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Sweven
They're adrift. Have been, for days, and without as much as a light breeze to lessen the stillness.
The doldrums, Ed had called it, and half the crew paled.
Stede is standing by the railing, his spyglass raised as he searches the horizon for a trace of land, another shop, anything at all within rowing distance. The sun is blistering above him, and their water supply is running low already.
So yes, perhaps they should have made for port when Oluwande had mentioned that their stores were running low, but the English had appeared in the distance and well… in their mad dash away from them, one thing led to another!
Of course, in hindsight there had been an island or two where they could've stopped for a few hours.
Stede sighs and lowers the looking glass. Drat.
“Still nothing?” Frenchie yawns from a spot of shade on the deck.
“Alas, no,” Stede says, and turns to lean on the railing, despondency creeping into his voice. “I'm afraid we're rather stuck like this.”
“So, uh,” Frenchie squints. “That island there, you reckon that's just a mirage, then?”
Stede swivels and stares at the small mass of land in the distance.
LaceratedLullabies
“Mirage is fucking right,” Izzy says a while later, his finger stabbing at the worn paper on the desk. They’ve relocated to the captains’ cabin to pore over some maps in search of their mysterious island. It isn’t going well; between Stede’s old map that had survived Ed’s purge, the two Ed had brought over from his last visit to the Queen Anne, and one they had recently raided, they still haven’t managed to find any sign of land expected in the area.
In the meantime, the crew have been steadily rowing towards the island, Frenchie’s melodic tones counting out each stroke of the oars. They are close enough now to hear the raucous squawks of the seagulls flocking the island, a signal of proximity that summons everyone back on deck. Stede takes it as a sign that the land they are approaching is indeed real. Unless the seagulls too are a mirage, which doesn’t bear thinking about.
As they approach, the island becomes more clearly visible. The island… and the outline of what appears to be a person, standing by the shore as though they are waiting for them.
“Does that figure look familiar to anyone else?”
TheTimetravellerCat
“Maybe. Doesn’t this fellow look awfully similar to that famous pirate whose face is on half of all wanted posters? The one they call the Prince of Pirates?” Stede asks.
“Sam fuckin’ Bellamy.” Izzy grumbles, but his heart is doing weird somersaults in his chest.
They get dinghies out and clear the final stretch to the island. Bellamy greets them as they make land.
“Welcome to Prince Island.” Izzy rolls his eyes. “Claimed it a few years back, not on any map as far as I know.”
“Well, that would explain it.” Stede comments. “Thank you, Mr. Bellamy.”
“Aren’t you going to greet me, Israel?”
“Fuck off.” He mumbles, digging in the sand with the tip of his boot to avoid looking at him.
“I’m sorry I never reached out after retiring.”
The Crew is watching this exchange with unabashed interest.
“I’ve missed you so much.” Sam adds when it’s clear Izzy isn’t going to answer.
“Weird fuckin’ way to show it.”
“You’re right.” Sam extends his hand. “Allow me to make up for it?”
When Izzy doesn’t move away, Sam takes him in his arms.
Ed looks away. He knows he needs to accept he doesn’t own Izzy, never should have.
dracothelizard
"Is everyone else seeing that?" Lucius asks, quieter than his normal speaking voice, but still loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Introductions!" Stede claps his hands together. "Mr Bellamy, I'm Stede Bonnet. You already know Izzy, of course, and, um, I assume you know Edward?"
"Oh yes." Sam still has one arm around Izzy, while Izzy keeps his arms crossed over his chest. "We know each other."
"Met a few times," Ed replies, glaring at Sam before looking away.
"Lovely!" Stede exclaims, after a few awkward seconds of silence. "Well, Mr Bellamy, I'd also like to introduce my crew!" He gestures at his crew to come closer.
They eye each other, then Lucius strides forward, hand extended. "I'm Lucius Spriggs, scribe onboard the Revenge." The rest of the crew follows, all shaking hands with Sam Bellamy, who keeps one arm around a scowling Izzy as he smiles and nods at the crew.
