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It wasn't supposed to be like that. It wasn't what Izzy had planned, not in the slightest. He didn't have an actual plan if he was honest, just this... anger inside. But was it really anger? Or was it disgust, maybe, at what Edward has become? Jealousy of the new, better thing that had failed to include him? Was it all three? Izzy didn't know. He didn't need to know, certainly not now with Edward nearly blackout drunk on his hands. Where did it all go so wrong?
"Edward," he started, careful, knowing damn well he was stepping onto thin ice, "put the bottle down."
First mate Hands had barely recognised his own voice at that moment. Izzy Hands wasn't careful with his words, he wasn't gentle and God was his witness, he's never spoken softly to anyone. He liked to believe so, anyway. This uncharacteristically soothing tone must've also confused his captain in more ways than one, judging from the way Blackbeard obeyed, letting the bottle fall onto the floor next to him.
"Stede?" Blackbeard asked, his voice cracking as he looked up, looked at Izzy for what felt like the first time in weeks, no trace of repulsion in his gaze. But he wasn't seeing Izzy, was he? "Stede! Please! I'm sorry, I won't touch it again, I swear!" The man babbled as he advanced at Izzy, tears smearing his dark makeup all over his face. It was pathetic to look at. The Kraken, weeping, broken in his cabin. Yet all of that ceased to matter as this broken shell collapsed into Izzy, arms clinging to whatever fabric they could reach, muffled pleas spilling into the shorter man's collar.
Stupid fucking Stede Bonnet.
"I won't leave you, Ed," Izzy whispered, dragging his captain towards the bed. At least in this state, he could get Edward to finally rest. "I won't leave you ever again"
His words weren't heard, and the gesture wasn't thought of more than in this very moment. The moment where he was Stede and Blackbeard was Ed. This could never last, though. Blackbeard would probably take something else if Izzy dared speak of this moment. What else was there to do, other than play along?
"I love you, Ed. I'm sorry I left you like this. I had no right." Izzy hummed into his captain's ear. His eyes burned, but no tear dared to fall. "I'll always be by your side. And I'll always love you. I won't hurt you ever again."
This night was probably the most peaceful one on the Revenge in months.