Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“You…what?”

Ed couldn’t have predicted the words that came out of Stede’s mouth. Stede’s apparatus wasn’t just some other device that held recordings of his life; it was also a container for something much bigger.

A container for a subordinate function, densely packed with centuries' worth of human history. A missing puzzle piece for a powerful AI that Ed had only read snippets about amongst the ruins of the Old World.

“Apollo is in my apparatus. I-I stole it from Elizabet, the woman who led the whole thing. I just couldn’t let her give a copy to the Zeniths,” Stede scowled like he tasted something bitter before he pulled his undershirt on.

“When she was about to transmit the subordinate, I found an opening where I could connect my apparatus to the backup storage of multiple copies of different subordinate functions. I linked it to Apollo and downloaded the moment Elizabet transmitted. I…I failed, however,” he shook his head, “I got a copy of Apollo, but not the one Elizabet sent. The Zeniths got their copy. At this point, it would have been too late to transfer my copy back without immediate notice, so I took it with me and used my recordings to cover what was inside it,” he rambled.

“Wait, wait,” Ed raised his hands, shaking his head as he processed what he could, “What are Zenith’s? Why did you try to prevent them from taking Apollo?”

“Oh, right! I’m not sure what you understand from my time. Let me explain…What do you know about the Faro Plague?”

Ed remembered the sadness in Stede’s recordings when he talked about it, how he was eventually preparing for his demise. Even though Stede lived through such a thing, Ed still witnessed the obvious fear behind the man’s eyes, and the subtle way he clasped his fingers together like he needed to ground himself.

Ed nodded, “From what I gathered, it was a massive swarm of Machines that wiped out the human population.”

“Not just the human population,” Stede shook his head and looked down at his hands, fingers fidgeting, “All life on Earth was obliterated. It was inevitable. A man named Ted Faro—a trillionaire who invested in military Machines—had his productions build robots that could literally suck all living things around it and use it as fuel.” He scowled.

“The command over those Machines glitched out of service. There was no possible way to control them, so they went rogue, building more of themselves and killing everything in their sight. It was–god–it was awful.” His face turned pink, and his eyes began to water.

Ed wanted to hug Stede, to hold him and tell him everything was going to be alright. But he could tell that there was more to the story, so he kept his reassurances to himself and listened.

“The Zeniths were a group of billionaires who invested all of their money towards a massive spaceship that was meant to travel lightyears away from Earth. They wanted to escape the destruction and colonize elsewhere.”

Ed’s eyes widened. A…spaceship? Was that possible?

Ed now had a million questions about the possibility of traveling outside the sky and into the stars. He would have to ask later.

Stede took a breath and wiped the dampness under his eyes.

“They didn’t leave a cent for Project Zero Dawn,” Stede continued, “They thought it wouldn’t work, that Earth was long gone. They never cared about humanity, or the environment, or anything but themselves! Why the hell would they want Apollo if they were so eager to leave their home in the first place? A subordinate that my team and I worked hard for!” he gestured to himself.

“I am ashamed to add that my bloody father was a part of that group.”

More tears began to flow, and they no longer spelled fear but a deep, passionate anger that Ed had never seen Stede express before. The rage dissipated as quickly as it emerged when Stede took another deep breath to calm himself.

Ed did not like the Zeniths one bit. From what it sounded like, they didn’t build their ship in hopes of saving as many people as they could, but to save themselves. To even think that Stede’s dad was a part of that group, when it was clear how hard Stede worked on Zero Dawn to save the planet. No wonder he was angry. His father had all his wealth and power and decided to use it to save his own ass.

“I'm so sorry,” Ed said.

Stede wiped his tears away, “It’s not like what I did mattered much. Their ship was reportedly destroyed by a cosmic storm. Got what they deserved, but fuck. I don’t know why Elizabet would trade with them.”

Ed gently placed his hands on Stede’s shoulders, thumbs brushing against the linen, “I don’t think you know how big of a deal this is with what you did. Shit, I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that people could fuckin’ travel in space, but not only did you help make Apollo, you got a copy of it! Fuck, Stede, as far as we know, that subordinate was deleted long ago.”

Stede sniffed, nodded, and smiled. It was shy and hopeful, like he was skittish to believe he did something so historic.

“When you mentioned Apollo was wiped from what you overheard from Aloy, my heart was crushed. I thought all was lost. But you had my apparatus. You could have left it or taken it apart, but you brought it back to me.” Stede placed a hand on top of Ed’s.

“I should have told you earlier. I just…wasn’t sure if you would have thought of me differently if you knew I had stolen such a priceless thing from something so important.”

“Stede, baby,” Ed kissed Stede’s forehead and heard a gentle sigh of relief. Stede’s body relaxed momentarily, like the kiss sent him into a trance, his goofy smile back in its normal place.

“It’s not like you were the one who deleted Apollo when this Zero Dawn was in motion,” he said, “Those Zeniths sound like a bunch of dicks with sticks too far up their asses. Fuckin’ glad to hear their ship—spaceship, wow—was destroyed.”

There was still so much Ed didn’t know, about how exactly the planet was saved, about technology that was once a part of everyday life for the Old Ones. He also didn’t want to see that fear again in Stede’s eyes when the man talked about the Faro Plague, but everything seemed too tightly bound together like a knot that refused to be untangled with just one hand.

“We will find Apollo,” Ed assured, “and we will talk to the Sun King so we can track down Aloy. She must know where Gaia is if she knew about Apollo.”

Stede nodded, “Yes, and we still need to understand why Hephestus has made aggressive Machines in this world. Maybe bringing Apollo can help!”

Ed kissed him, and Stede giggled. The moment Ed parted, Stede asked, “What was that for?”

Ed smirked, “I slept with the most gorgeous man who stole the literal history of humanity. I think it may be a turn-on.”

Stede playfully shoved Ed’s shoulders, trying and failing to keep a serious expression, “If you don’t help me find it, then you would have also slept with the most gorgeous man who lost it. Now come along!”

He scurried to pick up the rest of his things on the floor, getting ready for the big day.

Ed’s eyes followed Stede and chuckled,

“Fuckin’ mental.”

The apparatus, like Stede said, was nowhere to be found in the room.

Ed turned on his Focus to scan the area for any trace of the device, but no technology was highlighted.

With Stede’s insistence to look anyway, they both scoured the room. They peeked under the bed, rearranged the couch a few times—damn, they could have cuddled the fuck out of each other on this couch—and checked the ground under the balcony.

It was such a beautiful room, Ed wished so badly he could have spent more time with Stede, but the importance of the apparatus was immeasurable, and he wasn’t sure what would happen if it fell into the wrong hands.

Equipped and fully dressed, they left the room.

“You’re not the innkeeper of this establishment!”

It was a low, authoritative voice that originated downstairs.

Ed and Stede paused their steps and quietly listened.

“No-you are so right, I am not the innkeeper. I am uhm–his new hire, yes!” It was Lucius who answered, the noble’s voice shaking like he could barely contain it.

“And who is he? This Oseram I assume, is also a new hire?”

