#platonic ofmd x reader

[our-death-means-flag]

Hi!! Would you be able write ed taking care of reader? Basically like reader falling into a bad depression spiral and ed being the first to recognize what’s going on and trying to help them through it? I’d like it to stay platonic if that’s cool bc also lesbian here I just like baby girl-ifying these old dudes lmao Thank you!! Also loving ur writing so far!!!

For No Reason at All

Ship: Edward Teach & Reader (platonic) Notes: As much as you usually like the whole “talk it through thing, now, you really really don’t want to talk. You’re no stranger to dark days when it feels like nothing good will ever happen to you. It’s always been something you could mostly ignore. Of course, the Revenge is a different kind of ship… Warnings: depressive episode, negative self talk, some slight disordered eating (skipping meals) Title Song: I Can’t Handle Change - Roar

You woke up and really didn't want to get out of bed. 

You’d been feeling shitty for the past few days and you really should have seen it coming. That was how it had always worked. But you’d really thought it would be different now, better.

You were much better off now. You were on a good ship, you had a good crew, good captains, a fucking salary, friends. Hell, if someone had asked you months ago what your perfect job would be, this would be pretty damn close. What more could you possibly need? What reason did you have to still feel so awful when everything was going so incredibly well?

A part of you wanted to put your fist through a wall, you wanted to scream at the futility of it all. But you didn’t. You were too exhausted.  Another part of you wanted to curl up in a ball and just stay in bed. That was much more tempting. Being able to just stay here and rot sounded great. 

But you had work to do. You’d worked through this sort of thing before and you could do it again. The crew needed you.

But did they really need you around? You’re no master pirate by any stretch of the imagination. What could you possibly do for them? You were just another pair of hands. No… Actually, you’re just dead weight. And everyone else would be much better off if you weren’t-

Nope.

You sat up quickly. No, you couldn’t do that. If you let your brain go off on these ridiculous tangents then you’d never get out of bed. You grabbed a shirt and pants and got dressed, not bothering to make an effort beyond that. You pulled your fingers through your hair as you walked and immediately got to work.

You didn’t bother getting anything for breakfast. you felt absolutely awful and you knew that it would all taste like nothing and you didn’t want to waste Roach’s food.

You didn’t deserve any.

No.

You shook your head as if that would erase your nasty thoughts. It didn’t of course but it was worth a shot. As the rest of the crew filtered onto the deck you got a few concerned looks. That was new. On every other ship you’d worked on, no one gave a shit if you didn’t eat or if you felt bad. But on the Revenge? You knew that everyone cared but you didn’t want to talk about it all right now and you didn’t want to bother them with your stupid problems.

Rather than talk to them, you scaled the rigging. You rationalized that someone needed to check it anyway and it might as well be you. If you were able to run away from your problems, that was just a bonus.  You stayed up there as long as possible. You checked everything that was possible to check and double checked everything as well.

Of course you couldn’t stay in the rigging all day. But you admittedly did wait just long enough for the crew to go inside for lunch before climbing down. You briefly considered going to grab food but decided against it, not only would it put you at risk of getting into a conversation about how you were feeling, but you knew that no matter what it was it wouldn’t taste like anything.  (Maybe you could risk getting stabbed by Roach to grab something small later.)

Still hoping to avoid the crew, you walked all the way to the head of the ship. You rested your elbows against the railing and stared out at the sea. You knew you couldn’t avoid the crew forever but you could damn well try. You figured that someone would eventually find you and then you’d have to talk about things but you were a coward and you didn't want to.

 If you’d been in your right mind you probably would’ve noticed beforehand but as you were, Edward nearly gave you a heart attack when he clasped a hand on your shoulder. You jumped, spinning around to face him. 

“There you are, mate. Everyone was wondering where the hell you disappeared too and-“  Ed’s voice trailed off as he seemed to take you in. “You alright?”

You forced a smile, though judging from Ed’s eyes you knew it wasn’t convincing. “I’m alright. Didn’t mean to worry anyone.”

“Y/N,” Ed spoke carefully. “It’s been fucking hours since anyone’s seen you.”

You furrowed your brows. “What? No… it’s not been…” You looked around and properly saw your surroundings. It was sunset. “Uh… What time is it?”

“Just past eight bells.” Ed answered, still staring at you.

“Shit.” You mumbled. You really had been standing here for hours. You had the first dog watch slot today. You needed to get going. “Fuck. The watch. I’m so sorry. I must’ve… zoned out or something… Sorry.” You moved to leave but Ed caught your arm.

“No. You’re not on watch today, remember?” 

You froze. “I…” you stammered. Ed was right. You’d had the watch tonight but you’d swapped with Pete so he and Lucius could do something together. You had watch tomorrow. “Fuck.” 

Ed sighed, he walked up beside you and rested his arms on the railing. “So…”

Before he could ask, you interrupted. “Sorry Captain. It won’t happen again.” Ed raised a brow. Shit. You needed an excuse or something… “I just didn’t sleep well last night.” It wasn’t technically a lie. You hadn’t slept well at all but that was just another symptom of the actual problem.

Ed actually chuckled sadly. “That’s a good excuse. Used it myself a few times.” He sighed.  “Let me guess,” Ed mused, “You feel awful. Like nothing matters, nothing you do matters and you don’t matter.” You withered under the accuracy. “Roach mentioned you didn’t have breakfast and you missed lunch and I bet that’s because you knew it wouldn’t taste like anything right?”

He glanced over at you and you almost winced. Ed had always had such expressive eyes but this time you felt like he was seeing through you and there wasn’t anything good to see there. 

“That… ah, that obvious, huh?” You stammered out. Was it really that obvious? Was just how shitty you felt just written on your face? You couldn’t help but think back to all the times you felt like this around other people. It was that obvious… And no one ever cared…

“Nah,” Ed shook his head. “It’s not that. You hide it pretty well. You just look the way I feel when my head’s being a piece of shit.”

You paused, seemingly realizing what he’d shared with you. “You… You feel like that?” You hated how fragile and almost hopeful your voice sounded. 

Ed sighed, looking ahead at the ocean around you. “Yup. Have on and off for quite a while.” 

“But you’re…” you fumbled for words. You decided to just gesture vaguely at him.

Ed laughed, but there was a kind of tension that wasn’t usually there. “Thanks. But yeah. I do. Doesn’t matter what I do or who I am…” He paused then added a sardonic laugh and a “It fucking sucks.”

“That’s an understatement…” you mumbled. 

 It was odd. Sure you’d gotten to meet Ed as “Ed” rather than Blackbeard but even when he wasn’t Blackbeard, he was so charming and interesting. You certainly knew why so many people were drawn to him. It felt completely wrong for him to feel the way you do.

“You can come hang out in our cabin with Stede and I?” Ed offered, almost out of the blue. 

You immediately rushed to decline. “No, no, I couldn’t possibly bother you both.”

“Wouldn’t be a bother. I’m inviting you. Besides I’m sure Stede wouldn’t mind if you turned up. Hell, he’d probably appreciate having another person around.” Ed was quick to counter. 

“I…” you considered refusing again but in all honesty spending the evening with Ed and Stede sounded nice… “Are you sure?”

“Of course I am!” Ed replied quickly then paused. “I mean… unless you’d feel better if you just went back to your cabin… that’s fine too.” He finished off a bit nervously. 

“Actually spending the evening with you two would be lovely.” Honestly the idea of going back to your cold lonely cabin felt sad. But one question remained. “Why offer though?”

“Because I know how much feeling like that sucks and if I can do anything to help you then I want to. I mean, we're friends.” Ed’s eyes widened. “Are we? Friends that is.”

You smiled somewhat awkwardly. “I think so. Yeah. If you’d want us to be.”

“Hmm. Friends.” Ed mumbled more to himself than to you. He sounded almost proud. Then he glanced at you with a grin. “We should probably head in then. Though I will warn you, Stede just got a new tea set and he’s very excited about it so expect lots of tea.” 

You chuckled. “Sounds good to me.” As Ed turned to leave, you caught his arm the same way he’d caught yours. “Thank you. Seriously.”

Ed grinned. “Of course! We’re friends, remember. And you’re welcome to stick around with us for as long as you need.”

You smiled back. It hadn’t gotten rid of the weight in your mind but it certainly felt so much lighter with your friends around you.

[just-a-beatlemaniac69]

I really hope that OFMD season 2 will get people wanting to write for Stede more.

Because the lack of Stede Bonnet x Reader fics that are on here (whether it’s platonic or romantic) feel absolutely criminal. 😭

[bertinworms]

Miller's Masterlist

𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹

REQUESTS CURRENTLY: OPEN

⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻

Started: 03/19/2023

Last Updated: 03/22/2023

Total Works: 2

⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻⎼⎽⎽⎼⎻⎺⎺⎻

A/N: So before we get to the fun part, we got to get the not so fun parts out of the way. I'll end up adding to my rules of what I will and won't write, but right now this is what I have.

RULES/GUIDELINES:

what i WILL write

***unless specified or requested, most of my work WILL be GN!Reader

fluff

hurt, no comfort

angst

one shots

platonic pairings (family, friends, etc.)

romantic pairings

comfort

head cannons

SFW pieces

AU's

just ask, chances are it's probably in the clear

etc

what i will NOT write:

smut

major age gaps

underage characters in romantic relationships --- unless specified, characters will and must be at least 19 for me to write about them

rape scenarios

anything harry potter or relating to it

anything remotely related to or similar to any type of cannibalism

Once again, this list might change, be edited, or added to. If you have a specific question about if I write something or not -- just ask! :] So without further ado -- on to the fun things!

─────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────────

✎ BULLET TRAIN ✎

Tangerine x Reader

𖦹 New Opportunities: You are a nurse at a residency near Kyoto, Tokyo. You had been called in to go to the wreck of a bullet train that smashed through a wall into a city. On your way, you spot two men walking on a road looking disheveled. You patch Tangerine up, and he offers you a job working for him and Lemon.  PART 1 ///

𖦹 Late Night Talking: You had been having a hard time recently and it all hits a wall when Tangerine comes home early in a bad mood and accidentally scares you. You end up sobbing in his arms.

𖦹 I Wish You Would: One of your very best friends has just gotten engaged and asks your friend group to spend an entire night partying in celebration. You agree as you adore your friends. Come to find out, one of the security men her father hires regularly just so happens to be Tangerine, a man you haven't been able to get off the mind since a moment was ruined months prior.

