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No one wants to leave Izzy and Stede in their little house on the hill, no matter how nice it is. Just because the purchase has been rushed doesn't mean that Stede and Izzy are willing to sacrifice ensuring they will have a nice home for their retirement. They have always been the kind of people to know what they want, and what they want is somewhere that's comfortable for them but has extra room for their crew when they come to visit. Though everyone is surprised when they actually find it on their second port stop; they had been sure the pair would drag out the process for as long as possible.
It's bittersweet, setting up the house with all of Stede's knick knacks and Izzy's weapons. The crew is glad that their captain and first mate will be safe, considering how risky things have felt since Stede's shoulder injury, but they'll miss them. The Revenge won't be the same without the man who built it and the unicorn who gave it new life.
Stede and Izzy won't be the same on land, either, and they both know it. They love one another, of course, and they're happy that they both made it out of piracy alive, but it feels too soon. Stede had only been on the seas for five years before the attack that ruined everything, and Izzy had thought he would be on the water until his death.
It's strange being back on land, in a house. Almost stifling. Stede lingers by a window, arm in a sling to keep his shoulder from getting jostled. He's watching as everyone moves around the bigger pieces of furniture or smaller knick knacks. They make sure everything has a place and is perfect, nestled far back on shelves like the house could rock like the ship and throw them to the floor.
Izzy is holding court with Frenchie and Olu nearby, drilling the rules of being a good captain and first mate into their heads once again. Fang is creeping up behind him, silent as a big man like him can be, to sneak attack Izzy with a hug.
Lucius slides up to Stede's side and nudges him, knocking him out of his silent contemplation and also sending a jolt of pain through his injured shoulder.
"Ow—" Stede hisses, reaching up to cover the injury with his hand.
"Oh, shit—sorry, I forgot." Lucius looks like he just kicked a puppy. The guilt on his face could curdle milk and it makes Stede laugh.
"I'm fine, really. Just sore.” Not as sore as when he was first injured, though no pain can compare to a bullet tearing through flesh and breaking bone, especially so close to one's head. No pain can compare to the screams of your partner when you fall, when all they know is that you have been shot, with no knowledge of where the injury is located.
"Still, not like you need any more trouble or pain right now, eh? How are you holding up?" Lucius asks.
Stede wants to answer that his shoulder is fine, but he knows that Lucius's question isn't about his physical state of being. Everyone is well aware of piracy being Stede's dream, and since killing Ned Lowe, he has made a name for himself as a captain. He isn't known for being particularly physically threatening, but the rumors say that he can convince any crew to mutiny against their captain, using words alone. It's a legacy that Stede is happy to cultivate. A legacy he was happy to cultivate at least; but after getting shot in his left shoulder like an idiot… he’s no longer a pirate.
"Frustrated, admittedly. Excited to spend more time with Izzy, but… I'll miss all of you. And I'll worry, of course." Though most of the crew are better sailors than Stede, he can at least attempt to have their backs when on the ship, whereas now he'll only know how they're doing when they're able to send letters or visit.
"Ah, we'll be fine, boss. We've had a decent teacher." Lucius nods over to Izzy and Stede lets out a soft chuckle.
"I think he'll miss you all more than he's letting on. He'll cry after you leave," Stede teases in a whisper so Izzy can't hear.
"Oh, he’s a big softy," Lucius says, chuckling gently. "This will be good for the both of you, though. Safer. I'm sure you two will make plenty of new adventures out here." Lucius knows that's all Stede has ever wanted.
Stede sighs through his nose and nods as he watches his partner get bear hugged by Fang. Izzy curses at him but leans into it, pouting. When Fang sits him down, Frenchie hands over his cane, an ornate thing that Stede had gotten him years ago.
"We'll miss you, too. You know that, right?" Lucius knows how hard it is for Stede to really understand that people actually like him. Like being around him. He hopes that Stede doesn't think the crew moving them off the ship means they don't like him.
"I know." Stede struggles with accepting affection, but he knows that the crew is his family. They might not have been for the first year or so of his journey, because he didn't truly put in enough effort to know and understand them. By now, though, after years together, he can tell that they'll miss him, too. Even if they're more upset about Izzy, which he understands. As much as Stede advocates for talking it through, Izzy has essentially been a den mother to the crew, training them and helping them grow and teaching them the skills they need to survive. His relationship with all of them is night and day from what it was when he first boarded the Revenge, and Stede couldn't be happier about that.
He and Izzy need to learn how to survive without their pseudo-children, though, and without adrenaline constantly chasing at their heels. Once there has been time for Stede to heal somewhat, they can have more adventures on land, of course, but he'll never be able to fight and defend himself the same way, and it's safer to stay where they're less likely to be ambushed at any moment.