“Yes! I’m-I'm also a new hire,” another man answered, his voice higher-pitched pitched that sounded unconvincingly confident.

“Gotta protect this noble Carja area. Too many commoner thieves stealing around–not like I know anything about thieves!”

“No, absolutely not!” assured Lucius.

Ed placed his right hand on his rapier and tilted his head as he listened.

He tapped his Focus and scanned the room. It was like a window through the floor, the way the Focus highlighted three bodies in orange below them, next to two other bodies behind what he remembered was Lucius’ desk.

Stede was right beside him, peering over his shoulder down the stairs as if trying to see what Ed could.

“What do you know then?” The body right in front of Lucius asked,

“We’ve been told that the great bandit, Blackbeard, entered the city under our noses. He is a dangerous man who needs to be found at all costs. Would you know where he might be?”

Ed tightened his hold on the hilt, extending his other arm in front of Stede as he awaited Lucius’ confession to rooming them.

“I-I have no idea,” Lucius replied.

“Yeah, who even is Blackbeard?” the man next to Lucius added.

They were both exceptionally terrible liars, although it warmed Ed’s heart they didn’t immediately confess.

His Focus highlighted two more bodies entering the inn, one person with their arms in a position that could translate to their hands somehow bound behind their back, and another person behind them.

“Found the culprit who killed Geraldo,” said the new masculine voice, “They were also carrying this. Think it might be a weapon.”

Ed saw the color of the apparatus from below as it was tossed to the leader, who was questioning Lucius.

“Jim?” the man next to Lucius hissed, “You were supposed to–ow!”

Lucius must have kicked him.

“I mean–I don’t know who that person is,” the man quickly corrected himself.

Shit.

“They have the apparatus,” Ed whispered over his shoulder.

Stede’s jaw dropped. “How many people do you see through your Focus?”

“I think four of them are Carja guards. There are three others, including Lucius,” Ed answered.

“Shit,” Stede hissed.

Shit indeed.

“What can we do?”

This wasn’t looking good. Four guards and three people who may be on Ed and Stede’s side. For the guards to see Ed would be a perfect distraction for those three to flee, if they valued their lives, then it would be four well-trained and well armed guards against a weaponless Old One, and the Legendary Blackbeard.

Maybe the title itself would be enough to scare them off, but if they were looking for him in the first place, why would they run?

He and Stede could easily escape. The balcony in their room was close enough to the other roofs of houses that they could jump, or use his rope to rappel down the buildings. This choice would mean leaving the apparatus behind.

Leaving all the world’s history in unknowing hands.

All Mother, fucking shit

Ed faced Stede, “I’ll get Apollo back for you,” he whispered,

“If it all breaks loose, you are not affiliated with me, alright? You are a traveler passing through. Think of a cool name.”

He quickly kissed Stede’s forehead before the man could respond.

Ed trotted downstairs and was met with several pairs of eyes.

He had to wonder how the Carja guards didn’t die from heatstroke as they were fully covered in armor. Their brass helmets grew long feathers held back like hair and as bright red as the setting sun. Their shoulders were covered in dark leather, with their white gauntlets adorned with the same red accents. Rectangular golden plates were chain-linked together over their leather tasses, and two symmetrical strips of purple cloth reached from their waist to their ankles, dazzled with gold embroidered patterns.

Lucius and the man next to him froze. Now seeing them together, Ed immediately recognized them as the couple he and Stede witnessed, dancing amongst the crowd and later sharing a kiss. The bald Oseram must have been the boyfriend Lucius mentioned last night.

“Blackbeard,” the guard near Lucius said before pointing his spear towards him, the red feathers tied under the blade dripped down like they spilled from a wound.

The second guard held onto the wired basket, the apparatus blocked with the shaft of his spear. The third guard was using all of his strength to keep his captive from slipping away.

Ed immediately recognized the captive as a hunter. Their eyeliner ended in tiny circles, dark hair short and curled. Gold lines accented their dark vest, and strips of geometrical metal covered their shoulders and forearms. Their belt heavy with knives.

“What gave it away?” Ed tilted his chin to the man who seemed to be the captain of this group.

Ed’s wrist stayed rested on the hilt of his rapier, all relaxed and cool-like, because the last thing he wanted was for anyone to assume he was panicking. All of the odds were against him, and he had to at least pretend he wasn’t being cornered.

“The whole kingdom had been on the lookout for you. You thought you were smart, but a friend of yours confessed you would pay Meridian a visit.”

Ed hoped his neutral expression was enough to hide his surprise. He tampered down his question on who his tattler may be. He never told anyone he was on his way to Meridian except…

No, that couldn’t be right. Izzy would never betray Ed like that.

Ed took a step towards the onyx-eyed Carja hunter and froze when he heard, “Halt! That’s as far as you’re going to go!” from the captain.

Ed glanced between the hunter and their captor’s feet before giving them a wink. The Carja stopped struggling and he hoped to All Mother they understood.

“By the order of the Sun, and Sun King Avad, you are under arrest!” the captain commanded.

Ed sighed, letting his breath run smooth, “Sorry mate. Not today.”

A crack of a whip could not catch the time Ed reached for his thunder gun in his pouch and shot the face of the guard holding the apparatus, where the brass failed to hinder the electricity from spreading, his body seizing before falling.

The other two guards gaped, and the hunter used the moment to slam their heel against the toe of the soldier’s boot, making him yelp. They slammed the back of their head onto the soldier’s nose and lunged forward, their wrists finally free.

They slipped one of their knives into their hands and threw it at the captain. Ed almost winced because there was a split moment this could all go wrong, that the knife may miss its target and hit either Lucius and the Oseram behind the guard—but no—the captain’s eyes were wide open as a trail of blood leaked down past his nose from the knife handle sticking out of the front of his skull.

A perfect shot.
His body made a loud thud when he fell, and a shout followed, making Ed jump.

He looked behind him to see Stede, hazel eyes wide as he watched the now-dead man on the floor.

“Lucius, Pete, we have to go!” hissed the hunter.

“Ed, look out!” Stede shouted.

It was all too fast. Footsteps scuffled behind Ed, and he felt a sharp jab on the back of his head. The last thing he saw before his vision turned black was Stede screaming his name in absolute horror.

The back of Ed’s head pounded against his skull. His body felt hot and sweaty, the searing orange of the sun burning through his eyelids. He groaned and pulled his hands up to his face to block the light, noting the soreness that followed when he angled his wrists a certain way. He felt strong wood under him with stray splinters that poked through the fabric of his shirt. When he reached around, there was no softness, no familiar body next to him.

His eyes snapped open.

Where was Stede?

He sat up too fast, wincing at the throb of pain from his head that followed. He was surrounded by vertical metal bars, their shadows striped against his body. He noticed four people awake and watching Ed in what seemed to be a mix of curiosity and terror.

Lucius was there, arms crossed as he sat next to the Oseram who was rubbing his boyfriend’s shoulder.

The hunter sat on the opposite corner, twiddling with their thumbs with frustration as if they preferred to fidget with anything else.

