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The trunk Stede carries into the captain’s cabin is heavy, even though it’s neither filled with gold nor silver or jewellery. It’s a different kind of treasure. A kind of treasure that has taken over Stede’s thoughts the moment he saw it hanging in one of the cabins…
‘Hey, babe, how was the raid?’
Ed smiles at him, and it makes Stede’s heart melt. He is so beautiful, lounging on their bed, dressed in one of his robes. He has several of his own now, Stede made sure of that, each made from another luxurious fabric. The one he is wearing right now is made from fine Himalayan wool. It’s bright yellow, with an exquisite pattern of suns, moons, and stars. Stede will never tire of seeing Ed cuddled up in these gowns, being comfortable and cared for. He usually stays home nowadays while they crew goes on raids, because Ed has seen enough violence for several lifetimes. But he always relishes in Stede telling him tales about the bravery of the crew and their gallant captain.
‘Raid was good’ Stede stammers. ‘Yeah. Good stuff, great work. The crew had fun. They’ll sleep well tonight, I think.’
His fingertips drum nervously on the sides of the trunk. It was just an idea, a spontaneous thought. Maybe it was stupid…
‘Whatcha got there, honey?’
Ed’s voice tears him from his musings.
‘I, er… Well, I got you something.’
As Stede heaves the trunk on the table, Ed smiles and rises from the bed. He ambles over to him, takes Stede’s face between his hands, and kisses him sweetly. Stede sighs. He could spend whole days just kissing him…
‘You don’t have to bring me gifts all the time, love,’ Ed whispers.
‘I know, I know. But I want to. Anyway, er…’ Stede’s fingers trace nervously across the lid of the trunk. ‘This is something a bit… different. I thought you might like it, but it’s fine if you don’t! I just saw it and… I don’t know. It’s just an idea.’
‘You know that I love your ideas, babe.’
When Stede still hesitates, Ed opens the trunk himself – and his face lights up at the sight of the pale blue and gold fabric inside, like that of a child’s on Christmas morning. No matter how many times Stede brings him lovely things to wear, he is always delighted again. As always, Ed immediately reaches out to feel the fabric.
‘It’s silk, this time,’ Stede explains. ‘Proper silk. I’ve been trying to get some for you for a while now.’
‘It’s so soft.’ Ed’s face is rapt. He pulls the garment out of the trunk and lifts it up to reveal a ruffly, pale blue petticoat. He looks at it in wonder while Stede gnaws at his lower lip.
‘It’s, er, it’s a dress. It’s… I just saw it and thought how pretty it would look on you, so I took it. But if you don’t want to wear it, it’s fine, of course…’
Stede’s voice trails off feebly, while Ed silently stares at the skirt in his hands, feeling it’s fabric as if he’s not noticing anything else around him.
‘I don’t know how to put it on,’ he says quietly.
‘I do!’ Stede shouts it louder than he would have liked, he’s so nervous. ‘I mean, it’s meant to be put on you by someone else anyway, so, er…’
Ed turns to him to hand him the petticoat with an expectant look in his eyes, and Stede’s heart skips a beat with joy
‘You do want to wear it?’
‘Yes.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Really fucking sure, babe.’
‘Okay. Yeah. Great.’ Stede is still so nervous about all of this that his hands are shaking. Carefully, he puts the petticoat aside. ‘That comes later,’ he explains, then turns to the trunk to pull out a white linen garment. ‘First, the shift.’
Ed squints his eyes at it suspiciously. ‘That doesn’t look so nice.’
‘Oh, but it is. It’s finely woven linen. Here, feel it.’
Ed’s face lights up as he rubs the fabric between his fingers. ‘Does feel nice,’ he mutters.
Stede loves the way Ed is still discovering so many good things about the world, and the way he appreciates them so innocently.
‘Well, it must feel nice, because it goes under everything. So first you would have to, er… take everything else off…’
Ed smirks as he sheds his robe without any qualms. He is completely naked underneath, and Stede’s mouth goes dry. He should be used to seeing him like this by now, but it’s a miracle to him each and every time. Still, Stede manages to lift up the shift for Ed to slip into it. It’s a simple, shapeless dress, but Ed looks good in it anyway, just as he did in the burlap sack. Ed looks good in everything. Sometimes Stede still wonders, how he ever got so lucky.
But that doesn’t matter now, there are things to do. He rummages around in the trunk to pull out a few more pieces.
‘Stockings next,’ he explains.
Ed’s eyes go wide as he sees them. They are silk, too, soft and shiny, and they come with gold-coloured ribbon garters.
‘You alright?’ Stede asks, and Ed nods. ‘We’ll only do this if you…’
‘Yes, yes! Go on.’
Ed looks eager now, still a little spooked, but mostly excited. So Stede goes down on his knees and encourages Ed to lift one leg. Ed does, steadying himself on Stede’s shoulders. As the silk touches his skin, he gasps and sways a bit.
‘Everything okay?’ Stede asks.
