gaydeviants

HIII!!! I rly need to get this posted so i can stop fretting about it, so here it is. Also, who else is TOTALLY NORMAL about all the trailer stuff??????????? Let's see………. Ummm, just some NSFW imagery (pics n gifs) in this one, I think that’s it! And thanks to everyone on twitter for encouraging me to actually get this shit posted today 💜

The next few days are stressful, to say the least. They make their way to the nearest port, but Izzy and his crew are never far behind. Ed has very little hope they'll actually lose them when they dock, but it's the best plan they have right now. He can tell Stede is nervous, and despite their best attempts, they can’t seem to talk this one through.

Not that they don’t talk about it, they certainly do. With great frequency. But they mostly talk in circles, trying to come up with a plan and ultimately failing. It frustrates Ed that he can’t do more to help, since he knows he’s responsible for the situation they’ve all found themselves in. Stede is insistent, though, that he wouldn’t have things any other way, and Ed’s glad, because really, despite it all, there’s still nowhere else he’d rather be than by Stede’s side.



******************************

They arrive at the port around noon the next day, and Stede makes sure they leave the ship in shifts, not wanting to leave Ed unattended, just in case. Stede sits with him while the first group disembarks, and when Ed tentatively brings up his lingering guilt about the situation, Stede is understanding and patient, and then gently reassuring in his response. Ed loves him so much.

Lucius turns up at the door later, a cheeky grin on his face as he gives them both a wave.

"Thought you could use some company out there, if you’re ready to go. The others are back," he says to Stede, the ever-present captain’s log tucked under his arm.

Stede laughs. "Don't trust me on my own?" he asks.

"Not in the slightest," Lucius agrees, making Ed chuckle. Stede stands, stretching slightly, before leaning over the edge of the tub to kiss Ed goodbye.

"We won't be long," he promises, tucking a strand of hair behind Ed's ear. Ed leans into his touch, exhaling contentedly.

"Take all the time you need, love," he replies easily, not wanting Stede to miss out on a chance to explore. "Stretch your legs and all that."

Stede presses his lips together, looking conflicted, no doubt thinking about Ed's distinct lack of room to stretch. The last thing Ed wants is for Stede to feel guilty, so he gives him a gentle nudge toward the door, and Lucius takes it from there.

"Come on, captain," he says, linking their arms together. "Sooner we get going, sooner we can get back."

“Can’t argue that logic, love,” Ed agrees.

Stede glances back over his shoulder once more, and Ed gives him a wave, before thinking fuck it and blowing him a playful kiss as well. Stede laughs, seeming delighted, and pretends to catch it, clasping his hand close to his heart.

"Ugh," Lucius mutters, although he’s smiling fondly at their antics. "You two are disgusting. And you’re making the rest of us look bad in comparison, you know." He tugs Stede out of the room as he says it, and Ed can hear their friendly squabbling as they make their way down the hall. He shakes his head, smiling to himself. He's glad that Stede seems to be making genuine connections with his crew as of late.

He stretches, looking around the room, before his smile dims slightly. While the hours he gets to spend with Stede are lovely, they often feel like they’re over in the blink of an eye. He tries not to let it show, but the boredom he faces when he’s alone is starting to wear on him, often leaving him feeling frustrated and antsy. He needs to come up with a plan soon. He taps his fingers on the edge of the tub in thought, his sharp nails clacking against the porcelain.

A knock on the open door frame startles him out of his musing, and when he glances over, he sees Jim hovering uncertainly on the threshold. He likes Jim. He likes all of Stede's crew, of course, but Jim is one of the few he's really gotten to know the best. They often stop by for a quick chat during the day, usually bringing Ed some kind of treat from the galley as well. It's a welcome distraction.

He has to admit, their current situation is wearing on him. And long hours without Stede, or anyone else to talk to, can be difficult. Still, it’s better than the alternative, so Ed decides to put his brooding on hold for now, in favor of a visit with Jim instead.

He smiles at them in welcoming, motioning for them to make themselves at home. Jim takes Stede's usual seat beside the tub, offering him some elaborate pastry that Roach no doubt made on Stede’s orders. Ed grins.

"Got this for you," they say, and Ed gratefully accepts it, taking a delicate bite of the proffered snack. It had taken him some time to get used to complex human foods, but he finds now he’s becoming quite partial to them.

“Don’t tell Roach I took one,” Jim mutters.

Ed laughs, finishing his treat, licking the excess sweetness from his fingers. “Your secret is safe with me.”

