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The storm had come out of nowhere.
All hands were on deck as the crew of the Revenge desperately attempted to wrangle their ship against the high winds and currents, the task almost seeming like an impossible feat. Fangs and Wee John had made themselves useful by securing the sails and mast, whilst Edward tried to keep the boat upright amongst the violent waves.
Everyone else, on the other hand, was running around screaming. It was total chaos, and absolutely not the way a pirate ship was supposed to be run, even on a fair weathered day. Bonnet was attempting to round them up, his orders falling on deaf ears as the pandemonium continued before his very eyes.
By some good fortune it seemed as if they were almost through the worst of it, the sky ahead appearing like a blanket of dirty white on the horizon.
Then, almost as if the waters had heard his innermost thoughts, the ship suddenly lurched to the right. He yelled out as the ground beneath his feet abruptly disappeared, arms reaching forwards to grab at anything that could keep him tethered to the ship.
There was nothing.
Absolute weightlessness consumed his being as he descended towards the stormy sea, mirrored like a painting of an angel falling through a brimstone sky.
For a moment, it was almost peaceful.
Then, he hit the water.
It was a confusing feeling really, to find your legs above your head with no idea how they got there. The raging tides seemed to choke him, shadows of moonlight pulling him deeper and deeper into his watery grave as he flailed desperately beneath the surface.
He really should have learned how to swim….
He was about to give up, lungs straining painfully against his impending death, but he unexpectedly found himself being dragged to the surface instead, a pair of strong arms wrapped tightly around his torso.
Before he had time to process the ordeal he was back on deck, knees pressed into splintered wood as he choked up mouthfuls of salty water. He could hear the voices gathering around him, each one crueller and more condescending than the last.
“What kind of a pirate doesn’t know how to swim?”
“Looks like it’s time for Izzy the Spewer to get a new nickname!”
“Do you think we can finally chuck him off the ship for this?”
“Alright boys enough! Give him some space!”
He was met with a pair of concerned hazel eyes looking down at him, a halo of damp golden hair that broke through the sea of noise.
So, it had been Stede who had thrown himself overboard to save him. Somehow, he wasn't surprised.
“It’s ok boss, we were only messing with him!”
Stede looked almost offended on his behalf, face twisting into a perfect scowl as he rested a hand on his shoulder, the gesture almost protective.
“The man nearly drowned and you lot think it’s the time and place to make a joke?”
Edward spoke up next, his tone clearly conveying a sense of impartial reason.
“Calm down mate. He’s alright, aren’t you Iz?”
The questioning look that Edward shot him had him nodding briskly in response, too shaken up to do much else as icy droplets clung to his eyelashes. He was starting to feel the cold bite of the breeze now, soaking clothes doing very little to keep the chill from freezing him to the bone
“Besides, guys a dick anyway!” Lucius continued, voice carrying through the silence like an arrow on the wind. Laughter seemed to erupt around him, the sound echoing for what seemed like miles across the ever calming ocean.
“That’s enough!”
The Gentleman Pirate stood up in front of him, body poised in a way that was seemingly challenging the crew to make a further comment. It was odd really, to see a man who was usually so pitiful command such authority. Even Edward seemed a little surprised at outburst, a faint smirk playing across his lips.
“Come on Izzy, lets get you into some warmer clothes” Stede offered, voice much calmer now as he turned and searched his eyes for permission. He nodded frantically in response, eager to get away from the watchful eyes and judgement of the others.
Then, just like that, they were off, the man he had hated not too long ago shuffling him across the deck and down into the captains quarters, a sheepish looking Edward trailing behind them.
It was a nice feeling, he thought, to finally have someone that he could truly call his friend.