Tides of deception ✺ Outlander/Stephen Bonnet Fanfic

♤50. Gold linen 🌶

As Stephen returned to the ship, his footsteps sounded heavy against the wooden deck, each step measured. His gaze shifted subtly toward Maria, giving her a look that beckoned her to follow. Her eyes caught his silent cue, and she walked alongside him, her mind racing with questions. Once inside the cabin, Stephen shut the door firmly behind them, the sound echoing in the stillness.

"I found something," he said, his voice low, and Maria's eyes immediately fixed on him, searching. "Blackbeard has a place... I'll pay with the rubies and yer ring."

The words seemed to hang in the air, weighty and cold. Maria's hand flew to her ring instinctively, fingers wrapping around it as though it might slip away. Her eyes widened, hurt flickering behind them. "My ring? Why would you offer my ring?" Her tone was filled with disbelief.

Stephen stepped toward her, his jaw tight, his movements strained. "I didn't offer it. He asked for it." The frustration in his voice was evident. "Maria, we don't have many options. I'll get you a new ring-a bigger one!" He raised his hand in a placating gesture, but Maria could see the tension running through him like a taut rope ready to snap. She felt a pang in her chest, but seeing his frustration, she resisted pushing further. She knew his mood could turn volatile, and today... he looked like he was already balancing on the edge.

Her gaze dropped to the ring on her finger, and with a somber breath, she carefully twisted it off. The gold glinted softly in her hand as she took a final look at the delicate engravings-the hearts, the intricate patterns she had grown attached to. For a moment, she hesitated, feeling a pang of loss, but then she placed them in his open palm. She looked up, meeting his eyes. In his stare, she saw a mix of stress, uncertainty, and something else-a vulnerability that was rare for him.

Without a word, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his neck, her head resting against his shoulder. Stephen's body tensed at first, but after a beat, she felt his arms come around her, pulling her close. They stood like that, quiet, listening to each other's breaths. For a moment, the world outside their embrace faded, and it was just the two of them, sharing a silence that held more meaning than any words.

When she finally pulled back, she saw something in his eyes-regret, perhaps, or even guilt. She couldn't be certain, but there was a softness that hadn't been there before. He cleared his throat, his voice softened. "I have to go now." He took a step back, but not without a lingering look in her direction, as though committing her face to memory.

Their eyes met again, and she held his gaze, her own filled with quiet forgiveness. It was as if she was letting him know, without words, that she understood. She felt the weight he carried and, somehow, that was enough. A long silence filled the cabin, punctuated by the distant call of the waves outside. Stephen's hand tightened briefly around the ring in his pocket, as though even now he was unsure. The doubt flickered in his eyes, but he couldn't bring himself to voice it.

He took a steady breath, breaking eye contact as he turned and opened the door. Outside, the crew was bustling, loading supplies into a smaller boat. Declan gave Stephen a nod as he climbed in, the cool weight of Maria's ring pressing against his leg in his pocket. As the boat drifted away from the ship, Stephen kept his gaze fixed ahead, but a part of him felt the ache of that last look between them-a look he couldn't shake, no matter how many miles lay between them.

✺

Outside the gray clapboard house, surrounded by the dense trees that shrouded the property from prying eyes, Blackbeard waited with an air of authority. His massive frame stood relaxed yet imposing, his expression carrying a forced smile as Stephen approached, his movements calm but calculated.

Justin carefully set the crate down on a barrel nearby, unfastening the lid to reveal the carefully cushioned box of rubies. As the velvet folds peeled back, the rich, gleaming red hues of the gems caught the sunlight, each stone showcasing the quality that Stephen's reputation was built upon. Blackbeard's eyes lit up with satisfaction as he inspected each ruby, a satisfied grin tugging at his lips.