Archive of Our Own

It’s fuckin’ ridiculous.

Ed has spent most of his grown life captaining his own ship. Sure, there’ve been a few bouts of threatened mutiny. Stupid, angry grumblings at shortened rations. The whole thing with Fang and his mangy mutt, for which Ed has since sincerely apologized. And, ya know, the one time his first ship sunk after particularly bad decision-making on his first mate’s part—he threw the guy overboard during another bout of drinking, so problem solved, really. But honestly, most of the time, he’s had a handle on things.

Now, now that he’s a co-captain again, he’s starting to doubt himself. And it’s all because of Stede fucking Bonnet and his magic mermaid cock. Or, the lack thereof right now, actually.

A fortnight back, Stede had let Ed have his way with him, all of his ways, or at least as many as they could fit in their allotted free-time. Of course, “let” is a loose term, considering Stede was on board as soon as he got started, as it usually goes with him. Hesitation, then fervent dedication. It’s not as if that sated Ed, though. There were still things they didn’t get to. Like Stede fucking the ever-loving shit out of him, for instance. And that’s— yeah. That’s still a bit on Ed’s mind these days.

And that’s exactly why, after fifteen fucking days without access to Stede’s cock, he’s a bit on edge.

It’s not like he’s ever been without Stede. He’s been without Stede for a much longer stretch of time. Rather memorably. It did not go well. For anyone. But no need to rehash that.

“I’ll miss you,” Stede had groaned the night before he left on a rather important and impressive mission to refill the ship’s stocks of sugar, tea and, well, funds. Suspicion had mounted since their last raid when Ed was spotted ogling the way the crew had taken down their enemies in such a prompt yet chaotic manner. Now Stede, sporting an absurd wig, or so he had planned, would be taking over such tasks for awhile. “I’ll be wondering after you.”

“It’ll be nothing, when it comes to it,” Ed himself had said, the fucking ponce. Stede had still pouted, wrapped in Ed’s sweaty arms.

“Perhaps I’ll write you,” Stede had suggested, nuzzling enthusiastically into Ed’s chest.

“Write me? It’s two weeks, Stede!”

“I won’t send them! Just for you to have.” Stede sat up and pumped his eyebrows right in Ed’s face. Ed had kissed him. Lucky bastard. “Enjoy. When you get back,” Stede had said into his mouth.

“I’ll enjoy you when you get back.”

And then things had sort of… blurred from there. They didn’t necessarily continue the discussion. And now Ed’s been without Stede for nearly two weeks, and he’s making a fucking mess of it.

The crew’s completely disorganized. No one is listening to his half-attempts at orders, which is, honestly, rude. Unacceptable. He should kill them all, really, but everything’s just a bit more complicated when there are feelings involved. Connections. Friendships or whatever. He can’t very well throw Frenchie overboard for getting sick on the deck when just two nights ago Frenchie was accompanying his shanties so beautifully on guitar. He can’t have Fang yank off pinkies when he knows the boys need those for Lucius’ scheduled sketch-time two nights a week. Jim takes to sharpening their swords on said nights, but pinkies are important for that, too!

Even Izzy has a new shine no order seems to tarnish. Ever since Stede and Izzy made up, he’s been walking around this ship with his head held high again. He’s been calling Ed out. He’s been rolling his eyes instead of listening. Something about having co-captains, and those co-captains breaking up, and then those co-captains getting back together and doing nothing but fucking most of the time instead of running their ship must remove half the fear and respect, or something. Ed’s gotta remedy that. As soon as he feels up to, ya know, doing things again.

“Missing your boytoy?” Izzy grumbles at him Ed morning, fresh off his poorly-made tea with only five sugars because no matter how much he corrects Roach, the fucker never indulges him like Stede does.

“Fuck off, no.” Ed frowns out at the water, his only solace during this lonely isolation. “S’only been two weeks. I’m not some pining—”

“Mhm,” Izzy cuts him off. Ed snaps to glare at him, but Izzy’s not even looking. “No need to be worrying about Bonnet out there. He can take care of himself, much as it pains me to admit it. And you’ve got things to do on the ship, you know. Things other than staring at the sea and pouting.”

“Would you fuck—

“You know I’m right, otherwise you’d have fucked off yourself by now.” Izzy’s lips press into a thin, righteous line. Ed knows, from far too much experience, this means he’s smiling on the inside but trying to maintain at least some of Ed’s dignity. It’s not really working, but he also is fucking right, the tiny asshole.

“They’re not—” Ed stops himself, not sure he’s willing to go here. Asking Izzy’s advice. Used to do that, didn’t he? Must have done. First mate and all that. And he’s still—technically that’s what he is. So there’s no harm in it. Maybe it’s what Stede would want. He has been telling Ed to try to “make nice,” whatever the fuck that means when pirates are involved. He clears his throat. “No one seems to be paying me much mind here. No fucking respect. Everyone going about their own business like I’m not their captain. Thinking about killing ‘em all.”

Stede never said he had to tell the truth.

Izzy grunts, not unkindly. “A viable option I have considered m’self.”

“Mm.” Ed bites his lip and winces down another gulp of tea.

“Although… I’m not sure it’s a lack of respect.”

Ed turns to him, quirks a brow. “No?”

Izzy shakes his head.

“Hmm. Then—”

“They listen, you know. Just… in their own way.” Izzy’s staring out at the sea now. His forehead wrinkles in that way it only does when he’s thinking. “Maybe you’re just not paying attention.”

Ed’s hackles fly straight up. “Not paying—the fuck does that mean?”

“The ship’s clean as a whistle, isn’t it?” Ed gazes around, sure he’ll find smudges and dirt and gunpowder. All he sees is the bit of mud he himself spread against the hull with the point of his boot in an effort to entertain himself before Izzy approached. “We’ve been making good time. We’ll be meeting back up with Bonnet and his tiny crew in a few hours’ time.”

Ed’s stomach jumps. Fuck. He glances up at the sun, the clouds, the—

He’s right. He’s fucking right. Again.

“Perhaps you’re just—out of sorts,” Izzy finishes, then wanders away before Ed can even open his mouth to tell him to fuck off.

