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Stede knew what it was like to be flirted with as a joke. He spent most of his life being toyed with as a joke and he had a life full of terrible memories he had from when he was at boarding school and his bullies used it to punish or torture him.
He learned quickly that even if someone shows an interest in him; it means nothing. He’s not supposed to trust that feeling. The first time he did, they forced him to kiss a horse. And Stede does everything in his power not to remember the last time.
So when Blackbeard terror of the seas. Tales of a head made of smoke and a body made of muscle and uses that energy to save Stede from his own hubris. It must just be one long game for him. Even if it turns out to be a long game where Ed is just flirting with him to build up his ego or pass the time while Stede teaches them how to be an aristocrat. That’s why he had all those walls and barriers he knows he was supposed to put up, but he still can’t.
Especially because every time Ed tries to reciprocate and tries to flirt with him, Stede can feel whatever fires in his belly get solidified and weigh him down. In the best way, he wants to reciprocate, but there’s also the other thing about their age difference.
Stede’s an old man. He’s lived a life. He has two kids. And if he was even better at sleeping with his wife, Alma might be nearing Blackbeard’s age. A man in his prime who carries himself like fire and brimstone. Blackbeard is 28 and Stede is 48. He has 20 years on him. An entire lifetime wearing down his face and his body.
Well, it should except his body is overeager and imaginative anytime Ed tries to teach him how to sword fight. Of course, leading to more than a few training sessions, ending with Stede going to bed, pressing a hard-on between the sheets to make it go away. Even if it goes away during the night, he keeps having dreams about him. Hot and heavy the dreams Stede should have about women. Wet dreams that he should have had during his rocky marriage to Mary. Not about a man two decades his junior that has more attractive people throwing themselves at him.
Every time he wakes up and has to will away his boner. Shame burns hot under his skin as he takes himself in hand and chokes out Ed’s name. Ed is nice and flirts with him and genuinely seems to take an interest in Stede’s desires. Even enough that Stede can’t suppress the part of him that desires him.
Which is why Stede’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. He knows it’s not the best or the healthiest, but he’s just waiting for the day when Ed’s gonna wake up and realize he’s been wasting his time on a fool who left his family.
Stede has never been the bravest man, but he’s been getting braver with Ed. Especially when they go out laughing in public and telling stories. He even thinks Ed finds some of them genuinely amusing. Or his crew was only laughing along now that he was cool because Blackbeard likes him. Which Stede has never rationalized. So maybe he should be forgiven a bit for genuinely thinking that Ed’s interest isn’t anything more than passing.
They’re out of the bar the first time it happens. Stede is being loud and trying to impress other pirates by playing drinking games he has never played before. So maybe he gets a little more than sloshed, but you can’t really blame him… maybe you can.
Especially when some other young upstart comes and starts flirting with him. The boy’s hair is dark, more brown than black, and he is missing the swagger Ed carries. A boy really is what he is. The kid said he was 22, but that is pushing it for Stede. There is a thick layer of baby fat that stubbornly clings to his face.
So Stede acts the way he’s always acted when someone tries to flirt with him, taking it with a grain of salt and never believing them. Then loudly turning him down multiple times in front of his friends, most look just as young. Even then, the kid has at least three ships full of stories under his belt.
The guy doesn’t let up and keeps going on about wanting a fancy fuck or whatever, but Stede is not really listening. The guy isn’t listening to anything else either until he lets out a shout as Ed is suddenly standing next to him in the bar, having driven a knife through the man’s hand.
Up close and having just driven a knife into the young man’s hand, Ed looks every bit like Blackbeard. That fire in Stede’s gut roars again.
Stede was so distracted by trying to pull his thoughts out of the gutter, he didn’t even realize until Ed’s pulling him out aggressively out the bar and giving anyone in the street who gives them look murder eyes.
Stede follows along as quickly as he can, more confused than anything. Ed had been enjoying the bar until the guy clearly said something that upset Ed.
They make it back to the ship and by the time they’re back in Stede’s cabin, Ed seems to have calmed down a bit, but Stede still doesn’t know what the man did to offend him. It only seems to matter for that night because the next morning Ed is acting like nothing happened and Stede doesn’t even have the words to talk about it.
It keeps happening the handful of times they make port. Stede will talk to someone and then Ed will be right there or Ed will be there and some guy will try to talk to Stede and then end up on his ass because Ed hit them.
He’s trying to figure out why at first Stede assumed it was because the guys kept slighting Ed but they hadn’t literally talked to Ed with nothing but reverence and respect. The only thing there that was getting disrespected was Stede.
Stede’s getting disrespected really didn’t matter… why would it? It didn’t matter on land and it sure as hell wouldn’t matter at sea.
He’s a new pirate and has very little respect. The only reason his name is even being talked about is that people know Blackbeard is running with him. That makes that fire burn him. More people have been recognizing them together for six months and yet.
Ed was still following him, interested in the things Stede says, and actually seemed happy teaching the older man how to be a pirate.
Stede is just waiting. No one ever likes him for longer than necessary. The last time anyone liked me longer than a week was at boarding school. It was the only time any of his bullies got in trouble for picking on Stede.
What Stede is waiting for is for Ed to just up and leave. Maybe that’s more projection than anything. Stede even thinks he could survive if Ed left after he got in Stede’s pants. Not that Ed was jumping to get in Stede’s pants. It was a more hopeful pipe dream than his own fantasies.
When it happens, the entire crew is at the bar. Izzy had led away Ed. The angry dog of a man said it was because of an actual serious pirate deal Stede wasn’t to be entitled to. The look Izzy has on his face is withering like Izzy can see all the thoughts Stede is trying not to have about Ed.
While the older man was fine with it, there was a lovely group of people playing poker, and Stede had been meaning to try his hand at it. Okay, he wasn’t fine, but Stede knew how to hide that bitter feeling.
It’s been going great. Maybe even going better than great. Stede had read a lot of books about playing poker before and the tricks you were and weren’t supposed to do. So what if he cheated?
