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They’d been bickering all day: Stede had rolled up on the wrong side of the bed in the morning and made it everyone’s problem, and Ed had frustrated himself with reorganizing the ship’s hold. The amount of finery they’d amassed in their brief on-again flirtation with piracy was lovely, but also a fucking pain to keep track of, and Stede never wanted to part with any of it.
Even if Ed insisted it was necessary that Stede downsize his tureen collection to keep the ship floating all the way back to their inn.
They’d fought over bread at the lunch table, and Stede had stepped on Ed’s foot by accident after dinner, and all of his body and mind ached. It had escalated to a mindless and pointless yelling match where Frenchie cordoned them to separate sides of the ship.
Ed had hid in the cabin, the captain’s cabin (which they occupy when they stay on the Revenge because it was Stede’s cabin first), while Stede read the crew a bedtime story like old times. No amount of marital bickering or marital bliss outweighed Stede’s devotion to literature, and that was endearing but also an unbearable cock block at the worst of times.
Not that Ed really wanted that at the moment. He wanted to finish his sherry and go to bed and be cozy and not have to think until dawn brought a whole new set of responsibilities.
But he couldn’t sleep, not yet, because they’d promised each other that no matter how upset they were, even and especially with each other, they’d always go to sleep together. They take turns holding each other every night.
Stede read somewhere that it makes for stronger relationships and better sex and overall increased quality of life. Something like that.
Ed can’t remember. He’s tired and frustrated and his foot hurts and his knee always hurts and the sherry isn’t good enough without someone to laugh over it with and this is stupid, but he waits.
Ed is beginning to nod off on the chaise when Stede returns, slotting the thick book from under his arm back into the library. “Sorry that took so long. They insisted on finishing the chapter and I wasn’t really in the mood to be held at knife point again if I refused,” he sours.
Ed grumbles, raising himself like the walking dead and ambling to the bed, shedding his robe and swatting the curtain aside to fall into the plush sheets brought from home.
“‘M tired. Hurry up.”
“I am! Stop being so impatient. I need to properly lotion my hands,” Stede insists, going to the washroom, and Ed groans in frustration.
By the time Stede slips into bed, Ed is practically jumping out of his skin with how fucking patient he’s being by not throwing himself into the ocean.
It’s his turn to be the little spoon, so Ed quickly settles himself on Stede.
The moment he presses his cheek to Stede’s warm bare chest and feels his husband’s arms curl close around him, the day melts away. He smells like vanilla and he’s got his hand in Ed’s hair, massaging at his scalp, and Ed lets out a pleased hum, kissing over Stede’s heart.
“Really is like fuckin’ magic,” he mumbles after a long moment, tightening his grip on Stede.
Stede sighs, and Ed can practically hear his bones creak with it. “It really is,” he agrees.
“Don’t go anywhere.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Stede murmurs back, kissing at his hairline, coaxing his fingers through the waves. “Get some sleep.”
“Nuh uh, I want my goodnight kisses,” Ed pouts, looking up at Stede through the loose hair in his face.
Stede moves the curtain of silver from his face and kisses him the same way he does every night: once on his forehead, once on each cheek, once on his lips, and once on his nose to make him laugh. It's the same way that Ed always thinks he’ll never want again in a million years when he’s been simmering all day, and then he finds himself snuggled up to Stede in bed and unable to bear going unkissed for a single night.
“Love you,” Ed murmurs, taking his hand and kissing it. “Hold me,” he adds.
“Alright,” Stede grins. “I love you too,” he replies, resuming his stroking through Ed’s hair as Ed resettles on his chest, tucked under his chin.
They lay in content silence for a few minutes, listening to the rise and fall of the waves and each other’s breathing. Ed feels the tension leech from his body at the familiar sensation of Stede’s body under him and around him, his carding hands.
“Frankly, I don't even remember why I was mad at you,” Stede says simply into the silence, and Ed knows what he means. It's a reminder of how well they fit together.
“Was stupid,” Ed mumbles, pressing a kiss to his chest. “‘S’nothing. Forget it.”
Stede nods. “Yeah, alright. Well, please wear your hair down more often, Ed,” he murmurs, “You’re so gorgeous like this.”
“Mmm,” Ed hums, because he’ll say or do anything for Stede’s coaxing hands in his mane and his gentle touches over Ed’s spine and shoulders. He’s a fucking well kept man and it would do him well not to forget it. “Only if you let me mess up yours.”
Stede chuckles softly. “You tussle it better than I or the wind can,” he affirms.
“Wanna be more cozy,” Ed complains, winding his arms more firmly around Stede’s middle.
Stede pulls the blankets up to Ed’s ears. “This good?”
Ed nuzzles under it, getting comfortable, and stays there for a minute.
“Stede?” Ed lets out.
“Yes, darling?”
“Lied. Want more kisses,” he mumbles through the fabric.
Stede lifts the blanket just enough for Ed to poke his head out and capture his lips in a content hum.
“You taste like sherry,” Stede notes, breathing on his lips between kisses.
“Wasn’t as good without you,” Ed says, pressing a sloppy kiss to the corner of his mouth. He tries to kiss him again, and ends up poking his tongue at Stede’s cheek.
“Ed,” Stede chuckles, “You’re tired. You’re missing my mouth entirely. Time to sleep.”
“Hm? No, meant to…meant to do that,” Ed mumbles, kissing at his nose and his chin like he would Stede’s lips, and Stede laughs again.
He finds Ed’s mouth for one last indulgent peck before making Ed settle down on his chest. Ed nuzzles into him almost childlike in his drowsy, tipsy state.
“Night night,” Ed murmurs, falling away to sleep as Stede tucks the blankets back up around him just the way he likes.
“Night,” Stede echoes, kissing the top of his husband’s head and settling into a peaceful sleep of his own.