In the next few hours before Stede arrives, Ed takes the liberty of exploring the rest of the ship he’s been, well, ignoring for the past two weeks. Sure enough, it’s clean as he’s ever seen it. Even the ridiculously ornate private lavatory Stede installed doesn’t smell like death incarnate. All the chores have been finished and it’s well before the sun is going to set. In fact, when he pops into the kitchen, he finds Roach, Pete and Fang all peeling potatoes for tonight’s meal. They all lift their heads when he enters, give him brief waves, and then continue on.

So maybe he’s been… exaggerating. In his own head. Maybe everything is getting done. Maybe it’s his own foul mood that’s tainted everything. Maybe he just—

Fuck. Maybe he just misses Stede.

Luckily, it’s only a short wait longer before Stede is crawling over the side of the ship looking worse for the wear. There are dark bags under his eyes. His waistcoat is on crooked and he’s got what look like knifed open slats on his stockings. Ed had told him not to dress too fancy, it would most likely draw attention and it’s kinda the opposite of why Stede decided to go by himself, but Stede didn’t exactly listen. He wanted to “look nice.” When doesn’t he?

Even now, Ed would ravish him in a second.

Ed wants to play it at least slightly cool in front of the crew, now that he figures most of them have probably worked out he’s not in his right mind. But seeing Stede’s face, his haggard expression, his shredded clothing… it’s also hard not to jump to attention and quiz him on what’s happened.

“Hello there, everyone,” Stede says, a tired smile on his face. Ed’s heart pounds in his chest. “We’ve returned from our mission!” He turns to gesture at Olu and the Swede, who are hoisting boxes of supplies along with them. “Quite successfully, I might add.”

Stede finds Ed’s eyes, at last, and a swift kick of longing hits Ed straight in the balls. Stede’s eyes widen ever so slightly. Ed smirks.

“Welcome back, Captain!” Black Pete exclaims, scampering toward the boxes to help and breaking the moment. Ed clears his throat and takes a few steps forward.

“Yes, welcome back,” he tells Stede, who trips toward him with a sigh. “Looks like you lot had a rough go of it?”

“Some of us did,” Swede remarks out the side of his mouth.

“Oh?” Ed takes another step forward, this time deliberately toward Stede. Stede’s shoulders slump. His mouth pops open, but then Olu saunters in behind him.

“Captain did. It was Captain.” Olu rolls his eyes. Stede huffs, his face gone a bit red, but Olu pays him no mind. “He missed you. Talked about you practically the whole time.”

Stede rolls his eyes. “Alright, that’s enough.” He looks sheepishly at Ed. Ed’s heart aches. “I was fine. I’m fine.”

“You look tired, mate,” Ed says, his self-consciousness wiling away by the second. It’s not that he’s happy Stede was miserable. On the contrary. He’s just… glad not to be the only one who’s made a fool of himself playing the lovesick puppy. He hooks a finger through an uncharacteristically unbuttoned portion of Stede’s waistcoat to tug at him. “Did you find trouble? I told you to be careful—”

“No, no trouble,” Stede says, but he leans eagerly into Ed’s touch, his eyes fluttering in something like relief. “Just, uh. A hard time sleeping. And eating. I was—”

“He was stressed,” Olu finishes, and Stede throws him a look over Ed’s shoulder. The proximity to Stede’s pinched face throws the rest of Ed’s remaining inhibitions out into the sea. He presses forward to sneak a kiss. It’s meant to be quick, a greeting, but Stede takes it and runs. His arms thread around Ed’s middle and pull them flush together, so close Ed can feel the thumping of Stede’s frantic heart. Ed groans, mostly out of concern but also because Stede nibbles at his bottom lip, and Stede takes that as further permission to sink in. Ed loses himself so long in the wet slide of Stede’s mouth, in the grasping fingers at his hips, in the slowly hardening growth appearing at his thigh where Stede is clinging to him, that he doesn’t notice until Izzy is practically shrieking at them.

“I said to get a fuckin’ cabin, you two! We have work to do!”

Ed blinks and pulls back where Stede jumps in his hold, wiping at his mouth.

“Calm down, we’re— Ed?” Stede looks to him, curious and worried. Ed can still see a glistening string of spit on his chin.

“Yep. Yeah, let’s go.” Ed turns to Izzy and conjures up the darkest gaze he can manage. “We’ll leave you to it, First Mate. You can handle things for the next couple days, yeah?”

Izzy’s face falls. “Edward—”

“Oluwande, you make sure he stays on task, alright?” Ed whirls around to lead Stede away. He hears grumbling and commotion and what might honestly be the unsheathing of a knife behind him, but honestly, he doesn’t give any sorts of fucks. He’s got his man back and he intends to make good on his promise to himself to never take that for granted again.

As soon as Ed slams the door to their cabin shut, he turns his sights back on Stede, but is… disheartened by what he sees. Even more so than he was on deck. Stede seems to have almost crumpled in on himself, his whole body slumped, his feet walking him slowly toward the settee in the middle of the room.

“Stede?” he asks after him, plodding along pathetically to follow. “Y’alright love?”

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” Stede groans, collapsing onto the cushions and settling his head between his knees. “I’m such an idiot.”

“Stede,” Ed tries, but Stede ignores him.

“Going without you was a mistake, just like you said. An absolute atrocity of an idea. I was—” He sits up, his deep brown eyes boring right into Ed’s. “I was miserable without you.”

“Stede,” Ed says again with feeling, with devastation, with the love-addled brain he’s been struggling against for two weeks. He curls an arm around Stede’s back and pulls him an inch so they’re pressed together. “It wasn’t really that bad.” Ed furrows his brow, trying to be optimistic. “Was it?”

Stede blinks at him, his mouth wrinkled up in a frown. “I—I don’t know, I… wasn’t it bad… for you?”

Ed considers his “playing it cool” schtick, but honestly, what’s the fucking point? Making Stede feel alone? He loves this silly, excessive, adoring man far too much. He sighs, leaning forward to press his forehead to Stede’s shoulder. “I was fucking losing my mind, Stede.”

“Really?”

