#they figured it would be done when the ship was drier and docked but ya know

[izzy-b-hands]

"Izzy! You've come to see my work," Stede works to keep his voice even as he clings onto the ladder. "Impressed?"

He watches Izzy peer over the side of the ship, brow furrowed.

"Can I ask what it is you did?" Izzy frowns.

"It's obvious!"

Izzy nods, then shakes his head. "Gonna need a hint."

"Well, I had some props that would have helped," Stede says. "Here's a hint: art."

"Did...did you try to repaint the side of the ship?"

Stede nods. "Lost the paint and brush though."

"I'd imagine," Izzy remarks dryly. "Love, did you consider waiting till we'd stopped moving?"

"I had, but then I thought if I was careful I could do most of it now, and that leaves us all more time to explore at the next port!"

Izzy sighs. "That's...wait. You're soaked through; how long have you been out here?"

"Only a few hours," Stede smiles to hide his chattering teeth. The waves are a stinging sort of cold today, but it doesn't sting so badly now that he's cold enough to feel numbed.

"For fuck's sake," Izzy scoffs and sheds his vest. His sword and belt go next; Stede can hear the metal of the blade smacking the deck and the rounded hilt rolling with the motion of the ship. "Edward!"

Stede hears a faint "What?!" from Ed.

"We need blankets and tea!"

"We have some already!"

Izzy rolls his eyes. "Hang on. Don't stop hanging on, I suppose."

"I can't feel my fingers," Stede says, staring at them pale and locked around the rope of the ladder. "I'm not going anywhere for now."

"New tea and clean blankets and towels, Ed! Now!"

"Why?"

Stede fails to stifle a giggle.

"Is it not enough that I'm shouting about it? To suggest there's due cause for you to hurry the fuck up with it and help?"

"You shout about lots of things! Most things, actually!"

Stede leans into the ship, avoiding the wet dripping paint as he hides his laughter.

"Forget it," Izzy mutters. "I'll come get you, and make more tea, and get a warm bath ready, and-"

He scoffs and grumbles his way to Stede, then works Stede's fingers off the ladder to wrap around his waist instead. "Don't let go."

The cold sinks in worse once he's away from the constant thrashing of the sea, over the railing and shaking on the deck.

"I've got-" Ed walks up and drops the clean towels in his hands. "What the fuck happened here?"

"Ship maintenance," Stede supplies. "Painting is done!"

He pretends not to notice Izzy gently shaking his head in response. As far as he's concerned, at least a decent portion of it is done, and that's a success.

A success that's making him shiver fiercely enough to hurt, but still. Success.

"Honestly," Izzy grumbles as he pulls off his shirt and wraps it around Stede. "Could have gotten yourself killed."

"It does look nice," Ed notes as he peers over the railing. "We won't have many touch ups to do."

"Ed," Izzy sighs.

"What? He did well!"

"He'll catch his death!"

"Both things can be true!"

Stede reaches for the abandoned towels, only to have his hand gently smacked away while Ed and Izzy pile them on.

"Lucius is in our room; I'll have him run a bath," Ed says. "I'll get tea and have Roach make something warm. Soup? Soup."

"As soon as I'm dry and warm I'll be fine," Stede mumbles, but from under the thick towels he can't seem to be heard.

"Out of the wet clothes first, then into a robe and more blankets," Izzy adds, seemingly talking to himself as much as them. "Maybe ask Roach if there's anything he can do for his hands; look at his knuckles-"

Eventually they lift him up and lead him into what he presumes is their quarters, but he can't see beyond the towels tossed over his head in a caring panic.

"I'm just wet and cold," Stede protests as he finally manages to free himself from most of the towels, leaving them on the floor. "This is a bit dramatic, really. Excessive, even."

Ed shakes his head. "Not really. How many robes do we have clean?"

"I can only wear one at a time!" Stede laughs. "Honestly-"

"They're all clean," Izzy interrupts. "Where the fuck is Lucius?"

"Taking in the scene," Lucius says awkwardly from the nearby chair. "Are you panicking so much over him you didn't notice me?"

"No," Izzy blushes.

"Aww," Lucius smiles. "Adorable. Anyway, they're right. It's cold and going to get colder soon, and cold can absolutely kill a person. I've watched you nearly die a few times now, don't really want to watch you add another near death experience to the collection."

Stede frowns, or tries to despite his chattering teeth. "I really think-"

"I'll get a warm bath ready," Lucius interrupts. "Anything else we need?"

"Soup and something for his hands from Roach," Ed replies. "I'll get the robes from the auxiliary wardrobe, and Iz, can you get him out of the wet clothes?"

"This is getting very silly," Stede fusses. "I hope you both know. I can undress myself!"

"Your fingers are still curled over from holding the ladder," Izzy notes.

"Ah," Stede looks to his hands. "Did not realize that. Well..."

"You're not getting a choice here," Izzy continues. "We're looking after you until you're warm and looking better."

"I would enjoy it, were it me," Lucius says as he stands and strides towards the door. "Just my two cents!"

"I would too," Ed says. "Also, Izzy's right. You need looking after, and we love you, so we're looking after you."

He's heard them say that they love him many times before now, but he still blushes to hear it again.

"There we go," Ed smiles. "Now, I'll be back with robes, and let Izzy help you."

"Is he going to throw all the robes over me?" Stede asks as Ed heads into the wardrobe. "He is, isn't he?"

A towel drops back over his head from Izzy's hand, which feels like answer enough.

--

"Fine," Stede grumbles. "I do feel better."

He's held down on his chair by the many robes tossed over him, his hands barely free so he can eat the (extremely good) soup Roach made.

At his feet, Izzy is still persistently trying to warm them, rubbing gently with one of the few dry towels left.

Ed is at the opposite end, playing with his hair as he brushes it.

"That said, you could both stop and have some soup with me."

Both sets of hands pause at once, and he has to fight off a giggle. No one is immune to the scent of Roach's cooking, especially the soups like this one.

"Only if you're really feeling better," Ed leans down and kisses his head. "Then I suppose I could be swayed to sit for some soup."

"Don't even start," Stede continues to Izzy. "I know you haven't eaten much. And this has dumplings in. Roach's handmade dumplings, that I know you love..."

Izzy sets aside the towel. "A break might not be bad. But if you start to feel cold at any point-"

"I will ask for some stockings or socks, and you can get me some to wear instead of killing your knees while rubbing my feet," Stede interrupts. "Lovely though that has been, thank you."

They help him move to the middle of the couch, joining him on each open side and reaching for the small tureen of soup on the table in front of them.

"I should paint the ship more often," he continues. "Look at what it ends in! Good food, being cozy with you two..."

He knows what he's starting, and he giggles and lifts another bit of dumpling to his mouth while they sigh and snuggle in and beg him to do anything but that.

#text post #steddyhands #stizzy #to be fair stede did get a lot done and you know how? Mary and Doug's painting advice #they figured it would be done when the ship was drier and docked but ya know #stede doesn't let things such as common sense stand in the way of success and i support him because ive Been There lmao #finally got this wip done holy shit lmaooo #long post