Stede steps away from Lucius, coming over to kiss Izzy's temple as he takes a place standing behind the chair his partner has claimed since Fang sat him down. Stede looks around at their new home, full of all the little things they’ve collected over the years together. Between the animal skulls, pottery, art, weapons, and books, it’s a wonder there is any space left on their shelves. Not to mention the lack of wall space, predominantly due to the giant painting of their entire crew that Izzy commissioned as a surprise gift for Stede a few months prior. Stede is immeasurably glad that they’ll have it to keep the crew’s faces fresh in their mind while they’re separated.
Izzy leans back, resting his head against Stede's hand where it rests on his shoulder. The place is so warm and bustling, Stede is worried how empty it'll seem once the crew leaves. He pushes those thoughts away. Nowhere can be as lonely as he felt back at the Bonnet Estate, especially with Izzy not around.
"That's the last of it, captain," Olu says as he comes over, Archie trailing behind him. Stede has been insisting over the past few years that the crew doesn't have to call him captain, but he has earned the title and they all stand by it. Even if he no longer captains their vessel.
"Already?" Izzy snorts, needing to tease about Stede's copious amounts of stuff despite his disappointment that unpacking has concluded so quickly.
"Yeah... We could stay a few days, if it'd be easier?" Oluwande offers.
"No, no, you all get going," says Stede. He knows that Oluwande and Zheng have already done all of the navigation work for the next leg of the Revenge's journey, and he doesn't want to disrupt their plans, as nice as Olu's offer might be. "We don't want to hold you up. It'll be quite alright. You said you'd likely stop by in two months' time, yes?"
Oluwande nods, and the crew cheer, already excited at the prospect of visiting. Even having somewhere to stop by and call home is a novel experience for them, and Stede is happy to make that happen, even if it's at his own expense. "Well, we'll see you then. Safe travels!"
Stede expects the crew to file out, but instead, they press in from all sides, crushing him and Izzy in a hug after pulling Izzy from his chair. Despite the pressure, Oluwande is next to Stede and he manages to be careful of Stede's shoulder, which he truly appreciates. He wouldn't want their heartfelt goodbye to make them all feel guilty, and he wouldn't relish the pain of it if they weren't careful.
Stede smiles and sinks into the hug as the group wraps around them. Izzy half-heartedly scolds them, though they all know he’s just bluffing. There’s some mild bickering as everyone tries to get a good squeeze in the hug. Stede pats Olu’s arm in appreciation of his protection from that.
"Make sure to write, yeah? Buttons can bring the letters to us, I'm sure,” Frenchie says as he squeezes in close. While none of them actually believe Buttons to be a seagull, it’s a funny little inside joke.
Stede laughs and nods. “Yes, we’ll be sure to send plenty. And I'll not just throw them into the ocean in a bottle.”
Everyone chuckles before slowly starting to separate. They start to step out of the room with quiet goodbyes, Jim being one of the first so Izzy can’t see the tears in their eyes, though he still notices.
"Well... That was lovely." Stede sits down in the den, where he has created his reading nook from the captain's cabin, and picks up a book from the side table.
He's tempted to cry, but nothing feels real quite yet. Perhaps later, when things have settled a bit more, he'll be able to release his emotions properly, but for the time being, he feels stuck in the same state of limbo that he's been in since his injury—not entirely certain what's coming next and with no good way to find out.
"Mhm," Izzy agrees softly as he looks over at Stede from his armchair. His armchair, because Izzy is allowed to have things like that now. A chair, so simple and yet so important. "How are you feeling?"
Stede's brow furrows in adorable, quiet confusion. He looks at the book in his hand. "I don't know." It comes out far flatter than he would have liked. "Nervous? I guess, concerned that everything will fall flat out from under us. Like I can't get a grasp on anything, like I'm swept up in a riptide or a sail comes loose and we're drifting on the water.”
"I’m the same. We're on land with solid fucking ground under our feet. I don't know how we're meant to handle certainty like this.." Izzy doesn't know what to make of it. He has never had real stability for even a single day. It doesn't feel like something he's allowed. Stede has always been good at giving him things that he didn't feel like he was allowed, though.
On the other hand, Stede had been bored of stability for such a long time before going off to sea, but the unpredictability of the pirate life has punished him, and now he needs to return to something safer. It's hard to acclimate to it again, which is probably why stability still feels so unstable to him.
