#ler!stede

Bobbing with the current, the Revenge drifted peacefully through the sea. Most of the crew was on-deck, chatting and messing around in their moment of peace. However, in the captain’s quarters, two men relaxed, one info-dumping while the other thumbed through random numbers of Stede’s vast collection of novels.

“And did you see that bird’s nest? They had to be Snowy Plovers, no question. Oh, I wish Lucius had brought his sketching journal.”  Stede sighed dreamily, slowly pacing around the room as he spoke. 

Ed hummed, not looking up from the copy of Hansel and Grettle. Stede had allowed him to browse whatever he wanted in the library, though he rarely read anything cover-to-cover. The blonde man continued, not yet noticing his companion’s lack of attention.

“There were so many interesting creatures on that island! I mean, the orange was the real treasure in it all, but I do so enjoy exploring nature when we travel.” Turning on his heel, he spun to face the bearded man once again. “What do you think, Ed?” 

“Uh-huh, yeah. Good, uh, land and shit,” Edward half-heartedly replied, flipping a few more pages into the book. That’s when Stede finally noticed that he wasn’t really listening.

“Edward!” The pirate jolted, shutting the book and actually meeting Stede’s eyes. “You weren’t even listening to me, were you?” Stede huffed, crossing his arms with an almost adorable pout.

“Uh…kinda? I mean, I heard the bit about the birds…” Ed mumbled most of his response, looking away. Yeah, he’d only heard a few words of the other man’s spiel. “Fuckin’, uh…book was distracting.”

With a huff, Stede sat down beside him, picking up the book. “I’m glad you’re interested in literature, but I was talking. It’s a bit rude to ignore people, isn’t it?” While he was a bit annoyed, Stede’s tone was a joking one. He even poked the man’s ribs in a playful manner, though he hadn’t expected Ed’s flinch.

“Damn, did I hurt you?” Stede sounded worried, a profanity even slipping in. He was more panicked than a normal friend should’ve been, though neither commented on it. 

“No, didn’t hurt. Takes more than a fuckin’ finger to hurt me.” Ed swatted Stede’s hand away, his beard hiding the very slight blush on his cheeks. He hadn’t felt a touch like that since…well, it’d certainly been a while. “Just felt…I dunno, fuckin’ weird.” 

“Weird?” Stede spoke softly, his worry melding into confusion. What could possibly feel weird to Blackbeard? He’d only lightly poked the man, and his ribs aren’t…oh. Oh. It took everything Stede had to keep a straight face as he said his next words.

“Might your ribs be a bit sensitive, Ed?” 

Edward nearly did a double-take at the words and his tone, snapping his head in the other man’s direction. “Sensitive? I’m…I’m fuckin’ Blackbeard. Sensitivity doesn’t apply to me.”

Stede rolled his eyes. Yeah right… Stifling a smirk, the blonde slowly slid his hand towards Ed’s side. Before he could do anything, though, a rough hand snatched his wrist. Edward’s eyes met his, full of some unreadable emotion.

“Don’t. Don’t you fuckin’ dare, Bonnet.” His tone was gruff and dark, though the emotion in his eyes gained some depth. It was almost…giddy? The word felt foreign when describing Ed, though it fit to a tee.

“Hmmm…I think I fucking do.” Using his other hand, he squeezed Edward’s side. The feeling was such a shock that a damned giggle left the dread pirate’s mouth, his arms moving to clamp to his sides.

That sound made Stede’s stomach fill with a strange fluttering feeling—one he often felt around Edward. He decided to pursue it, scooting closer and wiggling his fingers into Ed’s stomach. 

The feeling wasn’t that intense through his layers of clothing, but it definitely still tickled. Biting his lip, Ed squirmed, trying to shove at Stede’s hands while still protecting himself. It should be noted, however, that he didn’t put up much of a real fight.

“My, Edward. I think someone’s a bit ticklish…” Stede chuckled, trying to slip his fingers under Ed’s arms. He’d had a small taste of the other man’s laughter, and had become hooked, He had to hear more. “I think it’d feel a bit nicer if you let out that laughter, Ed. Don’t you?”

When the eccentric man managed to wedge his fingers up to Ed’s ribs, the pirate knew he was done for. The dam broke, surprisingly bright giggles filling the quarters. They were still gruff, of course—still, the happy air was hard to ignore. 

“Oh dear. I think someone’s got a case of the giggles~” Stede cooed, one hand wiggling on the man’s ribs as the other poked and spidered on his belly. Was he pushing his luck? Oh, absolutely. It was, however, well worth it to see Ed’s silly smile.