“Of course.” Ed looks up and finds Stede’s eyes hopeful. “Couldn’t keep track of anything. Luckily your whole crew’s a bit independent, cause everything got done somehow. But I was…” He breathes deep, feels it in the deep crevices of his lungs. “I was miserable. Just like you.”

“Oh thank god.”

Ed sits up, frowning. Stede pats his hand. Kisses him on the forehead. Normally, it would make Ed feel like a child, but instead, he finds himself melting into it. Stede must sense it, because he eases Ed against his chest, tucking them together until Ed can hear his steadying heartbeat.

“Not like that, dear, I just…” He exhales, curling a hand around Ed’s shoulder. “I’m just glad I wasn’t the only one.”

“Mmm, no,” Ed hums. “Definitely not.”

“I barely slept. I acted a fool the whole time.”

“You mean more than usual?”

Stede grunts. “Alright, I was mistaken. Perhaps I’ll depart again in the morning.”

Ed laughs, wrapping his arms around Stede’s middle and squeezing. His hands slide greedily over Stede’s back, his hips, his thighs, the steady bulk of him. He’s so whole, so present.

“It wasn’t like last time,” Ed finds himself saying, despite the yawning, clawing resistance in his head. “I knew you would come back to me. But it still… ached.”

“Mmm.” Stede squeezes back. His chin hooks over Ed’s head and presses into his dark curls, and he can feel the rumble in his chest when Stede says, “It will never again be like last time.”

“I know,” Ed replies too quickly, but with enough genuine concern in his heart that it begins its stupid hammering away again. “I know that.”

“Of course.” Stede hugs him again. Ed covets it like the most precious gem in the world, memorizing the feel, promising himself he’ll never take it for granted again. And as far as things he’ll never take for granted—

“Missed lots of things about you.” Ed dips his head down a little further, burying his nose into Stede’s lap. Stede stills.

“Is that so?”

“Fuck yes,” Ed pants, already short of breath. Fuck, he’s easy for Stede. But, in his defense, two weeks is a…long time. Rather long. Real fucking long, actually, if you think about it, and they hadn’t been apart since their whole—whatever, “break up” if that’s what you wanna call it, but it doesn’t really matter, because now Stede is under him, and hardening quickly in his breeches, and Ed wants to peel him out of every manner of clothing he owns and never let him redress.

“I missed those things too.” Stede rubs a smooth line over Ed’s back. Ed shivers. “If you’re speaking of carnal things, which I assume you are.”

“You assume correctly,” Ed snorts into Stede’s crotch. Then he frowns. “I know you’re tired.” Stede hasn’t been home for two weeks, after all. And he specifically said he barely slept. Not that Ed’s much better off, but at least he had the advantage of their bed. Sometimes Ed passes out so quickly on the damned thing that he barely notices. And that’s without rum.

“I’m—I… I’ll be f—” Stede interrupts himself with a loud yawn. “Alright, I am… I could use some sleep.” His fingers weave into Ed’s hair. “But how I’ve missed you.”

Ed stares down at where Stede is straining, hot under his roving hand, twitching gently when Ed gives him a little squeeze through the fabric. He may be exhausted, but his cock still seems to be interested in whatever Ed is willing to give.

“You wouldn’t have to do anything,” Ed hears himself saying, undoing all the infernal buttons until he can pull Stede out, and he’s just as he remembers. Beautiful. Unfathomable. Already dripping. Some things always stay the same, he s’poses. Thank fuck. He wraps a fist around Stede, watching his face to make sure it’s alright, but Stede just sighs in what sounds like relief.

“I’m not sure I could—that I’d be able to—”

“Love, you’re always able to,” Ed laughs, sucking a kiss onto the side of Stede’s shaft. “But it doesn’t matter. Just want to feel you.”

“Mmm.” Stede gasps. “Ed—”

“Just want to taste you against my tongue.” He licks a fat stripe up the side to prove his point. “Want to just hold you in my mouth. This lovely cock.”

“Just… just hold me…?” Stede shifts along with Ed’s mouth, nearly thrusting inside, plump, smooth skin riding along Ed’s lips. “Have you… is that something people… do?”

“No idea if people do it,” Ed says honestly, thrilling at Stede even discussing this. It’s not something he’d thought of ahead of time, but now that he has this beautiful, gorgeous thing in his hand, against his mouth, he can think of nothing else. “Just going with my gut. And my gut really wants to hold your cock inside my mouth until we both fall asleep.”

“Oh. Oh.” Stede’s voice is breathy and intrigued. Ed reaches down to paw at himself through his pants. Stede must notice, because he hears another intake of breath before Stede says, “And you’ll be—what about you, my dear? You’ll get no satisfaction from that if I fall asleep.”

“Oh, I’ll get plenty of satisfaction, don’t you worry about that.” Just the concept is making Ed harder than he’s been in the two weeks Stede’s been gone. He didn’t know something so lackadaisical could drive him absolutely nutty, but like he told Stede, he’s not going to start questioning his gut now. It’s gotten him this far. He sucks the tip of Stede’s cock into his mouth and moans, low-throated and loud.

“Edward, god.” Stede wriggles beneath him. Ed pins him down best he can, one hand on one hip. “I think you might’ve been right about the, uh. Em. I think I might actually—”

“Yeah, darling.” Ed tugs at his arse, adding the barest of suction before popping back off. “Come in my mouth. I want it.”

“Oh, oh, oh fuck, I—”

Ed rushes to suck Stede back down, using his best tricks as quickly as he knows how. Good thing he’s gotten a bit of practice over the past few months of being with Stede. He’s now knows the tell-tale signs of Stede as he’s about to finish—perhaps even more than Stede himself. He recognizes the panting sighs, the clutching fingers in his hair, and the long, drawn out whine Stede gives just as he’s about to blow. And then—ah.

There it fucking is. Painted all over the back of his tongue, the inside of his mouth. He swallows and eases Stede through it, reveling in his moans and groans and withering, nonsense words until Stede finally slumps back against the settee.

“Darling,” Stede sighs, and the name goes straight to his heart. And his dick. “You’re so very good. So gorgeous with my—my cock in your mouth.”

“Mmmf,” Ed groans around his mouthful, eyelids fluttering at the praise.

