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livebloggingmydescentintomadness · 2 years

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250+ blackbonnet fic recs, part 1

friends, come forward to receive the fruits of my hyperfixation. under a read more to spare the uninterested a mile of post, and so i can update this as i continue to hyperfixate.

update: the hypefixation broke link limit! i’ve split this into two posts so it can continue growing.

contents of part one, below

s1 fix-its

multichapter canonverse

oneshot canonverse (smutty)

contents of part two

oneshot canonverse (smutless)

AUs

rpf

🍊 marks my favorites

s1 fix-its:

Hell or High Water by Mottlemoth 149k WIP E 🍊 🍊 🍊

For a year now, Stede Bonnet has pursued the legendary pirate Blackbeard across the sea. Desperate for a chance to put things right, Stede will stop at nothing to catch up with the Revenge and its new captain.

But who will he encounter on Ocracoke Island: the man he loves, or a monster?

Half agony, half hope by lyricl 34k E 🍊

The first letter appeared only a few weeks after Stede left him alone on that beach. Ed burnt the first, and the second, and the third. But they kept coming.

Or: how Edward Teach gained a pen pal, lost a first mate, reunited with an old friend, and learned something about seagulls.

the knife and the throat by darcylindbergh 35k WIP E 🍊

Blackbeard hadn’t been lying when he’d said he didn’t feel fear. Fear was about having something to lose, and Blackbeard always wins.

Aftercare by perkynurples 132k WIP E 🍊

In the aftermath of some life-altering decisions on both sides, Edward and Stede navigate reuniting, learning what it is that they really want and how to ask for it, as well as surviving in a world that is nowhere near ready to just let them rest. Or, finding their way back to each other is only the very beginning.

we were warnings by mia_ugly 13k E

Stede comes back.

Ed does too. It just takes a little longer.

on the bed of this blue ocean by kirkaut 9.6k T

Ed’s made up his mind: if he ever lays eyes on Stede fucking Bonnet again, he’s a dead man.

Ed’s had six months of Stedeless-ness, and six months of thinking about all the terrible things he’d do to him when they saw each other again.

Somehow, it never occurred to him to think that they’d never have the chance.

[Or: Ed hears about Stede's 'death' and promptly falls apart.]

Take Me With You (When You Go) by SleepsWithCoyotes 11k T

The guard posted on their barracks gives Ed a weird look as he sneaks back in that night, almost like he wants to bolt. It’s not entirely unexpected–though the rest of these idiots may think he’s tamed, this one has sound cause to think differently–but the back of his neck prickles a warning at that look of terror all the same.

There isn’t much he needs to collect, and he’d packed most of it up before leaving to acquire a dinghy. No sense being weighed down with obvious proof he means to escape. Stede’s bunk is already empty, of course, the man himself led off by the guard outside half an hour before, but this is Stede. Best if Ed checks for himself to be sure he didn’t leave behind anything important.

Like his stockings. And his shoes. And every fucking thing else save the piss-poor clothes the quartermaster gave him. What the entire fuck?

A Gentleman's Guide To Love And Piracy by laiqualaurelote 4.3k WIP T

Stede Bonnet's agenda for attending the International Piracy Convention: rebrand, make some industry contacts, steal back his ship without being murdered by the keynote speaker, a.k.a. the vengeful love of his life.

i won’t be falling on my knees to beg you by Hymn 8.8k E (+ sequel)

“You made your choice,” Edward insists. “You don’t get to unmake it, Stede. What’s done is done, don’t you know?”

“Ah. I learned that lesson rather recently, yes,” Stede says, very softly.

The expression on his face isn’t fair, Ed thinks. It hurts to look at, all soft and yearning and difficult to resist. The kind of look that makes him angry because of how it also makes him weak. Ed clears his throat, twitches again. Locks his knees tight and clamps his jaw shut, glaring at Stede. The ship keeps sinking beneath them.

“What I also learned,” Stede murmurs, shifting his weight forward. His empty hand comes up, palm open and reaching. “Is that I can be brave. I can be stubborn. I can fight for the life that I want so very, very badly, Edward Teach.”

Ed’s mouth dries. “Y-yeah? And what’s that?”

Stede smiles crookedly. “You.”

i’m yours, you know by ShowMeAHero 9k T

“I think I’ve fucked up,” Stede confesses.

“Yeah,” Lucius tells him, “but don’t take it too hard. I might’ve fucked up, too, if somebody dragged me out of bed to tell me I’d ruined their family, and my own, and destroyed the love of my life’s entire legacy, and then, like— blew their own whole fucking head off. Like, that— I get that, Cap’n. That makes sense.”

Stede nods, keeping his eyes forward. After a beat, he can’t maintain the calm, and he needs the human connection, turning back to look at Lucius. He actually spills over, then, eyes burning.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Lucius comments, but Stede is already carefully standing up so he can bend and hug Lucius without capsizing their vessel.

heartless by Nanashi07 4.8k T 🍊

Izzy scoffs. “He just doesn’t learn, does he? Tell him Blackbeard has no use for apologies.”

“Yeah,” Edward says. “That’s true. I don’t. But also, unrelated to that other thing, what else did he say about me?”

Frenchie blinks. “Um. Nothing? The message came tied to a seagull’s leg so. You know. Not much real estate on those little papers. Can’t write a lot, can you?” He straightens suddenly. “Oh, I still have it!”

He fishes a crumpled, wind-dampened piece of paper from his pocket and drops it into Edward’s hand. When Edward unfurls it, he sees only a series of poorly-drawn images: The Revenge with a little triangle sail, a rope ladder and an arrow, a caricature of Stede looking like he’s crying.

“We really need to teach you guys how to read,” Edward notes.

i don’t know anything (but i know i miss you) by ShowMeAHero 7k

“What the hell’s happened to you?” Stede demands. It’s his voice, in his body, and he almost seems living, and it’s— It has to be the last thing Ed ever sees. He has to die with him burned on the insides of his eyelids.

Stede’s eyes are tracking over him, rising up to meet his eyes, locking with him. It feels so real. He can’t help the hysterical laugh that comes up and out of him, impossibly grateful for this last delusion.

Without hesitating, he lurches forward, grabbing Stede and yanking him into his arms. Stede makes a confused noise of protest, briefly, but it fades instantly and his arms come up, too, wrapping around Ed without hesitation. He doesn’t smell the same; instead, he’s all salt and sweat and sun, baked into his skin. Ed buries his face in his hair, fingers clawing at the impossibly real feel of him, the hallucination made solid in his arms.

“Thank fuck,” Ed says into his hair, voice breaking. “I didn’t want to die without seeing you one last time.”

a mile of clean sand by Dialects_and_Costumes 3.8k E

It's an accident when Stede finds Ed again.

remissionem by eldritchIdeologist 7.5k G

"Swear it." Ed's voice is a low gravel-growl, heavy with emotion. Stede swallows. Nods. "Swear it to me, Stede."

He doesn't need to ask what it is.

"I swear, Ed," he says, quick-hushed between them, his hands finding their way to Ed's neck, silk against his jaw. Anchoring him there. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying. I'll stay. There is nothing I want more."

"Again." A press against his forehead, Stede's eyes screwing shut.

"I swear it. On anything you want me to, Ed, on my life, I swear it."

Silence in the brig. Ed and his breath coming heavy through his nose, Stede and his breath near-stopped, in waiting. In some desperate, debilitating hope, that he can grab onto this only thing he covets and hold onto it forever.

"...Okay," says Ed after an eternity, quiet as anything. “Okay.”

Message in a Marmalade Jar by stitchy 11k T

I don’t know who will find this, if anybody. Who would even understand it, as Captain Bonnet is long gone?

The crew of the Revenge find a message in a marmalade jar.

Our "Get-Along" Desert Island by Avelera 10k T

Stede and Ed "Blackbeard" Teach have been fighting ever since Stede got back to sea, which would be fine and not totally unexpected after the "breakup", except their fighting now involves full-blown naval battles and their respective crews are thoroughly sick of it.

Naturally, the only solution is to maroon the two of them on a desert island until they work it out or kill each other. Whichever comes first.

He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven by AuntieClimactic 14.5k E

“Here we go again,” he heard Lucius scream over Izzy’s furious cursing.

50 Ways to Kill Your Lover by trinityofone 2.3k E

In his quest to get himself free, Ed begins a list of ways to do away with Stede:

1. Stabbing

2. Harder stabbing

It gets much worse, and then much better, from there.

only got one life by louciferish 4.6k T

Blackbeard pops the cork from the bottle with his thumb and takes a swig, letting the fire of the rum course through his chest, his veins, and keeps his eyes fixed on the horizon. The salt water breeze carries a hint of lavender.

C’mon, then, he thinks, smiling out at the sparkling sea. Chase me.

Stede writes love letters in smoke, blood, and wreckage. That's a language Blackbeard is fluent in, but that doesn't mean he's going to make it easy.

you should be so happy now by waveridden 7.6k T

In a way, Mary supposes she’s lucky that it only takes one day for the pirates to attack her ship.

(Blackbeard takes a hostage, Mary takes some risks, and Stede takes everyone by surprise.)

Important Bits by perkynurples 3.2k M

The first ship they raid, her crew see the amended flag, incorrectly identify it as a lookalike and thus let Blackbeard approach with little more than open curiosity - far too late do they see him standing on the deck, just him and the smoke and the roaring, hungry gleam of fire at his fingertips.

The second ship even goes so far as to fire at them first, some young upstart of a barely-pirate captain or other, and Blackbeard takes special pleasure in sinking that one, the Kraken unleashed, wood splintering and entire lives disappearing down the depths.

The news spread fairly fast after that.

Or, there's Blackbeard, and then there's the Kraken. There's very little in between.

Entirely Onboard by twoseas 4.8k T

Stede and his brigade of imbeciles row back to the Revenge. Ed doesn’t want to hear what Stede has to say. He doesn’t!

He does.

Featuring Ed and Stede as the pirate equivalent of the couple that loudly airs their personal business while one of them is on the ground floor and the other is at a second story window, the crew being The Crew, and dramatic reactions to earnest declarations.

i'll walk through walls into your heart by Hymn 3.8k T

“So like. Can I talk about emotions now, or are you still trying to do that repressed, macho man thing and act like leather and grease on your face is an actual coping mechanism?”

Ed flings his knife into the door of the auxiliary closet where Lucius hides.

cotton, silk, linen, velvet by captainbonny 5.4k M

It’s all gone.

Everything but the auxiliary wardrobe.

Two Graves by trinityofone 1.3k M (note: not really a fixit; features an angsty but beautiful ending)

Stede had once nurtured fantasies, not then fully understood, of dressing Ed again in his clothes.

things to never give the devil by Fahye 15k T 🍊

"Dark Fate?" says Stede, making sure to pronounce the capitals.

"Very effective for star-crossed lovers. And at a bargain price, if I do say so myself. A potent mixture of unspeakably rare ingredients, brewed under a new moon, which will drag you through the depths of your own soul in search of difficult truths, and leave the undeserving to drift forever in a dreamscape of torment and emotional agony!"

"What?" says Stede. "No! That sounds awful!"

fear not the weather by dotsayers 7.5k T

The moon shone through the tree canopy, a break in the clouds as rain continued to pour.

A footprint, rust-red against the earth, gleamed.

“Stede, mate,” he said, as he looked up and saw the line of prints disappearing into the trees. “What the absolute fuck.”

(A rainstorm stops Ed from leaving.)

Always and Forever by stereobone 9.8k E

"There's something you should know," Spanish Jackie says. "You're married."

Ed freezes.

"I beg your pardon," Stede says helpfully. "But I'm not your 19th husband."

"No, you idiots. You're married to each other."

habituation by chinxe 4k T

It takes Ed an embarrassingly long time to realise he's being romanced.

If you love someone by Yuu_chi 13.7k T 🍊

Edward's already lost him once. He won't make the same mistake again.

Blackbeard takes a prisoner. Or he would, if Stede would only act like one.

Magnolia by Fyre 5.2k E

Blackbeard crouched down in front of him, that stupid bright sunshine face still the fucking same, eyes wide and round, as if he had no idea of the monster in front of him. As if he had nothing to be fucking afraid of. Stupid fucking idiot. He brought up his knife, the tip of it pressing under the bastard’s chin, tipping his head up.

To Be Alone With You by Springandastorm 5.5k M

The first time Stede touches Ed again, he feels a bit like he’s been scalded. He has Stede pinned against the wooden railing of the ship, his knife to his throat, but Stede doesn’t look scared, just blinks at him with wide, apologetic eyes and says “I missed you.” Ed feels himself soften despite himself, the burning coals in his gaze shifting, almost going out, and that’s all it takes for Stede to smile, to lift a hand to his cheek. “There he is.” He says, an echo of Izzy’s words that cuts far deeper than it did when he said it.

Break down, it's alright by rowenablade 3.2k E

“Give me a reason not to carve your heart out,” Ed whispers.

And Stede can’t think of one.

He can think of plenty of reasons he doesn’t want his heart carved out, but how could he expect any of them to matter to Ed?

“Stede.” Ed’s voice breaks, dragging Stede’s eyes back up from where they’ve been staring at the floor in shame. “Please.”

There'll Be Nobody Home by soft_october 4.4k T

“Hey. You're Lucius, right?” The voice sighed. “Someone else sound this charming?” “Lucius, you’re dead.” “Yeah. Yeah, I am dead. No thanks to you.” “I pushed you off the boat.” “Mmm - I was there. I know.” “Was there any pain?”

Drunk and lonely and hiding in the auxiliary closet, Blackbeard has begun hearing voices. Well, a voice. He entertains it. Even tells it about some of the feelings he's been going through. What's the harm?

And after all, he's got no one else to talk to.

and let the souls wander by one_more_page 4.3k T

In the gold of the single candle Edward looked near divine.

Stede set to work. It was easier than thinking about what was happening. Because if he thought too much about what was happening his lungs were going to swell with that heat that had been building ever since he returned.

If he thought about it too much he would realize this was the closest he’d come to worship in ages.

—

Stede washes Ed’s hair.

Semaphore by komodobits 39k WIP E

Talking things through as a crew is easier said than done, and honest communication has never really been Stede’s strong suit. When it comes to Ed, he is willing to try.

False Dichotomies by BigTed 4.1k E

It’d be simple, wouldn’t it, to put everything he doesn’t like about Ed in a little box marked ‘Blackbeard’ and insist he throw it overboard like so many books?

shades of blue and gray by ThirtySixSaveFiles 1.7k T

Ed and Stede get locked in a closet. Twice.

be still my foolish heart, don’t ruin this on me by Hymn 3.3k T

“I should have run away with you,” Stede says once, the two of them up in the crow’s nest sharing breakfast.

haunt me, then by hyruling 28k E

He releases the ropes slowly, barely registering the burn as they slip through his fingers. Then, fallible as Orpheus, turns to meet his ghost.

Buttercup by mia_ugly 13.8k E 🍊

The thing is, when you’re Blackbeard you’ve got kind of a reputation to uphold. When you captain a ship, when you lead a crew, when people look up to you, tell stories, build a legend – parts of that legend are always more accurate than others.

And maybe you just let it slide, some of the things people say. Some of the things they assume. Maybe you swagger around and wear black leather and are a handsy bastard and let the stories tell themselves.

Maybe you don't want to talk about it.

night shift by foxtails 6.5k M

The man gripping on to Ed’s arm like a lifeline has wind matted hair, a rough jaw, and fingernails blackened with dirt. He’s no longer the same person Ed laid on a dock and waited an entire night for.

He doesn’t know whether to laugh, or cry.

or: Stede and his crew return to the Revenge. Ed isn't quite ready to deal with that.

all you left me was a pearl by JustStandingHere 32k WIP M 🍊

Stede takes in a deep breath and smiles. “Ed, I–” he says, but that’s as far as he gets before Ed’s pulling the gun out of its holster.

He aims, and Stede manages to yelp and duck just in the nick of time. The wood behind him splinters. “Fucking hell!” he yells, and springs back up into standing position. He takes a second to mourn the scarred wood before turning to Ed. “I know I cocked things up, but there’s no need to be dramatic!”

1717. The Golden Age of Piracy. Stede Bonnet sets about wooing the love of his life through any means necessary. Things do not go as planned.

All I Am Is Holding Breath by smallestchurch 7.3k E

“Edward. I didn’t leave because you kissed me. I came back because you kissed me. And I’m hoping you’ll do it again.”

stories we’ve heard, and others we tell ourselves by CrypticSymbol 14.8k T

“One calling card and you come running, is that it?” Izzy had asked, disgust oozing from his voice. Ed noted a hint of disappointment too. He just couldn’t help himself from doing so, it seemed. The renewed adoration that bled out of Izzy just months before had been cauterized.

And it had been more than one calling card, to be fair. Though there was no point in arguing semantics with Izzy Hands.

The previous mysterious parcels had been trinkets and gifts left waiting for him to find, like the least challenging treasure hunt in the history of piracy, but this last one was different.

or, Jeff the Accountant is invited to a masquerade ball, and sometimes it's easier to talk things through when you're Jeff and he's Godfrey Thornrose.

The Blackest Water, the Better Mirror by triedunture 13k E 🍊

Ed isn't sleeping well.

Or: an excuse to have many long naps in the (formerly) great cabin.

COLDBLOODED by Macremae 7.4k M 🍊

STEDE: What was that?

BEAT.

ED: What?

STEDE: Where did you just go?

ED: (less grounded) What?

STEDE: You just… went somewhere.

This is a love story. Just not the kind he's used to.

How Edward Got His Groove Back by MadHatter13 43k WIP M

‘Oh shit,’ says the ghost standing by the cabin’s desk, frantically shoving the food Blackbeard had let grow cold on the plate into his mouth. His voice is a bit muffled, because he’s chewing on a piece of slightly stale bread like a hamster. He tries to say something like, ‘You’re supposed to be fucking dead,’ but all he can mumble out, inebriated as he is, is ‘Wzzsdghlkjd?’ - Or, Blackbeard dove head-first into the wrong genre. Let's see if Ed can't find his way back to Comedy.

Above Board by chaya 29k WIP E 🍊

The first time, they don't even have sex.

Stede has just come aboard with Oluwande and the others. Lucius pops out from somewhere, looking haggard but firm, and close behind him is Jim, so that's nearly everyone accounted for.

And peering around the bare light of the deck... the strangest thing to Stede is that Izzy doesn't seem to look once toward the captain's quarters. Neither do his two cronies. Somehow they know that in spite of the initial shouting and stern voices before peace was settled, the captain is not going to make a showing.

Kiss With A Fist by suchgreatheights 16.9k E

Ed knows a fuckery when he hears about one. No death that ridiculous could have been a coincidence.

He leaves Stede a trail of breadcrumbs to get back to The Revenge. When Stede arrives back on board, Ed is surprised to find Stede has a bone to pick with him--and that Ed's got bones of his own to pick with Stede.

love does not compel, no, it converts me by lie_to_me 9.5k E (rape/noncon trigger warning)

Now, naked and intricately bound to the mast, he tries to ignore the way fear quickens his heartbeat. Clearly Ed is angry. This is a game, he tells himself, some kind of fuckery. He can still show Ed his remorse, explain his feelings and his cowardice, and Ed will, eventually, understand.

