Not everyone has wings. Those that do on land are heads of household, with marriages arranged to encourage strong bloodlines and a higher chance of winged children.
At sea, they’re feared and admired in the same breath. Deadly in ways non-winged pirates aren’t.
(#SteddyHands)
Ed’s got wings big enough to be seen from a distance if he stretches them out, and the silhouette of his wingspan alone can terrify ships into surrender. They know who that black shape is, and no one wants to see what happens if he decides to fly over.
Stede’s got wings white and beautiful, almost as big as Ed’s but much less intimidating. He’s expressive with them in ways most pirates aren’t, all his clothing tailored perfectly to show them off. Long and fluffy, he’ll often use them for shade, for himself or others.
And Izzy, well.
Izzy doesn’t have wings.
It’s not unusual, most pirate crews only have 1-2 winged aboard. On The Revenge they have four: Ed, Stede, Ivan and Buttons, so they’re already above quota. Izzy never comments on them unless to gripe about discarded feathers.
Stede assumes it’s Izzy’s general hatred for him that earns him a glare anytime Edward touches his wings or preens him. He shrugs it off along with most of what Izzy does.
Except one day Stede actually needs Izzy for something, and can’t for the life of him find him.
He walks all over the ship, searches high and low, and right when he’s about to give up he sighs heavenward and realizes he hadn’t been looking high enough.
Izzy is up in the crow’s nest, alone. Stede pulls out his spyglass (every good pirate carries one!!!) and peeks a look.
Izzy looks…happy. His eyes are closed, the wind tousling his hair and yet he makes no moves to fix it. Stede’s heart does a leap when he sees that not only is Izzy letting his normal composure slip, he appears to be…smiling.
He’s never seen Izzy smile. He finds he likes it.
The image doesn’t leave Stede’s head, and he finds he can’t quite hate Izzy the way he used to, now that he’s seen a glimpse of a real man underneath the anger.
He asks Ed if he’s ever taken Izzy flying. Both their wings can support additional weight. It seems logical.
But Ed changes the subject as soon as it’s brought up, only telling him that Izzy doesn’t want it, and it would be very good for Stede’s long-term health if he never brings it up to him.
He keeps that in mind, even as their relationships to each other evolve past professional.
It bothers Stede a little that Izzy won’t undress in front of him. For all the romantic and sexual activities they’ve engaged in (and there have been many, these past few months) he’s never seen the man without a shirt. Ed has, he knows, but there’s a wall there only for Stede.
That is, until Izzy is injured in a raid.
It’s not a horrible wound, a shallow slash to the chest and certainly survivable, but Ed insists on doing the bandages himself and Izzy won’t let anyone else near him. Stede’s frustration peaks at not being able to tend to his lover.
Ed is passed out on the bed with Izzy curled next to him when Stede enters and places a gentle hand on Izzy’s shoulder.
“Dearest, we should change your bandages.”
Izzy mumbles something that sounds vulgar, but Stede persists.
“Come now, I can help and Ed can sleep.”
Izzy turns to glare at him, but then Ed says in a sleepy grumble “you should let him, Iz. It’s been long enough.”
The sentence seems much more loaded than the words alone should be. There’s silence and Stede debates leaving, but then Izzy whispers “I don’t know” and Ed huffs.
“He’s not gonna care, Iz.” Ed’s voice is soft, but he’s properly awake now. Izzy’s face shows his unease.
“I don’t want pity.”
Stede chimes in. “I won’t give it.”
It seems to be the right answer. Izzy slowly raises himself to a sitting position, removing his shirt.
He won’t meet Stede’s eye, and Ed is rubbing soothing circles on his leg. Stede can’t see anything to be scared of, Izzy’s chest is the same as any pirate of his age, littered in scars and tattoos and sunspots. He sets about his work and the cabin is silent.
“Turn around for me now dearest, I’ll need to wrap the new bandages around.”
Izzy freezes, and Ed squeezes his hand. He slowly turns his back to Stede, who can’t help the small gasp that escapes his lips.
On either side of Izzy’s spine are two long, ugly, deep scars.
There’s no mistaking what the scars are from. They line up perfectly where Stede and Ed’s wings jut from their backs. They look painful, the skin angry and red, both indented into Izzy’s back like someone had reached in and carved the flesh and muscle out.
They probably did.
Stede reaches out and touches one lightly. He doesn’t know what to say, he has so many questions, but all he really wants to do is pull Izzy into his arms and never let him be hurt again.
“Stede,” Izzy whispers, and it breaks him from his thoughts. He starts to wrap.
The silence stretches before Izzy speaks again in a whisper.
“It was a long time ago. Hornigold. An example of what happens to mutineers, when we were caught plotting. He wanted Ed, but-“ Izzy is shaking as he speaks, and Stede gently shushes him.
“You don’t have to tell me, darling. Not now.” He squeezes Izzy’s shoulder, then presses a kiss to each scar. Izzy let’s out a shuddering breath each time.
Once the bandages are taken care of Stede climbs into bed, in his usual spot with Izzy in the middle.
Already a clingy sleeper, Izzy burrows himself between them, and both Stede and Ed are more than happy to hold him tight.
Their wings, normally kept close for sleeping, stretch to cover them all in a protective shield from the world.
They all drift off, safe and loved.
(Stede eventually asks Izzy if he would like to fly again, Izzy says yes, and a less walk-y/more fly-y version of this gif happens. Buttons has seagull wings. Ed’s wings are compensating a little bit but Stede’s are NOT.)
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