“Who am I to deprive you, if that’s where you’d like to stay?”

“Mmmf,” Ed agrees. Stede’s cock is still throbbing its relief from release against his tongue, so Ed gently rolls on his side on Stede’s lap. His head is resting comfortably on Stede’s knees, one arm pinned beneath him and the other wrapped around Stede’s waist. When Stede hums, settling in himself, Ed lets his eyes slip shut and just feels.

This is… nice. Nicer than he thought. Honestly, he thought it’d just be… really fucking hot. Stede’s cock in his mouth? Always a good time. Ed’s own cock would fervently agree. But now that Stede is slowly softening—very unlike him—it’s meandering into a calming, low buzz of arousal that Ed’s not sure he needs to do anything about. He blinks up to see Stede watching him, sporting a soft and caring smile. Ed’s fingers tingle.

“Alright?” Stede asks simply, and Ed nods. “Good.” Stede fingers at Ed’s hair. “Good boy.”

“Oh, fuck, Stede,” Ed would say, if he didn’t have a mouth full of Stede’s delicious cock. But then again, he does, and it’s quickly becoming his new favorite thing.

Figures, he and Stede would find another type of intimacy Ed never knew could exist. Stede is completely soft now, and Ed is floating on a smooth current of pleasure. He’s tucked up against Ed’s palate, and though there’s saliva oozing out of the corner of Ed’s mouth, Stede’s thumb drags down from his hair every so often to wipe it away. Ed feels taken care of while simultaneously taking care of Stede back. Keeping him warm, keeping him safe. Keeping him happy and loved and continually reminding him, with slack lips and a curling tongue, that they’re together. He’s not going anywhere again. Neither of them are.

Although it was the point, Ed is surprised that he actually falls asleep like that. It’s not until the next morning, when he wakes on the settee, hands curled under his cheek, knees pulled up and crooked against the back cushions, that he realizes Stede must have woken and tucked a blanket over him.

He pops his head up and sees Stede back in his normal position on the bed, fuzzy purple face mask covering his eyes and arms slung out haphazardly. For a moment, Ed is grumpy that Stede didn’t wake him to join, he’d have loved a cuddle. But then he notices his knee brace is gone, and there’s a flask of water on the table in front of him. He slides off the settee with a smile, knowing he’s well-taken care of.

Ed lets Stede sleep a little while longer, accepting tea and cakes from Roach and a daily briefing from Izzy. Izzy keeps it short and grumbled, his eyes bouncing back and forth as he informs Ed that they’ve decided to anchor for a few days until the winds die down. They’ve got enough rations after Stede’s trip, and Izzy must know what this means, considering he clears his throat awkwardly and says, “I’ll handle the crew, since you… you’re—occupied.”

Ed doesn’t love that Izzy knows he and Stede are going to be fucking like bunnies, but, hey, it’s not as if it’s he fucking cares. Everyone knows at this point. And honestly, he’s more than willing to overcome the embarrassment if someone asks him the details, considering he believes everyone should know that Stede is an absolute monster in the sack. Fuck Izzy. Ed’s got it good. And he’s going to get it good as soon as Stede wakes up.

He’s got plans.

Stede wakes with a long stretch, nightgown sliding up his nicely-tanned arms. Freckles abound. His golden curls are smashed on one side, and he makes a small, muffled whine that makes Ed squirm from where he’s sitting at the table. Ed want to crawl into bed and tuck himself under his chin.

“Ed?”

“Over here,” Ed answers as Stede removes his facemask and frowns.

“You should’ve woken me.”

“I could say the same thing to you about last night,” Ed says with a smirk over his third cup of tea. He should probably slow down, but he’s been steeped in anticipation all morning. Stede fixes him with a look.

“You were so peaceful.” He stretches again and shuffles out of the bed. Ed’s eyes fall to the outline of Stede’s cock. His mouth waters. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Ed decides not to make it more of an issue, seeing as they’re both awake now. “I fell asleep under pretty good conditions, so. Yeah. Good night’s sleep for me.” Stede walks over to press a kiss to Ed’s forehead. “And you?”

“Very much the same.” His smile is radiant in the morning light. “I’ll have to make it up to you. Perhaps in a similar manner.” Stede pumps his eyebrows and Ed’s cock reacts with a small twitch.

“Oh yeah? You interested in that?”

“Why not?” Stede says easily. “I love having you in my mouth, and you seemed to enjoy yourself so thoroughly, I’d be an idiot not to try.”

“Actually…” Ed trails off. He pulls at Stede’s nightgown, rubbing the fabric between two fingers. Stede licks his lips.

“...yes?”

“I had my own version of an idea.”

“Oh, yeah?” Stede lays hands on Ed’s shoulders. Ed imagines scooting Stede’s nightgown up and ducking his head underneath. He could. It’d be a lovely way to start the day. But…

“I thought you could stay in me… all day. Or,” Ed hesitates, thinking, “most of the day, at least. Some breaks. Food and… drink and all that. Like last time.” Last time meaning their all-day fuck-fest. Also known as: one of the best days of Ed’s life. Stede blinks down at him. His mouth curls up with intrigue.

“You think your jaw could handle it?”

Oh. A shiver runs through Ed’s body. Now there’s an idea. But—

“First off, my jaw could handle it, but, eh.” He shakes his mind outta that idea. Next time. Maybe. “No. I meant… my arse, mate. I want you to fuck me.” Ed lets his eyes drag slowly over Stede’s whole body. “Then keep your cock in me while you go about your day. Read. Mess about with your hair. Take a bath.” He raises Stede’s hand to his lips and hears Stede’s small intake of breath. “I’ll keep you warm. Safe. Comfortable. And that’s not even mentioning the orgasms, love.”

“Oh,” Stede shivers out, his hand trembling in Ed’s. “I—uh. That—that would be—”

“Delicious? Amazing? Doing me a huge fucking favor?” Ed cocks a brow and reaches down to cup around Stede’s dick. “And I do mean huge.”

“Ed,” Stede sighs, his cock thickening against Ed’s palm.

“Your dick is answering for you, mate, but… is that a yes?”

