So we all heard of mateolate or however is written
And i agree it would be lovely to have stede and ed to have it officiated by Olu with wee John flower girl
BUT
I believe that the first who will actually seal the deal will be Lucius and Black Pete
Just. Think about it. Lucius in distress after the whole situation with Ed. Pete marooned on the island with the others.
Both very much in love with the other
Of course as soon as they'll reunited they'll want to tie the notch, as to speak
"but what about the Edward situation" it's already dealt with they're all back on the revenge and things between Ed and Stede are tense but that irrelevant
They have a wedding to prepare
Also Edward is just creeping in the shadows because the crew is quite divided about him like he's been a bitch but also it was kinda their captain fault so who's to say who did really the wrong here
"i am to say" says Lucius "I'm the one he tried to murder"
"now now, murder is such an harsh word.. why don't you focus on what you want for cake and you let me handle Edward?"
So yeah Stede is vouching for him and nobody really care what Izzy is thinking
Hence matelotage will be!
Takes them really few days to set everything up. The lights, the food, the drinks, mostly
By the actual day to come they even manage to involve Edward in part of the planning, given his ability with special effects and so
And it's fine for him, until he has to interact with Stede
Then he gets all impatient and nervous and always seems on the verge of throwing himself out in the sea
It would be adorable if the whole marooning and lucius-icide didn't happen
But it did so it's just weird
Not that it matters. Every time Stede tried to interact with him it's like watching a baby bird learning how to fly
Most of the time his face in on the floor covered in dirt
Not literally. Except for once, but then it was mostly Frenchie's fault anyway
Finally the actual day of the wedding arrives
Black Pete and Lucius were even wearing good clothes, stolen from a merchant vessel just the day before
The sun was going to dip into the ocean when Stede started the ceremony
Which wasn't long at all. There's just so many words you can say about committing oneself to another person in their line of living before getting repetitive
Besides, nobody was truly listening to him
Well. Not true. Someone was. A bit in the back, in the shadows, but eyes shiny and piercing as always
Edward was listening to every single word Stede uttered and hated himself for it
Because no matter how hurt he felt, he never managed to cut Stede out of his brain entirely
And now he was talking about how nice is to be free to let someone sees you as you are, love you as you are and be accepted in all your mistakes
In all your wrongdoings
In all your flaws
And he was looking at him and how dare he? Really? How dare he come back and then and then--
Well. The newlyweds are kissing now. The ceremony was over
Thank god he can go back to drink and maybe drown Stede voice
He was up the main mast conducting exactly this mission when night fell completely, Lucius and Pete were left on land to save everyone else from assisting to the consumption of their union and most of the crew was either drunk or asleep. Maybe both. Probably both.
The only sounds were the calm washing of the waves and Buttons moon ovation to the moon
And of course. Steps that were climbing the exact mast he was sitting on
Edward doesn't need to open his eyes to know who it was, but he did it anyway
Stede, with the scruff getting longer and his clothes way simpler that what he used to know him for, sat beside him and wordlessly stole his brandy
"There you are" he says later.
"Here I am" and silence falls once more.
"Lucius and Pete arrived safe and sound on land they... Gave us the signal so everyone else went to sleep or whatever"
Ed nods.
"most of them were anyway too drunk to function anymore so.. it was just for the best"
Ed nods once more. They keep trading the bootle and once more is Stede who breaks the silence
"lovely ceremony, wasn't it? They seemed very happy"
Ed felt a bitter laugh escape from his throat "fuck should I know mate"
"what, you've never witnessed a matelotage before? In all your years at the sea?"
Edward could just shut up and keep up with the silent treatment, but it's Stede, and for how much he's pissed off and mad and hurt he can never just stop speaking to Stede. Explaining him things.
Not when he's looking at him expectantly, ready to listen to anything he has to say
"fuck, mate, I don't know, in our... Line of business.. people rarely wants to parade a weak point like that, you know? It's like putting a target on them, and viceversa. Also" he chugs another bit of liquore
"makes little sense to talk about 'death do us apart' when it can happen literally a moment later"
Stede seemed to absorb his words with a little nod of the head
"As someone who's technically been married I would agree but I don't know. You say it makes little sense but..au contraire, my dear, i believe that when you find the absolute perfect person it's imperative that you commit yourself fully to them. Most importantly if your time together is short"
He says all of this with the same audacity he had earlier, when he spoke about love and acceptance for Lucius and Black Pete
He is looking at him, eyes set and strong, and for a moment it's a completely different night and everything is much easier and complicated at the same time
Edward wasn't a coward, so he looked back.
Another moon, another Stede, another Edward, but the same damn little to none space between them
As that night, Edward wasn't really ready. As that night, he wishes he was a little braver. Just enough to kiss Stede again.
Then Stede does something even crazier, by all standard
He takes on of his hands, set the brandy bottle aside, and takes into his for a moment, before raising it to his lips and kiss it softly
The touch is so gentle that nearly break him into million pieces again
Edward is transfixed. His fight or fly response is doing shit since the only good alternative is throwing himself down the damn mast and swim until he reaches China
But that would mean release Stede hold and. No. He wasn't gonna do that.
So he does nothing and just wait for the moment to pass, for the feeling to settle
Stede keeps quiet and rejoice that Edward is actually allowing him to do that
There's hope for him. For them.
He squeeze the hand one last time before releasing it and getting up
"oh, well, time to bed" he says, not really expecting an answer
He starts going down the steps, but then he stops, only his face visible now
"you know, you can join me" he says, his voice impossibility soft
Edward sit a little more straight, the hand Stede forsake now cold, and swallows
"maybe later" he lies, and both know it
"whenever you wish" is the goodnight Stede gives him
So Edward can pretend to go down later
Join Stede in his warm bed
Help him prepare for the night
And maybe one day it will be more than just words
