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“…babe.”
Ed pauses, leg halfway to a jump off the decrepit verandah, and turns to face Stede with a grin.
“No good? Just…trying it out…might be a bit much from me?”
Ed twists, wood creaking under his grip as he uses the column to hoist himself back onto the porch, and launches himself at Stede.
He knocks a surprised “oof” out of Stede, whose arms instinctually wrap around his leather clad waist, before Ed smushes their lips together in a kiss reminiscent of the one they reunited with on the beach hours earlier.
They pull away with a wet smack, Ed’s gaze still so fond in the golden light and Stede’s equally soft, if not a little bewildered.
“Not that I’m complaining but-“
“Stede, I want you to know that there’s nothing you can say or do that’ll ever be too much. I’m still all in, man. Heh, inn.”
That causes the corners of Stede’s lips to lift and his laugh lines crinkle around his sparkling eyes.
“So…uh, ‘babe’ is on the table then? I find I am called to ‘darling’ as well, if you’re amenable?”
“Babe-“ kiss “darling-“ kiss “lover-“ kiss “hun” kiss “my swee-mmph”
“Ed, really!” Stede shrieks without an ounce of venom, eyes shining with mirth.
“I’m just saying it’s all on the table mate. Call me whatever you like.”
Ed leans in for a proper kiss, cradling Stede’s face gently, his mouth lingering on Stede’s bottom lip, who sighs through his nose contentedly.
“Noted, my darling.”
“Could maybe even call me, I dunno, your boyfriend again if you like. I mean whatever, no big deal…only if you want.”
“Hmm yes, my boyfriend. Never had one of those before. Best friend. Boyfriend. Lover.”
His cheeks flush sweetly with that last one and Ed can't stop the giggle bubbling out of him. He draws Stede forward again, their foreheads pressed together, breathing each other in as the setting sun warms their skin and causes their eyes to squint against the brilliant orange light.
Ed feels Stede take a deep inhale before pulling back slightly to stare directly in Ed’s eyes, gaze so full of fondness and something slightly cautious as he says-
“Maybe even husband one day?”
Ed’s stomach does a somersault and his breath hitches, brain supplying him with the memory of Lucius and Pete’s ceremony this morning and the low hum of anticipation he felt thrumming under his skin as he peeked a glance at Stede beside him. He imagines a similar scene but this time it’s him and Stede in their places and he feels a tickle in his throat and a prickle at his eyes, stunned into wordlessness at Stede’s suggestion.
“If that’s um. Well, I mean I- just being swept up in the moment. Stupid thing to say really, we just-“
Stede trails off awkwardly, mistaking Ed’s stunned silence as judgement or unwillingness and that kicks Ed into action immediately.
He practically throws himself at Stede again, lips crashing against his lovers, inelegant in their enthusiasm and need to put Stede’s mind at ease.
Stede gives a surprised mmph as he finds himself backed into one of the crumbling support columns, Ed doing his darndest to convey all the love he feels for this man (his boyfriend, his lover, his one-day-husband).
Eventually Ed’s stomach gives a loud gurgle and they pull apart giggling and panting. Ed is surrounded by golden sunshine, and he holds it in his arms and his heart too as he picks up the thread of conversation.
“Told you babe, you can call me whatever you like.”
“How about just Ed?”
“Mmm perfect, love that, a classic really.”
“Well Ed, let’s go see what’s on the menu then!”
Stede strolls off confidently, and Ed takes a moment to admire the view of him leaving. Shaking his head fondly he starts to follow the wonderfully silly man who probably doesn’t have the first clue about hunting a wild animal.
“Sure thing babe,” Ed calls out with a grin before adding quietly and giddily: “Husband.”