Hey guys! I have finally started writing season 2 fics! (about time, I know) and boi is there a few of them I intend to write, but I'm starting with this lil PWP based on the scene 3 mins into episode 5 where Stede works on his captain's voice with Ed.

The moment I saw the collar around Ed's neck I knew this had to be written. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did, let me know, much love xox

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

They were hanging out, just like they used to before…before.

No, not thinking about that, don't want to think about that.

He was there, with Stede, on Stede's ship, and yeah, things were still rocky – their relationship, not the actual ship – but they'd spent most of the night talking it through. That was after the crew had reluctantly allowed him to stay aboard again under the careful words of the captain, and a few conditions from everyone to make them feel safer. Stede had been so sure of him, his faith in the man that nearly killed a bunch of people Stede cared about, and destroyed his ship, unwavering since the moment he'd awoken from the gravy basket.

The point was that Stede had explained some things, like why he left, and Ed finally had the whole picture of the situation. He hadn't even considering kidnapping, that was rather remiss of him, but that was all in the past. Well, Ed wasn't completely over it, but the feelings had never gone away, even when he'd hated – wanted to stab - Stede's guts for it all, he never stopped loving him. So he'd decided to start over, be friends again, and let it naturally progress like it had last time.

It was difficult not to be fidgety as he sat atop the chest, back resting against the wall, watching Stede put things back into the cabinet in the corner of the corridor. The clothes he'd been given to wear, which seemed to be made out of a sack or something of the like, were itchy against his skin, teasing the hairs on his body to irritate him, and scratching against his nipples every time he moved. Actually, that last part wasn't as uncomfortable as it seemed.

His bell jingled again as he moved, the rope around his neck was almost worse than the clothing, but that bell. Fuck, that bell was annoying. He couldn't take a piss without hearing the little ting of metal on metal. He shifted again and the bell moved too, a complaint immediately following the noise, falling out of his mouth without his permission. He was trying to be good natured about the situation, but it was already getting on his nerves.

Stede reminded him that he'd done some pretty serious shit, hence the get up wouldn't be coming off anytime soon. Apparently that was all he'd needed to calm down again, to try to be more tolerant of the annoying itch. He wanted this. Well, not this, not the sack and cat collar, but he wanted to be on Stede's ship, with the man himself, among the crew. He wanted the way Stede looked at him like he was the most awe-inspiring, precious thing he'd ever laid eyes on. He wanted to be that better, truer version of himself that Stede had originally seen in him, and eventually coaxed out. To feel vulnerable with another person and trust it to be okay, like when he'd told Stede about his dad.

All of that was apparently achievable too, he just had to continue wearing the godforsaken sack and collar until the crew said his probation was over and he could have his leathers back.

Of course Stede was empathetic of his situation, always trying to find the bright side, or lighten the mood, or resolve issues. He didn't always hit the right note, but god, Ed loved him for it.

Even when Ed was prompted to remember that he was no longer Captain - and likely never would be again – it didn't make him feel enraged, or upset, he didn't feel like the title was stolen from him. It was a relief actually, if he was being truly honest. He hadn't wanted to be Blackbeard for a long time, and Blackbeard was a captain, a savage, scary legend, and Ed was done with that. He just wanted to be Ed – Stede's Ed – and that meant not being captain, which he found sat perfectly with him.

Stede had asked him a question though, and Ed answered, easily confirming that he would never have apologised as captain, but that wasn't how Stede ran things on his ship, and Ed could see that it worked for him that way. He happily acknowledged it too, feeling elated to have that weight off of his shoulders.

"But then, I'm different, and I'm not the Captain anymore, am I? You are."

Stede raised his eyebrow almost seeming shocked by how chill Ed was being about not being captain, or maybe-

"Yes, that's true," Stede acknowledged, a brief hesitation followed though, then, "but I haven't really felt it since we got back on the ship," he admitted.

"Well, then say it, you've got to own it, say it," Ed encouraged, picking up the vulnerable thread in Stede's voice.

"What? I'm your captain…?" Stede asked, not sounding authoritative at all.