─────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────────

A/N: if you have requests, send them my way! and i love hearing feedback! im not super familiar with tumblr really so this is still a HUGE learning curve for me, so if you see something say something! also just to make it clear, i completely reserve the right to just simply not write something!

i'm multifandom so i would love to eventually write for more than just Bullet Train, but that's what im glued to as of right now

●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬๑⇩⇩๑▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●

FANDOMS IM IN AND MIGHT WRITE FOR IN THE FUTURE:

Bullet Train

D!SMP

OFMD

Avengers

The Last of Us

Moonknight

The Mandalorian

Criminal Minds

Grey's Anatomy

most of pedro pascal's characters

arrested development

✧ if there's a fandom or person you want to see me write, feel free to request them! i do some research on who and what im writing for most of the times! if that person isn't on the list send them in, but please add some base details about them so im not totally in the dark!

●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬๑⇧⇧๑▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●

[creepsandpeeps]

Hello! I’m Punkin!

I’m a writer in many fandoms but one that I’ve always stuck around in was creepypasta. After some rekindling with a friend about it, I’ve decided to spring up this blog! Here I will only write for creepypasta, but if you enjoy my writing I have blogs for other fandoms too that are tagged at the end of this post.

Below is requesting rules and such!

Requests: OPEN!

Characters I write for:

Ticci Toby

Jeff The Killer

Jane The Killer

Slenderman

Eyeless Jack

Laughing Jack

Sally

BEN drowned

Liu/Sully

Nina The Killer

Kate The Chaser

Maybe Clockwork

Others if you ask and I’m familiar.

I will write:

Character x Reader

Character x Character

Fluff

Angst

Hurt/Comfort

Found Family

Romantic

Plantonic

Queer Platonic

And more depending on what you ask for!

I will NOT write:

Sexual situations/smut

Pedo-esc situations (romance requests with child characters)

Yandere anything

Anything that I don’t particularly want to! If your request is weird, I’ll probably deny it.

Main blog: @punkin-time

OFMD blog: @feline-bandits

TLOU blog: @the-few-of-us

(Mostly abandoned) MCYT blog: @quinn-styx

[underwhelmingalchemist]

Got tagged in a "get to know your fellow fic writers better" post by @bebx (thank you!), so here we go!

When did you post your first ever fanfic?

2012, I believe. It was an [anime redacted] x reader fic on Deviantart. It's still up because some people genuinely enjoyed what I made and I don't want to take that from them, but jesus h. fuck was it bad. But also, I was 12, so I'm going to cut myself some slack

First character you wrote for:

Luke Skywalker, in a never-to-be-published self-insert SW:EU fic I wrote at age 11. I was obsessed with the Expanded Universe and wrote both me and my crush into it, changed our names, and genuinely thought I could get it into the EU

Main Character(s) you're currently writing for:

OC wise, the characters of my werewolf story. Fanfic wise, I'm currently writing Tony Stark and Steve Rogers for my sort of unofficial, loosely organized kinktober I'm doing on my own. Also, I write Bucky a lot. And Sam.

Character(s) you haven't written about before but plan on writing soon:

Not quite sure, actually. I tend to find the ones I like and stick with them for years going forward

Fandom(s) you're currently writing for:

MCU, mainly, but I'm sure I'll end up with some OFMD fics after tomorrow (Oct 5th)

Platonic pairing(s) you currently write for:

Background characters, but I love Nat and Clint as queerplatonic besties

Romantic pairing(s) you currently write for:

Oh boy, let's go. Not all of these are published, but: stony, stucky, stuckony, winteriron, stevesambucky, sambucky, lokius, destiel, blackbonnet, and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting

Your top three tags on AO3 (if you post your works on AO3):

I spent way too long thinking this was about the tags you post for the most. I think this means the tags you read the most? So I guess that would be smut, fix-it, and 'mutual pining they're just idiots'

Your current platform where you post your works:

AO3!

Snippet of the wip you're currently working on:

It's pure smut, so this is going under the cut

No pressure tags: I know exactly one other fic author who I actually talk to so @unlifeira

“Fuck!” Tony’s hips jutted forward, pressing against Steve. With that little bit of urging, all that self-control was gone, and he was rolling his hips again, dragging his cock against the bulletproof leather. He could feel Steve’s cock under it, reacting to the pressure. Steve’s breath was hot against his ear and neck as he worked on a mark, his work occasionally interrupted with groans at the feeling of Tony against him.

[brwnicons]

Can you do a ofmd one? Also do you do platonic ones? If so can you do like a modern!reader that goes back in time and somehow appears on stede’s ship? Reader has a father/child relationship with Ed and Stede! If you don’t wanna you don’t have to! And please tag me !

☆ Platonic writing makes me so soft I love it <3 Hope you like it! ☆

Platonic Ed & Stede x Young!Modern!Reader

Tags: Gn!Reader, Fluff, Platonic relationship, Ed & Stede are together

TW: None that I can recall!

Please tell me if you find any mistake

☆☆☆

A cradling feeling startled you and as you opened your eyes you could feel something really odd about your surroundings. You could feel a tight rope attaching your body to a harsh surface by your abdomen, making it unable to move or run away. The hot sun hit your face with fierce and could only furrow your brows and squeez your eyes shut, softly whining little asks about where you were.

"Why, good morning, lad!", a blond man dressed in clothes proper from a British history book looked at you with a smile, "Welcome to The Revenge! I'm the Gentleman Pirate and you're now our dear prisoner. We all hope you enjoy your instance here."

And with the blink of an eye, you ended up became adopted by a couple of gay pirates that were curious about your manners and clothes. Phew, what a life, uh?

▪︎ At first it's difficult for you to adapt to the new era. Stede and Ed only notice that you act a bit odd around everyone but associate it with your lack of interaction with people or some kind of social anxiety.

But the truth is that you have to be careful if you don't want to end up mention something you shouldn't by accident (you once comment that you wished to have your camera with you when watching a sunset with Stede and you almost faint when they asked what you meant by it)

▪︎In the end, Stede gets used to your "unusual speech" and plays along, thinking that it might be because you're young. However, it's better to not try to explain him what poggers or lol means.

▪︎Ed, on the other hand, is entertained by hearing you speak and say your usual, weird expressions. He always breaks into laughter when you call someone a hippie or when you tell him something like "yasss queen slay!" when he shows the new outfit Stede chose for him.

▪︎Ed is highly probable to be calling anyone on the crew bestie. Izzy hates it with all of his soul.

▪︎Of course they spoil you rotten with snacks, clothes, jewelry... If you enjoy reading Stede buys you every book he finds. About books, one of Stede's favourite activities to do with you is to read together in his room, ocasionally commenting something from any book that has surprised either of you. You could be together, reading the same book or reading separately while deep in a comfortable silence. Either way, the love and warm comfort can be felt in the atmosphere.

▪︎Ed will teach you how fight! Though he never lets you try to fight against some real enemy since he is afraid you'll get hurt. However, you can try the art of fuckery with him and mess with your enemies!

▪︎Needless to say that the work of cleaning the deck has /casually/ never reached you

▪︎When you dock to some island or village, they love to wander with you, showing you everything around

▪︎You three end up at some food stand enjoying some cold drinks and a snack of your choice

▪︎About food. If you feel nostalgic because your favourite food hasn't been invented yet, you can try to describe it to your fathers captains and you can be sure they'll try as hard as they can to replicate it. Who knows, maybe you can teach them new recipes! [You'll know whose fault was when archeologists happen to find a hamburger and date it more than 100 years before it should]

- [This last Izzy blurb is free because I may be a person but, before, I'm an Izzy simp]

He doesn't accept your incorporation at first, thinking you are too young to be a pirate and that you would only be a burden. In fact, he is only worried about you. He thinks you're too young to enter the bloody world of piracy and violence.

However, it doesn't take much until you make your way into his heart and win his love. He is the one that insists on you learning swordfighting and how to defend yourself more or less. He may be grumpy, but he won't ever yell at you and he's always for you if you need someone to cry on and ask for advice.

If Ed and Stede even fight and you feel lost he's there to comfort you, assuring you he would speak to Ed about it [as much as he hates their relationship].

[gonzo-rella]

Imagine: Blackbeard Asking/Ordering You To Join His Crew (Partially For Izzy)

MASTERLIST | AO3 | KO-FI

Relationship(s): Izzy Hands x gn!reader (implied romantic), Blackbeard/Edward Teach x gn!reader (implied non-romantic), Blackbeard/Edward Teach x Izzy Hands (implied platonic), Frenchie x gn!reader (platonic)

Warnings: OFMD season 1 finale spoilers, just typical pirate stuff. (Let me know if I need to add any)

(A/N: I’m hoping this won’t seem too OOC for finale Blackbeard or Izzy. I’ve got another idea for a finale-based Izzy imagine, where the reader is left stranded with the crew; let me know if you’d like to see it (though I’ll likely write it anyway). [Insert obligatory begging for OFMD requests])

“Next!”

You shuddered at Ed’s harsh tone. 

As you stepped into Stede’s old cabin, you anxiously eyed Frenchie, who was yanked back by Fang. Your eyes widened when your gaze landed on Jim. 

Why were they lying unconscious on the floor? Would the same happen to you and Frenchie?

Everything had seemed so strange today, and no valid explanation had really been given. You hadn’t seen Lucius nor Ed all morning, you’d been ordered to dump all of Stede’s books into the sea and Izzy had been limping around with a toe missing. It was something you didn’t want to question in case you were right about something being amiss. After all, you quite liked your toes as they were.

“You wanted to see me, Captain?” you prompted, voice trembling as you finally locked eyes with Blackbeard. His icy, almost empty stare stood out against the black smeared across his face.

"Yes, Y/N,” he greeted casually, almost dismissively. He was polishing something you couldn’t quite see in the dim light of the room (you assumed it was a weapon). Your heart began to race. “You’re a mediocre pirate. You certainly don’t have the stomach for this life. I mean, you look like you’re about to shit yourself.”

He chuckled, as though he found your terror amusing. The laughter made him seem far more menacing. You swallowed your saliva in an attempt to clear the lump that had formed in your throat.

“But-” A wave of relief washed over you. “Izzy vouched for you, and I think you’re alright. So, what say you to being our cabin boy, eh? Just like old times.”