Ed is, after all, a kind man.

But the man he loves approaches him with a leer, and Stede sees only cruelty in his eyes.

Or: Stede goes to find Ed, but first he meets the Kraken. Eventually, he gets through to Ed and they reconcile.

weather the storm by one_more_page 10k E 🍊

Ed runs, Stede follows. Ed stabs Stede, Stede comes back. They duel, they fight, they talk, no matter the encounter Ed wakes the next day with Stede's ship just on the horizon.

He’s being haunted by Stede Bonnet.

—

Ed wakes up on the day Stede comes back over and over and over again.

multichapter canonverse:

Wayfaring by Justkeeptrekkin 34k E 🍊

The downside to being stuck on a desert island is that Stede's not awfully good at adapting. The upside is that he and Ed can finally have some peace and quiet– that is, if Ed ever wakes up from the gunshot wound in his stomach.

Stranded in the middle of who-knows-where, Stede learns the art of reflection and how to embrace the man who looks back.

domestic by Ark 33k E 🍊

Stede finds the house. When he comes back to their room at the inn, he won’t rest—won’t let Ed rest—until Ed’s seen it. His eyes are bright in that way that makes Ed’s guts feel scooped out with a spoon. So Ed hurries into his boots and goes with him.

The once-white paint is stripped by weather and wear, a portion of the roof is caved in, and the spokes of the wraparound porch are all gnawed through by animals.

Ed gazes up at the broken windows and the birds that have built nests there. At his side, Stede is waiting, rocking back and forth on his heels.

“It’s perfect,” says Ed.

to carry home inside me by ShowMeAHero 14k T 🍊

In the Last Year, 1718, the Seas Witnessed the Deaths of Two of the Worst Menaces to Sail. The Pirates Edward Teach, commonly Known as Blackbeard, and Stede Bonnet, also the Gentleman Pirate, once Captained Together before the ultimate Capture of Bonnet in October. By November, the dread Blackbeard was Killed in Battle; not a Month after, the Gentleman Pirate was Hanged for his Crimes at Charles Town. His Majesty the King ends this Curse of Piracy by Sending these Devils back to Hell.

Or not.

Blackheart by angelsunaware 36k WIP E

Blackbeard has decided it is time for him to take a wife, but he finds something else instead.

Chiaroscuro by MenaceAnon 19k WIP T

The Widow Mary Bonnet has a life, and Stede Bonnet isn't part of it. They agreed. There was a leopard and everything.

Then again, Stede has a talent for disrupting plans—for instance, by turning up on your doorstep in the dead of night with a bleeding pirate who turns out to be his beloved Ed.

kissing is what lovers do (and we're not lovers) by afterism 22k E

A vaguely canon-compliant friends-with-benefits scenario where they've been having sex since episode five but still don't kiss until episode nine, because they're both idiots who don't talk it through as a crew.

a very good bad thing by seularen 14k E

“Unhand him,” Stede said. “Or what?” “Good point. I can’t say ‘or bleed.’ You’re going to do that already.”

(prompt fill for the OFMD kink meme: "you know ‘Unhand me or bleed” knife!Stede? I want to see that guy coming to Ed’s rescue when he’s in peril. Bonus points if he takes bloody vengeance or needs to be talked down from it.”)

First, we steal a priest by Elisahni 15k WIP M

“I just want it to be said, by someone,” said Lucius, “that grave robbing is very 1500s.”

“We’re not digging one up,” said Ed, “I’m not that barbaric! We’ll want a live one. We’re going to steal a priest from a church.”

“Ed,” said Stede, scandalised. “That’s kidnapping!”

“I guess it is. Okay, we’re going on a treasure hunt to kidnap a priest. That’s the plan.”

though quaking, though crazy by ShowMeAHero 17k M

Stede knows from experience, from a sword piercing his side for far too long, how it feels when your skin starts trying to heal around a blade, when you know you’re going to have to tear it open again, when its only crime was just wanting to save you.

And maybe Stede isn’t some nightmare pirate, and maybe he’s not the vision that Blackbeard inspires, and maybe he’s not scary. Maybe he’s not made of smoke, with glowing eyes; maybe he’s not a hero, or a villain, or anyone but some poor shit who thinks he knows what he’s doing when nobody really ever knows.

But he knows two things: he knows that he will kill for Ed; and he knows that this man knows that, too.

Tomorrow, Certainly by Anonymous_Ostrich 11.5k WIP M

Stede opened the door with enough gusto that it struck the wall with an urgent thud. Ed - who was busy pilfering through the drawers and cabinets of a large cedar desk - glanced up in mild alarm, like he was expecting bad news. Stede sucked in a deep breath through his nose.

“Ed,” he began with all the authority and courage he could muster, “I’d like to do sex, ah, things, with - with you.” Perhaps that could have been a fair bit more eloquent, but alas.

the lovers, the dreamers, and me by ShowMeAHero 63k E

Stede spreads his hands in front of him, and Louis and Alma both grin up at him. “Do you remember the stories I used to tell you about those fearsome pirates who lived out at sea? And, remember how I told you I went on adventures with Blackbeard? Well—”

“Mom already told us you married Blackbeard,” Alma cuts him off, taking— Well, taking the wind right out of his sails, as it were.

“Alma,” Mary hisses at her. “Don’t interrupt y—”

“No, no, that’s fine, it’s— It’s fine, really,” Stede says. “I was— I was, admittedly, a little excited to tell you, but— That’s fine, honestly, we—”

“No, no, do it anyway,” Mary encourages him.

or: louis, alma, mary, and doug spend four days and three nights aboard the revenge, stede's families become one, and his entire heart combusts in the process.

Hello, My Old Heart by LadyKyrin 26k WIP M

In the span of a single second, or maybe even just a half-second, three things happened:

A gun went off.

Ed’s blade sliced deep into Chauncey’s throat.

And Stede screamed Ed’s name.

Ed comes looking for Stede when he doesn't show up at the dock. When Chauncey shoots Ed, Stede has no choice but to take him to the one place where there's actually a chance they might not be immediately killed or captured: the house he once shared with Mary, Alma, and Louis.

Working Vacation by MenaceAnon 2.1k WIP T

Captain Richard Bryce is going to make a name for himself as a pirate.

His plan? Kidnap the Gentleman Pirate, and use him to get close enough to assassinate Blackbeard.

And so Richard and his crew steal the pretty beardless fellow wearing a fussy banyan straight out of Blackbeard’s bed.

(Ed has never been an honest-to-god damsel in distress before. He’s going to go ahead and consider this a vacation.)

Come Here, Dressed in Black Now by jessclare 13k E

“I never thought I’d end up being the woman in bed,” Stede says suddenly.

Stede has issues to work through.

An Even Trade by BewareTheIdes15 30k E 🍊

It’s “doesn’t mean a thing,” that gets Ed into trouble. Because, turns out, it means a fucking a lot.

Crossing the Meridian by stitchy 40k E

“Would you like me to pick you up anything special for the crossing?” Stede checks.

“Oh, I dunno. You know what I like,” Ed grins.

Me, it’s me, it’s me! Stede’s heart rejoices. He can’t go wrong with such wind beneath his wings.

“I’ll have to see if I can find a treat for when you get bored at sea,” he tells Ed. “Something to keep you occupied.”

Quite simply, Stede and Ed "romance" their way across an ocean.

Stuff of Kings by wordaddiction 13k WIP M

“Your name. I thought you might tell me your name.”

Brown eyes flicker between Stede’s, and he thinks it might have worked, stall though it may be, until the man’s mouth curls.

“Nah. Think I like you this way. Something I know that you don’t - guess books aren't everything.” He smiles, truly smiles, and Stede might think him handsome if he weren’t pushing a knife to his throat. Well. Maybe even then.

________________________

or: Ed boards the docked Revenge, expecting to find it empty and ready for raiding. It is decidedly not.

Shoals of Gold by blacksaltseas 15k E

And so, they lay above the moon-soaked sea and looked towards the heavens.

The time passed like honey, slow and sweet.

Two co-captains navigate falling in love on the high seas. There’s not much else to do when the wind stops blowing.

Healing Trauma with the Power of Gay Love! by the_bedheaded_league (giantflyingskelesnurtle) 13k E

Stede doesn't like sex. At least, he thinks he doesn't, because he's never had sex with someone he's actually attracted to before. Ed very patiently teaches him that sex can actually be enjoyable. There is crying. Bon apetit.

he's never gonna make it by muadnait 32k WIP M

Stede would admit to reading a book or two about pirates, but no literature could have prepared him for an actual face to face encounter with said people.

Stede Bonnet, wealthy landowner, held hostage by pirates.

Penetrative Gays by Fyre 13k E

“You’re coming with me.” “What? Why?” “Because I stabbed you!” Stede exclaimed, stooping to pull Ed’s arm more securely over his shoulder. “I can’t just… leave you. You have a hole through you!”

The poor bastard was still pinned to the mast like a nail in a board and gave Ed a weak little wave, his face shiny and pale. “Lucius has gone to get someone to get me down,” he said, as if he didn’t have a fucking sword sticking out his chest.

keep us together by novaeangliae 63k WIP T 🍊

A young Stede's desire for adventure is fuelled when he meets Ed, a boy from the docks who appreciates Stede for his true nature. Only their upbringings come with a ceaseless pressure to conform, and the two must navigate growing up in different worlds. Even with the difficulties posed by their lifestyles, it still comes as a surprise when their paths cross again upon the deck of a Spanish warship.

They always find their way back to each other.

What Wound Did Ever Heal But By Degrees? by poading 15k M

The first time is quick. Ed has been thinking about it for weeks, kissing Stede Bonnet. It is the sort of thing he wants to do right. Though Stede’s never mentioned it in any of their lessons, Ed is certain there is a right way to go about kissing a gentleman. He must wait for the right time, the right place.

But when he finally does it, Ed doesn’t think at all. He is only instinct and hope tangled in a moment where breath is forgotten and the future seems possible.

OR: Five times Ed kisses Stede and one time Stede kisses Ed

oneshot canonverse (smutty):

Bit of a Clothes Horse by Aivelin, Fyre 9k E 🍊

Stede tossed down the invitation card on the couch. “On the contrary!” He scrambled to his feet. “You’re not wearing anything that beastly man owned. You deserve something far better, especially for your first time out. If we’re going to a party, you’re getting all the luxury you deserve.”

when you love it by mia_ugly 5.7k E

Stede’s being kissed before the door fully clicks shut behind him.

Close Quarters by FortinbrasFTW 4.2k E

“The fuck?” Ed manages, instantly getting his foot stuck in a nearby bucket.

“Sh-shh!” Stede pushes two fingers against his lips to shut him up.

Ed goes still and a bit cross-eyed, staring down at the hand on his mouth. Stede moves it away, with a mouthed “sorry!” focusing intently on the sounds outside the shed instead.

In the alley, hurried steps and shouting voices rush past; they catch fragments of: “Where the fuck did they go then?” or “Keep looking!” and even “The short one looks like a bloody birthday cake, how do you lose that—”

in the emerald green by darcylindbergh 3k E 🍊

And Stede likes Ed, here and now, with the fresh smell of the wind and the salt in his hair, stripped down to nothing but an emerald green banyan and the ink in his skin, climbing back into the bed.

we've only just begun by ShowMeAHero 22k E

“Happy anniversary,” Ed tells him. He’s got a smile, but he still seems nervous, and Stede absolutely cannot have that.

and let your hair hang down by Ark 3.1k E

Stede exhales, warm breath stirring Ed's hair. "Again?"

"Stede," says Ed, "I'd sit on your cock all day for a chair and captain the ship like that if the option was available."

in the dark and blue by focusfixated 3.7k E

“What’s this?” Ed says, and tilts the mug towards his eyeline. He’s been doing a good job, so far, of looking everywhere except at Stede.

“Tea in its natural state,” Stede says. “You don’t have to drink it. I didn’t really ask you here for tea.”

Ed hunches like a child, but his hair and stubble is grey as a silverfish. He sounds as bitter as the tea when he says, “What did you really ask me here for, then?”

Or: After Stede comes back to Edward, they both look for forgiveness, and relief.

so good for him by leaveanote 3.7k E

Ed still isn’t used to being vulnerable. But Stede’s praise unlocks a part of him he didn’t know he had.

And fuck, it feels good.

Starcharts by triedunture 8.7k E 🍊

“Do you think I could help in some way?” he asks.

Ed glances at him. “Like how?”

“I don’t know. You seemed to enjoy our little gag of trading places that one time.” Stede shrugs a shoulder. He’s wearing his pink satin waistcoat and matching breeches, no overcoat—too fucking humid tonight. Ed can see the shape of his arm through the thin linen of his shirt. “What if you pretend you’re the one who isn’t in charge, and I can pretend I’m the one who is. That would be fun, wouldn’t it?”

Under your skin, over the moon by por_queeee 7.7k E

“You’ve never been anything but–perfectly considerate, my love,” Stede manages weakly, staring straight up at the ceiling, flexing a hand in Ed’s hair. Ed can be impatient in bed, erratic, firm and greedy in his touches, but he’s always asked Stede from the first– Is this ok? Like this? Is it good? Am I hurting you?

“You’ve never hurt me, or…” His cheeks pinken slightly, “Well, beyond what I imagine is the normal amount of soreness the day after, of course, but…”

Ed grunts, and scrapes his teeth over the bone of Stede’s jaw in a way that makes him gasp and brings him right back to himself. Ed seems to freeze at the noise, fingers digging shakily into Stede’s hip. “But what if I wanted to?”

the taste of you by jaskiers 5k E

The first time they fall into bed together doesn’t go quite the way Stede had imagined it would.

Rough Winds Do Shake by HeckinaHandbasket 4.1k E

He returned with the book, tapping it on Ed’s leg as he reclaimed his seat in the chair. “I’ve always been rather partial to a sonnet, myself. Though they’ve often left me feeling somewhat melancholy.”

They’d often left him filled with longing, left him feeling empty, and strange, as if he were missing something vital to the human experience. He loved them, still. Pain was the price of beauty, after all.

Stede glanced up at Ed, smiling at the effortlessly lovely picture he made, backlit by a dozen candles. “Although, I wonder, now, if it might be different.”

Ed shifted on the arm of the chair, throwing his own arm over Stede’s shoulders to peer at the book. “Different, how?”

Without thinking, Stede bumped his forehead against Ed’s shoulder, joyful honesty bubbling out of him like seafoam. “Well, with you, of course. Everything is different with you.”

A deep, thoughtful line appeared between Ed’s brows as he examined Stede’s face. “Is it?”

Dance Me to the End of Love by stereobone 3.7k E

“I should teach you the waltz,” Stede says. “After all, if you’re going to know the ways of the aristocracy, you should at least have that under your cap.”

“The waltz?” Ed says. “Like a…like fucking dancing?”

“Exactly like fucking dancing,” Stede says.

a laughing matter by mxwicked (SpacemanSpiff7) 6.4k E 🍊

Stede’s never laughed during sex before. Hell, he’s barely even smiled. So when Edward can’t stop giggling during their first time, he’s not really sure what to think.

good game by captainbonny 3.4k E 🍊

in which Ed is (probably canonically!!) sleeping on Stede’s couch, and late night sleepover antics ensue.

Still Waters by Phoenix_Soar 5.4k E

Did people kiss like this? This often? Oh of course they must, not everyone shared his own stilted experiences with intimacy...

Canon-divergent ending to Episode 9 — in which Stede discovers just how touch-starved he's been, while Ed takes full advantage of his first chance to be gentle with someone.

The Biblical Sense by Fyre 2.5k E

“Wh-what’s this?” Stede managed in a strangled croak.

Ed’s eyes creased around the edges. Smiling. One could always tell by them, even if his beard and moustache and everything else hid his mouth. “I know you’re a bit new to the whole… seaman thing,” he said with that rumble of amusement in his voice, “but I thought even you’d recognise a come on when you saw one.”

every morning the world by treescape 1.1k E

“Now there’s nothing to put the marmalade on,” Stede sighs. He stares morosely at the jar that Ed’s holding in one hand, and then lifts his gaze to Ed’s face.

Ed raises both eyebrows in response. “Oh, well, I wouldn’t go that far,” he protests, hefting the jar thoughtfully for a moment. The movement makes Stede’s favourite robe shift a little where it drapes over Ed’s shoulders, revealing another inch of chest.

Or, breakfast in bed doesn't go exactly as planned, but that's okay.

Trick by Desdemon 4.2k E

Stede teaches Ed how to play piquet.

peccadilloes by Badgerette 2.1k T

”Then, what kind of passions do you enjoy in private? Don’t tell me there’s some erotic scribblings hidden in that insane collection of kindling?”

A beat, within which Stede takes a sip of his remaining port.

”You’ve got some fucking raunchy books up there, haven’t you?”

I will own my lover's heart and soul by songlin 2.7k T

Edward Teach considers himself a connoisseur of captors. Without a doubt, Stede Bonnet is his favorite.

spattered colours of ecstatic light by thesoulundone 2.8k E

It's Stede's turn to stare incredulously at him. Ed notices, somewhere in the back of his brain, that he refrains from being smug about it. "You mean you don't-"

"Of course not," Ed breaks in, awkward. "It's - immoral."

"You're a pirate," Stede says, pointed.

"Yeah, but that's different," Ed says, surly.

Silk Touch by NaroMoreau 2.5k E

After a pillaging, Stede finds Ed wearing a dress and shows him exactly how much he appreciates the sight.

Practice Makes Perfect by cracktheglasses (cormallen) 4.3k E

“Lucius said I could practice on a banana, only we haven’t got any on board,” Stede says, and the words take a moment to coalesce into meaning. Ed blinks, shakes his head — a banana, for fuck’s sake, he’s jealous of a banana, get it together, old man — reaches over, and plucks the book from Stede’s grasp.

“Relax. Forget — practice. Forget the book. I’ll talk you through it. When have I ever taught you badly?”

built for luxury by emmett 9.2k E

"Congrats," Ed says, once Stede lowers the mirror. "You've just successfully tied up your first person like a proper pirate. Didn't even take you that long."

"Yes, well," Stede says, blushing a little at the praise and moving to start untying the ropes, "I had an awfully good teacher. Very patient with me."

In which Ed shows Stede the ropes, if you know what I mean.

For a Scoundrel is a Wanted Man by stitchy 4.1k E 🍊

“Well!” Stede smiles and sets down his glass for now, so he can give Ed’s cheek an appreciative rub. “It’s nice to be nice, isn’t it?”

Ed rolls his eyes, but leans into the contact. “Yeah, but don't tell anyone I said so.” He covers Stede’s hand with his own, fingering the lace upon it. “I do have a reputation.”

“I won’t, I won’t! If you don’t tell anyone what a scoundrel I can be,” Stede chuckles.

“You, a scoundrel?” Ed smirks. “You'll have to remind me why, Stede. You haven’t done anything bastardly all day.“

Evening Light by entanglednow 1.9k M

In which there is a commotion, a rousing speech, and a full length nightgown.

Yes, And by triedunture 4.2k E

“And who are we tonight, my darling?” Stede asks once he gets Ed up against the sturdy wall of the auxiliary closet.