Everyone on his crew had told him that was how you were supposed to play when you weren’t passing the time. So maybe Stede counted cards a bit and won more than a few hands. He probably should’ve been a little more subtle about it but he was so amused at the whole thing he couldn’t help but be loud. The flush from his drink wasn’t helping. Stede knew his checks were hot, drinking away his jealousy wasn’t helping.
Stede has annoyed everyone at the game, but Tang, a younger man sporting a thick black mustache and the whisper of a beard just as dark and thick. Probably a couple of years younger than Ed, 25 at most.
Once the rest of the poker players left, it was just the two of them. The man kept smiling and laughing and engaging in conversation with Stede, who was just drunk enough not to know when to stop. He didn’t even realize that most of his crew had either left for another bar or been on the trek back to the ship. And as far as he was aware, Ed wasn’t here either. Maybe Stede felt a little jilted he shouldn’t Ed was his own person and still had to keep being Blackbeard.
Just Stede alone with a man that only saw him as a conquest. He just kept getting closer. He smelt like the rum they’d been drinking and that sense of something sharper under it that Stede did not like.
Stede couldn’t help but compare the man to Ed, who is always warm and welcoming, and even when he smelled like drink and ship, it felt like home more than anything else.
Tang kept getting closer and closer. Till there was a hand on Stede’s thigh and Tang’s shoulder against Stede. His face was so close they were sharing secrets. Most of the warmth Stede was feeling wasn’t from his drinks anymore, it was from the heat against him. As he came back to himself, he realized that the man had been more than flirting with him. This felt like an honest sexual conquest.
Stede knew it was a joke and always was.
When it stopped being a joke, was when the man kissed him. The hand on his thigh turned aggressively possessive. And the arm attached to the shoulder pressed against him started wrapping around his wrist and the kiss was just as claimed.
Stede pushed the man away. He didn’t want this; he didn’t want this man if anyone was going to feel him up and drunkenly kiss him. Stede hoped it would be Ed. But Ed didn’t like him like they were friends.
Friends don’t kiss. Stede thought he could handle his drink well enough as he pushed off the table, but he found that was quickly not the case. The bar was mostly empty, his crew was gone. It was just Stede alone with the big, dangerous pirate. Stede does not like the feeling that is building inside of him. He feels like a child again a little kid being picked on, he's feeling that blind panic he felt the first time they made him kiss a horse, the time they tied him to a rowboat, The time Willoughby was alone with him in the storehouse.
Tang isn't reading his body language anymore. It's not open, it’s as closed off as Stede can make it. But the man countries to whisper things about making sure he’ll take care of him. Stede laughed back and moved from the table. The man followed him and pressed too close to be comfortable. Stede wanted him off but wouldn’t start a fight if he was alone.
He gets to the door of the bar and before he pushed it open; the man has crowded him against the wall. There are two warm hands on Stede's arms, pinning them to his side. His brain cleared a bit from the fuzziness of the drink enough.
Stede opens his mouth to tell the guy to stop. This was even a step too far for him, but before he could even open his mouth enough to get the words out. Tang shoved his tongue down Stede’s throat. He really does freeze, then he can't feel his muscles individually lock up. It only takes a couple of seconds for him.
It feels like ages as his body shuts down and stops fighting. A response baked into him. The air is sultry and crowded in Stede's space, and that's all he can focus on. Stede’s arms are still pinned to his side, but his hands just rest uselessly against Tang’s chest.
He thought he was being braver. Ed was at his side. He thinks he can conquer the world. Blackbeard is in his prime, full of fire and brimstone and all the anger that comes with what is sure to be history's greatest pirate. That feeling fills Stede with energy, makes him feel like he can conquer the world, and makes him feel like he didn't make a mistake and he's a real pirate.
He's not. Stede can't hold his own in a fight. He can't defend himself from unwanted advances. He has let his walls fall down. Stede is 48 years old and this 20 something years his junior is pinning him to the wall and kissing him against his will. His mouth tastes like ash and there's a ringing in his ear. It feels like forever before Tang pulls back and breathes in Stede's face. It's all he can smell the rum they've been drinking in the cheap bar food.
Whatever fun boozy feeling Stede had was gone. Like there was never there any enjoyment in this night will be poisoned. Stede knows it will. He won’t be able to go out by himself again and won't do drinking and probably will avoid bars and won't even engage in poker. Because it's always been easier for him cut off the traumatic memories.
The ringing in Stede’s ears continues to get louder before someone pulled Tang off of him. Stede couldn’t hear any more than his eyes focused on Ed pinning Tang to the wall with a rapier through his left side, separating Stede from the man with the black mustache. Ed looked deadly every bit of Blackbeard from behind. The air was still, and the light chatter from the mostly empty bar was gone completely. Ed pinned Tang to the wall, gurgling.
“Why doesn’t anyone understand? The gentlemen pirate is mine!” That was the first thing to make it through the ringing in Stede’s ears of the declaration of Ed's claim over Stede. That was always the reason Stede’s bullies would argue about which one made his life the worst.
As must as the Badminton’s wished it was them, Willoughby took that honor. Even if Ed was only friends to get close to Stede and hurt him the same way because he was a coward that can’t stand up for himself.
“Ed please?” Whatever warm buzz Stede had been long gone, his mouth just tastes like ash. The ringing is still in his ears, just muffled like everything else.
“Let me just take his tongue” Ed pulled out a knife. It was a blunted one he was using to teach Stede. It would crush more than cut.
“Ed, please, let’s just leave.” Stede knows he probably sounds like a spoiled child. That’s really all he is playing pirates, think that he’s capable of defending himself.
Ed gave Tang one last withering look. The tension breaks as the man lets out one last apology as Ed pulls the blade out. Ed turns to look at Stede, his eyes burning. Stede can feel the guilt and the apologies burning his throat before grabbing the older man by his jacket sleeve and pulling him out of the bar. The march back to the Revenge was awkward. Ed hadn’t let go of Stede, so the sight was more than a little amusing. Stede and a man clearly in his 40s being pulled along by Blackbeard the 20-something in his prime.