Flipping through the pages of his book, Stede can't understand a single word. "I guess we'll just have to learn how to be okay with all of it together." He smiles. They have done a lot of learning in the five years they’ve been romantically entwined.
"Yes, we will,” Izzy smiles. "We'll make sure to keep things fun. I'm sure there's just plenty of great walking trails all over we can explore."
"Darling, the last time I took you walking with me, a jumping spider got on you and you cried." Stede can't help but laugh. He shakes his head and slips from his spot on the nook before coming over to Izzy's armchair. "You know one way we can keep things fun? We can break in the new bed."
Izzy scrunches his nose. “Not with your shoulder all fucked, you twat.”
Stede pouts. "Is there no way I can make you feel good? You could sit on my face?"
Izzy appreciates the thought, but he shakes his head. "I'd rather wait until we can both enjoy it properly."
Izzy can tell that Stede is just trying to use sex as a distraction not to worry about what their future will look like, and while he loves Stede's mouth, he also knows that letting Stede get away with that will only cause problems when they actually have to deal with things later.
"Fine. How about we cook dinner, then? I believe that Roach said he stocked the pantry for us." Izzy also remembers Roach saying that he made some meals for them ahead of time, but at least cooking is a practical skill that is good for Stede to practice. Izzy has been spending time in the kitchen with Roach when he can over the last two weeks, learning all sorts of skills that he hasn't had to use when cooking before to make all of the fancy foods that Stede prefers, but he knows that Stede has never had to cook for himself.
Izzy nods, knowing Stede just needs to do something . He is probably still restless from just being let off bedrest. Izzy has kept himself busy the last few weeks. He didn't rest the first few days following Stede being shot, when the wound was so bad and Stede was so out of it they all thought he would die. Izzy would only leave the room when he was forced to, when Fang or Jim would sit with Stede or when Stede managed enough lucidity to be able to call if he needed help. Then, when Stede woke, they kept him mostly in bed until they finally found a place to call home, worried he'd fall and damage his arm.
Stede is fine now, able to walk and move without concern for his arm, and he needs something to do. So Izzy pushes himself up from his chair and follows his partner into the kitchen.
Stede chatters as they meander about the space, making sweeping gestures with his good hand. "I was thinking we could start with something simple, since I have minimal experience.”
"What do you define as simple? Sandwiches?" Izzy laughs at the offended little pout on Stede's face. He knows that Stede means more than that, but he can't help but ask. It's just fun, picking at Stede. Even once they entered into a relationship, Izzy couldn't let go of some of the banter that they had before. Back and forth is a critical component of their relationship, and Izzy loves seeing Stede puff up when he's preparing to bite back about something that Izzy has said. Small little arguments, just for fun, are part of the nature of what domestic life looks like for them.
"I wouldn't have talked about cooking if I meant sandwiches, you jerk. You know that I meant an actual dish!" Stede has to resist the urge to cross his arms or put his hands on his hips, considering that he can't really move the arm in a sling.
"Don't call me a jerk! What are you, Bonnet? Twelve?" Stede's eyes are wide and he lets out a fake offended gasp. Izzy rarely calls him Bonnet anymore.
"I am not!" He huffs. "Oh, I am not talking to you any longer.” He turns away, pointing his nose up. Izzy can see his lips fighting to not twitch into a smile.
"Then this will be a very awkward meal preparation." Humming, Izzy pulls one of their few cookbooks down from a nearby shelf.
There are plenty of options, but meatballs seem like a good choice, requiring only meat, cheese, and flour to make. Izzy starts to gather the supplies, smirking at the way Stede clearly expects him to explain what they're doing. He's not going to say another word until Stede speaks, though, not being willing to let Stede win their little game since he's the one who needs help.
Stede wants to learn how to cook, genuinely, so he knows he can't stay silent for very long. He needs to hear what Izzy is doing that might not be noted in the recipe book. He sighs, hating losing, but he knows that it is a necessary evil sometimes. He comes up behind Izzy, resting his head on his partner's shoulder. "Alright, fine, you win. What are you doing right now?”
"Are you talking to me now?" Izzy turns and kisses his cheek gently before he returns to his food. "We're making meatballs."
Izzy is careful in explaining each step to Stede, letting him help where he can with one hand while Izzy works on other things. It's surprising how easy they fall into a quiet routine like that. If anyone walked in, they would think Stede and Izzy have made dinner like this a hundred times over. There are a few slip ups, but their teamwork is impeccable for their first time making a meal together as partners and homeowners.
Everything has felt out of their control since Stede's injury, so it's nice to have something where they can plan out every step and know the result. From now on, everything in their lives will be more controlled, and Izzy appreciates that they work together so well towards even small goals like making a meal.