“It’s definitely a yes,” Stede answers finally, stooping down to sit astride Ed’s thighs. “I don’t know what imbecile you would take me for that would say no, I mean… As long as you’re absolutely sure.” He frowns again, that stupid little endearing pout, and he’s close enough now, so Ed leans forward to kiss at it. “Would you—enough, I’m—Edward, I’m trying to make sure this is what you really want—would you stop groping me and answer?”

“Answer? Stede. I asked the damn question.” Ed tips Stede off his lap and waves at the bed. “Let’s not waste our time rehashing things. Fuck me all day, alright?” Stede’s mouth drops open with the barest of moans. “Now get moving, would you? Did you bring any fancy oils back with you from that trip? We didn’t go over the inventory last night like we usually do.”

“Oh!” Stede’s eyes light, and when they dig through his new things, Ed is happy to find multiple options to start the day off right.

He and Stede are toppling gracelessly onto the bed before he knows it, Stede’s knee pressed between his own, their mouths ravaging each other like they might have yesterday if not for the fatigue and solemnity. Ed wriggles beneath Stede, spreading his legs and thrusting up his hips, as if Stede didn’t already get the message. What with all his questioning, might as well drive the point home. Stede gasps against his tongue, clearly enjoying the evidence that Ed is absolutely sure. He loves the reassuring weight of Stede on him. He wraps arms around Stede’s middle and pulls tighter until he feels positively crushed.

“Darling,” he hears Stede sigh into the side of his neck, his lips busy trailing down the column of his throat. “The things you let me have.”

Ed grunts, arching up until he can feel Stede’s warm, hard cock against his again. “Let you?”

“You’re a miracle,” Stede continues. “I can’t wait to be inside you.”

“S’the point,” Ed slurs against his mouth. He wiggles, this time to get out from under Stede. “Our clothes, mate. Gotta take off our clothes.”

“Fuck, of course.”

They scramble quickly before they’re blessedly naked. They sit cross-legged on the bed, all shoved up together, Stede’s soft leg hair rubbing against Ed’s, their knobbly knees bumping as they giggle and touch. Ed’s hands are greedy, wrapping around the base of Stede’s cock and stroking up to the tip. Stede sighs heavily and leans back onto his hands, just watching and feeling. He’s wonderfully responsive, not that that’s novel to today, but Ed revels in it all the same. He admires Stede’s cock anew, treasuring the feel of it hot against his palm, growing wet over the knuckles of his fingers. Gorgeous. Fucking delectable.

“D’you wanna come before you’re in me?” Ed finds himself asking, entranced. “Looks like you’re a bit pent up.”

Stede exhales a shaky laugh. “With you touching me? It’s hard not to be.”

“Mmm. Hard indeed,” Ed says with a sly smile. Stede kisses him for it, Ed’s hand working between them. Stede’s tongue flickers out at his lips. Ed groans. They settle into their little routine, into their hazy, warm world together in this circle, made up of only them, the rest of the ship forgotten.

Stede does come eventually, eased out of him by Ed’s hand, and at the last minute, a swirl of his tongue for good measure. And a good spurt of seed on Ed’s cheek and over his lips, which… fuckin’ bonus. A few minutes later, Ed’s on all fours, face shoved into a pillow, Stede’s gentle hands gripping his hips and easing his cock inside.

“You’re sure you don’t need more preparation?” Stede asks for the millionth time. “You’re rather… ah… tight.”

“I like it,” Ed says, wincing at the press. It’s overwhelming, but honestly, sometimes it’s what he wants. Slow, stretching, Stede working inside with all manner of heavy panting, groans, little squeaks. “Like to feel you.”

“Too much of me, I worry.” His cock nudges further on. So fucking filling. Ed manages a scoff and a moan at the same time.

“Flattering yourself again, mate.”

“Oh, please,” Stede scolds, pinching at Ed’s arsecheek. Ed emits a ridiculous squeak. He’d be embarrassed if Stede hadn’t heard much worse from him in their time together. “Relax, darling.”

“I’m—” Ed thinks of arguing, but takes a deep breath instead. The drag of air in his lungs couples the drag of Stede’s cock until he’s finally bottomed out, folded over Ed’s back and peppering his spine with kisses.

“There,” Stede gentles into his skin. “There we are.”

“Yeah, you’re there, alright.” Ed lifts his hips, then circles them against the cradle of Stede’s pelvis. “So fuckin’ there.”

“Just like you asked,” Stede tells him, and Ed loves the hard, teasing edge to his voice. Loves to hear Stede talk. Especially with him tucked up inside. Or when Ed’s inside him. Or when Ed’s got him in his mouth: fuckin’ perfect time for Stede to run his own. Dirty or pure, loving or rough, Ed’ll take it all. The sounds, the vibrations, especially if he can really get Stede going. What kind of monster made Stede hesitant in the first place? Made him think a lover wouldn’t want to hear him while they’re fucking? Well, they deserve the worst kind of hell when they leave this earth. “Alright there, my beautiful creature? You feel absolutely divine.”

Not that it was too hard to talk him back into it.

“So good,” Ed growls, and then the last of Stede’s hesitations must float away. He kicks up his speed and pounds into Ed in a steadying rhythm, reaching forward to tweak at his nipples, skating down to circle fingers around his cock before doing it all again. A master, really. Ed could teach classes on the ship. How to Please Your Man, Even Without A Magic Cock Like Mine!

The cock, though… It’s difficult to get one over on that beauty. It’s as if it expands when it’s inside him, knocking gently at all his internal doors, beckoning to let him in, let him press every single spot with care and tenderness, then let that feeling drag until Ed is putty in his hands. Stede has been testing a back-and-forth type of method: slamming into Ed’s arse in quick yet precise spurts, getting him truly drooling before tempering his speed, gradually slowing to a grind wherein he focuses on drawing the longest, most indulgent moans from Ed’s throat. From the depths of his guts, from the lightest and brightest parts of his heart.

Ed’s not bound to last all day. Not with this technique. And maybe Ed should feel bad about that, his ego bruised and battered at the student becoming the master in such a short period of time, but really, who can be fucked? Well, him. It makes him thank his fucking stars he dedicated himself to this over more swordfighting. He’ll leave that shit to Izzy. Stede’s a better study with fucking any day.