“Reckon you’re quite the fearsome pirate,” Ed says into the kiss, “and I’m a fancy lord of fuck-all who’s at your mercy.”

“Oooh, I do like that one.”

----

Ed and Stede try to stick to the script but they keep getting distracted.

You kissed me just to kiss me, not to make me cry by makesometime 3.7k E

“Ed?”

He’s getting distracted. It’s probably a defence or something, against worrying that he’s laying himself bare to someone who might just go and fuck it all up again and leave him, more heartbroken than before.

“Yeah.” He smiles. “I’m here.”

'Cause if I love you (then I love you too much) by rowenablade 2.3k E

They’ve been sleeping together for three weeks, and Stede is hopelessly smitten with everything Ed does. He loves the way Ed sighs when he kicks his boots off and the way he can peel an orange with one hand and the way his hair gets in Stede’s mouth about a third of the time when they’re kissing. He’s amazed he hasn’t run the ship aground again, so hard it is to tear his eyes away from this wonder of a man.

the hung man by LogicalBookThief 4.9k M

"This is fucking Blackbeard we’re talking about, man. Maker of widows. Scourge of the seven seas." For not the first time, Black Pete regards him like an idiot. "What did you expect he'd be packing in his pants?"

we came untarnished by propinquitous 5.7k E

Edward finds that clothing can still leave you feeling naked.

The Dread Pirate Bonnet Shows No Mercy (Lord Jeff Doesn't Want Any, Thanks) by Dracothelizard 8k E

Ed throws the book on the floor in front of Stede. “What if I want to be ravished for a change? Ever think of that?”

Stede stares up at him, mouth open, then closes it, then he frowns in thought.

“That’s what I thought,” Ed mutters, shoulders sagging as he drops into one of the chairs.

Despite knowing the man behind the reputation, Stede still wants Blackbeard. Everyone does.

“I’m a pirate captain,” Stede says, picking the book from the floor and brushing some dirt from the cover.

“And?”

Stede smiles at him, cheeks still flushed. “I think that means I’m allowed to ravish you.”

You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by zemph147 4.7k E

Set after some vaguely-defined season two events where Stede proves his love to Ed, and they return together to The Revenge to finally get some time alone.

I just want them to be together, and in love, and having truly spectacular sex, so here we go.

Tonight, Tonight by samwise 8.2k E

Ed wakes Stede in the middle of the night, and Stede comes to the door in a translucent robe. Ed.exe has stopped working.

all of me is a prayer in perfect piety by princesapollobollo 5.1k E

"I've never really—" Stede pants, leaning back a bit from where Ed is pressing kisses to his mouth, hot and dazzling. "Well, I have, but not—"

"With a man?" Ed asks, looking up at him, and there's no judgment or mocking in his eyes, only a faint curiosity underneath all the intensity.

"With someone I was in love with," Stede says, curling a hand over Ed's cheek.

“Oh,” Ed says, even now still looking like Stede is showing him the wonders of the world every time he says that word. “Well, in that case I don’t have that much experience either.”

this kind of love has to be a verb by illimerence 2.9k E

More than anything else, Ed can’t understand why Stede came back.

A Pirate's Reputation by chamyl 4.9k E

After getting back together, Stede and Ed are having a perfectly lovely time co-captaining their ship and becoming more and more intimate. Until the day Stede discovers that, against all his assumptions, Ed has never had sex before, and begins to wonder why.

grand pianos clash together by audenrain 4.3k E

“And you aim to correct that, do you? You’re going to show me the ropes?” Stede says. It’s a funny thing, the atmosphere aboard a pirate ship. In many ways it’s done exactly what years of bullying and abuse never could: taught him to stand up for himself a little better, given him some rudimentary skill with a sword, and most importantly, given him a taste of how it feels to rise to a challenge. He feels that static charge in the air, now, for all that Ed’s body language is relaxed.

Ed is smiling, a little, behind the crystal edge of his glass. “I don’t think we should get ropes involved on your first time round,” he says.

As You Like It by kindofwriter 2.7k E

Stede asks Ed what he likes, and Ed realises he's never really thought about it before. However he does find out Stede has thought about it A LOT.

tell me i'm what your hands were made for by apocryphalia 2.9k E

Ed is still wearing Stede’s cravat.

Sometimes, when they’re in bed, he peels back the leather surrounding it but leaves that little piece of silk in its place, a reminder of how far they've already come in their few short weeks together. Sometimes, he watches the black cloth sway against tan skin, against the scars darkening its surface and the faded ink beneath, in time with the rhythm of their bodies. Other times, he tosses it aside, the better to worship that skin.

This time, Stede has another idea.

Rum and Linen by scarrletmoon 5.5k E

Usually when Ed gets drunk, he crashes on the couch. This time, he doesn't.

be known in its aching by foxtails 4.6k E

Stede manages to be everywhere at once; his mouth pressed to the bird on Ed’s shoulder, his toes tracing the tattoo curving up his calf muscle, his fingers wrapped loosely around Ed’s wrist.

“I should quite like you immortalised in a portrait,” Stede murmurs against his skin. “Not Blackbeard, not the Dread Pyrate. You, Edward. Every inch of you, laid out beautifully like this.”

or: Edward Teach deserves nice things. Thankfully, that's where Stede comes in.

all that ever mattered was you by anthonyjcrowiey 2k E

Sometimes sex goes wrong, but that doesn't mean it has to be bad.

AKA: the one where Ed and Stede are getting old and they are absolutely feeling their age.

Sneak by whiskywrites 2k E

“Your helmsman is taking orders from a goddamn seagull, Stede,” Ed said. “And we are at his birdy mercy.”

you don't need to wonder by spelling__bee 4.6k E 🍊

It’s the only time he’s ever taken orders in his adult life, because with Stede they don’t feel like control or threats - they feel like love. He can always say no. Stede would stop the moment he asks. But knowing that, and asking for it anyway, settling in where he can trust Stede to call the shots for both of them? Well. Ed can’t think too much about it because he’ll get all misty and shit, but it’s strong stuff.

all day long (on the chaise longue) by attheborder 3.5k E

Adventures in interior design.

Cabin Pressure by entanglednow 6.3k E 🍊

Contrary to Stede's insistence there was not enough space for two in the bed, not unless they wanted to get very close indeed.

Fancy by Aivelin, Fyre 7k E 🍊

When a Spanish prize yields a treasure trove of exquisite clothing, Stede can't resist the urge to indulge Ed's fondness for a fine fabric.

Of night and light and the half light by leupagus 2.1k M

What if for Reasons, they need someone to pretend to be a woman, and so the obvious choice is Stede (look, Jim just isn't very convincing) (Stede played the heroine three years running in the school play, of course he knows his way around a skirt) And Ed is very interested in this look. Very interested.

only the light moves by ThirtySixSaveFiles 2.3k E

Stede and Ed, and the slow morning after. Stede still has some things to say, and he’ll keep saying them until Ed can hear him.

Waiting on the Lightning by smallestchurch 8k E

They're co-captains now, sure, that's great and good, but... why is it making Stede so nervous?

this is a home we just don't have a door by newtkelly 7k E

“I just don’t get why Lucius would even propose such a thing.” He finishes tugging his nightgown over his head and sighs, slipping under the covers to join a nearly naked Ed. “I mean, it’s not as if I’m wedding some virginal bride who would blush at the mere contemplation of sharing a bed with a fellow!”

“Hey,” Ed says, feigning offense as he shuffles into Stede’s embrace, propping his head against Stede’s left shoulder. “Are you saying I’m easy, mate?”

june hymn by ripeteeth 3.1k E

“Tell me about this one,” he says. What he means is, where did it hurt?

Breakfast by scarrletmoon 2.6k E

A typical quiet morning between co-captains aboard The Revenge turns into a much spicier breakfast.

quand il me prend dans ses bras, qu’il me parle tout bas (je vois la vie en rose) by SilkAndLeather (SexyCoinkiDicks) 7.2k E

Ed appreciates his new morning routine, as well as Stede's more intimate finery.

Tender, playful Ed/Stede morning sex PWP. Works as a stand-alone but might have a follow-up.

Unhand Me or Bleed by scarrletmoon 4.2k E

Stede Bonnet has an “unhand me or bleed” moment and Ed can't not fuck him.

i'm coming for you, babe (i'm nearly at your pace) by kirkaut 4.7k E

Ed has been trying to be good.

He can’t necessarily say the same of Stede.

(Or: an exercise in self restraint, and the art of giving in)

Renewal by katonline 3.4k E

The fire is blazing cheerfully in the fancy as fuck fireplace in their cabin. It’s a ridiculous folly, it shouldn’t be there, but it is and it’s wonderful. It’s wet and dreary outside and it’s cozy and snug and perfect in here. The cabin is like a friend. The rain is indifferent, blind to their happiness. That’s - whatsit, fuck - ah. Right. That’s pathetic fallacy.

Stede taught him about pathetic fallacy.

Damn the Dark by Serendipity_Stupidity 15k E 🍊

“Feels good,” Ed told him, breathless. “Bliss - love, surrender, all of it - feels so good. Don’t you want to feel that?”

For a moment, all Stede could see was the red flesh of apples, the flickering tongue of a snake, the dark cloven hooves of the Devil. Between his legs, Ed looked like sin itself, with his stormy curls and soft mouth.

Gripping the edge, Stede’s hands trembled. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stede and Ed share a bath and work through Stede's inhibitions about being intimate.

World Enough and Time by MayGlenn 6.9k E

Five times Stede and Edward try to have sex and are comically interrupted, and the one time they successfully bone.

rather exquisite by leaveanote 4.4k E

Stede fucks him exactly once and Ed feels fucking wild with it the next day. So desperate to have him again he can barely think, and as nervous and excited as the moments after the first time they'd kissed.

And, given how that wound up going, all the more anxious about losing him.

My Saddle's Waiting by Dracothelizard 5.2k E

He regretfully covers Bonnet with the sheets, drawing them up to his waist. “I am gonna do my best to keep you alive,” he promises, brushing some hair away from Bonnet’s face. “Because once you’re healed up, I am gonna ride you like a pony.”

Bonnet whimpers. “I should be a lighthouse.”

“Yeah,” Ed says, “bet people can see your dick from miles away once we get it hard.” He stands up to find a comfortable chair to sit in so he can keep an eye on Bonnet during the night.

He’s not gonna let the man die before getting that massive dick inside of him.

---

In which Ed catches sight of Stede's cock after saving him from the Spanish and dragging him back to the Revenge, and embarks on an important mission.

Like a Needle to Skin It Leaves a Mark by greatbriton 6.3k E

“Oh! Or we find a nearby port and the whole crew gets matching tattoos, like this one!” Stede says and, without a thought to his actions, runs a finger against a part of Ed’s lower arm where a tattoo of an anchor slotted between stars and crosses resides. Ed's skin is cooler than Stede would imagine, if he imagines such a thing. “It could be a team building exercise! What do you thi--”

Stede finally looks up to see Ed’s eyes focused intently on where Stede’s finger lies against his arm. Stede pulls his hand away as if burned. He’s overstepped. Clumsy and entirely indelicate of him, he mentally chastises himself.

Weird by Skrifores 5.6k E

In which Ed muses on all the things which are just fucking weird about being on the Revenge, especially the cute, strange, lunatic captain.

make sure you bind me (hand and foot) by Hymn 6.3k E

Finally, he looks at Edward.

Stede’s pupils are blown, eyes all dark and hungry. He licks his upper lip nervously. Ed can see the frantic pop of his pulse; can see the clench and flex of his jaw, like he’s struggling. But not in a bad way. No, not in a bad way at all, Edward decides, watching as Stede tugs a little more on the ropes. How his breath stutters, then leaves him in a shuddery exhale.

“Hm. That’s not a bad look on you, Stede,” Edward murmurs.

“I admit,” Stede gulps. “I was not prepared for being so- so affected by this.”

Ed grins, showing all his teeth. “Good.”

The Finer Things by BewareTheIdes15 5.9k E

“Listen, yeah,” Ed says, obviating the entire statement by taking an overlarge slug of his drink. The pink dart of his tongue that follows after is almost hidden by the shadow of his mustache.

“I’ve been thinking. How would you feel about, uh,” the sound of the leather of his glove grating against his trousers seems loud in the quiet as he traces the length of his thigh up to his hip, restless fingers tap-tapping away again against the steel of a fastening. “Lending a hand?”

In which Ed has no chill, Stede has no idea how this happened, and everyone needs to get their shit together.

we're finding new forms by Hymn 6.1k E

“Yeah,” Ed agrees, leaning in, breathing deep. “Yeah, you’re good. You’re fine.”

“Mm,” is Stede’s smiling response, and then between one moment and the next Ed is being kissed again. His shaking hands are in Stede’s hair, gripping at his ear, the side of his neck, trying to hold on to the shape of him while Ed himself feels like he’s falling apart. Heat and tongues and the slick, indecent slide of them take over. Breaths funneling into one another.

Against Ed’s gasping mouth, Stede murmurs, “My dear. You’re shaking,” before sucking in Ed’s bottom lip.

Groaning, Ed doesn’t try to fight it—the tide of panic, of love, of fear that lingers. He hadn’t expected that part, to be honest. All his life and Ed had shown fear the middle finger every time it came knocking. He’s had to, hasn’t he? But then wham, love stomps him to the ground, sets up a home inside his chest, and Ed hasn’t known peace since.

Stede’s fingers trying their damnedest to wiggle under his leather, squeezing at Ed’s ass sure as shit isn’t helping keep him sane.

Harbor by derryday 3.7k E

Ed had spent most of his formative years on ships. By the time he met Stede, the legendary Blackbeard had sea legs for days.

Wooden decks and billowing sails had become almost an extension of his body. He remained sure-footed even when timber strained and creaked. Moving with the push and pull of the sea became as natural to him as breathing.

A ship could heave and buck like an unruly horse as sheets of rain lashed the sails and thunder cracked overhead, and Ed would just shift his weight with the swaying deck, almost smiling at the sea's antics.

The touch of Stede's broad hands, the warm firm press of his thigh against Ed's groin—that storm made even him falter.

Lovers and Madmen by ElapsedSpiral 4.4k E

Ed said "nah, all good" but what he meant was, god as his witness, he was going to marry the [expletive] out of Stede Bonnet.

My take on a marriage fic, featuring Stede almost getting cockblocked by his own lack of self-esteem, Ed going full Bridezilla and the poor crew having to deal with them both.

Your Feedback Is Important to Us by ElapsedSpiral 4.1k E

Stede starts holding open cabin hours to allow the crew to air their grievances. It goes about as well as you’d expect.

AKA my “Stede is going to go off like a horny volcano when he finally gets laid” fic.

Featuring Stede’s cursed yet sexy moustache, Swede lore and Lucius being altogether too good at his job(s).

Co-Captain Duties by Fyre 3.5k E

He tugged at the hem, chewing on his lip. Subtle didn’t seem to be getting the message across, so maybe it was time for something a bit more direct. Yeah, they’d changed in front of each other before, but that was changing and they’d hardly been paying that much attention. Or he hadn’t, anyway, not with gorgeous silk in his hands. Fuck’s sake, they were co-captains now, weren’t they?

continue to part two

#ofmd #blackbonnet #gentlebeard #ofmd fic rec #mine #forcing myself to go ahead and publish this instead of delaying it another week to keep reading my marked for laters lol

547 notes · View notes

the-writer-ofthe-fandoms · 2 years

Text

Pride Got in the Way (Izzy Hands)

Pairing: Izzy Hands x Gender Neutral! Reader

Words: 5.6k+

Warning(s): HURT/COMFORT! ANGST! blood, verbal fighting, physical fighting, stab wounds, injuries, needles/stitches, swearing

A/N: IZZY BRAIN ROT. I am so obsessed with him right now omg, I just had to write this out.

Summary: You were tired of your lover, Izzy Hands, treating the crew of The Revenge you called family poorly, and decide to take a quiet walk out. Unfortunely, two muggers demanded your items.

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It was one of those rare stops that were made for The Revenge. There was a need to stock up on food and none of you wanted to get scurvy like Swede did. It was some small port that you and Ed pointed out to Stede that was mostly neutral to pirates. Although Izzy made sure to remind you and Edward that no one had to worry about the crew of the Revenge being taken as pirates. Despite loving the man to death, his comments about the crew and captain of The Revenge made you roll your eyes. You were Stede's first mate and held loyalty to the crew, regardless of your relationship with Blackbeard's first mate. Even with his comments, he had agreed to put up with "Stede Fucking Bonnet" and the crew for Edward and for you.

It was strange how you and Izzy fell together like long lost souls. You were one of the only ones deemed competent on the Revenge, with the inclusion of Jim. He saw how you handled yourself with a sword when he rescued you and a few others from the Spanish. He saw the potential you had and got to know you, helped better your swordsmanship before you two confessed feelings.

Currently, you and the rest of the crew were putting away all the food Stede had purchased for the vessel. You were close to finishing, hoisting the last bag of potatoes over your shoulder, Wee John carried up two crates of oranges right behind you, Stede and Lucius were carrying a few loaves of bread, and everyone followed along with the remaining groceries. When you got to the hull kitchen Roach pointed you to where he wanted the potatoes and after that you went back to the deck.

You stood on deck towards the front of the ship, placing your hand on the shoulder you used to carry all the sacks. You rolled it and winced as some pain bloomed from your shoulder and shoulder blade to your spine. You cursed under your breath and dropped your hand, figuring you must of lifted something wrong and pulled a muscle.

"Are you alright?" You heard Izzy's distinct voice behind you. You felt his hands caress the spots between your shoulder and neck, his thumbs kneaded circles into the tender flesh and muscles for just a few moments before he stood by your side. He never was much a fan displaying affection in front of the crew, despite everyone already figuring out you both were a couple.

"Yeah, I think I strained my shoulder carrying food. It'll probably heal in a few days. Are we leaving after this?"

"Well, fucking Stede wants us all to go to the tavern and enjoy a night off." He scoffed.

"A night out sounds fun, it can be almost a proper date night." You smiled and watched his face visibly soften at that idea.

"Will we still go to the tavern with...everyone... or..." His voice trailed at the thought, making you chuckle.

"I would like to spend an hour with everyone before we go off on our own for privacy." He rolled his eyes and you chuckled again. "I know you think less of our crew, but maybe this time on the land in a joyous occasion will be fun."

"Let's hope, my dear." You bit your tongue and looked down at the bustling docks. You hoped he held you as an exception to his discontentment but you can't help but feel hurt by his words, as you were still a key part in Stede's crew.

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The tavern was bustling with energy and lively music. Stede had promised to buy everyone their first round of ale, but you knew everyone was probably going to dip when morning comes. The crew were causing a ruckus but everyone seemed happy. Everyone except Israel Hands, who sat next to you in the back corner brooding. Every time you tried making conversation, it always resulted in him giving you short, half-assed replies. He hadn't even touched the drink Stede had bought him. You had it at his pride against your captain, the crew, and the way things are run on The Revenge.

"Israel," The use of his actual name had him blink in shock and turn to face you. "Why are you so tense? You should be relaxed and should be enjoying the ale."