 “F-fuhuhuck- Stehehede! Fuhuck ohohoff!” Twisting and wriggling around, Ed hid his face in his shoulder. The bearded man’s heavy boots skidded on the wooden floor, leaving small scuffs. Stede would deal with that later.

The feeling was…well, it wasn’t awful for Edward. He would never let the crew see him like that, of course; he had a reputation to maintain. With Stede, however, it felt nice to laugh. To let a few of his walls down without the fear of the mental rubble coming back to crush him. He wasn’t going to admit any of that, but it was true: his blush, however, was a different story.

“Well, I would, but I think I can see some pink underneath that salt and pepper of yours. Are you blushing, Eddy?” Stede used a slight nickname, his tone incredibly playful and teasing. He was determined to keep Ed giggling for as long as possible. 

“Screhehew youhu!” Edward tried arching his back, but that only freed his ribs up more. Slipping his fingers beneath Ed’s leather, Stede wiggled his fingers against the thinner fabric of his undershirt. That got quite the reaction.

“GRK- FAHAHAHAHA! FUHUHUCK YOUHUHUHU!” Ed’s bright giggles ramped up to loud, raucous laughter. A few snorts worked their way in, making Stede’s heart melt. Oh, how he loved that sound…

“I must say, this is a fine symphony. I’m loving all the onomatopoeias, and your laugh is so melodic!” Wanting to be a bit more mean, Stede hummed a lovely tune by Bach, pretending that his fellow seamen’s ribs and belly were piano keys. “I just love tickling the ivories, don’t you?”

The bearded man couldn’t respond, too lost in laughter to form a coherent sentence. While it was nice to laugh his cares away, he was starting to wear out. His throat was drying up, and his sides were starting to ache. He patted Stede’s wrist, managing to speak through his amusing cackles. “S-STAHAHAP! STEHEHEDE!”

Immediately, Stede pulled away, sensing Ed’s weariness. He didn’t want to push too much. “Goodness, Ed, I-I’m sorry. I got a bit carried away. Are you alright?”

Closing his eyes, Edward took a few deep and giggly breaths. He was certainly tired, but not to an uncomfortable degree. “Qu-quit worryin’... Takes mohore than a little laugh to knohock Blackbeard down.” The red hue on his cheeks slowly subsided, his giggles drying up. Ed recovered pretty quickly.

“Good, good,” Stede sighed, smiling softly. Finally noticing that his hands were still on Edward, he scooted away, blushing. Ed cut him off before he could make a fool of himself. 

“Ya know, it’s been a while since anyone’s had the balls to do somethin’ like that to me. Good on ya, Stede.” He clapped the blonde on the shoulder, though didn’t let go after. Instead, he flipped their positions, swiftly pinning Stede to the couch and nearly straddling him.

Ed made quick work of Stede’s resistance, even though there was hardly any to deal with. “There’s a reason for that, though. Wanna guess why?” He pinned the flamboyant man’s arms above his head without any hesitation. Stede couldn’t help the squeaky giggles that bubbled out of him, already squirming. He shook his head. Edward leaned down and whispered in his ear, scraggly beard hair tickling the poor man’s neck. He was in for a long evening...

________

Down in the captain's quarters, Ed was laying on the couch, with Stede kneeling at his side, and Ed was trying his best to be nonchalant about being asked to pull up his shirt. But he would be lying if he said the action of doing it under Stede's watching eyes didn't make him blush.

Stede had a soft piece of fabric to use as a rag and a small bowl of water, in which he mixed in some lavender soap (he knew it was Ed's favorite.) He dipped a portion of the cloth into the soapy water.

"Ready? Let me know if it stings at all, but it should just take a moment."

"Aye aye, Captain."

Stede huffed a laugh and tenderly brought the wet cloth to Ed's skin.

Oh, Ed thought, that feels…nice.

Stede, ever so careful, dabbed the fabric along Ed's healing wound. He was trying his hardest to not hurt Ed at all, but when he took at quick look at Ed's face, he could see that Ed looked relaxed, and Stede let out a quiet breath he didn't know he was holding. The fact that Ed was willingly letting him care for him like this and, seeming to enjoy it, made his heart swell.

As Stede continued his cleaning, they made soft conversation, and once Stede had felt he had sufficiently cleaned the area, he grabbed another cloth to then begin to dab it dry.

"There," Stede smiled, "all clean." He set down the cloth and gently brought his hand back down, letting his thumb take a few soft swipes on the skin around the wound to ensure that he had dried it properly.

And Ed jumped with a gasp.

Stede quickly stopped and pulled his hand away.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Ed. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Ed stammered a bit. "Uh, um…no Stede, uh…no, you didn't." Ed cleared his throat.

