Okay, so I wrote this all in one go and I haven't really read it back or edited it. I just want to post it and get it over with.
Disclaimer: I do not own Our Flag Means Death or any other related recognizable characters and/or properties contained within. All rights go to Warner Brothers, HBO Max, and any other interested third party (I don't think I could name them all.) This work is entirely original and is a transformative work protected under US copyright law.
Since the Stede/Edward pairing is cannon and basically the leading plot of the entire show, I don't think I have to worry about anyone leaving any "eww gross gay" comments on this work. If you do leave one of those, you're an asshole. There are discussions of the afterlife, though, so if you find that upsetting (like I do most of the time) I would not reccomend reading this fic.
Finally, I do not consent to my works being hosted on any unofficial app, particularly ones with ad revenue and subscription services. You should only be able to read this on FFN and AO3. Nowhere else. If you see my stories being hosted on a third-party application, report it to iTunes or the Google Play Store immediately.
They're sitting on deck, enjoying their morning cup of tea as they watch the sunrise when Stede asks the question.
"What do you think heaven is like?"
Ed laughs, mostly out of discomfort with a dash of concern thrown in there, too.
"What're you on about, mate?" he asks. "Don't talk like that, all…"
Stede quirks an eyebrow at the incomplete sentence.
"All what?"
"Morbid."
Stede shakes his head as he places his cup down beside him.
"I don't think it's morbid," he says. "In fact, I think it could be quite beautiful."
Ed furrows his brow.
"How so?"
Stede gestures out to the vast expanse of ocean that lies ahead of them.
"Look at that," he says. "Look at how the sky and the water touch. It looks like it could go on forever and ever, and look at the colours! Gold sky, pink clouds, soft blue water…" He puts his hand down and looks at Ed. "Some people would describe that as heaven."
Taken aback, Ed directs his gaze to the floor boards.
"I don't think anything happens when we die," he says. "We just rot in the ground and become food for the worms. Lights out, the end."
When he looks back up, Stede is staring out at the water, disappointment clear on his face. Ed barely keeps from cursing himself out as he puts his own cup to the side.
Gently, he reaches out and hooks their pinky fingers together.
"What do you think happens?"
Stede looks down at their connected fingers. His normally expressive face is suddenly unreadable to Ed.
"I'm not going to pretend I know for sure what happens," he says before looking back up at Ed. "But I'll tell you what I'd like to happen."
"Yeah, sure," Ed encourages. "Go ahead."
Stede looks back out to the sea.
"I think I'd like this," he says. "Just spending eternity watching the sunrise across the ocean. That would be my ultimate peace."
Ed looks out onto water and allows himself to take in the scenery along with the soothing smell of salt in the air. He's sure he starts to feel something akin to the peace Stede was talking about.
"Yeah," he agrees. "That would be beautiful."
He feels Stede unhook his finger to clasp his hand entirely. Ed's lips turn upward as he looks down at their hands.
"However," Stede says. "To me that wouldn't be heaven." Ed looks back up in confusion. "It'd come close, but it wouldn't be heaven."
"What would make it heaven?"
Stede squeezes his hand and Ed feels a little flutter in his heart.
"It'd only be heaven if you were there with me," Stede says, looking Ed right in the eye. For a moment, Ed could swear his heart stops. "Promise you'll try to be there with me."
Ed wants to look away, but he's enraptured by Stede's pleading eyes.
"I don't know about that," he says. "Haven't exactly done a lot of good in my life. Might not be allowed in past the gates."
Unsurprisingly, that does nothing to deter Stede. He just doubles down.
"It's not a matter of good or bad," he insists. "It's a matter of trying. Please, Ed, just promise me you'll try."
Slowly, Ed starts to smile.
"Okay," he says. "I promise I'll try. It might take one hell of a fuckery to pull off, but I'll try."
Stede returns the smile.
"Thank you."
After a chaste press of lips, Stede shuffles closer to Ed and lays his head on his shoulder. Ed wraps an arm around Stede's waist and rests his head atop Stede's own. They watch the sunrise together and enjoy their ultimate peace.
IDK why, but I've been thinking a lot about the afterlife lately. Not in an "I wanna kill myself" way. Just speculatively. Maybe it's because the first anniversary of a loved one's passing just went by, maybe because I'm missing another loved one who has been dead for years a lot lately, or maybe just because I'm reading an Avengers fic that details Natasha's afterlife following her sacrifice for the Soul Stone. Whatever the case, this scene popped into my mind and it just wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it down.
This probably isn't the best thing in the world. It might not even be in character, but it felt cathartic to write and I figured I might as well share it with the world.
Remember kids, life is fleeting. Try to find peace where you can.
Originally uploaded to FFN on 7/23/22.