#ticklish!Stede

[thebest-medicine]

Prompt 23 with lee Ed and ler Stede

Prompt 23 - "Wait a minute, you're not ticklish, are you?"

A/N: they are too cute omfg

…

“Wait a minute, you’re not ticklish, are you?” Stede asked, smiling incredulously.

“Ticklish?” Ed scoffed. “Yeah, no. I don’t think so, mate.” 

“Are you… absolutely sure about that?” Stede raised an eyebrow at him. “Because it sure looked to me like–”

“Pff. Well, try it if you don’t believe me!” Blackbeard held his arms out to the sides, looking at Stede expectantly.

This was certainly a surprise. “Well…” Stede’s smile softened into something that made Ed’s insides tighten. “Alright then.” He stretched his fingers slowly, then brought them around just beside each of Ed’s sides. “How about here?” He prodded gently, watching the spots as Ed’s eyes watched him. 

A few pinches, and Ed’s gaze snapped down to where the hands were on his sides. What the hell was this feeling? He squirmed slightly, tensing up.

“You…sure this doesn’t tickle?” Stede asked slowly, poking a finger into the front of his lower ribs and getting a startled intake of breath in response. “It … kind of seems like it does.” He pressed in harder, and Ed’s arms flinched in protectively. 

“Well you’re- you’re doing it weird!” Ed responded, grumbling and a bit frazzled. 

“What d’ya mean?” Stede asked, softening his touch to try to ensure he wasn’t harming his pirate companion. 

Ed hissed. “All light n’ shit like that. Feels weird.” He flinched backwards.

“Ah.” Stede observed. “Well, that is still tickling.” He squeezed Ed’s sides a bit more harshly with forefinger and thumb. He didn’t so much as flinch at that. “Are you more used to harder tickling? Doesn’t work on everyone, I’d say.” 

Ed watched him, listening. These lighter, more gentle tracings of fingers were tingling and distracting, nothing like the rare harsh grabs for his ribs that he’d had in his mind whenever someone brought up the idea of tickling. He’d been quick to overcome reacting to those. But this… this was different. Stede’s fingers brushed against the skin peeking out at the bottom of his shirt and Edward nearly leapt backwards from his reach. 

“Alright!” He said, higher than usual. “I guess maybe. A little bit. Whatever. Doesn’t matter.”

“It’s quite alright.” Stede smiled at him, steady and gentle, reassuring. “I’m rather sensitive to both, I’m afraid.” 

“Oh really?” Ed asked, eyes snapping back to the other captain. 

Stede looked away bashfully, and something in Ed’s stomach tightened again. “Well, since I let you try it out on me, I think it’s only fair…” 

Stede’s eyes widened, shooting back to Blackbeard. “Wait- but I– oh dear!” He brought up his hands with a wide, nervous grin on his face. “Edward! P-Please take it easy on me! Wait–!”

…

[more sentence starter fic prompts]

[other sentence starter fics]

[read this & further OFMD drabbles on ao3]

[august-anon]

and lee stede + 💘 for flavour (on condition that everything’s consensual! 👼)

i found this buried in my documents and so i figured i should post it dskjdf

---

Pleading Pirate

Fandom: Our Flag Means Death

Ship(s): Gentlebeard

Characters (lee/ler): Lee!Stede/Ler!Ed

Word Count: 540 words

Summary: His fingers descended down Stede’s torso, and based on Stede’s yelp, that might’ve been a place Ed wanted to stay awhile — if it hadn’t been for the knee that rammed into his back right after.

[ao3 link]

---------

“Oh— Ed, come now!”

Ed snickered, though he doubted Stede could hear it over his own high-pitched laughter. He could barely even hear Stede’s feet pounding against the wood behind him over the cackling.

“I dunno, mate, I think I’m onto something here.” He grinned as Stede shrieked. “Be a shame to stop now.”

His fingers descended down Stede’s torso then, delivering nibbling little pinches from his ribs down to his hips between Ed’s own thighs. Based on Stede’s yelp, that might’ve been a place Ed wanted to stay awhile — if it hadn’t been for the knee that rammed into his back right after. Ed grunted as he got knocked forward a bit, pausing his tickling for a moment as he caught himself with his hands. He shot a disgruntled look at the offending limb before turning back towards Stede’s face.

His cheeks were red and splotchy, his eyes bright from laughter and wide from trepidation. His expression seemed to be caught somewhere between excitement and fear, and his wobbly smile still tugged at his lips. Ed paused a moment, pursed his lips, and made a decision.

“Seems like your legs were getting pretty lonely, back there,” he growled, his voice slow and dangerous. “Would be a shame to leave them out of all the fun, don’t you think?”

Stede sucked in a quick breath. “Oh dear— Ed, you couldn’t, I don’t—“

Ed hummed low in his throat, slowly reaching behind himself to find a grasp on Stede’s legs. Stede gasped once more, his legs tensing and squirming under Ed’s touch.

“You know what I need to hear, mate.”

Instead of taking the out and opting for mercy, Stede closed his eyes for a moment, seeming to steel himself. “Well, it would hardly be proper to surrender. I’m the Gentleman Pirate, after all, and I— ah!”

With a shark-like grin, Ed gently dug his fingers into the muscle of Stede’s thighs, effectively cutting him off with a shrill squeal. He stilled his fingers and watched Stede giggle and shake, babbling meaningless concessions to try and take it all back. He still did not call out the word Ed needed to hear to stop, however, and Ed decided that Stede had had plenty of chances to express his discomfort. In fact, based on the glimmer in his eyes, Ed would wager Stede was rather excited at the whole prospect.

He ought to do this right, then. 

Ed rose from his position straddling Stede for just a moment — silencing his own brief anxieties with the look of disappointment that immediately crossed Stede’s face — and turned himself to face Stede’s legs before settling back down again.

“Oh no,” Stede whimpered, his legs shuffling at the sudden attention.

Ed cracked his knuckles. “Oh yes.”

He started with some precursory squeezes and massaging, searching for the places that would really break Stede, but based on the reactions he got, it seemed as though Stede’s whole legs were one big hot spot. He hadn’t even reached Stede’s knees before Stede was calling out barely-intelligible pleas with every breath he could manage. Once again, there was no hint of the safeword.

Ed chuckled deep in his throat. It was about time he tested the Gentleman Pirate’s endurance.

[gaybananabread]

⁠✧.*Are You Listening?*⁠.⁠✧

~Ehehehe the brain maggots won and I can’t say I’m upset by it (＾⩌＾). I’ve binged this show enough times to be put into all kinds of moods by these men, so I might as well write out my feelings. This is set right after S1 Ep. 7, so if you haven’t watched up to there, expect some spoilers! For anyone else who has pirate-based thought goblins, I hope you Enjoy!~

Lee: Edward

Ler: Stede

Summary: Stede goes on a small rant about what happened on their latest adventure, though Edward isn’t fully listening. When he notices this, he calls the man out, but is met with a rather fascinating reaction.

