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After their daring escape from the British, the crew settled back into a pleasant existence on The Revenge. Well, more or less.
Izzy is on deck early, pinching the bridge of his nose as he stands in the shade of the mast with his coffee. His eyes are bloodshot from lack of sleep, and the sun is already too bright today. In general he doesn't need more than five hours to recharge himself, but even that was becoming difficult over the past few weeks.
It has been nice, actually starting to rebuild his friendship with Edward. They were becoming more comfortable and joking with each other, like the old days. Unfortunately, an old habit of Ed's had returned in the form of him bursting into Izzy's room in the middle of the night to get his opinion on new strategies, or better yet, fuckeries.
Izzy used to love that. Being the first person Ed wanted to tell his brilliant ideas to; so much so that he couldn’t wait until morning. However, after everything that had happened over the last year, specifically the first toe incident, Izzy could not mitigate the alarm it invoked being woken up by Ed, suddenly looming over him.
---the previous night---
Izzy managed to finally will himself to sleep around one o'clock, when an hour later his cabin door is flung open so fast, it hit the wall behind it with a bang, "Izzy! I had this awesome idea! What i-”
"HOLY FUCK EDWARD! FUCKING- Dammit-Ed, get the f-fuck out of here!" Izzy stutters, nearly falling out of his cot.
"Hey, sorry Iz, I just-"
"Tomorrow dammit! H-how many times do I have to tell you!?"
"Okay, okay, man, calm down,” Ed holds up his hands, “I'll, I'll try to write it down so I don’t forget it." Ed says as he awkwardly walks backwards out of the room, followed by a string of expletives.
---That Morning---
"What was that racket last night anyway?" Roach asks as he starts dolling out breakfast. Everyone is piling into their seats as he sets out their bowls and two fresh loaves of bread.
"Ugh, it sounded like Izzy telling Ed to fuck off out of his room again," Jim replied, picking up their portion.
"A lock would do him wonders, I bet," Archie added, hooking her chin on their shoulder to see what Roach had whipped up this morning, "Oooh, sweet, is that challah?"
"Is that why Izzy's been looking so tired?" Frenchie asks as he and Wee John walk in, "looks like you could knock him over with a feather sometimes, when nobodies lookin'."
"Just you," Wee John nudges him on their way to the food. Frenchie nudges back, but fortunately everyone is too busy eating to notice his blush.
"He isn't looking so hot this week, that's for damn sure," Lucius adds, leaning against the table. "Ed is getting better, especially since Izzy took that bullet, but he's still shit with the boundaries thing. And Izzy is nothing if not good at putting up with Ed being an idiot."
Frenchie ponders this as he snags the extra bowl Roach has ready for him.
---
Leaning against a barrel is helping his leg, but Izzy knows he needs to get moving if he's going to keep himself useful today. He's trying not to let his bleary eyes lose focus on the land they're heading toward when Frenchie sidles up to him.
"Hey Izzy! how's it going?" Frenchie asks far too cheerily, Izzy doesn't even want to turn his head, he sounds too sunny to look at.
"F'ckoff...too early to be sounding so pleasant. We haven't even reached Port Royal yet."
Frenchie says nothing to that, but holds out the bowl for him, which Izzy takes automatically with a muttered thanks. It's not the first, or even the tenth time Frenchie has thought to bring him breakfast when he's already up on deck. It saves him the trouble of making it back down the stairs on his hoof, although he has gotten quite adept at it now. He’s made a few more adjustments to the leg and straps since they've had a bit more leisure time. The bullet wound still gives him twinges more days than not though.
He's halfway through his food when Frenchie pipes up again, "Nice mornin'. Should put in this evening maybe?"
"Frenchie, you’re hangin' about like you want to ask me something, so just ask already."
