Chapter Text
Stede can honestly say, for the first time in his life, that he is properly happy. Completely content and perfectly at ease with the world. He feels elated with it. Having the love of not one man but two is so far outside Stede’s wildest dreams that he sometimes struggles to believe what he’s seeing. He wakes up smiling and continues to smile the whole day through, going to sleep without his cheeks aching from forcing himself to smile like he did in his old life. Gods he’s never felt more comforted at his decision to leave his family on a whim.
It’s partly due to Mary that he has their love anyway, he corrects himself. If not for her careful phrasing and stoic support he may have never realised that what he felt for Edward was love. Indeed, loving Ed and understanding it completely is possibly his greatest achievement. And Mary was right, as easy as breathing.
Izzy’s love was altogether more difficult to acquire.
He’d begun to fall for Izzy when he’d sought him out to bring him back to the Revenge, keen to liberate Edward from his ‘kraken’ phase which had cost him a toe and the loyalty of most of Stede’s crew. Their working relationship was initially tense and desperate, both clinging to former memories of Ed to get them through. But one night Izzy had simply shown up in the cabin of their stolen sloop with a bottle of rum that Stede was sure wasn’t there the night before and sat next to him, close enough to touch. They talked and talked, and talked it through. At the end not only had Stede genuinely never felt this close to anyone since Ed but he’d completely understood Izzy’s motivations. He was sure Izzy felt the same.
In the heat of the moment, Stede leant forward unconsciously. Izzy did too.
He’d tasted of rum and smoke and salt. Izzy had deepened the kiss, pulled back, whispered “Oh for fuck’s sake why not” and continued passionately. They’d both been sheepish the morning after, and agreed to never speak about it to Edward. It didn’t last long however, when Ed had stopped crying enough after Stede’s apology to look them both in the face, do a double take and then shakily ask “You two fuck then?”
Stede and Izzy’s blustering could have woken the dead, both exclaiming loud denials and stubbornly refusing to look at each other. Stede blushing furiously.
Ed’s voice was thick and slightly watery, but he was clearly trying to make light of the situation. “It’s fine if you fucked,” he hiccoughed, “that’s hot as.”
“We simply kissed, Edward.” Stede said before looking at Izzy, his face reflecting a similar state of panic.
“Fucken knew it.” His tone shifted to something slightly desperate. “You’ll both kiss me right? Not gonna fuck off again?” Ed smiled weakly.
And that was that. All three of them, in an honest to gods relationship. Together. Stede could hardly believe it. Relationships with three people are new to him, relationships with men are new to him, hell, relationships with anyone who likes him are new and Stede’s still amazed that it seems to be working.
But now here he is. The Co-Captain of his own ship, Blackbeard’s lover and in a committed relationship with him and the most fearsome first mate the seas have ever known. And he’s ridiculously proud of it.
Feeling completely secure in his current relationship situation is a new feeling. But Stede’s going with it. He’s completely open to all aspects and wonders of relationships with men, especially the sexual side. Even just thinking about it still makes him flush.
But he’s still not great with the whole affection side of things.
Or more specifically, the public affection. Frankly speaking Stede is utterly terrible at it. Completely abysmal. The first time Edward had tried to hold his hand in front of the crew Stede had shrieked, dropped Ed’s hand, and in a complete absence of his senses – which still makes him cringe slightly at the memory – backhanded him across the face. That had resulted in a long silence aboard the Revenge and a small (read massive) panic attack in the auxiliary wardrobe from Stede that took all of Lucius’ energy to curb.
Still, Ed had forgiven him once he’d gotten over the affront enough to listen to Stede’s fervent apologies and understand that he wasn’t ashamed or appalled just – in Lucius’ words ‘horribly repressed’ and deeply unused to anyone wishing to show him affection in front of others at all, let alone another man.