"Dancing makes you soft. All this makes you weak." He spat and gestured to everyone. This time he included you with his insults, whether intentional or not. "Blackbeard has been falling since he came across Stede and you lot."

He clicked his tongue and scowled. "We should be back on the water right now, looking for a ship to raid and plunder. These dogs shouldn't be having fun like this when they haven't done shit to earn it."

"Well, I am a part of those dogs, Israel." You glared at him, some pent up frustration building up. "I was hoping you and I can at least dance and be somewhat tipsy and happy before we go on our own."

"You know what, Izzy?" You stood up from your chair and practically snarled at him. "I know losing your reputation and losing what Edward used to be may be the end of the world for you, but it isn't for me. Stede is an idiot, yes, but he saved my life from the destitute and pain I experienced by giving me a spot with his crew. His crew is not the most pirate ready people, but damn do they make good friends. I have tried to tie you, someone I deeply care for and love, in with them but you insult them without getting to fully know them."

"(Y/N)..." He tried speaking but you didn't allow him.

"I don't know if you realize it but every time you insult them, you insult me. And your last remark here? Just solidified that you truly see me as nothing more than a dog." You removed your coin pouch from your hip and dropped it in front of him. "If you're not going to drink that because Stede bought it, use my funds." After that, you quickly stormed out of the tavern, not caring how everyone was watching you tear into Izzy.

"Shit." Lucius muttered and quickly went to follow you. Stede saw his first mate looking upset so he decided to excuse himself from Ed to try and help. With a raised brow and a disappointed look, Edward Teach decided to approach Izzy on what happened.

Outside the tavern, you paced with tears threatening to fall. When you heard the door open you quickly turned so your back was facing whoever came out. You could feel your body tremble as you kept your arms wrapped around yourself.

"Hey, it's just us." You heard Lucius speak softly, approaching you on your left.

"What made you upset?" Stede asked on your right.

"That was the first time either one of us exploded at each other." Even your voice trembled, a tear slipped from your glassy eyes and fell along the curve of your face. "I just... I don't know if he realizes how mean he sounds sometimes."

"I think he does. He is an angry little twat." Lucius snorted, which made you slightly chuckle through the tears.

"But what we also know is he cares for you deeply, (Y/N)." Stede placed a hand on your upper arm and you looked to face him. He visibly gulped at your tear stricken face. "And you do for him."

"I'll never see why but I respect you." Lucius added. "You are amazing, the best of us next to dear ol' Jim. He needs to see that in order to respect you, he needs to learn that things aren't going to be the same as they were for him."

"Blackbeard has taught us a lot, and you have been a great help in that. I'd say we are ready for a true adventure after this." Your captain smiled but you knew he was just trying to make you feel better. So, you smiled and nodded, giving them both a short hug.

"Thank you both. I am just going to take a quick walk for some fresh air, I'll be back in a bit."

"Stay safe, I will need my first mate for when we sail tomorrow." Stede winked and headed back into the tavern.

"And when you get back I'll get you a drink, (Y/N)." Lucius gave you another hug, leaving you alone. You sighed, shoving your hands into your coat pockets before walking down the street.

It was quiet and empty, the only light source was the half-moon and the lit lanterns down the path. You had no real destination in mind, you just wanted to clear your head and enjoy the silence. You had hoped in your heart Izzy would take your words into consideration but you feared your outburst would forever damage your relationship with him. You knew you were right, but you didn't think losing your cool like that was what was needed.

You shook your head. This walk was to clear your mind, not dwell on the encroaching heartache.

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Back in the tavern, Ed was having a simple talk with Izzy on what happened. Suddenly Stede and Lucius came back in and immediately made their way to Izzy. The shorter man groaned at the thought of dealing with them both but Edward slapped his arm.

"See, that attitude has (Y/N) upset, mate." Edward scolded. Lucius and Bonnet pulled up chairs and sat across from the two and it seems the rest of the crew started paying attention to what was happening.

"You're lucky they like you." Lucius said with a curled lip, disgust on his face.

"Iggy..." Stede tried to start but Izzy gave him a look. "Sorry, Izzy, when you yell and insult us... Do you realize that you are also insulting (Y/N)?"

"What?" He was confused. He thought his actions towards you would have been obvious that he never included you when he was ordering around the crew.

"You never really differentiate it when you do. Regardless if you should or not, your insults also hurt them as we are the closest thing to them as a family." Stede concluded his remarks and everyone nodded or hummed in agreement.

"Yea mate, would you like it if they did the same thing to Blackbeard, Fang, Ivan and you?" Frenchie asked, pointing a finger at Izzy.

"I-I get it. I was a complete twat to them. I'll apologize when they get back." Izzy sighed, gritting his teeth slightly. "I... I apologize for my behavior and will try to work on that."

"That is great! Remember, when we get angry on the Revenge: we like to talk it through, as a crew." Stede smiled and Izzy gave him a glare, but bit his tongue from retorting. "Okay! We shall leave you alone for a bit."

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You went down to the docks on your walk and now you were heading back to the tavern. The cool air nipped your face but after some time to yourself, you felt much better and calm. You planned to apologize to Izzy about your outburst. You recognized that snapping at him in front of everyone before talking to him about it in private was a bit out of hand and you likely embarrassed him, but you weren't going to apologize for your message.

You were about two minutes away from the tavern when you felt the hair on your neck seemingly raise in alarm. You felt as though you were being watched. You slowed to a stop, putting your hand on the hilt of your sword, and turned around. Sure enough, there was a man following you.

"Couldn't help but notice that nice coat you're wearing, and that sword." He spoke, a smirk on his face. He slowly approached and slowly unsheathed his own sword, a bit rusted and damaged.

"And?" You tilted your head, slowly mimicking his action with your own sword, wincing ever so slightly at the pain from your shoulder.

"Why don't you hand those over and any other nice things, and I won't have to kill you?"

"Why don't you fuck right off?" You raised a brow and cocked your head to the side. The man spat in your direction and immediately started taking swings at you. You expertly blocked each swing, the sound of metal clashing echoed in the night. You were playing purely defense against him. You allowed him the offense to tire out, which he did. You could see his swings were getting sloppy.

You shifted to offense, taking swings at him. You landed a few cuts on his arms and legs, nothing too serious but you wanted to get it across you weren't to be fucked with. Thinking back to Izzy's lessons, you easily maneuver your weapon and disarm him. His weapon was sent to the ground and you swiftly put the tip of your weapon at his throat.

"Walk away now or my blade will enter your throat." You hissed. It didn't seem to faze the man, which confused you. You were about to press the tip into his throat to get the point across when you heard footsteps behind you. That is when it clicked why this man wasn't phased. You quickly turned on your heels and that is when searing, hot white pain was felt in your lower left side. You glanced down and saw a dagger in your gut.

"Surprise." The person who stabbed you smirked.

"Careful of the coat, I want that." The man you previously were dueling spoke. The dagger was yanked out of you, tears fell from your eyes at the pain. Your grip tightened on your sword and you swung it at the man who stabbed you. He stepped back, only receiving a cut to his cheek. You take a step to get in reach with him but then your right thigh was slashed, the immediate pain almost made it unbearable to stand in that moment.

"You're one tough cookie."

"F-Fuck..." You hoarsely spoke. You attempted to try and get away but one of the men shoved you to the ground. Roughly your coat was taken from your body, your attempts to fight them off were futile. Your sword was then picked up off the ground while you tried to stand back up again. You were met with a fist straight to the nose and you were on your back. You rolled over onto your side as blood began leaking into your throat from your nose.

"Take their necklace too." The first one you dueled commanded.

"N-No..." You pleaded, voice stuffy from the blood leaking from your probably broken nose. A hand buried itself in your hair and lifted your head up while the other maneuvered your chain and ring over your head. The ring Izzy bought you to match his around his tie. After it was stolen the person dropped your head, which bounced against the dirty ground.

The two muggers simply cackled at the situation and took off the way you had just come from. You took a moment to catch your breath and pushed yourself off the ground. When you added more weight to your slashed leg you could barely contain the almost scream of pain. Your blood and tears were a mix on your face.

You started slowly limping back to the tavern. Like hell were you going to die alone on the streets... without apologizing and explaining yourself to Izzy...without telling him and your crew you loved them. Pure rage and determination filled your system as you trekked onwards. You could tell you were getting weaker by the second from loss of blood, but you hoped you were applying enough pressure to your side wound to keep the bleeding down.

It took you longer than you had wanted, but the tavern was in view.

"Just... Just a little bit more..." You mumbled, the taste and smell of coppery iron penetrated your taste and smell. Your vision was darkening along the corners and you struggled to keep your head up. You could tell you would collapse soon, before you could reach the door.

Thankfully, that door swung open and out came three people. You could barely tell who they were; Wee John, Frenchie, and Roach. You could feel numbness begin to take over your legs, so you took one final step in the light of a lantern nearby.

The three were laughing, telling the rest of the crew they will be right back before the door slammed shut. Their laughing stopped when their attention was on you.

"(Y/N)?!" Wee John shouted. You couldn't speak, you simply smiled and your legs gave out, hitting the ground with a painful thud. The three quickly rushed over and horror was on their faces at the amount of blood on your person.

"Shit!" Frenchie cursed. "Take them back to the ship to Captains quarters, Roach you get to sew up any wounds when you get there and I'll get everyone else."

"Got it." They both replied and sprung into action. Roach slipped off the apron he always wore and wrapped it as fast as he could around your thigh as that was bleeding more than your other wounds, telling you to keep pressure before you were lifted into John's arms. You cried out at the movement, John hushed you gently and the three of you took off towards the ship.

Frenchie slammed open the door, "Guys!" Only a few people turned their heads, he gritted his teeth in frustration. "GUYS!" The music and chatter died down as everyone stared at him.

"What is it?" Stede asked.

"It's (Y/N), they got attacked. John and Roach are getting them to the ship. It's pretty bad."

It was dead silent for a moment. The mug Izzy was holding clattered against the floor was the only thing heard in that moment.

Chaos then ensued. Everyone was pushing their way out the door while Stede threw some coins at the bar keep. Izzy shoved himself to the front of the group as they ran back to the ship. He felt cold dread in his system, tears threatening to spill.

The crew got the ship in no time and Izzy was bounding up the ship. He felt his heart drop when he heard your screams from the captain's room. He wasted no time getting there and saw Roach attempting to hold your upper body with one arm while John was holding your kicking legs.

'This couldn't be happening... Why them?' His mind raced. His heart ached. Guilt seeped into his system. The last thing he did to you was be a complete asshole. He didn't dance with you, he didn't take you out for a nice night out... he let his pride get the better of him and now you were hurt...

"Good! I need someone to hold them down." Roach commanded Izzy. "I'm trying to suture their wounds but they won't hold still. Someone help John with their legs!"

"Right..." Izzy blinked and rushed over. He felt his throat constrict at the sight of your shirt and pants basically cut open, and at the blood and wounds on your body. He wasted no time draping himself over your upper body/chest area, his back to Roach while he placed his hand on the top of your head, petting you softly.

"Izzy-?" You whispered out, your vision blurred from tears. You felt the needle Roach was using to pierce the tender flesh around your leg wound, causing you to yell.

"Yes, it's me." He hoarsely whispered.

"I-I'm sorry for earlier. I am sorry for e-embarrassing you..." Your eyes squeezed shut as Roach continued sewing the wound. "I'm so-sorry I got attacked-"

"Hush. Don't apologize my dear." He pressed a kiss to your forehead. Roach had him scoot up more so he could have better access to your other wound. When he started on it, you threw your head back from the pain. You were able to get your arms around Izzy and squeezed them around him from the jabbing needle sensation. You whimpered softly and Izzy didn't know if he could take much more of you in pain. He whispered comforting words to you and placed another kiss on your temple.

The crew was in shock watching the scene before them. They were all worried for you, of course, but they had never seen Israel Hands so affectionate and soft before. Even Edward has never seen him like this before.

"I just really love you and I want...want-" You screamed as Roach accidentally poked the needle he was using too close to the wound, your eyes rolling back before you passed out from pain and blood loss. Your arms around him go limp.

"(Y/N)?" His eyes searched your face for any sign of life, but you were still. The only thing he felt was your shallow breaths underneath him. Izzy quickly got off of your body and looked to Roach, who finished stitching the wounds. Oluwande, who helped John with your legs, handed him the bandages and Roach quickly wrapped up the wounds. Olu placed a blanket over your body and the three men stepped away, leaving Izzy the closest to you.

"Will...Will they make it?" Stede stepped forwards and asked.

"In my professional opinion, I'm not sure. They lost a lot of blood; they were stabbed in the gut and had a deep cut in their leg. With them walking to the tavern, it furthered the bleeding. We may have to stay for a few days, watch for infection. If they get worse, we need to take them to an actual doctor." Roach sighed and crossed his arms. "We just have to watch over them."

“They must have been mugged.” Frenchie commented. “When we saw them, they were missing their coat and sword.”

“And their ring.” Izzy snarled, the thoughts and images of you being attacked and the images of you bleeding and wounded plagued his mine. He figured it was two people who jumped you. The wound to your gut and the wound to your leg were from different weapons.

Feeling overwhelmed and too emotional, Izzy turned away from you, shoving through the crew before storming to the deck. He found himself at the spot you both were at earlier. His hands gripped the wooden railing as he squeezed his eyes shut, tears leaking out. He wouldn’t know what to do with himself if you died. He could barely stand to be in that room with you, he felt like he didn’t deserve to be in your presence any longer. He was blaming himself. If he hadn't been an asshole, you wouldn’t have left the tavern.

“Izzy…” Blackbeard's voice startled him. The shorter man simply glanced over his shoulder and returned his tearful stare back to the city. “You should be in there with (Y/N).”

“I can’t.” Israel shook his head.

“They're your partner, mate.”

“It’s my fault they are like this.”

“That’s not true. Izzy, they would want you in there when they wake up.”

“If they wake up…” Izzy tensed up when he felt Edward’s hand clasp his shoulder.

“Get your head out of your ass and get in there. You were a dick in the tavern but that doesn’t make what happened your fault. The people who attacked them are at fault. Not you. Do you want them to die thinking you were mad at them or thought less of them?” That struck a chord in his first-mate. He then pulled Izzy away from the railing. “Go, that is an order from your captain.”

Izzy didn’t argue any further. He hesitantly walked back to the room, waited as everyone else cleared the room, before stepping back in. He closed the door quietly and gazed back at you on Stede’s bed. Your face was still covered in blood and a layer of sweat covered your entire body.

The door behind him opened and he spun around and saw Lucius standing in the doorway with a damp rag.

“I figured they didn’t want to wake up with crusty blood on their face. Here, you do it.” Lucius offered the rag and Izzy took it slowly.

“Thanks.” He whispered, then made his way to you. Lucius stared at him, shocked at his gratitude. He decided it was best not to comment on it and swiftly left Blackbeard’s first-mate alone. Izzy pulled up a chair and sat bedside to you, his face solemn. He leaned over and began cleaning your face. Thankfully your nose didn’t seem broken to him. His free hand cupped the top of your head as he wiped the blood under your nose and around your mouth. He moved towards your neck, cleaning the drying blood that got there.

When he finished, he simply tossed the rag somewhere else in Stede’s quarters. He kept his one hand on your head, petting you once more, while his other reached under the blanket to grab your hand.

“I need you to pull through.” Izzy pleaded, tears welling up again. “You can’t leave me, (Y/N). I still owe you a dance and a night out. I still owe you an apology.” The tears fell again, and all Israel could do in this moment was hope you would wake up.

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Mostly everyone on the ship started working on cleaning tasks early in the morning, and everyone kept looking to where the captains quarters were. Everyone was hoping to see you come, alive and recovering. Izzy hadn’t left the room, not that anyone could blame him. Edward checked in a few times as the day progressed but you were still out and Izzy was still holding your hand. While others were doing minimal jobs on The Revenge, Jim, Frenchie, Fang, and Black Pete were on the lookout for whoever robbed you, hoping they could get justice and get your items back.

Izzy felt exhaustion seeping into his bones, but he refused to sleep. He wanted to be present when you awoke so he could apologize. He didn’t care if you didn’t want to see him again, he just wanted you awake. He wanted to see you recover. He took your hand in both of his hands and raised it to his lips, his facial hair scratched the back of your hand.

What Izzy didn’t expect was to feel your fingers twitch against his hands. His eyes snapped to your face as he heard soft groans leave your mouth. Your eyes opened, but you winced from the light, rapidly blinking. Your eyes adjusted to the light and you turned your head, looking at Izzy.

“Izzy?” You mumbled, taking in his worried and tired face. You go to sit up, but immense pain in your lower abdomen hits you. Izzy took one of his hands away from your hand and gently pushed you back down on the bed.

“Stay down, (Y/N). Do you remember what happened?” He cupped your cheek.

“I was followed on my way back to the tavern. I fought and disarmed him, but he had another person sneak up behind me. I turned around and was stabbed, then the other guy slashed my thigh. They took my coat… and the sword and ring you gave. Oh I’m-I’m sorry they took them…”

“Some of the crew are looking to get those back, don’t worry.” He hushed you. “You have nothing to apologize for, my dear. I should be apologizing, I was a complete and utter twat."

"I didn't mean to yell at you either."

"I needed it. I wasn't aware I was hurting you. I can't…promise immediate change or no slip ups, but I will work on integrating myself more into the crew." You stared at him for a moment and he worried he said something wrong, but when you smiled… that beautiful smile, he knew everything would be alright.

“Kiss me, Izzy.”

“Gladly.” Izzy leaned over, and placed a gentle, deep kiss. You giggled at his goatee scratching and tickling your face, you felt him smile against your face.

“Izzy! We found the bastards- Oh shit! Sorry mate!” Edward entered the cabin. Izzy immediately shot up, slightly flustered, fixing his hair that fell over his face. You turned your head in Blackbeard’s direction and grinned at him.

“Hey Ed!”

“(Y/N!)” He opened his arms with a smile and approached the two of you. “I’m so glad you’re awake, how are you feeling? Izzy here was worried; sat by your bed all night.”

“Aww.” You smiled at Izzy who gave you a flustered glare.

“You said you found who did it?” Izzy straightened out his vest.

“Oh yeah. We spotted them hanging out at the docks. They got (Y/N)’s stuff. We are keeping an eye on them, I am sure you want to be the one to confront them.”

“Yes, good. You,” Izzy spun and pointed at you, “Stay put. You will be resting until you can properly walk.”

“Come on-”

“Don’t make me get Stede to order it.”

“Fine.” You huffed, but chuckled.

----------

Izzy stormed out of the captain’s quarters with Edward trailing behind him. Edward made sure to announce to the crew you were awake, and that whoever wants to help with the two muggers can join him. Stede happily volunteered and so did most people with the exception of Swede, who offered to keep an eye on you.

The group dispersed, Ed going somewhere out of as he knew these people would run at the sight of the infamous Blackbeard. The two individuals were near the ship, one had your coat and the other had your sword and ring. The crew practically surrounded them on all sides to ensure they didn’t escape. Izzy rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, slowly approaching the two.