"Right right, ok, well, I was thinking," Frenchie takes a moment to make sure no one else has come above deck yet, but he only sees Fang up at the wheel, and Auntie surveying things behind him. "I know you've been having trouble sleeping, and I know part of that is that Ed sometimes wakes you up in the middle of the night, and I know you tell him off, but he's not really getting the point is he..." Frenchie trails off.
"...Yeah, so? what's your point?" Izzy asks, attempting but failing not to sound exasperated. It's hard trying to be nicer all the time when you're running on fumes.
"Well,” Frenchie continues unperturbed, “I think I have an idea that would get him to leave you alone at night."
Izzy sighs, he can't imagine what might stop Edward from disturbing him, short of pushing him off the ship again and hoping the brisk sting of cold sea water would shock him into remembering to keep his ideas to himself until morning. "And what is your brilliant plan?"
"Well, it’s pretty simple really, what if you're just not alone?"
"What?"
"Well, what if someone else is with you next time he barges in? Make him think twice about popping in uninvited."
"And who would Ed be finding in my room, in the middle of the night, do you think?" Izzy takes another bite of his food.
"Well, I mean, I could help you out, if you like," Frenchie offers him an awkward smile and a comedic wink.
Izzy stares at him for a moment, unsure what the hell to say to that, "...Frenchie, I'm not saying it's a bad plan, but-"
“Well, let's give it a go then, shall we? Can't hurt, I mean, he's not the Kraken anymore, he's just being a bit of a prick."
Izzy huffs a laugh, and can't contain a grin as he turns his face back down to his food, “true, that.”
"Right then, I'll see you tonight," Frenchie says cheerily, “I mean, I’ll see you on deck in a bit, but I’ll see you tonight too,” he runs off back below deck before Izzy can make any objections.
"Fuck, what did I just agree to," Izzy sighs as he bites into his piece of bread. "...Fuck, I need to compliment Roach on this later."
---First Night---
Izzy opens the door of his cabin late that evening, and immediately questions if Frenchie intends to sleep in his cot with him. He was too tired to even consider that this morning. It's big enough for two people...barely. But obviously, if Ed barges in, it would look even odder to find Frenchie anywhere else in his room in the wee hours of the morning other than on the bed. His mind is about to spiral further with these questions, when a knock startles him out of it.
"Evenin' Iz," Frenchie says, cracking the door an inch, “Ok if I come in?" At least Frenchie is polite about it.
"Yeah, fine."
Frenchie lets himself in, closing the door behind him, and making sure the lever catches to hold the door shut. "There we go! Just did a quick run to the market with Roach." He turns to Izzy, who is leaning against the cot, "ready to get some shut eye?"
"That would be great. First things first though, you wear whatever you want, but, um,” Izzy looks down at his leg, “I can't sleep in my leathers...especially with the straps on all day now," Izzy explains.
"Oh, 'course! Make yourself comfortable, it's your room after all."
"Right."
“It was nice roomin’ with Wee John, but the vibes in there just weren’t right for us. This room is nice though. Snug. It suits you.”
Izzy looked around his small room, containing only his neat cot, a short chair, and a small table on which sat a whetstone and a new piece of wood waiting to be whittled. He wasn’t sure if it was a compliment, but it did certainly suit him better than their captains’ cabin, which was slowly collecting several knickknacks to refill its shelves.
The two begin getting ready for bed. Izzy mechanically removes his vest, unstraps his leg, leaning it at the end of the bed, and removes his leathers, keeping his shirt on, which fortunately reaches about halfway down his thighs. He gets onto the cot, grabbing an old sheet for a bit more cover in the situation. While he's doing this, Frenchie removes his long jacket, his vest, and scarf, then fiddles with his shirt ties and then his boot laces until Izzy is situated.
"Comfy?" Frenchie asks, settling in beside him.
“I’m fine,”
“Alright, well, g’night, then,” Frenchie smiles before turning over, lying on his side facing the doorway, as Izzy settles on his back. He hopes this isn’t going to be a long night.