Warnings: mild Our Flag Means Death spoilers! This is a tickle fic, so if you don’t like that, scroll away!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I always get my revenge~”

[b4g3lbit3s]

headcanon that ed is crazy ticklish so sometimes when he and stede are cuddling he starts squirming a bunch. stede will be running his hand up and down ed’s side and ed keeps wiggling. obviously stede asks if something is wrong and ed is VERY insistent that nope, nothings wrong.

stede quickly figures out that ed is ticklish almost everywhere and yes he takes advantage of that

[abihasablog]

A tickly nsfw prompt? Blackbeard has a ticklish butt. STEDE has a ticklish thutt (Where thigh meets butt). That is all <3

TRUE.

Ed has to be sat on because he's like a bucking bronco when Stede goes for his bum, but he just absolutely loves it. He buries his face in his hands and his laughter is more shrieking but he doesn't safe word out, content to let Stede rub ticklish circles on his cheeks, or drag a feather punishingly slow.

When Ed goes for Stede's thigh crease, he just melts. He's laid across Ed's lap in the tiniest shorts he owns, trying to muffle his giggles in a cushion as Ed traces his fingers along the skin. "Heh, it's like your behind is a map and this little crease is the equator, but it doesn't get hotter, just more tickly."

[piratecaptainscaptainpirates]

As much as we all know Ed's mental health would be greatly improved by the chance to bury his face in the stiddies, I think Stede would really benefit from some time to bury his face in Ed's tummy.

Like. Ed has a super cute tummy to begin with. 10/10. It's soft, he's got a cute little happy trail. Wonderful. But what if he's a bit ticklish there. And after a rough day, they're snuggling, Stede adjusts and buries his face in the tummy, and Ed's giggling and petting his hair and going "awwww baaaabe" and it's just so sweet and soft and domestic. I think that would turn Stede's mood right around.

[spirker]

Who would win in a fight, Ed or Stede?

(The fight is a tickle war btw)

Oh definitely Ed.

Stede is very ticklish and Ed knows all his weaknesses.

Under his armpits. The arch of his foot. Behind his ears.

Ed is merciless as Stede squirms beneath him, until Stede flips them over and kisses Ed senseless (then Stede is the winner)

[straightupsickfics]

love is embarrassing

sicktember prompt #28: "I should've stayed home" inspired by this post

ed/stede | modern au |4.5k words in which stede drags himself to a first date, get stood up, and meets the very hot, very nice bartender who turns the night around <3

****

Normally, Stede relishes having an excuse to pull together an outfit, to explore his favorite pieces in his walk-in closet, and make something new to wear. 

Today, however, is a rare exception. Stede can hardly bring himself to get up and off the couch, let alone muster the brain power it’s going to take to organize an ensemble, even if it is for a date he has rather been looking forward to all week. 

Well, looking forward to it with a little bit of anxious dread mixed in, something he can never seem to shake when it comes to romance. It’s not like he thought it’d be easy, leaving his wife of fifteen years, letting his children down gently, and starting over completely at the age of forty-five, but he hadn’t really stopped to consider how lonely it would be, either. 

And now, to top it all off, Stede had managed to pick up a truly terrible cold over the last few days. Today it seems to have settled in, made itself at home in his head and sinuses, leaving him exhausted, his eyes and nose streaming in almost equal measure as he works his way through recurring fits of ticklish, damp sneezes. 

He should stay home tonight, he knows this. Instead though, Stede has been hydrating, alternating between water and strong, black tea, and downing cold medicine all day in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, his date, David wouldn’t notice. 

Sighing, Stede picks up his phone and finds a text from Lucius waiting for him. 

Lucius: Hello? What, no panicked photos of the outfit? No “what if” date scenarios for me to puzzle through over brunch? Do you hate me?? 

Stede: I don’t do that

Lucius: 🤣 good one

Stede: 😶‍🌫️

Lucius: I’m kidding, you know I live for this, I’m AMAZING at pre-date planning

Stede: The advantages of being young and in love, I suppose… 

Lucius: Oh, god, you’re not getting maudlin even before you go, right? It’s going to be fine, you’re going to put together a ridiculous (but slay) outfit, and he’s going to eat it up. Now, what are we wearing?

Stede looks at the blue sweatpants he would never leave the house in, the t-shirt that should have gone to the Goodwill years ago, and sighs again. He really should have started hours ago. 

Stede: Can I FaceTime you?

Lucius: YES

“Hh! hdt-NGXT! Huh’ushhIEW! Ngh…” Stede tries and fails to smother the sneeze against his fist while he sifts through his options, a teal silk shirt, a lavender sweater, and a bright, mustard yellow button down all wait for him on the bed, and he watches as Lucius winces. 

“Um, bless you? Are you sure you’re not getting sick? Because frankly that was pretty gross and sounded like it probably hurt.” 

“It did, but I’mb finde…” Stede huffs, snuffling discreetly into a handful of tissues. 

“Mm, too many letters in almost all of those words, babe,” Lucius says, wrinkling his nose. “Maybe the outfit you should actually be wearing is one of those hazmat suits.”

Stede pitches the tissues into the trash can and glares at his phone. “I thought you were going to help. This isn’t helping.” 

Lucius arches an eyebrow and rolls his eyes. “Sir, yes sir. I’d go with the lavender. Looks nice with your hair. And you’re a bit pale for the others at present.” 

He’s right, Stede knows, and he is grateful for the help, lucky to have had a work friend turn into a real friend over the last few years, especially as his divorce from Mary was happening, but Lucius had no filter, which was a blessing and a curse most days. 

“Thanks, Lucius,” Stede says now. “I think you’re right, we’ll go with the lavender.” He does love the teal, has worn it on first dates in the past, but tonight it would only serve to draw attention to how completely worn out and pale he looks and feels, and he doesn’t want to deal with that.

Lucius gives him a mock salute in reply, and they chat for a few more minutes before Lucius has to go, warning Stede again to stay home if he was really feeling bad. 

He falters for just a minute. His bed, even covered in clothes (and, okay, tissues) looks so inviting, a part of him wants nothing more than to climb right into it. But he has been looking forward to this, and David had already rescheduled twice.

So, Stede, stubborn as he is, waves Lucius off and sets about the long process of getting dressed, doing his hair, and carefully applying just a little concealer around the red-tinged parts of his nose. This takes the most time, as he finds himself applying and reapplying said concealer every time he has to stop to sneeze or blow his nose, which is far more often than he’d like. 

When he’s finally ready, Stede takes another dose of cold medicine, shoves some cough drops into his pockets along with a travel packet of tissues, and sets out for his date. He’s texting that he’s on his way when he nearly drops his phone as a sneeze (or three) sneaks up on him. 

“hH’UtsshH! Oh ndo… Huh’iiEEshh’uh! Huh-Ngtshh!”

It takes Stede another minute to compose himself, sniffling a good few times into the cuff of his jacket and sighing before he’s in his car and actually on his way to the restaurant, something called Blackbeard’s Bar and Grill that David had picked. 

It was going to be a very long night. 

*

Blackbeard’s Bar and Grill is so far up Stede’s alley he can’t believe he’s never been before now. It’s dark inside, and there’s an understated pirate theme throughout it. Not just a pirate flag and eyepatches, though. There’s an attention to detail there, a clear (to Stede) commitment to historical accuracy that he loves immediately. 

Stede loves piracy, the whole idea of it. People running away to the sea, abandoning whatever haunted them on land, finding a new group of people to belong to…It sounds amazing, sometimes. It might not be — no, it definitely wasn’t—as romantic as Stede makes it out to be in his head, of course; piracy was brutal at the end of the day, but there’s something about it that Stede’s always found fascinating. 

