I caught you in my net you gorgeous merman! (Ed/Stede)
Random takes and scenes in space and time for various fandoms I love as inspired by Fanart and the Fandom in general.
Catching a fish, can be hard. Painstakingly so. But then, you manage catch the whopper of them all. A bona fide, certified Merman of all! Ed felt so, so lucky!
Part of Fandom Shorts / Ed/Stede series
I caught you in my net, you gorgeous merman!
"So, Ed…" Fang started, breaking the finally achieved silence between the two of them having gone fishing on a whim. "Any luck yet?"
Yeah, Fang was just making conversation for some reason. The not talking getting to the burly man even if he had been the one to request it. The silence that is. But suddenly feeling bad about it, sensing Ed's awkwardness. The former Captain never really the one to stay quiet for a long moment.
"Yeah… no." Ed sounded somewhat solemn much to Fang's surprise.
As just a short while ago, Fang had had a hard time in making Ed to understand for the man to shut his blabbing yap so the fishies would actually dare to venture close to them, never mind getting caught in their lures!
"So… bored yet?"
The question must've surprised Ed, as he looked up and right at Fang. A smile emerging suddenly. Yet another surprise for Fang this time around, him having thought the former Captain for sure was bored and annoyed of just siting around. All quiet like, waiting. Patiently. All kinds of firsts for sure.
"Nah, I feel… good."
Ed really did. He really felt something of a peace deep inside of him. The reasons unknown, but Ed did not care as what those just might be as this was a first in the longest while he had felt this way. Perhaps ever…
"You do?"
"Yeah, Fang. I really do."
And for whatever unfathomable reason, Ed simply could not stop smiling. Leaving Fang to stare at the pirate Captain rather suspiciously. As usually when Ed grinned, really really grinned, evilly so, it definitely meant and always, always led to no good. At all.
"So, good?"
"Yeah, Fang. Good."
Ed must've dozed off at some point. The mere softness of the moment, the warming sun and the gentle waves of the ocean against the dingy having lulled the fishing pirate into the land of dreams and yes… fantasy too! Having been perhaps a slight slumbery state.
Ed was suddenly jerked from his la la land when the lure started popping up and down on the surface of the calm waters. Something truly was nibbling his bait!
Ed was so exited he did not even bother to alert Fang who also looked like he was enjoying a hefty nap judging from the smirk and the low level snores emanating from the other man.
Ed observed the lure in the water popping faster and faster, deciding it was time to act. Reaching for the small net beside him to help him get the catch of the day out of the water, Ed was hovering over the side of the small dingy ready to pull up the fish having been caught.
As Ed eagerly rolled in the line with his hands, the heaviness of it felt surprising for sure. But he kept on moving quickly only too afraid his catch would manage to get away. It was a matter of pride after all. Getting the damned fish!
Finally reaching the end of the line, Ed could see the catch coming to view. Surfacing close to the side of the boat.
What Ed saw there and then… Well, it was almost a heart attack worthy surprise for sure!
This was no ordinary fish Ed had caught. No, far from it!
The catch being not of a small size either. No, rather on the contrary. Totally so! As how could it be, well small?! This was a…. Man? In the water? In his net? With a tail of a fish?
A mer…man!
A gorgeous blonde mer-man with a tail of a fish!
"Wot - the fuck - is that!?" Fang was right by Ed's side now, having woken up from all the commotion. The large size fish splashing around in the water, resisting its capture and almost making their small dingy to capsize.
"It's… it's a… merman!" Ed was positively beaming now. Seeing his fantasy, his kind of a wet dream having come to life right in front of their very eyes! As this was exactly what Ed had been dreaming of only moments ago!
"A wot?"
"A merman. Ya know, from the fairy tales and all."
"But, those are not real. Their tall fish tales, pun intended. Not real life, Ed!"
"Well, guess they're real now!"
Ed turned for the merman again. Ed's catch of the day… of his life? Their eyes locking… something… being exchanged between the two of them…
With a soft voice, Ed spoke to the half man, half fish, making the man-fish calm down in the end, the splashing stopping suddenly. And the two simply staring there at each other, in silence. Almost like being inside of a spell.
Yeah, guess it was love at first sight… at least for Ed, but possibly for the merman as well?
"Can I help you up, to the boat?" Ed finally managed, realising the merman was still in the water.
The merman nodded only and reached towards Ed, who grabbed the merman and hauled him into the dingy. Not wanting to lose him. Ever.
The commotion of the day was finally over.
Ed having gotten his catch, his very own merman no less. The two having come to an understanding during their trip back to the ship. As it seemed, it was not only Ed who had had dreams of the other. The impossible dream to say the least. Rather the merman had dreamt of his long salt and pepper haired pirate human as well. The two having come together against incredible odds.
Of reality and fantasy. But hey, no one was complaining!
As it turned out, the merman, Stede as his name was, spoke fluent English. But it was also his enchanted singing in his native tongue, the mer-song which Stede the merman had started to sing after getting more comfortable with Ed and his crew. The half fish, half man certainly being a novelty for them all. Alas soon enough, the lot having accepted Stede as one of them, even if the merman needed to splash back into the oceans deep every now and again. Stede's human legs no sustainable in the long run. As was the lore being told, the merman had human legs while on land could only last as they were for so long.
"So, you will be back soon then my dearest darling sweetheart?"
Ed had turned out to be quite the mushy man nobody had seen coming… well, some maybe. But, he always wanted the assurance the merman, Stede. Ed so loved would return to him even while going back to the ocean to do his mer-thing.
"Of course I will darling- I always do."
Stede drew Ed in for a passionate, loving kiss before diving into the blue waters.
Leaving Ed staring at his merman long after Stede had swam away. Only waiting for the moment his love would return. Trusting he would, Ed felt all warm and fluffy inside.
Oh, it was good to be in love.