You stared at him almost blankly for a moment.

“Y-your... cabin boy, sir?” you repeated incredulously.

He leaned forward and sent you a glare. Your heart stopped- at least, that’s what it felt like. If possible, your eyes widened even more. You were too on-edge to wonder why Izzy had decided to vouch for you.

“I’m so sorry, sir.” you quickly apologised, your bottom lip quivering. “It-it’d be an honour to sail with you as your cabin boy, Captain.”

Ed smiled. It didn’t ease your anxiety. Then again, you didn’t think it was supposed to.

“Good. It’d be a shame to have to chuck you into the sea with that mate of yours, wouldn’t it?”

Your face completely dropped.

He glanced between you and Frenchie, then didn’t bother to look at either of you, now focused on polishing his weapon.

“Get ‘em to work, Fang.”

[raggedy-dxctor]

hello! if it's okay, would i be able to make an our flag means death request with ed talking the reader down from an anxiety attack? if you're able to, it would be cool to have a gender neutral reader. no worries if you're too busy or if you don't write for those characters, i hope it's not too much of a bother to ask! i hope you have a lovely day :)

ed claming the reader down after an anxiety attack

this is more of a platonic fic but it's completely up to your interpretation if you want it to be different:))

pairing(s): platonic! ed teach x reader

he's the absolute sweetest about it

he manages to notice it before it even comes on

like you're slightly overwhelmed by the crew and he notices an oncoming anxiety attack and takes you away, making an excuse that he needs you to write something for him

he takes you to the dining area and sits down on the bench with you as you start shaking

so he pulls you into a hug and rubs your arm, reassuring you that you're ok and safe

he will not leave your side until he knows your ok

let's you rant, vent, cry, the lot

always has kind words and reassurance to offer you

his voice is slow and soft, he never raises it or gets angry, he's just purely understanding and empathetic

"i don't know ed i just-" "you know that's ok, right y/n? sometimes we just... don't know what to do and that's ok! you're not alone and everyone is here for you" he brings you into anothwr hug and rests your head on his shoulder, gently rubbing your back

even hums some sea shanties to calm you down

you ask him how he's so good at this and just shrugs, blaming his talent on izzy and stede, apparently they're both prone to moments of panic and anxiety too, so he's gradually learnt the best ways to calm them both down

after that he always subtly checks in on you, if you don't want they crew to know they won't. it's as simple as that. they won't even be suspicious of the fact that you're both lying to them

[littleoddwriter]

Don’t mind me crawling in here :33 Saw that you write for OFMD and I’m yelling..,..,.

Also, you‘re absolutely correct. Stede stole my heart pretty much immediately. Can I request a platonic Stede x transmasc reader?

Reader is extremely young and on the run from his family because of his identity and begs Stede to allow him on the ship. Stede hesitantly agrees but comes to adore the reader pretty quickly. Stede gives him his clothes to wear (they’re a bit too big but the reader still looks handsome in that big frilly shirt :3) and eventually realizes that he sees the reader as his own child.

The whole crew kinda adores the reader. Jim teaches him how to throw knives, Frenchie teaches him a few songs etc.!

I initially had more ideas for when Ed eventually appears but I don’t wanna make the request too long 😅 (just tell me if you wanna continue the story)

New Family | Stede Bonnet & TransMasc!Child!Reader (Platonic)

Hey there!!! Right? He's just so <3 <3 <3 Ah, thank you so much for the request! I really hope you like what I've done with it. I'd be happy to do a sequel with Ed coming along! No idea when that might happen, but feel free to send me your ideas for it. :') OH! And, happy renewal of OFMD!!! :D <3

summary; See above.

notes; TransMasc!Reader; Reader is a Child (unspecified age, but probably around 12 I'd say); Transphobia; Gender Dysphoria Mention; Platonic Relationship; Father Figure Stede; Found Family; Mild Hurt/Comfort (in a way?).

When you had told your parents that you felt more masculine, that boyhood was more attractive to you than the girlhood you felt forced into your entire life, it hadn’t gone over well at all. They threatened you. Either you would accept that you were a girl, or you were going to pay hell for soiling their family with your madness. You knew they were serious. But you couldn’t do it. Being a girl wasn’t for you.

And so you ran. 

In the middle of the night, you packed the few things that belonged to you, escaped through your room’s window and just ran. You had no idea where to, until you bumped into Stede Bonnet on the way to his huge ship. Everyone on the island knew him.

He yelped, dropping what he held in his hands. Clothes and a bag. Exactly what you had packed, too. Was he running, too? 

“Oh, God! I’m sorry,” Mr Bonnet said, bending down to pick up his belongings. 

Watching him, you asked what was burning on your tongue, “Are you running away, too?”

“What? No! No, no, no. I’m not running away. I, um, I-” He attempted to come up with a lie, but failed. His shoulders slumped with his sigh, “Yes, all right. But please don’t tell anyone!”

“I won’t. If you take me with you,” you responded.

“Why would I do that?” he asked incredulously.

“I’m running away from my family. For my own safety. Please, Mr Bonnet! Please take me with you! I don’t care where you go. And I promise I’ll behave!” you started to beg, getting on your knees.

“It’s too dangerous, I think. I’m leaving to become a pirate, kid. That’s not for children,” he told you sadly, kneeling on the ground to be on eye level with you. 

“Please! My parents will kill me if I don’t leave and I can’t get off the island by myself. Please help me,” you tried again, letting the tears well up in your eyes and slip out. Perhaps those would convince him after all.

For a long moment, Mr Bonnet looked at you.

And then he sighed in defeat and nodded, “Fine. You may come with me, then.”

Hugging him tightly for a few seconds, you thanked him over and over again. You were safe from the wrath of your parents, now. You didn’t care about anything else.

______

For a while, Stede doubted his decision to take you with him. It was dangerous out on the sea. Children didn’t belong on a pirate ship. But they also didn’t belong with parents that were ready to do unspeakable things to them simply because of their identity, as he’d found out. You had told him the whole story upon questioning, once you were on the water. He sympathised with you. 

After all, wasn’t that part of why he had run away? Yes, he wanted to be a pirate and escape his boring day to day life on land and experience things; but he also lived in despair in a loveless marriage with children that reminded him that he shall never have what he yearned for. It wasn’t his kids’ fault, of course, but they were the most crushing evidence of his dreams slipping through his fingers. 

Maybe you both had a chance now. 

______

A couple of months later, Stede found that he came to adore you. He had always adored his children and he missed them dearly. So, to have you was like a second chance in a way. With you, he still had a child. At least that was what you were to him. And he promised himself not to fail you like he did with his own children.

During those months, you had also outgrown the few clothes that you had brought with yourself, after a growth spurt. In order to keep you dressed and make you feel good about yourself at the same time, as you liked clothes that were a bit bigger, he gave you some of his. He had more than enough, after all. 

Now, you always ran around in one of his frilly white shirts and a pair of his less fancy pants, which you had picked out yourself, holding them up with a scarf wrapped around your waist. You seemed to be happy. And strangely enough that was mostly what mattered to him at the moment. Piracy almost came second to your happiness.

In fact, though, the entire crew came to like you a lot. You were quite the star among them, making even the most stoic of them smile. They all liked to spend time with you and teach you things, Stede found.

One time he went down to the kitchen and saw Roach teach you how to cut and cook fish properly. The proud smile on your face when Roach praised you for doing good work warmed Stede’s heart. After that, you spent more time downstairs, learning how to cook and preparing meals with Roach. 

Lucius taught you how to read and write, or rather, he continued to teach you how to do it, as you knew the basics already. 

Jim showed you how to throw knives. Something Stede wasn’t the biggest fan of, but he guessed you had to learn how to defend yourself. Besides, it was quite amusing to watch you miss a target again and again, until eventually, you managed to hit it spot on, shouting in glee. 

“Good job!” he told you with a proud smile and a pat on the back. 

You beamed at him, “Thank you! Jim’s a great teacher.” 

In response, Jim ruffled your hair, making you chuckle.

With a fond smile on his lips, Stede watched the scene unfold right in front of him. Jim wasn’t usually known for showing affection, but even they couldn’t resist your charms. The magic of children, Stede mused. 

The next one who taught you something was Frenchie. He taught you how to play one of his many songs on his lute. 

Stede only found out about that when the two of you excitedly called him over one day, along with the rest of the crew, to showcase it.

You played the lute somewhat clumsily, but you were a fast learner and it showed, as you still played it more skilful than he ever could. Frenchie and you both sang along to it, having made up lyrics about your gratefulness for being on the ship and saving your life. Stede couldn’t deny the tears that welled up in his eyes because of it.

Afterwards, he pulled you aside.

“Thank you for this beautiful song, Y/N,” Stede told you gently, holding your shoulder and squeezing it slightly.

You smiled up at him, “Thank you for letting me come with you. I owe you my life and so much more, Captain. Just wanted to do something to express that and Frenchie helped. He’s really nice!”

“That he is,” Stede agreed with you, “And you don’t owe me anything. I’m just glad you’re not having a terrible time on this ship of mine.”

Wrapping your arms around his waist, you hugged Stede tightly. With a content smile, he reciprocated the embrace shortly, rubbing your back.

“Come on. Mr Buttons told me another ship is in sight. A big one. We might get a good loot out of it!” 

With time, Stede’s doubts started to leave him. He’s made the right decision by letting you come with him, he knew.

[our-death-means-flag]

{ Just A Bunch of Ideas }

You might have noticed the section I left in my master list for longer fics. I have a few ideas, here they are, let me know if any of them really catch your interest!

I’m probably gonna write all of them at some point. But you can help me pick the order! :D

BlackBonnet x Reader (possibly becomes Steadyhands x Reader), post-season 1, exploring the unhealthy sides of their relationship

Ed and reader we’re sort of together pre canon (they are very in love but they’re not really official) they end up pulling Stede into their relationship and making it official but then the end of the season still happens

Both Ed and Reader are struggling with Stede leaving them behind. Reader is handling it better than Ed (outwardly).

Of course the whole canon Kraken thing happens with Reader going along with it. They do their level best to keep everyone safe while that happens (including rescuing Lucius) but Reader is still doing just as bad as Ed.

Focuses on Reader and Ed, Ed and Izzy, Reader and Izzy and exploring how they are all kinda fucked up (Reader is kind of a mediator so the Ed and Izzy stuff is mildly better than canon but not by much). I find the unhealthy relationships in this show really compelling and I want to focus on them.