A look of doubtful confusion graced Stede's face. "Ed, are you sure? Your reaction seemed like I had hurt you…"

Ed signed before admitting, "It wasn't pain, Stede…," his blush from earlier creeping back onto his cheeks.

"Then what….oh." Stede's eyes went wide with surprise and a smile started to grow on his face. "Ed, are you ticklish?"

Ed let out an embarrassed groan and closed his eyes, his whole body going hot now as the blush took over his entire being.

"Hmmmmmm somethinglikethat." Ed quickly confirmed in his best attempt to seem casual about it.

"Oh, Ed," Stede smiled fondly, "it's quite alright to be ticklish. Almost everyone is somewhere!"

Stede playfully gave Ed's tummy a quick scribble and Ed jumped again with a little squeak.

"Stede!"

"Alright, I'm sorry," Stede smiled in apology and pulled his hand back, "I won't do it again."

Stede shifted and stood from his kneeled spot next to Ed on the couch, grabbing the bowl of soapy water and the makeshift rags he used to clean Ed's wound. He began to make his way to the ship's washroom, but Ed's voice stopped him.

"Stede…"

Stede turned back around to look at Ed still laying on the couch.

"Yes, Ed?"

Ed didn't know how to say it. He felt like he physically couldn't. He wanted to curl up into a ball of embarrassment and be swallowed by the couch. But Ed wanted it, and knew Stede would stay true to his word unless he said something.

Ed opened his mouth to speak words, but when nothing initially came out, he sighed and brought his hands up to hide his face.

"I…don't want you to….not."

Ed could hear the slow, confused footsteps of Stede coming back to his form on the couch.

"You don't want me to not….what?"

Letting out a huff, Ed squirmed in his spot on the couch. He was hoping that'd be enough for Stede to get the hint. Goddammit.

"I don't want you to…not…t-...." Ed cleared his throat again and took a breath, "....tickle."

The footsteps stopped and it was quiet for a few seconds, but to Ed, it felt like a lifetime.

"Ed," Stede said softly, "do you want me to tickle you?"

Ed made a noise behind his hands and brought his knees up before letting them drop down to the couch again and then gave a small, hesitant nod.

Hearing the footsteps walk towards him again, Ed felt Stede's presence settle next to him with the dip of the couch cushion as Stede sat himself on the edge next to Ed's legs.

"There's no need to be embarrassed, Ed. Why, I happen to think it's actually quite fun!"

At that, Ed shifted some of his fingers to take a peek at Stede and was met with an expression so sweet and genuine that he could hardly stand it. He let out a little whine and moved his fingers back to fully hide again.

Stede giggled, thinking Ed looked absolutely adorable, and brought his hands to hover over Ed's still exposed belly, letting his finger tips just barely graze the skin. Ed's body stiffened in anticipation underneath him.

"And of course I'll tickle you."

Stede started to lightly wiggle his fingers against Ed's tummy and Ed squeaked, his back arching up for a moment before falling back to the couch. He began squirming back and forth, a flood of giggles starting to stream from his lips. The skitter of Stede's fingers on his bare skin felt like tingling, electric sparkles and oh was it a fun feeling. And the fact that it was consensually deliberate, that Stede was wanting to do this with him, made every sensation that much more sweet.

Sweeping and spidering his quick, light fingers all around Ed's belly, Stede was beginning to giggle himself, the act of tickling Ed bringing him so much joy.

Suddenly, Stede darted his hands down to test a few quick squeezes on Ed's hips and was rewarded with a surprised squeal.

Ed's hands shot down from his face and he lurched forward, his reflexes instinctively making him grab at Stede's wrists to pull them away.

Stede stopped instantly and let Ed take a breath.

"Is that spot too much, Ed?" Stede asked sincerely.

Ed paused and let go of Stede's wrists. "Um…no, not too much…just tickled a lot...but in a fun way."

A smug look made it's way onto Stede's face.

"Hmm. How about a game then?" Stede gently pushed down on Ed's shoulders to lead him back to his laying position on the couch. He then cupped his hands around Ed's elbows and maneuvered his arms above his head before letting go and sitting back. Stede smirked.

"Keep your arms up, Ed."

Ed's eyes went wide and he bit his bottom lip, already fighting back more giggles at those words.

"Mmmhmmhmm, and…what if I can't?"

Stede raised his eyebrows and wiggled his fingers. "I think we both know the answer."

That made Ed pull his hands down to hide his face again when, "Shit!," he put them back up above his head. 

Stede laughed. "Trying to lose already, Ed?"

"Nohohohooo…"

"Don't worry, there are plenty of tickles to come."