"Beautiful island you've got here." Stede shields his eyes from the sun as he looks around. "Would you mind if I go for a walk?"
"Not at all," Sam says easily.
"Ed? Would you like to come with? Or would you rather stay here and catch up?"
lovedhands
“Happily go on a fuckin’ walk.” Ed lifts his arms in insincere insouciance—an abortive effort to belie his annoyance. “Love walks.”
Edward notoriously does not love walks.
“Wonderful.” Stede smooths his hands down his front, flattening wrinkles; with this new bargain-basement wardrobe, it isn’t such a useless habit.
As Stede leads his beloved beacon of vile vibes down the coastline, the stuffy silence in their wake dissipates, but thankfully, they’re far enough not to hear. Stede, quite sure they cannot be heard either, takes Ed’s hand and, solicitously, inquires, “What is it?”
“What—what is it?” Ed repeats incredulously. Stede, to his credit, does not sigh as he presses his lips together and nods. “I fucking hate that guy, Stede. He’s a dick!”
“I found him charming.”
“You—” Ed stops in his tracks. Stede follows suit a pace ahead. “You don’t know him, man. Thinks he’s hot shit, that he can just get what he wants—”
“Edward,” Stede tries.
“Take people’s shit and get away clean,” Ed persists, vehement. “Fucking weasel—vermin, I’m telling you—”
“Did he take something of yours?” Stede asks carefully.
“Yeah, he fucking took my—” Ed quiets. His face darkens.
“Your…”
“My Izzy,” he croaks.
ewelinakl
Izzy watches Ed follow Bonnet. The way he shuffles his feet through the sand spells an upcoming argument. It’s hard to worry about it when Sam is still wrapped around him, his moustache tickling Izzy’s neck. This shouldn’t feel as nice and natural as it does. Not after… well, everything.
He slithers out of Sam’s embrace and looks him in the eye. “So,” he says. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
At least Sam has the decency to look ashamed. He drops his gaze and wrings his fingers before saying, “I had to lay low. I’m sure they kept an eye on—” he hesitates “—people close to me.”
Izzy tries to reel in his fury. “You could’ve dropped a fucking message,” he says. “I thought you were dead.”
“I thought—” Sam starts but then just shakes his head.
“You thought what?”
Sam doesn’t reply, but his eyes dart towards Ed, stomping his way across the island.
“Not this shit, again,” Izzy groans. “Both of you with your stupid fucking jealousy.”
“I’m sorry,” Sam mumbles.
“I sure fucking hope you are,” Izzy snaps, grabbing Sam by the sleeve and hauling towards Ed. “Come on, you two are making up.”
despising_tories
“Your Izzy?” Stede raises a brow. “Yours as in…?”
“As in he was fucking mine and Sam fucking took him, Stede!” Ed spits, his eyes narrowing in hatred. How dare that bastard drape himself over Izzy after all this time? Like he still… like they’re…
“So you and Izzy?” Stede continues. “You were…?”
Ed sneers. “You need me to draw you a fucking diagram?!”
Stede’s usually sunny countenance clouds over a little. “And were you ever going to tell me, Edward?”
“Thought it was pretty obvious.” Ed shrugs, crossing his arms over his chest. As he takes in the pinched look on Stede’s face, he realises his new lover had never put two-and-two together before. Shit.
Stede’s lips press together as his frown deepens. “Not to me, it wasn’t.” Stede looks back down the beach and sighs. “They’re coming over.”
Ed doesn’t look behind him, just swears under his breath. “Fucking great.”
“Answer a question for me, before they arrive, please Edward?” Stede asks.
Ed rolls his eyes, and gestures impatiently for him to ask his question.
“He stole your Izzy. But Izzy was with you when I met you both,” he says, swallowing audibly. “Did I steal Izzy’s Edward?”
hiddenlacuna
Ed opens and closes his mouth. “Don’t feel stolen,” he says peevishly.