Running away to the sea is certainly something he’d thought about as he first started to come to terms with his sexuality, and the accompanying realization that he’d have to, eventually, tell Mary, therefore upending his entire life. 

Stede has to blink himself back to the present, appreciating the delicate maps along the walls, the artwork of ships and shorelines along the walls, and of course, Blackbeard’s Jolly Roger flag hanging right by the bar. 

He has to do a double take though, looking at the bar, because standing in front of the Jolly Roger is the bartender, who is quite possibly one of the best looking men Stede’s ever seen. He’s laughing at something a customer is saying in front of him, working a cocktail shaker with one heavily tattooed arm (was that a snake?) and setting out a glass with the other hand. His hair is a mix of black and gray, tied up in a half up half down ponytail, and Stede can’t bring himself to look away. 

The drink gets poured, the man turns away to offer more rounds to other patrons, and Stede, eventually, realizes he’s been sitting at the table for over a half an hour with no sign of David. He frowns, picking up his phone, but there’s nothing there. 

Stede: I’m here! Got us a table towards the back.

There’s no reply. 

Twenty more minutes go by, and still, nothing. 

Stede: He’s late

Lucius: Uh oh…

Stede: You don’t think. I mean. He’s coming, right? Just late…?

Lucius: Definitely. Traffic, probably! Btw how are you feeling? 

Stede: Not the best, I’m afraid 

Lucius: :( Hydrate while you wait!!

He’s right, and Stede takes a careful sip of his water. His throat hadn’t been too bad this afternoon, and he’s hoping it stays that way. 

The waitress comes by just then, asking if she can bring anything for him to drink, get him started with any appetizers. He shakes his head, murmuring that he’s just waiting for someone, they’d order when he arrives, and she nods with a smile and walks away. 

It’s not long after that that Stede gives in and checks his phone again. Still no reply. His stomach twists. 

He can’t be getting stood up, tonight of all nights, when he wanted nothing more than to stay home in the first place. Right? 

His nose gives a twinge just then, and Stede fumbles for the packet of tissues he has in his pocket, just bringing them to his nose and mouth as he sneezes four times in quick succession, his eyes and nose streaming by the end of the fit, the sneezes stronger and wetter than they’d been earlier, making them entirely impossible to hold back. 

“hh’uHTSH! Snf! H-hh’uHTSHH! uuhh’TSH! huh’Eeiishh!” The tissues are useless by the end, too, and Stede drags himself to the bathroom to blow his nose in peace, splashing some water on his face for good measure. 

He looks in the mirror, blinking a few times and trying to bring some life back into his face, but there’s no hope, it seems. 

David had been right to stand him up, Stede thinks. He’s a mess. 

Stede: I don’t think he’s coming, I’m afraid :( 

Lucius: Nooo, I’m so sorry. Seriously. Do you want to come over? I won’t even complain about the germs. 

Stede: Thank you, but I’m alright. Think I’ll give it a bit longer, sit at the bar instead of taking over a table, and then head out. 

Lucius: <3 Call me in the morning! 

*

“What can I get you, mate?” The tattooed bartender asks when Stede sits down at the bar. 

“Oh, umb… J-just..huh!’ISH! Sorry, just a glass of Chardonnay?” Wine is probably definitely not a good idea tonight, Stede knows, but he feels like wallowing a little before going home. 

“Sure thing, here you go.” The bartender sets the drink down and gives Stede a small, friendly smile. He really is beautiful. 

“Thanks,” Stede says with a sigh. He looks at the glass and any desire to drink it vanishes. He just feels bad, tired and congested and achy all over. 

“Uh oh, that’s a big sigh for a Saturday night,” the bartender says. The bar is currently empty aside from Stede and a woman sitting at the opposite end, and Stede looks at the man with his dark, kind eyes, and it all comes pouring out. 

“I think I’m being stood up,” Stede confesses. “He rescheduled two times before this, which should’ve been a sign, I guess, but I thought we’d hit it off, texting and all that…” 

“Damn, hate that. Just say you’re not feeling it, yeah? Why make someone feel like shit? S’why I don’t date so much anymore, myself.” 

“You might be onto something there. Maybe I should get cats,” Stede says, sighing again. 

At this, the bartender lights up. “Cats are the best. Love cats. Here, look…” He fishes his phone out of his back pocket and holds it out to Stede. On the lockscreen is a black cat with white feet, curled up on what has to be the bartender’s chest. In the picture, he’s wearing a shirt with a purple octopus on it, his hair down around his shoulders, his face cut off aside from a small smile. 

It’s adorable. 

“That’s Frank,” the bartender says. “Well, Frankfurter, one of his many names.” 

Stede laughs, which turns abruptly into a coughing fit that lasts long enough for the bartender to grab a glass of ice water and place it in front of him. 

“That doesn’t sound great,” he says as Stede takes a sip. 

“Sorry about that. I probably should’ve stayed home,” Stede admits. “Thought I could power through for this date. Though if I’d had the sense to cancel I wouldn’t have been stood up.” 

The man shakes his head. “S’all good. Kind of saw you sitting over there for a while, I wondered why someone like you’d be sitting alone for so long.” 

Stede feels his face flush. Someone like him. What did that mean? 

“In a good way,” the bartender clarifies. “I’m Ed,” he says. 

“Ah. Stede. I’d shake your hand but…” 

Ed smiles, holds up his hand and gives Stede a little air high-five. “There we go.” 

Stede can’t help but smile back, genuinely, for the first time all night. 

They sit there for a while, too long, probably, given how bad Stede feels, but Ed’s so nice, and really very funny, telling stories about the people he gets at the bar, about Frank, about his obsession with the ocean and pirate history. 

“I love pirates,” Stede tells him excitedly. “I actually can’t believe I hadn’t been here before. You must’ve been thrilled to get a job here, then,” he adds.

Ed’s eyebrows lift for a split second, but then he’s nodding. “Yeah, love it,” he says. 

Just then, a shorter, dark-haired man appears from the back, shooting a glowering look at Ed. “If there’s not enough customers, you could always come back and help with the order for next week, Edward,” he says. “Or are you too busy chatting up your guests?” 

Ed frowns, his entire face changing as he turns to reply. “Fuck off, would you Izzy? It’ll all get done, thanks.” 

The man gives a long-suffering sigh and turns, disappearing around a corner, gone as fast as he came.

“Was that… y’know, Blackbeard?” Stede asks, voice low. 

Ed pauses again, then shakes his head. “Mm? No, I’m Blackbeard,” he says with a smile and a gesture to his face. “More scruff than beard these days, though,” he adds. 

“Oh! You… Blackbeard’s is yours?” 

“Yep! That was Izzy, my so-called right hand man. He’s gotten a little too comfortable running the show since he knows I prefer stuff like this,” Ed says, gesturing to the bar. “Just talking to people, you know?” 

Stede nods. “You can tell you really love the place,” he tells him. “Thought so as soon as I came in.” 

Ed smiles, and it’s amazing, really, the way his face lights up at the compliment. “Thanks, man, yeah, Iz thought I spent too much on the decor, but how often do you open the place of your dreams? Really just went for it.” 

