Thread by @OurFlagMnsSteph

#noangstnov
Day 15: forts
It was a foggy morning, so much so that the Revenge had stayed anchored in harbor.
Stede and Ed had decided that the crew could take the time to have a break, enjoy a peaceful day or two.

Izzy, of course, found it difficult to rest. He'd woken at dawn like normal, and cursed the fog that turned the air to ether. When the captains gave the order to "take it easy" He scoffed and got about his business. There was still plenty to be done.

Izzy was in the store room checking their provisions when Ed found him.
"Iz! What the fuck man? What're you doing?"
Izzy didn't even look up from his counting.
"Work, Edward, like usual."
Ed grabbed him by the collar and pulled, ignoring Izzy's attempts to argue.

"Captains' order, Iz. We're all having a break. Even you."
When they got to deck, Izzy saw that it'd been transformed. Blankets were suspended from the rigging making a giant fort. Izzy was reminded of the dark times before Stede came back. He turned to Ed, needing to be sure.

Ed grinned at the fort then back to Izzy.
"C'mon! Stede's gonna read a story!"
And he ran off, giggling like a kid.
Izzy followed more sedately and was greeted with cheers from the whole crew when he pushed through into the fort.

It seemed like they'd brought in all the linens and pillows Stede had available. It was warm from all the bodies and dim, nearly yellow from the lantern lighting it in the middle. The crew lounged laughing and filling the space with life.

"C'mere Iz, saved you a spot!" Ed called from his place on the floor. He'd made a little nest of blankets with room right there next to him. Izzy fought a blush at the thought of Ed wanting him so close. He sat down, his left side touching Ed from shoulder to hip.

Stede shushed the crew from Ed's other side so he could start reading. Frenchie sat on Izzy's other side and nudged him a bit.
"Glad you joined us" He whispered and Izzy fought a smile.
Stede read for awhile, but Izzy wasn't paying attention to the words.

He watched the crew instead. Lucius laid with his head on Pete's lap, his hand held by Fang cuddling next to him. Wee John had his arm around Frenchie and laughed generously when Roach made a joke. Swede watched Stede in astonishment and grabbed Ivan when the story turned scary.

Jim and Olu sat at the back, Jim resting in Olu's embrace just seeming to drift in snd out of comfortable sleep. Even Buttons and Olivia had joined them in the fort. They kept to the edge, just in case of trouble only they'd notice.

This was...surprisingly nice.
Ed shifted a bit.
"Your knee?" Izzy asked, it always his first thought.
"Nah, just getting comfy."
And he was pulling Izzy in closer, wrapping an arm around him and urging Izzy to lay his head on Ed's shoulder.

There were some things about their lives now that drove Izzy crazy, annoyed him endlessly. But this, moments of comfort and calm, being invited, included. This was a gift. This was something he'd take on all trials to keep.

-End-

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