Stede is embarrassed and aroused, but the embarrassment is winning. It was consistently winning. Stede had stayed playing poker because he didn’t want the young man to be that embarrassed at losing all his money to a man like Stede. Only a man like Stede would be pulled along like this. Looking like a petulant child that got in trouble, he is just letting Ed drag him. He’s a grown man and Ed’s senior. Sure, he’s a little drunk and couldn’t take care of himself.
Still, some part of him doesn’t know what to do with the warmth from Ed’s action saving him, maiming a man, and dragging him away from the big dangerous pirate. The possessive tone he threatens the man with. Guilt was burning his throat, but arousal has also caught itself in Stede’s chest.
Stede looks at the dark mane of hair that makes up Blackbeard’s head and can only feel a pit opening up in his chest. Ed had to save him again. And like last time and every time before it's Stede’s fault.
They make it to the ship with no other would-be pirates trying to stop them. Whether it’s because Stede looks pathetic being pulled along by a man that is clearly his junior or because Blackbeard is radiating this direct miasma of aggression. This late on the docks most sailors have half a brain, and thankfully all the ones they pass on the dock, have half a brain at the very least to avoid the jealousy that is radiating off of Ed as he pulls Stede back to The Revenge.
When they get back, they don’t even stop on deck to talk to any of the crew and who are still drinking and having their own little friendly party. Ed pulled Stede directly into the captain’s cabin and closes the door.
Two of them are alone for the first time all night. Stede still feels incredibly embarrassed about the whole thing. Ed looks like he still wants to have gone through with the murderer of Tang. But the thing that still sticks with Stede is the language he used was possessive, not just offensive like this is my friend. This is my co-captain like that. That is understandable. That is what they are. Also, apparently what they are is a joke at Stede’s expense because there’s no way that Ed actually meant that. The gentleman pirate is mine.
Alone, it seems like the confirmation of every fantasy Stede has been stuffing down inside of himself. Stede is not entitled to be wanted like that. Every time someone wants him like that, it is a joke, and it leads to him being hurt. The first time with the horse and the last time in the storehouse.
“What was that about? You just let anyone touch you.” Jealousy twisted and radiated out of Ed’s words. Strong and commanding, just like everything else, he is pacing across the room.
Ed’s words quickly consumed Stede’s guilt. Like it was his fault the guy didn’t get the hint. His freezing Tang kissing Stede.
“I don’t understand why you’re so upset he stuck his tongue down my throat.” Stede didn’t mean for his voice to sound that bitter. Ed took care of him. That’s it, isn’t it?
“That is not it. You keep flirting and batting your eyelashes at every man who looks at you in the bars. Sleep with them fine, but don’t act like some blushing virgin when they are aggressive. It makes me look like a cuckold.”
That was not at all what Stede was expecting. He was expecting anger at being a coward and embarrassing Ed. The way Ed says it, there is barely contained anger rolling off of him. The cabin is warm; the fire has been crackling and the candles are lit. Ed’s anger stifles that warmth. In the way, only he can command he is wonderful. He’s looking at Stede like he wants to consume him.
Stede feels that fire in him start up again but he’s faithful then and swallows heavily and then looks Ed in the eye and sits on his couch. “Do people think I’m your wife?” Stede’s voice shakes slightly, but he stares at Ed.
“Yes... Izzy started telling the other captains. He wanted to embarrass you, but I never denied it.” Ed says, voice trailing at the end.
“Why? If you had, you wouldn’t have to keep pretending to be jealous.” Stede says frowning.
“Pretending. I am jealous. Every other up-start buys you a drink and then you spend the night with them.”
“You have better things to do than spend your nights in port hanging with me. I’m old and not fun, Ed. The one drink is more than enough to get me buzzed.”
“Not fun. Who told you that lie?” Ed asked more wanting the answer to maim someone.
“That doesn’t matter.” Stede brushed it away. He was good at that. “Even if it did, Izzy said you didn’t need me messing up your alliances.”
“I’ll cut him,” Ed said as he stopped pacing to look at Stede.
“What?”
“I’ll kill him. Do you want to be a pirate? How will you learn to talk to others if all you do is sit out of the conversation?” Ed asked. He wasn’t expecting an answer. He continues to pace and Stede is warring with himself.
Half of him wants to laugh and tell Ed to stop playing this game. It’s not worth it anymore to keep pretending like he has a crush on Stede. And the other part of him wants to comfort him, ask him if he’s being serious. The two sides are fighting and neither is winning.
“What do you take me for?” Looks like that bitter ash has won.
“What?” Ed stops and stares at Stede dumbly.
“Flirting with me, no one flirts with me. I’ve never done anything worth it.”
“What are you? Stede. I have been trying to get into your pants for months even before Izzy started telling people that you're my wife.”
“Oh, I know that,” Stede says because Ed needs to know. Needs to know that Stede knows that this has been a joke and that this has been a fun little lark. But both of them let it get out of hand.
“You’ve known I’ve been flirting with you and you haven’t…” Ed has stopped pacing and moved over to Stede. He sounds like his worldview has been restructured. Stede is sitting on the couch looking at his hands and he doesn’t want to look up. Especially because he can feel Ed leaning over him. He was still a foot away from him and his gaze pinned Stede to the couch.
“Your Blackbeard. You’re 20 years younger. You can have everything you want and there’s no way you would be serious about me.”
“You’re right. I am Blackbeard. I can have anything I want. And what I’ve wanted since the moment I heard that the new upstart pirate was a fancy man on a fancy ship that has lived a fancy life. All I wanted was to sink my teeth into you.” Ed says, and it sounds punched out like it embarrassed Ed in having to say what he wants and not take it.
Stede looks up and sees that thing he’s been avoiding in Ed’s eyes. Stede knows usually when people flirt with him it is a joke and it never turns out well. This obviously isn’t that as Ed stands there radiating pure desire in a way Stede has never had directed at himself.