Ed knows the little gifts were, at first, Jim's way of breaking the ice, and an excuse to come and see him. Jim’s not the most sociable, so it makes Ed happy that they'd choose to spend time with him. He feels a sense of camaraderie with them, more so than the others. Jim is a little different. And so is he.

"Thank you," Ed says after another moment, realizing he forgot his manners entirely. Jim nods once, before shifting to face him.

"How's it going?" they ask, quiet but sincere. Ed can tell they feel awkward, and he appreciates their attempt to start a conversation despite that.

He hums, flicking his tail in thought. "Not bad, I reckon," he says. "Stede's been so good to me. You all have. It's just… this situation isn't the best. I'm not made for sitting idle, you know?"

Jim gives him a sympathetic look, their one knee bouncing without a thought. Ed thinks Jim understands well enough.

“And it’s not like I would be doing much different if Izzy wasn’t following us,” Ed murmurs, glancing down at the water. In fact, he’s sure he’d still opt to spend a great deal of time on the ship with Stede, but having no real say in the matter, and not being able to return to the sea when his lover is otherwise occupied, is a definite point of contention. One that he blames Izzy for entirely. “But being stuck here, having the choice taken away from me–it’s difficult.”

"Yeah," Jim says, crossing their arms. "It really sucks, actually. You can say that, if you want."

Ed chuckles. "The good far outweighs the bad," he says honestly. "Being here, with Stede, and all of you… it's like nothing I've ever experienced in the sea. I truly can’t complain. I'm happy, despite it all. Finally fucking happy. And, I dunno, I feel like I belong."

Jim cracks a reluctant half smile, nudging his shoulder. "You do belong. You know that, right?"

Ed turns the words over in his mind before answering. Does he know that? He knows he belongs with Stede, that they belong with each other, but the crew at large? Is he a part of that, as well?

"I…" he starts, trailing off uncertainly. "I guess I hadn't really thought about it. I kind of think of myself as–as a thing the rest of you have to put up with, because I've caused such trouble for everyone–"

"No," Jim interrupts. "You haven't caused any trouble. You make the captain happy. I can't even really explain how you've changed him, but you have. It's obvious to all of us. He's comfortable in his own skin now. More confident and less uptight."

Ed considers this, but it seems Jim's not finished yet. "And the rest of us really like you, too. You're part of our weird little… family." They mutter the last word, rolling their eyes.

Ed can feel a smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah?"

Jim huffs, standing briefly to pace the small room, before settling back down on the opposite edge of the bath. "Yeah, man. You're one of us."

Ed does smile then, glancing down, unsure how to respond. "Thank you," is what he settles on, surprised when he gets a genuine smile from Jim in return.

"Of course," they say. "Did you really think we didn't like you?"

Ed exhales. "It's not that exactly," he says, idly curling his tail up. Jim watches the movement with interest. "Just, you know." Jim's quiet, letting him elaborate, if he wants. He finds he does.

"I guess I've just felt like–like a burden," he admits. "I mean, none of this would be happening if it wasn't for me. Every decision Stede's made since I came aboard has been with my safety in mind, and I just feel a bit like I’ve thrown a wrench into everything."

He sighs, tilting his head up toward the ceiling. "And no one has done anything to make me feel this way," he's quick to add. "But relying on other people to take care of things… it's not something I'm used to. I feel like I'm not pulling my weight."

Jim scoffs. "You don't have any weight to pull, man. You’re healing. That's your job, and what you should be focused on."

Ed frowns. "I'm good," he argues, gesturing to his overall physical state. "You all patched me up just fine."

"Yeah, but how are you up here?" Jim asks, tapping the side of their own head. "You don't just get over what happened to you. You gotta process it and shit. Talk it through," they add. "That's what the captain always says, anyway."

They look down at their feet for a moment, before continuing.

"You know, I was there. When the Captain found you. Or, Olu did, really, but Captain was the one who insisted we take you along. I saw–I saw what they did to you. Coming back from all that, the way you did, it's kind of amazing. And we were all worried, when we thought you might not make it."

Ed’s still not used to it, having other people genuinely care about him and his well-being. "I'm sorry–" he starts, and Jim makes an exasperated noise, splashing water at him.

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad, dumbass," they mutter, "I'm just trying to tell you–we all like you, okay? This isn't anything we wouldn't do for any other member of the crew. Not that you're crew, if you're… with the captain or whatever, but, you know. You're an important part of whatever this is. That's all I'm trying to say."

