Chapter Text
Ed’s plan went off without a hitch. The guard woke Stede just as planned, and he made his way silently down to the dock. When he arrived, he saw that Ed wasn’t there yet, so he sat in the dunes to keep out of sight. That’s when he noticed the small flowers dancing in the breeze, so delicate, like lavender stars in the undergrowth.
Plumbago auriculata.
Well, he hadn’t anything to do but wait so why not gather a bouquet for when Ed got there. Stede had always loved flowers, how soft and delicate they appear, but how hardy they must be to survive. He supposes they remind him of Ed. He’s had to be the tough Blackbeard character for so long, that people didn’t stop to notice how his eyes sparkled, or how plump his lips were; they were too busy cowering from the scourge of the seas.
Stede noticed. He wanted to stare into Ed’s dark eyes, caress his soft skin, brush his fingers through those long salt and pepper tresses. Kiss his pillowy lips.
Oh.
He’d done that one hadn’t he?
Ed had kissed him.
He had kissed Ed.
They had kissed each other!
But what did it exactly mean? And would Ed want to do it again as much as Stede did?
Just then Ed bounded across the sand, a sack of supplies slung across his shoulder.
“You made it! Did you have any trouble? Get spotted at all, mate?” Ed whispered as he came to kneel by Stede, dropping a chaste kiss to his cheek.
“Oh,” Stede breathed, “No, no trouble at all.” He smiled, taking Ed’s outstretched hand to help him to his feet. Ed grasped Stede’s shoulder as he guided him to the boat, dropped their supplies inside, and started to push away from the shore. Stede placed the purple bundle of flowers on the seat and helped push the boat.
Soon they were bouncing along on the open waters, Ed insisted on rowing first despite having spent much of the day and evening planning their daring escape. He said he was still jittery with the adrenaline, so it was a good outlet for his excess energy.
“I like your flowers mate.” He said, nodding down to the bouquet by Stede’s side.
“Oh,” Stede quicky grabbed the bundle and held them out towards Ed, “They’re for you, actually. I saw them by the dock, and they reminded me of you, so I thought I get them for you. Is that odd?”
“In the most wonderful way.” Ed replied. “Shame we’ve not got anywhere nice to put them.” He noted, looking around their little vessel.
It’s true, Ed was definitely the only nice thing on the boat.
Hang on…
Stede unbundled the flowers and got to work weaving the stems together.
Ed eyed him curiously, “What you up to, mate?”
“You’ll see.” Stede replied, not taking his eyes away from his craft.
A few minutes later Stede held the crown aloft with a triumphant “Tada!” before kneeling in front of Ed, who was still rowing.
“Edward Teach, born on a beach. I give to you a crown, for the King of the dinghy.”
Ed put the oars down and let Stede place the crown on his head, and if Stede noticed the pink hue to his cheeks, well, he didn’t say anything. He reminded Stede of a Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was as if King Oberon himself, King of the Fairies, sat before him; bathed in moonglow.
“Thank you.” Ed whispered as he reached up to softly caress the flowers atop his head.
Stede smiled at him, “You’re welcome, now let me row for a while, you’ve been nonstop for hours and you need some rest.”
Ed didn’t say anything, just nodded and let Stede pick up the oars as he slid down into the boat, resting his back against the seat.
They continued like that, swapping rowing duties, napping, and chatting for hours, until a familiar shape appeared on the horizon.
Once they were finally alongside The Revenge, Stede scaled the ladder first. Reaching the railing he shouted out, “Have no fear crew! Your captains are back home!”
The sight of Izzy tied to an anchor and about to be thrown overboard was curious, but thankfully they dropped him to the deck upon hearing Stede’s proclamation.
Things pretty much went back to the same as they were before. The crew were happy to have both of their Captains back. Izzy was grumbling and strutting around the ship, occasionally making eyes at Lucius which were reciprocated Stede noticed. Interesting. And his wonderful Ed was back in his element, gliding across the deck, sea wind whipping his hair. But what was different was the amount Ed touched Stede now. Ed was always a tactile person, Stede appreciated that about him, but now every moment he was close Ed was draping his arm over Stede’s shoulders, grasping his arm, holding a warm palm to his back. It really was rather thrilling.
And much to Stede’s surprise, Ed and Stede had continued to exchange kisses.
They were soft closed mouthed kisses, which made Stede’s skin tingle and his heart thump. Ed wasn’t private about their kisses either which Stede was also surprised about. He’d give him a kiss on the cheek while Stede was talking to Oluwande about the rigging or dictating to Lucius; and every night Ed would give him a kiss on the lips (in front of the crew!) before Stede began reading at story time. And of course, many kisses were exchanged in the privacy of their cabin.
But that’s as far as they ever went. Stede adored what they had, but after each of Ed’s kisses he was left wanting more. He’s not sure what though. It’s no secret that Stede isn’t exactly the most learned man regarding carnal pleasures. So, what does one do when they are lacking in knowledge? They find a teacher.
That’s how Stede found himself hunting down Lucius.
Lucius was sat in the Rec center watching Frenchie, Black Pete and Wee John play cards when Stede rushed in, all eyes turning to him.
“Lucius! I want to be intimate with Ed!”
Lucius blinked before pursing his lips and narrowing his eyes. “Well maybe you should go and tell Ed that.”
“But I don’t know what I’m doing Lucius, I’ve never really been physical, especially with…men.” Stede spoke that last part softly, as if to himself.
Lucius turned back to feigning interest at the card game only to find the men at the table giving him pointed looks.
“Babe,” Pete began, “I think Captain needs your help, and if I was in his position, I know I’d want your help too.” Pete was giving him those wide puppy dog eyes that he knew he couldn’t resist.
Lucius massaged his brow, “Fine! But if we’re doing this, we’re doing it in private. I’m not giving out my knowledge for free.”
So that’s how Lucius found himself sitting in the captain’s cabin with a cup of tea, a plate of biscuits, and Stede looking at him, wide-eyed with a notebook and pen in hand.
“Okay, before we begin any ‘teaching’ I need to know exactly what you feel for Ed.”
Stede placed his book and pen on the coffee table and wrung his hands together. “Well, I greatly admire Ed, and as you have seen we kiss each other from time to time.”
“Is that as physical as you’ve been together? Just kissing?”
“Oh no, Ed touches me. He often places a hand on my shoulder or on my back, and once he tucked my hair behind my ear!”
Lucius gave a wry smile, “Wow, you two kids are crazy.”
“But I want to be more physical Lucius, I want to caress his arms and legs, I want to hold him and grasp his hair, and I have this strange desire to lick his face and stomach, especially when he wears those short shirts…” Stede’s mouth goes dry at that last thought.
Lucius looks at him with genuine fondness then. “Stede, that’s all wonderful and great to be getting started with, but how far do you want to go? Are we talking just heated groping and hand jobs, or blowjobs and buggery?”
Stede looked up at Lucius then, those words stirring something in him as he steeled his gaze.
“All of it Lucius, I want all of it.”