“We didn’t exactly discuss the manner of… coming. Uh. Did we?” Stede asks, as if they’re bartering the rules over tea. He’s skillfully waited to ask until he’s on one of his slow rotations. Ed blinks out of his daze, lifts out of the pile of his own drool on the pillow. “Would you like to come, my dear?

“Fuck.” Ed hadn’t thought of that himself. It was a bit of a… spontaneous decision. He’d had a plan, of course, but the plan stopped a bit short after “get Stede’s dick in you.” World’s greatest tactician except when it includes his own arse. “Uhh, I—” How’s he s’posed to think now? Stede’s hitting that spot almost every time he slides inside, and Ed doesn’t want to make any decisions. He just wants to— “Fuck it, make me come.”

“Ah, Edward,” Stede hisses, circling Ed’s cock with a fist before barely ghosting his fingers over the shaft. “You’re so hard.”

“It’s—fuck, it’s good, Stede.” Ed’s hips twitch. “You fuck me—god—you fuck me so good.”

“This won’t take long, will it?” Stede rolls his palm against the head of Ed’s cock.

“Don’t tease me,” Ed spits, thrusting into the grip of Stede’s hand. It’s not perfect but it’s the pressure Ed needs, if he could just have a little more, if Stede would just—

“Not so fast,” Ed hears Stede say before he unceremoniously pulls out and flips Ed onto his back.

“Stede,” Ed huffs, but his legs fall open, slick and messy thighs bared for Stede’s taking, and he does, sliding right back inside Ed’s hole with one swift movement.

“It’ll be easier to keep you here,” says Stede, as if that makes any fucking sense, but Ed’s brain’s the consistency of marmalade sloshing through his head. He wails as Stede crashes down to suck at the base of his neck, biting gently but not gently enough to avoid a mark. Ed loves being marked up. Stede knows Ed likes being marked, and this whole “not coming when he really fucking needs to” shit is not going to fly with decisions like that. “You wanted to keep me comfortable, didn’t you darling?”

“St—” Ed’s cut off by a fucking delicious thrust, Stede’s cock like a bolt of lightning inside of him. Close enough to painful to be thrilling, but with the look in Stede’s eyes as he attempts to hold Ed’s fluttering gaze, the thrill is what makes it so fucking loving.

“Let go for me, Edward,” Stede’s saying through the hazy humidity they’ve created together, and Ed doesn’t have to think—can’t really, anyway, before he’s giving in to such a simple request. He spills over Stede’s aiding fist, clenching around Stede’s cock until he can hear the subtle uptick in Stede’s panting in reply. “That’s it. That’s so good.”

“Love,” Ed murmurs softly, meaning it to come out a question instead of a simple endearment. When his eyes slide back open, Stede is watching him with shining wet eyes. He reaches up to catch a tear before it falls.

“Still with me?” Stede asks, sniffling. He’s not moving anymore, just holding still inside of Ed, stroking gently at his inner thighs and sending shivers up Ed’s spine.

“Mhm, yeah.” Ed blinks away some of the fuzziness and tries to get his bearings. “Didn’t expect you to fuck me into jelly on the first try.”

Stede fucking blushes at that. “Sorry,” he says sheepishly, his cock still stretching at Ed’s hole.

It takes all of Ed’s considerable strength to clench around him, a tease and a threat. Stede bows forward with a groan, forehead tucking into Ed’s chest.

“Stop fucking apologizing,” Ed says, but he strokes fingers through Stede’s hair, damp from sweat. He untangles it slowly while Stede kisses at him, and then there they are, connected and soaking it in, all the time in the world before them.

“What now?” Stede mouths into a tuft of Ed’s chest hair. Ed grunts.

“Whatever you like, mate.” Ed hugs at him. “Relax. Read. Nap.”

Stede’s head pops up, his expression incredulous. “Nap? How would I be expected to sleep with my— I’m still hard!”

“What else is new?” Ed giggles. “Maybe I’ll sleep, then. Woke up pretty early with dirty thoughts in my head.”

“You think you… you think you can sleep like this?”

Ed reaches up to brush a blond lock of hair from Stede’s forehead. “Fell asleep with your cock in my mouth, didn’t I? Besides, you fucked the life out of me.”

Stede blushes, looking pleased at that. Ridiculous. “You do deserve the rest.”

“Mmm.” Ed shifts, and so Stede with him. Stede gasps.

“God, this is… this is so much.”

“Too much?” Ed frowns.

“No!” Stede yells clear in Ed’s face, then winces. “Sorry, uh. No. No, it’s… it’s alright.”

“Just alright?”

“My god, Ed, you’re incorrigible,” Stede complains, his brow furrowed all cutely. Ed just cackles, and even that is gorgeous, the feel of Stede moving with him, fused together for it all.

They decide to switch positions for lounging around, Stede tucking up against Ed’s back while Ed lays on his side. It doesn’t give Stede much room to do anything save for running his hands up and down Ed’s arm and chest, but he insists he doesn’t mind.

“A bit like meditation,” he says while Ed’s drifting off, and Ed doesn’t even have the wherewithal to snort before he’s fallen asleep.

When he wakes, it’s to Stede’s small, hesitant whines. And, oh yeah, Stede’s cock thrusting slowly in and out of him. Ed smiles, his eyes still closed.

“Impatient?” he asks, and Stede’s movements come to a halt.

“Oh. I woke you.” His voice is fucked. Raw and throaty, like he’s been sucking dick for hours. Ed’s cock twitches. “I was trying to be—”

“Subtle? With that monster in my arse?”

“Ed. That’s a bit of an exaggeration,” Stede huffs, grinding in deep. Ed groans into his pillow.

“Tell that to my arsehole, love.”

Stede mushes a moan into the back of his neck. “I couldn’t help it. You’re so—so—”

“Tell me, Stede.”

“So hot inside.”

“Yes,” Ed sighs with relief. Stede thrusts with a little more power. “Yes, more.”

“You fit me perfectly.”

