Work Text:
Edward huffed angrily as he stared daggers into the ceiling. He’d lost all concept of time; having spent what felt like several hours watching the sun rise. Stede, of course, was sleeping blissfully. Little dainty nightcap on his head, sleep mask covering his eyes, mouth hanging open and snoring. Loudly. For hours now. If Ed didn’t love the fucker so much, he’d have almost reconsidering burning his face off again. Though, he’d be lying if it didn’t cross his mind, once. Or twice. He also thought briefly about smothering him with his pillow.
“Stede.” Ed spoke out loud to the room. Stede responded by snorting. Ed nudged his leg with his own, gently at first, and then once again a little harder. “Babe.”
Silence. Ed’s eyes fluttered shut in relief. Finally. He sighed, and shimmied into a more comfortable position so he could try and pass out again.
The snoring resumed.
Ed’s eyes shot open and this time he audibly grunted in defeat. He felt like he’d just gone through the seven stages of grief.
‘It’s fine. I don’t need to sleep. I’ll be fine.’
‘I can’t believe this fucker. Who does he think he fuckin’ is? Fuck this guy for sleeping so peacefully while I’m so fuckin’ TIRED!’
‘Maybe I’ll sleep better if I go hide in the closet. Or the bathtub. No, that’s uncomfortable as fuck.’ He kicked angrily at the sheets.
He felt the prick of tears coming in his eyes. ‘I’m never going to get a good night’s rest ever again in my life, am I?’
‘Okay, fuck it. Maybe I can just try and drown him out.’ He buried his head under his pillow and stuffed the sides close to his ears to muffle out the noise.
He could still hear him. ‘No. Fuck. Fine. I’ll just get up. I can take a nap later. Fuck this.’
In defeat, he started to get up, carefully moving the blankets off of him so as to not wake the offending man, even if he was pissing him off an absurd amount.
An idea came to him. Was he this desperate? He was. He bundled up an extra blanket in his arms as well as his pillow and set off on his mission.
He made his way up to the deck of the ship. Luckily, no one else was awake yet. He started to make his ascent up the ladder of the crow’s nest. “Fuckin’ maybe I’ll get some sleep up here.”
He settled in, making a cozy little nest for himself, fluffed up his pillow and curled up into a ball.
What felt like several hours later, he was awoken by chatter on the deck. He had an awful crick in his neck but fuck if he didn’t finally feel rested.
“Ed? Has anyone seen Ed?” He heard Stede call out, a concerned lilt to his voice.
“I’m up here, mate.” Ed called out.
Stede looked around and then up, in confusion. “Ed? What on earth are you doing up there?”
“Couldn’t sleep. Got desperate.” Ed responded.
“Really?” Stede asked. “I slept like a baby! Slept too long, I think, actually.” He had the audacity to look pleased with himself. Ed pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Good, I’m glad,” he rolled his eyes, looking down at this absolute asshole of a man that he loved so very much, and started gathering his things to bring down.
“No bother, Ed! I’ll come to you. I made us breakfast.” Stede called up. The fuck? How was he supposed to stay mad at him now? Stede carefully climbed up the ladder, toast and marmalade in a basket. “I figure, we can sit up here like old times, share a blanket and cuddle while we eat. Sound good?”
Ed melted. “Sounds perfect, mate.” He draped the blanket over both of their laps, giving Stede a gentle kiss before they started on their breakfast. “You know. I almost burned your face off last night.”
Stede feigned shock, knowing that Ed wouldn’t really do such a thing now. “No, really? Again? I thought we’d moved on from that by now?”
Ed laughed. “Well, it all really depends on how loud you fucking snore tonight.”