Stede was more careful after that. When the relationship was just him and Ed, there’d been a voice in the back of his mind complaining that Ed would get bored of him if he didn’t openly acknowledge their relationship the way Ed wanted. Stede had tried to keep that voice quiet but it would be a lie to suggest that it didn’t niggle him from time to time.
Once Izzy was added into the equation however, the voice had disappeared completely. Stede felt sure that any open public affection Ed craved could be satisfied with his relationship with Izzy. No need for Stede to tread too far outside his comfort zone, or gods forbid hurt Edward or Izzy again, even inadvertently.
There was nothing Stede wanted more, no higher calling, than to keep his boys happy. Stede still felt giddy that all he needed to do, or be, was himself. Little old him. He was still getting used to it. But gee did it feel amazing.
Private affection was something that he’d been altogether too keen on. When it’s just three of them, in the cabin, lying together in the slightly breathless and sweaty aftermath, Stede can’t help his grin. Times when the crisp morning air drifts through the cabin and Stede can snuggle back down between the two of them.
Moments like now, this glorious morning when he can’t quite believe his luck. When Ed’s still snoring softly and Izzy’s bringing the tea tray in so that Ed can have a hot cup with his customary feral amount of sugar when he wakes. Gods Stede loves his men.
The cabin door juts softly open, Izzy having bumped it with his hip so as to avoid spilling tea everywhere, he smiles at Stede and gestures for him to wake Ed with a soft tilt of his head.
Stede enjoys being privy to the seemingly unending amount of unspoken signals and gestures that Ed and Izzy have been using for years, to help them communicate ideas while at gunpoint or gagged or similar, to stop mutinying crews, to reflect true loyalty. Stede loves being a part of it, although he’s still not completely fluent. This one he knows however, and Ed’s eyes blink open just as Izzy sets down the tray on their bedside table.
“Good morning my love, Izzy’s got your tea for you if you just sit up a bit.” He helps Ed’s sleepy body recognise his voice and follow his guidance into an acceptable position to drink boiling hot tea. That’s a mistake Stede won’t be making again, too many blisters. Although kissing him better had certainly been interesting .
“Just doing your sugar Ed, give me a sec.” Izzy calls over his shoulder and the sound of clinking china.
“It’s chill mate, I’m still-” he gives a huge exaggerated yawn, “still waking up.” He blinks owlishly at Stede and then smirks “Had a big night last night.”
“Did you now? Was he handsome?” Stede teased. Ed hummed into the nape of his neck and grinned against him without moving.
Ed’s muffled voice tickled softly against the hair on his neck. “They were both gorgeous men, one with lovely soft curls,” he reached up and pulled Stede’s locks “and the other was a short bastard, but he gave amazing–” the end of his sentence was drowned out by Izzy’s playful scowl and a rather sturdy pillow which he had brought to help Ed drink his tea. And to protect his lap of course.
“Here you go you twat, seven fucking sugars, not that you deserve them.” He hands Ed’s cup over carefully and leans in obligingly when Ed tilts his head in askance of a kiss.
Stede moves over a smidge when Izzy returns with both of their cups so that all three of them can lay side by side together in, what Stede had to acknowledge in hindsight was a rather small bed. Sometimes they all just gave up and made a nest of blankets and pillows on the wooden floor, so that they could at least have one night of stretching out. They had also taken turns for one of them to sleep in Izzy’s cabin, now mostly unused, not that the crew knew. Izzy took great pains to keep that space private, he liked to have a space to himself. Stede knew that he and Ed did too. It worked out very well for them.
They sat sipping tea in a comfortable silence for a good while. Stede, sandwiched between them, felt warm and content. Today was going to be a good day. He could just feel it.
“-ede. Stede.” He felt a nudge to his shoulder.
“Hmm, sorry dear, drifted off for a second there.” Ed and Izzy were both looking at him expectantly, Stede couldn’t slip out of his happiness bubble to feel anxious.
“Yeah we were both calling your name.” Ed sounded playful again, restless after the silence.
