Chapter Text
“According to the map, there are snakes in this area, so – just be careful.” Stede’s voice is light, maybe a bit cautious.
Ed feels the swooshy tingle of adrenaline fleeing his system, of brain cells turning back on. He blinks, his vision clearing. His dagger is in his hand, a truly very thoroughly dead snake at his feet. His knee twinges – apparently he’s been, er, flailing a bit. Lucius has drawn back slightly, clutching the shovel handle protectively to his chest. Stede is looking at him, Stede and his stupid poofy khakis, Stede and his stupid tea-dyed, tatty-edged map that Ed is extremely sure hasn’t been around, hasn’t seen a damn thing. Stede and his stupid kind, gentle, open face.
Ed’s not sure if lingering rage or growing embarrassment is going to win out. He grinds his teeth, tries to slow his breathing, forces his face into a nonchalant, devil-may-care sort of grin that maybe possibly more closely resembles a pained grimace. “One fewer now, mate!” he says, aiming for carefree, landing closer to grim.
“Ah,” says Stede. “Yes. Well, nicely done, Ed!”
A pause. Ed runs his hands through his hair, which is very frizzy today. His stomach growls loudly, and he sees Lucius eye him suspiciously. He lowers his arms rapidly, crosses them over his torso.
“Well, shall we carry on?” Stede says brightly after another moment passes.
“Uh, boss, I think Captain Blackbeard might be a bit hungry,” Lucius says in a stage whisper, as though Ed isn’t right there , or – worse – like he’s a little kid who can’t use his words. Ed seethes, grumbles under his breath, cutting it off abruptly when he realizes Stede might think it’s his stomach. “Oh, Edward, why didn’t you say something?!” exclaims Stede. “We could have stopped ages ago, dined in that clearing with the Dryocampa rubicunda ! Lucius, what do we have in the way of food in that bag of yours?”
“You only said to bring water and the shovel, Captain, we don’t have any food,” responds Lucius.
“Lucius! Of course we were going to need food! We can’t be out all day and not have a meal ! What about –”
Okay, so here’s the thing. Ed’s not exactly rueing “ long and hard ” the day he let Izzy leave, but he might be rueing it a little bit . Yeah, it was extremely uncool for him to try to kill Stede (though he did aim low and left, and Ed did not miss that), and yeah, things on The Revenge have generally been a lot more pleasant since his departure, but, fuck, man, Izzy was the closest thing Ed’s had to family since he left his mum all those years ago, and now he’s gone. It’s easy to talk to Stede because… well, Ed’s not actually sure why it’s so easy to talk to Stede, it just is – but he and Izzy had a shorthand born of long years of experience together, a shared understanding of situations and people and threats, and it’s just fuckin’ weird to not have that anymore. It hurts, honestly. And Ed’s trying really hard to not take that out on Stede, even if Stede did drag him out on this stupid fucking hot, humid, hair-ruining, shitty, miserable fake treasure hunt. So maybe a fucking snake needed to be the casualty instead.
And, okay, yes, he is really fuckin’ hungry.
“Let’s eat the snake,” Ed says abruptly. Stede breaks off from scolding Lucius – the scribe is smart, and Stede has a sneaking suspicion he didn’t forget lunch so much as intentionally leave it behind to provoke an early departure from the adventure, and that is worse, as it’s making Ed upset, when Stede was very clear that Lucius was expected to support this adventure and ensure Ed had a wonderful time. “It’s already dead, yeah? Might as well make use of it.”
“What an excellent idea, Ed!” Stede beams, flooded with joy at the fact that Ed’s not only participating and problem-solving, but doing so in a way that prolongs their day together. Maybe this isn’t such a disaster after all. Maybe Ed is having a good time. Maybe he won’t leave yet. Maybe. “Lucius, start a fire! We’ll have roast snake for lunch!”
“ Captain! I have a wooden finger !” Lucius whines. “Pete made this for me, I’m not going to singe it.”
“I’ll start the fire,” Ed offers quickly, which is just as well, since Stede’s not sure what he was opening his mouth to say. Lucius is… kind of right, honestly, but Stede has no idea how to start a fire, much to his humiliation. Ed continues, “We need to move away from these dead leaves, though, they’ll light this whole bloody forest up. There, there’s a clearing just that way. Boy, find a stick you can wrap the snake around, make a spit. And cut the head off, get rid of those venom sacs – no, don’t argue with me, just cut it off, it’s fine, it’s dead.”
“Ooh!” Stede says. “A cookout! How fun! I’ll go find some leaves for plates!” There. Now he’s being helpful, and he doesn’t have to deal with flames, or ash, or – ugh – venom sacs . The image of a cleaver and severed goose’s head flashes before his eyes, and he shudders, slightly nauseated, as he rushes away.
It doesn’t take long to find three leaves in a jungle. Stede lingers next to a tree, fanning himself with their makeshift plates, as he watches Ed, crouched on the ground, gently blowing on nascent flames, adding kindling to the pile. Ed’s eyebrows are drawn together in concentration, and Stede thinks he looks so competent , all the time, he always seems to know what he’s doing. Stede could watch him work all day, learning, maybe, or just enjoying being around someone who’s so bloody good at everything he does.
“There!” Ed says, leaning back on his heels. “Ready for the snake, boy.” He surveys his handiwork, a satisfied grin adorning his face. Stede feels something huge and warm bloom in his chest, sudden and unexpected, and he inhales sharply.
“You okay, mate?” Ed asks, shifting his gaze to Stede, looking mildly concerned.
Stede smiles, tears his eyes away from Ed’s face. “Ah – yes. Just fine! Not sure where my mind went, there. Must be getting a bit hungry myself! Here, this log will make a fine bench, don’t you think?” He moves across the clearing to sit on a fallen log, pats next to him.
Lucius is surprisingly skilled at barbecue, finding just the right spot over the coals and setting a pace of rotation that results in a beautiful, even sear on the snake in short order. It’s quiet as he roasts, the crackle of the fire and the rustling of leaves the only sound, each man lost in his own thoughts. Ed stretches luxuriously, arms above his head, shirt riding up, and Stede feels strangely tingly in the pads of his fingers, the soles of his feet. He’s grateful when Lucius says, “I think it’s ready,” a few minutes later, and takes the leaves from Stede to serve the two captains.
They eat quietly for a minute or two, until Stede can’t bear it anymore, it’s far too quiet, and he breaks the silence with a cheerful question that’s also maybe a bit of a plea: “Admit it, this is a bit of fun, isn’t it?”