Being Ed, he found, was much weirder than Ed thought it would be.

Sure, he was technically always Ed. Been Ed since his mother brought him into this shit, 'man eat man, then set said man's ship on fire', world and named him Edward. But Ed was Blackbeard to his crew and everyone else who had the poor man's misfortune of running into him.

Izzy called him Ed, once in a while. Not in a friend saying another friend's name kind of way, but more in a way you would say a colleague's name. One you tolerated. He was used to that kind of Ed. It was familiar. What he wasn't used to, was whatever this new Ed was. Nothing behind it, just his name. Easy, genial, no ulterior motives, just—

"Ed?"

He looked up from his plate of breakfast. He'd been absent-mindedly sawing the same perfectly-cooked sausage in half for the past minute. Stede sat across from him, on a makeshift chair made from a pile of sturdy books. The man had insisted Ed take the chair.

The way he was dressed, Ed couldn't help but think he resembled some sort of nobleman. One that looked out of place at the small wooden table, sitting on a pile of books. He would never have coined this man a lightkeeper, Stede was way too chipper and bright and…happy. Lighthouse keepers were more on the side of misery and madness. Not Stede, though. At least Ed didn't think so. For all he knew the guy could be a complete nutcase.

Stede was looking at him pleasantly, holding his teacup.

"More tea?"

Without needing an answer, he was already up and carrying away their cups. He worked skillfully, boiling the kettle, adding the milk and sugar, exactly the way Ed liked it. That was another thing. Before, when he had been stabbed, or cut, or run through, and in worse condition than he was at the shipwreck when Stede found him, he'd just patch himself up, drink a bottle of whatever was closest to him, then sleep it off.

Ed wasn't used to this sort of concern from another person. The past few of days of being here had been full of Stede being paranoid any small movement would make him topple over instantly. Full of 'let me get that for you' and 'oh you're burning up! I'll get you a damp cloth' and even 'Oh! Let me read you this book! It's my favourite!'

The book had been pretty good. Stede did the voices for the characters and all. The main guy had been kind of a dick though.

Stede set his cup down in front of him, and just like the food, it was perfect. Even the damn temperature was spot-on. He had no idea how the man did it.

"So," Stede began, after taking a moment to bask in the sheer euphoria Ed was very obviously experiencing from his first sip. "I was pondering over how we could spend our morning, and I was thinking…"

"And what were you thinking?" Ed said, only somewhat cheekily, after Stede seemed to hesitate on his next words for a moment.

"Well, I was thinking," he continued, "now that you seem to have healed quite nicely, perhaps we could take a trip to the beach! Take a look at your ship! Do a bit of - how do you say - damage control? I can't imagine you've been able to think of much else."

His ship. He'd forgotten about that, actually.

"Oh yeah, head's sore from thinkin' about it."

"Perfect!" Stede smiled enthusiastically, missing the subtle sarcasm. They finished their breakfast, Stede eating much quicker than Ed. He only barely managed to finish his tea before the other man eagerly snatched his cup away from him.

"Wait, stay there a moment," Stede said, as Ed was moving to get up from his chair. He watched the man go to a trunk by the base of his bed. After a minute of quiet mumbling, he returned and placed a pile of neatly folded clothes on his lap. Ed raised an eyebrow up at Stede.

"Not sure how well it will all fit, might be a tad bit too small - however, I'm sure it shall be much more agreeable than your current attire!"

Ed considered his current attire, being shirtless and leather pants, and he nodded in agreement. He stood and for a moment they stared at each other. When Stede didn't go to move, Ed cleared his throat.

"Special viewing costs extra, mate."

"Hm? What– Oh!" Stede stepped back immediately. "Right, yes, apologies!" Walking backwards he stumbled over the air. "I'll leave you to it, then. Take your time!" He left, closing the door on his way out, just a bit too loudly.

Ed chuckled to himself before looking over the clothes in his hands. The fabric was smooth and soft, and he couldn't help himself from feeling it, rubbing it between his fingers. Getting dressed, Stede was right when he said it would be slightly small, the pants ending higher on his leg than that style of pants should have.