And to Ed’s surprise, the Nora merchant, Frenchie, who greeted him and Stede at the gates, sat in the middle of the group. He nervously glanced between Ed and his own wrists as if he took great interest in his beaded bracelets.

The caged wagon tilted on one side, making sitting awkward. Ed noticed layers of soldiers surrounded them outside the bars, an isle gap led from the cage to the Sun King himself several steps away from them.

“Blackbeard, the world’s most dangerous bandit,” Avad addressed, his face close to stoic if it weren't for the right twitch in his eyebrows that could translate to either nervousness or irritation. His headdress was larger than any noble Carja’s, with a gold star-shaped plate behind the white metallic feathers. Gold plating was harnessed on his chest, with long white fabric draped over his shoulders and reached down to his ankles. His pants were also white, and a red sash was tied over his hip with a holster that contained no sword.

Ed was fucked. He was surrounded with no weapons or armor, and his head was fucking pounding.

“Where is Stede?” Ed held the bars in front of him as he stood. It was a stupid move to speak without being spoken to, but he was finding that he didn’t fucking care,

“You better not have fuckin’ hurt him,” he growled.

The soldiers, as if on cue, pointed their spears at Ed in unison, one shouting the rule Ed crossed, but Ed didn’t hear it because it wasn’t the answer to where Stede was located.

Avad raised his hand, and the army rested their weapons in one fluid movement.

“Stede is safe. I promise, he is not hurt.” Avad said calmly, “He is in the castle under the care of my servants. I asked that he be fed, and brought a cup of tea.”

Ed had heard Sun King Avad was supposed to be kinder than the Mad Sun King before him. He knew Avad was the one who stopped the Red Raids and managed alliances through different tribes.

But those deeds weren't enough to promise Ed the King’s word.

“I need to see for myself that he is safe,” Ed said.

Avad clasped his hands in front of his chest, his posture straight and practiced. He seemed irritatingly calm compared to Ed’s state behind bars and covered in sweat.

“You have committed many crimes for years, Blackbeard. I cannot ignore the safety of my people for your peace of mind.”

Ed gritted his teeth, “What are you to do to him?”

The King thought for a moment, glancing between his hands and Ed, “I’ll answer your question if you answer mine.”

“What do you want to know?” Ed stiffened, hoping his glare would be enough to make Avad flinch.

It didn’t.

“Stede Bonnet has been travelling with you, carrying a strange device. He called it his recording apparatus with holos that can only be viewed with a Focus.” Avad tapped on his temple, and Ed reached for that part of his head to feel the thin metal device, thankfully still attached.

“He claimed to be an Old One searching for a friend of mine.”

“Aloy.” Ed filled in, and Avad nodded.

“You are very dangerous,” Avad repeated, “I can’t say the same about your friend, but he insisted that his apparatus was important for Aloy to receive, and wouldn’t disclose what was within that device besides recorded holos. Now this is when you tell me what is in that apparatus.”

Ed kept his mouth shut. There was no way he would tell someone—especially a man this politically powerful—that Apollo was in that device. Even if he wanted to, he wouldn’t be able to explain it. Not without evidence that would repudiate the Carja’s religion on how the Old Ones fell. Ed didn’t even understand how Zero Dawn fixed everything, or how he would even explain what the Faro Swarm was to a king who wanted him behind bars.

Avad wore a serious expression. He took careful, purposeful steps towards Ed and stopped the moment he was an arm’s length away.

“Aloy is my friend,” he said, his knitted brows breaking the stoic wall of his expression, “She saved my life and my people. She means a lot to me.”

He paused, then said, “I can tell that you care about this man, so you would understand when I say that I am worried about someone I care about too.”

Avad was pleading, and it was the most human Ed had seen him,

“You want to get this apparatus to Aloy, and you refuse to tell me what’s in it. I am not gifted with Second Sight-” he glanced at Ed’s Focus, “But if there is a chance that the apparatus is a weapon, or a tool to hurt her, then you must understand why I shant allow it.”

Ed frowned. Avad had a point. If someone were to find a way to hurt Stede, Ed would do just about anything to stop it from happening, even if it meant the cost of his life.

It shocked him when that thought crossed his mind, but he didn’t second-guess it because it was true.

“It’s not a weapon,” Ed shook his head, “It’s a tool, yes, but not a weapon. We think Aloy may be the only person who can use it.”

Avad paused and nodded, pondering his next words, “What exactly does this tool do?”

If Aloy could give it to Gaia, wherever that AI was, all of the world’s history of the Old Ones would be revived. They could learn their successes, their mistakes, and how they could do better. He remembered Stede talking about spaceships and knew that there was technology he could barely fathom coded within Apollo.

Ed opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He shook his head again,

“It can’t go to the wrong hands.”

Avad sighed, “I wish I could believe you,” he said wistfully.

Ed’s stomach clenched as panic began to gnaw from his insides and throughout his limbs. His knuckles paled white as he clenched the bars,

“Please, let me at least talk to Stede.”

The King shook his head like he was remorseful, “Blackbeard, you are under arrest under multiple accounts that have spanned for much too long. Lucius Spriggs, Pete, Jim Jimenez, and Frenchie, you are also all under arrest for various crimes that include but are not limited to thievery, grifting,-” he looked at the hunter, who must be Jim,

“-and murder.”

Several guards approached the long handles of the cart and lifted it up.

“Wait! Wait!” Ed shouted, “What are your plans with Stede?”

Avad frowned, “Stede will be questioned until he gives us the answer to what the apparatus holds. If he does not comply, he too will be arrested.”

Fuck.

Fuck fuck fuck!

This was far from what the plan was supposed to be. Ed and Stede were going to talk to the king—preferably when Ed wasn’t recognized—and learn about Aloy’s location. Now they were to be sent to jail, with Ed unsure of the type of questioning Stede would be subjected to.

Would the King simply gather information from Stede by asking questions, or by hiring someone to torture him? The thought of Stede experiencing any pain burned panic within Ed, flames catching and roaring uncontrollably and sucking his oxygen out of his lungs, his sanity a scattering of ashes.

“No no no!” he shouted as the guards pulled and the cart began to move. He was drifting farther away from the King, farther away from the castle.

Further away from Stede.

“Act of Grace!” Ed shouted, and time seemed to stop.

The guards pulling the cart froze, and everyone inside and out of the cage seemed to have turned to stone.

“You…want to work for the crown?” Avad raised a brow.

“Yes!” Ed panted, “I’ll redeem myself under the crown, under one condition.”

Avad tilted his head, listening carefully.

“I want Stede to be safe. No hurting him in any way,” Ed growled, “Do not touch him, and I will serve you. Please.”

Avad’s pondering was interrupted by the other tenants in the cage,

“Act of Grace!”

“Yes! Act of Grace, please!”

“One for me too?”

“Act of Grace,” Jim said last, their voice more nervous than Ed had heard from his short time knowing them.

Avad walked up to the cage and held out his hand. “You have my word. I promise Stede will be safe and that he will be treated with utmost care. If he fails to provide information and I don’t see him as a threat to my people, then he will be free to come and go as he pleases.