Stede started again slowly, following a circling pattern around Ed's tummy, letting his fingers wander around the curve of Ed's sides and up across his ribs.

As the ticklish sensation kept building, Ed was fighting his arms from trying to come down and interfere. He truly didn't want to interfere, but this game was proving already to be quite difficult.

But then again, maybe he did want to lose to see what Stede's punishment for him would be…

Stede's voice snapped him back from his own inner battle. "I can see you're trying so hard for me, Ed," Stede let out a little mischievous chuckle, "but shall we up the intensity a bit?" His fingers now started to quickly skitter around Ed's torso, jumping around from spot to spot, with the occasional surprise armpit tickle that made Ed's arms jump down halfway before managing to bring them back up again.

Squirming around with more vigor, Ed felt like he was being electrocuted with tickles, and it was getting harder and harder to keep his arms up as the zipping sensations coursed through his body. Ed's laughter was freely pouring out of him and it was wind in Stede's sails.

"Now, Ed, what was it that I did before that made you squeal? Hmm…," Stede continued his tickling as he pretended to think, "Was it this?" He jumped his hands to Ed's underarms and gave the centers a quick taser with his fingers.

Ed squawked and his arms jumped down again, but just as quick as Stede's hands were there, they were off to the next spot and Ed brought his arms back up and gripped the pillow sitting against the arm of the couch for dear life, bracing himself.

A squeeze to his ribs.

"This?"

A vibrating, clawed hand to his belly.

"Or was it this?"

Pokes going up and down his sides.

"Was it here?"

Ed was about to combust. All the various changes of tickles and sudden movements from spot to spot and the smug teasing had him faltering, his grip on the pillow going white-knuckled.

"Ah! I remember!" Stede, in his utter delight, didn't wait another second before jumping back down to squeeze at the junction where lower tummy met hips.

A high pitched squeal rang through the air as Ed's arms came crashing down, pillow still in hand, and it smacked Stede in the face.

There was a sudden still and quiet in the room. Ed looked at Stede with wide eyes realizing what he had done, and the eyes that looked back at him with rising eyebrows told him one thing: he was in trouble.

"Now, Edward…" Stede began, and just those words alone already sent Ed into a giggling, playful beg.

"Stehehede! Nohoho, it was an accidehehent, I promise!"

Stede narrowed his eyes, teasingly skeptical. "Mmhmm, I don’t know Ed. I think I see your nose growing." He grabbed the pillow out of Ed's grip and flung it across the room in a display of joking outrage. "This definitely calls for punishment!"

Shifting from his place at Ed's legs, Stede flipped himself around so that he was sitting on Ed's chest. Placing his hands back on Ed's hips, he began to repetitively squeeze.

Ed went ballistic. His legs were flailing about, unable to do anything about the shocking jolts that had taken full control of his body. He tried to arch his back, but with Stede's weight now on his upper body keeping him in place, he couldn't do much else besides push at Stede’s back with his hands. The way Ed couldn't even see Stede's ticklish movements seemed to make it even worse.

"Fuhuhuck!! This isn't fahahahair!"

"I don't know, Ed, this seems perfectly fair to me! It's not my fault you're so adorably ticklish."

Shit, Stede's teasing was getting to him so badly, and paired with the insanely tickly pulses ruminating into his bones, Ed was in tickle Hell (Heaven.) His eyes squeezed shut as his bubbly shrieks got higher and higher in pitch with every evilly calculated pinch at his hips and it wasn't long before he was in full hysterics.

"Steheheheede! Nononono nahahahaha! Shihihit!! I'm sorryyyy!"

And just like that, everything stopped. Ed's legs slumped back down to the couch as Stede's weight lifted from his chest and was replaced with a gentle hand rubbing up and down his side.

Ed's remaining giggles continued to filter out past his lips as his chest heaved in order to catch his breath. He slowly started to come back down to earth and opened his eyes to see a softly smiling Stede looking down at him.

"How are you feeling, Ed?"

"Hmhmhmhmmm, you're mehehean."

"Oh? Is that right?"

Ed nodded.

"Well," Stede continued, "just know there's more to come. That was just punishment for hitting me with the pillow. I haven't given you your punishment for bringing your arms down…"

Ed's eyes went wide.

Stede chucked. "And I'm going to have to keep checking and cleaning your wound…that is, if you'd let me?"

Ed looked directly into Stede's eyes and was met with a hopeful, questioning stare. This caused a new flush to rise to Ed's cheeks and his heart fluttered. Knowing that Stede was wanting, and was essentially asking, to tickle him more had his insides vibrating and he was filled to the brim with a childlike glee.