Eventually Stede comes back (possibly Izzy realizes that he Fucked Up™ and gets him) and they have to try and put everything back together.

Steadyhands x Reader, modern AU (kinda), time travel, shenanigans, Established Steadyhands, Based on a dream

Ed, Izzy and Stede are not having the greatest day. After being separated from their ship during a very strange storm, they find themselves completely lost. Luckily they stumble on a ship with a friendly stranger willing to help them out! :D Though it’s undoubtedly the weirdest ship they’ve ever seen. It’s made of some kind of strange material with no visible sails or oars and the stranger manning it is all alone. Said stranger is just as bizarre, dressed in strange clothes and not making any sense. Why would they want a “phone” to “call someone”? What’s a “phone”? What’s a “GPS”?

Meanwhile, Modern!Reader is incredibly confused when a trio of strangely dressed men in a tiny dinghy show up in the middle of the ocean. You have no idea how they got out here or what to do. Especially since they seem so baffled by regular topics. Did they get hurt somehow? A concussion? What year is it? Wait what?!?

Basically just modern!reader showing our boys some cool things in the present while you try to find a way to get them back home.

Steadyhands & adopted child!reader; this fandom needs more platonic/parental fics. Established Steadyhands

Reader, desperate to escape a terrible situation, stows away on the Revenge. You manage to stay hidden for a few days but then Stede finds you. You’re more than ready to fight to defend yourself or offer to work non-stop to be allowed to stay. Instead you’re invited into the captains’ cabin for a nice meal.

You’re stunned by the kindness of the crew and (despite your best efforts) end up getting very attached to them all, especially the strange captains and the protective first mate who all but adopt you.

Unfortunately, running from the past is a tricky thing, both for you and your new parents…

Izzy x Reader to Steadyhands x Reader; you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, jealousy 

Stede and Ed are happily in love and Izzy is having a bad time. The Revenge gets damaged during a raid and they have to stop for repairs. Stede declares an impromptu vacation and Izzy is basically forced to come along.

Then he runs into Reader, an old friend who he hasn’t seen in ages (and who Ed doesn’t know). You two immediately reconnect and spend the entire time together first as friends then as lovers.

Initially Ed is glad that Izzy isn’t just sulking, but the longer he watches the two of you spend time together, laugh together (when was the last time he saw Izzy laugh?), dance, spar, and sing (you somehow managed to convince izzy to sing with you), the more jealous he becomes.

Eventually they have to leave and Ed is kind of glad to leave you behind. But you offer to tag along with them. Stede accepts, glad that Izzy’s been less trouble with you around. 

Ed tries to figure out how to deal with his jealousy (and his weird feelings for you on top of that). Stede tries to ignore how much he likes this side of Izzy and also you. Izzy tries to let himself have nice things and wrestles with feeling like he’s betraying Ed for being around you and how much less annoying bonnet is when he's not laser focused on Ed. And reader tries to figure out what the fuck is going on with these three charming handsome idiots.

[gonzo-rella]

Headcanons: Jim Jimenez, Frenchie And You Aboard Blackbeard’s Revenge

MASTERLIST | AO3 | KO-FI 

Relationship(s): Jim Jimenez x gn!reader (romantic or platonic), Frenchie x gn!reader (romantic or platonic)

Warnings: Nothing you wouldn’t see in OFMD, finale spoilers (Let me know if I need to add any)

(A/N: I figured this would be an alright (albeit possibly quite niche) idea, plus there’s not enough Jim or Frenchie stuff out there. I really like the idea of Ed making the reader his ‘cabin boy’ that I used in this imagine, so it’s kind of implied that this is the reader’s role in these sets of headcanons too (without the romantic Izzy implications, but feel free to imagine what you want, I guess). [Insert obligatory begging for OFMD requests])

JIM

They’re definitely in a better position than you, considering their competence and skills.

That makes it easier for them to get away with helping you.

Jim will stand up for you when you’re being tormented by Blackbeard and his crew.

They know they’re a valuable asset to Blackbeard, and that he’s unlikely to allow anyone to do much damage to them that they can’t handle.

If anyone suggests that Blackbeard might as well get rid of you, Jim will definitely vouch for you.

Sometimes, they’ll lighten your workload when they’ve finished their allocated tasks, regardless of the fact that they’ll probably get into trouble for it.

Though, they’d know to stop when there’s a chance of you getting into trouble for them helping you, since you’re more ‘disposable’ than Jim.

They feel bad for not always being able to help you, but they don’t want to be the person who lost you a toe.

If you’re being underfed (something I imagine being given as a form of punishment), Jim would definitely find a way to sneak you some extra food and water.

Even though they’re not great at emotional support in terms of affection, you really appreciate them putting themself in harm’s way for you.

FRENCHIE

You and Frenchie are at the bottom of the hierarchy on the Revenge when Blackbeard takes over.

Frenchie’s (understandably) too terrified to stand up for you (most of the time, anyway).

He’ll speak up, albeit hesitantly and timidly, when he thinks there’s going to be an immediate and/or especially negative effect on you in a physical, emotional, psychological etc. sense.

You’ll do the same for him, too.

Unlike Jim, he will provide you with a great deal of emotional support in the form of hugs, words of encouragement and singing softly to you (even if Izzy tells him to shut the fuck up).

Like Jim, he’ll definitely help you out when you’re being overworked.

You’ll take on a few of his jobs if he needs it, too.

If you ever get injured, Frenchie will offer to take care of it for you (I’m guessing Izzy will have told you to ‘deal with it yourself’).

He’ll also be your shoulder to cry on if you need.

When he’s struggling too, you’ll try his best to support him in what ways you can.

After all, you only really have each other.

[gonzo-rella]

Talk It Through As A Crew (pt. 1) | Izzy Hands (ft. The (Marooned) Crew Of The Revenge)

MASTERLIST | AO3 | KO-FI 

PART 1, PART 2

Relationship(s): Izzy Hands x gn!reader (romantic), the Crew (Oluwande, Buttons, Wee John, Black Pete, Roach and the Swede) x gn!reader (platonic)

Summary: Oluwande realises that you’re incredibly upset after being marooned. To pass the time and make the best of a bad situation, he suggests that you use your former captain’s policy, which leads to a revelation the crew hadn’t quite anticipated.

Warnings: OFMD season 1 finale spoilers, typical pirate stuff, angst with a bittersweet ending, something you could consider borderline-suicidal ideation (I wouldn’t say it’s too bad, though). (Let me know if I need to add any)

Word count: 2.4k 

(A/N: I absolutely adore this fic- it’s definitely one of my favourites on this blog, and hopefully you’ll agree. I feel like this premise of the crew talking through their feelings after being marooned would also make a great  Blackbonnet (or possibly Steddy Hands) x reader story, so let me know if you’d like me to write that. This is an alternate version of this imagine. Well, it’s alternate in the sense that it also takes place during the finale, but portrays the opposite thing that could have happened. I might write a sequel to this where the reader reunites with Izzy (if you’d like to see it, let me know), but I don’t have an idea worked out yet beyond Bad Blood by Taylor Swift vibes. [Insert obligatory begging for OFMD requests])

The Revenge had shrunk into a dot on the horizon by now.

Everyone appeared so defeated, awaiting death either by sprawling out on the pathetic excuse for an island or sulking (or both). No one wanted to speak. It would have been silent were it not for the sea.

Tears welled in your eyes and a lump formed in your throat. Everything, the conflict, the revenge, the betrayals, had culminated in this, and you weren’t sure that you could hold it in any longer. Even after being part of Stede’s crew, the thought of crying in front of the others was mortifying. They were in the same situation as you, and none of them were crying about it, were they?

Still, what you wanted and what you needed were completely different things. That’s why you finally allowed your sobs to escape. You buried your face in your hands, which were immediately dampened by your tears (and the sheen of sweat that had formed thanks to the harsh rays of the sun).

One by one, the crew looked over at you, something you didn’t notice because your eyes were covered and you had your back to most of them..

“Are they crying?” Wee John asked in a hushed voice- an attempt at one, anyway. You didn’t bother wondering who he was speaking to.

After around a minute, your sobs dissolved into sniffling and whimpering. You peeled your palms from your face, dried them on your shirt then used the backs of your hands to wipe away your tears and snot.

Oluwande examined your face (or what he could see of it), though he was more than aware that you were upset (and he could hazard a guess as to why). After a moment of thought, he rested a hand on your shoulder and gently squoze it. It silenced you for a moment, taking you by surprise. Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed Buttons shuffle over to you, situating himself at your side.

“Don’t worry yourself, mate,” Buttons assured. “We won’t eat you first, will we, lads?”

Well, it was a very on-brand attempt to ease your suspected worry. Black Pete, Roach, Wee John and the Swede muttered a series of noncommittal responses.

Oluwande sent him a glare.

“I don’t think that’s exactly what they’re crying about, Buttons.”

“Oh, so they’re fretting about us only having seawater to drink?”

“I’m pretty sure they’re upset about the… general hopelessness of this situation.”

“That’s fair enough. I, myself, am primarily concerned about the fact that the chances of us all getting out of this with our lives and our flesh intact are looking pretty slim at the moment.”

Oluwande went to speak, but you beat him to it.

“Eat me first.” you mumbled monotonously. “I don’t care.”

Oluwande swallowed his saliva, his eyes wide with worry. Sure, things were looking beyond bleak, but no one else had offered to sacrifice themself like that, especially in such a casual tone.

“Y/N...” he faltered. “I know things are looking pretty dire right now, but-”

“I don’t care about that, either. Not really, anyway.”

The crew glanced around at one another in confusion, though you only noticed Buttons and Olu exchanging a puzzled look

“What’s troubling you, then?” Buttons questioned.

You tensed up at that moment. Oluwande felt you stiffen beneath his touch. 

For a moment, nothing happened. No one spoke. You glanced over to Oluwande as he turned to face Black Pete, Roach, the Swede and Wee John, who all knitted their brows as he looked around at them expectantly.

“Come on, guys.” Olu urged.

“What?” Black Pete asked in a cranky tone, finally sitting up.

“Get in a circle.”

“What are you on about?” Roach questioned.

“We’re gonna talk it through as a crew.”

Your shoulders sank, but you turned to face the rest of the crew anyway. Buttons did the same. 