“It’s perfect,” Stede agrees.

A comfortable lull falls over their conversation, and Stede takes another small sip of his wine for something to do. He must make a face, though, because Ed’s shaking his head when he looks back up. 

“Think what you should do is let me make you some tea, if you’re staying,” he says. 

“Oh, no, you don’t have to do all that. I really should be—” 

“—Would be nice if you stayed,” Ed finishes. 

Oh. 

“Well, if you don’t mind all this,” Stede says, gesturing to his face. He can’t imagine he looks any worse than he had earlier in the bathroom, but he can’t be making a good first impression, either. 

“Nah, you’re good. Most interesting person to come in here in…forever,” Ed says. “Be right back,” he promises, disappearing into what must be the kitchen and coming back a few minutes later, with the promised mug of steaming water and a selection of tea bags for Stede. 

He’s touched. Sure, Ed owns the place, but still, he didn’t have to go out of his way to make Stede tea for his stupid cold. 

The mug has the Blackbeard’s Bar and Grill logo on it, emblazoned across a pirate flag, and the warmth of it warms Stede right through immediately. 

“Mint sounds nice,” he says, grabbing it and letting it steep. He makes the mistake of lifting the mug to his face, the steam immediately shaking something loose in his sinuses, and ends up sneezing another good few times in a row. 

“hd’ISCHuh! Eh’sschIEW! ii’Tiishh’uh! SNF!” Stede takes two more tissues from the pack in his pocket, realizing that he’s down to just one left, and grimaces. 

“God bless you,” Ed says sympathetically. “Makes it even worse that this guy didn’t show up when you went to all the trouble of coming out, feeling so bad and all.” 

“Mm, no trouble. I did have a friend help with the outfit, though,” Stede admits. “One of my first dates after a divorce and all, needed some help.” 

“Good on them, then, that color’s perfect for you,” Ed tells him, and he sounds like he means it. 

Stede gives him a smile but shakes his head. “He did also suggest a hazmat suit.” 

This gets a laugh from Ed, and it’s a lovely sound, one Stede wishes he had the time to get used to. 

Ed seems to realize something all at once. “Wait, did you say first date?”

Stede sinks in his seat a little bit as he nods. “One of the first,” he says. “Though it always feels like the first after fifteen years of marriage to a woman, anyway. Suppose I’m something of a late bloomer,” Stede admits, feeling his face go warm. “Probably too late.” 

Ed softens at this, the surprise on his face washing away. “No such thing as too late, mate. Look at me, I came out at fifteen and look at me, alone with my cat and my bar. Don’t even have a divorce to blame it on.” 

For some reason, this makes Stede’s throat go tight, his eyes stinging with tears. God, he cannot cry because one stranger was being nice to him. 

“Here,” Ed says, pulling a deep red handkerchief from his pocket and handing it to Stede with a nod and a small smile and turning away, giving him a minute of privacy. “You probably need this more than I will tonight,” he says.

Stede dabs at his eyes, appreciating Ed’s kindness all the more. 

Stede takes a few deep, steadying breaths and sips his tea as other customers come and go, as Izzy appears and disappears with another disapproving shake of his head, and through it all, Ed always makes his way back to Stede’s end of the bar, offering him more tea, more water, another story or picture of Frank when things slow back down. 

All at once, Stede realizes that he’s having a better time than he’d ever expected to, even if David had bothered to show up for their date. 

“What’s that face, mate? You’re looking like you did when you first came over…oh, fuck, like two hours ago,” Ed says, looking at the time. 

“Two human hours?” Stede gasps. It’d gone by so fast he hadn’t even noticed, though he is definitely more tired now than he’d been before. 

Ed laughs again and Stede wants to bottle the sound of it. He really must be delirious from this cold.

“Human hours,” Ed confirms. 

“You know, I think I’m actually glad he didn’t show up? It’s been so lovely talking to you, Ed,” Stede says. 

“Same goes,” Ed says with another one of his warm smiles. “This is the most fun I’ve had at work in ages, maybe ever.”

This feels like the best first date Stede’s ever been on, though he keeps that thought to himself, along with a firm reminder that this is definitely not a date.

*

Another hour passes in the blink of an eye, and Stede shifts in his seat, the tell tale twinge somewhere in the back of his sinuses letting him know that very soon, he’s going to need more tissues than he has at the moment. He really should be getting home and into bed, starting the process of sleeping off this wretched cold. Though, as miserable as he feels, the night hadn’t been a total loss after all, thanks to Ed. 

“Well,” Stede says, sniffling, “I think I’d better get home. If my eyes get any heavier I’ll be asleep right here on your bar, and no one wants that.” He’d intended it to come across as a joke, but his voice is so wrecked from this cold and the all too recent tears that it comes out just as run down and, frankly, sad as he feels. 

“Mm, yeah, no, might get a crick in your neck,” Ed says, as if that’s the only problem with what Stede said, and not the million and one sick person germs he’d be leaving behind. He smiles at Stede, the way he has been the whole night, while making him laugh, while making him feel better about being stood up, while pouring him drinks he claimed were on the house. 

“Exactly,” Stede says, returning the smile. His head really does feel heavy though, his sinuses throbbing with the cold he’d pushed off and ignored for far too long tonight. He pictures his bed, a safe haven despite its emptiness, and stands up before he can change his mind. He’s strangely reluctant to leave Ed, funny, kind Ed, but it’s really for the best, leaving before Stede gets one of his crazy ideas. Like thinking that Ed could possibly, actually like him. 

It’s Ed’s job to be nice to strangers, Stede reminds himself. 

He’s just doing his job. 

“Well,” Stede begins. “Thank you, again, truly, for being so nice to me tonight. I’ve been quite a mess and this … really helped,” he says, too honestly, he’s sure of it, given the way his eyes sting and his sore throat thickens with the threat of yet more tears. God, he really does have to get out of here. 

Ed looks at him, his gaze lingering on Stede’s face. The restaurant’s emptying out now, people finishing the last of their glasses of wine, letting their dates wind down before they head home, and Stede feels that familiar twinge in his gut, a mix of jealousy and longing. It would be nice to go home with someone, that’s all. Or home to someone. 

The sound of Ed’s voice breaks him out of his pathetic thought spiral. 

“You’ll have to let me know when you get home,” Ed says, sliding his phone onto the bar and over to Stede. “Can’t have you falling asleep at the wheel, I’d never forgive myself.” He gives Stede an encouraging little smile before turning to grab an empty glass a few feet away. 

“Oh, I barely drank anything! I’ll be alright, I promise, you don’t need to worry about me,” Stede says. He’s a very safe driver, even with his cold-foggy head, he can make the fifteen minute drive home no problem, and he really had only taken a few sips of the wine two hours ago. 

Ed turns back around to face him, amusement written across his face. “M’trying to get your number here, mate,” he says simply, as if it’s nothing, and not something that has never—literally never—happened to Stede Bonnet. 

“Oh,” Stede says, face flushing as he realizes. 

Ed just lifts his phone and unlocks it, handing it to Stede again. “For safety reasons,” he says with a wink. 

Stede enters his number with hands that feel, suddenly, a little shaky, adds his name, and hands the phone back to Ed. 