Ed excitedly squirmed under Stede's gaze. "Hmhmhm um…might have to check it frequently…just to be sure."

Stede beamed. "Of course, Ed." He then stopped his hand rubbing Ed's side and gave him a couple pats on his tummy. "How about we go and have a nice cup of evening tea and relax for a bit, hmm? Then we can take care of your other punishment later tonight…and, mayhaps, I can look at that knee of yours..." Stede winked.

“Stede,” Ed blushed furiously. That was so not fair, Stede knew what that tone of voice did to him! Two could play at that game. “No need to get so worked up, love… it was just a little bit of jam!”

“In my HAIR!” Stede stomped his foot, pointing at the splodge of strawberry jam that sat firmly on the side of his head. “You are so very lucky my hair was already dirty, or we would be having very strong words right now!”

Of course it wasn’t luck at all. Ed knew Stede washed his hair routinely every four days, lathering it up with goop from a fancy little jar and letting it sit for exactly six minutes before rinsing it out. Ed knew, because he kept him company each time, watching with wide eyes as Stede hummed to himself, waiting patiently for Stede to gesture for him to come over so he could have his hair tended to, as well. 

“As it is, well. Obviously I cannot let this go unpunished.” Stede extended his hand to point directly at Ed’s chest, then crooked a finger at him. “Come here.” 

“Whatcha gonna do, Gentleman Pirate?” Ed tried to sound cocky, but even to his ears he knew he wasn’t selling it. “What sort of punishments do you rich lot have for disobedience?” 

Stede cocked his head with a feral smile that made Ed weak at the knees.

“We submit them to a tickle torture, of course.” 

“Hngh,” was all Ed managed, face flushing a deep pink as he jumped back several paces. 

“What’s the matter, Ed? Scared of a little tickle?” Stede raised his hands and wiggled his fingers menacingly. 

“No!”

“No, you’re not scared? Prove it, come over here and take your punishment like a good boy.” 

“Steeeeede!” 

Oh, this was playing dirty.

“Whatever’s the matter, love?” Stede asked innocently, stalking towards Ed like a jungle cat. 

“Nonono Stede!” Ed squealed and covered his face. “Dohohon’t!”

“Don’t what?”

“Tickle me!”

“Oh, darling! If you insist!” 

Ed shrieked so loud he was surprised Izzy hadn’t come running. He tripped over his own feet in his haste to flee, catapulting himself face first into the thick fur rug piled high with cushions. This was no amateur fuckery.

Stede was on him in an instant, perching on his arse and grabbing his wrists to pin above his head. 

“Keep those out of the way, there’s a good chap!” He said jovially, and oh, Ed had no plans to move them. His exposed torso gave Stede a bright, shiny canvas to work with and he wasted no time digging in. Ed’s hands, pinned by Stede’s words alone, tangled in the blankets as devious hands worked their way up and down his ribs, playing him like a harpsichord. Ed’s legs kicked out behind him, his feet thumping against a cushion as Stede worked his ticklish magic on his nerves. 

“Stede!” Ed shrieked in laughter, squirming under his partner’s delicious torment. Stede made a noise of acknowledgement above him, changing tactics to trace his fingertips along the backs of his ribs. “Nonononono not there not there not there!” 

“Not here?” Stede hummed, digging his fingers a little more firmly and drawing a stream out loud giggles from his squirmy victim. “Well then where would you like me to tickle you then? I’m open to suggestions.” 

Ed couldn’t reply, too lost in his giggles and feeling giddy from the teasing. 

“Now what about, and this will require some cooperation on your part my darling, I tickle you just up here?” 

Stede walked his fingers up to Ed’s exposed armpits and rested them there. Ed’s instinct was to yank his arms down, throw Stede off and show him what a real pirate tickle torture looked like but… well. He didn’t. What he did do was brace himself and lay completely still, waiting with eager anticipation for Stede to start his attack. 

“There now, that wasn’t so hard now was it?” Stede dipped to press a kiss to Ed’s exposed shoulder before digging in ruthlessly, moving back just in time to avoid an unintentional headbutt. Ed shook with laughter, hands balling into fists above him in a desperate attempt to keep still, to keep Stede’s hands on him for as long as possible. Edward Teach was history's greatest tactician for a reason after all. He’d planned this fuckery and it was going swimmingly, so he intended to hold out for as long as he could. 

Except after a few minutes, Stede stopped, and slid away. Ed couldn’t help the whine of disappointment that escaped him as he turned to see what was possibly more important than tickling him to death. He met Stede’s eyes, which were wide for only a second before they narrowed into slits. 

Oops. 

