After coming across some amazing art by koholintz on Instagram, I felt inspired to write a reunion between Stede and Ed based on the scene in How to Train Your Dragon 2 where Stoick sees Valka.

Word Count: 2040

Lucius was sitting in his designated secret passage below the main deck doodling in the ship's logbook (of course he survived) when he heard thumping above him. He glanced up as he heard yelling and footsteps running down the stairs to belowdecks.

"Where is he!? Did Blackbeard kill him!?"

Lucius stuck a fist against his mouth to muffle his gasp. It was Pete.

"Now now, I'm sure he's here somewhere. We'll find him. Let's check the brig," Swede replied.

"You know Stede's brig can't hold anyone," Pete mumbled. "That's why we tied those British officers to the mast."

Lucius slammed the logbook shut and scrambled to his feet. He shimmied down the passage's narrow hallway to the hidden door in Jim's old room. After listening to make sure the room was empty, he swung the wall panel outward and crawled toward his crewmates' voices.

"You know, I'm convinced he doesn't even have a brig," Pete said from down the hall. "Have you ever seen it?"

Lucius rounded the corner, his heart leaping at the sight of his boyfriend. "Why would I need to see the brig when I have something far more beautiful in front of me?"

"Oh, don't tease me!" Swede replied, winking.

Pete whipped around, dashing toward Lucius and practically tackling him to the ground. "Oh babe, I was so worried!" Lucius could barely get a word in from his partner's kisses.

"What are you doing here?" He finally managed to ask.

"We're taking back the ship!" Pete was shushed by Swede. "Stede found us on the island that Blackbeard ditched us on," he whispered. "By the way, where is he?"

Lucius shrugged. "I don't know. He probably thinks I'm dead. I've been hiding in the walls."

Pete blinked in confusion as yelling commenced from the deck above. "We'll talk about this later. It sounds like stuff is going down up there. We should go. Maybe you should go back to hiding until this blows over. I'll find you after, I promise." He pecked Lucius on the cheek before he and Swede ran toward the stairs.

Lucius weighed his options. Remaining undiscovered by Blackbeard and his men would be the wisest decision until Stede managed to get him under control. But then again, what if Blackbeard threw everyone overboard like he did to him? Then he'd still be stuck on the ship with the wrong people.

He decided to at least go back for his logbook and figured he could make a decision by the time he retrieved it. He walked back down the hallway and turned the corner to Jim's room. As he bent down to pry the passage's panel open, a hand clamped over his mouth. He froze.

"I thought I threw you overboard," A gruff voice said.

Lucius slowly turned around as the hand loosened its grip. Blackbeard glared down at him.

"Y-You did, Captain Blackbeard-sir."

He grunted. "Evidently not well enough." He grabbed the boy's arm roughly and started hauling him through the rec room toward the stairs. "I'll take care of you as soon as I deal with whatever is going on upstairs."

Lucius' mouth almost gaped open. He doesn't know!?

"I-I didn't think you normally came down here," Lucius stammered.

"In all honesty, I was looking for extra marmalade," Blackbeard replied. He jutted a finger into the shorter man's chest. "But if you tell anyone , I'll lock you in a chest this time and then throw you overboard. Understand?"

"Yes. Absolutely. One hundred percent."

Blackbeard nodded. "Good." He continued dragging him toward the stairs.

"Uh...before you go up there...there's something you need to know..."

"I already know that you and Pete are partners. Sucks for him that you're being thrown overboard. If he's even still alive."

Wow, Blackbeard really is oblivious, Lucius thought. "Um...this is more of the earth-shattering-development variety."

"Just add it to the pile," Blackbeard replied, now trying to haul him up the stairs. He was about ready to pick the boy up.

"Unlike most surprises we've sprung on you, this is one you'll like. You just have to handle it, um, delicately." They stopped on the last few steps from the top to see Fang blocking the entrance. Lucius let out a puff of relief.

"Uh...you might want to take this one," he said.

Blackbeard drew his sword.

"Uh...Blackbeard, could you put the sword away, please?" Lucius asked, knowing he'd probably get stabbed right after. He flinched and opened his eyes as he heard a gasp.

Standing on the prow of the ship was Stede Bonnet in the flesh, being illuminated by the setting sun. The rest of his crew was gathered in various places on the main deck, but had all turned and froze upon seeing Blackbeard. Izzy was tied and gagged in a corner, and Jim-who had been set free-sat in Oluwande's lap.

The pirate's sword landed on the deck with a clatter, the sound echoing across the water. Even the ocean seemed quiet for once.

"I know what you're going to say, Ed," Stede began, his voice barely audible even in the tense silence. "How could I have done this? Stayed away all of these weeks and why didn't I come back to you? To our crew?"

The tension in the air could be cut with a sword as Blackbeard began to walk across the deck toward him, looking like a cat stalking its prey.

"Well, what sign did I have that I could be worthy of you? That anyone on the Revenge could?"

Blackbeard's eyes pricked with tears. Curse that stupid little man and his stupid little manners and his stupid little blue coat. Curse his own stupid little heart for falling for the stupid little gentleman pirate.

Stede drew a shaky breath. "And then I found my crew stranded on an island, and I knew my answer. I pleaded so many times to stop the fighting, to find another answer, but did any of you listen?"

