OFMD Fic Recs

My fic sweet spots for this trope: hurt Edward Teach, angst, slow burns, I like Stede having a bit of a bite to him vs a few too many 'darlings' and 'sweethearts' (although I do like 'darlings' and 'sweethearts' too ngl)
Now let's get started!

forgive & forget by Fool_for_love. Gentlebeard, mature, 44k words. Summary: It hits him then, like a wave breaking on sand, loud as thunder when it crashes, then trickling away into little rivulets flowing back home, murmuring one word over and over and over.
Ed.
The problem is, Stede doesn’t recall ever having met anyone named Ed.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/41966646
It's tough to read a lot of similar reunion dialogue and scenarios. This fic really distinguished itself with using the amnesia trope so deftly to give readers the nuanced slow burn we all want.

Take it slow (hold me close) by ghostalservice. Gentlebeard, 1.6k words, Teen+ Summary: a quick tag to 2.05! Ed is cold.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/50776432
Love love LOVE this!!! When Ed's shivers started in earnest I was like YAAAS nothing like the imagery of warm Stede hugging a trembling cold Ed. Thank you so much!

Every Good Thing by allineedisaquill. Gentlebeard, 5k words, Teen+. Summary: "They’re the fucking same, aren’t they? All this time, perfect mirrors of each other. Ed looks at Stede and sees himself.
Ed gets it. He gets all of it."
Set directly after 2x05. Stede asks Ed to stay and they talk some more things through.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/50912695/
Really loved the intimacy of this fic. All I want is these kind of cuddles forever and ever in ofmd fanfic 🥰🥰🥰

The Self Is Not So Weightless (Nor Whole and Unbroken) by OxfordRose (jadinacookie), redtailedhawk90. Rated Explicit, Gentlebeard, 75k words. Summary: "Does anything about my appearance strike you as familiar Mr. Teach?" Danford asks, as if Ed hadn't just asked a question, moving aside the bowl to sit down on the stool. "Or my name?"Ed squints at him. "Nah, sorry, mate."
Danford nods, a hand slipping into the pocket of his apron once more."That's about what I expected. Not that it would change matters if you had, I just imagine that these proceedings might make more sense to you. Call this...a reckoning if you will."
Or: Before Stede and Ed can reunite after the academy, Ed is captured by a privateer with a personal grudge.
ao3.org/works/40015041
My thoughts: This fic features some serious Ed whump - torture & humiliation before Stede gets to him but once the hurt is over, Stede's comfort is unparalleled. The writing is superb. I was up until 2AM on a work night devouring this fic. The crew & Stede discovering what had happened to Ed and then taking such good care of him. Ugh, this was such a healing fic. Much love to the author, they did such a fantastic job.

Red Sky by Bazzle. Mature, Gentlebeard, 10k words. Summary: "I know you have no reason to trust me," Ed says, eyes sad.
"Give it a rest, Stede. I tried to kill your friends. You want to get into bed with that? I knew you were a fucking lunatic, but that's just suicidal, mate. It's fucking over."
"But I am going to do everything in my power to get you and your crew through this."
When Stede finally returns to the Revenge, Ed won't hear his apologies. It takes a deadly storm to bring down his walls and bring them back together.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/40470261
My thoughts: This fic was SOOO good. I love fics that really walk the highwire between extremely badass and vulnerable. The more plausibly badass they are, the more I melt into a puddle when the time comes for them to show how traumatized or emotionally damaged they are. This was just so good with that.

Renaissance by Fyre. Explicit, Gentlebeard, 25k words. Summary: Ed heard the gunshot and the following scream when he was busting out of the barracks stores with a sack of food. Panicked. Familiar. He was running before he even realized he'd stepped on the guard and dropped the bag of loot. Running in the little shoes was a bugger of a thing, but he ran anyway, almost turning his ankle more than once, out into the dark, out into the woods, away from the barracks.
https://ao3.org/works/40485996
my thoughts: Really well-written and lovely fix-it fic with charming and feel-good character development, romance, and reunions.

Haunt me, then by hyruling (AO3). Rated Explicit, Gentlebeard, 28k words. Summary: He releases the ropes slowly, barely registering the burn as they slip through his fingers. Then, fallible as Orpheus, turns to meet his ghost.
ao3.org/works/39165330
This fic's Edward angst is so amazing, it had me tearing up a few times before Stede even makes his appearance. The slow, conflicted burn between them trying to reconcile their mistakes together is the absolute best.