“Edward Teach,” he started, and Ed swallowed thickly. Double fucking oops. “Did you or did you not put jam in my hair on purpose to provoke me into tickling you?” 

“Uhm…” Ed blushed from his toes to his hairline. “Kinda did.” 

“Oh, kinda did, eh?” Stede crossed his arms over his chest and Ed was reminded with startling clarity that this man had two children. “And why did you do that instead of, I don’t know, asking nicely?”

Ed hid his face behind his hands with a whine. “Because I wanted you to be mean!” 

“Did you now?” Stede hummed, and suddenly Ed was being flipped onto his back. He yelped at the sudden movement, but had little time to complain as suddenly Stede was rolling up his sleeves and gripping him by the hips. “I’ll show you mean.” 

Before Ed could take in what was about to happen, Stede’s mouth was on his belly blowing raspberry after raspberry, while the hands that held his hips down kneaded into the soft flesh. Ed exploded, back arching off the blankets and legs kicking furiously as he shrieked, hands tangling in Stede’s hair to… pull him off? Keep him still? It was hard to say. 

“Is this mean enough for you?” Stede’s voice was muffled against his belly and fuck that tickled better than anything he’d ever experienced! Ed wanted to reply that yes, holy shit yes this was exactly what he’d been aiming for when he’d woken up that morning in a state of yearning and had decided a professional fuckery was called for. Unfortunately he was too busy giggling as Stede left little tickly kisses along his waistline, his hands shifting down a little to dig his fingertips into his thighs. 

Ed could only lay back and laugh giddily, hands tangled loosely in Stede’s hair as he worked him over. Every part of his body was alight with giggles and he loved it, being held down by Stede was his favourite place to be in the whole world. But he was reaching his limit, his chest heaving and belly sore from laughter. Of course, Stede could tell too, because he was just so magically perfect. 

“Are you sorry for putting jam in my hair?”

“Yehehehes! Yehehehehes I’m sorry!”

He pulled back, running his palms over Ed’s abdomen to chase away the lingering tickles. 

“Do you feel thoroughly punished?” Stede teased softly. Ed giggled through panting breaths. 

“Yeah. I love it when you get mean,” Ed grinned, and it was Stede’s turn to blush. “Am I forgiven for the jam?” 

“I suppose so…” Stede sighed theatrically. “You did apologise very nicely. And it could have been worse, I’m due to wash my hair tonight anyway-”

Ed’s eyes widened at the same time Stede’s did. For a moment Ed anticipated Stede breaking the ceasefire and going back in for the kill, but instead he grinned and broke out in giggles. 

“Even when provoking me you’re considerate!” Stede dipped his head to steal a kiss, which Ed reciprocated with a happy sound. 

“Does this earn me a reward, then?” He wiggled his eyebrows cheekily. 

“Alright, alright. Come lay over my lap and you can have some gentle back tickles, if you’d like?” Stede gave a soft smile that had Ed’s heart jump to his throat. 

“I love you so fucking much,” he said, lurching up for another kiss. Stede chuckled against his lips. 

See!?! Dude's practically asking to be wrecked! I mean, he's asking to be stabbed but whatever. I can interpret this however I want and I think Ed wants to be tickled shitless.

After that, it was knife throwing with Jim, mostly to watch them at it and see them blush under their hat at Oluwande’s supporting commentary.

This had continued all day, only really sitting for meals with Stede. It wasn’t until he joined the crew for story time that evening did he notice the stiffness in his back and shoulders. 

“Iz,” he whispered to Izzy who was half falling asleep on his shoulder. His first mate jolted a little, looking up at him drowsily. 

“What is it?” 

“Tense back. Need you to crack it.” 

Izzy frowned at him. “That isn’t gonna help you.”

“Uh, yeah it will. Always has before.” 

“You’re stiff from standing all day, right?” At Ed’s sheepish nod, he carried on. “Then it’s muscles. You don’t need me to snap you around, you need a massage. Ask your boyfriend.” 

Ed looked to where Stede was engrossed in reading, dramatically imitating a French accent that had Frenchie and Wee John in giggles.

Ed’s eyes watched carefully as Stede licked the pad of his thumb before turning the page. 

Those hands? On him?

“You have such good ideas, Iz.” Ed turned to him with a grin. Izzy only sighed, turning his attention back to the story, and trying to muffle his own laughter at Stede’s voices.

When Ed followed Stede back to their cabin, he made a show of pouting. Stede watched him with a small smile.

“What’s that face for?”

“Oh, nothing.” Ed lowered himself down on the sofa with an overdramatic groan. Stede appeared beside him, hands on hips, looking at him with concern.

“Is it your knee? Izzy told me you weren’t wearing your brace properly, Edward.” 