"Talk what through?” the Swede said cluelessly.

He crawled over to join the almost-circle. Roach moved over and sat beside him.

“Well, we’re all in the same shit situation, but I’m guessing some of us are thinking about different things.” Olu shrugged. “So, why don’t we talk about it? It might make us feel a bit better, and that’s all we can really do right now.”

Black Pete groaned and shuffled over to beside Roach.

“Oh, alright, then.” Wee John conceded with a huff. He wedged himself between Buttons and Black Pete.

The crew (or what was left of it) sat there with similar solemn expressions. At first, the only sound (aside from the sea) was your sniffling as you continued to brush away your tears. Oluwande glanced around at everyone.

“Um...Does anyone have anything they want to share?” he began uncertainly. He lacked the confidence of Stede, who would have persisted with this exercise without acknowledging his crew’s noticeable bewilderment and lack of enthusiasm. 

All he received were blank stares, or, in the case of you and Black Pete, a complete avoidance of meeting his gaze. 

“Why don’t I go first then?” Olu suggested. He took in a deep breath and drummed his fingers against the ground. He focused on them as he spoke.

“Jim... and Frenchie are both still on the ship,” Olu explained. “I mean, I think they are. We don’t really know what’s going on. All we know is we were left here, probably to die, and they weren’t. I’m worried something bad could happen to them, too.”

You understood where he was coming from. While you were all certain on some level that most, if not all, of you were going to die on this island, no one knew what would happen to Jim or Frenchie. Not knowing was far worse than knowing, at least that’s what you thought.

“Can’t be anything worse than this, can it?” Roach shrugged.

“Of course it can.” Black Pete scoffed. “Are you forgetting they're on the same ship as one of the deadliest pirates to ever live, and the dick who… gleefully rowed us out here to die?”

You bit your lip and scratched your cheek uncomfortably.

“I thought Blackbeard was nice now.” the Swede chimed in.

“Leaving us stranded in the middle of the ocean isn’t what I’d consider ‘nice’.”

Oluwande sighed. A melancholy silence fell over you.

“If I managed to survive being part of Blackbeard’s crew, odds are Jim’ll be alright.” you commented. “I’m not so sure about Frenchie. Hopefully, they’ll both be okay.”

“I hope so too.”

Olu cleared his throat.

“Who wants to go next?”

Black Pete sighed.

“I’ll go.” he reluctantly volunteered.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to, mate.” Olu insisted, picking up on Pete’s hesitance.

“No, it’s fine.” Pete assured, waving his hand dismissively.

“Alright, then. Go ahead.”

“Well, as you all know, Lucius has been missing since last night.” Black Pete began. “After what Blackbeard did to us… fuck knows what happened to him.”

“What are you guys worrying about other people for?” Wee John probed.

“We know what’s gonna happen to us.” Pete answered grimly. “All we really have to worry about now is what’s happening to the people we… love.”

You clenched your jaw and huffed. Unfortunately, the others heard the hoarse rumble.

“Ah, so that’s what’s troubling you.” Buttons concluded.

“What?”

“Love.”

It wasn’t just the sun that was heating up your cheeks now, was it? You looked down as you rubbed your forearm anxiously.

“No…”

“Well, that was the worst lie I’ve ever heard.” Black Pete snorted.

You didn’t bother to argue. Somehow, you were already neck deep in a hole you’d managed to dig in less than 10 seconds.

“Aye,” Buttons agreed. “They’re not even denying it.”

“I didn’t know you were having any… love problems, Y/N.” Oluwande commented in a gentle (and somewhat intrigued) tone.

“Who is it?” Wee John blurted.

“No.”

“You can’t leave it at that, though! Especially when you were crying about it a minute ago.”

“They don't have to answer if they don’t want to.” Olu argued in an attempt at mediation.

“Can we guess?” Roach requested.

“Why do you even care?” you snapped, raising your hands in exasperation

“There’s nothing else to do.”

“My personal problems aren’t something ‘to do’, Roach.”

“Come on. Me and Olu said our things.” Black Pete tried

You groaned and ran your hand over your face. He made a decent point. It must have taken a lot for them to open up like that, and you refusing to do so wasn’t exactly in the spirit of things. Besides, you’d probably be dead in a few days anyway. The least you could do is provide them with something they would find vaguely entertaining.

“Fine.” you conceded through gritted teeth. “I’ll answer your questions if you promise not to be total bellends about it.”

They all uttered a kind of agreement. You sat there stiffly for a moment, attempting to blink away the fresh tears burning your eyes.

“So, who is it?” Wee John repeated.

“Just so we’re clear, you’ve all agreed that,  if even one of you is a bellend about the next word that comes out of my mouth after this sentence, I’m not going to elaborate any further.”

You suspected they figured out which of them you were directly addressing with that warning.

“Just get on with it, man.” Roach ordered.

You took in a deep breath and scratched your neck.

Part of you hoped they didn’t hear you when you reluctantly mumbled, “Izzy.”

“Izzy as in… Izzy Hands?” Black Pete questioned incredulously.

“Mhm.” you hummed, as though the admission caused you pain. Your fingertips trailed to your forehead, which you massaged out of impulse.

Silence. It was better than mockery, you supposed. Then again, it didn’t feel quite right that you’d just confessed such a thing to them, of all people, and not been bombarded with a series of curious, insensitive remarks. You finally dared to look up at them and were alarmed to realise they were all staring at you with wide eyes. It appeared as though at least Black Pete and Wee John were about to explode (presumably due to the myriad of the aforementioned curious, insensitive remarks they were trying their best not to let slip off their tongues).

“I know.” you sighed pitifully. 

Your eyes darted downwards as you gloomily swiped at the tears spilling from your eyes. The silence persisted. You glanced up at Pete and groaned.

“Go on. Say what you have to say.”

“I… Um… What the hell?”

“Fair enough.”

You glanced around.

“What about you, Olu?”

He watched you anxiously, as though you had just threatened him.

“Uh…” he hesitated. “No disrespect or anything but, like… why?”

You decided that focusing on the sky was better than making eye contact with the group of horrified and/or baffled men. After all, it was easier to think of what to say when you cast aside their intense stares.

“I know he’s a total prick. But, I guess, when I used to work on Blackbeard’s ship, something… developed.” you replied. “The feelings are just there and I don’t exactly know why, to be honest.”

“So, these feelings are still there,” Olu wondered. “Even after everything he’s put us all through?”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I don’t completely fucking despise the bastard.”

Oluwande was unsettled by your sinister, pained glare, which you directed at your lap.

“God, I’m an idiot.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Of course I am, Olu.” you sighed. “You’d have to be an idiot to fall in love with a prick who doesn’t give a shit about you.”

A different kind of silence fell over you, but you didn’t bother to question it until-

“Do they not know?” Black Pete whispered.

“Know what?”

“I don’t think they know.” Roach responded.

“Know what?”

Black Pete exchanged a glance with Roach, but you noticed that everyone looked a tad uncomfortable, if not bewildered.

“Izzy totally had something for you.” Black Pete stated.

You let out a humourless laugh and shook your head. 

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Uh, yeah, I’m pretty sure he did.” He paused before continuing, “Lucius thought so. Said Izzy had a soft spot for you.”

You froze and swallowed your saliva.

“I know he preferred me over you guys, but if this thing was mutual,” you argued. “He wouldn’t have done this to me.”

You pinched the bridge of your nose. Once again, tears built up in your eyes. You let them spill. At least they weren’t accompanied by sobs, you thought.

“I don’t care that he doesn’t… like me back,” you stated weakly. “It just really fucking stings, y’know? After everything I let myself feel about him, it turns out I mean so little to him that he could just leave me in the middle of nowhere to die.”

Oluwande patted you on the shoulder again. You were taken by surprise when Buttons clapped a hand on your shoulder, too.

“Love is a cruel mistress.” Buttons proclaimed with a heavy sigh. “Perhaps a crueller mistress than the sea, and definitely a crueller mistress than that wee angry fella. Mustn’t let it get you down, though, especially since you’re probably counting down the days ‘til you kick the bucket, so to speak.”

You looked at him out of the corner of your eye.

“Besides,” Black Pete added. “You could do a lot better than Izzy.”

“Yeah, way better, mate.” Olu agreed.

A small smile tugged at your lips.

“You know, if we were to ever get off this island,” Roach said with a smirk. “I wouldn’t mind tracking Izzy down, maybe hack off another one, or eight, of his toes”

The Swede, Buttons and Wee John sent him a puzzled look

“One for each of us,” he clarified. “and an extra one for you, Y/N.”

They nodded in understanding and agreement. You chuckled.

“Count me in.” Black Pete shrugged.

“What is it with pirates and revenge?” Olu questioned with narrowed eyes.

“Are you saying you don’t wanna hurt Izzy?” Wee John said incredulously.

“Of course I wanna hurt him, after everything he’s done. If it weren’t for him, everything would still be alright. Even Ed’d probably be fine, too.”

“So, we’re agreed?” Roach looked around at all of you. “If any of us gets out of this, Izzy’s totally fucked?”

A smile tugged at the corners of your lips. It ached, but it was genuine.

“I like the sound of that.”

[gonzo-rella]

Headcanons: Izzy Hands Dating Lucius Spriggs’ Best Friend

MASTERLIST | AO3 | KO-FI

Relationship(s): Izzy Hands x gn!reader (romantic), Lucius Spriggs x gn!reader (platonic)

Warnings: Nothing you wouldn’t see in gay pirate show. (Let me know if I need to add any)

(A/N: I wrote this because I love the concept of BFF Lucius more than life itself and my heart belongs to the tiny feral man. Who said this didn’t warrant its own set of headcanons? Shut up. I’m not far off caving and writing an Izzy breakup fic where Lucius is the reader’s supportive bestie (lemme know if you wanna see that). Also, quick shameless self-promotion for my first AO3 OFMD one-shot (just look at the tags before reading because it’s heavy).)

Lucius has no idea what attracts you to that angry little man.

He’ll make that perfectly clear.

As your best friend, he knows full well that you’re far from perfect.

But in his eyes, you deserve much better than Dizzy Izzy, Blackbeard’s feral chihuahua.

It’s no secret that Lucius loves you as much as he loathes Izzy.

Izzy won’t admit this but he adores you as much as he abhors Lucius.

Well, he’ll admit the latter half. 

Regularly.

But, the former will remain unsaid, for a while at least.

