Prompt 23 - "Wait a minute, you're not ticklish, are you?"
A/N: they are too cute omfg
…
“Wait a minute, you’re not ticklish, are you?” Stede asked, smiling incredulously.
“Ticklish?” Ed scoffed. “Yeah, no. I don’t think so, mate.”
“Are you… absolutely sure about that?” Stede raised an eyebrow at him. “Because it sure looked to me like–”
“Pff. Well, try it if you don’t believe me!” Blackbeard held his arms out to the sides, looking at Stede expectantly.
This was certainly a surprise. “Well…” Stede’s smile softened into something that made Ed’s insides tighten. “Alright then.” He stretched his fingers slowly, then brought them around just beside each of Ed’s sides. “How about here?” He prodded gently, watching the spots as Ed’s eyes watched him.
A few pinches, and Ed’s gaze snapped down to where the hands were on his sides. What the hell was this feeling? He squirmed slightly, tensing up.
“You…sure this doesn’t tickle?” Stede asked slowly, poking a finger into the front of his lower ribs and getting a startled intake of breath in response. “It … kind of seems like it does.” He pressed in harder, and Ed’s arms flinched in protectively.
“Well you’re- you’re doing it weird!” Ed responded, grumbling and a bit frazzled.
“What d’ya mean?” Stede asked, softening his touch to try to ensure he wasn’t harming his pirate companion.
Ed hissed. “All light n’ shit like that. Feels weird.” He flinched backwards.
“Ah.” Stede observed. “Well, that is still tickling.” He squeezed Ed’s sides a bit more harshly with forefinger and thumb. He didn’t so much as flinch at that. “Are you more used to harder tickling? Doesn’t work on everyone, I’d say.”
Ed watched him, listening. These lighter, more gentle tracings of fingers were tingling and distracting, nothing like the rare harsh grabs for his ribs that he’d had in his mind whenever someone brought up the idea of tickling. He’d been quick to overcome reacting to those. But this… this was different. Stede’s fingers brushed against the skin peeking out at the bottom of his shirt and Edward nearly leapt backwards from his reach.
“Alright!” He said, higher than usual. “I guess maybe. A little bit. Whatever. Doesn’t matter.”
“It’s quite alright.” Stede smiled at him, steady and gentle, reassuring. “I’m rather sensitive to both, I’m afraid.”
“Oh really?” Ed asked, eyes snapping back to the other captain.
Stede looked away bashfully, and something in Ed’s stomach tightened again. “Well, since I let you try it out on me, I think it’s only fair…”
Stede’s eyes widened, shooting back to Blackbeard. “Wait- but I– oh dear!” He brought up his hands with a wide, nervous grin on his face. “Edward! P-Please take it easy on me! Wait–!”
Summary: Izzy Hands accidentally reveals how touch-starved he is to Stede, who is more than happy to help.
Word Count: 2,765
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year @aaaxolotl I was your Secret Santa! This was super fun to get to make, and I hope you enjoy! 💙
He still wasn't quite sure how Stede had dragged him into any of this.
It hadn't been long, only a week or two, since Stede called him into his room, oddly similar to tonight. He'd asked for them to dine together, and well, Izzy didn't see much of a reason not to indulge his captain in his strange request.
They met in Stede's room for a surprisingly pleasant dinner, though Izzy felt unsurprisingly underdressed compared to his host's garish outfits, and he was well aware his table manners left much to be desired, but neither of those had been quite necessary for a pirate's life, and Stede didn't seem to mind, not when he was seemingly so enthralled by the company.
Through Izzy teaching him how to fight, they'd grown fairly comfortable with each other, building up a rapport that was considerably less antagonistic than it had been before. They fell back into it over dinner with ease, perhaps more amiable than they'd ever been, and Izzy found himself even laughing at a few of Stede's jokes, though he hid it behind a strategic cough or two.
Neither of them realized, or cared, just how much they were drinking until they were stumbling around the room, hiccuping around their laughter, for once a genuine smile on Izzy's face.
Memories of that night were fuzzy, and what happened next wasn't entirely clear, but he crumbled under Stede's inquisitive gaze, his warm smile, his soft whispers, and he'd admitted something he shouldn't have.
Something he'd hoped that they'd both forget come morning, even when Stede squeezed his hand before he left, promising something about him being more included, more appreciated, before Izzy stumbled back to his own quarters, flushed from more than just the booze.
He wished he hadn't admitted it. His jealousy when he watched his crewmates, or his captains, and saw the easy air around them, the casual touches and comfort; something about them made envy stir in his chest, thinking about the kind of relationship he hadn't let himself have for years, or maybe ever when he really thought about it.
Now, on The Revenge, it seemed more of a possibility than it ever had before. After breaking down, being vulnerable, Izzy was welcomed; something had shifted; whether it was in him or his surroundings, he didn't know, but it was a good change, no matter how uncomfortable it had been.
His relationship with the crew was different now. Friendly, because he'd finally allowed himself to be open to their friendship, and the change was more gratifying than he ever would've thought.
It was the most relaxed, most relieved Izzy had been in a long time, but he still wanted more, even if he felt he didn't deserve it.
He never would've pursued it ordinarily, admitted it to anyone besides himself, if his drunken self hadn't betrayed him entirely.
But that change, the change Stede brought on, was a good change too.
When they'd met again the next morning, Izzy more pissy than usual with his aching head, he thought Stede may have forgotten it based on his aimless ramblings filled with pleasantries that Izzy had to bite his tongue to sit through.
Stede asked him again to meet him later in his room, and Izzy agreed; he hadn't expected what happened.
He supposed it would be like the previous night, a pleasant conversation, perhaps a shared meal, a drink or two, though certainly not as much as they'd indulged it before.
