Work Text:
Saturday, 10:30 AM
“Fuck. Fuuuuuuck!”
Stede throws his phone to the side, and it lands unceremoniously on the passenger seat. He bangs his fists against the steering wheel until he realizes that it hurts, and yes, he’s an idiot. He takes a couple of deep breaths, trying to remember every single breathing exercise that was suggested by his therapist.
“One,” Stede mutters, inhaling deeply. He exhales.
Is the fucking steering wheel taunting him?
Okay, so, the breathing thing does not work. It’s okay, the tow truck is on its way, they’ll take it to the shop, and it will only take a couple hours. Then he will be on his merry way home, away from his insufferable family and back to his overpriced loft.
How did he end up here? And he doesn’t mean here, in the middle of a godforsaken highway, but here. Middle-aged, single, voted most likely to be forgotten in history books. The unremarkable life of Stede Bonnet, a gentleman and an idiot.
His phone rings and he snaps out of his wallowing reverie, and reaches out for his phone.
“This is Stede Bonnet.”
“Uh, yeah, mate. It’s the tow truck guy. I am ten minutes away from you, according to my GPS.”
“Oh, splendid. That was quite quick.”
“I was already in the area when Izzy called me.”
“Hmmph, yeah. That man was certainly unpleasant.”
“Unpleasant? It’s okay, man. You can say he was a dick. He is a dick.”
“God, he is, isn’t he? How on earth do you manage to work with him?”
“Lots of patience and rum. So, you drive a blue Porsche Cayenne, right?”
“Cerulean.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s a cerulean Cayenne.”
“Oh, I heard you. I know what cerulean is. It’s blue, Stede.”
“Well, actually–”
“Did you just ‘well, actually’ me? The guy who is going to save your sorry ass today?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You know what? I’m just going to drive past you, leave you to fend on your own. Good luck with the coyotes, mate.”
“Coyo– You wouldn’t actually leave me here, right? Mr… Um…”
“Ed. My name is Ed. No mister, please.”
“Please don’t leave me here, Ed. I’m afraid I could die from exposure.”
“Inside a Cayenne?”
“It’s possible. I read it somewhere.”
“Where? Pompous Dickfuck Daily?”
“Hey!”
“Just kidding. I think I see your cerulean death trap now.”
Stede looks at the rearview mirror and sure enough, a tow truck that’s seen better days is approaching him. The truck parks in front of him, and Stede looks around to make sure he’s not forgetting anything important inside the car.
“Fab. I’m going to hang up now.”
“What if I wanted to hang up first?”
“You’re very funny, Ed.”
“That’s what pays the bills. Alright, hang up.”
Stede chuckles as he ends the call, and smooths the front of his shirt. He’s not sure why, but he feels suddenly nervous to meet Ed. He glances at the rearview mirror, making sure his hair looks good, and unlocks the door.
He almost trips while getting out of his car, but he manages to somewhat gracefully regain his footing. Stede crosses his arms, then feels awkward, and sets his arms to the side. That’s even more awkward, so he settles on placing one hand on his waist. Fuck, this is not –
The door from the tow truck’s driver side flings open, and the most handsome man Stede has ever seen steps out. Ed. He’s wearing black jeans, black leather boots, a deep purple t-shirt and a leather jacket. A fucking leather jacket. Stede should’ve called 911 as well, because he’s about to pass out.
Maybe Ed is a paramedic too, in case Stede needs some mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Stede swallows hard, and makes his way to Ed.
“Hi, I’m Stede,” he says, offering his hand to Ed. Ed shakes it, a warm smile on his lips.
“Nice to meet you, Cerulean Stede,” Ed says, and his voice sounds like it’s made out of Stede’s deepest and darkest desires. “So, what happened to the car? Izzy didn’t say.”
“Oh, the car, yes,” Stede says hurriedly, and beckons Ed to follow him. The Cayenne’s hood is already propped open, the only thing Stede managed to actually do, and Ed pulls out his phone from his back pocket.
“Hmm.” Ed mutters while he looks around with his phone’s flashlight.
“So?” Stede asks nervously.
Ed closes the hood, shrugging. “Oh, I don’t know, I was just making sure you weren’t leaking anything. Iz will know better when he looks at it.”
Stede buries his face in his hands, letting out an exasperated sigh. The past couple days have been terrible, having to deal with his parents’ never ending disappointment, because he’s a divorced failure. At least he produced two grandchildren for them as a consolation prize. Their words, not Stede's.