So, they know that they have to ‘play nice’ to some degree, despite their extreme dislike for one another.

They really do try their best for you because of how much they care about you.

Still, Lucius enjoys teasing the two of you, and Izzy still makes it known that he finds the scribe insufferable.

Suffice it to say, there’s a lot of tension between your best friend and your boyfriend.

Lucius is a lot like a protective parent in the sense that he always keeps an eye on your relationship.

You’re not supposed to know this but he’s enlisted the help of the crew on this front.

He’s nosy as fuck and will ask many invasive questions, like a mum when her child gets into their first relationship

He definitely gave Izzy the classic protective loved one speech at some point.

Be prepared for so many passive-aggressive comments from both of them.

Well, Izzy’s are more aggressive than passive and often spat through gritted teeth.

Sometimes, Izzy will (begrudgingly) ask Lucius for advice when it comes to your relationship.

Of course, Lucius is overjoyed.

Part of it’s because he’s glad to see Izzy cares enough about making you happy that he can swallow his pride.

Most of it’s because he gets a great deal of pleasure out of Izzy needing his help.

He also enjoys meddling.

But, he’ll still give the best possible advice, because he wants you to be happy even if it’s with that ferocious little creature.

Hell hath no fury like Lucius when you and Izzy get into a fight.

He hates it when you’re in the wrong during a fight, because of course he hates when Izzy’s even remotely right about anything.

But, odds are Izzy’s going to have said something stupid in the heat of the moment, and Lucius is going to be more annoyed at him than you are.

When Izzy’s done/said something that’s especially upset you, Lucius will march up to him and demand that he makes amends with you ASAP.

Until you make up with one another, he’ll comfort you and take care of you like the supportive bestie he is.

I feel like Lucius' attitude towards the relationship is so comically over the top that you can’t help but assume he’s doing it just to get on Izzy’s nerves.

But, I feel like Lucius is genuinely really concerned about Izzy hurting your feelings and breaking your heart.

And, it’s not like you can really blame him.

He cares so much about you and he knows what Izzy’s like.

At first, Lucius barely supports the relationship at all.

But, he supports you.

He can be a nuisance, but he’ll make sure he doesn’t go too far.

I can imagine the rest of the crew will have something to say about your relationship with Izzy, and Lucius will be the first to tell them when they’ve said enough.

Eventually, Lucius will start to realise how genuinely happy you are together.

Sometimes it’ll even warm his heart when Izzy doesn’t look completely miserable.

Alongside Ed, he’ll end up being your relationship’s number one shipper.

[gonzo-rella]

Just Shy | Edward Teach/Blackbeard

MASTERLIST | AO3 | KO-FI

Requested by: @valoraxx​

Hi!! I was wondering if I could please request a Blackbeard x reader where the reader is extremely shy? Maybe they stutter whenever they see him or try to talk to him. It’s up to you whether or not it’s headcanons or a one-shot. Thank you so much! 💕

Relationship(s): Edward Teach/Blackbeard x gn!reader (implied romantic; possibly platonic), Frenchie x gn!reader (platonic), Lucius Spriggs x gn!reader (platonic)

Summary: When Ed notices how shy you are around him compared to your friends Frenchie and Lucius, he decides that he wants to change it.

Warnings: Nothing you wouldn’t see in OFMD. (Let me know if I need to add any)

Word count: 1.5k

(A/N: The award for least creative title goes to: this fic. In hindsight, this meandered somewhat from the request and I kinda used this as a vessel to fulfil my desire to write for Lucius and Frenchie. Regardless of those aspects of the fic, I hope you enjoy this! Also, go check out my other OFMD fics if you haven’t done so yet! [Insert obligatory begging for OFMD requests])

Any rational pirate would constantly be on the verge of shitting themself if Blackbeard was aboard their ship. After all, even those who weren’t pirates had heard the gruesome tales of Blackbeard. Upon his invasion, the crew was a little anxious (and, of course, awestruck) to say the least. Though, when he proved himself to be far mellower than he seemed in all those stories you had heard about him, the crew’s trepidation seemed to be eradicated… excluding your own.

Ed first fully picked up on this fact when the Revenge was docked at a port. Izzy had barked at you and Frenchie to get on with some cleaning while he, the Captains and the rest of the crew went to pick up some supplies. Unfortunately for Izzy, the crew took this as an opportunity to have a leisurely stroll through the town. The whole ‘stocking up on supplies’ part of the day was viewed as optional (something Izzy would fume about later).

“Prick...” Frenchie grumbled as he polished the railing of the ship. “We’ve been doing this all bloody morning. Everything’s clean enough already. I reckon he just got us to do this ‘cos he likes bossing people about.”

“Well, at least he’s fucked off for a bit.” you tried, mopping the floorboards of the main deck. “I’ve forgotten what it’s like to not have a banging headache.”

Frenchie laughed.

“’Ello, guys.”

You flinched. Without warning, Ed had appeared on the ship.

“Alright, Captain?” Frenchie greeted, seemingly unfazed.

You directed your attention back to the floor and continued mopping, while Frenchie used the conversation as an excuse to get out of working.

“Yeah, thanks, mate.” Ed nodded. “Anyone back yet?”

“No, not yet.” Frenchie answered. “I thought you’d ‘ve been with other Captain.” “I was, but I lost him. Iz wanted a word with me about something. Decided to come back here instead of tracking him down again.” Ed explained as though he lacked interest in his own anecdote. He quickly brightened up when he went on to ask, “What were you guys talking about, then?”

Frenchie exchanged a wide-eyed glance with you. He cleared his throat.

“Nothing, really.” he waved his hand dismissively in a failed attempt at nonchalance. “This and that, y’know.”

“I heard Y/N-” Ed nodded over to you. “Say something about someone fucking off. I think you-” He gestured to Frenchie this time. “Said something about someone being a prick, as well.”

You froze, but returned to mopping with enough vigour to convince someone that Izzy was aiming a gun at the back of your head.

“Oh, uh, yeah. That.” Frenchie faltered. He scratched the back of his neck. “Well, we were just... Slagging off Izzy a bit.”

Your grip on the mop handle was so tight that it should have snapped. To your surprise, Ed merely laughed. Frenchie sheepishly joined him. Your mouth was clamped shut.

“That’s fair enough.” Ed shrugged. “I know he can be a bit of a prick sometimes.”

“Yeah,” Frenchie agreed. “Sometimes.”

Ed furrowed his brows. “You alright, Y/N?”

You hummed in response, continuing as though he wasn’t there. He frowned and paced over to Frenchie, leaning in to whisper, “Hey, mate, is Y/N alright?”

You swallowed your saliva. Frenchie looked over his shoulder at you.

“I’d say so, yeah.”

“Ah, Ed, there you are!”

Ed turned to Stede.

Lucius was trailing behind him, clutching his book and quill to his chest. His eyes landed on you as though he had just stumbled upon a pot of gold.

“Thank God.” the scribe sighed with relief. You watched as he made his way over to you.

“Mind out, Luci, the-”

“Jesus Christ!”

He almost slipped over, but, with the book and quill tucked under his arm, he grabbed your shoulders and regained his balance.

“...Floor’s wet-”

“Look, I like that man- I really do,” Lucius interrupted in a hushed voice, gesturing to Stede (who was now engaged in a conversation with Ed). “But, it’s absolutely mortifying having people stare at us when he’s... loudly dictating everything he wants me to write. He sounds like such a posh prick. And, I kept walking into, like, massive, angry people. I’m surprised I came back alive.”

“I take it you had a nice time, then.” you responded with an amused smirk.

“Fucking dreadful, more like.” he muttered.

“You should’ve lied when he asked which of us were literate. Worked out well for me.”

“I didn’t know you enjoyed Dizzy Izzy’s tinnitus-inducing yelling so much.” Lucius countered, examining the deck. “He’s not gonna be happy when he comes back and you’ve only mopped half the floor. For shame.”

You huffed.

“Fair play.”

“Lucius!” Stede beckoned. “Your services are needed in my cabin.”

You turned your head away from your captain and snickered, while Lucius grimaced.

“Go on, Luci.” you grinned, patting him on the shoulder.

Lucius narrowed his eyes at you.

“Oh, grow up.”

Without almost slipping over this time, he crossed the deck over to Stede, who began to lead Lucius and Ed to his cabin. You quickly turned away when Ed stayed behind for a moment. His eyes briefly darted between you and Frenchie, though they were fixed on you when he called out:

“Good job, you guys!”

“Thanks, boss!” Frenchie answered, giving a thumbs up.

Ed stood there until he realised you weren’t going to respond to his praise, so followed after Stede and Lucius.

━━━━━━━━━

“Where were we, Lucius?” Stede pondered (though Lucius suspected he knew exactly where they’d gotten to). “Ah, yes, I remember. I-”

“Does Y/N not like me?” Ed questioned, much to Lucius’ delight.

“They haven’t slagged you off. Not to me, anyway.” Lucius replied. He knitted his brows. “Why do you ask?”

“They don’t seem to wanna speak to me.” Ed shrugged a little glumly.

“I wouldn’t take it personally, mate.” Stede insisted, patting him on the arm.

“I would.” Ed argued. “They were speaking to Frenchie and Lucius just fine a minute ago.”

Lucius looked up thoughtfully for a moment.

“Did they look a bit like there was a gun to their head when you were trying to speak to them?”

Ed pondered this for a moment.

“Uh, yeah, I s’pose they did a bit.”

“Well, then, that’s just them being shy.” Lucius assured. “They don’t hate you. They just… can’t speak to you. At least, not very well. And, maybe the thought of being around you makes them feel a bit sick. But, it’s nothing to do with not liking you.”

“So, they really don’t hate me?”

“Of course not, Captain.” Lucius dismissed. “Give it some time and you’ll be getting on like a house on fire.”

“Right.” Ed nodded. “Cheers, mate.”

━━━━━━━━━

“L/N!”

You looked up at Izzy from where you were turning the capstan with Jim and Oluwande.

“What are you staring at me for?” he questioned expectantly.

You groaned.

“Yes, First Mate Hands?” you responded dully.

“Captain wants to see you. Head of the ship. Now.”

“Yes, sir.” you mumbled, letting the mop fall to the floor.

As you went to leave, you heard: “Don’t just sit there, Mr. Feeney. Make yourself useful and take over!”