“So that’s a yes, then,” Stede sighs. No wonder Izzy had been such a dick to him. Although come to think of it, he had been a bit of a dick before Stede ever met Ed, too. Then again, he supposes Mary wasn’t much fun to be around while she was miserable. And Stede has to admit, Izzy has really grown on him.
“Well, I suppose you have a decision to make, then.” Stede holds up one finger towards the approaching men, who stop a fair distance away. Izzy looks faintly annoyed, but then he sort of always does. “Do you want to let Izzy go? He looks happy. Can you let Sam take care of him, for you, for a bit?”
“Dunno why we had to come to this stupid island in the first place,” Ed mutters.
“Or,” Stede says, pressing bravely on ahead, “you can act like a huge dick, make things worse, make Sam look like a better option, and drive him away for good.”
Ed stares at him murderously. “First one.”
“Good choice. Let’s see what Izzy thinks about it. Come on over, lads!”
Sweven
“They’re going to fight.” Pete says, nearly cutting his thumb clean off with his whittling knife as he watches the spectacle.
“Or fuck,” Lucius adds automatically. Izzy is struggling. The hoof sinks into the loose sand, and after a handful of steps, Izzy starts leaning on Sam. Lucius can’t quite see his expression, but Blackbeard looks fuming.
Truth be told, Lucius isn’t a big fan of Blackbeard looking like that. It sends a shiver of something dark and unpleasant down his spine.
Before he can spiral, Frenchie pops up beside him. “Care to put a wager on that? I reckon that Stede will end up with a black eye somehow.”
Wee John hums. “Nah, I think the new fella will stop it before—” his words are cut short when thunder rumbles loudly, the humidity thickening the air.
“Fuck,” Lucius says, scrambling to get to his feet, kicking sand on the others in the process. “Monsoon, let’s go, God, I hate rainy season so much—”
The four men in the distance don’t seem to have noticed, drawing nearer one another, their loud voices almost audible.
“I think Lucius is right, they’re gonna fuck,” Pete says as they dash towards the treeline.
dracothelizard
When the first raindrop hits Stede's nose, he bats at it in annoyance.
"You still owe me the ten doubloons you borrowed from when you bought that stupid hat." Ed points at Sam. "Where's my ten doubloons, you thief?"
It's raining properly now, which is a welcome relief, but they need shelter. "Guys-" Stede tries.
"I'm a pirate." Sam looks unruffled as he ignores Stede. "What did you expect?"
"Ten doubloons aren't the only thing you stole," Izzy grumbles, and Sam winces as raindrops slide down his cheek.
"Hah!" Ed exclaims smugly, wet hair plastered against his face. "You and your stupid moustache can't even treat Izzy the way he deserves!"
"And how's that, then?" Izzy demands, glowering up at Ed. He runs his hand through his wet hair to push it out of his eyes. "Like shit like you did, Edward?"
"Gentlemen!" Stede says, his white shirt clinging to his chest. "Can we continue this argument under the shelter of some trees?"
Sam's eyes linger on Stede's chest. "Good idea. I don't think we had a chance to talk..."
"Fuck you, Izzy!" Ed shouts, and lunges for Izzy and tackles him down to the sand.
despising_tories
As his back hits the wet and hardening sand, Izzy finally loses his temper. He swings for Ed and catches him in the side of his perfect fucking jaw. The gorgeous prick.
The angry flash in his captain’s eyes is followed by a crack to his own cheekbone. Izzy yells out in pain. “Fucking twat!”
As Ed’s teeth grit together in rage, Izzy reaches for his knife. There’s a scramble as Edward grabs Izzy's wrist and tries to wrestle the blade from his grip and Izzy forces the blade, slowly but relentlessly, toward Edward’s throat.
“Id!” That twat Bonnet squeaks.