Ed is normally confident in himself he can get what he wants just by luck or by a glance. That’s what he was expecting with Stede, especially given his whole running away to sea thing. But Stede was not like that. He was a gentleman who needs to be romanced and Ed fell hard.
“I've even asked Lucius for advice on how to court you and he just laughed and said I should continue to bat my eyes the way I did.” Ed looks at the floor, losing some of his confidence as his voice gets quiet. “Something about practice in seducing old men.”
Stede has a distinct memory about the fact that he only ran into Lucius because of that misunderstanding. Lucius has been flirting with him the way most young men had tried to earn coin.
This isn't like that. Ed is young, but it's not that he’s with Stede for power. Ed has a legacy already, and he's only been at it for less than a decade. History will remember him and Stede and best will be a nicely worded footnote.
Stede, he's new to piracy, not to matters of seduction. Sure, he hasn't had an outstanding track record of being flirty and or having those relationships last long and be meaningful. Knowing that these longing looks would never be pointed his way did not mean he was free from the drunken fumbling that came with being a gentleman that could catch the heated gaze of other gentlemen.
Growing up excluded from those relationships, Stede had to lean secondhand or from books. It's morally fine to have those relationships as long as you're not the one on the bottom. Or if you do hide it well enough. Not to forget the important part of pretending to know your wife totally isn't having an affair and neither are you. Also, would you kindly do a favor and not asked the stable hand whether he's been in our bedchambers?
Letters of love and seduction aired out like dirty laundry if not hidden. Flirty was direct and in the open, even if you were subtle about if others could figure it out. You table it under five layers of deceptions and two different turnarounds about whether you really think you should kiss in public. For those reasons, Stede knew what it was like to be flirted with as a joke.
On land, it mostly is a joke. Falling in love is humor that you entitle yourself to when you are a young child who doesn't know any better when it comes to romance.
Stede knows better. He's been in a loveless marriage for two decades and now he's at sea. It's the first time he genuinely felt a crush that could be more than just a crush. Because of all those primal feelings. Stede feels them now for Ed and they don't feel like some passing fling.
They burn and they bubble, only making Stede feel like he's 25 again, and it's just him against the world.
Not like Stede was ever that type of 20-year-old. The type of 25-year-old who has the confidence to pursue a man two decades his senior in the middle of a bar. The confidence that comes with the gall to stab someone through a wall just because he touched what was yours.
“Didn't you start this as a joke?” Stede asks feeling small.
“Never. The statement of mine means Mine.” The way Ed said it sets Stede's stomach on fire and now he doesn't know how he's supposed to deal with this inferno.
“If you don’t believe me, I’ll leave. I can’t keep going on like this.”
“I would have liked you to have been direct,” Stede says and watches as part of Ed's face falls.
Stede quickly corrected. "Not because I would have rejected you, but because I haven't had the best track record with direct flirtation. Sure, I've had love affairs, and I was married to a woman. Relations were never part of it. It was only quick and hard and if flirtation was a part of it would not get me anything… The last time I meant anything to anybody directed with fun a light romance, it was my last year of boarding school.”
“I won’t bore you with it now. I know you enjoy my stories of boarding school. That was not a fun one. It was the only time anyone ever got in trouble for picking on me. That time he took the joke too far. As much as my father detested me, even he had to defend my honor for that one.”
“I'll kill him.” the way Ed says it like threats of violence and force are simple and should be commonplace in the world. Like his love is enough to burn the world to the ground because someone had the audacity to be mean in Stede’s direction.
Maybe Stede was more than dense when it came to these matters. He was stupid enough not to realize that was Ed's way of carrying. Maybe that was also a bit of why it took Stede so long to realize that this wasn't just a passing attraction to the new shining thing.
Stede wasn't a new shining thing. He was well-worn, and he carried himself with the grace of age. And that was what was interesting to Ed. Stede had grown into the man that Ed had always been pining after. Confident in what appeared to be a position in life. Wrapped in clothing and the sense of authority that only came with being middle-aged. It was also probably the fact that Ed didn't think he would get to be that old. But now that Stede what here he would make sure of it.
That conversation about growing old together would happen at a later time. A much later time because Stede has found his confidence. He's been getting braver with Ed.
Stede leans forward because he has to take the initiative this time. It's a bit fumbling, and he misses Ed’s lips at first and just gets a mouthful of beard.
And then Stede is worried for a few seconds said he's miscalculated and that Ed is going to reveal that this was a joke and he's been playing the long con and somehow bullies from Stede's childhood are going to come in and laugh at him.
Stede is at pulling back Ed then with teeth and tongue reaching into Stede's mouth and pulling out the most wounded sound. The sound that only comes when a man who hasn't been kissed with the blind fumbling energy of young love two decades younger.
The room is warm and stuffy air in the cabin with rum still on their lips. Stede feels young and dumb again. The young dumb love he's been feeling this entire time Ed’s been here. This confidence is Ed’s power, being a pirate that Stede wants. The ability to claim and have others know it.
Ed continues to bite and lick into Stede’s mouth. Pinning his senior down to the couch boxing him in a way that makes a deep need to feel loved. Ed finally pulls back. His lips are bruised, and he is breathing heavily.
Stede is no better. His hands continued the roam and pulled unceremoniously at Ed’s underclothes. Stede wants Ed as stripped as he feels. The jacket was partially off, and Ed had been trying to unbutton Stede's vest. Their pants are also in a half pulled off, jangled mess with Ed’s buckles glinting aggressively as it hits and clinks against the buttons of his Leathers.
It is the only sexual energy that comes with an overconfident man who has the sexual experience to back it up and under the confident man who knows exactly what it's going to take a bit more to get than dry humping to get himself off.
Not that Stede isn't into the blind fumbling if he gets to have this. He wants more of it. Stede has always been greedy when he's actually given the ability to claim something. And right now, Ed may be the one claiming his lips and rucking his shirt up, leaving scratches that come from blunt fingertips and calluses from running lines.
Stede's hands are more than uncoordinated as he tries to unbuckle Ed's leathers and slipped his shirt off. So he gains some confidence as he slides Ed’s shirt up and finds Ed hissing dangerously as Stede pinches at his nipples. The promise of something Stede didn't even realize Ed had piercings is in his nipples. Shiny in a way that Stede has never processed until right now.