---The Next Morning---
Izzy is surprised to find he's woken up naturally. No late night Ed barging in, but also no disruptions from the lanky man beside him. Frenchie is still there, and when Izzy sits up, he sees the man is balanced on the very edge of the bed, one arm and one leg dangling over the side. He looks like any movement will cause him to faceplant onto the floor, and Izzy's hand hovers over him for a second before he grips Frenchie's shoulder.
"Hey, Frenchie," he gives him a little shake, but Frenchie just hums quietly, and doesn't move. "Frenchie, wake up, you’re gonna fall off the bed."
Frenchie's eyes don't open, but his limbs wake up enough that his arm slung over the bed draws back up, and he jostles himself back fully to safety, then turns over, finally cracking an eye open to look up, and register Izzy above him.
"Oh, right, forgot where I was for a second," Frenchie grins, "you sleep okay?"
"I did actually."
Frenchie stretches his arms over his head, grazing his knuckles on the wall, "Great, you’re lookin’ better already."
“I’m gonna get up, you can sleep a bit longer if you like, it’s still early.”
“Thanks Iz,” Frenchie touches his arm before shimmying oddly to the side to let him out of the bed. “I’ll bring your breakfast up later, ” he murmurs before covering his head with the pillow when Izzy lights the candle.
---Night Two---
Frenchie is slipping out of his vest already when Izzy pauses after stepping out of his leathers.
"Frenchie, I’m not sure you-"
"Did I snore?" Frenchie asks suddenly.
"What?" Izzy asks, his thought train derailed immediately.
"Did I snore last night? I hope not, I usually don't but sometimes-”
"No, you didn't." Izzy assures him, “not enough to wake me anyway.”
"Oh, good! Don't want to keep you awake when I'm trying to help you sleep, eh?" He grins.
"Well, I was going to say, you don't have to, you know." Izzy
"Not a problem! I mean, unless you don’t want me to stay," Frenchie pauses in removing his boots to look up at him.
"No, I mean, I appreciate you wanting to help me…"
Frenchie's brows raise expectantly.
"I. Yeah. You can stay."
"Okay,” Frenchie smiles. “Oh! I got you something today!”
“What?” Izzy frowns.
“In town,” Frenchie picks up his jacket he’d carried in with him, which had been covering a black bundle of fabric. “Here,” He shakes out part of the pile to reveal a very long black shirt, “I got you a nightshirt, since you probably don’t like sleepin’ in the one you’ve been wearing all day. And!” He grabs the other piece off the floor, “A new blanket! Yours looked a bit ratty, an’ I thought...well, I just thought you’d like a new one, maybe…” He says, seeming to become a bit self conscious of his choices.
“Frenchie, you didn’t have to do that!” Izzy says exasperated. “Don’t waste your cut on me.”
“Oh, it’s fine Iz! I got some excellent grifting done today. Some rich git thinks the got a great deal on some jewellery for our last raid. It was all cheap gawdy fakes,” Frenchie winks, “anyway, I was lookin’ at a stall earlier, but it was all quite colourful fabrics. I asked the lady if she had anything in black, and she swipes the bits I was lookin’ at, goes ‘round the corner where her daughters are stirring these enormous pots, and tosses ‘em in! Said to come back this evening for ‘em,” Frenchie grins, “Perfect timing I guess.”
Izzy picks up the shirt. It’s definitely supposed to be a sleeping shirt similar to some of Stede’s. It’ll probably land at his knees it’s so long, and the neck is open wider and lower than his day shirt. It’s actually quite a good quality cotton. “Thanks,” He murmurs.
Once they’ve finished changing for sleep he picks up the new blanket. It does feel much nicer than his old one, and the fact that Frenchie had even thought to ask for items in black when he didn’t really need them to be, was the most thoughtful someone had been for him in some time.
---Day Three---
“So, where have you been?,” Lucius corners Frenchie when he enters the mess for lunch.
“Umm, on deck? You were just up there too. Did you get too much sun today?”