Stede was waiting patiently for him when he came out. Ed leaned in the doorway, hand on the door frame as he struck a pose. He walked out with a flourish of the shirt's fancy sleeves, Stede laughing happily.

"You look a true gentleman, my friend!"

Though he understood it to be a figure of speech, Ed's pause at the word friend was involuntary. He covered it up smoothly with a quick bow.

"Ah-Thank you, ah-thank you." He straightened with a final flourish. "Honestly man, I'm getting a big head, wearin' this."

Stede smiled. "Nonsense." A final look between the two. "Right, this way to your ship!" Stede marched off enthusiastically.

The walk to the ship was nice. Ed's foot seemed to be the most stubborn part of him, refusing to heal as quickly as the rest of him, so they had to walk slower than usual. Stede didn't seem to mind. The late morning was warm, with a slight chill from the breeze. The beach where his ship had crashed was farther than he thought from Stede's little cabin. Though he had been passed out when Stede dragged him back.

They came to the edge overlooking the beach. Ed looked to Stede, who was staring at his ship in awe. Ed stared at it too, in…less awe. The thing barely resembled a ship anymore. It was smashed to all hell, and the tallest mast had cracked in half. He was most likely the only thing on the ship that survived.

When they were both finished with their staring, Stede offered his hand as support as they went down the narrow path leading down to the beach. Initially, Ed declined, but after nearly tripping and cracking his head on a rock, he took up Stede's offer.

The beach was partly sand, partly stone and rock. It was littered with bits and pieces of wood and sail, and other things Ed couldn't quite make out. The waves seemed to be mocking him, so small and innocent compared to the monsters he fought just the other night. The sea could be a real bitch sometimes.

"Well it's…It's not too bad!"

They'd come to the very base of the ship, or what was left of it.

"I'm sure there's a way we could– we could find a way to…repurpose it?"

Ed snorted. "No need to humour me, mate. Things fuckin' totalled."

Stede picked up a chunk of wood, before letting it drop limply from his hands. "It does seem to be quite… totalled, yes." Ed looked over to see Stede giving him another sad dog look.

"Oh for— I told you man, no harm done. Not even your fault." That was mostly true, anyway.

"Yes I know, but…I can't help feeling very much responsible. I'm quite sorry about all this."

Ed gave the man a reassuring pat on the shoulder, then the two split and looked around. Stede walked around the ship and continued to examine it. He seemed to be entranced by it. It was a few more minutes before he heard from Stede again.

"Oh, wow! Ed– Ed! come here, look at this!"

Ed half walked half limped over the stoney beach to where Stede was standing, holding something in his hands. He stopped beside him, leaning in to get a look at what he had.

"A…rock."

Stede scoffed. "Not just any rock, man!" He placed it into Ed's hand, then pointed at its round edges. "See that? Look how smooth it is! Its flat surface? That, right there, is the perfect skipping stone ."

"The perfect fuckin' what-when?"

Stede looked at Ed, expecting the punchline.

"The–...are– are you serious?"

When the exasperated look on Ed's face remained, Stede only laughed. "My dear man, have you… never skipped stones before?"

Feeling like this overly excitable man was absolutely pulling his leg, Ed put a hand on his hip. He'd play along.

"Nope, never. Show me, then. This skippy stones."

"Skipping Stones," Stede corrected. "Now, watch closely my friend, as I open your eyes."

Ed followed as Stede led them to the edge of the beach, where the incoming tide just barely reached their feet. "It's all in the wrist." He said, gently taking the stone back from Ed. "It's a simple flick, like this," he held the stone and made a faux flick. Ed just watched, amused, waiting for when the man would be done joking around.

With a breath, Stede's face went serious. Ed found this whole thing extremely funny.

Another breath, he pulled back his wrist then flicked. As expected the stone…flew across the water. It bounced five times before sinking. Ed's mouth hung open.

"How…how did you–"

Stede gave a cocky smile and swatted a hand. "Oh, that? That was a rusty go. Usually, it skips eight or nine times when I do it. I always seemed to have the knack for these–"

"Do it again," Ed demanded, handing him another stone.

