Edward Teach Died on a Beach (OFMD)

Chapter 17

Idk I think three is fair bc I don't wanna spam but also one is also gonna end up un-publishing itself anyway so not like it matters

Ed was pleased to wake up to calmer waters. The ocean was still a bit angry, but it had cooled significantly from the previous afternoon. It was late enough that the others had gone to bed. As Ed pissed off of the ship, he saw Sam leaning against the bow.

A few minutes later, Ed leaned next to him.

"Feeling better?" Sam asked quietly, without looking over.

Ed chuckled softly. "What'd Stede say?"

Sam smiled. "Sea-sickness. And then not sea-sickness because you'd never get that. And then he ended it by saying you were fine and not sea-sick."

Ed rolled his eyes. "I should kill him for saying that I got sea-sick."

Sam glanced over at him with his head tilted entirely sideways, as if trying to tell if he was joking. Sam looked away.

"Thanks for grabbing him before," Ed said finally.

Sam shrugged. "Anytime."

Ed sighed. They stood in silence for a moment or two. Sam turned to face him, leaning sideways against the railing of the ship.

"Lucius said he told you why I stayed. It wasn't you. Not really," Sam said. "I didn't want it to seem like I doubted you. You're a brilliant man."

Ed glanced over at him and blinked like a lazy cat.

"Your crew is almost incapable of doing real work, though," Sam said with a grin.

"They've been better," Ed said quietly.

"That's why I said almost," Sam replied, nudging him playfully.

Ed chuckled. "Does Bonny not trust me?"

Sam hummed. "It's not that. I believe the example I gave Stede was that if Stede was thrown into the sea, you'd go under with him without a second thought. I think her fear was that we'd go find the ship floating aimlessly and the crew dead because they didn't know to stow a fucking cannon."

Ed tilted his head slightly. "That last part seemed a little personal."

Sam shook his head slightly. "My point is that they need you. And Bonnet, but... you. They would've died without you."

"Maybe not. They're resourceful," Ed replied.

San grinned. "You know, I will say that I don't think I've ever seen a crew with more mutual trust."

"Oh, please," Ed said.

Sam shook his head. "I trust my crew and they trust me, but you are all like a big family."

Ed smiled slightly.

"It's refreshing in comparison to the man I expected you to be," Sam replied.

Ed hummed softly.

"This is a nice little thing you have here," Sam said, patting the railing of the Revenge fondly.

They stood side by side for a few minutes.

Black Sam Bellamy was one of Hornigold's enemies. Ed had learned to hate him. But he'd grabbed Stede's rope and dragged him back up to safety, so could he really be that bad?

"You're not so bad, Bellamy," Ed said.

Sam chuckled, smirking. "I know."

Ed smiled. "I really meant it when I thanked you for saving Stede. If you hadn't..."