“Stede Bonnet (from the bar)” Ed reads out, smirking. “Thank god you specified, now I won’t get you confused with all the Stede Bonnets I’ve met elsewhere…” 

“Oh, well, I didn’t— I just thought…” Stede tries. 

“S’all good, Stede, really. There we go…” He types something and nods and Stede’s own phone lights up immediately. 

Stede reads the message: Edward Teach (Born on the beach)

“Were you actually?” He asks, intrigued. 

“Maybe I was, maybe I wasn’t,” Ed says mysteriously. “You’ll have to find out. Over dinner or something. Not here,” he adds. “When you’re feeling up for it.” 

Stede’s pretty sure all the DayQuil he’d been chugging all day has caught up with him, because there’s simply no way this is happening to him right now, not when he looks and feels like this. Ed is gorgeous, all warm, dark skin under his tattoos, his salt and pepper hair falling out of his half ponytail just a little at this point, the rest hanging over his shoulders. Not to mention the perfect, deep brown eyes that Stede’s been entirely too captivated by all evening, it’s… 

It’s too good to be true, surely. It’s too much. 

“Sorry, too much?” Ed says, reading his mind. “I have a tendency to come on a little strong, or so I’ve been told.” 

“No!” Stede says quickly. “Not at all, you’re perfect. This just… doesn’t happen to me,” he confesses. “And I’ve been sniffling and sneezing at you all evening, and you’re so, well handsome… and…” He trails off again helplessly. 

“And so are you,” Ed says easily. “And hey, if you manage to look this good when you feel this bad, I’m going to be fucking in for it next time, aren’t I?” He winks again. “You really should go, though, you look dead on your feet, and you’ve been through it tonight. Not to mention listening to me rambling all night,” he grins. 

Stede nods. “I’ll text you when I get home,” he says, smiling down at his phone. He’ll collapse into bed, and text Ed, and let him be sweet and kind to him and wish him a goodnight. 

And, for once, Stede’s confident that these texts won’t go unanswered. 

“Holding you to that,” Ed says. “Goodnight, Stede Bonnet from the bar.” 

Stede’s still smiling when he unlocks his front door and sends the promised text to Ed. 

*

The next morning, Stede has a few texts waiting for him. 

Lucius: Sign of life check, hellooo?? What ended up happening last night???

Edward Teach (Born on the beach): Morning, Stede from the bar, hope you’re not feeling too bad! If you want I could…bring you breakfast on the way into work this morning? If you don’t mind giving a strange man your address, that is 

David: So sorry! I overscheduled myself last night, can we try again next week? 

Stede deletes the text from David, then deletes his number all together. Good riddance. 

He promises Lucius he’s alive, just sick, and promises to call him later to fill him in. This leads to a flurry of new texts full of question marks and eye emojis. 

Stede: Good morning, Ed! Thank you again for last night. And you’re hardly a “strange man” after that! I really did have a wonderful time in spite of it all. I do feel pretty gross this morning, though :( Can we raincheck breakfast to one we can have…together? 

Edward Teach (Born on the beach): I’d love that 

[darkverrmin]

Chapter 4 is up!

***

As expected, Stede was still sleeping by the time Ed came back. Ed sighed, placing the tray on the table.

Might as well have a laugh, he thought.

He went over to the bed where Stede was sleeping. He carefully sat down, straddling the other man.

And then he started tickling him.

Stede stirred at first, not realizing what’s going on. He opened his eyes and saw Ed looming above him, smiling mischievously.

Stede giggled, trying to grab the other man’s hands. “Ed, stop this!”

 Ed laughed. “Didn’t know you were ticklish.”

 “I’m not- Ow! Okay, as your former captain, I command you to stop!”

Ed raised an eyebrow. “We’re not on the Revenge, mate. You oversleep too much, you get tickled. Sorry, I don’t make the rules”.

 “Oh, very funny- Ah! Ed!”

 “No Ed here. Only Blackbeard, who tickles his enemies to death.”

Stede tried to hit the other man in the face with a pillow but missed. That only caused Ed to laugh harder and double his efforts.

***

Continue reading:

[happyandticklish]

ok writing out my thoughts is a lot harder than i expected because there’s just so little scenarios that izzy would Let himself be vulnerable in.

but say there’s been a raid, and izzy’s been injured. nothing huge, but his hand’s a little messed up. he knows he should go to roach for anything like that but that would mean admitting to a weakness, no matter how small, which he just won’t do. he won’t do that! so he makes a bandage out of spare rags and continues with his duties fine enough, but then stupid fucking stede bonnet comes along always caring about people and fussing over something minor like that, and izzy would never willingly accept help from him of all people but apparently everyone is against him today and ed’s ordering him to let stede at least take a look and he can’t just. refuse. he’s a dick but an order is an order and he’s going to follow it. so he agrees (with tons of complaining and rolled eyes), and finds himself hours later in the captains shared cabin, sat on a chair that’s far too soft with a cup of tea on the table that’s far too hot, stede’s on some rant about how “silly” he is for risking an infection for his reputation, and izzy considers leaving, slamming the door in his face and going to bed because 1) they hate each other and 2) he’s FINE. but ed is sat opposite to them, because he knows izzy and stede well enough that there’s no way in hell he’ll leave them alone together or they’ll be duelling in less than 20 seconds, and izzy knows ed well enough to know that upsetting his little boyfriend is a one way ticket back to square one. so he stays, uncharacteristically quiet save for a few complaints here and there. he’s thankful that stede also doesn’t want him there any longer than he has to, because it goes by quite quickly. but somewhere between cleaning and redressing his hand, stede’s being too gentle. he hisses and yanks his hand back, and bonnet looks up at him almost sympathetically, muttering something about knowing it hurts but he needs to get it over and done with, so izzy places it back onto his lap and turns away, biting his gloved knuckle to stop himself making anymore embarrassing noises. and apparently he can’t have any peace today, because ed’s clearly caught on, and the stupid smirk he’s wearing hasn’t been seen since they were younger, before blackbeard and first mate hands, when it was all muffled giggles and late night tickle fights, and for some odd reason his chest aches a little, but he has no time to think about it because it really tickles, and stede’s gotta be stupider than he looks because there’s no way he’s not realised between all the scuffed boots and huffs and slightly red face, but he seems … oblivious? and izzy’s never been so happy for something to finally be over.

“come back tomorrow mate, yeah? just to make sure, can’t risk you being out of duty.” ed says innocently enough, but the shiteating grin he has makes him more nervous than he cares to admit, so he nods and leaves without even a thank you. and when he’s finally out of earshot, the first thing stede says once he stands is “ticklish?”, and ed cackles.

Dude

DUDE

This is such an incredible concept you can't just casually drop this in my inbox!!!