“I mean the last two nights. You weren’t with us on deck, and you weren’t with poly pile were you?”
“Not with us,” Zheng answers before Frenchie can speak.
“Why d’you care where I’m sleeping?”
“Oh, no reason. I just noticed someone is looking a lot better the last few days,” Lucius raises and eyebrow in query.
“Oh come on Luce, we all know where he’s been,” Jackie chuckles.
“I think it’s quite sweet, the two of you,” The Swede adds as he carries over his and Jackie’s portions to the table she’s seated at.
“He can definitely use some sweetness right about now,” Jackie continues, “and I don’t think I have to tell you to be careful with him.”
“I know,” Frenchie nods.
“Sorry, who are you all talking about?” Archie asks from across the room. Just then the tell-tale thunk of a hoof coming down the hallway causes the conversation to halt. Jim points in the direction of the door. “Oh! I got it,” Archie whispers, giving them a thumbs up, then directing the gesture to Frenchie.
When Izzy enters, everyone automatically looks over to him, “...The fuck are all of you looking at?” he asks to cut the odd tension, “I know I’m ruggedly handsome, but try to keep your shirts on.”
“You know, I am looking for a restock on husbands, Baby.”
“Oh, fuck off Jackie.” Izzy smirks.
---Night Three---
"Hey, Izzy!” Ed barges in, “Oh you will not believe this fuckery I’ve got planned fo-for-Frenchie?"
"Jeez Ed! It’s the middle of the fuckin' night!” Frenchie shouts, pushing himself up so fast he nearly falls off the edge of the cot again, and has to catch himself with one foot on the floor. “Unless the ship is under attack or on fire, you can talk to Izzy tomorrow, ok?"
Ed takes a full five seconds to register what he's seeing in the dim light of the lantern he brought with him. "Oh-oh! shit sorry guys, I didn't-I'll, yeah, I’m just gonna-yeah." Ed makes a twitchy motion to leave, before turning back, “Sorry, when did this become a thing?”
“Later Ed!” Frenchie barks, rising aggravation clear in his voice.
“Right, out, going! Ugh, sorry.”
Frenchie feels Izzy shift behind him as Ed turns on his heel and leaves, pulling the door shut, mouthing another sorry on the way out. "No wonder you haven't gotten much sleep man," Frenchie sighs now, fumbling to light the candle next to him on the little table and turns over to Izzy, "is he always so- woah, Izzy, you alright Babe??"
Izzy's pressing his back against the wall, his breathing fast and ragged. He'd hoped Frenchie wouldn't see him like this; that another person in the room would distract his anxiety after Ed burst in yet again, but the panic came as it usually does. He knew he'd be in for another good hour of trying to calm himself down, only this time with an audience if Frenchie stayed for it all.
"What can I do to help?" Frenchie sits up, but Izzy holds out a hand to stop him.
He shakes his head, then covers his heated face with his hands and turns sideways to curl into himself, "-Just-" he struggles, but he can't get out any more than that.
Frenchie hesitantly puts a hand on his back, and when Izzy doesn't pull further away, he starts to rub circles there.
"Deep breaths babe, in and out. That usually helps right?"
Izzy is scrubbing his face in his hands, too hard. He's trying to regulate his breathing, but now it's coming in shaky, uneven breaths. He feels Frenchie's other hand snake under his arm and press to Izzy's chest, as if he’s trying to gauge Izzy’s heartbeat.
"That’s good Iz, just keep breathin', you're alright." The hand on his back is now massaging up and down from the back of his neck to between his shoulder blades in a pace that encourages him to lengthen his breaths, and damn that does help. It usually takes him what feels like hours to finally ground himself after one of these bouts. A few times he’s even strapped his leg back on so he could get up to the deck, because his cabin was simply too stuffy to breathe.