"This is why I've never dated," Frenchie muttered. "This, and one other reason." Wee John kicked him in the shin and glared, putting a finger over his mouth.

"I know I left you to command the crew alone," Stede stammered as Blackbeard climbed the few steps to his level, "but I thought they would be better off without me." He began backing up toward the edge of the ship upon seeing Blackbeard's stone-cold glare. His eyes widened as he watched the pirate unsheath a knife from his belt. "A-And I was wrong, I see that now. Oh, Ed. Shout! Scream! Say something!" His back hit the rail right as the pirate cupped his face with one hand and held the knife at his throat with the other. The earth stood still as Stede held his breath, expecting the worst.

"You're as beautiful as the day I lost you," Ed whispered, tears glistening in his eyes.

Stede's eyes widened, and then he bowed his head, a tear slipping down his face. The pressure of the knife disappeared from his throat. He didn't deserve Ed's forgiveness. He came aboard the ship expecting to be stabbed and thrown off, not welcomed with open arms.

Ed titled his head and kissed the gentleman's tear away.

"I wish you never lost me. I wish I never gave you a reason to say that," Stede replied, the tears flowing steadier by the second. "In fact, why don't I just-" He began to swing his legs over the rail, to which Ed just chuckled before wrapping his arms around his waist and pulling him back.

"Oh no you don't. You're not going anywhere," the fearsome pirate murmured. He turned the blond man back around and pressed their foreheads together. "Will you come home, Stede? Will you be my co-captain once again?"

Stede frowned before raising a finger. "On one condition."

Ed flinched. Here it comes , he thought. He doesn't want to actually be with me. He just wants his ship .

The blond unscrewed the canteen on his hip and pulled his neck scarf off, dousing part of it. He raised the dripping cloth to his partner's face, gently wiping off the black kohl on his eyes and chin.

Stede smiled, satisfied. "There's my Ed," he declared with utmost affection, cupping his whiskery cheek.

The pirate leaned into his touch, practically nuzzling his hand. Stede chuckled, but then stopped when Ed opened his eyes, hoping he hadn't scared off his affection.

"Co-captains?" Ed asked, offering his hand.

Stede's smile was wider than the ocean. "Co-captains," he declared before giving his lover a proper kiss.

The crew burst into hollers and cheers before they were promptly silenced by Ed, who suddenly remembered they had an audience.

"Uh-Mr. Blackbeard, sir?" Lucius asked, raising his hand slightly.

The pirate smiled. "Call me Ed."

"Okay then, Ed. Were you um, still planning to throw me overboard, again? Pete might declare mutiny if you do."

Stede whipped around. "You threw him overboard!?"

Ed blushed and hung his head. "We'll explain later." He looked up. "No, I'm not throwing you overboard." Everyone's gazes were then directed toward Izzy, still bound in the corner, who looked a little green and had probably thrown up in his mouth.

"The dinghy is off starboard," Stede said with a smirk.

"You read my mind," Ed replied. He proceeded to untie Izzy just enough to get him to the edge of the boat. He removed the gag last, which resulted in a string of curses and swearing.

"Throw him in! Throw him in! Throw him in!" the crew chanted.

Ed tossed him overboard beside the dinghy, resulting in cheers. Everyone called out their goodbyes as they sailed away from the man who had wreaked so much havoc on everyone.

⛯ ⛯ ⛯

Stede and Ed sat on the deck later that night after everyone had gone downstairs to play a game of go fish with a deck of cards Stede had bought on a visit to a sea port. Lucius told the whole story over dinner of Blackbeard pushing him off of the ship and how he ended up in the secret passages.

"I deserve to be stabbed just for that, y'know," Ed said, recalling the story. He took a sip of the tea Stede had made to help him fall asleep.

"I deserve to be stabbed for leaving you," Stede replied. "Quite frankly, I'm surprised you haven't."

"Nah, mate, I don't want to stab you anymore. I'm just glad you came back."

"And I'm afraid I couldn't stab you over Lucius. Once was enough for me."

"Then I believe we're at an impasse," Ed said, glancing at him.

"I didn't think you had such an extensive vocabulary," Stede quipped.

Ed scratched his chin. "Actually, I think I changed my mind." He drew his sword, causing his boyfriend to leap to his feet like he sat on hot coals.

"I'm kidding! I surrender!" Stede raised his hands. "I demand a truce!"

The pirate pondered a moment before sliding his sword back in its sheath. "I suppose there's one thing that can bring even the hardest of hearts together."

"And what might that be?" Stede asked with a smirk.

Ed reached into his pocket and withdrew a jar. "Marmalade."

The silly blond man began to laugh as his partner unscrewed the jar and passed it to him.

"I'm glad you came along because I had to search the back cupboards downstairs for this. I think it's the last one onboard," Ed said.

"Well, I suppose we'll have to stop in for some marmalade on the next trip to the mainland," Stede reassured him. "I'm sure we have plenty of gunpowder left to trade."

They shared a laugh. Both men were too impatient to fetch bread from downstairs or even a spoon from the captain's quarters, so they just sat side-by-side in the moonlight, scooping marmalade from the jar with their fingers and listening to the ship's occasional creaks and groans.

Perhaps it was silly to say, but at that moment, there was no other place they'd rather be.

Perhaps I'll write a part two about their quest for marmalade 👀

The amazing art by koholintz on Instagram!