This flustered me a tad more than I'm willing to admit lol. Because as stated before, Izzy absolutely has ticklish hands, and I can completely see this scenario happening. And the bit about Izzy reminiscing on past tickle fights I am going to cry you cannot just bring shit like that up

And Stede's innocent little, "Ticklish?" at the end is so cute too. Because you know Stede would never use it against him but Ed for sure will and absolutely rats out the fact that Izzy doesn't mind it later on. Not that Stede isn't still hesitant for fear of Izzy killing him asjgjhjki

Thank you so, SO much for this, this is actually my new favorite thing in the world <3

[adhduck]

hellooooooooo 😍 for the "get to know your fic writer" meme: 27, 39, 46, 56, 64, 68 (I could ask like... a dozen of these 😂😂😂 I'm gonna add a wild-card here for you to answer one on the list you WANT to but that I didn't ask 👀)

oooooooh so many thank you for understanding i never wanna shut up

27. What is your most and least favorite part of writing?

Favorite part is either when I've been trying to tease out a scene for a while (especially one with lots of emotional complexity) and suddenly it all fits together Or when I write and somehow it all magically flows out of me with ease. Least favorite part is writing when it is Not magically flowing out of me and yet I am forced to keep going even though it feels bad lmao

39. Share a snippet from a WIP

First is Stede’s body, Ed soaping up a loofah and running it gently over all the dips and rolls and angles of the man he loves—the broad expanse of his chest, the dip in his navel, the crease between thigh and groin, the spot right below the arch of his foot where he’s ticklish as hell. Stede raises his arms obediently when Ed cleans his pits, looking at him with exhaustion and love in his eyes that Ed’s body hardly feels big enough to hold. When the worst of the general grime is running down the drain—not much, but Ed knows that doesn’t matter, can see how much weight has left Stede’s shoulders along with the dirt—Stede asks Ed to grab a washcloth and soap that up too, then takes a steadying breath. “Now my—my hands,” he says, lifting one for Ed to take. It’s shaking. “Please.”

46. How would you describe your style? (Character/emotion/action-driven, etc)

Definitely character and emotion driven over action. In my heart what I want my style to be at least is "big feelings in simple moments." That feeling of having the hugest emotions that seem like they should be overwhelming everything and yet life continues on, good or bad. Idk I just enjoy exploring emotions and their complexity and working through them and shit

56. What’s something about your writing that you pride yourself on?

I think when I write emotional scenes that have arguments or confessions or revelations or anything like that, it feels realistic without losing the intensity/spark you want out of scenes like that (are you seeing a pattern about what I focus on lmao)

64. Something you love to see in smut.

Laughter! Check-ins! Whimpering! The person giving being SO focused on the other person's needs and still possibly getting off from how good it feels to make them feel good!

68. What, if anything, do you do for inspiration?

Reading definitely, but sometimes when I'm trying to figure out how to write a fic or scene and I'm stuck, I will literally go on a walk with my dog and just talk to myself on voice memos the whole time. I don't even listen to the voice memo again usually but it's important I be recorded for some reason and it really gets me out of a rut like 9 times out of 10

BONUS: 47. How many times do you usually revise your fic/chapter before posting?

This is just me blatantly calling myself out that I edit........a lot before I post things. I secretly love editing more than I love writing sometimes lmao, and I will read through my shit SO MANY TIMES editing the tiniest little things (and then editing them back half the time). Whenever someone beta's for me it's like, they read it once or twice and I read it all like five times. (I do however want to soften up on this a liiiiittle bit so that I dont end up in silly editing spirals that aren't helpful.)

Ask me questions about fic

[thebest-medicine]

Day 5: "I'm Not Ticklish"

Tickletober 2023 - Our Flag Means Death - lee!Stede, lee!Ed

[see my other tickletober 2023 fics]

[read on AO3]

A/N: Happy season 2 premiere day! Drink up, me hearties, yo ho!

Words: 784

—

Stede is nearly choking with laughter on the sofa, squirming and kicking as Ed tickles his way down his sides. In desperation for a break, or at least a breath, Stede reaches out wildly toward Edward’s nearby sides. He squeezes.

Ed lets out a little, curious grunt, but he doesn’t flinch away or laugh. “No ya don’t.” He stops tickling briefly to tug Stede’s wrists out of the way. “Won’t work anyway. I’m not ticklish.”

“What?”

“Yup.”

“No way, everyone is somewhere.”

“Not me.” 

“You’re serious? You’re telling me you’re not ticklish?”

“Nope. Not in the slightest.” Edward assures Stede, leaning over him with a smile as the gentleman pirate catches his breath.

“Are- are you kidding me? That hardly seems fair.” Stede complains, smile plastered to his face. He pants, trying to get in a deep breath without laughing it out halfway.

“Don’t know what to tell ya mate. Just ain’t me.”

“Oh, surely at some point- somewhere-”

“Nope. No chance. Never been. Never- am? Was? Never…” Edward trails off, looking up as he tries to think of the proper wording. He closes his eyes and takes a breath, pinching his nose. “Look, bottom line. Blackbeard is not ticklish.” He goes for the most serious tone he can for the conversation they’re (somehow) having.

Stede can’t hide the quirk of a smile on his lips. “Perhaps Blackbeard is not…” He leans forward, feeling bold. “But what about Ed?” Stede clocks the slight falter in Ed’s confident expression and wiggles his fingers in a tease. “Hmm?”

“Same difference. Won’t work.” Ed shrugs - so nonchalant, extremely casual. He definitely does not look at Stede’s hands.

“You don’t mind if I give it a try, then?” Stede grins wider.

Ed snorts at that. He rolls his eyes and purses his lips when he finds Stede watching him with a devious grin. “Be my guest.” He gets up from the couch, standing beside it with his arms outstretched.

Stede rights himself on the couch and sits before him, moving a cautious finger forward to poke at a few different spots along his sides, ribs, belly. The firm touches don’t seem to illicit much of a reaction, just a smug little smirk as he watches Stede’s attempts.

Stede thinks he sees something - or, almost something - when he spiders a hand curiously over Ed’s middle. But, it’s gone just as quick, hidden beneath a veneer of smug stoicism.

Stede complains the whole time. “Not even here?” “Seriously?” “Come on, there has to be at least one spot that will get a laugh out of you.” Each is met with a snarky response.

“Are you done?” Ed asks with a bored shrug. 

“No.” Stede demands. “Sit down.”

Ed gives him a weird look. And then, his smile is back; he laughs a little, “You’re so fucking odd, mate.” He sits down obediently on the couch next to the other man.

Stede reaches down and scoops up his ankles, teetering Blackbeard back haphazardly onto the couch, terribly off-balance. “Hey!” Ed shouts, accusatory.

Stede ignores him, fiddling with his boots. Ed kicks a little, indignant.

Stede turns to look at his disheveled face, lying back on the couch. “What, are you worried about these?” He taunts with a smile.

“I didn’t know you were gonna fucking throw me- but, no, like I said-” Ed banters back. He tries to recall a situation in which someone had ever tried to tickle his feet. Hmm. Plenty of people had tried plenty of times to grab at his sides. He knew the tiny zing to expect and could block it out quite easily. He didn’t really have anything to go off of here.. “I’m not fucking ticklish, so you might as well-”

“Might as well try, hmm?” Stede grins, slipping off one of Ed’s boots.

Fingers zip down Edward’s socked foot experimentally as Stede watches. Ed’s eyes flick straight to his foot, his foot that just twitched under Stede’s fucking touch. Shit.

It’s hopeless to block the bark of a laugh that Ed lets out when Stede flies in with both hands wildly, chasing the tiny flinch in search of further tickle spots. Ed can hear Stede laughing too, triumphant, pleased. 

“You’re such a liar!” Stede chastises with a tease. “You know what we do with liars on this ship?” He’s down to one tickling hand as the other holds Ed’s now captive ankle as it squirms.

