Edward Teach Died on a Beach (OFMD)

Chapter 8

Oluwande walked out onto the deck just as Black Pete climbed up the ladder on the side of the ship. He made eye contact with Oluwande and grinned.

Stede stood next to him, head raised high. He didn't look very confident, but at least he was making an effort.

Oluwande's eyes narrowed as a slender hand gripped the top of the railing. That couldn't be anyone they'd left on the island. Oluwande gasped quietly as Jim's head popped up from below.

Jim looked at him and grinned, pulling themself onto the deck and striding over. Oluwande caught Jim in a big hug. Jim laughed quietly, hugging him back tightly.

"Jim," Oluwande whispered.

"Olu," Jim said, quietly sniffling.

Oluwande grinned as he pulled away. "You crying?"

"No!" Jim said with a grin. "Just... this piece of shit is really dusty. I think I got-"

Oluwande hugged them again. Jom closed their mouth, chuckling. As the rest of the crew poured onto the deck, Stede couldn't help but smile weakly. They saw him and cheered. Frenchie gave him a hug. Stede's eyes widened.

"Frenchie! You made it off!" Stede said.

"It was all Jim. They're a menace. Besides, if I'd been alone, they would've got me. He threw a bottle at me and it nailed me right in the temple."

Stede's smile faded. "Ah... who threw it?"

Jim's smile faded slightly. "Oh, you know. Your boyfriend. He's fucking crazy."

Stede frowned fully now.

"As a matter of fact, the only reason I was able to escape is because he was busy beating Izzy up. And Frenchie, that wasn't a bottle. That was a molotov," Jim said, pointing at Stede.

Stede hummed. "Right.... So where's Lucius?"

Black Pete's smile had faded as well. "Where is Lucius? We thought he was with you."

Frenchie shook his head and awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "Uh... I didn't see him at all."

"What do you mean? If he wasn't on the ship and he wasn't with us, then where is he?" Black Pete asked.

Jim shrugged, lowering their voice. "I have an idea."

"Jim," Oluwande said quietly, nodding a little at Stede.

"No, he should hear it. Your boyfriend probably killed him," Jim snapped, glancing at Stede.

The absent look had returned to Stede's face. Oluwande sighed deeply.

"You know how long it took me to get him talking again?" Oluwande whispered.

Jim rolled their eyes. "I don't care. It's probably his fault."

Stede stood slightly taller. "I'm going to... retire to my quarters... wherever they are."

Oluwande turned to watch Stede wander away quickly.

Jim frowned, a look of guilt flashing over their face. "Sorry. It's just..."

"I know," Oluwande said quickly. "Do you know where the Revenge is?"

Jim shook their head. "No clue."

Oluwande sighed. "Okay. What do we do?"

"What do you mean?" Jim asked.

"What do we do now?"

Jim raised a brow. "We should probably... check the ship out. We need to know what we have and what we don't. We can stop at a port for anything we're missing."