It's what isn't in the name by tciddaemina (AO3). Rated Mature, Gentlebeard, 41k words. Summary: The first thing they see - apart from Captain Bonnet himself, all silked up and frilly and a sight in his own right - is the cat sitting primly by his ankles. She's a white, well-groomed thing, coat as pale and smooth as snow, with a delicate pink ribbon around her neck and a little golden bell hanging at her throat. And sure, she's a little big, on the large side as house cats go, reaching right up to his knee, and a bit leggy as well but the crew still takes one look at her and feel their estimation of their new captain drop another sharp couple of notches.
This, they think incredulously, is the man that proposes to be our fearsome pirate captain?
"My name is Captain Stede Bonnet," the new captain says proudly, sweeping an arm out in greeting, looking so pleased and chuffed and ever so slightly nervous to meet them. "And this is Miss Daisy Bonnet, though of course you may all call her captain as well."
"Two dubloons on a mutiny by the end of the week." Frenchie murmurs with a sharp bite of mirth. On his shoulder, Beauregard lets out a soft tittering laugh, the songbird's beak clicking.
"Not taking that bet." Pete replies snappishly, still glowering sullenly at the captain.
ao3.org/works/38203582
A really fascinating version of season 1 with daemons inserted. I loved Stede's character and development in this. I love how Stede-centric it was because I tend to lean into Edward more but this one captured me, had me adoring and respecting Stede as much as Ed had come to do. Also, while the fic follows season 1, the events are changed in interesting ways so it doesn't feel like a retread of what you watched in the show. Fantastic story.

Reflected In Hell's Mirrors by Nuriashnee (AO3). Explicit, Gentlebeard, 51k words. Summary: Ed knew that wasn't Stede as soon as he saw him. A ghost or a demon maybe, but not the Stede he'd known. Christ, he looked like the materialized wrath of an Angel. His shirt was torn and there was a downpour falling over him. There was a sword in his hand, already bloodied, and he was coming for him. -- Ed isn't prepared for Stede coming back. Let alone for this new him, ready to follow him to the ends of the Earth just to try to fix what he'd broken after leaving him.
ao3.org/works/38567427
Ed's angst was delicious, and Stede's steadfast love breaking his barriers down was handled so well. It was such an amazing slow reunion fic, and then we got offered up two amazing, emotional sex scenes that told a story of their own. Really, really well done. I'm so happy to have read this story.

a shipwreck heart to haunt the sea by eldritch_beau. Mature, Gentlebeard, 14k. Summary: He buries his nose into his armful of shirts and takes a deep breath. It soothes a yawning ache somewhere in his chest and makes his lips tremble, his eyes water. Enveloped in the comfort of what is the closest he will ever come to hugging Stede again, he lets the floodgates open.
"Fuck you, Stede." he cries into the clothes of a dead man, "You had to go and fucking die instead of coming with me." -- or, meeting again, like they once first met.
ao3.org/works/38579718
Angst with a happy ending YAAAAAASSSS I loved Ed's grief, poor bunny

Unintentional Seduction by mnwood. Teen+, Gentlebeard, 3k words. Summary: Stede turned his attention back to Ed and whispered, "I suppose we can take this conversation down to my quarters."
Ed nodded and giggled in response, and both of them shushed each other as they tried to quietly make their way through the sleeping crewmates.
It was becoming a habit, really.
Ed had been on the Revenge going on two weeks now, and each night he would join the crew on the main deck while Stede read them stories. Reading stories always dissolved into telling ghost stories, which dissolved into individual conversations breaking off until everyone, one by one, fell asleep.
Stede and Ed were always, always the last ones still awake, still talking.
ao3.org/works/38520409
Really cute and funny series of sweet adorable bed sharing events that lead up to a final realization they're being romantic with each other. A little bit of sexy times ensues.

look what the cat dragged in by KiaraSayre. Not Rated, Gentlebeard, 11k words. Summary: Stede and his crew acquire a cat, whether they like it or not.
ao3.org/works/38246497
my thoughts: Yay fairy tales and animal transformation curses. Cat!Ed is hilariously and endearingly in-character and Stede's inexplicable, increasing fondness for the creature just makes you want to roll into a little ball and make lovey noises.

[Selfies Reccies!]

Revenge, Gentlebeard, Mature, 5k words. Summary: "Remember he just beat us down? Just- just ground us down into nothing?" - "Oh, I remember. I was there. He treated us like dogs. Worse than dogs!"
AO3 || FFN
I'm really proud of this one. It hits some sensitive themes but the worst is over after the first chapter. The rest is vengeance and recovery and shmoop.

Surrender, Gentlebeard. Teen. 2k words. Summary: "Surrender." Stede's words were even and firm. He was at the helm facing Blackbeard. Their swords were unsheathed but only half-raised, as though neither of them could really threaten each other.
AO3 || FFN
Obligatory reunion fic that any self-respecting OFMD fan has written obvs

Trust, Gentlebeard, Teen, 2.6k words. Summary: "If this was her chance to see behind the curtain, she was going to take it. She deserved some answers. She was entitled to them. And Jim wasn't going to stop her. Jim had seen Blackbeard when he'd been Ed, with Stede. But for Archie, this was all some brand new bullshit. She wasn't even sure she bought it." Season 2 Episode 3 Spoilers. It's not an episode tag though - it just keeps the canon that's been established so far.
ao3.org/works/50716525 || https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14287492
This story punched out of me, specifically because I need Stede holding Ed together during a traumatic episode from behind, and also Stede interacting with Ed's "Trust No One" back tattoo