A gunshot booms and both combatants flinch. They look up to see Sam Bellamy holding his gun in the air, smoke whipped away by the driving rain.
“The actual fuck is your problem, you dick?” Ed demands, seemingly forgetting that he’s presently laying on top of Izzy in the rain as his first mate gets wetter and wetter.
“As entertaining as this is - and, truth be told, I could watch it for hours - don’t you think finding somewhere a little drier might be a good idea?” He shrugs and gives a half-smirk beneath that goddamn moustache, winking down at Izzy.
TheTimetravellerCat
“Get off me.” Izzy grunts. Ed is hurting him, digging heavily on his stump.
“Make me.” Ed snarls, ignoring Sam.
Izzy suddenly finds himself tired of it all. He reaffirms his grip on the blade and slashes Ed with it. It’s a shallow cut, just to make a point.
“Fucking hell!” Ed looks shocked. “I’ll teach you-”
“Yeah? You’ll take the other leg? An arm? What will it be next, Edward?”
Silence sits heavy as the rain continues falling.
Ed rolls off Izzy, at last.
“You have to understand-”
“No. No, I don’t. I tried, for so long, but I can’t. And I won’t. I’m tired.”
“We can still make it work, Iz!”
“You need to let me go, Ed.”
He accepts Sam’s hand who helps him to his feet. His cheek and his amputated leg are throbbing.
“No.” Ed is brooding.
“You may not be done, but I am.” His tone is final.
“Darling.” Stede calls to Ed as Izzy turns his back and seeks shelter from the rain under the trees with Sam.
He grips the cuff of Sam’s shirt.
“You must think I’m a fool.”
“How come?”
“Because I let him do that, and so much more, and I didn’t think of leaving before now.”
lovedhands
Sam is silent for a beat. Izzy stares fixedly at his grip on Sam’s shirt.
Rain patters the leaves overhead. Izzy leans on a tree trunk, inviting the occasional wayward droplet to splash onto his head.
“You’re not a fool. You’re loyal.”
Izzy scoffs. All that fucking fanfare for that. He gazes at his wooden leg, its gold paint flecked with sand. “To the bitter fucking end.”
“If you’re a fool for that, lord knows what that makes me.” Sam smiles, weak and wry.
“What?”
“You stuck with the one you loved. You… stayed and protected him.”
“Look where it’s gotten me,” Izzy retorts.
“Can I say something selfish?” Sam’s fingers wrap around Izzy’s wrist.
Izzy grunts his assent.
“I loathe the thanks he gave you for your fealty, but… I like where it’s gotten you.”
Choked up, Izzy spares one last glance toward the shore.
Edward and Bonnet are already gone, leaving only ruthless rain and skirmish-scattered sand in their wake.
Fuck them.
The rain picks up; Izzy tucks himself into Sam like a ship slots into a harbor during a storm.
ewelinakl
Sam’s arms wrap around him, pulling him closer. The end of Sam’s braid tickles Izzy’s freshly bruised cheek, making him grimace and shift until his nose is tucked under Sam’s jaw and everything smells of roses, of the fancy French soap Sam buys whenever he stops by in the Antilles.
“I’m still mad at you,” Izzy mumbles into Sam’s shirt.
“I know,” Sam whispers, his voice barely audible over the rain splashing against the leaves. Izzy doesn’t miss the distinctly nasal note in it. “I’m sorry.”
Izzy leans back, just enough to look Sam in the eye. “You said something about making it up to me?” he recalls.
He watches Sam’s lips curl in a soft smile. “Anything you want, darling,” he says.
There’s so much Izzy wants, so many things he never let himself have, things like love and happiness, and hope for a better future, but he’s afraid of starting too big, of getting too much at once. So for now, he just smiles back and says,
“Kiss me, you idiot.”
Lucius peeks from behind a tree trunk, his heart fluttering in his chest. “Babe,” he whispers, his foot sliding backwards to tap against Pete’s. “Babe, they’re kissing!”