Ed presses his lips together, finding he has to hold back tears. Ridiculous, he thinks. His emotions feel so much closer to the surface since he started allowing himself to have them.

"I–thank you," he murmurs, unable to think of a better response. "I love Stede," he adds candidly, although he's sure everyone is well aware of that particular fact. "And you're all very important to me, too, and I'd like to get to know all of you better. I'll never forget how everyone took care of me, even when I was being a dick."

"You had every reason to be a dick," Jim says gently. "A lot of humans suck. Hell, I'm a dick more often than not. But everyone here accepts that. We found our place, and our people, yeah?"

Ed blinks, and Jim looks away, studiously pretending they don't see the tear that leaks from his eye. He hastily scrubs his hand over his face, taking a deep breath, before exhaling, playfully nudging Jim with the end of his tail.

"Yeah," he agrees, his smile growing when Jim reluctantly smiles back. "You're right. We have." Ed’s touched by their sincerity. "Thank you," he adds again. "Not really used to talking about my feelings."

Jim chuckles. "Neither am I."

Ed grins. "It's nuts, though, right? Shit, I'm so fucking in love." His face feels warm, just thinking about Stede. About his mate.

Jim laughs quietly. "That's obvious to everyone," they say, making Ed's face feel even warmer. "I'm not being gross, like Lucius," they're quick to add, "I'm just saying. It's clear you make each other happy. And I'm glad."

Ed's grin softens, as he shifts in the water, resting his head on his arms, leaning against the side of the tub. "I'm glad, too," he murmurs. "Being with him makes all this worth it."

Jim scuffs their boot against the floor, nodding in understanding. They pause for a moment, moving back to the seat beside the tub, hesitating before asking, "obviously, none of my business, but Lucius says you're like, the captain's husband now."

It's not exactly a question, but Ed nods a confirmation regardless. "I, er–I asked Stede to be my mate," he explains. "It's what merfolk do, when we find the person we want to spend our life with." He glances down at the water, a shy smile on his face. "Stede says that’s basically a marriage."

Jim nods. “Cool," they reply, sounding sincere. “I wasn’t sure if Lucius was making shit up or not.”

Ed laughs.

"Nah,” he says, shaking his head. “Not this time, at any rate. I have, in fact, married your captain.”

Jim gives him a mock-offended look. “And I didn’t even get an invite.”

Ed laughs. “It was pretty sudden,” he says. “Guess it was more of an elopement.”

Jim barely manages to hold back a smile. “Well, congratulations, then, I guess.”

“Thanks,” Ed murmurs. He hesitates, before adding, "I fucked up the first time I did this. I mated with the wrong person, for the wrong reasons, and now we're all dealing with the fallout."

Jim's quiet, letting him talk. Ed wonders how much the rest of the crew really knows about the entire situation. He feels like he owes them some explanation, although he supposes Lucius knows most of the story, and surely told the others some of it. Still. Talking to Jim is okay.

"Izzy, my first mate, isn't ready to admit it's over," he says slowly, glancing over at Jim.

They nod. "Yeah, Lucius said as much," they reply, confirming Ed's suspicions. He finds it doesn't bother him.

"I thought–well, I'd never even considered that he'd be looking for me, after the way we left things," he says, idly touching the scar on his face, a permanent reminder of that last fight. "I guess that was foolish, I should have known he'd pull something like this." He sighs, shifting onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. "I dunno what to do about it, though, and it's driving me mad."

Jim makes a sympathetic noise, leaning back against the wall and stretching their legs out in front of them, unconsciously mirroring his posture. "Captain seems to hope we'll lose them here, at the port."

Ed exhales. "I hope so, too. But…" he trails off, knowing it's unlikely. "We can swim fast, and we're good at tracking ships. And Izzy's really fuckin' clever, as much as I hate to admit it."

"Yeah, I don't think the captain actually expects it to work," Jim replies, "but no one else has any better ideas."

"Including me," Ed mutters. It damages his pride, not being able to come up with a better solution.

"Hey," Jim says, nudging his arm, "don't beat yourself up, okay? We're all a little out of our depth. Especially you," they say. "Literally."

Ed snorts. "That’s fair."

Their conversation is interrupted by the return of Stede and Lucius, with Pete in tow. Lucius trails behind Stede, carrying a second-hand mirror under one arm. He gives Ed an absolutely wicked grin when he catches his eye, and Ed immediately knows what it’s for. He grins, too.

"Captain bought a sex mirror," Lucius says dramatically, making Stede's face flush a deep red.