“Nohoho-” Ed cackles as fingers scribble under his toes and down the ball of his foot. 

“No? Well, I’d be happy to show you.” He tugs Ed’s sock off in a quick motion, then dives back in to give the laughing captain a taste of his own medicine.

[august-anon]

hello I would pay good money to see mr ed teach + 🙈

🙈 -‘Tickled Silly’ Laughter

Thoughtless

[ao3 link]

Word count: 279 words

-----

It was over, Ed was done for. He was gone. Here lies the Fearsome Captain Blackbeard, defeated by nothing more than a few wiggling fingers.

Though, in his defense, Stede’s fingers were the most killer, devious things Ed thought he had ever faced. They were deft and soft and picked him apart with alarming accuracy, and Ed didn’t know how to cope. If he had any brainpower left to save his dignity, he might’ve tried to fight Stede off, but as it was, he was too far gone to even pretend that he wanted to.

“The fearsome Blackbeard is ticklish after all, then, eh, Ed?” Stede asked, a hint of laughter in his own voice.

Ed had half a mind to tell him to shut up, but it wasn’t as though he would be able to get an intelligible word in edgewise. And even if he could, the sounds would be painted with flustered energy, practically dripping in it, and he had a reputation to keep, thank you very much.

Though Stede seemed to be doing a pretty good job of tearing that to shreds. And it’s not like it wasn’t exhausting to keep up, Ed got pretty sick of it most of the time, these days. And— oh shit, that was his stomach, that tickled so fucking bad.

“I must say, Ed, you’re doing quite a lot of introspection for someone who’s meant to be getting tickled to bits.”

This time Ed did call out a “Shut up!” though it was nearly lost in the bout of laughter it escaped with.

“Perhaps I just need to try harder. Do try to save your breath, dear. You’ll need it.” 

[lee-lucius]

Masterlist

All of Us Villains

Day 7 - Flustered: Lee Alistair, ler Isobel

Black Clover

Family Fun: Lee Noelle, ler Luck

Day 4 - Witch: Switches Vanessa and Luck

Day 6 - Creep: Lee Magna, ler Luck

Day 9 - Payback for a Scare: Switches Luck and Magna

Advent Calendar 1 - Cold (Drabble): Lee Luck, Ler Magna

Advent Calendar 3 - Angel: Lee Gordon, lers Grey and Gauche

Bleach

Day 8 - Truth: Lee Yumichika, ler Ikkaku

Blue Lock

Tickle Me: Lee Bachira, ler Isagi

Time to Get Up!: Lee Nagi, ler Reo

Loving Distractions: Lee Bachira, ler Isagi

Day 10 - Ghost: Lee Bachira, ler Rin

Demon Slayer 

Stress Reliever (Drabble): Lee Muichiro, ler Tanjiro 

Day 3 - Cuddles: Lee Tanjiro, ler Genya

Day 13 - Sneak Attack: Lee Muichiro, ler Mitsuri

Day 14 - Soft: Lee Muichiro, ler Tanjiro

Dr. Stone

Advent Calendar 2 - Christmas Break (Drabble): Lee Senku, ler Gen

Hunter x Hunter

Day 1 - Secret: Lees Gon and Killua, lers Leorio and Gon

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

Day 12 - Bites/Nibbles: Lee Bucciarati, ler Abbacchio

Jujutsu Kaisen

Day 5 - “I’m Not Ticklish” Lee Junpei, ler Yuji

Mashle: Magic and Muscles

Day 11 - Squeal: Lee Mash, ler Dot

My Hero Academia

Day 2 - Accidental: Lee Shigaraki, ler Spinner

One Piece

Fatherly Love: Lee Sanji, ler Zeff

Our Flag Means Death

A New Kind of Affection: Lee Stede, lers Izzy and Ed

The Promised Neverland

Missed You (Drabble): Lee Norman, ler Emma

[izzyeffinhands]

Izzy getting his injury kissed by Stede BAWLING MY EYES OUT

Avast is one hell of a writer! And Izzy be ticklish hee hee. I’m glad people are enjoying what I write I’m sure they appreciate as well!!

[abihasablog]

Late night giggles

Commission for @ticklespls, also on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49049692

At some point in their relationship, Izzy had stopped grumbling about Stede’s need to cling, and that seemed to have been his first mistake. Stede had stopped paying him any mind when he realised he didn’t mean it, but once Izzy had stopped acting like the constant touching and cuddling bothered him, the floodgates burst wide open. The opening of said floodgates led to one very tired and grabby Stede collapsing on top of him on their bed after a night of overindulgence with Ed and the crew. 

Slightly pink cheeked, Stede nuzzled against the back of Izzy’s neck with a content sigh as Ed flopped down next to them. 

“So soft,” Stede mumbled. “Ed, isn’t Izzy so soft?”

“Don’t answer that,” Izzy grunts. He tries to roll over to dislodge his boneless captain, but Stede was apparently determined to use him as a body pillow. “Would you fucking move?”

“Can’t. Sleeping.” 

“Yeah Iz, he’s sleeping. You wouldn’t wake your captain up while he’s sleeping, would you?”

“I’ll toss the sleeping captain into the sea if he doesn’t shift,” Izzy tries to push himself up again, but collapses in a huff when Stede doesn’t budge. “At least let me turn over!”

“Give it up mate,” Ed giggles, getting comfortable beside them amongst the nest of blankets and pillows. “You’re there ‘till breakfast.” 

“S’true,” Stede mumbles, nuzzling closer, and Izzy sighs, resigning himself to his fate. At least Stede wasn’t all elbows and knees. The peace lasts for a few minutes, the three of them settling into sleep, before an annoying itch in his foot wakes Izzy up again.

“Ed,” Izzy hisses. No reply. “Ed, wake up.” He gets a snore in response. 

Izzy squirms underneath Stede's weight, huffing into the pillow. "Fucking get off, I need to scratch my foot."

Ed's head pops up from under the blanket with suspicious speed for someone who was supposedly just asleep. Slowly, a wicked smile spreads across his face.

"I'll scratch it for you," he says coyly.

"No you fucking won’t! ” He kicks fruitlessly at Ed’s hands, which have already latched around his ankles and are tugging them free of their entanglement with Stede’s legs. “Edward!” 

“What’s the matter?” Stede pushes himself up enough to turn towards the commotion, eyes glassy from tiredness. Ed grins at him smugly, easily overpowering Izzy’s weak attempts at escape. 

“Izzy has an itch on his foot.” 

“Okay?” 

“So ‘m gonna scratch it for him.” 

“Why has he gone pink, though?” 

“Oh,” Ed yanks Izzy by the ankles so he’s got a solid grip. “Because he’s ticklish.” 

“No I am not! ” Izzy’s blush spreads to his ears. His legs no longer a viable weapon, he pulls the pillow from under Stede’s head and smacks Ed square in the face. Unphased, Ed snatches it and tosses it away. He lifts his hand slowly into the air, clenching and wiggling his fingers for Izzy to see. 

“You’re really squirming around for someone who isn’t ticklish,” Stede quips, suspiciously more awake than he was moments ago. 

“That’s because he’s the most ticklish person in the world,” Ed drops his hand to skitter his fingertips along his soles. Izzy bites his lip and squeezes his eyes shut, but then he can’t anticipate Ed’s next move, so he snaps them open again. 