“I’m terribly sorry, what did you need?” Ed’s eyes flicked behind him for a moment until Stede heard a voice behind him.
“You.” He felt Izzy’s arms snake behind him, and a finger under his chin. Stede turned his head along the guidance of the finger and kissed Izzy softly.
When he pulled back for air, Ed was pouting. Stede kissed the look away.
“Seriously dears, what were you talking about? I shouldn’t like to feel behind the times.”
“Ugh, just boring things.” Ed laid his head back against the pillows dramatically, whilst reaching his arm out as far as it would go to try and place his empty cup on the desk unaided. Izzy watched him struggle for a few seconds before deftly scooping the cup out of his grasp and placing it on the table, avoiding spilling his own with grace.
“Or essential pirating things that we need in order to stay alive.” He fired back, voice free from heat.
“Yeah, what Izzy said. Still boring.” Ed rolled his head around as if to gaze at Izzy through Stede’s body, placing emphasis on the last word petulantly.
“Raids aren’t boring Ed. You love raids.” Izzy’s voice had turned cajoling. Both he and Izzy were still wary of Ed’s kraken era, worried that a bored Ed would lead to restlessness and violence.
Stede dwelled on this before his mind caught up to what Izzy had said.
“A raid? I didn’t know we were approaching a vessel, when did that development happen?”
“Last night.” Izzy said unflinchingly. Stede flushed at the memory, handing his empty tea cup to Izzy for him to set down. “You seemed occupied when I showed up to brief you and Ed, and then I got dragged in.” He placed his own cup next to the other two and then pushed them all into an attractive line, equally spaced apart. Stede appreciated the symmetry.
Ed’s voice cut through his revelry, having finally gained the strength to lean forward and look at Izzy in the eye. “Yeah, you say dragged, but last night you did say- and I quote, “Fock yeah, it’s been focken’ ages, ap’les and pears and whatnot.” the last word was almost lost in Ed’s own stream of giggles.
“Laughing at your own joke? You dick.” He paused in shock. “Ed you fucken promised never to do a British accent again.”
Stede gasped in spite of himself. “Was that British? Gosh Ed. Maybe yes. Izzy’s probably right there. Might have to take that one off the cards.” That just made Ed laugh harder.
Izzy recovered first, talking directly to Stede over Ed’s occasional giggle as he remembered what he’d said. “Yeah, figured we’d raid this one. Need gunpowder. Some ponce fucking filled the ammunitions room with marmalade.” Stede huffed defensively. “Nah, don’t worry, that marmalade’s fucken nice and I hate everything.” He smiled indulgently. “It’s a merchant vessel, they’d probably have fabric, fair share of food, maybe some big ticket items if we’re lucky. They’re not too far off, should be able to catch up with them in a day or two.” He looked at Ed at the end to check if he approved. Ed stopped giggling long enough to give a thumbs up and then started breathing deeply to calm down.
“I’ll brief and ready the crew after breakfast then, if that’s alright with you Captain?” The switch from personal to professional always startled Stede, even months into the relationship as he was. Ed took it in his stride but Stede was still catching up to Izzy calling him Captain in a non-mocking way.
“Uh, yes of course Izzy. That’s a fine idea.” Izzy smiled again, warm and open. That was another reason he liked to keep public affection to a minimum. He wanted that smile all to himself. Call him selfish, that’s for his and Ed’s eyes only.
“Wait, you’re not eating in here then?” Stede pulled back a bit and tried not to sound too disappointed. He loved when they all ate together.
Izzy looked sheepish. “Ah, no, too much to do, Ed might though.” He gazed at Edward.
“Nah I’ll come out with you mate, should probably prepare myself for the raid too, it’s been a little while.”
It had been quite a while. After the kraken the whole crew had had a full two weeks vacation in which to work out grievances and for Stede and Ed and Izzy to work out their relationship dynamic, privately of course. And the crew had only attempted to maroon Edward once so Stede was counting it as a win.