"Lucius," he hisses, glancing at Ed, obviously looking for approval. Ed gives it to him with a sly smile.

"Oh, baby,” he purrs, shifting closer to the edge of the tub, reaching for Stede. “You did fuckin’ great with this.”

Stede lights up, forgetting his embarrassment now that he has Ed's blessing, and there is a brief flurry of activity as they decide where to hang it, wanting to make sure it sits at the right height. Lucius seems to have a lot of opinions, but no real desire to help.

Once it's hung, and Ed finds himself staring back at his own reflection, the mere thought of having a new way to experience intimacy with Stede sends a delicate shiver of arousal down his spine. He reigns it in for now, instead thanking Lucius and Pete for their help.

Lucius winks, leaning into Pete's space. "I'm kind of jealous, truth be told. And proud. This idea was pretty inspired."

Jim groans, muttering something about finding Olu, before making their exit. They pause in the doorway, glancing back at Ed, as if to make sure he’s okay. Ed smiles softly, murmuring, “thank you for the food and the company.”

Jim nods, rocking back and forth on the balls of their feet. “Yeah. Anytime. Really,” they reply, giving him a mock-salute before ducking out the door.

Stede takes their vacated chair, sitting down and primly crossing his legs, reaching out to rest his hand on Ed’s arm as he addresses Pete and Lucius. "And thank you both for your help," he says, "despite the lewd remarks."

"I mean, you tell me you're buying a sex mirror and expect me not to make lewd remarks?" Lucius replies. "Oh, and you'll never believe what else we ended up with." He rolls his eyes when he says it, which only serves to pique Ed's interest.

"Oh, of course!" Stede exclaims, reaching into his pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper, wrinkled and time-worn. He unfolds it, showing it to the rest of the room's occupants.

"A treasure map," Lucius supplies, his words dripping with obvious sarcasm. Ed just raises an eyebrow, looking to Stede for further explanation.

"Well, yes," Stede says. The front of the map shows a chart of the sea, one distant island circled with obvious flourish. And when Stede turns it over, Ed sees a more detailed map of the island itself, complete with a cliche X marking a spot of supposed importance. "Although we don't know what kind of treasure, exactly."

Lucius regales the story to them, how they were approached by two strange women on the docks, who insisted they had something Stede needed.

“And I told them, you know, he’s so not interested,” Lucius says with a laugh. “I mean, look at him. But they weren’t prostitutes.”

“They weren’t prostitutes, or criminals, or anything else you want to accuse them of,” Stede says. Ed can tell they’ve had this exact discussion before they entered the room.

Lucius rolls his eyes. “Yeah, sure captain, but I wasn’t about to let you get mixed up in all that. So, they pulled out this map instead, probably because they figured that was a little more the captain’s speed, to be frank.”

“Perhaps they sensed that I was an adventurer,” Stede says, which sounds much more dignified. Ed squeezes his hand, trying to hide his smile.

"Thought they were gonna ask for money," Lucius adds, a hand on his hip, "but they didn't charge him, surprisingly. Then I thought they were trying to pickpocket him, I mean, he looks like an easy mark."

Stede makes an offended noise, and Ed presses his lips together to keep from laughing.

"They didn't do that, either," Lucius continues, "so I dunno what, exactly, their game is, seems like a really weird and elaborate prank? Send some silly looking blokes on a wild goose chase and all that."

"Yeah, well, mate doesn't mean the same thing to most humans as it does to you two," Lucius retorts. Ed would be inclined to agree, but something about the small island intrigues him. He examines the map more closely, tracing a fingertip along the marked route. It feels familiar and strange at the same time, and he suddenly feels certain that this is where they need to be. He doesn’t understand, but he doesn’t question it, either, as he continues to study the map.

“They also said the island is a safe haven, and that we would be protected there,” Stede adds, further piquing Ed’s interest. He glances up, watching the back and forth between Stede and Lucius, before Pete interrupts, addressing Ed.

"Do you understand?"

Ed hesitates, glancing between Stede and Lucius. "Not exactly," he admits, seeing Stede's expression fall slightly. "But…" he trails off, brow furrowed in thought as he studies the map further. He doesn't understand, perhaps, but he feels drawn to the island in a way he can't really articulate. Finding a way to actually say that, though, proves impossible. "A treasure hunt, huh?" he muses instead. "I suppose that is rather pirate-like."

"They said it won't take long to get there," Stede adds, excited that he’s got Ed on his side. "Two, maybe three days, if the wind is good."