When you arrived at the head of the ship, you realised that you hadn’t bothered to consider which ‘captain’ Izzy was referring to. He didn’t say it with thinly veiled malice, so, in hindsight, you shouldn’t have been so surprised when you saw Ed standing there, gazing off at the ocean.

Upon hearing your creaking footsteps behind him, he turned around and offered you a smile. You swallowed your saliva.

“I-Izzy sent me, Captain Blackbeard, sir.” you stammered, your voice trembling.

Ed chuckled and clapped a hand on your shoulder. Your head whipped around and you stared at his hand.

“Don’t look so terrified, mate. I’m not gonna throw you overboard. ” Ed lightheartedly assured you. Your head instantly whipped around again to look at his face, but you quickly discovered that fixing your gaze on the sea reduced your desire to combust. He paused and peered around for a moment, seemingly in thought.

“This’d be the perfect place to do it, though, wouldn’t it?”

Watching the way your eyes widened, he pulled you in via his grip on your upper arm, something he hadn’t realised would make matters worse.

“I’m only joking!” he exclaimed through a laugh in another (albeit more successful) attempt to ease your evident worries. “I’ll just tell you why you’re here, eh? Before you shit yourself.”

Your face completely fell and heated up all at once.

“Right. So, I’ve noticed that, whenever I try to speak to you, you always look… a bit like I’m about to murder you.” Ed explained. “Now, I’d like for us to be mates, but that’s pretty difficult when you can’t really speak to me.”

“W-why do you wanna be mates?” you questioned.

“I dunno.” Ed shrugged. “You seem like a laugh, when I’ve seen you talking to people who aren’t me, anyway. Might be nice to be mates with you, y’know.”

“Um… thanks, sir.”

“You can just call me Ed, if we’re gonna be mates.”

“Alright… Ed.”

[gonzo-rella]

Headcanons: Becoming Stede Bonnet And Edward Teach’s ‘Adopted Child’

MASTERLIST

Relationship(s): Stede Bonnet and Edward Teach x gn!reader (platonic/familial), Stede Bonnet x Edward Teach (romantic), the crew of the Revenge x gn!reader (platonic)

Warnings: Nothing you wouldn’t see in OFMD. (Let me know if I need to add any)

(A/N: I’ve been having a rough time with anxiety and loneliness and all that jazz over the past several weeks, so I decided to write this self-indulgent comfort piece. Plus, I had a nice dream where these guys were my dads and I really enjoyed it so yeah. This may be less coherent than my usual headcanons, so apologies in advance. I’ll probably write more stuff with this dynamic, since I need a distraction to make me feel better. Feel free to send in requests if there are any specific things you want to see based on this premise. The reader’s implied to be a teenager, by the way. [Insert obligatory begging for OFMD requests])

Stede hired you as his cabin boy (gender neutral) when he formed the crew of the Revenge.

That doesn’t mean you do much work, though. 

After all, you’re on the Revenge.

Very early on, he starts to act very paternal towards you without even really realising it.

He knows he views you as a child, but it takes a while for him to realise he views you as his child.

When he starts to have this realisation, I feel like he’d be scared of fucking things up with you like he did with the family he left behind.

However, he tries to be the best parental figure he can be for you regardless.

Of all the crew, he consistently shows the most concern for you.

He’s always trying to be a good influence on you and will often keep you at his side like Lucius.

I’m guessing many of these attempts to be a positive influence would be undermined by the crew in some way, much to Stede’s chagrin.

Speaking of the crew, I can imagine most, if not all, of them taking a shine to you.

They’ll treat you as one of them but also like a younger sibling or nibling.

Random headcanon: (post-identity-reveal) Jim tries to teach you how to use a knife and Stede goes into protective dad mode.

You’d probably be the closest with Lucius due to the fact that you both spend a lot of time with Stede.

Stede decides that they’ll both try to teach you how to read and write if you can’t already.

Whenever the crew leaves the ship (such as when the ship runs aground or they go to the Republic of Pirates) Stede definitely keeps you with him.

He uses the excuse of it being because you’re his cabin boy, but it’s clear he wants to keep you safe and he, perhaps naively, thinks that he’s capable of protecting you.

When he gets hurt after getting betrayed by Geraldo, you already have a kind of parent/child relationship (something you don’t like to admit), so you’re quite worried and upset.

Plus, you’re also pretty apprehensive about Blackbeard’s invasion.

The crew protects you when you roll your eyes at Izzy.

After all, your dad captain is hurt and you’re not in the mood to be yelled at.

When Stede wakes up after being stabbed, he asks Ed if you’re alright (Ed has no idea who you are, though).

Ed’ll probably also hear about you through Izzy after you show him disrespect, though Izzy’d probably just refer to you as the cabin boy, meaning Ed won’t connect the dots.

He won’t properly meet you until Stede introduces you to him.

When Stede and Ed become co-captains, you spend a lot of time with the both of them.

It takes a while for you to warm up to Ed, with you often acting kinda awkward around him at first.

However, I can imagine you bonding with him when you spend some one-on-one time together (something orchestrated by Stede, no doubt).

I have this idea of Ed occasionally declaring something like “I fucking love this kid!” and ruffling your hair/patting you on the back when you do or say something that impresses/entertains him.

After this moment of bonding between you, he really enjoys having you around (which is good, considering all the time you spend with him and Stede).

I feel like Ed wouldn’t notice his attachment to you until he instinctually protects you from something.

He’d be used to telling Izzy to leave you alone when he’s being a bit of a prick to you.

But, this time is different.

Imagine this:

The crew’s out on one of its usual raids.

You’re ‘keeping out of the way’ as Stede said, since you were only really there to help with carrying stuff and rowing (and to learn how to fight through observation).

But, someone from the other ship is coming at you.

Oh shit.

You’re frozen in place and think you’re done for.

Then, before you know it, Ed’s in front of you, fighting the person off.

You don’t hear what he says, but he sounds pretty pissed off.

When the fighting’s over, Ed grabs you by the shoulders and asks you if you’re alright.

Clearly you’re not.

When you get back to the Revenge, Ed pulls you aside to check in on you.

You don’t say anything; you just hug him.

He’s taken by surprise, but he (hesitantly) hugs you back anyway.

Later on when they’re alone, Stede will thank Ed for saving you.

When Ed’s falling asleep that night, that’s when he realises that the idea of you getting hurt and/or dying fucking terrifies him.

Then, something else hits him: caring about you terrifies him just as much.

He’s not used to feeling this kind of attachment to another person.

Part of him doesn’t want to feel so attached to you- if anything were to happen to you (whether or not you left of your own accord), he’d be devastated.

So, over the next few days, he starts to distance himself from you and push you away.

You notice, but hide the fact that you’re confused and hurt by it.

Stede notices it too (after Lucius questions him about it).

So, he asks Ed why he’s been distancing himself from you.

Ed denies knowing what he’s talking about at first.

Stede sees through this and persists.

Ed cracks and shares his feelings, though struggles to express them.

Still, Stede understands how he’s feeling and tries his best to reassure him.

Slowly but surely, Ed stops distancing himself from you.

Gradually, he grows more and more comfortable with caring about you.

He doesn’t quite realise that you’ve started seeing him as a father figure, but that doesn’t stop him from acting as one.

And, soon enough, you, Stede and Ed start to feel like a family.

[gonzo-rella]

Do It For Him | Izzy Hands

MASTERLIST | AO3 | KO-FI

Relationship(s): Izzy Hands x gn!reader (romantic), Edward Teach/Blackbeard x gn!reader (platonic), Lucius Spriggs x gn!reader (platonic)

Summary: After you get injured in a raid, Izzy decides it’s time to give you a lesson in swordsmanship. When this doesn’t go to plan, you both learn something about the other that neither of you quite expected.

Warnings: Canon-typical violence (stabbing, blood and all that lovely stuff), description of eating. (Let me know if I need to add any)

Word count: 2.3k

(A/N: I might have made the reader a tad unlikeable in this one. Maybe that’s in my head, but I did keep thinking ‘yikes’ whenever I made the reader do something. My knowledge of using a sword comes from Steven Universe, which is why this fic is named after a Steven Universe song (definitely not just because I’m atrocious at titles). Also, sorry I don’t know sword words. There may be more mistakes than usual in this one, as I didn’t proof-read it much. [Insert obligatory begging for OFMD requests])

Izzy watched with wide eyes as a pirate from the enemy ship thrusted and twisted the blade of a rapier into your left side. Ivan had been too late in taking down the man who had stabbed you, though he managed to knock the foe overboard before you even registered your injury. You looked down and touched where the blood was beginning to soak your shirt, then lifted your fingers to inspect their new crimson coating. Your chest rose and fell rapidly. The sword you’d been holding at your side clattered against the wooden floorboards of the deck. You soon followed, falling to your knees.

Everything went black, at least for you; everything only went hazy for Izzy.

━━━━━━━━━

A groan escaped your lips when a dull pain spread through your left side. Your blurry vision revealed a candlelit room. As your eyes began to adjust to your surroundings, a dimly lit figure took form beside you.

“Hm?” you hummed hoarsely, blinking in an attempt to clear up your vision.

Whoever was beside you let out a sigh of relief. It was enough for you to identify them.

“Alright, Iz?”

You glanced around with narrowed eyes.

“Am I in your cabin?” you mumbled.

He hummed coolly in response, offering no further explanation.

“Am I gonna die?” you asked.

He cleared his throat and scratched his face.

“Eventually.”

“I meant because of the stab wound.”

“Not under my watch, you’re not.”

You chuckled weakly, an action that was immediately followed by a wince. Izzy scoffed, something you chose to ignore.

“Do I get some time off?”

“’Course.” he answered. “You’re useless with that hole in you. More so than usual.”

“So, you’re not gonna be nice to me even after I got stabbed?”

He snorted and shook his head.

“Fucking hell.”

━━━━━━━━━

It felt like ages since you’d seen most of the crew, considering Izzy was incredibly strict when it came to visitors (you guessed he didn’t want so many people that he despised in his cabin). You’d seen Ed the most- he often stopped by to ask how you were holding up, only to stay for a while to chat with you and Izzy. Lucius, Black Pete, Oluwande and Jim had gotten some visits in (much to Izzy’s annoyance). Roach turned up three times a day to deliver you food, though few words were ever exchanged between the two of you. Stede tried to check up on you a number of times, but Izzy promptly turned him away. 