After a few more minutes, his breathing is much calmer, Frenchie's hand slows to a stop, and Izzy finally sucks in a few long deep breaths before he lets his hands fall into his lap, taking Frenchie's hand on his chest with them. His head falls backwards as he lets out a quiet "Fuuuuuck".
Frenchie huffs a laugh, and grips Izzy's forearm, "There, that sounds more like yourself. No wonder you haven't been sleeping. He's lucky you haven't skewered him, rushin' in like that. He gave me a good fright too."
Izzy groans and flops back onto the thin mattress, flinging an arm over his face "Don't tell the others it's this bad, okay?"
"I'm not gonna say anything Babe, nothin’ leaves this room, I promise. But I also know nobody on this crew would make fun of you for it. Jim, Archie, Fang, Lucius and me; we all had some definite trauma responses when the crew got back together. But we know it’s been worse for you.”
"Thank you, Frenchie…"
"Alright, now that's sorted, do you want to sleep like before, or can I put an arm around you?"
Izzy raises his arm to look up at him in the dim candlelight. Frenchie looks...hopeful? Or maybe just worried for him. He lets his arm fall back over his eyes, "Yeah, why the fuck not. Put the candle out."
He feels Frenchie lean over to blow out the candle and flop down beside him, then a long arm pulling the blanket back over his chest before draping over his middle. He still smells of oranges and spices from helping Roach stock up at the market.
“...You can cry if you need to, you know,” Frenchie whispers just above his ear, “I can pretend I’m asleep.”
“Im fine now Frenchie, don’t worry about me.”
“If you say so…” Frenchie sighs, and settles in.
Ten seconds of silence go by before Izzy hears the most overdramatic fake snoring he’s ever heard. He can’t hold back a bark of laughter, giving Frenchie’s arm a smack, “Go to sleep you twat!”
“What!? I was totally fast asleep just now Babe, why’d you wake me?” Frenchie punctuates his mock hurt, giving Izzy’s middle a squeeze.”
Izzy laughs, covering Frenchie’s arm with his own, and leaving it there.
---The Next Day---
"I'm so glad you've talked with me about this Izzy!" Stede exclaims, getting up from the couch, and walking around it in thought, "I'm ashamed to say I hadn't noticed Ed was leaving our cabin so often at night. I'm afraid once I'm asleep, I’m quite dead to the world. However! Now that I know, I'll do my best to explain this situation to Edward. I do think it would be good for you two to talk it through as well, though, don't you think?"
Izzy sighs, he knows it's true. "I'll talk to him tomorrow, after you clear it up for him a bit."
"That's excellent Izzy. I know it's been...well, it's been a hell of a lot for you over this last year, and anything I can do to make this ship a safe space for everyone, including you, I'll happily work towards."
"Thanks, Bonnet." Izzy averts his eye to the recently replaced curtains in the library nook so he doesn’t have to meet the other man’s well-meaning gaze.
"Stede, Izzy," he smiles encouragingly.
"Stede, yeah, workin’ on that." Izzy says as he takes a few steps towards the door. It’s time to leave before any more feelings are discussed.
"Also, I'm so pleased to hear about you and Frenchie, I had no idea you two were already an item."
"Well, it's not- already?" Izzy’s head whips back to his captain, now sitting on the edge of his desk.
"I mean, I could see Frenchie's interest in you of course.” Stede smiles, “You two have been quite a bit closer since the crew split up. I just didn't know romance was involved."
"You could see it? From Frenchie?" Izzy asks, trying not to sound too surprised.
"Well, yes,” Stede looks looks up, as if laying out all his facts on the ceiling, “he was around you quite often just after we all got back together, and very attentive after your gunshot wound. Oh, and he makes sure you've been eating properly! It's the little things isn’t it, that really show you how people feel.”
“Right...”
“Well, I’ll let you get back to your tasks,” Stede gives him another warm smile, “I really am happy for you Izzy.”