Everything about Ed is shiny compared to Stede. Ed shines and burns like fire. He's consuming he is brimstone and gun smoke. He is the legendary Blackbeard. Stede is the gentleman pirate. Even in his own chosen name is this perception of softness and kindness. And even as Ed continues to rock and nearly bust Stede's buttons, he is taking Stede with this kindness that he's never felt before.
Stede finds confidence in his grip. He's able to stop his hands from roaming and take hold of Ed through the opening of his leather pants. He can feel it as Ed bites into Stede’s bottom lip as he comes. It is hot, and it is fast as Ed continues to go. As he emptied himself into Stede's hand and most likely ruined his pants in a way that will never be clean.
Stede feels powerful. Ed is Blackbeard. He’s young and probably could still come with a barely stiff breeze. But to know that Stede's hand was just slightly touching was enough to make him shoot off, making the fire inside of him roar more.
When Ed pulls back to catch his breath, his pupils are blown wide and his eyes look so dark. It's just lust and unbridled desire focused entirely on Stede. Ed is the most beautiful man Stede has ever seen. He is handsome in a way that only young, confident people can be. Cheap smiles, moving a little drunk on the power he feels like he has.
“Are you okay, Edward?” His full name slips out easily, looking for the reassurance that Stede needs. That he's not going to go to bed now after this. Ed looks back, and he is still radiating with energy. Stede hadn't even pulled his hand out of its pants and he could feel him growing hard again.
The energy of a young man. Stede does pull his hand out and brings his spunk-covered hand up to his mouth. His lips feel kind of tender as he sticks his first finger covered in Ed's spend into his mouth and licks it clean. Ed is breathing heavily again and looks wonderfully dazed. So overcome with love and desire, he'll do anything Stede asks him to.
“Ed, go get some oil. If you're quick about it, you can help open me.” Stede still doesn't know where that is coming from.
Most likely a blind assumption, but he wants to be held and loved. Stede wants to be claimed in a way that makes him feel young again. Nothing is confident in his age and his body. But with the fire that is Ed, it is easy to get caught up in the extravagance of being a pirate in his prime.
Ed's eyes somehow grow even darker as he pulls back. It seems to take all his strength to even pull slightly out of Stede's space. He's on his back, staring up at Ed, who is still standing. He still feels small in a good way as Ed pulls back and searches the room for oil of any sort. Finding none, Ed frowns before he rushes out of his pants and across the room to the en-suite to go find some oil.
Stede is confident in his ability to make people lust after him. Love and lust have always been two different things for him. Seeing Ed this consumed by both at the same time makes Stede want to do terribly erotic things to himself and Ed.
Like this. It is hard for him to do with one hand still covered in Ed's come. He is somehow able to shimmy his breeches off the rest of the way. Stede is on his back staring, with eyes partially closed, as he finds his entrance. He can feel the ring of muscle flexing with anticipation.
Just the light touch with his finger feels even more erotic than when he was doing it to himself with oil. The handful of times he’s had sex with a man, the sexual partners he has been with have only used oil. It's because Stede is doing it with Ed’s cum. Slipping his fingers and probably opening himself quickly.
He wants that burn; he wants that exertion. He has two fingers in him and he is scissoring quicker than he should for proper stretching. Stede can feel it being slicked with Ed's spend. And somehow that makes Stede grow impossibly harder.
Now even though he’s turned from fumbling and getting their clothes off. This is different. Stede knows that he takes a little internal stimulation to get it all the way up. Is all the way up, as more than impressive cockstand as he slips a third finger in. The stretch is so good.
Just distracting enough that Stede doesn't hear as Ed comes back. Especially because Ed is naked. No leather, no jacket, no buckles to make a noise. He's quick and light on his feet in a way that Stede just didn't realize. He does realize this when he feels Ed eye’s burning into him.
Stede opens his eyes again. It is Ed above him again, looking hungry. Ready to consume Stede.
Ed’s eyes trail down Stede’s body to his hand, still covered in cum as he fingers himself open. Ed makes a deep growl. It shoots up Stede’s spine; it is so possessive.
Ed had said mine. And here is Stede, using part of him in what is one of the hottest things he's ever done. When Stede really does focus his eyes on Ed, the man looks like he is gripping the neck of the bottle of oil he found so tight the crystal might break in his hand. The bottle might have if it was glass and not crystal.
“You said I could open you?” Ed sounded so wounded and turned on. Like Stede had robbed him of being the first to play with a toy. Stede likes that feeling.
“I said you could help. I'm not a patient man. Now that I know I can get what I want. You'll have to be quick about it. It's going to take a lot more than a light touch to get me off.” Stede knows he doesn't sound sultry. It's not even that erotic, is a fact. It is going to take more than a half-hearted handjob and minor fingering for him to come. Stede, for the first time in his life, has the time.
From how tightly wound Ed looks, it looks like he's going to come again before he even gets his dick fully wet. Stede pulls his legs up, giving Ed a better view.
“Can I help please?”
To hear Ed ask. like he wants to be told how to make Stede come. Makes him feel powerful as anybody else feels constantly. Right now, Stede has the power to get Blackbeard to bend to his will. Ed isn’t Blackbeard right now. He is a young man who popped the cork to the bottle of oil puts probably a little less than necessary. His come in Stede's open hole will help.
Stede pulls his fingers out of himself as Ed puts his in. Stede could see him shake. The kind of shaking that comes when you were so tense and you're scared that any move you make is going to break whatever calm has fallen upon you. Even though nothing is happening in this room right now is calm. Ed's face is awash in barely disguised lust and said put two of his fingers inside Stede.
"You're open.”