“Mate, it’s just a car,” Ed says softly, and Stede reemerges from behind his hands. “Izzy will fix it and you’ll be able to go home. Alright?”
“It’s been a day,” Stede says. “I’m sorry.”
“You’ve been the nicest bloke I’ve had to help today, so we’re good,” Ed smiles.
“It’s still early, I’m pretty sure I’m the only customer you’ve had to help so far,” Stede says, arching an eyebrow.
“Maybe,” Ed chuckles. “Come on, you can wait in the truck while I set this up.”
Stede nods, eyes still fixed on Ed as he takes a couple of steps back. “Uh, my overnight bag is in the backseat. Forgive me.”
Ed just watches him go, and even when Stede turns around, he can still feel those gorgeous brown eyes running him through.
Saturday, 11:15 am
Ed curses under his breath as he tweaks the aux cord connecting his phone to the worn-down truck’s stereo. Stede places his hands on his lap, not wanting to tell Ed that the road in front of them is more important than the music, and hopes to the god he doesn’t believe in that they don’t crash.
“Here,” Ed says finally, handing the cord and the phone to Stede. “I need to buy a new cord, you have to hold it a certain way or it doesn’t work.”
“Oh, sure,” Stede says eagerly, fully relieved that Ed is going to pay attention to the road now. He sees Ed’s ID badge dangling from the rearview mirror and can’t help but look. Edward Teach, certified tow truck driver, Hands and Blackbeard Inc.
“Play whatever you want,” Ed grunts, tapping on the steering wheel. He has removed his leather jacket and Stede is trying very hard not to stare at the lean muscle, at the various tattoos that adorn his skin.
“That’s quite the responsibility,” Stede tells him, opening Ed’s music app. “I might play something you don’t like and then you might leave me stranded with the coyotes.”
“Aw, man, come on,” Ed says. “I would never leave you, you’re too handsome for me to do something like that.”
“Uh.” Stede almost drops Ed’s phone, his ears incredibly hot. “Um. Well, I –”
Ed quickly glances at him, and he seems suddenly nervous. “Sorry. That wasn’t–”
“No, I mean, you’re rather handsome yourself, but I –”
“Fuck, I assumed –”
“No, no, it’s alright –”
“I am gay,” Stede finally says, his voice a mere squeak. “I’m gay. I’m so very gay. The gayest, you might say.”
Ed starts laughing, a deep, sincere laughter that makes Stede feel like a lovesick teenager, and this has to be a dream. It has to be a dream because Stede has never felt this kind of infatuation before, he has never felt this drawn to someone he literally just met.
“Are you?” Stede asks timidly. Ed raises an eyebrow at him and clicks his tongue, a small smile forming on his lips.
“I like men,” Ed replies. “A lot.”
“Ah, okay,” Stede says, and it’s just then that he realizes that his heart has been beating painfully fast. He manages to calm himself down, and he scrolls through Ed’s music library until he finds something that catches his eye.
“Hope you’re pleased with my selection,” Stede says, holding the phone carefully. The music starts playing, and Ed starts humming along, nodding his head. Stede doesn’t know why, but he feels like he just won something.
I’d sit alone and watch your light, my only friend through teenage nights…
Saturday, 11:45 AM
“Styx’s love for melodramatics and storytelling makes them all-time greats!” Stede says. “You’re in denial, and you have no taste.”
“Paradise Theater is one of the worst albums ever,” Ed retorts. “How can you even defend that?”
“Well, I’m sorry,” Stede shrieks, frankly appalled . “Mr. Music Snob here thinks he’s above the lyrical stylings of Styx.”
“I never fucking said that,” Ed laughs, making a right turn and slowing down. “I’ll admit ‘Too Much Time on my Hands’ is a good tune”
“Aha!” Stede says triumphantly. “I win.”
“You win nothing,” Ed snaps playfully, pulling over to a modern-looking car shop. He maneuvers the tow truck flawlessly and with ease, and Stede can’t help but be impressed.
David Bowie is still singing about a woman being someone’s “living end” when Ed turns off the engine and beckons Stede to get out of the truck. Ed is nice enough to help Stede with his bag and carry it himself to the front office. Stede trails behind, hands deep in his pockets, feeling a bit out of place.
Ed pushes the door, holding it open for Stede. Their arms briefly brush as they both step inside, and they offer each other a smile.