“Meant to be.” Ed rocks his hips back into Stede’s cock. He breathes in slowly, and it’s almost as if it expands, touching him in all the right places. Stede’s right. It’s perfect.

“Yes, darling. You were meant for me.” Stede wraps an arm around Ed’s chest. He runs a hand up between Ed’s pecs, streaking at the sweat quickly beading there. “So beautiful and warm.”

Ed’s fingers and toes tingle. This is exactly what he wanted. Keeping Stede warm, happy. Full of praise and love. All sadness emptied from the both of them. He’s fucking sick of missing Stede. He wants to stay here, pinned on his cock, worshipped in their bed forever. He rolls along with Stede’s movements, with his grinding thrusts until Stede pushes him gently onto his stomach and takes the reins.

“I want to come inside of you,” Stede says, as if he’s not throbbing and hard, as if Ed hasn’t already been waiting since he woke.

“Yes, please,” Ed begs. He’s practically light-headed. He imagines what it would be like, if Stede had come before he woke. Or maybe if he were on the edge right as Ed opened his eyes. If Stede’s whines instead were cries, if Stede had managed to drag himself to orgasm without Ed doing anything. Just with Ed holding him. Fuck. Ed’s cock fills out a little more just at the thought. He’s not ready to come himself, nowhere near actually, but he couldn’t care less. This time it’s for Stede and only Stede. He wants to be the vessel of Stede’s pleasure, wants to soak him up and let him feel good until he’s wrung out. “Come for me, Stede. Pump me full, lover.”

“Shit, oh, oh god.” Stede snaps his hips, his balls slapping against Ed’s arse, the noises intoxicating. Ed throws a hand up and fists at the headboard while Stede goes to town. “There, I’m—I’m there—”

“Yes, c’mon,” Ed groans. “C’mon, fuck—”

Stede presses Ed harder into the bed, knuckles in his shoulder, grabbing at his thigh until Ed gets the clue and lifts his arse for Stede to pound. He feels Stede’s cock, hot and hard and slick inside him, getting slicker as Stede cries out and presses deep inside. Ed clenches around him best he can, just to hear the small whimper it pulls from Stede. He loves that. He loves Stede.

“Oh, god,” Stede sighs, yanking at the side of Ed’s hip to pull him back down onto the bed as he collapses himself. They’re tucked up again, same position as they started, Ed squirming on Stede’s cock.

“Y’alright back there?” Ed asks, and gets only a broken groan in response. “Might be time for a break.”

Stede hums. His hand starts traveling, petting over Ed’s thighs, his hips. Ed lets himself settle into the feeling for awhile, the soothing touch of Stede’s fingers, stopping periodically just to squeeze. It’s more than relaxing. Ed could stay here for the rest of the day, if he didn’t want to come just one more time. For posterity. And… pleasure. Ed can hardly help it, with Stede still large and heavy inside of him. They’d turned Ed’s plans into a delightful time, of course, but Ed had banked on a little more relaxing. Stede just can’t seem to calm down when they’re intertwined. Not that he’s to blame.

Eventually, they’re able to make their way to the tub, and Ed’s relieved just to dip into the hot water the crew’s provided.

“You look beautiful in the steam,” Stede tells him as he gathers him in his arms. Ed rolls his eyes, settling atop Stede’s thighs.

“You’re biased.”

“Well, of course,” Stede agrees, a small giggle escaping him. Ed wriggles against Stede’s cock, trying to make his point, and Stede goes with it rather easily. Ed’s still open and wanting, and Stede slips inside with the smallest of groans. “Are you alright?”

“Fantastic,” Ed tells him. He wouldn’t lie to Stede. He can ignore the niggling inch of doubt in his brain. “Just want to sit here. Relax.”

“Mmm,” Stede hums. He presses a small kiss to the back of Ed’s neck and then settles back against the tub. Ed gets comfortable too, enjoying Stede’s arms lazing around his, both of their eyes slipping closed as they enjoy the silence, the steam, the beautiful view of the water rippling out from the window in front of them. This is the life. What more could Ed want? What more could…

“Stede?” he says, and it’s out of his mouth before he’s even finished the thought.

“Mmm?”

“Let’s not… uh. Maybe we shouldn’t—” Ed heaves a sigh, thinking of the best way to say this. “We’re co-captains. Right?”

Stede sloshes at the water when he sits up, grabbing last minute at Ed’s hip, keeping him in place. “Of course.”

“Right. So. We should… things should be done together. Raids. Trips.”

There’s a slight pause, and Ed thinks maybe he’s caught. Maybe Stede has figured him out completely. The way they miss each other, the way they can’t be apart, maybe it’s Ed’s own pathetic longing. But Stede missed him, too. Stede went crazy without him. It’s not ridiculous to think—

“Of course,” Stede finally answers, his arms wrapping slowly around Ed’s middle. “Of course, that’s. That makes the most sense, doesn’t it?”

“I think so,” Ed sighs, relief rushing at his limbs. “Smart. Practical.”

“Indeed.” Ed feels Stede’s breath against the shell of his ear. His hands are slippery on Ed’s skin, and Ed loves it, Ed wants it forever, Ed never wants Stede to let him go again. His eyes are hot and his insides are boiling and it’s not just the lingering warmth of the water. He’s slipping. He’s melting. Soon he’s going to implode in Stede’s arms and he and the bathwater will become one. Before he knows it, his eyes are fucking leaking, and Stede—

“Edward? Ed?” Stede tries to shuffle to see him, but Ed buries his face in his own shoulder, wiping at the streak of tears to no avail. They keep coming. “Ed, are you—”

“Nothing!” Ed cries, but that’s a fucking mistake, because his voice wavers like he’s a baby, and Stede’s whole body stills.

“Edward, oh dear, are you—”

“M’not,” Ed sniffs, but Stede’s hand comes up to wipe at his cheeks and there’s no hiding anymore. Still, Ed tries. “I got… I splashed myself, I’m—”

“Edward, love…” Stede trails off, the disappointment palpable in his voice. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Ed insists, but his throat feels scratchy and his heart fit to burst. He feels restless and shifts against the hard, solid line of Stede’s cock still in his arse. While he cries. Dear fucking god. “Nothing’s wrong I’m… perfect, and everything’s so good, I don’t know why the fuck my stupid brain isn’t letting me just—” He tries and fails to suck in more air, and Stede’s right there, holding him tight and kissing at the point of his shoulder.