And it had started that way. There was something about Stede, something that used to make Izzy's skin crawl, his anger, his annoyance overpowering everything else he felt about it, but now it only filled him with warmth, an easy, familiar feeling that allowed him to unwind. That must've been why he didn't suspect anything, certainly not when he and Stede shared a drink, casually picking at a tray of assorted snacks he'd prepared.
Maybe he should've; when Stede sat next to him this time, instead of sitting across from on the other side of his long table. It could still be ignored whenever they bumped shoulders or when one of them shifted slightly, their knees accidentally touching, or when they both reached forward at the same time, hands colliding for the briefest second before Izzy pulled back.
Until their food was finished, abs the conversation lulled, a not uncomfortable silence enveloping them as they nursed their drinks, and Stede, seeming to muster all of his courage, leaned into him, curling into Izzy's side and resting his glass on his shoulder with a content sigh.
Izzy stiffened, and his muscles didn't relax again for a long time, but they both kept the silence, and Stede didn't move.
His breath was steady, ghosting against Izzy's cheek and leaving a faint trace of Stede's wine, fruity and rich. While his hair was soft, delicate strands brushing against and tickling his ear, but he couldn't be bothered at the proximity, at his hair that was too lovely and soft and clean to ever belong to a pirate, yet here Stede was. Izzy wondered if it was Stede's pulse or his own that he felt, drumming violently against his skin, wondered if it mattered.
Not long afterwards, Izzy excused himself, and they parted ways; this time, he had no excuse for his blush.
-
He didn't know why Stede kept inviting him, or why he kept coming.
It wasn't something he was familiar with. His family had never been awfully affectionate. And as he got older, as he became a pirate, the opportunities became fewer and fewer.
Most contact came during a fight, in the form of a sword or gun or swinging fist, where the only pleasure that could be found came from the adrenaline coursing through his body, the satisfaction of winning, of surviving. There were few other means that arose on a ship aside from boyish tussling, accidentally knocking shoulders with his crewmates, or the rare moments of intimacy when he let someone else, let Ed, tend to his wounds after a particularly bad fight.
But Stede Bonnet came along with his eccentric, unpirate-like ideals and continued to confuse Izzy the same way he had since the first day he met. Bringing that unnecessary frivolity with him and introducing everyone to lavish comforts they didn't want to forgo.
That, he supposed, was why he continued to join Stede; he didn't want to give it up just yet.
Which was why he was sitting on his couch, thumbing through a book from Stede's library, which was still a horrible idea, even if it made for interesting entertainment, with Stede next to him, hand holding Izzy's as he thumbed through his own novel.
It was one of the more relaxing ways he'd spent an evening in quite awhile, or it would've been, if there wasn't one thing nagging him, making his mouth twitch as the uncomfortable feeling spread. "Stop that?"
"What?"
"The hand," he murmured, gesturing with his neck as he struggled to insert his bookmark with only one hand.
"Oh," he let go, a slight frown tugging at his face as he leaned away a touch. "Sorry."
"Not you. Just tickled a bit."
Stede paused, the smile returning with a playful twist, "You're ticklish?"
He grunted, eyeing him warily. "Guess so. Never really been before."
"I've gotten into a few good-natured scuffles in my time. It can be quite fun!"
"You like it?" He couldn't help asking, surprised at the sudden admission.
"Well, I've certainly always enjoyed it."
Izzy huffed out a laugh. He supposed it wasn't that surprising; Stede always had been odd, and it was just like him to like that kind of thing, something so strangely cute.
Leaning back, his eyes raked over Stede, cautiously debating in his head. It was clear as day that Stede was comfortable with him; the only limiting factor seemed to be Izzy's own hesitance, his lack of familiarity with the casual touches Stede so readily gave. He was being quite open about his fondness for tickling, almost suspiciously so. And while Izzy had never even dreamed of tickling someone before, had never even been the one to initiate contact between him and Stede in a non-violent manner, he supposed that here, now, wouldn't be a bad time to start.
"Let's see it then," he shifted, angling his body as he leaned closer to Stede, searching his eyes for any tinge of desire, of excitement.
"Go right ahead!"
His smile grew, eyes brightening at the prospect, but there was an undercurrent of shyness there, weighing down his cheerful expression, matching Izzy's own nerves.
Slowly, he reached his hand out, touch and hesitant as he dragged in along Stede's arm, grazing his silken shirt. While Izzy had never been tickled directly, he'd experienced it plenty of times through accidental touches brushing against his own sensitive spots, so he had a fair idea where Stede would be ticklish; he just didn't know how much he could handle, yet.
Keeping his touch light, Izzy placed a hand in his stomach, unable to help a smile at his small gasp, and gently dug his fingers in, scratching at him through the cloth.
At his deep breath, Izzy's eyes flitted back up to Stede's face, taking in his widening smile, perhaps brighter than he'd ever seen it before, as a giggle erupted from his lips, more pushing through in a steady stream of laughter as Izzy brought his other hand up to squeeze Stede's sides.
"Pretty sensitive, aren't you, Bonnet?"
"I suhuhppohose!" He huffed out, hands clenching and unclenching in his lap, trying to stay still for Izzy.
"I wonder where else…" he hummed, fingers dragging up towards his ribs, lightly pinching the crevices as Stede huffed. He was less ticklish there, but it was worth it to see the way his eyes crinkled, squeezing shut with a whine at Izzy's relentless pokes and prods to the area.
He continued exploring, marveling at how his armpits made Stede shoot his arms down, his resolve not to impede Izzy crumbling at the overwhelming sensations, while his neck made him scrunch up, looking oddly reminiscent of a turtle. Even his ears were ticklish, and quite sensitive to gentle scratches and traces, even more so when Izzy blew gentle puffs of air on them, making him squeal.