“Are you alright, Izzy?” Stede asks him, a note of concern lacing his words, and it’s so saccharine it almost gives Izzy a toothache. “Ed, maybe if Izzy doesn’t enjoy it…?” 

“Oh, he does,” Ed grins at them both, the sort of expression that promises mischief and mirth in equal measure. “Unless that’s changed from the last time, Iz? You remember that time a while ago when you pulled a muscle in your back, and Fang offered to help? You got so wound up about it because you didn’t want him to see how ticklish you are, and how it just makes you melt. ” 

“ Edward. ” Izzy flushes red. “That’s bullshit, never happened. And even if I was ticklish I wouldn’t like it!” 

“Liar,” Ed jabs a finger at the sole of his foot. “Don’t be embarrassed because Stede’s here! He’s super fucking ticklish too, y’know.”

“Well!” Stede bristles, puffing up in offense, and then immediately deflating and looking sheepish. “Actually, yes, I suppose you’re right. It really is nothing to fuss about, and can actually be quite fun!” 

“Nope.” 

“Yes!” Ed wriggles his fingers closer to his target, watching with glee as Izzy’s resolve begins to slip. Just as Izzy opens his mouth to tell him exactly what he thought of him, Ed dropped his hand to start gently wiggling over his sole. Izzy slams his hands over his mouth immediately. 

“Oop, it seems like someone’s trying not to laugh!” Stede teases. Izzy scowls at him. See if he ever intervenes when Ed is tormenting him again. “Oh, do put that pout away. I so love to hear you laugh.” 

“He always does this, acts like he isn’t desperate to get his shit wrecked.” Ed trails his fingers up towards his toes, poking them in between and wiggling. Izzy jerks his leg violently as a rogue burst of laughter escapes him, nearly dislodging his foot from Ed’s grasp. Ed huffs at him, and readjusts himself so he’s got a leg thrown over Izzy’s shins, well and truly trapping him. At the same time, as if sharing a mind, Stede moves silently beside him to pull his taut body against his own. 

“Is Edward right?” His breath tickles against his ear and he shivers. “Do you want us to make you laugh?” 

“No!” It sounds unconvincing even to Izzy. Stede’s hands slide up to his sides and pet at them, nothing more than what they normally do late at night. Stede loves to touch, Izzy knows personally. He lets himself imagine for a moment how things could be if he just gave in. The casual touches morphing into something with more intent… Izzy shudders at the thought. As though he could read his mind, Stede curls his fingers into claws and digs into his belly. 

It doesn’t break the dam that was Izzy’s resolve, but it definitely cracks it. His breath turns ragged as he tries to channel the laughter into something, anything else - it was a matter of pride at this point. Ed seems to sense he’s about to break, and with a wicked grin, wiggles his fingers in between his toes.  

Izzy erupts into laughter, tossing his head back against Stede’s chest and writhing in the strong grip of his arms. 

“There we go!” Ed laughs triumphantly. He hones in on the spot that made Izzy break, teasing the soft skin with his fingertips. Izzy scrunches his toes and stretches his ankles in a weak escape attempt, but Ed is a devious tickler and always has been. “Nuh uh, get those toes back.” 

Izzy whines and kicks about it, but does as he’s told without question. His body and mind are halfway to mush already, and as Stede’s hands ascend to draw along his ribs, he feels himself giving in. Ed takes one of his feet in each hand and works them over methodically, tracing wiggly lines from heel to toe and back again. It’s almost too much - almost. 

“Please,” he chokes out, giggling breathlessly and grabbing at Stede’s hands. 

“Please, what? What are you asking so prettily for?” Stede bats his hands away and continues the slow rise and fall of tickly fingers against his ribs. Izzy gets a grasp of Stede’s wrists, noticeably not trying to pull them off. Instead, he squeezes them as if to keep them there. If Stede realises what he’s doing, he doesn’t say anything. 

“Bet I know what he’s asking for,” Ed chuckles. He releases Izzy’s feet from his wicked grip and slowly turns himself around, crawling up the length of his body until he perches on his hips. “What Izzy’s trying to say is ‘Please, don’t stop tickling me, don’t stop until I’m a sobbing, gooey mess.’ Did I get that right, baby?” 

“Ed,” Izzy whines breathlessly, his watery eyes blinking up at his Captain, looming above him. He angles his chin up and lets his lips part, waiting. Ed’s expression seems to both soften and sharpen, his gaze dropping to his mouth. 

“I think he’s also asking for a kiss, my darling,” Stede says, the smile obvious in his voice. He’s stilled his hands to take in the scene in front of him, and sighs happily. “My two boys, so lovely. Kiss him, Edward.” 

Ed obliges with gusto, kissing with such force it steals Izzy’s breath. Ed’s hands cup his cheeks and wipe away a few stray tears of mirth. He pulls back, peppering his face with gentle kisses instead. “So good for us, aren’t you?” 

“Yes, Captain,” Izzy replies, not really sure what he’s agreeing to, but he always tended to agree with Ed anyway. 

“Will he continue being good, do you think Ed? I know I’ve not had the pleasure of tickling him to tears, but I do seem to be getting the hang of things.” Stede strokes Izzy’s hair back from his forehead. “I wonder if I can guess his favourite spot.” 

Without warning, he wriggles his fingers into Izzy’s soft belly, and the surprise of it shocks an actual squeal out of him. He grapples for Stede’s hands and collapses into hysterics, kicking his newly freed legs aimlessly. 

“Oh, that’s a good spot - try going nice and soft along the waistline, makes him purr real pretty.” Izzy was in hell (heaven), and had reached that point where even Ed’s words fucking tickled. There’s only a very small part of him now that wants to protest his words, but… it had been such a long time since he’d let himself feel like this. So instead of fighting, he feels himself preen at the praise. Ed hums, a pleased rumble deep in his chest that makes Izzy and Stede both shiver. “See? Such a sweetheart once the dickishness is tickled out of him.” 

“Why are you only telling me this now?” Stede’s fingers pinch higher up to his top ribs, and Izzy bats at him weakly. “I don’t think I ever want to let you leave this bed, Izzy. You’re to stay here forever so we can tickle you at our pleasure.”

A groan slips out between gasping laughter, and suddenly he feels shy. He turns to bury his face against Stede’s arm.

“Now, none of that!” Ed slips a finger up to stroke at the underside of Izzy’s chin and down to his neck. 

“Edward!” Izzy lurches away with a peel of breathy laughter, scrunching his shoulders up to try and dislodge Ed’s fingers. “Fuck off!” 

“Can’t fuck off while you’ve got my fingers trapped, now can I?” Ed wriggles them, and Izzy’s hands fly up from fending off Stede’s assault to latch on to his wrists. Of course, this gives Stede the opening to expand his assault by sliding one hand down to squeeze at the soft spot where his thigh meets his hip. With three of his most ticklish spots being targeted, Izzy feels the giddiness growing in his gut, and can’t help the giggles that pour from his mouth. “Aw, there we go,” Ed coos. “Look at you, haven’t seen you melt like this in ages.”

Ed and Stede both laugh along with him, and... well. Maybe it is a little bit nice to let go. He finds himself settling back into their hold and finally letting go.