However, Izzy was the one you had spent the most time with. After all, he was in charge of your care, cleaning your wound regularly and changing your bandages twice a day. He left you alone so he could get on with his first mate duties, but you still spent many hours of the day in his company. It wasn’t as though he socialised with the crew much outside of work (if you could call it socialising), and it wasn’t unlike him to retreat to his cabin- it just so happened that you were there too, albeit bedridden.

After almost two weeks of lying in Izzy’s bed, everything was relatively back to normal, as you were back to work. Well, Izzy (in a surprising act of mercy) didn’t make you work too hard. 

Your first day back was relatively uneventful, at least when you were actually getting on with your work (you’d been put on laundry duty with Frenchie). In fact, things only really got interesting at dinner. As usual, the Captains were dining in Stede’s cabin, while Izzy was in his room.

“So, Y/N,” Lucius began, still chewing. He swallowed his food. “Did you enjoy being nursed back to health by Izzy?”

This elicited a chuckle from the rest of the crew. You snorted.

“It was fine when he wasn’t being a prick. Maybe it was optimistic of me to expect him to be nicer to me”

“At least he’s back to being as much of a dickhead as usual.” Black Pete commented. “He was totally unbearable for the first few days after you got stabbed.”

“I wonder why.” Lucius muttered sarcastically, shoving a forkful of food into his mouth.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Your crewmates exchanged bewildered glances.

“Go on.” you insisted with a sigh. “Enlighten me.”

Lucius shook his head with a snicker, though it wasn’t as gleeful or devilish as it should have been.

“If you haven’t figured it out for yourself, it’s not my place, or anyone else’s place, to tell you.”

You knitted your brows.

━━━━━━━━━

A few days had passed since the incident at dinner. The conversation occupied your thoughts whenever you had nothing else to think about (and sometimes even when you did), but you decided not to bring it up. After all, you figured that your search for answers would be unfruitful. Still, you couldn’t help but wonder what Lucius, and seemingly the rest of your crew, was hiding from you. It was so unlike him to hold his tongue, and you, perhaps naively, assumed that he wasn’t keeping this from you just to taunt you.

You had been mopping the main deck when Izzy had thrown a sword at you. It landed at your feet with a clang, causing you to stumble backwards in surprise.

“Fucking hell, Iz! What was that for?”

You looked up at him. His rapier was still in its sheath.

“Pick it up.”

“You pick it up.” you retorted. “You’re the one who threw it at me, fucking bastard.”

“Pick it up, now.” he demanded, nodding to the weapon. “You’re finally gonna learn how to use a bloody sword so you can actually fucking defend yourself like a proper pirate.”

“Do I have to?” you huffed.

“Yes.”

“Or what?”

He gritted his teeth.

“Just fucking pick it up.” he growled

“I’m busy.” you argued, lifting up the mop as if to prove your point.

“A mop won’t protect you in battle.”

“I never claimed it would.”

Izzy groaned, running a hand over his face.

“Put down the fucking mop and pick up the sword.” he ordered.

“I will if you say that you’re sorry for throwing the sword at me.” you shrugged.

“Piss off.” he scoffed, shaking his head.

“Alright. Back to mopping I go.”

You nudged the sword away from you with your foot and continued swabbing the deck.

Izzy sighed. You glanced over at him, stopping what you were doing as you watched him pick up the sword and hold it out to you.

“Sorry.” he mumbled, barely opening his mouth.

Unfortunately for you (but fortunately for Izzy), you didn’t notice how his stony expression was betrayed by this soft kind of desperation in his eyes. It wasn’t the reason that you caved in- you were just honouring your agreement. Allowing the mop to fall to the floor, you hesitantly took the sword.

━━━━━━━━━

“Christ...” Izzy grumbled.

You crouched down to pick up your sword after he had knocked it out of your hand for the... well, you’d lost count of how many times it had happened. At least you didn’t care that most of the crew had gathered around to watch.

“You’re not even trying, are you?”

You weren’t quite sure what the right answer was. If you were trying, you were just completely shit with a sword. If you weren’t trying, you were wasting his time.

Not quite sure what to say, you responded with a noncommittal shrug.

He rolled his eyes.

“God knows how you’ve managed to survive at sea this long. Absolutely fucking useless”

“Fair enough.”

He glared at you.

“Do you want to die?”

“Well, if do I wanna die, then I’m doing a pretty bad job of it, aren’t I?”

You forced a contemptuous smile.

“I’ve tried three fucking times before to teach you how to do this,” he complained, waving the sword in frustration. “And, every single time, you dick about and don’t try.”

“I never asked you to teach me. You’re the one who wants me to learn, not me.”

“You don’t want to learn?”

“No, I don’t.” you answered.

It was something he had guessed before- he just had no idea why you would willingly put yourself at a major disadvantage.

“And, why’s that?” His tone was cold. “Too much effort?”

“No, Iz.” Your veneer of apathy had been demolished, your voice weakening as a result. You paused before admitting, “I don’t want to kill anyone.”

He stared at you in disbelief. This wasn’t something you’d confessed to anyone, even when Izzy had tried to teach you before. He always quit and stormed off in frustration before he could get this far. He rolled his eyes.

“Then, you’re an idiot for becoming a pirate.”

You didn’t respond. He took this as an invitation to continue.

“So, even after you almost fucking died, you’re not going to-”

“I almost died?” you questioned.

He froze. It appeared as though the rest of the crew had become tense at that moment, too.

“You never told me that. I thought it was just a normal stab wound, not... a near-fatal one. I mean, he got me in the safe side.”

Izzy cleared his throat.

“You almost bled out.” he faltered. 

“The Captains said not to tell you.” Lucius blurted. “They didn’t want you to worry while you were recovering.”

You swallowed your saliva.

“Okay.” You looked back at Izzy. “That doesn’t change my mind- I don’t want to even be capable of killing someone, Iz. And, I don’t care if you think that makes me a useless, pathetic idiot. If you really think that little of me-” You shrugged nonchalantly, almost mockingly (nope- not your best moment). “You can just let me die next time, eh?”

Taking in a deep, trembling breath, he clenched his jaw. You looked back at him blankly, almost coldly. He shook his head and stormed off.

━━━━━━━━━

Following your lesson with Izzy, you returned to swabbing the deck. In fact, most of the crew resumed working, too. The atmosphere had been uncomfortable ever since Izzy left. Sensing you weren’t in the best mood, everyone decided to leave you alone, until-

“Hey, mate.”

You turned around and forced a smile to mirror his.

“Hey, Ed.” you greeted. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah. I just thought we could have a quick chat.”

“Okay...” you answered hesitantly. “What about?”

Though, you had a horrible, sinking feeling it was about-

“The thing that happened with Iz earlier.”

You bit your lip. He shifted uncomfortably on his feet. 

Neither Ed nor Stede had been there to see it, you thought, so someone must have mentioned it to them.

“Do you know why he wanted to teach you how to use a sword?”

“To make me a less pathetic pirate?”

“No.” Ed shook his head. “It’s the same reason he took care of you.”

You stared at him uncertainly. He placed a hand on your shoulder. 

“He... cares about you.”

“He cares about me?” you repeated incredulously.

“Mhm.” he nodded. “Thinks the world of you. After you got hurt, he was beside himself. Lashed out at the crew... more than usual, I mean. He’s terrified of losing you.”

He paused, watching you take in the information.

“Right, I’ll be off.” he announced.

Your face fell, prompting Ed to pat you on the shoulder. Up until that point, you couldn’t tell if he was a bit pissed off at you too. Izzy was his first mate (and actual mate, at least Ed liked to think so), and it was clear you’d hurt the man who (you now knew) thought the world of you. But, you realised that Ed just wanted what was best for the both of you.

“You can do what you want with that information.” he added quickly. “Just thought you should know, and I don’t think Izzy wanted to tell you.”

With that, Ed left.

━━━━━━━━━

Lucius and Black Pete fell silent when you approached them. They had been leaning against the railing, chatting and admiring the sunset until you turned up.

“Was anyone planning on telling me about Izzy before I made that insensitive comment about my death?”

“You probably shouldn’t ‘ve said it after he told you that you actually almost died,” Pete shrugged. "Even if you didn’t know about his... feelings.”

You let out a sigh. “Probably not, no.”

“You finally figured it out, then?” Lucius asked.

You scratched your neck.

“Ed told me.”

Lucius’ eyes scanned you.

“So, how do you feel about him?”

“I’m not saying it- you already know.” you huffed. “Look, I’m not good at this feelings thing. I know I need to talk to him; I just don’t know what to say.”

“Well, you’ve come to the right place.” Lucius smiled and patted you on the arm.

━━━━━━━━━

You decided to have your talk with Izzy before the morning upon Pete’s request (he knew Izzy would be in a bad mood the next day if you didn’t sort things out). So, when night fell, you knocked on the door of Izzy’s cabin.

“What?”

“I need to talk to you.”

He groaned.

“Fuck off.”

“I’m sorry about...well,  everything that happened earlier. I fucked up.”

You heard his approaching footsteps. The door creaked when he opened it. He moved away and stood in the middle of the room with folded arms, leaving it open. You stepped inside, not bothering to close the door.

“I’m really sorry for saying what I said, Iz.” you said softly. “It doesn’t make anything better, but, for what it’s worth, I had no idea that you...”

Izzy watched you expectantly, almost cautiously. “That I what?”

“...Care about me.”

His breath hitched in his throat.

“I... care about you too, Iz.”

He didn’t respond. You swallowed your saliva as you thought about what Lucius had told you to say.

“If I’d ‘ve known that you actually cared, and how important it was to you, I wouldn’t ‘ve just dicked around. So, I’m sorry.” you went on. “And, in hindsight, just ‘cause I’m not that big on the idea of killing someone, it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t learn how to at least block attacks.”

Izzy cleared his throat.

“I can teach you,” Izzy offered, attempting to sound more relaxed than he (clearly) actually was. “If you want.”

You smiled at him.

“Christ, you really must care about me if you’re still willing to teach me.”

He let out a weak chuckle, causing you to grin.

An unexpected feeling of bravery surged through you, prompting you to step closer to him and press a quick kiss to his cheek. You could feel him melt beneath your touch, and less than a second later he tightly wrapped his around your waist. He buried his face in your shoulder, his head resting against your neck.

“Thanks, Iz.” you mumbled. “For everything.”