But his knees were probably his favorite spot. If only for the fact that when he squeezed it, the most adorably obnoxious snort burst from Stede, forcing him to bury his face in Izzy's shoulder in shame, while the other desperately tried and succeeded to produce the noise again.
Gentle tickling seemed to get to him worse, if the way he shrieked when Izzy's nails glided against the backs of knees were anything to go off of. Even if it only produced quieter giggles compared to the full-bellied laughter Izzy knew he could force, it was better for watching Stede, seeing the miniscule changes in his expression, in his voice, and for allowing Stede to focus on Izzy's occasional teasing.
"Still having fun, Bonnet?"
"Of… cohohuhurse!" He exclaimed, a tired sheen to his eye at how long it'd been, but his joy was much more prominent.
Izzy opened his mouth but quickly snapped it shut, head swiveling around at the sound of the door opening,only to find Ed standing there, a confused grin hanging on his face.
"Is this what you two are always doing in here?" He laughed, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him.
"Ed!" Stede breathed out, face brightening again at the sight of his as he sat up straight, trying to smooth out his clothes, his hair, all while keeping his eyes locked on his partner.
Izzy stood up, taking a step away from Stede as his gaze flickered between the two. Would Ed mind him touching Stede like this? Stede had said it was fine, but he wouldn't want to overstep more than he already had, wouldn't want to take anything more from Ed.
"Well come on, mate," Ed faced Izzy, smile shifting into something devious as he walked closer, "why stop now?"
"You… don't mind?" He couldn't help asking, still not sure how he fit into a situation like this.
"Stede, you mind?"
"Nahat at all… I was just showing Izzy how fun tickling could be. He was much better than I would've thought!"
"Is that so?" Ed smiled, walking past Izzy to sit down next to Stede. "Think he's shown you enough yet, Iz?"
"Not quite. I think he still has a bit more to show us," he sat down on the other side of Stede, accepting Ed's acceptance of his role there. If it didn't bother Ed, then he wouldn't let it bother him anymore, even if he was sure everything between them wasn't exactly resolved yet.
Stede laughed nervously, glancing between them, "What else is it you want to see?"
"Mostly…" Ed hummed, grabbing one of his arms to wrench it above his head, waiting for Stede's nod of approval before digging into his underarm, "to see you laugh your ass off."
"Ehehehed!" He cackled, helplessly flailing, and Izzy took that as his cue, bringing his hands back down to squeeze at his thighs and knees.
If Ed wanted to push him, he could do that. And, judging from looking at them, Izzy guessed this wasn't the first time something like this had transpired between Ed and Stede. He only wondered if Stede had realized how awfully ticklish Ed was too, a secret Izzy had long since learned and guarded, but didn't seem inappropriate to reveal later, after they'd finished with Stede.
"Ihihizzy!"
"C'mon Stede, you keep saying our names like that. Just spit it out. What's on your mind?" Ed cooed, lightening up on his tickling to give him a moment to breathe.
"Ihihit's a lohot," he panted, grinning from ear to ear, "buhut it's fuhuhun."
"'Course it is. We're just getting started," Ed purred, delighting in how Stede's flush grew at his words, heart skipping a beat.
Izzy watched Ed kiss Stede's forehead, an uncomfortable pang shooting through him, until Ed turned back to him with a grin and wink, and together they resumed tickling Ed to bits.
-
"Good time, love?" Ed smiled afterwards, helping Stede to his bed.
"Yes, it was all quite lovely," he sighed dreamily, pulling him into a quick kiss. "But I do like it more when you're the one under me."
Ed reddened at that, laughing away his nerves as he glanced back at Izzy, who was awkwardly trailing towards the door.
"Where are you going, mate?"
"I thought it was time to excuse myself," he cleared his throat, averting his eyes.
"No, no. Come here," Stede beckoned, and Izzy supposed he never really could say no to him that easily, certainly not now, so he swallowed and stepped closer and closer until he was standing by Stede's bedside.
Stede took a breath, reaching out for him, cupping his face, bringing his own closer, as he whispered, "May I?"
Izzy's eyes flickered to Ed's face, seeing only a smile and the slightest nod, not a hint of jealousy or resentment to be found. And so, he allowed himself to once again indulge in the luxuries that came along with Stede Bonnet, closing the distance between them to capture his lips in a gentle kiss.
Stede beamed at him when they pulled back, and he could only wonder if his face was as hot as it felt, practically petrified until Ed grabbed his hand, tugging him forward. "Come on, Iz. Get comfortable," he said, shrugging off his own leather jacket and slipping off his boots before he slid into bed beside Stede.
Even Stede's large bed was a bit cramped with the three of them, but Izzy thought it may have just been the best sleep he'd ever had.
It was only affirmed by what he considered the best morning of his life as he woke up in the early hours, watching the sun stream in through Stede's windows, illuminating the two beside him that made it all feel so divine.
A faint breeze blew in, the cold weather penetrating the peace of their haven as he curled further into bed, into Ed and Stede, suddenly reminded on what day it was. As he stared at them, he could only smile, feeling at peace. He didn't know what the future would hold, but as long as he had them, he could feel secure and welcome the new year, whatever it brought.
Stede couldn’t help but squirm against the ticklish point of the quill Ed was using on his ribs.
“You’re the one who said you wanted a “tattoo” and asked for my help, mate.” Ed tried to speak as evenly as possible.
“B-buhut you’re the one whohohoho s-suggested draw-ahaha! D-drawing it on my rihihihibs!”
Ed couldn’t help but smirk and let out a smooth chuckle at that. “Okay, so maaaaybe I suggested drawing it here on purpose...thought it would make it more interesting. You’re just too ticklish for your own good, Stede!”
