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“I should never have let you talk me into this.” Izzy grumbles as he stumbles slightly down the uneven path, his unicorn leg catching on a vine.
“But we’re having a lovely time.” Stede insists, but Izzy can hear the slight worry in his voice.
Stede had insisted on Izzy joining him for some errands, that had somehow turned into a nature walk despite Izzy’s insistence that they should return to the ship. Izzy had convinced himself that he had only continued to follow Stede to ensure the idiot didn’t get lost, but he had actually started to enjoy it, not that he’d ever admit that to anyone let alone Bonnet.
It hadn’t been quite so fun when Bonnet had taken them off path in chase of some moth he swore he saw but then failed to actually find. Yet instead of returning to the path, he had continued to take them deeper into the forest. Izzy had given up arguing, sure he’d be able to find their way back once the blonde had given up on his quest.
But now it’s growing dark and Izzy’s growing increasingly tired and irritable, his stump starting to hurt like a bitch. He may be a great navigator at sea, but finding his way amongst a bunch of trees that all look the same is not quite as easy.
“We’re lost.” Izzy states.
“We’re not lost,” Stede insists “we’re just taking the scenic route.”
“Scenic route my arse, we’re bloody lost.”
“Okay, maybe we’re a little lost.” Stede relents. “But I’m sure we’ll come across a path again soon and we’ll be back at The Revenge before you know it.”
“It’s getting too dark, we need to start thinking about shelter.”
“Shelter?” Stede asks, sounding appalled that he might be spending the night anywhere bar his plush bed on the ship.
“Unless you wanna wander around all night in the pitch black like an idiot, which by the way I definitely don’t.”
“Right.” Stede replies as if he’s only just becoming aware of the situation they're in.
“We should make a fire, it’s going to get cold quick. Stay here, I’ll grab some wood.”
When Izzy returns with the wood, he’s glad to find Bonnet sat on a nearby log, that’s one less thing for him to worry about.
“Help me with this.” He says gruffly, placing the small logs on the forest floor.
He’d normally just do it himself but he wants to get it done as quickly as possible so he can sit down and finally take some pressure off his stump. They work together to arrange the wood and get the fire going, he feels relieved when he sees an orange flame.
Izzy takes a seat on the nearby log, bending down to remove his unicorn leg, sighing in relief at the loss of pressure on his stump.
“You didn’t say you were hurt.” Stede says, that worried look on his face that does something to Izzy’s insides.
“It’s fine.” He huffs.
“Can I at least put some balm on it?” Stede asks hopefully, pulling a small tin from his chest pocket.
Of course Bonnet’s carrying around balms and lotions on his person, Izzy shouldn’t expect any less from this ridiculous man really.
“Fine.” he relents knowing it will at least give some relief.
Izzy closes his eyes as Stede massages the balm into his stump. He has to admit it feels really good, he has to bite back a moan that’s threatening to escape. Izzy never likes to make a fuss about his leg, but there’s something nice about being taken care of for once.
“Thanks.” Izzy whispers.
“You’re welcome.” Stede replies with that smile that makes Izzy feel all mushy.
Izzy has to look away again before he does something stupid like tell Bonnet how beautiful he looks in the moonlight.
“Sandwich?”
He looks up to Stede holding out half a peanut butter sandwich to him.
“Christ Bonnet, where did that come from?”
“I had Roach prepare it this morning in case I fancied a little snack, now seems the perfect time to indulge.”
He accepts the sandwich, finding that he’s actually quite hungry as he wolfs down the salty treat.
“It’s good right?” Stede asks.
“Yeah, not bad.” He mumbles.
It’s only then he becomes aware of how close they’re sitting, their thighs pressed together offering a small comfort. He finds himself leaning further into the contact, telling himself it’s just to stay warm, nothing else. He doesn’t even protest when Bonnet wraps an arm around his shoulders, pulling him close to his strong chest, he definitely doesn’t think about how perfectly he fits there.
At some point Stede’s fingers find there way to Izzy’s hair, gently scratching his scalp as they card through the grey locks. He snuggles closer into Stede’s chest, it is getting rather cold after all. He knows Bonnet is making him soft but he’s too tired to protest, he doesn’t even say something when the blonde presses a kiss to the top of his head.
“Izzy?” Stede says, breaking the silence.
“Yeah?”
“Can you keep a secret?” Stede asks.
“S’pose so.”
“I really like you, Israel.” Stede confesses.
Izzy feels the blush rise to his cheeks, not sure what to do with that information. It had been something he suspected for a while, they’d been spending a lot more time together recently, in fact there wasn’t much time they spent apart these days.
“I like you too.” Izzy whispers into the night, eyes fixed on the orange flame dancing in front of them.
Neither man said another thing, a silent understanding that words weren’t needed right now, there would be plenty of time for that later.