"I mean–we don't even know if there's anything to find," Lucius interrupts. But they all know how Stede can be once he’s made his mind up about something, and they're desperate for a plan. For some kind of direction. “Do we really want to pin all our hopes on this? It could be for nothing, and I just–I don’t want you to be disappointed, if it’s not what you expect.”

Ed feels a touch emotional at that, realizing that Lucius isn’t arguing just for argument’s sake, but to protect Stede from, what he thinks, is an elaborate prank. This only serves to endear Lucius to him further.

"You’re not wrong to be suspicious,” Ed says, nodding toward Lucius. “But, it's still intriguing," he adds, both for Stede's sake, and his own. He’s not sure how to tell the others just how curious he is, how the map lights a spark of… something inside him. He wants to talk to Stede alone, first.

"Well, what else are we gonna do?" Pete chimes in, once again being the voice of reason. "If the captain wants to check it out, I say we do it. It can't hurt anything, can it?"

Ed appreciates him very much right now.

"Unless it's a trap," Lucius mutters. Ed also appreciates his caution, and he knows he’s not going to let his guard down anytime soon, either. Still…

"Bit elaborate for a trap," Ed decides, "and unless you have some human enemies that you never told me about, I don't see how it could be."

"And, look," Stede adds, "We've got no other plans right now, and I won't have Ed confined to this tub much longer. I know it's miserable."

"Maybe not," Stede murmurs against his lips, "but this has to be a miserable way to live."

"S'not so bad," Ed breathes, gentle fingers carding through Stede's hair. "I've got unlimited access to you, baby."

Stede closes his eyes and luxuriates in the feeling of Ed's nails lightly scratching his scalp. "Mmm, Ed," he sighs, looking somewhat distracted. "I hate that you're stuck here, that I have to leave you by yourself for so many hours each day."

He turns back to the others, to ask, "Wouldn't it be better to find a home base to figure out our next move, rather than sailing about aimlessly? At least–at least Ed could have somewhere to swim."

The discussion goes back and forth for several more minutes, and Stede, bless him, is patient and open to the argument against it. But in the end, it’s three against one, and it's decided that they'll set a course for the mysterious island. They’ll always be on alert, and if things start to look bad, they’ll simply change course.

Pete and Ed agree, and Lucius gives in when it's clear he's outnumbered. He sighs, before reluctantly nodding.

"All right," he says, making a note in the captain's log. Probably something snarky, but no one comments on it.

"We'll tell Buttons the new plan," Pete says, and Ed gives him a look of appreciation. "Come on, babe," he adds, tugging on Lucius' arm. "We’ve taken up enough of the captain’s time.”

Lucius grins, glancing toward the mirror as if remembering it. "Yeah, okay," he agrees, seeming to perk up. "I'm sure they've got plans, anyway.” They both giggle immaturely. “I'm gonna sketch a copy of the map and then we'll give it to Buttons, yeah?"

"Please," Stede agrees. Lucius nods, carefully tucking the worn parchment into his logbook, being respectful despite his protests. Then Pete's ushering him out of the room, leaving Ed alone with Stede. Just the way he likes it.

Stede locks the door behind them as they file out, before turning and leaning against it, exhaling a deep sigh.

“I am making the right call, aren’t I?” he asks. He looks uncertain and anxious, and while Ed knows that Lucius made some good points, he does wish Stede’s scribe wouldn’t be quite so argumentative.

“You are,” Ed confirms, reaching for him. “You always make the right call, honey.”

A smile pulls at the corner of Stede’s mouth. “Honey,” he murmurs. “That’s lovely.”

“Just like you,” Ed replies easily, giving his sleeve an impatient little tug.

Stede chuckles. "Thank you for your support," he says, beginning to undress, leaving his clothes in a pile on the floor.

Ed gives him a gentle smile. "I'm always gonna be on your side," he replies, making room for Stede to join him in the water. "We're a team. Plus…" he trails off for a moment, as they situate themselves, finding a comfortable position with relative ease. They're practically experts at it, by now.

"Plus?" Stede asks curiously, as Ed settles against him. Stede wastes no time, beginning to plant gentle kisses on his shoulder.

Ed hums, thinking things over. "Plus… I know it's just a drawing on a piece of tatty old paper, but I'm very curious about it. It’s gotta mean something. It makes me feel like–like that's where we need to be."

He can feel Stede's smile grow, still pressed against his skin. "It's silly, but I feel the same way."