“You and everyone here, however, will be sent to Chainscrape in the Forbidden West to work in the mines. There you will work until you are redeemed.”

Ed was taken aback. The Forbidden West? He had been there before, but it was years before the Carja and the Tenakth held their peace treaty. To make the trip would take three days on the back of a Machine. On foot it would take weeks.

Still, what Avad proposed was more than what Ed asked for, and he couldn’t help but feel relieved and heartbroken at the same time. Stede would be safe. He could have a chance to begin his new life in the city if he wanted—to live a life he never could when the world was ending. Ed wanted that for him.

He would be miles away from Stede, but the man he loved would be safe.

He shook the King’s hand.

New guards were selected to pull the wagon. Their gear was slightly different as their armor was much lighter—some wearing no armor at all and carried backpacks—they all had pouches heavy around their waists, and weapons against their backs that clinked together as they walked. Two of them walked behind, their spears clenched professionally in their hands.

No fucking privacy it seemed.

The cart was pulled farther away from the city, eventually crossing over a bridge and following a downward trail.

The mesa holding Meridian climbed higher in the sky, and the view of the city slowly replaced by thick foliage of the tropical trees.

Ed finally sat down as he watched the views around him.

It had been a while since the last time he was in the Forbidden West. He heard the peace between the Carja and the Tenakth clans was uneasy, as the Tenakth still suffered the scars the Mad Sun King inflicted upon them.

The West was where Ed killed a Slitherfang for the first time. The look of stupefaction on Izzy’s face when Ed traded the fangs to him was priceless. The ridiculous bastard didn’t believe Ed could pull it off.

Izzy.

The guards told Ed that someone reported his location. Ed racked his brain on who would possibly tell the guards besides the man he traded with.

Izzy ensured Ed’s safety in that Oseram village. Izzy prepared that one cabin so Ed had somewhere to sleep when returning from his travels. Izzy created weapons—new inventions included—that saved Ed’s neck far too many times to count.

Izzy was also the only person who knew Ed was going to Meridian. Fang could have overheard, but what would that blacksmith gain from betraying Ed like that? What would Izzy gain?

Ed rubbed his face, leaning his head against the corner of the cage.

It didn’t fucking matter now, did it? He was headed to Chainscrape where he will be miles away. He supposed he could run away—not like it would be too difficult—but where would he go? Back to the village where Izzy could be waiting? Could he go back and find Stede? Would Avad then receive the news of Ed’s escape? Even if the King didn’t know, one bloody man sneaking around a heavily populated city was hard enough.

Stede was at arm's length from the Sun King. If Ed made one wrong move, or if someone reported his presence again, would Avad hold the man captive? Better ruler than the Mad Sun King or not, Avad could do anything he wanted, and if he wanted to hurt Stede, he could.

Ed sighed and buried his fingers in his hair. His heart was sore, like a piece of it was ripped out of his chest. Its beats ticked unevenly like gears with missing teeth.

He had only found Stede in that mountain a few days ago.

Only a few days to bask in his smile, a few days to feel his warmth,

A few days to fall in love with him.

And Stede was taken away.

Fuck, he wasn’t going to cry here in front of an audience.

“You didn’t tell me that device was his you bolt.” Jim hissed at Frenchie before they kicked the Nora’s boot.

“I didn’t know he was Blackbeard!” Frenchie gestured to Ed, glancing at Jim.

Ed grunted before standing up, gripping one of the bars to keep his balance as the wagon moved, “You gonna tell me what’s going on?”

Normally, it was easy to slip into the whole persona of Blackbeard. His boots would thump heavily against the wood, his weapons would decorate his dark armor, and his stoic expression claimed authority over fear.

Now, however, he wasn’t adorned with his intimidating get-up. His clothes were light, his hair frizzy from the humidity, and the only weapons available were on the guards more than an arm’s length away. He was entirely vulnerable, and it made him sick to his stomach.

His cellmates cowered anyway, and it was somehow both a relief and a disappointment that they still feared him.

“S-sorry uhm, Blackbeard—sir,” Frenchie mumbled, “I erm. I didn’t know it was you at the time. If I knew I wouldn’t have-”

“-Shut up!” Jim hissed again.

“I knew this was all a bad idea, didn’t I say that?” Pete said.

“You did not say that,” Lucius responded, and Frenchie shook his head with Jim.

“I did say it! I said, ‘Hm, maybe stealing an Old World device from a Carja and Blackbeard’ —hey Jim, don’t kick me! —was a bad idea’. At least, in my mind I said that.”

Everyone groaned in unison, except Pete, who didn’t seem to understand what he confessed.

“So you were all in it to steal Stede’s apparatus,” Ed said, squinting.

There was a pause before Lucius spoke up, “N-not originally, no.”

Ed waited, and Lucius groaned, “Frenchie told us about a strange blond man carrying a wired basket with something in it that looked… well, expensive.

“It just so happened that you two stumbled in the hotel, and I knew what Stede was holding was exactly the item Frenchie was talking about… So I did a little pickpocketing.”

Ed tilted his head, fitting the events together. He remembered Lucius circling Stede like a bird of prey. Ed was too self-absorbed from being recognized, he didn’t think about the possibility of Lucius being a thief himself.

“You’re not a Noble, are you?” Ed grunted.

Lucius shrugged.

“So what was the original plane? What the fuck was going on with the innkeeper?”

Jim raised their hand, keeping their wrist on their knee, “That was me. Man killed my family, so he had it coming.”

“Geraldo was the reason we were in the area. Jim gets their revenge, we take the inn’s shards. At least, that was the plan,” Frenchie said, “Didn’t quite get the prize money part.”

Ed sat back down, and the group seemed to relax just a smidge.

“I got what I wanted, so I’m content,” Jim chimed.

“We know, don’t rub it in,” Pete groaned.

“I thought we could have made more shards, if I succeeded in stealing Stede’s little doo-dad,” Lucius added, “I thought Jim would have kept it safe.”

“The guard took me by surprise!”

Ed sighed. The group might have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for the Carja guards on high alert for Blackbeard. Now, instead of mediocre thieves carrying Stede’s apparatus, the thing must be behind protected walls that were almost impossible to enter without royal access.

His cellmates watched him sympathetically. It made him feel uncomfortable because he should be fucking mad at them, he should curse them out that they made things harder, but who was he kidding? It wasn’t their fault he was arrested. They just got caught in the crossfire.

“And now the apparatus is gone…Stede is gone.”

Lucius frowned,“Im…Im sorry.”

Ed shook his head, avoiding Lucius’ apologetic expression. He just didn’t have the energy anymore.

This was going to be a long trip.

It was two weeks spent in the cage until they reached Chainscrape. Two weeks of the Carja guards pulling the wagon through the lush jungle and uneven muddy trails.

Ed lost count on the sheer amount of bug bites beading on his arms and legs. Everyone’s clothes were a mess of sweat and dirt. Bathroom breaks were a whole shebang that required everyone to be cuffed and escorted out to do their business while being monitored by their assigned guard.