When the food is done cooking, they both dig in happily, and Stede can't help but think that food tastes better when he's made it himself. Objectively, Roach could make a much more impressive dish, and even Izzy could probably cook something better if he didn't have to hold Stede's hand through the process, but Stede feels like knowing that he made the food gives it an extra little bit of spice.
They eat together in the main sitting room of the house, tucked up on one of Stede's little couches. It's not proper, like eating at a table, but it's their fucking house and they can do whatever they like.
Stede actually likes that a lot. This is their house, all of it. Even the Bonnet estate had never been just his ; he always had to share it with someone who truly didn't like him all that much. But this is his home, and he helped pick it himself.
He glances around absentmindedly as he pops the last of his meatballs into his mouth, letting out a short hum.
"You're thinking," Izzy says as he places his plate on the floor to wash later. He stretches out on the couch, Stede lifting his plate so Izzy can swing his legs over his lap.
"Just thinking about how this feels like home. I've never had a house that really felt like that before. My home growing up was so large and sterile, and even though I was born there, I felt unwelcome. My marital home was much the same, and I never felt like I belonged. It feels so comfortable here already. Perhaps because it's just a recreation of our home on the Revenge, or perhaps because you're here with me and I know that you're happy to have me with you." Stede massages Izzy's feet as he talks, keeping his hand preoccupied so that he doesn't flail it about as he explains himself.
Izzy hums, considering Stede's point. He's always assumed that the sea is meant to be his home, but he can see what Stede means. There is something about having a home that they chose themselves and filling it with the things from their cabin that makes it feel especially warm and welcoming even if they haven't been here long.
Izzy is quiet for a moment as he watches Stede, watches his eyes flick around the room and the way his chest rises and falls with every breath. While the sea has always been his home, he's never truly felt at peace there. Not until he met Stede, as if part of him was always searching for him, even if he didn't know it. He thinks that he could even live in Jackie’s terrible employee quarters and be happy about it as long as Stede was with him.
He doesn't say that, though. "You're so sappy." He lets out a pleased groan as Stede presses his thumb just right into a sore muscle and works out some of the tension.
"Oh, you love it, you mean old man," Stede says, chuckling.
"Maybe I do, but just because I love you. It's a failing I'm willing to endure," Izzy teases, chuckling quickly at the look on Stede's face. He really does adore him more than life itself. There is no one else that he ever would have considered retirement for. Even with Edward, he hadn't wanted to retire—supporting Ed's retirement was one thing, but he hadn't ever thought that he would do it himself. The only retirement for pirates is death, yet here Izzy is, living the retired life and happy about it because he has his partner by his side.
"You're a sap, too. Thank you for doing this for me." Stede's thoughts have gone in the same direction, and he appreciates the sacrifices that Izzy has made for him and their relationships. Having to return to land alone might have killed him, but with Izzy by his side, he can be happy.
Izzy smiles softly, reaching up to tuck a loose curl behind Stede's ear. "Nah, not just for you."
It's a part he's been ignoring for a while, but truth be told he retired for himself as well. He is well past the age expectancy for pirating and he can't do half the shit the job requires any longer. Even getting up on the ship was a struggle; the constant change of air pressure and weather is hell on his joints. He is paying himself a kindness by choosing to leave with Stede, rather than being forced to leave by being too decrepit to assist with the daily minutiae of ship living. At least now, even on land, he can still work with his swords.
Stede turns and kisses his fingertips softly. "Thank you for doing this for yourself, then.”
"So long as we're together, it's more than worth it." Now Izzy is the one being a sap, but he can't help it. Sometimes he likes being a little dramatic, and Stede brings out that part of him. Truthfully, Stede brings out a lot of the more creative parts of him, and Izzy thinks that will be good for their time on land.
Perhaps he'll pick up knitting or sewing in addition to whittling and cooking. With more time, he might be able to read more. There are so many options for things he can do now, and he can't wait to explore all of them, here in his newfound home, with the love of his life.
When their crew next visit, they'll be surprised to find just how happy Stede and Izzy are on land. They expect to find Stede returned to a peaceful life easily enough, but they haven't expected just how happy Izzy is beside him. Truly, Stede's shoulder injury is one of the best things to ever happen to them, as it ensures that they can have a long and happy life together.
They stay up talking for a while longer before finally retiring to their new bed. They won't break it in until Stede's arm is fully healed, but that’s okay.
They mutter sweetly to each other as they get ready and settled for the night, making plans for the next day and every day after that. Every day where they get to be together, safe and secure in the knowledge that they can now plan the rest of their lives.