“I've done this before, Ed. A stiff breeze could make you come, but I'm not a young man who takes to fumbling in bars quickly. I’m not the one who came from a barely there handy.” Stede's words are just this side of cruel and mocking. Not too harsh and he doesn't even know why he gives that response. His response should be a turn off. One final try from that part of him that doesn’t believe this is happening. Ed just lets out an even more helpless noise and makes Stede go boneless. His fingers are longer than Stede's and they quickly find that spot inside of him. They're fast, yes, but they're not elegant. They move with precision and practice the kind that not even Stede has in all his escapades.
Stede has done this before. He has never done it like this before. Never taken the time to really open up someone. He's never fingered someone like this. It always has been a means to an end. Quickly open himself or whoever the hell he's with so they can get back to whatever boring party quick enough before anyone starts asking questions about two missing gentlemen.
Ed is talented and takes his time. Stede thought he was open and dripping before, but with the oil and Ed’s cum, he was wet. Even Ed's dick is hard again and twitching up against his stomach coving the dark hair in pre-cum, Ed is still taking his time. Not really, though. There is a desperation that only comes with young love. Like Stede is sin personified and some ephemeral being who's going to disappear as soon as Ed blinks.
Ed is staring into Stede. Every time he's not kissing Stede and bruising his lips, Ed is looking at Him like he hung the moon. Stede had never felt like this before. Even though they're moving hot and fast, he feels love. That does shake a dry orgasm out of him.
Stede hasn't even expected it. Ed was so clever with his fingers nimble and Stede was well past open by the time he had hit that bundle of nerves inside of him. It was the hardest that he’d ever cum. Especially because of his self-imposed dry spell well Ed’s been on the ship. Together sharing quarters, Stede has been a victim of blue balls trying to quell his desires. It hasn’t been working. The only thing it seemed to do was make Stede hornier.
Stede twitches and is far past overstimulated. Ed, continuing to move his fingers, doesn’t help as he pushes Stede through that side of the pain. It's too much and just enough, and Stede is gaping.
Ed finally gives Stede some respite, pulling his fingers out. He spread Stede's cheeks apart, moving Stede’s legs higher to stare at his winking hole. The look on his face is only hunger. Ed is a starved man, and this is the first time he's going to eat a meal, not just any meal he's looking at Stede like he's a fest to be gorged on. Stede knows he's barely passable on one hand while he may fit the conventional beauty standards. Every other part of masculinity seems to exclude and elude him in a way he's never been able to learn. Ed makes him feel like he'll get everything he wants.
Ed leans over him again and this time he's not just pinned by his lips and the shadow he casts over Ed. It’s his weight. Ed makes another wounded sound as he realizes Stede was more flexible than he thought the man was. Stede is practically bent in half on his couch. Neither will ever be able to look at the cushions and the fabric the same way again. Especially not with the stains that are obviously going to be off on it when they finished.
Ed is shaking again, his hand fumbling, holding his dick in place as he teases the head over Stede's hole. This is the first time there's genuine hesitation in Ed's actions like he's not confident he'll be able to give Stede everything he wants. Even though he knows deeply he'll never want anyone else after this.
Stede will not let him get away with that thought. “Please, Ed. I'm open. You said I’m yours. I don't feel bruised enough.”
Even though this is the softest he's ever been sexual, this is romantic and erotic and somehow the two of them are mixing together to make the perfect storm to punch words out of Stede against his will.
Ed moves at the word bruises. Like it finally clicked he's allowed to mark Stede. Actually, claim Stede in a way that others can see. Stede will still be wearing his layers and still be a gentleman and still be a full-grown man who has two kids. Ed is young and can keep going, and has the time and stamina if lacking some of the skills to do it.
The pace Ed sets is brutal. The kind of quick jackhammer pace only a young man with more cum than actual perseverance could do. It is wonderful. Stede can feel the weight of it in his throat. It just feels so deep.
Ed is still kissing Stede, bruising bite marks on his lips. On his neck all the way up behind his ear. It feels like there's a necklace around his throat. More like a choker of hickeys, bruises that will turn purple on his fair skin. Ed’s back is just as worse for wear. Stede's hands scrambling for purchase on anything keep catching blunt nails, leaving shallow marks as he tries to stay grounded.
The two of them tomorrow will be covered in bruises and bite marks and a deep sense of pleasure. Right now all a Stede can feel is Ed's pace continues to be brutal and fast. It feels good. Stede is still hard. It was a prostate orgasm, after all.
Stede knows he will be able to come one more time but he'll need external and internal stimulation to do it. Stede wants to voice. The way Ed is moving is great. It is delicious. It's like Ed is so caught up in bringing pleasure to Stede. Stede feels like he's the most loved person in the world because of it.
No matter how wonderful it will be, Stede knows he needs more. He's been with men that's needed much more stimulation than just a simple hand job, well something's inside of them. Even then, it still feels wonderful he is trying. It’s just out of reach. There's that part of Stede that knows Ed is more than willing to give it to him.
After all, he is a kind old man. Not really, especially as he brings his hand around and pinch at Ed’s nipple. Pulling at the shiny piece of metal that's in it. The piercing is new enough. Probably within the last year or two. Most likely from some dumb drunk and revelry.
That's the other thing Ed still has the chance to make dumb mistakes and learn from them. Not that the piercings are dumb they're not, they're wonderful and every time they move Stede's eyes focus on them, and he feels something deep open inside of him. Another pit of fire to see Ed with more piercings. With gold piercings. See Ed in specialty-made jewelry like the women of Paris wear. Finer gold pieces inlaid with pearls and gems. More fragile than anything meant for the life of a pirate.
Ed deserves to be a pirate lord. Stede wants him to be a pirate queen. It doesn't mean he's going to stop Ed from being the rough masculinity that he wants. Stede is just going to make Ed impulsively beautiful small trinkets and soft fine fabrics placed around their cabin so he has no choice but to wear them.
“You're so wonderful Ed. Beautiful.” Every soft descriptor every pouring out of Stede’s mouth.
Ed is acting like he can’t hear it. He's going to have to learn, especially if they're going to do this again. Because Stede will say every one of them over and over again. Ed is all those things. Ed is beautiful and sweet and smart and a much more confident pirate than Stede will ever be.