Food and water were plentiful, but the water bottles they carried left a metallic taste in Ed’s mouth, while most of what they ate was rabbit jerky, and ridiculously stone-hard bread that was only soft enough to eat if he waited for the humidity to do its magic.

Machine attacks were not common, but they once came across a herd of Grazers guarded by a few Watchers who were not happy being disturbed. Ed had to watch the guards take down the Machines at an insanely slow pace that he couldn’t help but yawn at.

“No you fuckin’ moron, stab it’s eye while its charging to shoot you!” Ed was surprised to hear Jim shout.

They would later have a conversation on weak points in different Machines and Jim’s years of experience training as a Fledgling. It was the lowest rank for a hunter, as they couldn’t technically be a member of the Hunters Lodge unless they gained a sponsor from a current member.

“You traveled to all the hunting grounds, earned Blazing Suns from all the groundskeepers, and no one wanted to sponsor you?”

Jim rolled their eyes, “There are not a lot of members, plus, I think the Hawks are too intimidated to sponsor me as their Thrush.”

The nights were the hardest.

The campfire was farther away from them and close to the guards camp.

Ed’s cellmates would stay on their side of the cage, and he refused to join their warmth. It’s not like he really deserved to be warm, especially since he was the main reason they were all in this mess. He knew they were still afraid of him, and they should be.

A part of Ed imagined that maybe in another life, what it would feel like to find people like this odd little group if they accepted him, despite the dreadful title he carried. Maybe he could relax enough to trust that they wanted to be his friend.

He would wait until his cellmates were asleep each night before he turned on his Focus and played Stede’s recordings. He listened to holo Stede talk about his worries, about his contributions to Zero Dawn, sniffled when Stede rambled about his favorite book—their favorite book—The Revenge. He fucking wished he had that book with him so he could read it again. Maybe if he did, he would spend his time in Chainscrape memorizing the entire thing.

A certain heat arose when he remembered the recording he (respectfully) deleted. A part of him wished he saved it so he could watch that vulnerability in Stede once more, to see that delicious cock Ed wished so badly to taste against his tongue again.

Then—interrupting that thought— there was the last recording that would make him so fucking grateful the others were asleep. It was the recording of Stede’s last day alive in the time of the Old Ones. Stede had that fear in his eyes Ed recognized, but hope somehow shone through as he professed his dreams despite the end of the world.

The recording glitched, and there Stede was, reciting a sonnet by a man called Shakespeare after wistfully stating his wish of reading it to the love of his life, as if the cryopod was doomed to fail.

“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Stede began, and Ed pulled his knees to his chest as he sobbed, heart breaking over again.

Stede wasn’t here.

“Thou art more lovely and more temperate:”

Ed found Stede in that cryopod. Against all odds, he found him and too soon, Stede was taken away.

“Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer’s lease hath too short a date:”

Ed never felt so alive before, had never felt so much color. Life began again with Stede’s arms around him as he fell apart, when they danced, when he watched every reaction Stede expressed to Ed’s world, when they shared their bodies, and when they laughed afterwards from so much joy.

It was like they were meant to find each other, like Stede waited centuries so only Ed could find him.

“Sometime too hot the eye of heaven sh-shines—”

And just like that, the recording would stop.

Tears fell down Ed’s cheeks, and he would dig his knees into his sockets.

It was only one particular night that this routine was interrupted.

I thought you would have escaped by now. Said a voice in Ed’s head, except it wasn’t a voice in his head.

Ed looked up and noticed the projector screen showed a visual wavelength of the voice with the caller ID printed on top: Izzy.

Ed paused and took a deep breath, “You sold us out.” he whispered.

It was for your own good. Izzy’s voice cracked against the Focus.

“I told you, we were going to find answers about the Machines. Stede said there was a glitch to Hephaestus and we were finding out why.” Ed kept his voice low, stoic, as if his heart hadn't been ripped to shreds. He tried to focus on the anger he felt from Izzy’s betrayal, but somehow, more tears threatened to fall.

And you risked your life doing it, Ed could practically see Izzy’s sneer from the tone of his voice.

Blackbeard would never stick his neck out for a ponce. He is dangerous and works alone, as far as I know.

Ed grimaced. It was his title thrown at him again. It was what he was for years, it was how he survived in the wilds, how he made a living killing Machines and taking their parts for shards and weapons, how he scared people to give up their wealth to him.

He hurt people, and he did so enough times to make a name for himself.

Stede was different. He was the first to see Ed the moment he woke up from the cryopod, and instead of cowering in fear, he had the audacity to call Ed beautiful.

“Maybe I am done being Blackbeard,” Ed shook his head.

We have done business together for years, Ed. I have never seen you like this before. Get over yourself, make your escape plan, and come back. Don’t give your life kissing the Sun King’s boots.

Ed ended the connection and retreated back to pressing his forehead against his knees, letting the tears fall.

He stayed like that for a while, letting Izzy’s words echo through him and trying to find that Blackbeard he kept ranting about.

He didn’t hear the footsteps approaching him.

“Having a rough time?”

Lucius asked as he sat across from him.

Ed lifted his face to see the Carja mirror his position.

“Mm-mn.” Ed shook his head.

It didn’t make sense to spew out all of his problems to a man he barely knew. Where the fuck would he even begin?

He had to glance away from Lucius’ sympathetic expression, all furrow-browed and watching. He remembered how Stede looked at him similarly when Ed cried about his past, and it made his heart sore.

“This is the fifth night you have been crying,” Lucius stated, kind enough not to mention Ed appearing to be talking to himself during his conversation with Izzy.

“Psh, I wasn’t crying,” Ed wiped his nose.

“Right.” Lucius nodded, somewhat unconvincingly.

Ed refused to make eye contact.

“I’d be heartbroken too, if Pete and I were separated.” Lucius leaned his head back against the bars.

Ed took a breath, willing all of his tears to dry and his throat to clear. The silence was short but heavy, and it made Ed shift uncomfortably while he sat.

He wasn’t sure why Lucius wanted to check on him. It wasn’t as natural a conversation as he would have liked, but for the briefest moment, he didn’t feel alone.

Lucius finally spoke, “Maybe it’s not the end.”

Ed sniffed, “I think for me it is,” his voice cracked, “Being Blackbeard all my life fuckin’ caught up to me. I may never see him again.”

More tears fell, and he hoped that Lucius couldn’t see them in this darkness.

“I am not looking forward to what we’ll go through in Chainscrape, but it is a chance to clear our names I guess. Maybe this could be seen as not an ending, but a beginning.”

Ed took in those words. He didn’t know how long he’ll be in Chainscrape, fuck it hurts to think about the possible years he would be expected to serve.

In all that time, Stede could take advantage of his surroundings and make a living, find a place to settle somewhere amongst the Carja. Ed remembered the joy Stede felt wandering the city, how he explored the corners like a bouncing ball of light.

Stede could have chosen to stay, to explore himself in this new life he woke up in. He didn’t need Ed to start over. It was a hole in his chest to think about, but Ed could never blame Stede for choosing that.