But that was months and months ago, old wounds had been resewn, bad blood had been expunged. Stede was optimistic. Plus there was no evidence that anything bad was afoot. They’d had raids since then, of course they had, but Stede had tended to take a more backseat role, preferring to watch Ed and Izzy cut a vicious path through the smoky battle. They just worked so well together, Stede didn’t like to get in the way.
Ed hopped out of bed enthusiastically, turning his head to face Stede. “Coming?”
“No dear, I’ll stay in here, I haven’t picked what I’m wearing today,” Stede’s slowly updating wardrobe was still close to his heart. The mix of practical and stylistic was an intoxicating balance and he liked to take his time choosing the proper outfit. He’d probably plan his raid outfit while he was there as well. But that seemed a bit trivial. “And I don’t want to stop you from eating while I choose, someone needs to tell Roach to bring some food in though.”
“Sure thing sweetheart.”
“Course’ Captain.”
They looked at each other and tried again.
“Anything for the co-Captain.”
“I mean yes, ah, love.”
Stede smiled wider at the looks on their faces. “Never mind, I understand the sentiment. Go on then, I’ll join you presently.”
Stede smiled as they retreated out towards the mess for a group breakfast. Ed pulling on his clothes quickly as they went. Stede loved that they were on good enough terms with the crew to all eat together again. It had been tricky getting everyone comfortable with Ed again, Izzy was easier to integrate because of the unfortunate nature of the toe incident. The only good thing to come out of it as far as Stede was concerned.
Once Roach’s excellent breakfast had arrived and Stede’s outfit was finally chosen Stede sat down at the desk and drifted pleasantly in memory listening absently to the soft lap of waves against the ship. A raid would be just what they needed. All three of them out there again, protecting each other… and side by side… and the adrenaline afterwards? Well who could say what would happen. Stede smiled broadly again.
He collected his plate and walked briskly towards the galley, smiling widely when he gave it to Roach to wash. He was in an excellent mood.
“A simply perfect breakfast, as always Roach. A thousand thank-yous.”
“Ah, okay, Captain.” he paused, but at Stede’s expectant look continued, “Thank you?”
“No worries my dear man.” Stede clapped him on the back before continuing towards the open deck.
He caught sight of Edward and Izzy standing at the helm, discussing the course with Buttons most probably. He beamed when Ed caught his eye and gestured him over.
Before he could get there however, he locked eyes with Lucius, accidentally it seemed for Lucius flushed dully when their eyes met and hesitated before giving him a semi aborted wave. He had the most peculiar look on his face. A sort of grimace… or was that commiseration? On a day like today? Stede scoffed internally.
His smile faltered unconsciously, but he wouldn’t let it deter him. Who knew why Lucius was acting slightly odd. He continued on his path towards his partners. Reaching him in moments, Ed made a movement as if to envelope Stede in a hug but hesitated and then caught himself. Stede looked at his face gratefully. Ed rested his hand on Izzy’s shoulder instead.
“Should be with the vessel in a day and a half, Captain.” Izzy said in a gruff tone after looking at Ed’s hand on his shoulder.
Stede brought his hands together after a beat of silence. “Great work guys, should be an exciting one, ay Buttons?”
“Aye C’ptn.” Buttons replied, before turning his eyes back to the helm.
Stede felt a hand on his arm and looked down to see Ed’s hand. “You okay Stede?” he questioned, eyes searching his face. Izzy’s gaze also snapped to search his at Ed’s words.
Stede coughed quietly. “Yes yes of course, just excited for the raid is all.” He tried to ignore their sceptical looks.
Stede had looked over his shoulder again to see Lucius still watching him, still with that expression that he couldn’t quite place. He hummed under his breath. Looking back to Edward and Izzy he smiled reassuringly.
His cheeks twinged slightly.