“Ed, I’m not going anywhere,” Stede tells him, and that does it, it officially breaks him. A sob wrenches from his throat. He thrashes in Stede’s lap, but Stede’s hold is strong and constant, so he doesn’t go anywhere. Stede shushes him, soft and blameless, and Ed lets himself be held, lets himself be comforted. “I’m never going to leave you. Not again.”

“You… you said that—”

“And I’ll say it again. A million times. Every day, if you need it.”

Ed sniffles. “I shouldn’t—”

“Should doesn’t matter, Ed. You do.” Ed can tell by the way Stede clings to him that he wishes they were face-to-face, but Ed is grateful they’re not. It’s not like he’s ashamed of crying in front of Stede, but—alright, he’s a little fucking ashamed. “You’re mine. I’m yours. Yours. Forever.”

“I didn’t think it was bothering me like this. I thought I was fuckin’ over this.”

“Ed,” says Stede, “I broke your heart. I don’t think it’s something you get over in a matter of months.”

“God, Stede.”

Just the word aches. Heartbreak.

“I love you,” Stede tells him. “I adore you.”

“I know,” Ed says, because he does. He knows it in his bones. He knows it by the look in Stede’s eyes every single moment they’re together. He knows it by the way Stede makes his tea perfectly. He knows it by the way Stede holds him, kisses him, lets Ed have whatever he wants, just as he is right now. It might not be something he can get over as quickly as he wants, but he knows Stede can help. He wants Stede to keep helping. To keep reassuring. To keep— “Stede, I want…”

“Darling,” Stede responds immediately, shifting his hand to cup around Ed’s jaw. “Anything.”

“Fuck me,” Ed hisses, grinding down into Stede’s lap. “Come in me again.”

“Ed—”

“Show me I’m yours. Make me yours.” Ed’s hips roll, and he feels Stede start to harden up where he had gone soft. It’s admirable, Stede’s tenacity, but that’s what drew him to this beautiful, ridiculous man in the first place. “Make me come.”

“Yes,” Stede sighs, and then he’s off, hands dipping into the water to grab at Ed’s hips and take control. He humps at him from underneath, and it almost bucks Ed off until he’s able to grip the edges of the tub and hold. “Edward, yes, yeah—”

“Give it to me, Stede.” Ed’s mouth moves on its own accord, so ready to feel the pleasure coursing through him again, reminding him of what he has. Right here. Forever. “Make me feel you.”

“I feel you, my love,” Stede says a bit nonsensically. Ed’s head is rushing with the sound of the water bucking out the sides of the tub, tiny waves cresting with each barb of pleasure, with each of Stede’s slow but concentrated thrusts, and Ed realizes, almost as fast as it comes, that he’s not going to last.

“I’m almost—I’m close, Stede.”

Stede simply groans, releasing Ed’s hip to instead wrap a hand around his cock under the water. Ed’s head falls back against Stede’s shoulder. He loses the will to help, to move on his own, and lets himself go limp as Stede works him perfectly toward orgasm.

“That’s it,” Stede whispers roughly in his ear, his voice shredded. “Let me show you, Ed. Let me have you.”

“You, you—oh fuck, you—”

Ed explodes at the seams, his vision gone white, Stede’s words swirling in his ears. His. His. Stede’s. Stede’s hands work beautifully against his skin, over his cock as it spills into the water, rubbing at his hip so hard Ed can tell he’s close, too. Ed wants to tell him, wants to show him, but he can’t manage to do a fucking thing except let Stede slip shallowly in and out of him until he’s groaning heavily in his ear. With the water rippling around the both of them, between them, Ed doesn’t feel the slick satisfaction of Stede coming inside him, but the knowledge of it pleases him all the same.

“Good Lord,” Stede gasps behind him, arms wrapping back around Ed’s stomach and going limp. Then, barely a second later, he tenses again. “Ed? Are you alright?”

Ed giggles with the sort of maniacal mirth he could only manage after a day like today. He can still feel Stede softening inside of him.

“Edward?” Stede peers forward, and Ed takes the opportunity to twist his head and snatch a kiss. “Oh,” Stede says, and Ed would love to see the beautiful blush flitting over his cheeks, but honestly, he can’t be fucked to keep his eyes open any longer than he needs to.

“M’fine, Stede. Wonderful, actually. Fuckin’... fucked.”

“I’m not sure that sounds…”

“It’s good, Stede.” Ed pats his thigh and unintentionally slaps water over the both of them. “Good. So fucking good.”

“Oh.” Stede sighs. “Good.”

Silence floats over them for a few minutes, and with it returns most of Ed’s brain activity. And use of his muscles, of course, but mostly because they’ve begun shivering. Stede’s arms cling closer, squeezing at him.

“We’ve lost most of the water, haven’t we?” Stede says. Ed groans.

“Might as well get out.”

They both lift out hesitantly, and with Stede’s help, Ed dries off and throws a robe over his shoulders. Ed blinks, watching Stede do the same. He admires Stede’s freckles, his strong shoulders, his svelte legs. His long, gorgeous cock. He wants to crawl into bed and twine their limbs together, warm up, kiss until they fall asleep. A smooth, comforting sense of peace falls over him. Though really, he realizes, it’s been there since he woke with Stede this morning. Well, other than the delightful soreness he now feels along with it, in his back, his arse, his legs. The aches he only experiences after being completely and totally taken apart.

“Hey, Stede?” he asks, and Stede looks up, his brown eyes dark in the dim light of the room.

“Yes, love?”

Ed smiles. “Did you ever write me those letters? While you were gone?”

Stede ducks his head bashfully. “Oh, yes. A… I wrote one or two.”

Ed shuffles his tired feet toward Stede. He tugs at Stede’s newly donned robe. “Let’s read them, yeah? In bed?”

Stede blushes again. Ed was right: it’s even more gorgeous up close.

“I missed you,” Stede says, and Ed can’t help but laugh.

“No need to miss me anymore.”