“I am only going to say this once.” He stopped right before them both, his voice catching their attention. “Unless you want to die, you will hand over that coat, sword, and ring.”

“Why should we?” One jeered, eyeing up Izzy.

“Those items belong to my partner-”

“And my first mate!” Stede jumped in, making Izzy roll his eyes and make a ‘tch’ noise.

“I think they are talking about that dumbass we robbed last night.” The one with your coat nudged the other. They both shared a laugh, Izzy snarled and unsheathed his weapon. The second the one with your sword drew it, Izzy wasted no time to start swinging. It startled the two. His harsh strikes and ferocious demeanor had the one holding your sword completely unnerved. Izzy wasted no time landing many cuts to his skin before expertly disarming him. Jim stepped up and took your sword, holding it at the two. The rest of the crew, including Blackbeard, stepped in as well.

“Shit!” One of them hissed. The both of them begrudgingly took off the items and handed them over to Jim.

“I better not see you two ever again, or I will kill you both.” The men simply glared and turned away from him, quickly leaving the docks.

“Job well done, Izzy!” Stede grinned and patted him on the shoulder. He simply nodded, biting the inside of his cheek, and grabbed your things from Jim. He then made his way back to the ship, coming aboard to see you standing on the dock waiting for him with Swede keeping you up right.

“I thought I said you were to stay put.” He scolded, then put the necklace with the ring on it over your head. “And you didn’t keep them in bed?” He then scolded Swede, a bit more harsh.

“Don’t blame him, Iz. I was getting up regardless, he didn’t want me hurting myself.”

“I got it from here, Swede.” Izzy took over helping you and started taking you back to the captain’s room. “And no one disturb their rest!” The door closed behind you two and you laughed.

“Less bark there.”

“I am trying to integrate.” He sat you on the bed and placed your items on a chair nearby.

“Come lay with me Iz.”

“W-What about your injuries?”

“You’ll lay near the windows so I can lay on my right side. Please.” You pleaded. “I am wounded and need the comfort of my lover-”

“Fine.” He chuckled lightly and joined you on the bed. He maneuvered himself to the side closest to the windows, then helped you lay down with him. His arms were carefully wrapped around your form, letting you place your injured leg above his. He took a deep breath in, taking in your everything; he felt instantly relaxed.

You yawed, and snuggled right under his chest, sleep coming quick despite having slept for most of the day. Izzy exhaled, and let sleep finally take over. Neither of you too had to exchange ‘I love you’s’, you both knew you each deeply cared for one another, more than anything else.

Twenty minutes or so have passed, and Stede and Edward decided to pop in to check on you both. Stede had to bite back an aww at the sight of his and Ed’s first-mates snuggled together. Before Stede could possibly ruin the moment, Ed grabbed him by the arm they both left to inform the crew what they saw.

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gonzo-rella · 2 years

Text

Headcanons: Becoming Stede Bonnet And Edward Teach’s ‘Adopted Child’

MASTERLIST

Relationship(s): Stede Bonnet and Edward Teach x gn!reader (platonic/familial), Stede Bonnet x Edward Teach (romantic), the crew of the Revenge x gn!reader (platonic)

Warnings: Nothing you wouldn’t see in OFMD. (Let me know if I need to add any)

(A/N: I’ve been having a rough time with anxiety and loneliness and all that jazz over the past several weeks, so I decided to write this self-indulgent comfort piece. Plus, I had a nice dream where these guys were my dads and I really enjoyed it so yeah. This may be less coherent than my usual headcanons, so apologies in advance. I’ll probably write more stuff with this dynamic, since I need a distraction to make me feel better. Feel free to send in requests if there are any specific things you want to see based on this premise. The reader’s implied to be a teenager, by the way. [Insert obligatory begging for OFMD requests])

Stede hired you as his cabin boy (gender neutral) when he formed the crew of the Revenge.

That doesn’t mean you do much work, though.

After all, you’re on the Revenge.

Very early on, he starts to act very paternal towards you without even really realising it.

He knows he views you as a child, but it takes a while for him to realise he views you as his child.

When he starts to have this realisation, I feel like he’d be scared of fucking things up with you like he did with the family he left behind.

However, he tries to be the best parental figure he can be for you regardless.

Of all the crew, he consistently shows the most concern for you.

He’s always trying to be a good influence on you and will often keep you at his side like Lucius.

I’m guessing many of these attempts to be a positive influence would be undermined by the crew in some way, much to Stede’s chagrin.

Speaking of the crew, I can imagine most, if not all, of them taking a shine to you.

They’ll treat you as one of them but also like a younger sibling or nibling.

Random headcanon: (post-identity-reveal) Jim tries to teach you how to use a knife and Stede goes into protective dad mode.

You’d probably be the closest with Lucius due to the fact that you both spend a lot of time with Stede.

Stede decides that they’ll both try to teach you how to read and write if you can’t already.

Whenever the crew leaves the ship (such as when the ship runs aground or they go to the Republic of Pirates) Stede definitely keeps you with him.

He uses the excuse of it being because you’re his cabin boy, but it’s clear he wants to keep you safe and he, perhaps naively, thinks that he’s capable of protecting you.

When he gets hurt after getting betrayed by Geraldo, you already have a kind of parent/child relationship (something you don’t like to admit), so you’re quite worried and upset.

Plus, you’re also pretty apprehensive about Blackbeard’s invasion.

The crew protects you when you roll your eyes at Izzy.

After all, your dad captain is hurt and you’re not in the mood to be yelled at.

When Stede wakes up after being stabbed, he asks Ed if you’re alright (Ed has no idea who you are, though).

Ed’ll probably also hear about you through Izzy after you show him disrespect, though Izzy’d probably just refer to you as the cabin boy, meaning Ed won’t connect the dots.

He won’t properly meet you until Stede introduces you to him.

When Stede and Ed become co-captains, you spend a lot of time with the both of them.

It takes a while for you to warm up to Ed, with you often acting kinda awkward around him at first.

However, I can imagine you bonding with him when you spend some one-on-one time together (something orchestrated by Stede, no doubt).

I have this idea of Ed occasionally declaring something like “I fucking love this kid!” and ruffling your hair/patting you on the back when you do or say something that impresses/entertains him.

After this moment of bonding between you, he really enjoys having you around (which is good, considering all the time you spend with him and Stede).

I feel like Ed wouldn’t notice his attachment to you until he instinctually protects you from something.

He’d be used to telling Izzy to leave you alone when he’s being a bit of a prick to you.

But, this time is different.

Imagine this:

The crew’s out on one of its usual raids.

You’re ‘keeping out of the way’ as Stede said, since you were only really there to help with carrying stuff and rowing (and to learn how to fight through observation).

But, someone from the other ship is coming at you.

Oh shit.

You’re frozen in place and think you’re done for.

Then, before you know it, Ed’s in front of you, fighting the person off.

You don’t hear what he says, but he sounds pretty pissed off.

When the fighting’s over, Ed grabs you by the shoulders and asks you if you’re alright.

Clearly you’re not.

When you get back to the Revenge, Ed pulls you aside to check in on you.

You don’t say anything; you just hug him.

He’s taken by surprise, but he (hesitantly) hugs you back anyway.

Later on when they’re alone, Stede will thank Ed for saving you.

When Ed’s falling asleep that night, that’s when he realises that the idea of you getting hurt and/or dying fucking terrifies him.

Then, something else hits him: caring about you terrifies him just as much.

He’s not used to feeling this kind of attachment to another person.

Part of him doesn’t want to feel so attached to you- if anything were to happen to you (whether or not you left of your own accord), he’d be devastated.

So, over the next few days, he starts to distance himself from you and push you away.

You notice, but hide the fact that you’re confused and hurt by it.

Stede notices it too (after Lucius questions him about it).

So, he asks Ed why he’s been distancing himself from you.

Ed denies knowing what he’s talking about at first.

Stede sees through this and persists.

Ed cracks and shares his feelings, though struggles to express them.

Still, Stede understands how he’s feeling and tries his best to reassure him.

Slowly but surely, Ed stops distancing himself from you.

Gradually, he grows more and more comfortable with caring about you.

He doesn’t quite realise that you’ve started seeing him as a father figure, but that doesn’t stop him from acting as one.

And, soon enough, you, Stede and Ed start to feel like a family.

#stede bonnet x reader #edward teach x reader #blackbeard x reader #edward teach x stede bonnet #blackbonnet #blackbonnet x reader #ofmd x reader #ofmd #our flag means death x reader #Our Flag Means Death #x reader #x gn!reader #x gn reader #x gender neutral!reader #x gender neutral reader

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straightupsickfics · 1 year

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idk vico ortiz looking Like That at eccc this weekend rearranged my brain chemistry and this is just the actual tiniest jim/olu ficlet + allergic jim <3

****

Jim had gotten used to The Revenge.

They'd gotten used to Captain Bonnet's ineptitude and Oluwande's gentle glances.

They'd even gotten used to Blackbeard himself joining their crew and all of the pining and idiocy that came with Ed and Stede meeting.

What they could not get used to was the weather and the foliage in the Caribbean. Growing up in St. Augstine, Jim had never been a stranger to warm, humid weather, or to things in bloom. Or, at least that's what they'd always thought. Now, wherever the fuck they are, something has been plaguing them ever since they made port, and if Olu makes one more joking suggestion they're going to snap.

"Iih'dtsh!" Or just sneeze. Again.

"Hh'idDSHH! Tsh!" And again and again. "Don't," Jim warns, looking up at Olu with irritated, watery eyes.

"Bless you?" Olu says innocently, a smile working its way over his face, warm and sweet as always. It's maddening, really, how Jim cannot bear to stay mad when he's around, even when they feel like there's a family of fire ants crawling through their sinuses, all because their so-called captains haven't bothered to make a plan for their next destination.

"You could always bring back the fake nose, then no one would know anything was up and we could leave the room," Olu says, and Jim throws a pillow at him half-heartedly.

"You can l-iihh! leave if you w-w-hh!" Jim starts, their breath catching as their nose twitches until—

"iIESHH! Id'tshh! TSH!" The sneezing comes in small, irritating fits of three every time, though it never seems to bring any relief. They'd stayed up on deck until Jim couldn't take the attention and questions from the crew anymore, and Olu had followed them when they'd stalked away. Now, when they can't manage to go more than ten minutes without a sneezing fit, there's no way they're going back up there until they leave this island far, far behind them.

"God bless you," Olu repeats. "You're all red, that's all," he continues, tugging Jim back down onto the bed they've taken to sharing. "Here," he says, gesturing to Jim's nose. "And here." This time he kisses their cheek andJim knows they're turning red. They wrinkle their nose, which just makes them want to sneeze all over again.

"It's not a bad thing," Olu continues. "You're sensitive to something in the air, that's all." He drops a kiss to the tip of Jim's nose, smiling when it flares at the attention.

"I am not," Jim argues, even though they know, of course, that he's right.

"You're literally about to sneeze from a kiss," Olu smiles.

He's got them there.

"Hh'Hddtshh! Hpt'EISHH! EISHH'OO!" They're stronger now, leaving Jim sniffling into the handkerchief Olu pulls from his pocket, and they can finally, finally breathe again, at least for now.

"That sounded like it felt good," Olu says, kissing them for real this time, so sweet and slow that Jim can actually feel the tension melting away.

"It did," Jim agrees, smiling a little now. "It does," they add, kissing Olu again, silently thankful, as always, that they'd managed to find each other among the chaos.

#i love them #also #i love vico #my fic #of//md

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bookshelfdreams · 2 years

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Hi, can't stop thinking about Stede being inescapably himself vs. unapologetically himself and how this interacts with Ed's own insecurities during the treasure hunt. To Ed Stede is fascinating and 100% worthy of love and the only person who from Ed's pov disagrees is Izzy (whose opinion on that matter rightfully doesn't count). Seeing Stede excited about the map and the moth and the prospect of a treasure is enough to spent the afternoon doing something he isn't particularly interested in.

What Ed seems to miss - despite being good at reading the room most of the time - is that Stede is trying to make a good impression and create an experience to share with him specifically; it doesn't occur to him that someone would plan a nice harmless little activity mainly to impress and entertain him.

Now I can't stop thinking about the happiness they would have created for each other had they clearly communicated their intentions and really hope they get a moment in s2 in which they have a conversation along the lines "I made this because I thought you might enjoy it." - "I will enjoy it because you made it."

Wish you a pleasant afternoon!

:)))))))

it doesn't occur to him that someone would plan a nice harmless little activity mainly to impress and entertain him

yes and

It NEVER occurs to Stede that he doesn't need to impress Ed. Literally all Ed wanted to do is take a nap ffs, Stede could have let him cozy up on the couch and read a book to him & they would both have had the time of their lives.

anyway, YES it's a communication issue. Ed is generally really good at communicating his wants and thoughts clearly. He says exactly what he means most of the time. Stede, on the other hand, thinks a single clear statement would kill him. He's so used to communicating things indirectly that he looks for subtext and hidden meaning where there is none.

Like the beginning of ep7, what does Ed actually say? "I can't stay on here forever", which is true. He's got his own ship to captain (presumably, somewhere), he's clearly seeing his time aboard the Revenge as a sort of retreat, a pause fro the daily grind of pirating. It can't go on forever like this. Ed is not saying that he wants to leave immediately, or never see Stede again, or that he's bored out of his skull with Stede.

But that's exactly what Stede hears. He's so used to rejection that he doesn't pause a single second to think or ask for clarification, he just immediately jumps to conclusions - namely, that Ed is a hair's breadth away from disappearing forever, unless he gets some enrichment NOW.

They could!! Have just talked about this! Stede could have just asked "What do you mean?" But that would have meant running the risk of hearing Ed say, out loud, "It's time for us to go our separate ways". He can't. Indirect communication has the "advantage" that you can just ignore the things you don't want to acknowledge; if it's never said it doesn't exist.

Stede thinks rejection is inevitable. He's unable to trust in Ed's friendship; he can't believe anyone could stand his presence for prolonged periods of time, much less enjoy his company. Any day now, Ed is gonna realize how fundamentally unloveable Stede is. Any day he's gonna come to his senses and then he'll leave Stede behind for "the next adventure"; something more exciting, more fun than him (and then Calico Jack happens, this is a fun, lighthearted little romcom 🙃)

None of this is true, of course. It's just Stede constantly running worst-case-scenarios in the back of his head.

Meanwhile Ed? Constantly shows Stede he appreciates him and enjoys his company. Ed signals, over and over, "Hey, I really like you!"

He's miserable on the treasure hunt. He hates bugs and nature and is deadly embarrassed to be seen on this outing. He's still going along with it for Stede's sake. He wouldn't do that for anyone else.

And if they had just taken one minute to talk about this - well, nothing would have changed, because Stede is incapable of talking about his emotions, or articulating his deep feelings of inadequacy. But one can dream.

Yeah anyway, this really is the heart of their conflict. Stede could never admit to his insecurities; Ed isn't aware they could possibly exist, because to him, Stede has nothing to be insecure about and he completely falls for Stede's charade of confidence. It's so well done and I'm gonna go eat a wine bottle about it :)

#i can talk about this till the cows come home thank you so much!!#cakeeatingwingedcat #message #our flag means death #edward teach #stede bonnet #thoughts

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heyhojoy · 2 years

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The Case for Hornigold

So like a lot of people I would love to see S2 focusing on Ed’s character arc, him finding out who he really is / wants to be, freeing himself from the constricts of expectations and toxic masculinity and integrating all the different parts of his personality into something wholesome (preferably doing all this independent of Stede, as has been argued really well in other metas that I will link here as soon as I find them again).

And you know who he absolutely needs to meet for this integration and healing to happen?

Hornigold!

Let me explain why this would make for excellent storytelling.

The epic potential of this meeting struck me like a lightning bolt when I was reading up a little bit about the historical version of Edward Teach. In an article somewhere there was one sentence that let the whole story unfurl in my mind immediately. It’s the last sentence of this paragraph:

Uuuuh. So “historically”, Hornigold is out there somewhere hunting pirates. At the end of S1, Ed has just broken his Act of Grace contract after like one day, so we can assume that the British navy will be after him real bad (not just a Badminton brother out for personal revenge this time!) and will presumably start something of a hunt for him / put a price on his head. It would be very believable for Hornigold to start taking up that trail.

Now, we now that this show does not care about historical accuracy, but why pass up a chance of such juicy meeting, when history serves you a cue like that? (An excellent opportunity to go with the “yes, and…” of improv!)

We know from the breakfast conversation with Calico Jack that also in the OFMD universe, Ed sailed with Hornigold, back when CJ and Ed “first became outlaws”. We know that Hornigold abused them, verbally and physically (“worse than dogs”, “stabbed us”, “ground us down into nothing” etc.). So Ed learned the way of piracy from an abusive asshole, an epitome of toxic masculinity. Let that sink in. He (presumably) ran away from home after he killed his dad in a very traumatic experience and first place he ended up in was Hornigold’s ship, which sounds like horrible environment to be at any time, let alone after something like this.

But he got out of there and is now one of the most infamous pirate captains himself. He made a name for himself by telling a ghost story of violence, by creating a creature that came straight from Hornigold’s ship of horrors, if you so will. But we know that he did not turn into that person, it is just a performance – it has been drilled into him that this is how piracy works (and it does! it does work! But for what price) and he performs this role brilliantly for a long time.

At the end of S1, Ed turns into the kraken. He does not ‘revert’ to Blackbeard, his flashy, charismatic fuckery persona, but turns into something much darker, where actually he is all the things that he only ever projected before, dead-serious, stone-hearted.

Good storytelling will show us how he gets out of this again. How he makes deliberate choices that bring him closer to peace and understanding of himself, to acceptance of all sides of him, the soft and the chaotic-violent ones. It will be very hard and obstacles will need to be overcome. And, very importantly, for this to feel like fulfilling storytelling he needs to face his past and tell it: No. I will not follow your dictate, I deliberately and consciously choose to leave you behind and forge my own path – my past does not determine my future!

What better way to spell that out than meeting the abusive mentor (who has even taken a pardon!!! Who has even ‘betrayed’ the concept piracy??) and tell him NO to his face?

It would feel really threatening to be hunted by your horrible former mentor, having to face him, making you inevitably revert back to feeling small, young, helpless and hopeless. (Is there any other character that could possibly have this effect on Ed??)

So imagine how good it will feel to then slam your foot down, because you’re not young and helpless anymore, you’ve grown, you choose a different path, and you stand up for your current self and your younger self.

Imagine how good it would feel to Ed to tell his abusive mentor that he did not deserve to be treated like this, that Hornigold was wrong about life (and I guess piracy) and that he can go suck eggs in hell.

So, anyone else excited for Hornigold in S2???

#ofmd #ofmd meta #our flag means death #ed teach #hornigold #ofmd spoilers #ofmd s2

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pearwaldorf · 7 months

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The start of something that's not going to be finished, but I still like it.

He finds the pearls in a drawer in the captain's quarters of a merchant vessel. They're small and not particularly well formed. He wonders if they're what's left after the good ones are sold to make jewelry for rich fucks. (Like Stede, a little voice sneers. Piss off, he tells it.)

They're still smooth and lustrous, catching the light from the window in tiny pools of iridescence. Somebody thought they were worth stringing together. He sticks them in his jacket pocket.