“You’re suggesting I do my time. Then what?”

Lucius hummed, “I don’t know. Maybe see Stede again, or try something new. Not saying you must do your time, but you still have options. Who knows, maybe mining with the Oseram is your calling.”

They both shared a weak chuckle.

Another moment passed, and Lucius stood from his spot,

“Whatever happens, I hope you and Stede find each other again. I know I only saw him a couple of times, but there is something really good there. I could tell.” And with that, Lucius carefully snuck back to the group’s side of the cage and found his spot next to Pete.

Ed laid on his side, curled with his knees close to his chest.

Maybe there was hope. Maybe there would be something to look forward to somehow.

Whatever hope he clung onto, he still ached when he fell asleep that night, his dreams filled with a terrible ocean storm blanketing rain over him. The cold wind hung onto him like a blanket

The wagon started moving as the sun rose on the last day of the second week. Ed was exhausted.

Midday was when they arrived in the region called The Daunt, and if he wasn’t so tired, he would marvel at the beautiful view from atop the cliffs and the narrow valley below. The cracks on the earth imitated a child’s drawing on the sand. The stream sliced through the center, and the long grass and sturdy trees happily followed its lead.

They had to board a wooden cable-car with a line of thick chains holding the platform. Though it was particularly large, it was a tight squeeze for the cage and the guards, plus the Oseram who manned the device, slowly and steadily cranking the lever so the car would descend.

The cliffs bordered the sky like a painting when they reached the ground. Ed remembered when he used to climb them to reach metal towers the Old Ones had built, some containing voice recordings of soldiers who fought the losing war against the Faro Plague.

The trail was rocky, and jostled everyone on the uneven terrain. Ed let the cart push his upper body against the bars as he sat, too tired to worry about his balance. His legs felt cramped, his shoulders were sore, and fucking shit he would kill to eat anything else but stale bread and jerky.

Finally, they were yards away from their destination, and he never felt so excited to see civilization. He could smell the smoke of sweet-smelling bark, hear the sounds of moving parts from a lumber mill. It truly was a small village, but Ed recognized the Oseram architecture of the circularly built cabins, a heavily built log fence surrounding the area.

The smell of meat and spices pulled a growl from Ed’s stomach, and his eyes lit up at the closer view of the river. Fuck, he hoped to All Mother he could at least get a bath. He would honestly be content if he could take a dip in the running water just so he could finally wash the sweat and grime from his body, and give his hair and beard a proper tending to.

The wagon stopped before they could get any closer.

Dick-fuck, why did they stop?

The Carja guards dropped the handles without warning, making everyone stumble forward. Ed and his cellmates then stood up, all eager to stretch their legs.

“You think they will finally let us out?” Pete asked.

“I fuckin’ hope so. I can smell pork from here. So tired of all the dried rabbit they feed us,” Frenchie groaned.

One of the guards faced the group, “We must consult with the leader of Chainscrape before we let you in. Stay put,” he commanded before walking away towards the village with the rest of the group.

“Not like we have a choice!” Lucius called out, but the men were either too far away to hear or refused to listen.

Everyone collectively groaned.

Two weeks without a proper wash, meal, or bed, and they just had to wait.

“Stupid fucking Carja—no offense guys,” Frenchie said the last part to Jim and Lucius, to which Jim rolled their eyes.

“None taken. Was never really a fan favorite anyways,” Lucius shrugged and shook his head.

After about ten minutes of standing, one by one, they sat back down.

Ten minutes turned to thirty.

Thirty turned into two hours.

“Where the fuck are they?” Pete asked.

Ed heard a distant drumbeat of gallops and turned his head behind them. They were gallops of a Machine, and he could see the shape of two of them in the distance.

Ed stood up fast and walked over to the back of the cage to obtain a better view. He tapped his Focus and scanned. The Striders kicked up dust as they ran, bolting as if they were in a hurry. Normally, Striders are in herds of five or more, and they didn't run like that unless there was an outside threat.

The Focus confirmed the Machines were overridden.

His eyes immediately darted to the backs of the Machines, and there were riders on them.

And one of the riders had short blond hair.

Was he dreaming? That surely couldn’t be Stede, right? No, he hadn’t had a decent night's sleep for two weeks. This had to be some hallucination, some breaking point in his mind that finally drove him to insanity.

He heard that sweet honey voice that felt like lightning kick-starting his heart, “Ed!”

Stede found him.

Stede fucking Bonnet was here.

“Stede!” Ed called, a swelling in his chest pushing new tears in his eyes.

“Stede is here?” Lucius said before everyone stood on their feet to witness the event unfolding before them.

The two Striders halted close to the cage and Stede dismounted, “Oh Ed! I’m so sorry, Ed!”

Ed reached his hand out and Stede was quick to grab it. Stede’s hands were sweaty, and he looked out of breath. He was here, right in front of Ed, and he was the most beautiful thing Ed had ever seen.

Ed pressed his forehead between the bars, a breathless laugh escaping him, “You found me–you fuckin’ lunatic of a man.”

He lifted Stede’s hand and pressed it against the bars so he could kiss what he could of those strong yet delicate fingers.

“Darling,” Stede gasped, yanking Ed’s hand and inhaling sharply as he kissed Ed’s knuckles, like he was breathing air for the first time, “I’m so happy to see you.”

Stede then reached into the cage and cupped Ed’s face, and Ed held it there, turning his head to kiss the other’s palm.

Ed thought he would melt through the bars, his heart ricocheting in his chest from seeing the man he loved like it was fueled with proper energy for the first time. That must be delirium from his exhaustion.

“How do I get you out of here?” Stede asked, eyes darting around the cage.

“The guards have the key, they are in the village ahead of us,” Lucius answered, making Ed jump.

Right, there were people with him.

His eyes trailed to the wire-woven shoulder bag on Stede. The apparatus. How in the fuck did Stede get that back?

“You found it?” Ed pointed.

Stede’s grin was cheeky, “Maybe not found. Erm, more along the line of stealing it back. But it was mine to begin with! Well, not all of it, I–”

Ed wanted so badly to kiss him, but another question shot out before he could do something like yank on Stede’s shirt and pull him against the cage like a wild animal,

“-What about the Machines? They are attracted to the apparatus.”

Stede paused, then looked at the bag before his brows shot up, “Oh that’s right! I guess we were being chased sometimes, weren’t we Buttons?”

“Aye. Some wee Watchers and some Shell-Walkers be chasing us if we crossed their path. Our Striders were faster ‘fore they could catch up.”

Ed finally placed his attention on the other rider on the Machine and couldn’t believe the origin of the oddest dialect he had ever heard. The man had a balding forehead with dirty blond grey hair, long enough to reach his shoulders, and his beard the same length. Given the way he was dressed, he was Banuk, teal shirt with fur poking out the edges, and blue strands of fabric wrapped around his arms and waist. A simple pattern of blue wires was sewn on his shoulder, and smaller ones on the side of his forehead. Blue and white paint covered his face in triangular shapes, the face paint of a Shaman.

