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“Someone’s definitely gunna try and kill you…”
“What? Kill me?”
“Yeah, mate. That’s what I said. You wanna live the pirate life? You’re gunna have to deal with pirates. And some of the time- well, most of the time, they’ll wanna kill you.”
“Well that just seems… a bit severe. I didn't do anything to anyone!”
“Not according to this.” Ed pulls up a weathered piece of paper, much like the several wanted posters Stede had collected of him.
Wanted
Stede Bonnet
Gentleman Pirate
Captured Alive
Reward
“Ugh,” Stede says, looking at the drawing of what was supposed to be his face, “This makes me look like some sort of marshmallow goblin. Who do they hire to draw these things? Not a hint of nuance or expression! All the ones of you were terrible, too. Mary could draw circles around this chicken-scratch.”
Ed blinks, “Mate, someone is looking for you and wants you dead.”
“Nonsense. This poster says ‘Wanted alive ’. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”
Ed looks at the poster, and clears his throat, “Well… most pirates aren’t great readers, and when they see one of these things,” he holds the paper up, “all they care about is the number saying they’ll get paid if they bring you in. And it’s generally much easier to transport a corpse.”
Stede looks at Ed skeptically before giving out a sigh. “Alright. Then what do you suggest? We can’t just stay on the ship and hide. The crew has been on edge ever since we all got back together and I don't feel comfortable trapping them at sea.”
“We never did finish your training.” Ed says as he stands up straighter. “How about I teach you some basic self-defense?”
“I actually had quite the successful scuffle on that cursed ship,” Stede says, “A man snuck out of a cupboard and took a swing at me with a knife, but I ducked and gave him a whopper, right in the head! Knocked him straight to the ground!”
Ed genuinely looks impressed. Stede only smiles bigger.
“Alright, tough guy,” Ed says, moving closer, “You can handle a sneak attack. But, how about face-to-face?” Ed takes an imposing stance in front of Stede. “Let’s say its not some sneaky little fucker waiting for you to put your guard down.”
Stede’s eyes go a little wider as Ed leans in, voice dropping a little lower, “Let's say it’s someone who isn't afraid of getting in your space. Eye-to-eye.”
Stede, unable to look away from Ed’s shining brown eyes, fails to hide a gulp.
“Well… I suppose I could just… push them off of me,” he says, giving what Ed could only describe as a pathetic excuse of a shove.
“That was a fucking pathetic excuse of a shove, Stede! Look at this,” he gestures down at his body, still encroaching into Stede’s personal space.
Stede was very much looking.
“I didn’t move an inch!” Ed juts his chin, “Come on! Shove me away! Take control!”
Stede’s hands suddenly grasp the front of Ed’s jacket as he takes several firm steps forward, pushing Ed back.
Ed lets out a surprised huff of air as his back hits the wall. All of his attention is on Stede as Stede presses in, grip still firm on his jacket.
Ed fails to hide a gulp.
Stede lets out a breath, his voice quiet and low, almost on purpose, “Like that?”
Ed takes a moment to realize he may have made a mistake.
“Ed?” Stede’s eyebrows raise in an earnest questioning expression.
Ed can’t help himself. “Ah, fuck it.” Ed presses forward, swooping Stede into a firm intense kiss.
Stede lets out a surprised “Hmph!”, before it quickly turns into a surprised moan. His grip only tightens on Ed as he is held close. Stede leans in against the pressure of Ed pushing into him, until he suddenly tries to pull away. “Wait, Ed! Wait!”
Stede feels Ed’s growl as Ed barely manages to pull his mouth just far enough away to let Stede speak.
“You-” Stede has to catch his breath a little, almost getting lost in Ed’s very heated breath and expression, “You said you wanted to go slow.”
“Did I?” Ed says low and breathy, “That doesn’t sound like me. It must have been someone else. Someone entirely different.” He leans in again to catch Stede’s mouth before Stede reluctantly turns his head slightly to the side.
“Nope it was definitely you!” Stede closes his eyes tight to avoid Ed’s gaze. “Whim prone, remember?! Whim prone!”
Ed lets out a resigned sigh mixed with another growl and Stede has to keep what little composure he has when feeling the hot breath spread across his neck and face.
A moment goes by before Ed says through gritted teeth, “ Fine .” but doesn’t loosen his grip on Stede.
Stede risks opening one eye to look at Ed again. He seems a little more composed but, oh, those eyes. Still so intense and beautiful and looking right at Stede. Almost as if he…
Stede could feel that his grip on Ed’s coat still hadn’t relaxed. And if he was honest with himself, he didn't want to let go just yet.
“Maybe,” he starts, “maybe we can allow ourselves a partial whim. Not a whole one, of course, but…”
“A partial whim?” a half smile cracked on Ed’s face.
“Yes. A well thought-out and mutually agreed upon whim. With… parameters.”
Ed lets out a little chuckle, “That sounds stupid, but if it means I’ll be able to keep doing this-“ Ed leans his nose into Stede’s neck and takes a deep breath sending shivers down Stede’s spine, “then I’m still listening.”
It takes a moment for Stede to realize it’s his turn to say something. “Oh, right. Uhm. Parameters, um, maybe just stick to kissing?”
Ed’s eyebrow goes up as he says with a smirk, “You can go pretty far with kissing, mate.”
“Oh- really? Okay, well…” Ed’s warm hands cup Stede’s cheeks and he is silenced by being kissed far more gently, but just as wonderfully as a moment ago.
Ed pulls back a bit to meet Stede’s eyes, “What if we just play it by ear, yeah?” he says, still cupping Stede’s face. “If we think it is getting a little intense, or out-of-control, we say something.”
Stede can’t help the little smile on his face, “Yeah,” he says softly, “I think we can do that.”
Ed looks into Stede with the soft sweet smile that makes Stede want to melt into the sea.