The man was the loveliest, most thoughtful bloke Ed had ever met, but he certainly didn't come across as a leader.

"Give it more than that," Ed told him, trying to push Stede to rise into the role a little, "you are the captain, now own it, come on, say it, properly, go…"

"I'm your captain," Stede said, hands on hips, chest puffed out a bit.

Even though it didn't quite hit the mark, Ed was all too aware of the effect it had on him. His heart sped up, eyes glued to the man in front of him, but he was still in his seat, words stripped from him for a moment.

Stede cleared his throat, "Wait I can do it better," he declared, then repeated the words, "I'm your captain."

Ed was on his feet before he even knew he was doing it, bell making it's noise as he stood, but it somehow didn't bother him anymore. He took a step closer to Stede, and the man stood his ground saying it again in a slightly different tone, "I'm your captain."

"C'mon, you can do better than that too," he insisted, mouth suddenly dry, eyes a little too wide.

"I'm your captain," it was better, but not quite there…

"Again, more gusto."

Stede filled in the final footstep between them, "I'm your captain, and I demand respect," he enunciated powerfully, curling two fingers into Ed's cat collar, making it jingle softly, and staring determinedly into Ed's dark eyes.

Fuck.

Ed swallowed hard, felt the press of Stede's fingers tighten between his throat and collar as he did so. He couldn't tear his eyes away from Stede's, he was trying desperately to maintain control of himself, surely Stede had no idea what he was doing to Ed.

"I'm your captain, and you will do as I say."

The whine escaped before he had a chance to catch it.

"I'm your captain, do you understand me?"

"Yeah…yes, Captain," he answered breathlessly, their faces so close now that Ed was sure Stede could feel his hot exhale against his face, hear the thrumming of his heart, see the blood rushing south through his veins.

"How was that?" Stede asked, voice going back to normal and attempting to remove his fingers from Ed's neck.

Without thinking, Ed's hand came up and gripped Stede's wrist, keeping his fingers in place. Stede seemed surprised, if his eyebrows trying to meet his hair were anything to go by, but there was nothing to say he was uncomfortable or reluctant. In fact, Ed could now feel the breath from his barely parted lips on his skin in return, and he chased it back to the source.

Oh, fuck. Stede's lips were full, and plush against his own, warm and dry, but not cracked from the sea air – he probably had a lip balm or something. It started soft, light – it was only their second kiss to be fair – merely a press of lips against lips, but it was insistent. And when Stede's two digits curled tighter against his throat, Ed swept his tongue against lush lips, and Stede's mouth opened with a quiet whimper.

Jesus Christ, Ed was suddenly hungry to hear every noise that Stede could make, wanted to touch and explore him, make him cry out with pleasure, again, and again. Maybe forever.

He began that endeavour with his tongue, slipping it over the curve of Stede's lips into the warm wetness of his mouth. The tip of his tongue ran down the length of Stede's before twisting and caressing it.

"Mmmn," Stede hummed, barely this side of a moan.

His free hand made contact with Ed's back, fingers spread wide as they travelled up his spine, slipping into the dip of his collarbone as they peaked over his shoulder, and continued on his neck to tangle in Ed's long hair. Ed could feel the five digits there, rubbing against the back of his skull, keeping their mouths joined together – as if Ed ever wanted to stop kissing Stede – and noted the potential power in them, the power to make Ed do anything.

Shuffling his feet brought their bodies closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating from Stede, their chests almost bumping. However, the next moment Ed's brain short-circuited as Stede tugged on his collar – jingle, jangle - carefully stepping backwards at the same time, but not breaking the kiss whatsoever. Once he'd recovered enough brain cells to use them, Ed dropped both hands to Stede's waist and followed him the short distance to the wall behind the captain.

Stede's back hitting the wall appeared to be a catalyst for both of them. Sliding his good leg between Stede's thighs, Ed pressed in against Stede, more than half hard in his pants, and feeling the same against his clothed thigh from the man he was kissing.

Stede pulled out of the kiss with an, "Oh!" that was part startled, part moan.

"This okay?" Ed checked pulling back slightly, suddenly concerned he'd gone too far, too fast.