Back on the Revenge, he fastens them round his neck. The pearls are cool at first, but they soon warm against his skin. Maybe there's life in him yet.

—

So he might have lost his shit when Stede didn't meet him at the dock. He's not proud of what happened, but it was an extremely stressful few days.

He's in the cabin staring out the window when the door bangs open. It's been a few days since he ordered a rendezvous with the Queen Anne, and he said he didn't want to be disturbed.

It's Jimenez. They come up next to the bed.

"Look. I get that you feel like shit. But your life continues even after terrible things happen."

Ed looks at them, mostly surprised he's not dead yet. There's a reason he didn't leave them behind with the rest of the crew. And it's not like he wouldn't deserve it, the way Boodhari got all quiet when they all left St. Augustine without them. Shit, maybe he really is getting soft.

"You could have killed me," he says wittily. His voice sounds cracked, from too much emotion but also disuse. His mouth is dry. When the fuck did he drink something that wasn't rum or the even worse rotgut they made do with when the rum was gone?

"Yeah, well." They shrug, like it's not their whole thing, stabby daggers and such. "Just something you might want to think about."

He hears the door shut. There's a pitcher of water and a basin in the corner that survived the purge. He pours some out, cups it in his hands. It's tepid and flat, but he feels a little less like death.

It's breezy when he goes outside the cabin, enough to make his hair fly in his face whenever he tries to squint at the horizon.

"Here, boss." Fang hands him a scrap of ribbon, so pale blue it's almost gray. He thinks it will catch at his calluses, but it's smooth and cool as he ties back his hair.

Ed grunts his thanks. After the close stuffiness of the cabin the smell of the ocean is refreshing. He takes a deep breath, lets it out. Jimenez watches him from across the deck. It's too far away to tell for sure, but they might be smiling.

#our flag means death #ofmd fic #ed teach #jim jimenez #i wrote a thing #scrap

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castalianspring · 6 months

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Putting behind spoiler tags, because...yeah.

Okay, so upon first viewing I'm not thrilled with it. The first half was great, some funny moments and excellent performances as usual, then so much was crammed into the back half that the emotional whiplash of it all was just too much for me.

As a fan of the Crew and not just of Stede and Ed, I'm sad that so many characters got barely any lines or screentime. They got cool action scenes, but that's about it.

A few positives: I loved Zheng, everything about her and Auntie was perfect and I adore them.

Loved Jackie and her saving the day like she did, so glad they brought her back this season in such a great way.

I'm glad for Pete and Lucius, but honestly it was hard to be excited about a wedding directly after a death that, again, was rushed due to time. I was still crying over that and the tonal shift was too much too fast.

Honestly, everything was rushed this season. Yeah, sure, that's partly Max's fault, but not adjusting the writing to take it into account just feels like a missed step. I don't feel like the state of Ed and Stede's relationship was earned just yet, the difference in the things they wanted that broke them up in the previous ep weren't really addressed enough for me, but ymnv.

I miss tealoranges, ngl. I wish they'd had enough screentime to really explore what happened and where things were going re a potential polycule, not just leave it up to speculation.

Re Izzy, I'm pretty devastated, I won't lie. I'm not against killing off queer characters, especially in a show with so many queer characters, but to kill off the older, physically disabled queer feels...not great. I would much rather show that growth, that redemption arc, and then let him actually thrive and enjoy that new found family. Not to mention, having other characters survive fatal stab wounds and transform into birds and all sorts of things then a bullet kills this one, after you called him an indestructible little fucker...sure, whatever.

If they wanted to "kill Blackbeard" so Ed could move on, no one actually had to die to make that happen. They could have pulled a fuckery off and we could end the season with another fake death, just with Ed instead of Stede this time. Ed and Izzy could have buried Blackbeard together and each moved on. Ed to his Inn with Stede, Izzy as the new captain of the Revenge.

Idk, it just didn't feel narratively satisfying to me. Maybe with time and a rewatch I'll feel differently, but rn all I feel is sad.

#our flag means death #ofmd s2 spoilers

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adzeisval · 12 days

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Stede and Izzy: The Innkeeper

I’ve decided to go episode by episode for my Stede and Izzy rambling thoughts, so here goes.

Stede and Izzy butt heads all through season one and their first meeting in season two goes much the same way with Izzy sarcastically saying it’s good to see Stede and Stede telling Izzy to piss off.

While Stede keeps up the bitchiness, ultimately his actions towards Izzy are far kinder than one might expect. There are so many opportunities for Stede to choose violence and cruelty in dealing with Izzy and he doesn’t.

In their first scene alone they’re in the Captain's cabin with an enormous pile of knives between them. Stede moves behind the table and looks down at the pile of knives before asking Izzy what he did with Ed. His hands are on the table, knives in easy reach as the conversation continues. How easy would it have been to go for the knives? To take out his anger and frustration by throwing one at Izzy? Or rushing Izzy and holding a knife to his throat until he got answers?

Stede doesn’t go for the knives though, simply asks Izzy what he did with Ed. He and Izzy have a tense back and forth but I think in that scene they start to understand each other better. They both love Ed. They’ve both hurt Ed.

“You and me did this to him,” Izzy says. And then Izzy moves the conversation on to the main concern and the reason he’s there; the crew. Another thing Stede and Izzy have in common, they want to protect their crew. Izzy came to him not just to annoy him; Izzy came to him for help.

But then the reveal: Ed is dead.

Here’s where Stede’s kindness really shines. It makes sense that he saves his crew and takes back the Revenge, but he could have easily added getting even with Izzy to the plan. He could have left Izzy behind, pushed him back into the cell and locked him in, could have made sure he and Izzy were the last to cross over to the Revenge and leave him behind there. Could have gone with his dreams and killed Izzy.

Instead he saves Izzy along with the rest of the crew.

Now there could be other reasons, wanting Izzy to suffer with what he’s done, thinking Izzy’s too dangerous as an enemy, needing more information from Izzy about how Ed died etc, but more than anything I think it’s Stede’s kindness, his desire to see the best in people, the recognition that Izzy is suffering, and the hope that Izzy can get better. He’ll give Izzy a chance, despite it all.

And that’s all it takes to start turning Izzy and Stede’s dynamic from enemies to friends.

#ofmd #stede bonnet #izzy hands

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dracothelizard · 1 month

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Writing patterns

[How to play: Write the opening line from the last ten fics that you posted and see if there are any patterns!]

Tagged by @fpwoper - from old to new! Nine OFMD fics and one Good Omens.

“Nooooooo” cried Stede and he sobbed and wailed and did some more crying because he was really sad. (from Curses, which was deliberate badfic.

Crowley desired Aziraphale. (From Why Did It Have To Be Ducks, which was also deliberate badfic.

“Rabbit,” Jim remarks, nudging Ed. (From Hungry Like The Wolf)

“Okay, I’m out!” (From No Hidden Catch, No Strings Attached)

Ed hates leaving Stede alone, even when logically he knows there’s no one around who could harm him, even when he knows Stede can defend himself. (From Stern Admiral Questions Naughty Pirate Captain)

Stede had verwacht dat met het vertrek van Izzy na het duel al zijn problemen wel zouden zijn opgelost. (Stede had expected that with Izzy leaving after the duel all his problems would be solved) (From Lieve Ed)

Stede whisks Ed out of the room and away from the cheering aristocrats. (From Your Love's Coming Down Like Rain, which I started earlier)

“She’s an English naval warship, turns out. Ten times as many men. Ten times as many guns.” (From The Polyamorous Pirate, which I started earlier.)

The fun thing about being on the Revenge and being with Stede is that Ed never knows what Stede’ll come up with next. (From Strapped In)

“Bye!” Stede yells, waving at the Revenge as it leaves them behind. “Come again soon!” (From Treasure)

I think that I like starting with dialogue, and failing that I like starting with some action. And also, I like starting with people rather than describe the setting, which makes sense for fanfic because we're usually already familiar with the setting and here to see what our faves are getting up to now.

IDK anyone who wants to have a go can have a go.

#Fanfic #Meme

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tomhardysteeth · 2 years

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Clueless

Stede Bonnet/Edward Teach 3k words Summary: The crew of the Revenge observe Stede's developing relationship with Blackbeard.

[ao3]

Lucius had gotten into the habit of knocking on the captain’s door and then letting himself in before Stede actually told him to come in.

He didn’t even realize he had been doing this until three days after Blackbeard arrived, Lucius knocked on the door and then let himself in and found Stede and Blackbeard sitting on the couch together, facing each other, Ed’s hand pressed to Stede’s torso over the bandage where he had been stabbed.

“Oh, I’m—I’m so sorry,” Lucius stammered, backing up and fumbling for the door handle.

Stede turned his attention to Lucius and frowned at him. “It’s alright, Lucius, what do you need?”

Lucius looked at his captain and then at Blackbeard, who was staring intently at Stede, not acknowledging Lucius’ presence at all. “Um, you had asked me to…You wanted me here to transcribe something for you, you said, but it’s OK if you’re busy, I’ll just—”

“Ah! Right. Yes. Please, have a seat.”

Lucius watched, warily, as Stede physically removed Blackbeard’s hand from his side. Blackbeard’s attention still did not waver from Stede.

“Edward, we’ll just be a few minutes,” Stede said.

Blackbeard growled and got up from the couch and glared at Lucius on his way out.

Stede smiled at Lucius and said, “He’s lovely, isn’t he?”

Lucius raised his eyebrows in surprise. He waited for Stede to laugh or say he was joking, but he didn’t. He only offered Lucius sincerity, so Lucius said, “Yes, Cap’n, he’s…great.”

Frenchie and Oluwande were sitting outside on the deck of the French ship, counting up the earnings from their pyramid scheme when Blackbeard stormed out of the party, Stede close on his heels.

They went to the opposite railing, giving Frenchie and Oluwande a perfect view of whatever argument they seemed to be having. Blackbeard pulled out his gun, and Stede put his hand on it and pushed it down until Blackbeard relented. He sat down on a barrel and deflated, and Stede took a step toward him and put a hand on his shoulder, seemingly speaking gently to him.

Blackbeard was looking down at the deck, but then Stede pushed a stray lock of his hair back behind his ear and Blackbeard’s head popped up. He looked up at Stede for a second like he was making a decision, then he grabbed Stede’s hand and held it against his cheek, leaning into his palm.

Frenchie and Oluwande looked at each other.

“You ever spent any one-on-one time with Blackbeard?” Frenchie asked.

Oluwande looked back toward Stede and Blackbeard as he answered, “Yeah. Once. He’s real weird, babe. Felt like he could go from being my best friend to throwing me overboard in the span of a conversation. It was so scary and disorientating, I couldn’t catch my breath for, like, several minutes afterward.”

“Hm,” Frenchie hummed, also turning his attention back to Stede and Blackbeard.

They were standing side-by-side now, looking out over the railing toward the water, and Blackbeard had his legs crossed in such a way that he could swing the heel of his foot back and forth, tapping Stede’s calf.

“D’you think Bonnet feels that way right now?” Frenchie asked. “Disorientated, scared, his guard up?”

Oluwande laughed loudly.

Jim might have gotten a little carried away during the fuckery, as evidenced by the cleanup taking so long that they were the last one in the captain’s quarters after everyone else had gone up to the main deck.

They were heading toward the stairs when they heard Bonnet speaking in a soft voice. Jim followed the sound and saw the bathroom door halfway open and Bonnet sitting on a stool by the tub. He put his hand on the side of it, and suddenly Blackbeard was in view, too, his head tilting to the side to rest against Bonnet’s hand. Jim was confused as to why Blackbeard would be sitting fully clothed in a washtub with no water, but they certainly weren’t curious enough to find out the answer. So they tried to leave again, but then Blackbeard came up out of the tub and wrapped his arm around the back of Bonnet’s neck and Jim reached for their knife just in case—

And then they relaxed when they saw Bonnet put his arms around Blackbeard to embrace him. Bonnet turned his head into Blackbeard’s hair and continued speaking in a soft voice, and Blackbeard gripped the back of his shirt tightly.

Jim had a lot of questions but didn’t really want to know the answers, so they left without being noticed.

Sleeping in a hammock on the main deck meant that Wee John usually woke with the light of the morning sun. The morning after the fuckery, though, he woke before sunrise to the sound of whispers near the mast.

His eyes quickly adjusted to the low light, enough for him to make out Stede pinned to the mast by Izzy Hands’ sword in his gut, and Blackbeard standing in front of him with his gloved hand wrapped around the blade.

“Just a slow tug, like we did the other night,” Blackbeard whispered soothingly, as Stede winced in pain.

“No, no, Edward, no,” Stede argued. He put his hand on Blackbeard’s shoulder and unsuccessfully dug his fingers into the leather before frantically fisting a lock of Blackbeard’s hair and twisting it around his hand. “Sorry. Sorry. Need—need leverage.”

Blackbeard huffed a laugh and put his free hand on Stede’s abdomen, right above the wound. “It’s OK, love. Breathe. You can pull my hair all you want, but not the beard. Ready? Just a little tug.”

Stede made a pathetic whimpering noise and yanked Blackbeard’s hair so hard that Blackbeard’s face came within inches of his. They stayed like that, eyes locked, so close their noses were almost touching, as Blackbeard slowly removed the sword.

Wee John looked from side to side at the Swede and Roach, but they were both sound asleep in their hammocks, so he was left as the sole witness to the ridiculousness before him.

As the sword slid out of Stede’s abdomen, both he and Blackbeard sighed with relief. Blackbeard immediately put his hand over the wound and pressed hard against it, and Stede’s hand covered over top of his to help. They were still so close. Blackbeard put his other hand on Stede’s cheek and patted it twice.

Then he leaned forward and whispered, “You did good,” before pressing a kiss to Stede’s forehead.

They carefully walked together toward the captain’s cabin.

Wee John once again looked around for anybody who might be awake. Like a ghost, Buttons was up, standing by the railing on the poop deck, and he locked eyes with Wee John and slowly nodded his head twice.

Lucius knew he had the time right. It was the same every day as long as they were at sea and not on some adventure. So he warily stepped into the captain’s quarters with his notebook and quill in hand and peered around for Stede.

“Cap’n?” he asked, wincing. “Do you need me to take notes today? If you’re busy, I’ll just…”

The wall to Stede’s auxiliary wardrobe opened, and Stede came out looking flushed and smiley. He was wearing an elaborate orange coat, but it was open to reveal that he was shirtless underneath and wearing Blackbeard’s leather pants.

Stede stammered out an apology that Lucius didn’t hear because he was distracted by Blackbeard coming out of the wardrobe right behind Stede. He had his hair up in a very neat bun and was wearing light blue breeches and white stockings, and no shirt or shoes.

“Where are you going?” Stede asked as Blackbeard slipped past him toward the door.

Blackbeard looked at Lucius then at Stede. “I was gonna take a piss off the side of the ship.”

“Dressed like that?” Stede asked condescendingly.

“I’m Blackbeard, mate, people aren’t allowed to question anything I do.”

Stede rolled his eyes. “Ed, you don’t know how to do the laces.”

“Oh. Right.” Blackbeard walked over to Stede and stood right in front of him.

Stede, casually, put his hands on the laces near Blackbeard’s crotch.

“Belly,” Stede whispered like some kind of command, and Blackbeard, insanely, pushed the little pudge of his belly up and out of Stede’s way.

Lucius demurely averted his eyes.

“There ya go,” Stede said sweetly, and Lucius looked back again to see Stede pat Blackbeard’s hip then pinch a bit of his belly fat between his thumb and index finger. “Cool scar.”

“Thanks, man.” Blackbeard ran the backs of his knuckles along Stede’s jawline and then turned on his heel and left, nodding at Lucius on his way out.

“Have a seat, Lucius, we can get started,” Stede said, like there was nothing amiss.

“Cap’n, don’t you think you should—would you like to, maybe, change? Change your clothes.”

Stede looked down at himself and startled a bit. “Oh my, I forgot I was wearing this.” He looked back up at Lucius and smiled. “Edward and I were doing a bit of a fashion show.”

“Mm-hmm, yeah, I get it,” Lucius said dismissively. “Change your clothes, Cap’n.”

As rumors spread among the crew, everyone became a little more wary around Stede and Blackbeard.

Lucius only went into the captain’s cabin once he had absolute verbal confirmation after knocking. He subtly hinted to everyone else that they should do the same.

Frenchie cornered Oluwande and Jim one afternoon and practically begged them not to start having sex in public sections of the ship because it would be too much to try to avoid walking in on three different couples. This happened two days after he walked in on Lucius and Black Pete, and seven minutes after he walked in on Stede and Blackbeard in the recreation room wearing undergarments and lounging on the floor together with lazy smiles on their faces.

(Oluwande and Jim both protested too much, laughed too forcefully at the idea that they were interested in sleeping with each other. Frenchie ignored them.)

The Swede claimed he saw Stede and Blackbeard kiss one evening after everyone had gone to bed—or, at least, they seemed to be about to kiss. Heading toward a kiss. And they both had a look in their eye like they were going to do a lot more than kissing, so the Swede climbed up into the crow’s nest to get away from them.

Fang said Izzy actually overheard them fucking before he left, that the noises they were making right there on the main deck of the ship in the middle of the night were unambiguously sexual.

Buttons was basking in moon glow with Karl one quiet evening when Blackbeard appeared like smoke next to him, not saying a word and not even looking over at him. Buttons watched out of the corner of his eye as Blackbeard undid the clasp of his trousers, unlaced his boots and removed his shirts until he was fully naked.

Blackbeard seemed to have no qualms about his body, so Buttons took a quick peek at it just to satisfy his curiosity about the expanse of tattoos all over his chest, arm, back and legs, the tableau of scars over a good portion of his tan skin. He respectfully avoided looking too closely past the thick black hair around his groin.

Stede came out of the captain’s cabin wearing just a robe and called out, "Edward! What the hell are you doing?"

Blackbeard turned his head to look over his shoulder at Stede, then he spread his arms out to the sides and said, "Moon glow, mate. You should try it sometime."

"Aye," Buttons agreed.

Stede mumbled something under his breath before going back to his cabin.

Blackbeard made eye contact with Buttons, smiled devilishly, and winked.

Roach was counting out the oranges and wondering how he was going to break the news to the captain that they needed to make a stop to get more when Bonnet and Blackbeard walked into the mess with teacups in their hands.

Roach started to say something, but Bonnet and Blackbeard didn’t see him over in the kitchen, so he went back to his oranges.

They were distracting, though. They stood near a window with their shoulders leaned up against the wall facing each other, and they kept laughing and raising their voices. Blackbeard said something about his tea being perfect, then he held the cup up to Bonnet’s lips and tipped a sip into his mouth for him before bringing the cup back to his own lips. A minute later, Roach heard a saucer touching down on a table and he looked over to see Blackbeard’s hands now free, now reaching for Bonnet’s hip, now rubbing back and forth and teasing at the fabric of his shirt.

“Captain,” Roach said impulsively.

“Yes,” they both answered, turning toward him.

Blackbeard dropped his hand away from Bonnet’s hip slowly and apologized for presuming to be captain.

