Finally Izzy had what he wanted, his old captain back. Ed, now Blackbeard once again, no longer the namby pamby Stede Bonnet had turned him into.
But most importantly, Izzy could have Ed all to himself with Bonnet finally out of the picture. That's all Izzy wanted, since the first time he'd laid eyes on Ed he knew he'd do anything to be close to him. Even if all that meant was being his first mate.
Two or so months had passed since Ed had taken command over The Revenge and the environment on the ship was quickly growing venomous. He was on a rampage, practically asking to get himself and his crew killed. No one was safe with Blackbeard sailing the waters in his furiously deranged state.
Not only were the crew in shambles due to the wrath of their captain but so was the ship. Ed had made sure to destroy everything that his former co-captain, who's name was not to be mentioned, had left on the ship until it was no longer recognisable.
Late at night when the crew were sleeping, or what appeared as sleeping but was really lying down with some form of weapon clutched under a pillow, there was a violent crashing sound. Everyone was up in a flash, eyes unusually wide due to the lack of sleep they'd had. Standing in an entry way was Izzy, already knowing what was happening, he signalled for the crew to go back to their former positions.
Instinctively, Izzy first looked for Ed in the captains quarters. Knowing for certain that it was him who'd caused the sudden commotion. As Izzy stood before the entrance, he began to sweat. This was unusual for him, Izzy was not known to feel anything but rage and the pleasure of putting down his enemies. But the past few months he'd been introduced to the feeling of fear. Ed had a new found rage like nothing else before and for the first time Izzy felt uneasy around him.
He quickly snapped out of his sweat and swiftly entered the room. It was dimly lit by only a few candles, standing over a pile of broken furniture was Ed. His shoulders rising and falling with each huff of a breath. Moments like this Izzy found himself not knowing what to say, because nothing he said would be right. Time and time again when he'd say anything regarding Ed's current state of mind he was usually met with a blow to the face, or something worse like having another one of his toes removed.
Before Izzy could bring himself to say anything Ed turned to face him, his face distorted with anger. "Did I wake you? He said mockingly.
Izzy ignored his statement and continued to speak. "I've tried to disregard your newly found insanity but I can't, frankly I think you've lost it, as if you could possibly be more insane than before."
After finishing his statement Izzy looked up to meet the gaze of his captain. He was laughing maniacally, bent over and clutching his stomach. He dropped to his knees, still shaking in laughter. Izzy felt as though this was just more proof that Ed had finally lost the plot, that the former Blackbeard was no longer there but a deranged loon of a man in his place. Slowly Ed's laughter subsided and he looked back up at Izzy and pulled an off putting smile. "Izzy, isn't this what you wanted? I can't believe that you of all people are complaining!" He said, the further into the sentence the more angry his voice became.
He was right, this was what Izzy had wanted. He wanted Blackbeard and he got just that. Except he got all the parts he didn't care for, the part of Blackbeard that was all lunacy and no fun. What Izzy really wanted was the former companionship he'd had with Ed before Stede came and seduced him, taking him away from Izzy.
He could feel the sting of held back tears, in an attempt to keep his stoic facade he coughed and began to make his way out. "Where the hell do you think you're going?!" Ed yelled, still on the floor.
His yell could be described as more of an angry cry rather than a yell. Izzy stood in the doorway, his back to Ed. He didn't know what there was to say, there was no point in telling him his feelings because the man he had them for was gone now.
His pause was long enough for Ed to get up and lunge himself at Izzy, grabbing his waist and pulling them both down to the floor. Having the advantage, Ed pinned him to the floor in an instant. Izzy didn't know whether he should bother to try and escape from his grasp, Ed would eventually best him either way.
Ed stared down at his first mate who refused to return the favour of eye contact. "You won't even look at me, are you that much of a coward?" He said with the intention of aggravating him.
Izzy wouldn't fall into his trap, he knew Ed and he knew all of his tricks too. He did however give in and look at him. He could tell this angered Ed, he wanted a fight but Izzy refused to entertain the idea.
They stared at each other in silence for a long moment, both of them too prideful to give in or give up. Then suddenly there was a change in the atmosphere, as Ed stared down he had the chance to really see Izzy despite the dim lighting. To see every little detail on his face that he'd never once bothered to notice.
Izzy picked up on the change, though he was confused as to what had changed. He gazed up at Ed, noticing his eyes darting around to look at his face. He followed his eyes and found them stopping on his mouth. When they didn't move away, Izzy felt a sudden rush of nerves and the loss of his breath. He had to look away, he couldn't bare to look into Ed's eyes, not when he was looking at him the way he was. The way Izzy had waited so long for to be looked at by him.