Thread by @fabuLizSup

"I think it's sweet" Frenchie declared. "the idea that some people just /belong/ with each other, that they always find each other."
"'S fucking absurd is what it is," Iz sneered.
"Aww c'mon Iz, you don't think the idea of fated loves is at least a little romantic?"

"I'm a pirate," Iz replied dryly, "fate has no power over me."
"So you think in other universes we aren't together?" Stede sounded hurt.
"Fuck are you talking about, Bonnet?"
"Well it's fate that brought us together!"
Ed wondered if it was bad the way his heart swelled at the

snort of derision Izzy gave their boyfriend. "Fuck off. Wasn't fate you git it was the tides & winds & shipping lanes & the fact that your moronic self couldn't tell a hawser from a hole in the ground! So I guess if you consider your idiocy fate maybe it is to blame." Ed snorted

a laugh at that. "Aww c'mon Iz, you've been by my side for more'n 2 decades! Don't you think it's gotta be fate keeping us together?"

"Fuck off Edward," Izzy stormed off.

"What'd I say?!"

Stede shrugged in confusion. "I guess he just really hates the idea of destiny?"
###

"Izzy?" Ed's voice is searching. Izzy just grunts in response. "you okay mate? Just, usually your micromanaging the sails when we're this close to port, not..." Ed looks around the hold, trying to figure out what it even /is/ that Izzy is doing.
Izzy shrugs, "what's the point?...

Fate'll get us safe into port or she won't, might as well make better use of my time."
"Mhmm, whaddya say t'having a cuppa with me n Stede as better use of your time?" Ed asks with a tentative hopefulness. Izzy sighs dramatically but follows his captain.
###

Stede pours Izzy a cup of tea and settles down across from him on the chaise. "Israel," Izzy just sneers at the formality, "are you quite alright?"
"M'fine." Somehow Izzy turns two words into a single syllable. It is unconvincing.
"It's just that I've noticed a change?"

Stede's voice raises into a question. Izzy just arches his eyebrows in response. "That is to say, generally you are much more hands on (no pun intended!) When we're near port and yet lately you've been more withdrawn than is usual even for when we are out on the open ocean. It

just has me, us, concerned. Are you feeling alright?"
Izzy repeats his grunt of "m'fine. Is there a problem, captains?" There is a challenge to Izzy's voice, as tho he /wants/ them to be upset.

"A bit?" Ed feels unsure and he hates it. "Stede's crew has learned a lot from you,

for sure! And so far they've been doin' fine. But without you on deck to oversee the docking a million things could go wrong. I know you know this, Iz, cuz it's what you would tell me when I was holed up in my cabin and not doin' my duty as captain."
Izzy purses his lips.

"between her two captains and the guiding winds of Fate, I'm sure the ship'll be fine."
Ed groans in frustration, "you know that isn't how it works!"
Izzy just stares blankly at Ed. "Don't look at me like that Iz! What the fuck man, sailing is WORK, you can't just leave our lives

up to fate! Are you fucking outta your mind?!"
Izzy nods as he moves to stand, "'course, forgot, can't leave the stuff that really matters to fate." He moves toward the door but before he can open it Stede's voice rings out, clear & commanding, "Israel, get back here & sit down."

Izzy's body moves in reaction to the tone without any input whatsoever from his brain; it's infuriating.
"Izzy, are you implying that you think saying a love is fated is the same as saying it's *unimportant*"
Izzy won't make eye contact as he shrugs his response.
Ed makes a

strangled sound that gets Izzy to raise his eyes. "Dickfuck that's ridi-"
"Is it," the challenge in Izzy's voice is hard "Really? Cuz you JUST ADMITTED that Fate isn't a replacement for WORK. But you..." Izzy draws in a large breath that he hopes Stede at least won't recognize

as him trying to keep from crying. When he speaks again Izzy's voice is barely a whisper, spoken into his hands in his lap than anyone else in the room. "For twenty five years I woke up every day and I /chose/ you, Edward." Izzy rolls his eyes, begins to investigate the cabin

ceiling. "I-I know it wasn't the same for you. Sorry. It's stupid. I shouldn't-" Izzy goes to stand again but Ed moves first, wrapping an arm around him as he guides Izzy back to sitting. For a long moment no one speaks, Ed just searching Izzy's face, for what Izzy doesn't know

"Iz," Ed's voice is so gentle, so sincere. "When I say it's Fate, it's because I know there is nothing I have ever done or could ever do to deserve you. Not as a first mate, certainly not as a lover, hell not even as a friend." Izzy opens his mouth to argue but Ed hushes him.

"nope, it's my turn now. Izzy, you call me on my bullshit; you challenge me to do better; you always do your best to take care of me when I can barely take care of myself. Fuck! Izzy, you /forgave/ me. You are loyal & determined & stubborn & you believe in me so fiercely it makes

me believe in myself, too. But you're right, Iz. You have chosen me. Over and over again, you chose me, chose *us,* even when I didn't deserve it. And yeah that did that give me the luxury of not needing to think as actively about choosing you. But that's not for lack of caring I

swear it, Iz. I'll prove it to you, starting now. You stay here with Stede and relax, I'll go oversee the docking." Ed grips Izzy into a tight hug before bounding out of the room.
#HappyEdIzzyWeek
I rolled a 6 and landed on
#Fated or #SoulBound