Stede studied the stone before handing it back. "No see, that's much too bumpy, it has to be completely flat - here, like this." Stede bent down then came back with another perfectly smooth stone. He handed it to Ed. "You try."

"Uh.." He scratched his beard and coughed. "Right– alright." He brought his wrist back, just like he'd seen Stede do it, then he sort of chucked the stone at the water. It plunked into the waves with a sad plop.

Ed looked to Stede, whose lips were pursed. He had a finger up to his mouth. "That…wasn't bad," he said, before moving his hand to further cover a very seeable smile.

"Alright. Fine. Let's do this, then." Ed crouched down and began scouring the floor, picking up rocks and throwing them away.

"And what are you doing?" Stede asked, standing over the hunched man, smiling still with a cheeky look on his stupid face.

"Getting rocks to beat you at skipping stones with," he said plainly. Stede laughed.

"You don't beat people at skipping stones, Ed."

"Well, I do. Just watch. I'll skip the best fucking stone you've ever seen ."

Stede nodded and smiled. "I'm certain you will."

So that's where they were, both walking along the beach, collecting stones, some smoother than others. Ed had never felt so determined, he would beat Stede at this, and wipe that annoying grin off his nice face. He was in full combat mode. Until he spotted the familiar colour of dark garnet.

It was wedged between some rocks, twitching in the wind. Ed stared at it, before dropping his, only slightly, bumpy rocks into a pile. He dislodged the fidgeting fabric and held it, feeling it in his fingers. In all the chaos and mess of that night, he thought he'd lost it. He brought it up and touched it to his cheek.

"Have you found something?"

Stede appeared behind him, no longer looking for perfectly round rocks.

"Oh–uh, no. It's nothing," He said, standing up quickly and rubbing his nose.

Stede was now standing beside him, he noticed the red thing. He paused, looking between Ed and the old cloth he held. He seemed to sense the man's attachment to it.

"It certainly doesn't seem like nothing." His voice was much calmer than its usual chipper tone.

"May I?" He extended an asking hand, but it was low and soft, like he didn't want it to feel preasurring. Hesitating for a moment, Ed handed it to him.

"Thank you," Stede said. He held the red cloth lovingly, with experienced hands. Ed watched as he got a lost look to his eyes, feeling the fabric between his own fingers.

"You…you good?"

"Hm? Oh, yes. All good here," He smiled and handed back the cloth, closing Ed's fingers around it. "Just– reminds me of home. That's all." Stede's face had formed into something of a bittersweet smile.

"Yeah, uh, does that for me, too."

They didn't say much of anything after that. They sat on the rocks for a time, in comfortable silence. Eventually, Stede spoke again.

"I think that's enough skipping stones for one day, hm?"

Ed agreed. He tucked the red cloth into his pocket.

The rest of the evening went about the same as the others. They had dinner - Stede really was a fuckin' great cook, even with the limited ingredients he had. They talked easily for a while, and Stede read to Ed, too. One of his pirate books. He seemed to like pirates, and ships. Ed thought he might tell Stede, about who he really was, one day. He'd probably be impressed.

Eventually, the evening would end, and Stede would go to the lighthouse. Ed was sitting on Stede's bed. The fire was burning low, the beginning of it slowly burning out.

"Why not..." Ed began as Stede was readying to leave. Stede hummed in question. He had a blue jacket over him, and a book tucked into the crook of his arm.

"Why don't I come with you, this time. Keep you, uh, keep you company up there."

Stede smiled at him. The gentle yellow light accentuating his friendly features, the curl over his forehead.

"Next time," he said. "No way you'd make it up there, with that ankle."

Ed chuckled. "Right." He looked to the floor, then back up at Stede, who hadn't looked away. "Probably boring up there anyway, yeah?"

"Yeah," Stede agreed, pleasantly. "Goodnight, Ed."

"Night, Stede."

When Stede was gone for good, Ed laid down on the bed, arms rested under his head.

Being Ed was weird. Being Ed with Stede was easy.