Ed's given him an out. He can leave, and they can part ways on his terms, and the thought of that hurts like when the Spanish captain stabbed him in the gut.

You'll flee from the Kraken every chance you get.

Someone normal would. They'd run and run and never look back.

Stede steps forward, keeping the space between him and Ed the same. "I'm not fleeing." His tone is half-gentle, half-stubborn. "If my leaving hurt you, then I'm not doing that again, Edward."