Izzy nods sharply before turning and swiftly leaving the room. He rounds the corner in the hall, slowing as he does, and pauses as his hand rests on the door knob to let himself out onto the deck. His heartrate is picking up, but he allows himself several slow, deep breaths to ground himself. He can hear Frenchie’s encouraging words in his ear from the night before, annoying and soothing him at the same time. His brows pinch together, and he allows himself a final sigh into the quiet of the entryway before opening the door and getting back to his duties.
---Night Four---
Frenchie is about to knock on his door that evening when Izzy opens it and props himself in the doorway. "Oh, evenin' Iz. You’re lookin’ a bit tired again. Last night wasn’t great though I suppose.”
"Better than it would have been, with you there.” Izzy begins, “Look, Frenchie, I’ve had a talk with Bonnet. He's going to speak with Ed about -boundaries and all that, and then I'll have a chat with Ed tomorrow about, well, everything.”
"Oh, that’s great!" Frenchie exclaims, "I'm proud of you for working it out with them. And I'm glad you won't have to go through that again. I’d have had a talk with Ed myself if I had to see you like that another night." Frenchie gives him a pleased smile, and waits patiently with his pillow in his arms.
"So…” Izzy starts, “what I’m saying is you- I appreciate you helping me out, but you don't have to stay anymore, is what I’m trying to say."
Frenchie's grin falters at that, "Oh, right.” he straightens himself up, “So, umm," Frenchie looks side to side down the hallway, more as something to do with himself than making sure the coast is clear, before his eyes land back on Izzy, "you didn't want me to though,...did you?" His brows raise.
"It doesn't matter what I want," Izzy shrugs.
"Okay, for one thing, of course it bleedin’ well does, and for another, I want to know if what you want is the same as what I want." Frenchie pauses, but when he only sees hesitation in Izzy's face, he sighs. "Look, Babe, I know you're giving me an out, and I wasn't doing this to get into your bed...well not exactly. But now that I have been, I wouldn't mind continuing to keep you company,...and more, if you want that too."
In truth, Izzy knew Frenchie must have some sort of interest in him even before Stede had mentioned it, but he'd chosen to believe it was a short passing thing. A connection during their worst times on board when Frenchie just needed some tethers, and Izzy happened to be one. So he'd been trying not to attach himself to the idea of keeping Frenchie's private company for long. He didn't expect Frenchie to come right out and offer a continuing, romantic relationship just like this.
Izzy's mouth opens and closes a few times, in an attempt to convey...something.
"Should I give you some time to think on that?" Frenchie asks, his brows knitting together.
"No-," Izzy’s hand shoots out, grabbing Frenchie's wrist to keep him there.
Frenchie’s grin slowly spreads across his face again as he's pulled inside and the door is closed behind him. Izzy leans against the back of the door once the latch clicks, and reaches up to pull Frenchie down into a slow kiss that spans several minutes before Frenchie pulls back to look at him.
"Okay, I think that's the best first kiss I've ever had," Frenchie chuckles, tugging lightly on Izzy's tie.
"I'm thorough in everything I do.” Izzy smirks, “However, I am still pretty tired from, well, everything. I hope you don't mind just sleeping again tonight?”
"Of course not, Babe! Up for cuddling though?"
"Fuck yes."
The two of them get ready for bed, this time Frenchie tosses off his shirt and trousers as well, and pulls the blanket over them both. Once they're comfortable in bed and the candle is put out, he pulls Izzy against him, one hand slipping through the low V of Izzy’s shirt, running his fingers through his chest hair, to Izzy’s amusement.
“Did you buy it for that feature?” Izzy chuckles.
“I may have seen future opportunities in it.”
After a few moments of quiet comfort Frenchie murmurs "...Okay, we're definitely gonna sleep, promise, but,” he can feel Frenchie’s fingers fiddling with his loose shirt tie, “maybe we could make out for just a little while first?" Frenchie’s forehead gently nudging his.
Izzy laughs until he finds Frenchie's lips with his own in the darkness.