would not tolerate being crossed. He was as protective of Stede as he had ever been of anything in his life. While Stede was good natured and often let minor slights go, Ed could fume about the smallest of things for days if he felt that Stede had been wronged in some fashion. Stede found it amusing that he was the one insulted but Ed was the one who would get irrationally angry about it.
While Stede enjoyed everything he was learning on deck during the day, he lived for his nights with Edward. Whether he was helping Ed learn to read or they were talking about the day's events over brandy, he never tired of being near him. After particularly long days, they would curl up with their arms around each other in their bed and talk until one of them could no longer keep their eyes open. He could listen to Ed talk all night if his body didn’t need sleep.
On other nights, their desire for one another made it difficult for them to keep their hands off the other until they were in the privacy of their cabin. They tried to be discreet in front of the crew but stolen kisses and sexual teasing and taunting were common when they thought no one was looking. Stede was eager to learn absolutely everything about pleasing his lover. He was in awe of how wonderful Ed could make him feel and he wanted to be able to do the same for him.
They started slow. Lazy nights of exploring one another’s bodies, caressing and kissing as they went. Edward was so very patient with indulging Stede, answering his questions and letting him learn as he went. Eventually they worked up to passionate nights of bodies tangled in the sweat-dampened sheets as they brought one another to climax. After so many years of believing he was not meant for physical affection, Stede was like a starving man who just walked into a banquet. There was nothing he wasn’t willing to experience. He wanted it all.
Edward had never lacked for sexual partners over the years. Men and women alike were eager to please the famous pirate in any manner he desired. While it was good for a tension release, there was nothing loving about it. Taking care of his own needs got the same result and there was no chance of entanglements or expectations of a relationship. But things were different with Stede. He was not the kind of man you screwed against a wall in the hold and then walked away from. He delighted in his joy and wonder at every new sensation. He yearned to make Stede feel wonderful and loved. And when that love was returned, well, Edward was sure his heart would simply burst in his chest. Whether their lovemaking was slow and tender or fueled with the desire of immediate need, it was better than anything he had ever experienced.
The crew went between being relieved that the two of them had sorted things out and rolling their eyes over their saccharine sweet romance. There was a great deal of cognitive dissonance - on board Edward would laugh and smile, looking across the deck lovingly at Stede. Then they would go aboard another vessel with Blackbeard, sporting a full fake beard rescued from Jim, who would maim at will and frighten even the most seasoned sailors.
“I wonder if he’s Blackbeard or Edward in bed,” Pete mused one night after Stede had finished the nighttime story and the captains had retired to their cabin.
“Why can’t he be both?” Swede spoke up. The other pirates considered this for a moment.
Lucius laughed. “Who cares as long as they are both getting some?”
There was general murmuring among the crew and agreement that the captains were far more pleasant people once they got over themselves and allowed nature to take its course.
“I still have trouble picturing Old Captain….” Wee John started and was immediately cut off by Oluwande.
“No, man, I don’t need to picture Captain Bonnet… shit. Too late.”
Jim laughed and punched Oluwande’s arm.
Everyone joined in the laughter as Frenchie dealt the cards. “We can talk about our co-captains’ sex life or we can play.”
“I say play!” exclaimed Roach as he picked up his cards. The crew gathered round and began their game, joking with one another and laughing as the Victory sailed into the night.
~~
Stede sipped his brandy and smiled broadly.
“What’s up, mate?” Ed sat down next to him on the settee. He took a swig of his brandy and looked squarely at Stede.
“I like the sound of the crew laughing and joking with one another. It’s the sign of a happy crew.”
“You know they are probably laughing about us, right?” Edward put his hand on Stede’s thigh, leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek.
“I am oddly fine with that, actually,” Stede nodded. “They’re just jealous.”
The quip elicited a hearty laugh from Edward. “Yeah, mate. And they should be.” Edward put down his glass and put his hand on Stede’s cheek, moving closer until his lips were almost on Stede’s. “But they can’t have you.”
That made Stede laugh as Edward went to kiss him, missing his mark and ending up kissing Stede’s chin instead.
There was more laughter. Ed was getting used to humor as a part of his love life. At first he wasn’t sure how to take it. But loving Stede was so easy, so comfortable he knew in his heart that he was not being laughed at but laughed with. Blackbeard’s life did not contain much laughter before he met the Gentleman Pirate and he didn’t realize how much he needed it.
Edward downed his brandy and set the glass on a fine wood table they’d gotten from a Prussian vessel they’d raided the week before. He was slowly replacing all of the items he had thrown overboard and their cabin was looking far less spartan.
“Now finish your drink and get your ass over to that bed or I’m going to take you right here on this fancy couch,” Ed stood up and began getting undressed.
Stede’s smile broadened. “Aye, aye my captain.”