Roach told Bonnet about the oranges.

Lucius did not want to be stuck in the woods with Stede and Blackbeard when they were both in foul moods and not getting along with each other.

He watched Stede clean a bit of snake out of Blackbeard’s beard. He said, “Oh my god.”

One night on the main deck, storytime ended with everyone breaking off into their own conversations and staying up way past bedtime. Frenchie was sitting with Wee John, Lucius and Black Pete and was hemming trousers for the Swede when Wee John said, “That’s a bit queer, isn’t it?”

Frenchie looked up from his work and followed Wee John’s line of sight to the doorway of the captain’s cabin, where Stede was sitting on a crate behind Blackbeard, who was sitting on the deck. Stede was concentrating very hard on splitting up Blackbeard’s hair into parts to braid it.

“Depends on what definition of queer you mean, mate,” Frenchie replied. He then frowned and said, “Actually, it really doesn’t.”

“Has anyone actually, you know,” Wee John began. “Has anyone walked in on them…?”

“Going at it?” Lucius finished for him. “Very nearly, but no.”

“I’m impressed we’ve all managed to avoid it,” Frenchie added. “They don’t seem very interested in privacy.”

“I don’t understand what’s going on,” Black Pete said righteously. “When I worked for Blackbeard—”

Everyone simultaneously groaned.

“—I saw him cut a man’s finger off just for accidentally touching his hair.”

“Actually, Pete’s right,” Lucius said.

“Thanks, babe.”

“You’re welcome, babe. Ed was sitting next to me on the couch one day while I was taking notes, and my arm brushed up against his hair and he freaked. I thought he might rip my face off.”

They all watched Blackbeard cross his legs and wrap his arms around his knees and tilt his head back and close his eyes and lean into the press of Stede’s fingers through his hair.

Wee John said, “Sometimes I think we could mutiny and they wouldn’t notice.”

Stede finished a braid and smoothed it down before moving onto another section of hair. Blackbeard touched the braid and frowned. Clearly realizing how terrible Stede was at fixing his hair, Blackbeard started to gesture with both hands in the air, miming the movements of braiding and explaining to Stede how to do it properly, all while Stede fumbled his locks between his fingers.

“Nah, I don’t want to mutiny,” Frenchie said, smiling. “I like working for them.”

Lucius and Wee John hummed their agreement. Black Pete scoffed half-heartedly.

When Calico Jack showed up and Stede looked at him with murder in his eyes, the crew shared one collective silent conversation that boiled down to, Let’s just get through this.

“Blackbeard will no longer be sailing with us,” Stede announced the morning after Blackbeard left the Revenge with Calico Jack.

Everyone was extremely hungover, but alert enough to voice their disappointment. Oluwande, who had spent all night on the captain’s couch listening to him mutter to himself as he spied on Blackbeard through the window, felt like he had a solid enough reading of the situation to say something.

So he said, “You can’t just let him leave, Cap’n. You have to win him back.”

“Yeah, Cap’n,” Frenchie agreed. “You two are too in love to just let it end like this.”

The color drained from Stede’s face. “We’re…What did you say?”

Everyone exchanged confused looks. Lucius spoke up.

“Maybe you haven’t gotten far enough into your relationship to use that phrase yet, but we can all see it, Cap’n. It doesn’t have to end like this.”

“Blackbeard and I aren’t—we don’t—we’re not…” Stede stammered. Then he looked off into the distance and his face changed with realization. “Oh, fuck. We are.”

There were murmurs among the crew, the awkward realization that they’ve spent weeks understanding what was going on while Stede and Blackbeard didn’t understand what was going on.

“Fuck,” Stede repeated, dropping his head.

And then the English showed up, and Stede was about to make a suicidal decision when Blackbeard appeared at the side of the ship, soaking wet, yelling at them to hoist the white flag.

“Ed,” Stede said, and it sounded like a prayer.

The entire crew watched as their captain marched to the side of the ship, hauled Blackbeard onto the deck and kissed him so hard that their teeth made a clacking sound when they knocked together.

Blackbeard fitted his hands around Stede’s hips and pulled their bodies flush against each other and kissed him sloppily, occasionally stopping to mumble, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” over and over.

The English had to quite literally pry them apart.

After Blackbeard called for an act of grace, he rushed over to Stede and pulled his blindfold off and cupped his face in his hand, then he kissed him, gently, and closed his eyes and pressed their foreheads together.

It was the last time the crew of the Revenge saw Stede and Blackbeard together for many months.

“It’s weird that we thought they were together before,” Frenchie said, later, when everything had finally settled down and Stede was back and Blackbeard was regrowing his beard and they had worked out their issues.

“Well, we didn’t know any better,” Lucius said.

Up in the crow’s nest, Edward was sitting behind Stede, legs cocooning his hips, arms wrapped around his torso, mouth glued to his neck. Stede had one hand over top of Edward’s forearm and the other hand on his knee. It was early morning, and they were both wearing floral silk robes.

This was actually one of the more modest positions they had taken lately. Every member of the crew had walked in on them, in various parts of the ship, in various stages of undress, during any number of intimate and sexual acts. All the times the crew thought they had successfully avoided seeing Stede and Blackbeard going at it, Stede and Blackbeard had not actually been going at it.

“No, we knew better,” Oluwande said. “They were the ones that were fucking clueless.”

#ofmd #our flag means death #blackbonnet #gentlebeard #stedward #my fics #ofmd fic #let's......pretend like i posted this a week ago when i posted the fic on ao3 lmao #this one got lost in the sauce but whatevs

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mandiemon3 · 3 months

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The Best Revenge is Living Well- Chapter 20

The surviving members of Blackbeard’s crew weren’t given much time before Stede began to interrogate them. He moved from person to person, trying to get someone to tell him where Edward was and if he was safe. As soon as he started asking questions, the crew clammed up, exchanging nervous glances with each other and avoiding making eye contact with Stede. They did their best to evade the questions, changing the topic to the soup they were eating, or how great it was to see Stede, or finding some reason to walk away, but the captain persisted, eventually singling Frenchie out and asking directly where Ed was.

Frenchie fumbled for an answer, taking his time chewing his noodles as Izzy clambered back onto his feet and made his way towards him. He had told the insistent captain that Edward had retired before Izzy butted in, doing his best to derail the conversation. Frustratingly for Izzy, Stede had just brushed past him since boarding the ship, ignoring everything he said with a small sigh or halfhearted eyeroll, not taking his bait to take his anger out on him.

The crew gave a collective sigh of relief when Stede walked away, off to search the ship for clues since no one would give him a straight answer. Izzy was soon to follow him, pressing a lingering kiss to Mo’s forehead and promising to be back soon before following after the captain he once despised.

As Izzy limped away, leaving his half-eaten soup behind, Mo joined the rest of Blackbeard’s crew. Jim had already left the group to talk with Olu in private, leaving only Frenchie, Fang, and Archie sitting on crates or leaning up against the railing of the ship.

“So,” Mo began, gently rubbing Frenchie’s shoulders as they stood behind him, “is anyone going to tell me what actually happened with Blackbeard?”

The trio tensed, Archie choking on her soup as they all turned to look at Mo suspiciously.

“Oh, come on guys!” Mo said casually with a small smile. “You know me!” Archie frowned, and they nodded at her. “Alright, so Archie doesn’t know me, but Fang, you do, and Frenchie, you’re practically my brother. You know I’m on your side, and I obviously really fucking hate Edward right now for what he did to you all and Iz.” The three exchanged glances, not sure what to do, and none wanting to share something if the others weren’t comfortable with it.

“Take your time, there’s no rush,” Mo assured them. “And don’t worry, I won’t tell Stede anything, no matter what happened. As long as you guys are safe, I really don’t give a damn. I just want to be able to help, and that’s kind of hard to do when I don’t know what’s going on. You all are acting like scared rabbits, and it’s kind of starting to freak me out. If there’s a way for me to help, just let me know.”

Frenchie looked at Archie, who shrugged, and then at Fang, who gave a small nod, his eyes wide with anxiety. Frenchie sighed, dropping his head down onto his chest for a moment before standing. He took Mo’s hand in his and led them to the far end of the deck, where no one could overhear them.

It hurt Mo’s heart to see how anxious their best friend was. He looked over his shoulder several times as they walked, and tugged at his long black coat, fiddling with the buttons anxiously. They noticed for the first time that his green scarf was gone, and made a mental note to ask him about it after they knew what had become of Edward. They rubbed their tall friend’s hand with their thumb as he came to a stop, peering around once more to make sure no one was hiding behind any crates.

Frenchie shifted his weight on his feet, crossing his arms over his chest and squeezing his hands tightly under his arms. “I don’t want to get into all of it, so I’ll be brief, okay?” He spoke quickly, keeping his voice low and hushed, looking at them intently.

Mo nodded, frowning with concern. “Yeah, sure, love. Whatever you’re comfortable with. I don’t want to push you.” They rubbed his arms, giving him a small reassuring smile.

Frenchie sighed, giving them an anxious look before looking down at his boots. “It’s not because of me,” he confessed quietly. “I think there are some things you should learn from Izzy. I don’t want to say anything he wouldn’t be ready to tell you himself.”

Mo nodded, ignoring the knot in their stomach. They were confused, and more than a bit worried, but they appreciated his loyalty, and wouldn’t pry for details. Izzy would tell them everything when he was ready.

“Ed didn’t just cut off one of Izzy’s toes.” Mo’s smile fell. “He did that first night, but from what the others have told me, that was just the beginning. Every time Izzy would stand up to him, or one of the crew wasn’t following orders, he would cut off another one. I think they were all cut from his left foot, which is kinda lucky in the unlucky way, y’know?” He shook his head, not wanting to go off on a tangent. “Anyway, Ed was getting worse. When he didn’t have us raiding ships, he would just get drunk or high on rhino horn.” Frenchie grimaced, shifting his weight and tightening his arms where they wrapped around his chest.

“A few days ago, he made us crash a wedding at sea. Made us kill everyone, even the happy couple. Kept saying real pirates left no survivors.” He shook his head, his eyes hazed over as he stared at the deck. “It was really fucked up. He stole their cake and everything. Things just got worse after that. I think Izzy tried to talk to him and reason with him, but something must have gone wrong. He ended up shooting Izzy and making me first mate, told me it was my job to kill him and throw him overboard as his replacement. We ended up hiding him instead. Tried our best to take care of his leg, but we had to cut it off.”

Frenchie heaved a heavy sigh, uncrossing one of his arms to run a hand through his hair anxiously. “Long story short, Ed went crazy after that, even more than before. He tried to steer us into a storm, and cut off the wheel so we couldn’t escape. He aimed a cannon at the mast and threatened to blow a hole in it if Archie and Jim didn’t fight each other to the death.” He paused, his eyebrows pinched together as he took a slow breath. Mo reached out, slowly running a hand up and down his bicep.

“He wanted us to die in that storm,” Frenchie continued, “and Izzy is the one who saved us. He came out of nowhere, and shot Ed. Not a kill shot,” he rushed to add. “He got him in the arm, but that was enough for us to fight back. We ended up beating him senseless, and Jim put him out for good with a cannonball. Izzy couldn’t stand throwing him overboard, so we have his body in a secret room, the same one where we hid Iz.”

Mo stood in front of him, running their fingers along the chain of their necklace as they processed. “Jesus,” they muttered. They looked up to meet their friend’s eyes. “I am so sorry, Frenchie. You didn’t deserve any of that. I mean…fuck. And you risked your life to save Izzy.” They sighed, not even sure how to express their gratitude.

“Well, yeah,” Frenchie said, as if it was obvious. “I kinda had to. He’s family now. Might be a bit of a dick sometimes, but he’s a good guy. We all agreed that that was our only option.”

Despite it all, Mo smiled, a small, weak smile that barely turned up the corners of their lips. It took going to hell and back, but they were beginning to see Izzy for who he was, a good man, dedicated and self-sacrificing, too much for his own good.

Frenchie chuckled, ruffling his shorter friend’s hair. “I also couldn’t just let Iz die, not when my best mate is obsessed with the weird little man.”

Mo glared at him halfheartedly. “I’m not obsessed with him, I’m in love with him. There’s a difference, babe.” They gave up their glare, letting it fade away as they gave the man a genuine smile. They stepped closer to him, throwing their arms around him in a hug. “One way or another,” they said, their cheek pressed against his chest. “Thank you.” They sighed, letting their relief of being back in his arms rush over them. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” they whispered, relaxing as Frenchie rubbed their back.

A rhythmic thumping sound carried across the deck and the pair turned to see Izzy limping away from the door leading up from the lower parts of the ship. He looked aggravated, his hand tensing and relaxing at his side as he moved, his face marled in a scowl.

“Sorry, love,” Mo said, pulling away from Frenchie. “Can you excuse me?” They rubbed Frenchie’s arm, giving him a small smile when he nodded, gesturing for them to go to their partner. They stood up on their toes to give him a quick kiss on his cheek before turning away.

Mo walked up to Izzy slowly, making sure he could see them before they spoke. They didn’t want to startle him. Poor dear had enough on his mind already without being caught off guard. The last thing he needed was another jolt to his system.

“Hey, Iz,” they said gently. “Are you alright, love?”

Izzy hummed, lost in thought as he bobbed his head. “M’fine” he said gruffly. “Just…thinking.” His gaze swept the deck, though it kept coming back to one spot not far from the main mast. He seemed to look past the spot, his eyes hazing over as his frown deepened. Mo sighed. “I have a hunch about what you’re thinking about,” they confessed. Izzy’s eyes darted up to look at them, a defensive flash of fear in his eyes as he searched for an answer. “Frenchie told me what happened with Edward. Just with the storm and the immediate aftermath, nothing more,” they reassured him when his eyes widened. They slowly reached out to caress his cheek, letting the gentle scratch of his facial hair on the pads of their fingers soothe them, hoping it had the same effect on him. They sighed softly, hating the fear and guilt that clouded Izzy’s eyes. “He also said that you took the brunt of his anger,” they continued softly. “That you lost more than just the one toe.”

Izzy couldn’t meet their gaze. He turned his head slightly, not enough to break contact with his partner’s hand, but enough to hide the shame that flashed across his face as he inhaled sharply.

“Honey, I just want to know if you’re okay,” Mo whispered, letting their hand move down to rest at the nape of his neck. “It’s okay if you’re not,” they added. They gently trailed their nails down his scalp, unable to fight a small smile as he let out a quiet sigh.

Izzy stayed silent, still not meeting their gaze. They sighed softly, brushing his hair back and pressing a kiss to his forehead before pulling back.

“You don’t have to talk now, not if you’re not ready,” Mo said quietly. “I just want you to know that I’m here for you. I’ll always be here, so if you ever feel like talking, or just need someone to listen, just let me know.” Izzy nodded slowly, his gaze still lowered. His jaw was tensed, and it hurt their heart to see the stress he was under. “I want you to have everything you need, so even if it’s just me listening to you complain about Stede or Lucius, I’m happy to help.” He huffed out a small laugh, giving them a quick glance before looking back down.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. His hushed tone made his voice gravely, even more so than usual.

Mo smiled, giving his hand a quick squeeze. “Of course, love. I want to help. Anything for you.” They hoped he could tell that they meant it. They would give him the world if they could. “Anything,” they repeated, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“I’ll give you some space,” they said quietly, gently releasing Izzy’s hand. “I’ll be right across the deck if you need me though, alright? Just let me know if you do.” They chuckled. “Heck, you can just yell at me or throw a cup or something to get my attention if you don’t want to walk over. But I’ll be here.”

Izzy nodded, and Mo gave his shoulder one last affectionate squeeze before turning to find Jim. They needed to thank them for having Izzy’s back, and let them know that they were glad they had survived their ordeal.

Mo was furious when Zheng gave the order to take the surviving members of Blackbeard’s crew to the brig of the Red Flag. They had been doing their best to control their temper and keep a close leash on it since returning from their misadventures on land, knowing their hotheadedness could quickly become a fatal flaw if they let it go untethered, but this was where they drew the line. They had only been reunited with Frenchie and Izzy for a few hours before their loved ones were dragged away and thrown into a cell, with the threat of execution looming over them.

Mo sat with them, leaning against the bars that trapped their friends. They had done their best to convince the crew members of the Red Flag on guard duty to let them in, offering to surrender all of their weapons just to be able to sit with their friends for what could be the last time, but they had refused, saying they were on strict orders from Auntie not to let anyone in or out. And so, they made do, leaning their shoulder and forehead awkwardly against the cool metal, as close as they could get to their condemned family.

Izzy had done his best to send them away, telling them in an exasperated voice that sitting with them wouldn’t fix anything, that they should just give up and let it be. Mo hated how resigned he sounded, and even more that they could see the tears gleaming in his eyes. He looked so guilty, as though he wished things would just end and give him the relief he had been denied for so long, and it broke their heart.

Mo straightened their back slightly, reaching an arm through the bars to take Izzy’s hand in their own. He startled slightly at the contact, not having seen them move, but quickly laced his fingers with theirs. They sat like that for a while, in silence, both trying to grapple with the idea this could be their last embrace.

After a while, Izzy let go of his partner’s hand. Mo looked at him, confused, as he leaned forward, pulling at something around his neck. He loosened his tie and tucked his fingers behind it, pulling up a thin silver chain that hung around his neck. They hadn’t even noticed he’d been wearing a chain, and stared at it, trying to figure out why he had it and why he was taking it off now of all times. Their eyes widened when he lifted the chain over his head and a small ring came into view, sliding out from under his shirt. He unlatched the chain, clearing his throat as he did so, before sliding the ring gently into his hand and holding his open palm out to Mo. Laying in the middle of his black leather glove was their silver ring, the emerald shining as brightly as they day they had given it to him.

“What are you doing?” they asked, their voice shaking.

“The fuck does it look like I’m doing?” Izzy responded gruffly. “I’m giving it back.” Mo shook their head, almost knocking their forehead on the bars. “No,” they whispered, their eyes fixed on his boot, unable to meet his gaze.

“What do you mean?” He pushed his hand closer, insistently. “It’s your ring, just take it.”

“No,” Mo repeated, more firmly this time. “Not like this. Not until you’re safe, and we’re together for real.” They sniffled, ignoring the irritated way Izzy huffed. “I told you I wanted you to hold onto it until we were together again.” They looked at him, doing their best to look stern and hide the fear and grief that bubbled up inside them. “This doesn’t count. You in a fucking cage doesn’t count, Izzy. So no, you’re going to hold onto that, until you’re out of here and we’re together.”

Izzy sighed heavily, his head rolling back to rest on the wall behind him as his eyes slipped closed. “Please,” he whispered, tilting his head and slowly opening his eyes to look down at his partner. “This might be your last chance. Please, just take the ring.” He was pleading with them, holding it out desperately. “This is your mother’s ring,” he insisted, his voice growing desperate. “You don’t want to lose it like this.” Mo reached through the bars, taking his hand with both of theirs and folding his fingers back over the ring. Their eyes stung and their voice shook, but they spoke with as much authority as they could, holding his hand closed. “It’s meant to be shared with family. To be passed down through generations. If you…if you die today, I won’t have anyone to pass it onto anyway. You, Frenchie, you’re the only family I have.” They cleared their throat, sniffling as they pulled their hands back to wipe at their eyes. “I want you to have that ring,” they said firmly, ignoring the way their hands shook as they looked into Izzy’s heartbroken eyes and saw the way his breaths had become ragged.

