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Stede emerges from the woods, panting. “Oh, you’re still here,” he says. “I was afraid you might have left.”
“I was about to,” Ed says. He takes Stede by the hand and leads him to the dinghy. “I thought you changed your mind.”
“What?” Stede sounds insulted. “No, of course I was always coming. But the guard who was supposed to escort me out got pulled into other duties. I had to figure out a way to escape on my own, and they were watching me like a hawk. You’d think the English didn't trust reformed pirates or something.”
“Shit,” Ed mutters. “Should’ve thought of a backup plan. Not safe to only rely on one exit.”
“It’s no matter,” says Stede. “We’re together now, right? That’s all that’s important.”
“Yeah,” Ed says, warmth unfurling in his chest. “That’s right.”
He knows they need to hurry, but he can’t resist pulling Stede close and kissing him. His lips are soft and sweet, and Ed can swear he can feel them smiling against his. When they part, Stede lets out a happy little sigh, and Ed wishes there were a way he could bottle it up so he could listen to it any time he wants.
Fortunately, there’s no need for that. They’re on their way to forever, and Ed will be able to hear all of Stede’s noises – his sighs, his laughs, and at some point, his moans – every single day.
Their journey is smooth, and after a day or so they encounter a French merchant ship. Stede, the absolutely deranged gentleman that he is, somehow convinces the merchants that transporting wares on others’ behalf is beneath them and they should instead seek their fortune in China. Ed quickly teaches them all they need to know, so they have a competent crew who can keep the ship pointing in the right direction while he and Stede delight themselves with more pleasurable matters.
They wake up each day tangled in each others’ arms; Ed, it seems, can never bring himself to stop touching Stede, even in his sleep, and Stede doesn’t mind at all. After some delightful morning kisses, they wash up and prepare for the day, and one of the crew, who happens to be an amazing pastry chef, brings them breakfast and a pot of tea. They fill their days dueling, reading, and exploring all the hidden treasures in the ship. It pales in comparison to the Revenge, of course, but it has its charm.
And then there are the nights. They don’t rush into exploring each other intimately. This is different, special, and they want to take their time. But when Ed feels Stede’s body pressed against his, all hot and aching for his touch, when he hears Stede’s gasps and moans and knows they’re for him and him alone, when he sees the way Stede’s eyes flutter shut until he forces them back open so he can fix Ed with an intense, desperate gaze as he watches him worship his body …
It’s more than Ed ever could have ever dreamed.
Stede holds him close and whispers in his ear, “I love you, Ed,” and “you’re wonderful” and “you make me so happy,” and Ed is so glad he decided to pursue the Gentleman Pirate and that he summoned all his courage to kiss him on the beach, because otherwise he never would have known it was possible to experience joy this pure.
It’ll take ages to reach China, but that doesn’t matter. Ed wouldn’t even care if they never made it at all. So long as their days could be just like this, forever, then –
“That’s it! Toss him overboard! Bye bye, Dizzy Izzy!”
Ed blinks.
Just as it had months ago, his imagination had led him to the Revenge.
Only this time when Ed steps on board it won’t be with intrigue and excitement for what the Gentleman Pirate might have in store for him.
It will only be with regrets for a life he might have lived by his side.