Ed had no idea how Stede came across a Banuk, let alone a Shaman who was willing to travel so far west from the north eastern cold mountains.

What was even stranger was a small Machine perched on the man’s head. Its funny metallic wings were folded, and it watched Ed with its small, blue-glowing eyes. He scanned the Machine, but the Focus only registered its name as Karl.

Stede glanced between the Striders and his apparatus, and Ed could have sworn something sparked behind those eyes, something that felt alluring and promised danger.

“I think I know how I can get you out of here!” Stede beamed.

Ed tilted his head, a smirk playing on his face from the excitement that seemed to zap between them.

“You thinking of stealing the cage key from the Carjas?”

Stede shook his head, his smile close to manic, that absolutely did not do something to Ed’s groin.

“We’ll need something stronger,” Stede kissed Ed’s knuckles again before letting them go, “I’ll be back!”

And just like that, Stede dashed away, legs carrying him to the fields in the opposite direction of Chainscrape. What the fuck was he doing?

“What the fuck is he doing?” Jim echoed Ed’s thoughts.

He looked at Buttons for an answer, but he only shrugged.

A few minutes went by, and Ed heard a distant shriek that could only belong to Stede.

There he was, running with the bag in his hand…and a herd of Machines close behind him.

“Fuck!” Ed exclaimed.

“What in the forge?” Pete said.

“Oh fuck–I didn’t want to die today–especially in these dreadful clothes!” Lucius shouted.

The thundering grew louder as the Bristlebacks chased Stede. Their thick bodies powering through the earth, heavy heads thrusting in the air, revealing deadly tusks that seemed to grow out of their wide armoured snouts.

“Fuck fuck fuck!” Stede shouted, his legs flailing as the Machines gained traction, their small sensor eyes flaring an angry crimson as they barreled their thousands of pounds of weight at their target.

And Stede was heading straight towards them.

“Back of the cage, now!” Ed commanded, and everyone followed suit, squeezing all their bodies at the end, the front of the cage lifting to the other side, handles in the air. They braced themselves as Stede bolted passed the cage under the handlebars, the herd tumbled after him.

Metal bodies rammed through the bars, flipping the carriage over like it was nothing.

Everyone fell on top of each other like a whirlpool as the enclosure flipped. Loud creaks of metal followed, bars bent or popped off their latches completely.

The onslaught of Machines stopped, so Ed scrambled out of the human pile, crawled through one of the openings, and he fucking sprinted.

“Stede!” he called. He grabbed the man’s overridden Strider, pulled himself on, and wasted no time kicking the sides as hard as he could.

The Strider raced towards the herd of angry Bristlebacks and advanced where Stede was running for his life, arms gripping the bagged apparatus tightly against his chest.

“Throw it to me!” Ed outstretched his arm, directing the Strider closer.

Stede didn’t hesitate as he flung the bag, and Ed almost fell off when he caught it. He steered away from Stede, and the Bristlebacks followed.

Now, Ed was the new target for the Machines.

Shit, now what?

It was not like the Bristlebacks were any faster than a Strider, and normally, if he kept running away like this, the Machines would lose interest in the chase. This time, Ed had an apparatus with a very powerful subordinate function that acted as some sort of beacon for Machines to destroy.

There was a repetitive clink, and he noticed the hilt of a familiar sword tied around the Strider. Oh fuck yes! It was his rapier! He was quick to unsheathe it from the hilt.

He bolted past the cage, directing the Machines away from everyone.

It was when the field was open enough that Ed jumped off the Strider and readied himself. He just had his sword and no armor to protect himself. Only an idiot would fight Machines like this. But Stede was here, and he wasn’t going to leave him, not again.

Ed let out a battle cry, adrenaline coursing through his veins like liquid blaze to an ember, “Come at me motherfuckers!”

There were several Machines, and each of them charged at full speed, clumsy enough to miss Ed as he sprinted away at the last second. They all fell face-first into the ground, hind legs comically flailing in the air. Ed dashed back to the closest beast and stabbed his rapier into one of the glass acid canisters resting on its hip. Green acid then spewed, burning his wrist before he slid out the blade.

He scampered back as each of the Machines unearthed their heads. The damaged Bristleback bucked as the acid burned through its metal, and the canister finally exploded—unable to remain stable—and it fell to the ground suddenly, body limp.

Ed had no time to celebrate. He ran as a couple of Machines used their grinding discs below their jaws to break about the earth below, mixing their controlled acid with it before using the rocks as projectiles. He dodged them as best as he could, but a few sliced against his arms, the leftover potent green liquid lightly sizzled around the wound, and all he could do was grit his teeth.

Taking all of these Machines down with just a sword would take several rounds of waiting for the coded attacks to charge again before he could get a chance to stab another canister. It would be harder to time it right if they charged during different intervals rather than all at once.

“I got help!”

It was Jim, running from the entrance of Chainscrape. A belt of knives glinted like new around their shoulder.

Someone was running with them. An Oseram man by the looks of it. He was broad with heavy armor held on by thick leather straps over his shoulders. His dark brown hair was styled as a mohawk with the sides shaved. His mustache connected to his thick sideburns, leaving his chin bare.

He held a warhammer and wore a smile on his face. Ed couldn’t tell if the expression was meant as excitement of facing the Machines, or for the possibility of catching Blackbeard.

A Bristleback charged towards Ed during his brief distraction, and his last-minute leap away only avoided the face, and he was shoved to the side by the heavy metal.

Ed scrambled from the ground and picked up his rapier he had dropped from the fall. He stood at a stance, ready for the next beast.

Jim and the Oseram finally arrived, and they split up, choosing their targets to attack.

The Oseram was like a wall of brute force, swinging his heavy hammer and plunging it against the steel skulls. He laughed when sparks flew from the crushed metal before he lifted his weapon and charged with a shout towards another Machine.

Jim was swift—the complete opposite of the Oseram’s force—but still just as deadly. Their knives held small acid bombs on the hilt. As they threw their blades at the acid canisters of the Bristlebacks, the detonation covered their bodies and propelled them over. Whether the Machine died or not from the impact, Jim slung another knife between the eyes, causing another explosion and a surer death.

Ed allowed two Bristlebacks to charge at him from different directions, and at the last second, he side-stepped and watched their heads crush against each other like an accordion. Electric sparks streaked out of their noses, red sensor array glitching off and on.

He struck his sword through one canister, then another on the other Bristleback. He rushed away and watched the green eruption, shards of metal scattering across the field.

There were no Machines left, and Ed’s exhaustion was catching up to him. His arms were screaming at him from sudden use and the acid burns. He didn’t bleed too much, but there was enough to dry on his skin.

He was out of breath, his throat dry as he panted.

Jim was soon at his side, also breathing heavily. They nodded at Ed, and he nodded back. Fuck, he had mad respect for them. He knew they were a hunter, but by All Mother, that was something else.

The Oseram approached a little later, hands loosely holding onto his weapon,

“Not bad,” he huffed, “Never thought Blackbeard would be here to serve the Sun King. Finally retired?”