The one that gets Ed to come again, this time actually inside of Stede. It was Stede saying Sweetie as he pinched Ed’s nipple and twisted the bar that runs through it slightly. As Ed shakes apart, Stede bites his neck. Leaving his own bruises. Ed's skin turns red and hot under Stede's mark.
Ed coming inside Stede is wonderful. Stede feels like he's going to burst. Nearly does as Ed kept moving through his orgasm. Twitching and curling and still keeping Stede bent over.
Ed finally slows his actions before they become more jumbled. He's kissing Stede. This is the softest it's been. Like he's apologizing for the hickeys Stede is going to have tomorrow. Stede feels elated.
But he did not come again. Which will be fine after they clean up. He’ll probably ask Ed to watch him. So we can come and then they can snuggle. That's what he's expecting to happen. Especially as he watches Ed pull out of him and Stede feels the cum dripping out. Stede feels like he's escaping, like some part of him has been pulled out and can’t be put back.
Ed leans off of Stede, letting his legs down. All Stede can feel is bone-deep satisfaction as he stares up at Ed's dopey grin. Ed started to play with Stede's hole. Using his fingers to pull the muscles of his ass cheeks and push the come and oil back inside Stede. Taking his time and being slow in a way that seems to take all his strength. Stede can see thrumming under Ed’s skin, his need to take him apart like that, need to watch him turn into a pile of goo. Stede is well on his way to doing and is about to open his mouth to say just that.
It only takes a few minutes for Ed to press his hard-on against Stede's backside. This glazed determination over his eyes. It has been talking a lot. Stede gives a small smile, ready to tell Ed that he can just watch. Ed shakes his head and bends Stede over again, knees up by his ears. Stede is having an out-of-body experience and one of the best sexual experiences Ed has ever had.
Edward is in a confident state now, realizing he has to make Stede cum. He may have actively slept with more people and had more entertaining and outlandish experiences with it. But the knowledge of a dry orgasm at the start of sex is not something he does not know yet.
Stede is confident in the very specific way that he is a man who always gets exactly what he wants. What he wants right now is to see if he could make Ed just as broken as he does. Not that Stede feels broken. It was more like some cracked part of him finally realizing how good it feels to be able to kiss Ed to have and claim him and for Ed to keep going because Stede didn't come the way Ed was used to. Especially because his taking it as a challenge to show Stede and not some indicator of his own manhood.
Which probably makes sense even though Stede did have a prostate orgasm he didn't shoot. Most likely Ed from his experience and has never done that before. Cheap thrills a devious sort of pleasure as Stede realizes he'll be able to teach when they do this again. Because they're going to do this again.
Stede has always been greedy, and when he gets what he wants, he will consume it. Ed had said mine and meant it in public. Also, as far as anyone is aware, Stede was the wife. He didn't just feel that, he also felt this undercurrent power he wasn't used to. Ed wasn't talking, but it was trickling through in sentences and wants as he moved his hips.
Ed looked and sounded more wrecked and Stede felt. Like he was the one slowly being taken apart from the inside. Maybe Ed was because every other half-articulated sound out of his mouth was a pleasantly handsome cut-off noise. Edward is trying very hard to consciously bite down.
“Please.” Ed’s falling apart. Every carefully crafted part of him is laid bare as he bottoms out in Stede again and again. He is young and well, he has the stamina for the movement but not for the actual act itself. He’s come twice already, but he still keeps going because he hasn’t been able to get Stede off. Not for lack of trying, it takes him a bit longer.
Something under his skin in his blood boils, making Ed feel drunk. There’s something hot, heavy, and primal because every so often he chokes back a word. It’s not Stede’s name, he says that willingly. And it’s not every other pet name you can think of, no, the word that Ed keeps choking back starts with an “M”.
Even though Stede is getting his world rocked, he’s never been held down like this before. There's part of him conscious enough to focus on Ed’s choked-back words.
He mows it over and continues to think about how Ed is trying to figure out how to move. Ed seems not used to having to deal with someone older than him. Have to work with. He could probably go two more times just getting there. Stede knows how to get him there faster. He could tell Ed but where’s the fun in that?
Ed keeps pounding and going through Stede’s name and pet names and that “M” sound again. Ed falters and pinches Stede’s chest again and that broken noise comes out again. Stede knows he had found it. It doesn’t feel exactly right, but it’s close enough.
Stede’s never been a confident man, but with Ed, he’s getting braver; he’s brave enough, especially after his confession of pining and jealousy. Ed’s possessiveness. The bites and the kisses and the stabbing of multiple men because they tried to kiss Stede.
Ed lays a particularly rough bite over Stede's nipples, which makes him jump and grab Ed’s head and pull his hair back. Not because he doesn’t like it, being rough, but because he needs to confirm. So with everything left in his conscious, which is still a lot, Ed hasn’t been able to completely fuck his brains out yet. Stede has a suspicion though, but after he confirms and tells Ed they can see if he’ll do it.
“Now Ed, that was very mean you didn’t ask permission.” Stede can feel the shivers running through both their bodies.
“I don’t have to ask permission. I said I was gonna take you apart, Stede.” Ed almost stops moving, just slowly grinding his hips in slow circles. There is an edge of brattiness to his tone. A man not used to being told no.
“And you’re doing a wonderful job, Edward. But If you wanted to call me, you should’ve asked.” Stede responded in kind to this deep need to get and give every part of him over.
“I don’t wanna call you anything but your name.” Ed slows down all the way. Stede is worried that he miscalculated right before he says it. Because he can see Ed pulling back, about to pull out, and probably say that this was a mistake. But the word comes out easily along with the order to continue.
“Did mommy say that you could stop?” The wounded noise that escaped Ed was brutal and confirmed everything that Stede had found.
Ed shutters and bottoms out and then bites into Stede’s neck. Of course, Stede, watches and observes and figures out that Ed likes fine fabrics and has a sweet tooth and a deep need to make sure the world fears and respects him. Of course, the first time they actually do anything he would figure it out.