Mo cleared their throat, reluctantly tearing their gaze away from Izzy. They pulled their hands back, pushing themselves up to stand and taking a moment to straighten out their clothes before giving their partner a determined look. “I’ll be back soon,” they promised, reaching a hand through the bars to take his once more. They squeezed his hand, bringing it towards them and pressing a kiss to his gloved knuckles. “I’m going to go talk to Zheng. Maybe she’ll let me talk some sense into her.” They sniffled, brushing their thumb over his knuckles one last time. “You’re not going to die today,” they said resolutely, as if they could will his safety into existence. “I won’t allow it. You’re coming home, with me, and we’re going to be together again, even if I have to tear this ship apart myself.”

Izzy huffed a weak laugh, shaking his head slightly as he watched his partner. “You never give up,” he said weakly, with an edge of defeat to his voice. His eyes were pained but he seemed resigned to his fate as he leaned his head back against the wall, looking at them fondly. He was already hurting from the heartbreak they would feel from his death.

Mo shrugged, rubbing away the water that had collected in their eyes. “Never. Not when it comes to you.” They reluctantly let go of his hand, hoping against all hope that the next time they held it they would both be free.

Mo almost made it to Zheng’s office uninterrupted, winding their way through the hallways, their heart pounding hard enough to leap out of their chest, only to be stopped by Auntie at the last minute. They glared down at the authoritative woman, who sneered up at them.

“I need to see Zheng,” they said, fighting to keep their voice level.

Auntie sized them up, seeming to expect to find them holding a dagger behind their back.

“I’m not here to hurt her,” Mo snapped impatiently. “I’m not an idiot, you know. I have enough common sense not to expect to win against the Pirate Queen, especially not on her own fucking ship.”

Auntie finished her evaluation, ignoring their brash tone and crude language. She stepped out of their way, turning to knock on the door to her niece’s office, thought she gave them a suspicious look over her shoulder. Mo looked around impatiently as she announced the Queen’s visitor, their hand finding its way up to twirl their locket between their fingers, their mother’s ring gently clinking into it as they fidgeted.

“She’ll see you now.” Auntie stepped to the side, holding the door open for Mo with a sour look on her face.

Mo nodded curtly as they strode into the office. Zheng sat at her desk, smoking her pipe casually. She shifted a few papers as her visitor approached, not looking up until they came to a stop behind the chairs opposite her. They gripped the back of one chair, trying and surely failing to hide the intense emotions they were feeling.

Zheng blew out the smoke of her pipe before flashing them a smile.

“Mo!” she greeted warmly. She quirked an eyebrow, a small smirk finding its way to her face. “Am I right in guessing this isn’t a social visit?”

Mo laughed weakly. “Yeah, guess you could say that.” Zheng extinguished her pipe and set it to the side. She pressed her forearms to her desk, leaning forward slightly.

“You want me to spare your man.” Mo’s brow furrowed as they frowned. “I want you to spare my crew,” they corrected. “Not just Izzy.” They sighed, willing away their annoyance by her casual nature. “Look, I know about the pirate code of killing pirates who have mutinied, but there are exceptions to every rule.”

Zheng shook her head slightly, leaning back in her chair with a sigh. She looked her companion up and down, disappointment written across her face.

“I had such high hopes for you,” she said plainly.

Mo stiffened, their grip on the chair tightening slightly as anger fizzled in their chest.

“Blackbeard was going to kill them all,” they said through grit teeth. “I know loyalty to your captain comes before everything, but that doesn’t apply if the captain is a fucking lunatic hellbent on taking everyone to the depths of the ocean.” They stared at Zheng, trying to figure out her angle. “Why do you even care about the pirate code?” they asked plainly. “You’re supposed to be Queen of the Pirates. You make your own rules.”

Zheng chuckled, looking at them with vague amusement. “I’m not going to take your bait,” she said levelly, “so you can stop trying to play to my ego.”

Mo frowned. “I wasn’t trying to trap you,” they said, growing frustrated. “Sometimes a question is just a question. Answer me this one at least. What do you gain from executing them? The only real change I can think of is that Stede, the crew, and I would stay here with you. But you’re smarter than that,” they added, tilting their head as they thought. “You know that you could never gain our loyalty, not by killing people who just found themselves unlucky enough to be on Blackbeard’s crew. Certainly not when we know them, and care about them.” They sighed, thinking things over from every angle they could think of.

“If you let my friends live,” they said carefully, “there’s a good chance they would want to join your crew. Most of them don’t have many other options, and they’d jump at the chance to be on a crew that treats them as well as you treat your crew.” They studied Zheng, trying their best to understand her unreadable expression. “Why wouldn’t you take that opportunity? You’d easily gain almost a dozen people who would follow you blindly if you just spared a few, who shouldn’t have to die anyway. What do you gain from killing them?”

Zheng smirked. “What makes you assume I would want your friends on my crew?” she asked in a smug voice. “You said it yourself, your dear Izzy wouldn’t fit in here. And after meeting him,” she scoffed, throwing her hands up. “I get it. You were right. I’d almost rather lose a ship than have him on it.”

A wave of fury surged over them.

“You don’t know a damn thing about Izzy,” Mo spat, their voice coming out venomous. They could hear the roar of their blood in their ears, and it took everything in them not to draw their knife. “If you were half as smart as you think you are, you’d do anything to get him on your crew.” Their knuckles turned white and cold, the pain making them realize suddenly that they still held onto the back of chair in front of them. They wanted to let go, to let their blood circulate through their hands, but they didn’t dare, afraid they’d find themselves threatening the Queen if they released their anchor.

“As for the rest of them,” they continued, forcing themselves to take a deep breath, “they survived months at sea with someone actively taking the most dangerous raids he could, putting them through the ringer day after day just for his own sick amusement. They’re tough, and smart.” Their voice glowed with pride for their friends, though they knew they weren’t succeeding in hiding their edge of aggressive protectiveness. “Any captain would be lucky to have them.”

Zheng looked amused by Mo’s tirade. “You’re passionate, I’ll give you that,” she said. Mo bristled at the condescension, gritting their teeth as they fought to hold their tongue. “But my original decision stands.” She glanced over their tensed form, their barely restrained rage as they stood before her. “As does my offer,” she added, giving them a small nod.

Mo blinked, frowning as they were caught off guard. “What offer?” they asked, cursing how stupid they sounded.

Zheng grinned. “The offer to join my crew,” she said casually. “If you can get your anger issues under control, that is,” she added with a small frown, flicking a finger in their direction.

It took Mo a moment to process. Here they were, begging for their lover and friends to be spared from death, a request she denied, just to offer them a job? They felt lightheaded, their hands and feet turning icy cold as they stood, gripping the back of the chain not just to hold them back anymore, but to hold them upright. They blinked, their vision coming back into focus. It had only been a moment, not long enough for Zheng to have noticed, from the look on her face.

Mo glared at her, wanting nothing more than to tie her to a heavy rock and throw her overboard. “I’d rather fall on my own sword,” they said, their voice shaking with fury. They turned and stormed out of the office, slamming the door open and not caring if it hit Auntie in the process. What could she do? Everything they cared about was already about to be lost.

Mo found themselves sitting back in the brig, their back aching from having their side pressed up against the bars of the prison for so long. They held Izzy’s hand, trying their best to suppress the knowledge that it was for the last time.

They had taken their time to cool off before rejoining the captured crew, pacing on deck until their lungs burned and they felt lightheaded again. Roach and Wee John did their best to comfort them, trying to distract them from the looming execution, but they brushed them off, only angered more at the attempts to placate them. How could they relax? How could they act like everything would be okay, when their family would be killed once the sun rose?

Mo flinched when someone touched their head, jolting slightly as they looked up. Izzy smiled down at them, a pitifully small smile as he petted at their hair. They sighed, leaning back against the bars, keeping Izzy in their line of vision.

“Your hair grew,” he said after a few moments, holding a lock of hair up as if to measure it.

Mo gave a small nod, careful not to pull against the hair Izzy held. “Could say the same about you. When’s the last time your hair was cut?”

He shrugged. “Not since Bonnet left. You?”

Mo sighed, turning to face him more. “Last time it was cut was the night before we docked at Saint Francis Cove.”

Izzy smiled softly. “This is that haircut?” he asked with a humorous lilt, letting go of their hand to comb his fingers through their hair with his dominant hand. “I’m surprised it looks this good. I did a horrible job.”

“You did your best,” Mo insisted. “It was nice of you to help at all. I just didn’t want to look too messy when we went to see my parents, and you probably did better on the back part than I could have done myself.” They looked down as a pang of grief hit them. Their parents never did get to see them, and they’d never be able to show them something as frivolous as a new haircut again. “Don’t think they would have liked the way I butchered your hair,” Izzy said gently, bringing them out of their thoughts. “Not like they would have liked me being involved in anyway,” he grumbled, “but that would have been the final straw.”

They smiled at him, leaning into his hand as it made its way through their hair.

“I loved it,” they said simply. “Less the haircut itself,” they admitted as he smirked. “So it wasn’t the best haircut in the world, and you trimmed it a bit too close around my ears. But I loved the way you helped me. It meant a lot to me.” They met his eyes, hoping he could see in their eyes how loved he was. “I’ve only ever let one other person cut it, ever since I was old enough to start doing it myself.”

“That would be me,” Frenchie spoke up, raising his hand from his spot on Izzy’s other side. “Took ages for me to be allowed to help though, and I can only trim the edges.” He frowned, pointing a finger towards Mo. “They’re a proper freak when it comes to their hair.” They feigned a scowl at him, but let a small smile crack over their face when he gave them a wink.

“I should be honored then,” Izzy said, the corners of his lips tugging up in a small smile.

“You should,” Mo confirmed. “Not every day I let someone touch my hair. Or touch me much in general,” they added. They grinned, looking up at him. “And I let you near me with scissors! How’s that for a show of trust!” Izzy rolled his eyes. “We’ve also fought with swords,” he said dryly, running his thumb over their eyebrow. “Not sure a haircut was the highest stakes.”

“Yeah, but you never would have stabbed me,” Mo protested. “Even if you wanted to stab me at the beginning, you wouldn’t have, because then you’d have to deal with the captains, and do my share of the work too.” He scoffed. “You weren’t doing much work, love,” he said, irritated. “None of you were. That was the fucking problem.” They continued, ignoring his protest. “A haircut was kind of the perfect way of showing faith in you, if you think about it.” They enjoyed the way their partner rolled his eyes, chuckling softly as they explained. “No, really! Think about it! You were given an opportunity to mess things up for me, without really having much at stake yourself. Worst case scenario, I’d get a bit huffy. So, you had the option to really fuck me over, with no real consequences, but you did your best anyway. It’s like doing a good deed when no one’s watching.”

Izzy shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips as he looked down at them. “Fucked it up anyway though, didn’t I?” he said.

Mo reached through the bars, rubbing their hand up and down his thigh comfortingly. “You did your best. That’s what matters. I’d let you do it again in a heartbeat.”

Regret flashed across Izzy’s face, and Mo’s stomach dropped as they realized their mistake. He would never get the chance to cut their hair again. Sunrise was only a few hours away, and with it would come his death. Their eyes began to water again, and they blinked rapidly, not wanting to cry in front of Izzy, not when he was the one facing the end of his life. The least they could do was be there for him for what time he had left.

“Are you sure you don’t want your ring back?”

The soft voice hit them like a dagger in their heart, knocking the breath out of them.

Mo looked up at Izzy. His eyes were soft, and the corners were crinkled with concern. He was frowning, and his eyebrows were knit together as he studied his partner. They nodded.

“Yes,” they croaked. “It’s yours.” They took a deep breath. “It’s you or no one,” they said quietly.

Izzy’s frown deepened, but he nodded. He put his hand on top of theirs, where it still rested on his thigh, and intertwined their fingers.

It was a few hours later that Stede came down to the brig, walking with an urgency Mo had rarely seen in the man.

“What’s going on?” they asked, sitting up straighter and stretching as their captain approached.

“We’re taking back our ship,” Stede said determinedly, directed to his crew in the brig, fumbling with a key as he unlocked the prison.

“Yes, Stede-y boy!” Frenchie exclaimed quietly, jumping to his feet and pumping the air with his fist.

Mo scrambled to their feet, flashing Izzy a hopeful look as their captain swung open the door to the brig. They slid into the cage as their friends poured out, quickly hugging Frenchie before working with their friend to help their lover up to stand.

The trio made their way slowly behind the others back up to the main deck, with Fang hanging around them in case they needed his strength. It seemed that Stede had thought out an entire escape plan, and all they had to do was make sure they followed him. Fang led the way, looking around for danger from ahead while Frenchie walked alongside Izzy, stabilizing the shorter man as he hobbled his way through the ship. Mo kept lookout for any members of the Red Flag who might try to stop their escape, one hand on their knife as they followed their friends. When they found their friend’s weapons that had been confiscated, they took as many as they could as they moved without inhibiting their motion, in case they had to fight. They took Jim’s knife, recognizing their family name, and Izzy’s sword. They grinned as they found the knife they had given Frenchie, stashing it in one of their boots before hurrying to catch up to their friends.

By the time the four made their way to where the rest of the crew was gathering, Archie was aiming a crossbow at the mainmast of the Revenge. She let the arrow fly, hitting her target squarely as the crew cheered on, and Mo made a mental note to ask her if she was as good with a recurve bow as she was a crossbow once they were safe. Their stomach flipped when they realized Stede’s plan to have them all slide across the rope to land on the deck of the Revenge. How in the hell was an injured man with a pegleg supposed to do that?

Mo looked between Frenchie and Izzy frantically, trying to think of a way to make it work. Fang left them, moving to help Wee John with the heavy wheel they were apparently stealing from the Red Flag.

“It’s alright, babe,” Frenchie said firmly, cupping their cheek to get their attention. “We’ll go first, then Izzy, that way we can brace him as he lands.” They thought it over. “No,” they said, shaking their head softly. “Y-you go, then Izzy, then me. I’m not leaving until he’s safe.” They squeezed Frenchie’s arm. “You’re stronger than me, you can brace him on your own.” Izzy’s brow furrowed, opening his mouth to protest, but Mo cut him off with a firm kiss.

“I’m not asking, I’m telling,” they said breathlessly, leaning their forehead against his as they pulled apart.

He looked conflicted, but nodded after a moment, knowing better than to argue.

“Be careful,” he said quietly, holding the base of their neck to keep them close.

Mo smiled weakly. “When have I not been?” they teased, grinning as he rolled his eyes.

“We’d be caught before I could list them all,” Izzy replied gruffly.

They shrugged. “Better not to try then.” They gently nudged him closer to the makeshift zipline, grimacing as he grunted from the pain of his amputated leg. “Don’t worry, love. I’m notoriously hard to get rid of.”

Mo was one of the last to make it to the Revenge. They watched anxiously as Izzy slid to the other ship, wincing as Frenchie caught him, helping him find his feet as he stumbled, before slinging his arm over his shoulder and leading him off to the side, practically dragging the shorter man. Frenchie beckoned for them to hurry, and Izzy fixed his gaze on them, leaning heavily on Frenchie.

Mo took a deep breath as they stepped up. They tucked their right arm through Izzy’s makeshift crutch and tossed their towel over the rope, bracing themselves for a split second before hopping off the ship.

For a brief moment, it felt like they were flying. The wind, hinted with sea salt, whipped at their face as they zipped from one ship to the other. Had they not been relying on a towel to hold their weight, and running from a deadly pirate who wanted to kill their loved ones, it might have been nice.

The brake was anything but nice. Mo braced themselves, adjusting their grip so their left shoulder would take the brunt of the impact as they slammed into the mast, sparing Izzy’s crutch and their dominant arm. Roach grabbed at them as they neared the stop, slowing them down a bit, but pain still shot through them as they made contact. They released the towel, stumbling to the side as they clutched at their shoulder.

“Jesus, fuck,” they gasped. They moved to join Frenchie and Izzy, giving the latter his makeshift crutch and helping him adjust his weight on it, grimacing as they moved their left arm.

“Took you long enough,” Izzy said as Mo massaged their shoulder. They glanced in his direction, their mouth already open to shoot back a quip, but stopped when they saw his expression. Concern was written across his face, in the creases around his eyes and mouth, and the furrow of his brow.

They gave him a soft smile. “I told you,” they teased, “I’m harder to get rid of than that.” They brushed a lock of hair off his forehead, gently caressing his cheek. “I’m not going anywhere,” they assured him, stepping closer and wrapping their arms around him.

Izzy eagerly clung to them, letting go of Frenchie and sinking into the embrace. The pair jolted as a high-pitched squeal rang out, getting closer to them. They raised their heads, Mo adjusting their grip to hold onto Izzy’s waist as they turned to find the source of the sound.

Oluwande was zipping towards them, his feet kicking through the air uselessly as he screeched. He hit the mast with a dull thud, groaning before he moved to the side to make room for Jim, who was right on his tail.

Shouting rang out from the Red Flag. Mo squinted towards the rival ship, barely able to make out the distinctive coloring of Zheng’s robes at that distance.

“The rope!” Jim exclaimed, looking around for something to cut it.

“Here!” Mo said, bending quickly to remove their knife from their boot. Izzy scrambled, holding onto their back and shoulders as they leaned over. They tossed the knife to them, handle first, and they quickly sawed through the rope, yelling triumphantly when it snapped.

Mo slowly straightened back up, helping Izzy throw his arm over their shoulder as they stood next to him, doing their best to keep some of his weight off his injured leg. They peered back at the Red Flag, finding Zheng with their eyes as she held what looked like a telescope pointed towards them. They grinned, holding up their middle finger as they wrapped their other arm around Izzy’s waist, while Jim cackled next to them. She yelled, throwing the scope down as Buttons began to steer the ship away.

Mo felt like they could cry from the emotional whiplash of the day. Not even an hour before, they had been holding their lover’s hand through the bars of a cell, knowing he would be executed in a few hours. Now he was in their arms, safe on their ship as they sailed away from danger. They laughed, unable to believe their good luck as they turned to face Izzy, helping him adjust his grip so his arms were around their shoulders, his hands clasped behind their neck as they held his hips steady.

They knew they must look mad, laughing almost hysterically as they peppered his dirty face with kisses, but they couldn’t help it. They’d been through hell, being away from him for so long just to be reunited and have him snatched away again, and they never wanted to let him go again.

“Mo.” Izzy’s voice, raspy as he chuckled, caught them off guard. They pulled back, needing to see that he was okay. They must have looked concerned, because Izzy smiled, his eyes soft.

“I’m fine, love,” he assured them. “Just…kiss me properly.” He blushed furiously, and insecurity flashed across his face, but he refused to look away from his partner.

Mo was happy to oblige, giving him a grin before leaning forward. “All you had to do was ask, Israel,” they whispered before closing the small gap between them.

#izzy hands #ofmd #ofmd izzy #izzy hands x oc #izzy hands x reader #original character #my writing

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