Stede's eyes were wide as he stiffly nodded, "Yeah, yes, I mean…" he glanced down the small gap Ed had made between their bodies and bit his kissed-red lower lip. When his gaze returned to Ed's there was something Ed recognised in his eyes; hunger.

Using his two fingers still tucked firmly in Ed's cat collar, Stede brought their mouths back together, and Ed released his restraint. Though the captain was already finding the pleasure in beginning to rock his hips, rubbing himself against Ed's thigh. The sounds he produced made Ed harder than he could remember being in years.

The friction of their bodies rutting against each other had Ed's itchy sack shirt rubbing incessantly against his nipples worse than ever, and this time it was most certainly the opposite of uncomfortable. He moaned into Stede's mouth, hips stuttering with the extra stimulation.

"Oh, god, Ed," Stede babbled, "it feels so good."

He was gripping onto Ed's collar tightly now, as if it was anchoring him to the moment, holding their heads together. The bell on said collar rang with every movement, but neither of them cared, it was almost hypnotic, jingling to the rhythm of their bodies seeking pleasure from each other, seemingly getting louder and more frantic as they both increased speed.

Ed caught Stede's bottom lip in his mouth, sucking on it to distract himself from the fact that he was getting close already, not to mention stifle the wanton moans that were trying to crawl up his throat. He was rewarded with Stede's blunt fingernails clawing at the back of his head and wounded breathless sounds spilling from Stede's mouth.

The cock grinding his thigh was so hot and hard against him, and Ed desperately wanted to reach into Stede's clothes and touch him, bring him off with his hand, let him come over it. Or better yet, he could just drop to his knees now – fucked leg be damned – and make Stede spill down his throat.

"Mmmnn, fuck," it was stupid to think of such things when he was still trying to stave off his rapidly approaching orgasm, wanting Stede to come first, wanting to witness the man's pleasure as he climaxed.

"Ed, Ed," Stede chanted, leaning his forehead against Ed's, their breaths mingling, no longer trying to kiss, but remaining connected, "I-I-I'm…"

"I got you, love."

"Ngghkkk, Edddd!" Stede cried out, body spasming against Ed's, cock twitching on his leg through their clothes, and hands tightening impossibly further.

Stede was perfect, so beautiful and- "Stede, fuck," Ed spilled hot and hard into his pants, rutting feverishly, chasing the fleeting bliss of his orgasm.

They panted together for long moments, his bell making little ting ting noises as his chest expanded again and again. Slowly, Stede's hands slid from their places, caressing Ed's shoulders and back instead.

"Gosh, Ed, that was incredible," Stede told him with a bright but sated smile.

"You're incredible," Ed told him, riding the high.

Somehow Stede managed to blush, and Ed couldn't help but to kiss him, just lips to lips, but it got the message across of how Stede was making him feel. His hands roaming more freely now he wasn't intent on keeping their groins connected.

"Would you like to take a bath?" Stede inquired after the kiss ended and his eyelids had stopped fluttering.

"Uh," Ed started, that sounded fucking amazing, but, "you mean alone…or together?"

"Oh, well, I had intended together, but-but if that's not-if you would prefer to bathe alone I'll happily draw you a bath and give you some privacy," Stede confessed, returning to his more uncertain demeanour.

His heart sped up again, the thought of seeing Stede completely naked for the first time, to be able to touch his bare skin, to share something intimate like a bath together…a little voice in his head said that maybe they were moving too fast again, but he told that voice to shut up and told Stede, "I reckon I'd love to take a bath together."

"Yeah?" Stede's whole being seemed to brighten with happiness.

"Yeah, love," Ed smiled in return, heart fluttering in his chest.

"Oh, wonderful!"

Things weren't completely back to normal between them yet, but he was feeling more and more confident that they'd get there, "Lead on then…"

Stede took his hand excitedly and started toward the captain's cabin, Ed in tow.

He was discovering that he preferred to be with the captain, than actually being the captain. There was a youthful giddiness about it all too, and maybe that was just how love was, but regardless Ed was…he was happy again, and he wouldn't trade that for anything.