‘Yeah.’ Ed’s voice is low and hoarse. ‘Yes. They feel really nice.’
‘They look nice, too.’
Stede slowly rolls the stocking up Ed’s calf and thigh until it comes to rest above his knee. He binds the garter gently around it, tightening it into a delicate bow. The white of the stocking contrasts perfectly with Ed’s dark skin, the gold compliments his complexion beautifully. Stede can’t help himself, he leans down to softly kiss Ed’s inner thigh just above the stocking. Ed sighs deliciously. His hand grabs Stede’s hair, and they both balance on the edge of wanting to undress Ed again, instead of dressing him. But Stede musters the strength to turn to Ed’s other leg, and with soft pressure against his calf making him lift that one. The silk stocking softly grazes Ed’s skin, making him hum pleasantly until Stede ties this one up all the way above his knee, too, and plants another kiss there.
The corset is next. Stede holds it for Ed, so he can slip into it. Already, he gets an idea of how the finished thing will look like and it’s exciting. He has to calm his breath to not get dizzy. Softly, he turns Ed around, so he can lace up the back. Stede takes his time and goes gently on it, not wanting to overwhelm Ed. But Ed wiggles nevertheless, looking back at him over his shoulder, shimmying left and right nervously.
‘Too tight?’ Stede asks.
‘No. No, that’s not… Can you make it tighter?’
Stede halts. ‘Tighter?’
‘Yes.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes.’
‘Alright.’ Stede hooks his fingers around the laces and carefully pulls them towards him. ‘Tell me if it’s too tight.’
Ed sighs as his waist cinches in.
‘Tighter,’ he breathes hoarsely.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes. It feels good when you pull it tight.’
Stede’s insides tingle when he hears that. His heart skips a beat. He lets out a long breath to steady himself, then dutifully wraps the laces around his knuckles so he can cinch Ed in even more. Ed moans at that, making Stede’s hands tremble with excitement.
‘Yes, babe,’ he mutters. ‘Like that. Feels good.’
With his trembling hands, it takes Stede too long to tie the laces up in a neat bow at the small of Ed’s back. He didn’t think it would be so exciting. Honestly, he didn’t even think that far at all.
All that’s left to do now is fasten the pale blue petticoat around Ed’s hip and help him into the gold gown that Stede buttons up in the front. Then he takes a step back and swallows when he sees his the result of his work.
For a moment he is afraid that Ed in a dress might remind him of Mary, but he doesn’t at all. Where Mary is handsome, strict, practical, Ed is soft like a petal, sweet, pretty. He stands in front of Stede, hands clasped in front of his new petticoat, cheeks blushing a soft pink.
‘How do I look?’ he asks shyly, and only then Stede realises that he has been staring at him without a word for quite some time.
‘Gorgeous,’ he whispers truthfully. ‘Beautiful.’ He steps in again, so he can kiss him. ‘You wear fine things so well.’
Ed blushes a deeper shade of pink, and it makes him all the more beautiful.
‘Come here.’ Stede takes his hand to guide him in front of the mirror, then steps away, so that Ed can look at himself undisturbed.
Ed’s lips fall open into an unspoken Oh when he sees himself for the first time. He stares, he turns this way and that, his skirt swaying and rustling with his movements. His hands wander to his waist that has become visibly smaller, press against his flat stomach and lifted chest in wonderment.
Stede could watch this all day. He doesn’t only relish in Ed’s beauty, but in the way he seems to feel beautiful, the way he marvels at his own reflection. He lifts the skirt to look at his legs in silk stockings, he twists his hair into an updo, then lets it fall around his shoulders again. He makes faces in the mirror, his pushes his chest out and up, he stands on tiptoes, then leans forward. He is discovering so many parts of his body in a new way, and he has fun doing it. Finally, he turns to Stede, a big smile on his face.
‘I love it.’
‘Yeah?’
‘Yeah.’
Stede feels giddy. He has hoped it would be like this. He walks over to Ed and wraps his arms around him from behind, pulling them flush together. Over Ed’s shoulder he can see them both in the mirror. God, isn’t he just the luckiest man alive?
‘Here, let me show you something.’
He takes Ed’s hand and raises it above their heads. With his other hand on Ed’s hip, he prompts him to spin. Ed takes the cue and watches as his petticoat opens up like a bell around him. His face flushes with glee. After a few spins he tumbles into Stede’s arms, panting, and buries his face in the crook of his neck.
‘Well, now I’m sick,’ he mutters.
‘Sorry.’
‘No, no. ‘S all good. Very nice. Good spin.’
Stede chuckles and gently pets the nape of Ed’s neck. ‘I love you,’ he whispers. He brushes Ed’s hair aside, so he can shower his bare neckline with kisses. He feels so good in his arms, all dressed in silk. ‘I love you very much.’
Ed sighs. ‘Good gift,’ he mutters, then looks up at Stede with a twinkle in his eye. ‘Now take me to bed in it?’
Stede smiles and nods, and after he pushes Ed down on their bed, he draws the curtains closed around them…