Stede’s face flushed red at the teasing confession. Oh, this bastard. The tip of the quill was sending tingly zips all around the side of his ribcage and the affirmation of Ed knowing his ticklishness and also wanting to reduce Stede into a giggly puddle was too much. He had been trying so hard to keep his arms in place and not move too much in order to not mess up Ed’s drawing for him, but now that was being thrown out the window.
“Nahahahaa Ed!” In a playful attempt to stop him (not that he really wanted to), Stede started batting at Ed’s hand holding the pen. The tussle didn’t last long, however, as Ed was easily able to grab Stede’s wrists and pin the offending hands under his knees.
“Now, now, Stede...,” Ed tutted, “can’t have you trying to mess up an artist’s work! I wasn’t quite finished yet...”
Stede squealed as Ed brought the tip of the quill back in contact with his skin and began diverting course of his original drawing (a bow and arrow heart with “Ed” written in the center, of course) and started snaking it down Stede’s side.
“I think we need to add a little something here!” Ed then circled down to the jut of Stede’s hip. “And down here...oh!” Ed jumped the quill over to Stede’s other side. “You know what? We can make both sides match! And, hey! What about something here?”
Ed’s sudden movements all around his torso had Stede shrieking and gasping in surprise and his hips bucked with each new spot. But, if he was being honest, he was loving every second of it.
Ed smiled down at Stede, completely basking in the giggles and high pitched squeals as he used him as a canvas. A very ticklish canvas. Although, it wasn’t long before Ed was laughing along with him and setting the quill down to dive in with fingers and tickle Stede in ernest, “tattoo” forgotten.
“I can’t!” Stede squealed, trying desperately hard to free his foot from Ed’s wicked grasp. The soft feather of the quill was being sawn between his toes, and Stede, who had adamantly declared that feathers didn’t tickle him, was almost regretting his words.
“I know it’s hard, love,” Ed cooed teasingly, “But if I remember correctly, you asked for this. I think your exact phrasing was ‘I’m not ticklish by feathers my dear, but perhaps trying wouldn’t hurt’.”
Stede blushed at his own words being used against him. Fine, he had asked, but he had genuinely believed that feathers wouldn’t tickle that badly. As it turns out, they did. Quite badly. Well, badly was the wrong word, seeing as Stede’s protests were entirely performative and he and Ed both knew it.
“So, toes are a yes for being ticklish from feathers!” Ed declared, and in a surprisingly wicked stroke of genius, dunked the nib in the inkwell and drew a little tick on each of his toes. If Ed hadn’t been holding him tight then he would have launched himself off the bed from how good it tickled. Ed grabbed his legs a little tighter, laughing in surprise. “Oof! This tickles pretty bad too, eh?”
“Yes!” Stede gasped for breath as Ed finished the last tick on his big toe with a flourish. “Fuck…”
“Is that a greenlight to keep going?” Ed ran a gentle hand along his calf, checking in as he always did.
“Don’t you dare stop,” Stede said, eyes wide. Ed grinned, flipping the feather over in his hand and running the plume back and forth over his soles. Stede arched off the bed, dissolving into giggles and scrunching his toes.
“Ticklish here?”
“Yehehehes!”
“Scale of one to ten?”
“Eight!”
“Only an eight, hmm? Are you sure about that?” Ed twirled the feather tip across his arches. Stede smacked weakly at him.
“I’m sure!”
“Alright, eight it is.” Once again, Ed flipped the quill over and dunked it in the ink. Stede tensed to prepare himself but it did no good as Ed traced the tip in a large figure of eight across his left sole.
Stede slapped a hand over his mouth to keep from screeching and bringing the whole crew to witness his demise as Ed repeated the process on the other sole.
“There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Ed said cheerfully. Stede stared wide eyed at the ceiling, panting.
“I’m dead.”
Ed grinned, dropping his feet and shuffling up to rest Stede’s knees over his lap.
“Oh, oh no.”
“Oh yes!” Brandishing the feather once more, Ed dragged it along the soft skin of the underside of his knee and Stede went off like a cannon, kicking at Ed with such giggle-infused strength that the feather wielding fiend fell to the floor with a yelp. Stede gasped, leaning over the side to see Ed on the floor, glaring up at him. “Rude.”
“Oh Ed, I’m sorry! That just - oh my God, that tickled so much!”
“I noticed.”
Stede held out his hand for Ed to take, hauling him back up and checking over him for any injuries. Ed dutifully let him fuss. When Stede was satisfied the only thing bruised was his pride, he sat back awkwardly, staring at Ed.
Ed stared back.
Then they both burst into laughter, collapsing on each other in fits of giggles.
“I really didn’t mean to kick you Ed, I’m sorry!”
“It’s fine mate,” Ed said, wiping a giddy tear from his eye. “Never had a tickle fight related injury before, can’t wait to show this one off to the crew.”
“Oh no, please don’t tell them I was so dramatic over a feather!” Stede flopped back on the bed with a giggly groan. “Oh, I will never hear the end of it.”
Ed patted his leg sympathetically.
“Maybe it wasn’t dramatics, maybe you really are just that ticklish, mate.” Ed digs through the crumpled mess of blankets for a minute before hoisting the feather in the air with a triumphant ah ha! “Perhaps we ought to keep on testing, just to be sure?”
Stede looks at the feather, then at Ed, and his grin grows wider. Slowly, he lifts his shirt up to his chest.
Well, no, that's a lie. This is exactly the reaction he was hoping for with his previous retort towards Ed. But he couldn’t just admit that. He wanted to play the part.
"Ed...d-don't!"
Ed's slow advancement towards him lit up Stede’s insides, like a struck match producing a sudden flame in his core. With eyes full of mischief, Ed seemed to see right through him.
Stede cautiously stepped back, moving opposite of Ed, until the backs of his legs ran into the bed where he then let himself fall. Already in a fit of giggles, Stede brought up his arms with curled fists to his chest as if it would help defend himself. But he knew better.
