GentleBeard remeet oneshots

Our Flag Flies Low

Possible Trigger Warning

Stede was sitting on the small rowboat he had taken for his trip back to his ship. He had come to the island too late, and most of his old crew had driven themselves mad.

It hurt Stede, seeing all the half-eaten bodies littering the ground. As he rowed through the frothy, cold, blue waves, he thought to himself how much it would hurt being a captain to a ship without most of its crew. He still hoped that Edward was okay, however, having realized he had left without him.

As the Revenge came into sight, Stede stood up and called out, freezing upon realizing there was smoke rising from the beautiful cherry wood boat. Fear struck his heart as he paddled faster. "God, oh God no!" Tears streamed down his face as he heard a gunshot ring out.

Once he got closer, he called out again, seeing fire burning all around the deck of the ship. The ladder was down further up, so Stede climbed up without hesitation.

Stumbling onto the deck, he looked around. "Edward?! Ed where are you!! Are you okay?!" Tears were streaming down his face as he searched the burning, red hot rubble.

He gasped as a searing pain shot through his back from behind. He shakily looked down and saw a sword shooting out from his stomach, before he heard a hurt, strained voice from behind him.

"S-Stede? Y-you came back! Oh God no what have I done?!" Stede turned around wearily, seeing Edward Teach standing behind him, black chalk around his eyes and lining where his beard would be. Tears were making it run.

Stede smiled painfully. "You're okay!" He exclaimed, pulling the sword out of his gut. "Nice stab! It's a real killer!" He chuckled to himself, holding his stomach with one hand while cupping Blackbeards cheek with the other.

"Stede I-I'm so sorry I didn't realize it was you!" Edward said painfully. He looked deeply hurt, placing his hand on the one Stede had on his cheek.
Stede looked into his eyes, his face getting paler by the second. "It's okay luv, I promise it's okay. I would've-" He was interrupted by a string of hard coughs, falling to his knees as Edward held him. "I'd rather it w-was your hand then any others"

Edward tried putting pressure on the wound, his freshly bloodied hand being pulled away by Stede's. "P-Please let me help... I'm sorry I shouldn't have left without you but don't die! That's not at all what I wanted to happen! I'm begging you Stede, let me help! You can still survive this!" Edward cried out, keeping Stede's slow breathing body to his chest.

"No. Edward I should have met you there. I have the blood of two fine men on my hands, I deserve this. All I ask is that you stay with me 'till I go, then bury me at sea." Stede smiled softly, before gently kissing Blackbeard's soft lips.

Ed shut his eyes tight, holding onto the moment for all it was worth. He didn't want to let Stede go, but it was a gamble on whether he would've been able to help him anyways.

Sooner then the pirate would have liked, Stede went limp in his arms. Edward rocked back and forth while holding him. He was covered in the blood of his beloved, Tears, sweat, and dirt. He looked around the burning ship, smiling to himself as he whispered, "The captain always goes down with his ship..." he took a shaky breath before standing up, carrying Bonnet to the hull of the ship, watching as the rest of his crew, (minus Izzy who Blackbeard had shot) got away safely. He smiled again, sitting against the side of the ship, and waited for the moment he would see his beloved once more.

Jim watched the burning ship as Blackbeards crew rowed away with them bound. They had faintly seen Bonnet heading that direction, and although the others said that Blackbeard would be along soon, they knew he wouldn't. They looked at the others before pulling out their knife, quickly breaking their bonds and slitting their throats as one fired his gun at them. Thus ending the lived of the final few who had ever set foot upon the Revenge.

~~~

It was an agonizing ten minutes before Edward's life was finally taken by the flames and sea, but it was worth it when he opened his eyes to find himself on calm, crystal blue water. He stood, alarmed by how he was staying atop of it, before a hand slipped into his. He looked down and saw no other then Stede, sitting beside him.

"No need to run, it's alright." He said, smiling up at him. Ed teared up once again, hugging him tightly.

Stede chuckled, holding him lovingly. "I missed you Ed, and I'm sorry I never showed. I had loose ends to tie up after another man's life was ended by my hands. And people back at my home still may have believed I was alive, so I had to fake my death." He ran his fingers through his lovers hair.

Edward sighed, wiping his tears. "I wish you had told me first, I couldn't tell whether you had abandoned me or not, I completely lost it!"
"Did you talk it out as a group like I taught you?"

Edward stayed quiet for a moment, before muttering 'no.' Stede huffed, raising an eyebrow. "You should've. I also left a note on your bed. You should've gone and checked why I hadn't shown. I didn't know the way to the docks."

The two stayed silent after that, holding onto one another for dear life. Neither wanted to let go, and neither wanted to speak. It was a full ten minutes before Stede finally said those three words, the words Edward had wanted to hear his whole life. "I love you, Ed."

With those words, he looked back up at him and smiled. "I love you too Stede, you fucking lunatic."
And with that Edward kissed Stede deeply. They were both finally at peace as a blinding white light took over them both.

In the end, no one got their happy ending till death came upon them. But every couple who had been separated by death found each other in death with time. Lucius and Black Pete were reunited, and Jim was able to see Olu again. Everybody was at peace in the end, happy with their life decisions. Thus leaving their flag flying low, but their spirits flying high.