Oh, did he? Little snitch. 

Ed made himself look even more pathetic. 

“Not my knee, Stede. My back. It’s all stiff and horrible and Izzy wouldn’t crack it for me.” 

“Oh, poor lamb!” Stede tutted, dipping to press a sympathetic kiss to his temple. “Take off your robe, darling, and I’ll see what I can do.”

Ed eagerly shimmied the banyan from his shoulders and tossed it aside. Stede smiled warmly as he sat beside him, patting his knee. 

“Here,” Stede said softly, tugging Ed up and letting him fall across his lap. “I used to do this for my daughter all the time.” 

“Wha-?” Ed started, but cut off in a gasp when Stede’s nails started to trace across his back. A full body shiver racked him, and he buried his face in Stede’s thigh to hide his pink cheeks. “Fuck me.” 

“Good?” Stede enquired cautiously. Ed wrapped his arms around Stede’s leg like an octopus, arching his back up shamelessly into the touch. 

“Don’t stop, ever. I’m never moving again.” 

Stede chuckled gently. He let his nails drag up and down Ed’s naked back, curling in patterns across the skin, tracing around the edges of his larger tattoos. 

“Talk t’ me,” Ed mumbled sleepily. 

“What about?”

“Anything. Your voice ‘s pretty.” 

Stede was glad Ed couldn’t see his face, which now matched the red of Ed’s discarded banyan. He cleared his throat before speaking. 

“Well, that’s very kind of you to say Ed.” He traced his fingers up towards the back of Ed’s neck, making him shiver. “Alma would crawl over my lap when she was younger and demand I tickle her back. She would get very cross if I stopped. I would keep going until she fell asleep or Mary called her away.” 

Ed shuffled slightly, turning his head to look up at him. 

“If anyone tries to call me away I’ll shoot ‘em.” 

“I locked the door, darling. Nobody will come to pull you away from me.” Stede smoothed his palm down the length of Ed’s spine, as though he were trying to encourage the aches from his bones to leave of their own accord. Ed shivered, toes curling in his woolly socks. His hands felt like pure silk against his back, and Ed found himself (not for the first time) feeling exceedingly grateful that his love kept such an intricate skincare routine. Ed’s own palms, rough and dry from sea salt and rope burn, could not compare to Stede’s. 

Ed was almost asleep when Stede’s nails wriggled suspiciously against his lower back. Jerking back into the land of the living, Ed tensed. 

“Oh! Sorry love, is that not what you wanted?” Stede’s palm rubbed over the spot apologetically. 

“No no, just… took me a little by surprise.” Ed shifted his hips, relaxing once again as Stede kneaded a sore spot with the heel of his hand. “Not a bad one, I guess.” 

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to spook you.” Stede sounded genuinely upset with himself, and well. Ed wasn’t having that. 

“You can… do it again? If you like. ‘S up to you, I don’t care.” 

“Ah,” Stede giggled a little to himself. 

That’s better.

“My poor angel. Let me make it up to you.” 

Ed knew he didn’t need to brace himself. Stede knew him better than he knew himself, knew that in that moment he needed softness. A gentle back rub, with the gentle tickles that turned his body into goo. He wrapped his arms around Stede’s legs with a contented sigh as his partner set to work. 

Slow fingertips skittered across his lower back, drawing a low, giggle infused groan from his core. Fuck, he could live here forever. 

Ed cut him off. "No, no, Stede. You didn't do anything."

A look of relief crossed Stede's face. Honestly, the last thing he'd want is for Ed to be mad at him. But if it wasn't something he did...

"Then what is it, love?"

"It's just...ughhh..."

"Ed, it's okay." Stede gave his knee a little rub of encouragement.

Ed let out a sigh and crossed his arms over his chest. He was supposed to be a pirate, and pirates don't complain about this type of stuff. They don't let it affect them. Pirates don't whine.

Ed pouted. "...my tummy hurts."

Stede paused for a moment, but then couldn't help but let out a huff of a laugh. "Ooh, is that all then?"

"Steeeede, it really does hurt." Ed rolled over to face toward the back of the couch.

"Ed, no, I'm not trying to make fun. I just...thought it was something a little more serious, I guess. But, tummy aches? I'm good at handling those." Stede stood from his spot at Ed's legs and moved towards the end of the couch where Ed's head was currently residing. "Here, sit up for a moment."

Ed slowly sat up as Stede sat himself in the vacated space. Once Stede got himself adjusted, he placed a hand on Ed's shoulder.

"Okay, lie back down." Guiding Ed, Stede helped him settle back in his lap. "Comfy?"

"Yeah..."