Ed squinted, “The fuck is that?” he knew what the fuck it was, but everyone understood that the only retirement a bandit gets is jail, or well, death.

“Ed!” Stede’s voice sang behind him, and instinctively, Ed dropped his sword and turned just in time to catch Stede in his arms and hug the ever loving shit out of him.

Stede’s scent was strong, on the muskier side, but still containing that lovely mix of lavender and ridgewood. Ed never had a home, but no other words could explain the sensation of warmth and safety with Stede in his arms.

You’re here, Ed squeezed.

You’re here. Stede held.

“Not bad for a first fuckery,” Ed hummed into those golden curls, and Stede chuckled.

“I’ve got to admit, that was pretty badass,” Frenchie said, and Ed lifted his head to see the Nora approaching him along with everyone else, even Buttons, who was now off his Strider.

“You alright, Ed?” Lucius asked.

It warmed his heart that the group stayed together to check on him. Ed squeezed Stede again and nodded. He would have started tearing up if the Oseram hadn’t cleared his throat.

“Sorry to break your guys’ uh, mushy fiasco, but aren’t you all still prisoners?”

Ed and Stede stepped away reluctantly to face the stranger, their hands still on each other's arms.

Stede glanced at the broken cage in the distance that could easily pass for a pile of scrap, then faced the Oseram,

“Not anymore, it seems,” he said deadpan, his face petulant as he frowned.

Ed could barely restrain his snort.

The man looked at the cage and shrugged, “It was those Carjas’ fault for not keeping an eye on all of you. I remember them ordering their drinks at the tavern, most already passed out in the extra rooms.”

He shook his head, barely containing his laugh, “Got too excited to have some decent food and couldn’t hold their drink is my guess.”

Ed caught a glint of white metal resting against the man’s temple, the triangle shape unmistakable,

“You have a Focus?”

The Oseram paused, then smirked, “I see you have one too. A handy tool once you get over its odd holo-whats-it-text.”

He pointed at Ed’s Focus, “A Nora tinkering with forbidden technology?”

Ed nodded, “Not even All Mother could stop me.”

The Oseram laughed again, “Reminds me of a Nora I know, but I guess everyone knows about Aloy.”

“Hey!” Stede’s voice chimed, his bitchy expression long gone, “We are looking for her, actually!”

He pulled on the bag around Ed’s shoulder and lifted the apparatus from it, “We need to give this to her. It is of utmost importance that she receives it.”

The man looked at it and tapped on his Focus, “What is it?” he asked.

“That depends. How close are you to Aloy?”

The Oseram looked a little flushed, almost taken aback by that question, “Erm, I knew her since visiting her village. She saved my life too many times to count. She is my best friend.”

He scratched the back of his head.

Stede placed the apparatus in the bag with a satisfied smile, “Good, cause this is important,” he assured.

“It’s a gift for Gaia.”

The man’s eyes widened before he looked around as if to check that the coast was clear. Not that it was, Ed and Stede were still surrounded by Ed’s ex-cellmates and an odd Banuk with a Machine still perched on his head.

“Who’s Gaia?” Pete asked.

The Oseram took a breath, “Listen, you don’t find Aloy, she finds you. I’ll contact her and tell you if she decides to pay you all a visit.” He gestured at everyone.

“No, it’s just me and Stede,” Ed said.

“Oh fuck no, you are including me, I want to see Aloy too,” Frenchie said, “She’s literally the Seeker of the Nora. All Mother’s Chosen?” he eyed Ed like he was crazy,

“If she looks at us, then we will all be safe from the bad spirits the Metal Devil is sure to send us. Since we are so far from Mother’s Heart and all.”

“Who doesn’t want to see a total badass?” Pete pitched in.

“I heard she defeated all of the hunting grounds, even the ones not overseen by the Carja,” Jim added, a certain glee sparkled in their eyes.

“Aye, the master of understandin’ the spirit of the Blue Light,” Buttons stated.

Fucking shit, Ed hoped Aloy didn’t mind an audience. He didn’t expect this adventure would include more than just him and Stede, then again, he didn’t expect to be arrested and dragged to the Forbidden West either.

“Great.” The Oseram lifted his hammer to rest on his shoulder, “Technically, you are still prisoners under the order of the Sun King. But I know Avad wanted this ‘prison’,” he quoted with his fingers, “for your redemption. This honestly hasn’t happened before here, so I'm sure it’ll be made up as it goes.

“I’ll tell the Carja guards their task is complete and they can go home. Otherwise, I'd suggest you all clean up and get some rest. No offense, but you all look like shit.

“Petra is the leader of Chainscrape. I’ll tell her that Aloy wants to talk to you. If this Gift for Gaia goes to scrap, Petra will get up on your ass and make sure you work. Trust me, no funny business.”

Everyone in the group nodded, even Buttons who wasn’t a prisoner to begin with.

The Oseram introduced himself as Erend, and directed everyone towards the entrance of Chainscrape, instructing where to find the tavern so they could all meet up there at a later time.

Ed and Stede fell back on the group and Stede’s collar was yanked. Erend pulled Stede back and towered over him, the Oseram’s easy demeanor shadowing into something hard and deadly.

Stede let out a quiet yelp and Ed raised his rapier-, “You son of a-”

“Who are you?” Erend growled at Stede.

“Let go of him.”

“Are you a Zenith?” Erend asked, ignoring Ed’s demand.

Ed paused hearing that word. He remembered Stede talking about that group of people on Ed’s last day in Meridian.

Stede stammered, voice higher pitched than usual, “What? No! No no no! I would never associate myself with those morons. The only good thing they ever did was leave this planet,” he scowled.

“I scanned your ‘Gift for Gaia’ and saw your face projected as a recording. Only Zeniths lived in the time of the Old Ones.”

“He’s not a fuckin’ Zenith!” Ed spat, “Let go of him, or I’ll kill you myself.”

Erend finally faced Ed and let go of Stede’s shirt. He looked at Stede again from head to toe before he sighed.

“I guess you’re not. I wouldn’t have been able to touch you, and you’re not flying creepily.”

Stede sputtered, “What the hell are you talking about? How do you know about the Zeniths? Their ship was destroyed in an asteroid storm.”

Erend shook his head, “It’s a long story, but in summary, they came back. They are all dead now though! At least, we are pretty sure, can’t be too cautious. You're gonna lower your sword now?”

Ed did, but not without giving Erend a much-deserved glare for scaring his man.

Stede’s brows were furrowed, visibly thinking about Erend’s words.

“Can you tell me who you are?” Erend repeated to Stede.

“Stede,” he answered, straightening his shirt, “You were right. I too, lived in the time of your Old Ones. But I am not a Zenith.”

“Huh, how in the forge did you survive? Another spaceship?”

“I’ll answer more of your questions if you answer mine.” Stede harrumphed.

Erend paused, then nodded, “Sounds like a good exchange. I think Aloy should tell you. She’s better at explaining things than me.”

Stede sighed before he walked to Ed and took his hand, “We will wait.”