A smirking Ed loomed over him, leaning down and putting hands down on the bed on either side of Stede, boxing him in.
"What's the matter Stede? Why the giggles?"
God, Stede could already hardly take it. Ed knew just how easy it was to get to him.
"Behecause you're....ummmhehehe-"
"I'm?..."
"You're going to!"
"Going to what?"
"Ehehehed!"
Stede couldn't get it out, especially not in this situation. His blush felt like it had taken over his entire body and he was writhing in giddy anticipation. Ed's teasy, rumbly voice melted over him and Stede was completely enraptured by it.
"Well, if you're not going to tell me, then I guess we're just going to have to find out together then, hmm?"
Ed heaved the rest of his body onto the bed, straddling Stede.
"Nooohohoho!"
"No? Now, we both know you don't mean that. This is what you wanted, isn’t it..."
"Ed!"
“Practically begging to get tickled.”
“Dohohon’t say that!”
Stede brought his hands up to hide his face and Ed couldn’t help but chuckle warmly at the sight. He loved getting Stede into this flustered state. It was one of his favorite games and just so endearing.
"Aww, no need to get embarrassed, now!"
The giggling man beneath him peeked an eye out from between his fingers and Ed's heart swelled.
"Fuck, you're so cute, Stede.”
"Stohopp it!"
"Stop teasing you? Eager to get straight to the tickles, are we?"
"Shut up!"
At that, Ed immediately shot his hands down toward Stede's middle, stopping just before making contact. Stede shrieked and lurched forward, moving his hands away from his face in exchange for reaching towards Ed's in defense, only for Ed to pull his arms back again while giving Stede a smug grin. Stede flopped back down on the bed.
"Thahat was mehehean!"
"Mean? Oh, I haven't even started being mean yet, sweetheart.”
Ed held up his partially gloved hands with wiggling fingers and Stede started squirming in response.
The sound of pounding feet behind him sent Stede into full flight mode.
Ed was on the hunt.
They had been up on the deck just moments ago and Stede was having Lucius jot down his latest ideas thoughts. That is, until said thoughts were interrupted by two devious hands suddenly digging fingers into the sides of his ribs.
Stede had shouted with a surprised laugh and squirmed away from the offender only to come face to face with a smirking Ed, mischievous eyes glistening. A red heat flushed Stede's face and a warm excitement radiated in his core.
Ed chuckled, "Hello, Stede...," and took a sauntering step towards him.
That was his signal to run.
Now below deck in the thrill of a chase, Stede was doing his best to out-run his assailant and in search of a place to hide, but he didn’t have much of a head start. He quickly rounded a couple corners, trying to lose him, and snuck into a small door hidden the wall leading to one of his secret passageways.
Quietly closing the door behind him, Stede took a few breaths to steady himself and his pounding heart, but the wide open smile plastered on his face gave way to how much fun he was having. He knew he would be caught eventually, and truly he wanted to be, but the game of chase was part of the fun!
Stede started to slowly sneak down the passage way, lost in buzzing thought about how long he could outlast Ed this time, when suddenly he was grabbed from behind by a pair of all-too-familiar, strong arms.
Apparently, not long.
“You know...,” Ed’s voice rumbled in his ear, “you really shouldn’t have shown me these secret passageways of yours.”
Stede began to giggle from the tease and the anticipation of knowing he was mere seconds from his demise. Where would Ed tickle him first? Would he continue attacking his ribs? Go for his tummy? Attack his underarms? All were viable options within Ed’s immediate reach.
Then without warning, Ed pushed forward, causing Stede to stumble and buckle, and grappled his crumpling form to the ground and onto his back. Keeping his weight on top of Stede, he positioned himself in a straddle on Stede’s torso, facing his feet.
Stede balked in realization, his question of where Ed was going to start now answered. Oh, shit!
And not wanting wasting one more second, Ed dug his fingers into the creases of Stede’s thighs.
And Stede shrieked.
Each squeeze of Ed’s fingers produced a bright and shrill squeal as Stede was immediately lost in screaming laughter, legs flailing in every direction they could.
“Aahahahahaha Ed! Edwahahaha!”
“Mmmhmmhmm, just couldn’t wait to save the best for last this time, mate. Besides, I feel like you deserve a little more focused attention here, don’t you?”
Stede couldn’t answer, his screeching traveling all throughout the ship.
A/N: hiiii this is my first fic i’ve ever written cause i just NEEDED to play out this scene of ed wrecking stede cause it’s what these two deserve and i hope i did okay by them!
Fandom: Our Flag Means Death
Pairing: Blackbonnet, Ler!Ed, Lee!Stede
Word Count: 3.5k
Summary: Stede said he could take it, but Ed...er, Blackbeard...will see about that.
.....
Ed skillfully tied the last silk knot, the sound of Stede's anticipatory giggles adding fuel to his fire and the strong desire to immediately dig in. But he wanted to start this off slow. Ed took a step back from the bed to admire his work. Stede was stretched out, all four of his limbs going in oppsite directions, his nearly naked body looking like a ticklish feast ready to be devoured. Ed intended to do just that.
With Ed's eyes scanning over his body, Stede could hardly contain himself. The tingling heat of his blush felt like it was plunging all the way down to his feet. He was tied up, he couldn't move, and he was going to be tickled by Ed. The swarming thoughts already had him feeling like he was about to combust and Ed hadn't even touched him yet. Oh, he was so screwed.
"So..." Ed's voice cut into the tension, "...where shall I start first?"
Stede bit his lip trying to suppress a squeak, unsure if he could say anything even if he tried. His eyes stole a look at Ed's hands, the fingerless gloves seeming to add a menacing element all on their own. Stede watched as the fingers curled into a fist before unfurling out to a stretch, as if Ed was getting them warmed up and ready to torment. Stede's breath hitched in his chest as it was almost too much to handle for how much it excited him.