"Good." Stede smiled. He then placed a hand on Ed's belly and tenderly began to rub in a soothing back and forth motion.

It was like Stede's touch was medicine, easing the tension in his body and blocking out the pain. Ed let out a happy sigh and closed his eyes.

"Mmm...that feels nice."

Stede smiled and continued on with his rubbing for a few minutes, the two of them contently enjoying the calming silence and each other's presence. However, it came to a point where Stede decided he wanted to change it up a bit. His hand now started to rub in a circular motion, but with each time around he began slowly lifting his palm until all that was left of his hand was just light tracing finger tips.

Ed's breath hitched as his stomach muscles twitched, barely holding in a laugh.

Stede felt his mouth form into a soft smirk. "How does this feel?"

Not being able to answer without letting a giggle slip it's way out, Ed bit his lip.

"Mmmhmhhmhmhm."

"Good, yes?"

"Mmmhmhmhmm!"

"Sorry, what was that?"

Stede broke his pattern to flutter at the strip of exposed skin where Ed's shirt had ridden up, causing Ed to gasp.

"Steeeheeheheeed!" Ed's little giggles were now starting to stream from his chest.

Stede couldn't help but laugh himself. Ed just looked so cute, his fresh giggles sounding bright and childlike. And it felt good to now be seeing a smile on his face.

"Do you like this, Ed?" 

"Mmmhmhhmhheehehheeee!"

"You do?"

"Neeeheheehe n-nohohooo teheheasihihing!"

Stede playfully gasped. "No, teasing?! But it's just so fuuun!" Pausing his tickling, Stede pinched the hem of Ed's shirt with two fingers and leisurely pulled it up to his chest, revealing his whole belly.

"Steeeeeede!" Ed put his hands up to cover his face, trying to hide his blush.

"Yeees?"

"Nooohohohoo..."

"Do you want me to stop?" Stede's voice was smug.

Ed didn't answer, his anticipatory giggles enough of an indication that he was enjoying this. He just couldn't say it.

"Oh, so you want me to keep going then?"

"Mmhmhmhehehee!" Ed couldn't take Stede's teasing, his face feeling hot and red beneath his hands. 

"Then who am I to deny such an adorable request?"

Stede's fingers began lightly skittering all over Ed's belly. Not enough to make him flail or cackle with laughter, but enough to cause Ed's belly to quiver under his touch and produce a happy, airy stream of giggles. Stede just wanted to make him feel good.

Ticklish tingles danced across Ed's skin, making him lightly squirm in Stede's lap. He couldn't deny that he loved this. It felt especially nice after having only felt pain all day and, to put it simply, Stede's touch made him feel loved. He felt cared for. And until he met Stede, those were feelings he never really experienced much of. Yeah, Ed was going to let himself enjoy this. Pirate be damned.

Stede's fingers traveled down and found themselves fluttering back and forth along Ed's pantline which amplified Ed's giggles.

“Steeeeheheeede!”

"C'mon now, Ed, put your hands down and let me see your face!"

"Neeeeheheheheee!"

Stede chuckled. "You can do it!"

Playing along with Stede's game, Ed started to slowly slide his hands down, at first stopping just below his eyes and looking up at Stede.

"Ah, well look at that, you're already halfway there! Just a liiiiittle further!" Stede's fingers now moved up to lightly scribble over Ed's bellybutton.

"Eeeeeeeeehahahahahaaa!" Ed let his hands drop, his bright and joyful smile shining like it was their lighthouse.

Stede's heart swelled as his own smile matched Ed's. "There he is!" Looking at his glowing face, Ed looked just positively adorable, and Stede felt like he was about to burst with how much love he felt for him. His Edward.

After a couple more minutes of skittering around Ed's belly, Stede decided it was time to slow it down and returned back to a calming rub along with some tracing here and there. Still giggling a bit, Ed let out a content sigh.

Stede leaned down and kissed his forehead. "How are you feeling? Better?"

"Yeah," Ed smiled, "much."

______________

The following day Stede was by himself in his room, reading his book from where he left off yesterday, when a voice broke his concentration.

"...Stede?"

Stede looked up to see Ed standing near the doorway, shuffling from foot to foot in his stance.

"Yes, Ed?"

Ed was hesitant, but he continued anyway. "Um...so uh...m-my stomach. It, uh...it hurts again..." Ed stammered his way through, shifting his eyes around, avoiding direct eye contact with Stede.

Stede nearly melted. He knew Ed was feeling fine for Ed had just been up on the deck hooting and hollering while practicing his knife throwing with Jim. 

His tummy didn't hurt, he just wanted more tickles. He had a tickle ache. 

Stede gave him a fond smile.