Ed shifts in his arms, enough to meet his gaze. "Well then, I think it's important to at least check it out. If there's nothing there, no harm done, right?"

Stede nods. "My thoughts exactly."

“Glad that’s settled, then,” Ed murmurs, before leaning in to capture Stede’s lips in a gentle, lingering kiss. Stede gasps, and Ed licks into his mouth, their tongues brushing intimately.

The kiss soon turns heated, as Ed tangles his fingers into Stede’s hair, holding him close. Stede’s making little, appreciative noises all the while, quiet hums of contentment that grow needier as time goes on.

"Do you want to try out the mirror?" Stede breathes when they finally part for a breath.

Ed can feel Stede’s arousal pressed against his tail, and he grins, his own body beginning to respond as well. "Yeah, I really do," he murmurs. He gives Stede’s hair the gentlest of tugs, smirking to himself when Stede gasps. "You need to see how good you look taking my dick."

Stede groans, his eyes hooded. "Oh, god, Ed. I would love that."

"Well, then," Ed replies, kissing up Stede's neck, whispering in his ear, "get yourself ready for me, hmm? Because I’m so ready for you.”

******************************

It's absolutely obscene, Ed thinks, as Stede bounces on his cock, fucking himself at a slow and steady pace. He alternates between gazing into Stede's eyes and watching their reflection, hypnotized by the sight of his length disappearing into his lover's body.



"Fuck, Stede," he groans, hands on his hips to help guide his movement. Stede glances over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of their reflection, and Ed grabs his ass instead, spreading him open, giving both of them a better view. It’s gorgeous, and Stede is suddenly adorably bashful, hiding his face against Ed’s shoulder.

“God, I’m quite–that’s certainly–”

"Look at that," Ed whispers. Stede shudders, clenching, as if trying to pull him deeper still. "Look at how you take my dick, baby. You’ve got such a pretty hole."

“Ed,” Stede gasps, lifting his head to gaze into his eyes, until Ed tilts his chin gently, showing him their reflection instead.

"Oh, Ed," Stede moans, his own cock bobbing between them, shyness already forgotten. “Touch me, darling, please.”

“Mhm,” Ed agrees, one hand snaking between them, wrapping around Stede, stroking him slowly. “How’s that?”

Stede’s head falls back as he gasps up toward the ceiling, rocking his hips to fuck into Ed’s fist. “Perfect. Don’t stop.”

Ed wouldn’t dream of stopping right now, feeling absolutely intoxicated by Stede’s pleasure, the way his body feels around him, warm and tight, almost greedy.

“I’ve got you,” Ed murmurs, swiping his thumb over the head of Stede’s cock. Stede makes a quiet, desperate sound, yet neither of them speed up, content to hover in the moment. It’s slow and reverent, and then Stede’s kissing him, licking into his mouth, never once faltering.

“I love you,” Stede breathes between kisses, “oh, Ed, I love you so much.”

“I love you, too,” Ed whispers back, chasing his lips whenever they part. He’s close, arousal coiled tight in his gut as he begins to trail kisses down Stede’s neck, glancing over his shoulder at their reflection. “Fuck, we look good together.”

Stede turns his head, following his gaze to focus on where they’re joined, watching how Ed’s cock stretches him open. “Ed–I’m–I’m so close.”

“Me too, love,” Ed replies, stroking him, fucking him, steadily taking him apart. “How about you come for me, hmm?”

Stede’s thighs tremble, and he bites his lip, nodding. “Yes, yes–fuck me, Ed…”

“That’s it,” Ed groans, about to tip over the edge himself. “Fuck, you’re beautiful, man.”

Stede’s flushes at the praise, and it’s times like these that Ed almost can’t believe he’s real, and that he gets to have him. He feels so lucky to be the only one who gets to see Stede like this. And then Stede comes, his back arching as he shudders through his orgasm, clenching around Ed’s cock, bringing him along for the ride.

“Shit,” Ed hisses as he spills into Stede, filling him up, working him diligently through their shared climax. Stede’s panting and trembling by the end of it, collapsing against Ed as he tries to catch his breath. Ed’s right there with him.

“Fuck,” he mutters, one hand running up and down the curve of Stede’s spine, petting him soothingly. Stede lets out a breathless little laugh, nuzzling his face against Ed’s neck, kissing his pulse.

“Okay,” he says after a few moments, finally catching his breath. He kisses Ed once, before pressing their foreheads together. “The mirror was a good purchase.”

Ed laughs.

It certainly was.