"Got nothin' to say?" Ed sauntered to the foot of the bed and, using one finger, took a quick swipe at the pad of Stede's big toe. Stede gasped, a ticklish zip going all the way up his leg.
"Hmm. I think I'll start down here then." Ed climbed his way over Stede's leg to situate himself in between the pair of feet. Taking that same single finger, Ed started to lightly stroke the sole of Stede's foot up and down. Stede jumped and a stream of breathy giggles easily flowed from his mouth as Ed's finger strolled heel to toe, over and over, his leisurely speed never changing. Not wanting the other foot to get jealous, Ed took to doing the same on the other side, matching the pattern.
Stede couldn't believe how much it already tickled. It felt like electric zings were reverberating from Ed's touch and pulsating up his legs. And the longer it went on (up and down, up and down,) it seemed that the ticklish feeling grew more and more with each stroke, the muscles in his legs involuntarily clenching with each pass. Stede started to wiggle his feet back and forth as much as he could.
Ed's fingers were on their upward glide when they decided to continue on with their journey and went up around his toes, skating down the tops of his feet, and started to travel their way up his calves. Stede's legs started to bounce as the teasy tickle climbed further and further and he let out a little high pitched whine of ticklish glee, knowing where it was headed next. When the fingers got to going up over the humps of his knees, Stede squealed, earning a rumbling chuckle from Ed.
"Bad spot?"
"NEEEEhehehehhehee!"
Wanting to give them some extra attention, Ed traced around the knee caps for a few revolutions before then gathering all his fingers atop the centers and slowly fanning them out, over and over again. Stede shrieked and his knees were desperately trying to contract as if it would make the ticklish feeling go away. But Ed and Stede both knew that Stede wanted this, no matter how much his body was protesting.
Wanting to keep the anticipation building, Ed switched back to his single-finger adventure on both sides of Stede's body. At this point, he started to loosely zig-zag his fingers, slithering up Stede's thighs like a snake. Like the tentacles of the Kraken.
The wave-like change of motion sent Stede into a fresh bought of laughter, the sounds getting more high pitched the higher up his thighs the fingers got.
"Ohohohoh shihihi- AH!" He shrieked as they followed up along the crease of his thighs where leg meets torso.
"Don't worry, love, I'll make sure to come back down here." Ed was taking notes, taking in every twitch, every squeak, as he continued mapping out all of Stede's worst spots to the exact point. He had taken to tickling Stede quite often ever since discovering he was ticklish (and that they both liked it,) but Ed had never had Stede laid out flat in front of him like a map on a table before. It was like going a treasure hunt, but pertaining to Ed's interests and much more fun. This was a type of treasure hunt he enjoyed.
Following the landscape of Stede's body, Ed's fingers curved inward down the dip of Stede's hips, causing him to buck in response. Not wanting to lose pace, the devious fingers followed along the waistline until they met in the middle just a little below Stede's bellybutton before tracing their steps back the way they came. The quivering of Stede's lower belly and the sound of his growing giggles had Ed's fingers going about in such a jagged manner, like tiny jackhammers set loose.
"You're throwin' me off my path here, mate. Gonna need you to stay still."
"Ihihiheeee- I caahahahaan't!"
"You're gonna be trouble for me, huh?"
"Heeheheheeee!"
Returning to the outer edge of Stede's hips, Ed's ticklish touch began to slither it's way up his sides, taking mini detours to swirl inward to his belly. Each time, Stede tried to suck his tummy in as a form of defense.
"Now, do you really think that's going to stop me?" Ed took a moment to flutter both fingers on either side of his bellybutton.
"Neeeeeeehehehee! N-no it juuuhuhuussst ti-hihihihihiickles!"
Ed chuckled with a smirk, "Oh, good. It's supposed to." He swirled his fingers back out and up to Stede's ribs. He started tracing around the bones like a maze, up and down, back and forth, making Stede gasp with breathy giggles until the fingers found their way out of the hedge and reached the finish line. As a celebratory victory lap, the fingers trailed up and started circling around the outer rims of Stede's armpits. Once, twice, three times they went around as Stede let out a squeal with each orbit.
Circling out, Ed's fingers snaked up Stede's arms, moving side to side allllll the way up to his wrists where the tied silk had made a restrictive residence against his skin. Ed’s movement stilled once they reached the dead end, giving Stede a little bit of a break. But just for a moment.
"Aaaaand now we go down."
"Naaahahahahaaa!"
Down the arms, around the armpits, back through the rib maze, swirling sweeps from tummy to sides, trailing along the pantline, surfing the scoop of his hips, down the 'V' of his thigh crease, slithering down his thighs, fanning at his kneecaps, tracing around his knees, sliding down his calves, climbing up the tops of his feet to his toes, and skiing down the soles. Everything like a ticklish rewinding replay in his mind, Stede couldn't contain his laughter, his sensitivity heightened from the slow continuous tease of just two fingers.
Making it back to the start of the journey, Ed finished with a swipe of his nails off the heels of Stede's feet before letting his arms fall to his sides. Stede started to catch his breath, giggling all the while.
"Ooohohohoooh, that tihihickled so muhuhuhuch!"
"Well, you better buckle up then. Cause I haven't even really started yet..." Without warning, Ed suddenly grabbed just above Stede's knees and planted a few killer squeezes.
Stede yelped in surprise, "AHHAHAHA! ED!"
Keeping his hands poised on Stede's knees, Ed slowly leaned forward, looming over Stede with a smirk growing on his face.
"Mmm? No...I'm Blackbeard."
"Nohoho!" Stede shrieked and his eyes went wide, his anticipation jumping up ten-fold.
An evil, rumbling chuckle left Ed's chest. "Shhhhhh..."
