Work Text:
Zheng dusted off her hands before getting to her feet.
“Let’s go boys, the British aren’t going to kill themselves.”
She trudged down the sand dune towards the forest and Ed turned to look at Stede.
His face was in profile, that stupid dashing gold hoop glinting in the sun, the familiar beloved lines of his face filled Ed with a simple happy joy.
He had no idea what to do with it.
Stede stood to follow Zheng and Ed suddenly wanted to hold onto this fleeting moment of contentment.
“I— I got your letter.”
It burst out of his mouth before he knew he had started talking.
Stede turned to look at him, his expressive brow puckered in confusion.
“My letter?”
Ed scrambled to his feet, patting his pockets before extracting the carefully folded letter from an inside pocket in his leathers.
“I found it on the beach.”
Stede’s confused expression bloomed into comprehension.
“—Oh!” Stede moved as if to take the letter from Ed’s grasp but stopped short.
“Was it… what did you think?” A shy smile graced his lips and he had trouble meeting Ed’s gaze. Was it possible? Could it be? The most romantical person Ed had ever met, who made Ed’s stomach and heart and everything do backflips, could he be shy because of him?
He couldn’t help laughing.
“What did I— Stede, it was the best thing I’ve ever read!”
Stede finally looked up and his face relaxed, melting into unfettered delight, modesty losing against the pride of making Ed, the man he loved, so happy.
“Oh, well, that’s nice.”
This ridiculous man , Ed thought.
He grabbed Stede’s shoulders, just to touch him and to anchor himself. He didn’t have a way with words like Stede, but he was going to try. Ed fought his voice breaking, the force of emotion behind what he wanted to tell this impossible miracle of a man.
“I’ve never read anything so lovely in my entire life. Those words— they were beautiful, babe.” Ed choked out.
Stede melted into Ed, his arms curling around to cradle Ed’s back. His smile was like the sun.
“Ed, Darling, I meant every word. I know things haven’t gone exactly smoothly since, well, since we found each other again, but you’re it. For me, you’re the answer I’ve been looking for my entire life. I don’t want to ever part from you again.”
Ed couldn’t breathe. His brain was a blank maelstrom. And Stede was smiling like he hadn’t just rewritten Ed’s definition of romance.
Again.
Ed managed to gather a few of his wits and sputtered, “The hell— Stede! You can’t just say stuff like that!”
Ed grabbed the lapels of Stede’s criminally slutty blue-green shirt and pulled him in for another kiss. Stede’s hair was soft, his skin was soft and his tongue was so soft. Stede’s grip tightened and Ed’s knees went weak, like always.
How many kisses was that now? Ed had lost track and he was glad of it. He never wanted to go back, safeguarding that one moment of pure happiness, even though it stabbed him every time he pulled it out.
Now he knew they would have so many moments, he’d never need to worry about having enough, he’d never need to worry if he was wanted, if he was loved. He knew he would be buoyed by the glut of kisses and touches and mind-meltingly sweet words from this absolute maniac.
They pulled apart reluctantly and Stede regained the power of speech first.
“I love you, Ed Teach.”
How did he always know just what to say?
Ed didn’t think he’d ever been so happy.
“I love you, Stede Bonnet.”
“Hey, Lovebirds!! We've got a crew to rescue!!” Zheng hollered, impatience vibrating off of her from where she stood at the bottom of the sand dune.
“Alright!” Ed squawked, more than a little annoyed, but they started down after her, Stede’s arm snug around his waist, Ed’s arm loose around his shoulder.
Together.