“Edward, mommy asked you a question. Answer me or I’ll stop.” Stede didn’t know where the confidence for that came from. He pulled on Ed’s thick hair. Stopping his movement.
“Yes. Sorry, can I continue?” Ed asked. It was such a sweet, broken voice. It sounded like he was the one getting fucked, not fucking into Stede.
“Yes, you may continue. But we’re gonna be here all night if you don’t get me off. You want to get mommy off, don’t you?” Stede asked, surprised at his ability to keep his voice steady. Ed tries moving his hips, only able to pull out of Stede slightly before his hair was pulled tight.
“Don’t you Ed?” He stopped and looked wrecked as he softly smiles
“Good boy,” Ed only choked out a half-formed ‘yes’ before he leaned in close, breathing hard. He had bottomed out again. Stede could feel every twitch of Ed’s cock inside him.
Only Stede could identify exactly what would make Blackbeard fall apart and be such a good young man. His voice only shakes slightly as he tells Ed to continue what he was doing with his nipples.
“Now be good. Take your hand and put it right there at the base of my cock. Squeeze just a bit.” Ed followed Stede's instructions easily. Like he wanted to end like he wanted to be pulled along and destroyed now that Ed could get everything.
They have to talk about it later. And Ed will try to lie, which will lead to more deeply passionate sex, erotic loud. This wasn't then, this was Stede having found a button Ed probably didn't even realize he had. “Squeez Mommy's cock right there.”
Ed used his hand to rub Stede’s cock head, rubbing right underneath it, rough to the soft skin. Listening to every broken instruction Stede gave as Ed listened and executed with perfect mastery. Stede could feel it coming. His second one, not that Ed had, realized he was going to give him two. He will tell him later, but not now. Right now what he is doing is praising Ed again. Stede can feel himself becoming boneless.
Ed pounds into him but it's not as fast as it was the second time he came. This time is slower and more controlled. Every thrust is searching for that bundle of nerves again. The way Ed touches Stede is wonderful. Exactly what he wants. Ed's other hand is on Stede's hips. His grip is this side of painful Stede going to have marks. The two of them are both going to have marks claiming angry marks. The sea will know that even Ed staked his claim. Ed got exactly what he wanted. Stede.
Ed is getting close, and he's making the most delicious noise. The two of them are. Ed's eyes are starting to lose focus like they can't focus on getting him up off and looking at Stede’s face at the same time. Stede is so close and over-stimulated Ed must be also. He can feel his muscles locking up the way it did the first and the second time. She's not a young man anymore, more he knows after this next one is a knockout. Probably has about 20 minutes left in him, enough time to cum himself and lay in bed then pass out in Ed’s arms.
Ed knows that his mommy wants him to come at the same time. He can see it in Stede’s eyes as Ed pinches his nipple again. Ed bites out another wounded sound as he attacks the skin on Stede's neck again.
“Ed, you do want to be a good boy. You want to come with me. You can do it. Just focus on how I'm flexing. You can feel the same, can't you?” Stede asks, wanting so much.
Ed answers not verbally. His brain is somehow even more mushed than Stede's. This is the first time he's done anything like this. He's been on top and on the bottom but he's usually in control. Except when he's on the bottom then he's not. The lack of control is why he doesn't really do it often. This is different, Stede is in control. Stede is older than him and in control. Somehow sees every part of Ed, found the most embarrassing word he's ever said in bed, and used it to keep that control.
Still, Stede is taking care of him. Being sweet and telling Ed exactly how to move to make sure they come at the same time.
Ed can feel it as Stede tenses up at the same time and it is incredible. If he wasn't already coming he probably would have come at the sight of Stede twitching and splattering himself. It's a lot. Like a pent-up haven't been touching yourself a lot. It's so much that it splattered both Ed’s and Stede's chins. Ed is shooting blanks having come twice.
Getting a third out of him was a hell of a thing. Probably because he's young but still watching Stede was worth it. He’s so sensitive and continues to pump watching Ed's face as he gets it all out.
Stede looks angelic covered in his bruises they're wonderful. Ed knows he is sporting his own. He pulls out softening. Leans close in the Stede and puts his body weight on top of him. The room is hot and stuffy and all Ed can hear in his ears is the echoing of Stede calling himself Mommy and his panting. Ed lets Stede’s legs down.
Ed young and had the energy even though he is bone tired and it feels like his insides have been scooped out in the best way. He leans into Stede's lips again, his kisses soft this time as sweet as he can make them. As he licks and cleans, Stede’s spend off himself with his tongue.
Stede is staring up at Ed doe-eyed soft. His features pinch slightly and Ed is worried Stede is going to say something about regretting what's happened. What that look is about is the sticky mess that is cooling in between them.
“Should have taken your flirting seriously. Or made you jealous sooner.” It is a half-joke and a soft admission of the truth. But it is all so wonderfully loopy as both men break into a mad delirious laughter that comes with world-redefining sex.
The two of them are sore in ways they will never believe. Stede will not be able to walk the next day having been bent in half for as long and as vigorous an activity as they were doing. His back will be knotted up something awful. Not that Ed will really care because he will massage him and kiss him. The crew will make comments about how disgustingly in love they are.
Neither man will really care. Ed knows what it's like to flirt as a joke. He's done it before he's done it often. It's an easy and quick enough way to get into a man's pants if you know how to make them jealous. How to make them just insecure enough that they think sleeping with you is a favor. When he was flirting with Stede it's not a joke he meant.
The thing about when they now flirt with each other it is barely concealed thinly veiled hold me down and make me say your name. Is its own brand of sleaze. Ed will blink and be bashful every time Stede takes that commanding ‘I'm going to tell you how to get me off voice’. Even when he uses voice Ed loves watching as Stede falls apart on Ed’s cock. It is everything the two of them could possibly want.
Stede is well aware of what it means to be flirted with as a joke and have it hurt. But when the two of them look at each other like they've hung the Moon. The title slips from Ed's lips that can only be articulated in Mommy. The two of them are well aware that this is never a joke to either of them. Both men would rather burn the world to the ground and have that be the case.