Ed jumped back into squeezing Stede's knees with renewed vigor, causing Stede's limbs to flail about as much as the silk ties would give.
"OHOHOHOH GOOOHOOHOHOD!" Stede wailed as the merciless squeezes attacked his knees, causing him to thrash about. With the pulsating ticklish jolts making themselves at home, Stede could hardly take it. And Ed was just starting? Oh, he was really in for it, wasn't he?
A minute had passed when the squeezing fingers started to slowly creep their way up his thighs, inch by inch, making sure to spend a few seconds at each spot. Once Ed's hands reached the upper thigh creases, Stede screamed, his laughter already slipping little by little into full hysterics.
'IT TICKLES, IT TICKLES, IT TICKLES, SHIT!' was the only thought swirling around in Stede's mind like a tornado, the repetitive squeezes in one of his most sensitive spots were like ticklish shocks to his system, sending him into a frenzy. With each squeeze, the feeling became more and more unbearable and the longer it went on, the more his desperation became apparent. And that absolutely thrilled Stede. But before it got to be overkill, Ed suddenly stopped and moved his hands to gently rake up and down Stede's belly. It still tickled and sent Stede's stomach muscles into spasms, but it was enough of a drop in intensity for him to collect his breath.
"Thahahat...was...SO bahahaad!"
"Awwrrr, c'mon, you can take it can't you? It's just a wee bit of tickling."
"Eheheheeed!"
"Muahahaha...okay break time over!"
Ed started suddenly scribbling his fingers back and forth along Stede's waistline, from hip to hip, ramping up Stede's laughter again. Sporadically, Ed's hands would jump to both hips to give them a few quick squeezes, making Stede buck and bounce around before continuing his back and forth spidering.
"EeeeheHEEEeehheeeee! AHHahahaha!" Stede's torso rocked side to side as if trying to evade Ed's tickling touches and escape.
Ed raised an eyebrow. "You trying to go somewhere, Stede? You got some place to be?"
"Eeeheheheeedd, nooooohoohoooo!"
"Cause you seem to be a bit stuck at the moment. A little "tied down" if you will."
"ShhhuuhuhuhutUUHUHUP!"
Ed playfully scoffed. "Ooooh ho ho, the gentleman pirate is getting brave now, are we? Telling Blackbeard to 'shutup?' Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you're in any position to tell me what to do."
Like lightning, Ed's hands suddenly shot up into Stede's armpits, thumbs digging into the centers, while his mouth came down into contact with Stede's belly, blowing a raspberry.
"NAAAAAAHHHHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!! NOOOO!" Stede was completely caught off guard from the ticklish zing under his arms and the tingling vibration on his belly, coupled along with the exhilarating fact that Ed's mouth was on his skin. And Ed was using it to tickle him.
Stede was lost in his cackles as Ed started manically laughing into his belly, which tickled enough itself, but then Ed started moving his jaw up and down in a chewing motion and that sent Stede flailing. Ed's beard, his lips, and his teeth were grazing all around Stede's tummy in the most ticklish way, as if Ed was a hungry animal that was just given it's dinner.
Trying to tug his arms down and his hips thrashing, Stede cried out in laughter. "EEEHHEHDDD! BAHAHAHAHAHA!" He never realized mouths could be so tickly, especially when accompanied with a big bushy beard and mustache like Ed's. Motherfuckin' Blackbeard.
Ed continued nomming all over Stede's belly, as well as his hips, while his hands switched to spidering down to his ribs and sides, climbing up and down the outer edges of his torso. Keeping that tickling combo up for another minute, Ed could tell Stede was in need of another break and lifted his hands and his mouth away from Stede's sensitive skin.
Stede gulped in a few needed breaths as Ed started to shuffle back a little further down the bed. Feeling the movement, Stede lifted his head to look down and see Ed lifting a leg over to straddle his right leg. Ed looked up to lock eyes with Stede and gave him a mischievous eyebrow raise and a sly smile.
Eyes going wide, Stede couldn't help but watch as Ed once again started to lower his face down to Stede's skin, but this time going for his inner thigh.
"ED NOOOOOHOHO! NOT THE BEARD! NOT THERE!"
Ed stopped just a couple inches from his leg, looking back into Stede's eyes again. "Blackbeard will do as he pleases."
"NAAHAHAHAAAAAAAH!" Stede squealed as Ed's beard and mouth started nuzzling into the vulnerable soft skin of his inner thigh.
Ed was absolutely delighted with the high pitched sound he was churning out of Stede. The gentleman pirate's laugh sparkled bright and joyfully, like the glistening of the sun on the sea. And it just made Ed want even more of it. He nuzzled his way up and down Stede's thigh, taking a few nibbles here and there earning himself extra shrieks. It was so addicting.
With his hands not wanting to miss out on the fun, Ed decided to take it a step further and latched crablike claws around both the inner and outer crease of Stede's thigh and started to squeeze. Stede went ballistic.
It was like an explosion of ticklish proportions overtook Stede's entire being. The feeling of Ed's beard and mouth meandering around on his thigh combined with the electrocuting squeezes making him jolt about was just so much.
"FAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAA EEEEEEEEHDHDHDDD NONONONONO STAAAAHAHAA NAAAAHAHAAAA!!" Stede couldn't form words. He tried to kick his leg, but there was very little give with the way Ed had it pinned down. He was completely at Ed's mercy and that thought made him start to lose control and dissolve into hysterical silent laughter. Everything was just 'tickle' and nothing else existed.
As Ed kept nuzzling and squeezing, he could hear that Stede had become nothing more than a wheezing blubbering mess. Shifting his eyes, he looked at Stede's other leg jostling about next to him and was hit with a curiosity that he needed to have answered.
The tickling came to a sudden halt and Stede's body fell limp, in desperate need of a break, when he felt the tie on his left ankle being undone. As he started to come back down to earth, Stede looked down to see Ed facing away from him with his hands working at the tie on his ankle. Stede couldn't help but suddenly feel a small pang of disappointment. 'Oh, it's over? Just like that?' Sure, Stede was fairly worn out, but Ed had just stopped and took to untying him so abruptly that he suddenly worried that something was wrong.
"...Ed?" Stede called out to him through his huffs. Ed didn't respond, focusing on pulling the last slip of silk and letting it fall to the bed. Stede's ankle felt cold from the absence of the silk it suddenly missed.
Stede was about to try getting his attention again when, in a flash, Ed moved to straddle his waist and faced toward his feet. Stede's leg was then being lifted and bent, positioned to hook his calf around the back of Ed's shoulder while Ed's upper arm crossed the back of the knee and pressed against the outside of his leg, keeping it firmly nestled between Ed's arm and side while completely exposing the back of Stede's thigh.
Oh, it wasn't over.
Once Stede registered Ed's plans, he let out a gasp.
"Oh! Oh no. Oh no no nonononono, Ed, noohoohooOOOO!" Stede couldn't help but already start to giggle as if the air alone was already starting to tickle the hypersensitive, rarely touched skin.
Ed turned his head back towards Stede. "Well, I couldn't leave this other leg out, now could I? And, with your legs being soooo ticklish, I just want to make sure that I explore every inch...and I realized...I hadn't tried back here yet."
"Shhhiiihihiiiiitt!"
"Seems like it'll be a good spot, yeah?"
"NO!"
"No? You don't think it'll tickle?"
"EHEHEDWARD!"
"Yes?"
"NAHAHHAA!"
"Laughing already? But I haven't even tickled yet. Besides, I thought you said you didn't think this would tickle."
"STOP IHIHIHHITT!"
"Stop what?"
"Neeeehehehee...TEASING!"
"Oh! So you want me to tickle you? So you are ticklish here then? Were you lying to me?"
"NAHAHAHAAAAA FUCK OFF!"
"Wow, Stede. Lying to me AND telling me to fuck off? Not very gentlemanly of you. But, if that's the way you want to be..."
The sound that came from Stede's lungs can only be described as a screaming tea kettle. His laughter reached new heights in pitch as Ed began scribbling, tasering, poking, and squeezing the back of his thigh in such a chaotic frenzy that Stede could hardly tell what was happening, but just knew that it tickled terribly. His calf that had been slung behind Ed's shoulder was frantically kicking as the rest of his body was attempting to twist and turn in any sense to escape, but with the way Ed had his leg pinned in position and the rest of his limbs still tied down along with Ed's warm weight on his torso, it was impossible. And just brutal.
Ed proceeded to tickle the back of Stede's thigh, zipping around, making sure to get at every little bit of skin. Periodically, he reached one hand around to also pinch at Stede's hip at the same time, which drove Stede up the wall. Stede was starting to crumble and just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, Ed moved both of his hands to lightly skitter all ten fingers at the upper back of his thigh, nearly reaching his ass. With Ed deciding to linger there, Stede started to break into shrill begging giggles.
Tears formed in Stede's eyes as he became incoherent, shrieking out a bunch of unintelligible giggly pleas, and Ed could sense that Stede was truly reaching his limit. But, wanting to try one last thing, Ed dipped his head down to nuzzle and nibble his way from the back of his knee to the hypersensitive upper area while maintaining the skittering of his fingers.
Stede's laughter went silent aside from a few squeaks that broke their way through. Holy hell, Stede had never been tickled this bad before. Ed tickled him frequently, but this? This was a whole new level of being tickled and Stede felt like his soul had been projected into a different dimension. Nothing else was real. Just Ed and tickles. And as unbareable as it was, it was wildly invigorating. But, now he was also getting to a point where he really needed it to-
"STAAAAAHAHAHAHHAAAAAP!!"
"Say the magic woooord..." Oh, just evil.
"PLEEEEEHEEEEEEEEAAAAASSEEEEEE!!"
In an instant, all the tickling stopped. Ed gingerly unraveled Stede's leg from behind his body and set it back down on the bed.
With lingering laughter and tingles all over his body, Stede felt like he was floating, the smile never leaving his face. Relishing in the after effects of the diabolical euphoria, he felt a soft, tender hand pushing the disheveled hair back away from his forehead. The hand continued to glide across his hair, petting the top of his head in a caring and comforting manner. This continued on for a couple minutes as Stede was slowly coming down from his tickle high and his body became relaxed, but the happy feelings stayed. In that moment, post tickle and Ed's hand lovingly running through his hair, he felt like the luckiest man in the world.
Ed leaned his head in close. "Hey, how ya feeling?"
"Mmmm..." Stede was completely blissed out, "...amazing. Can we do it again?"
That got an amused chuckle out of Ed. "Shit, Stede. You are quite a tough little pirate, aren't you?"
"Mmmhmm, I'm a fuckin lunatic, remember?"
Ed laughed again. "Yeah, you are. And it's still one of the things I love about you." He kissed Stede's temple and then began to untie the rest of Stede's limbs. Once Stede was free, Ed climbed onto the bed and wrapped him in a hug.
Cuddling up to Ed's chest, Stede closed his eyes and let out a content sigh, drifting off into a tickle happy slumber.
Rubbing a hand up and down Stede's back, Ed felt his breathing even out as he fell asleep. Looking at his face, Ed couldn't help but feel overcome with emotion for the love he felt for this man. Here was this frilly, book reading, fabric loving, fashionista, bizarre, weird little gentleman of a pirate snuggled up against him with nothing but love and trust for Ed. How is this real? Ed didn't know, but all he knew was that he felt like the luckiest man in the world.