“He doesn’t bite,” Ed mutters as they make their way to the desk. “His bark is always worse.”
“Who?” Stede asks, still too busy looking at Ed.
“Edward.” The same hoarse voice that Stede talked to over the phone earlier now has a face and body to it. Izzy is looking at Stede with pure and utter disdain, not even bothering to hide it.
“This is the guy with the Cayenne,” Ed says cheerfully.
“Mr. Bonnet,” Izzy says dryly, standing up. “A pleasure.”
“Is it?” Stede asks.
Izzy ignores this, and hands Stede a clipboard with paperwork, a cheap pen dangling from it. “Fill this out,” Izzy snaps, then looks at Ed. “You, me, office. Now.”
“Aw, Iz, but I am having so much fun,” Ed says, winking at Stede.
“Please go, it seems like there is trouble in paradise,” Stede says, sardonic as ever. Izzy glares at him, opening his mouth to retort, but Ed pushes him away, still smiling at Stede. The two men leave him alone, and Stede hears a door close somewhere. He sighs, and starts filling his paperwork.
Saturday, 12:15 PM
Stede glances at his phone, realizing that Ed and Izzy have been gone for a while, and there are only so many Bob Seger songs he can listen to in a row. He sets the clipboard on his lap, humming to himself, knee bouncing.
He stares at the ceiling, trying to figure out how water damage is there, and thinking if he should say something to Izzy about it. But it’s probably best not to antagonize the man who is probably going to fix his car. Stede has managed to get this far without anyone messing with his brakes, thank you very much.
“Here.”
Stede jumps, almost knocking over the styrofoam cup Ed is handing him. The clipboard falls to the ground, making a lot of unnecessary noise, and Stede quickly picks it up before sitting down again.
“Whoa, you okay?” Ed asks, humor in his voice.
“Water damage,” Stede says casually. “Uh, I was looking at the water damage. The ceiling. Because –”
“I’ve been telling Izzy about it for ages,” Ed shrugs, and Stede takes the cup from him. “He doesn’t listen.”
Stede gratefully sips from the cup, and the coffee could be better but it’s good enough to make him feel warm and cozy inside. Ed sits next to him, and the umpteenth Bob Seger song starts playing through the office’s speakers.
Ed nudges Stede with his shoulder, lowering his voice. “He’ll be out in a bit,” Ed says. “He’s pissed at me.”
“Why?” Stede asks.
“I guess I don’t take this job seriously,” Ed shrugs. “And he’s right. I don’t.”
“Oh.” Stede clutches the cup between his hands, staring intently at the dark coffee still in it. “Have you considered quitting? Finding something else?”
Ed snorts. “Is there such a thing? I did some college, I’m pretty decent at maths, but that’s about it. Not a lot of options out there for me.”
“How long have you been doing this?” Stede takes another sip, and the coffee tastes bitter now.
“Too long,” Ed sighs. “What do you do, gentleman Bonnet?”
Stede lets out a loud, fake laugh. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
He looks over at Ed, who is staring at him with an incredulous look on his face. “You drive a fuckin’ Porsche, mate.”
“Perhaps, but it’s all family money,” Stede shrugs. “I work for my father, and with work I mean I am just the face of the company at meetings but I am never involved in any decisions or anything.”
“At least there’s the money, no?” Ed says, and Stede realizes he’s not mocking him, he’s being sincere.
“Yes, I’m quite privileged in that regard,” Stede admits. “And I have two wonderful kids. They don’t like me much, but they’re wonderful.”
“You’re marr–” Ed starts, but they’re interrupted by Izzy, who is literally stomping his way to them.
“Okay, Mr. Bonnet, we’ve looked at your vehicle,” he says, not looking up from the paperwork he’s holding. “It looks like you’ve blown a–”
“I’m not married,” Stede blurts, completely ignoring Izzy. “I’m divorced, they live with my ex-wife and their stepfather, who is a better father than I could ever be.”
“What the fuck?” Izzy groans.
“Oh, good to know,” Ed smiles. “That’d be a disappointment. The married part, I mean, I’m fine with kids.”
“I see them every month, they live up north,” Stede says. “We have a group chat, though. They’re always sending me the strangest reaction images.”
Izzy clears his throat, arms crossed and glaring daggers at both of them. “As I was saying, Mr. Bonnet, we looked at your vehicle and –”
“Look, Iggy–”
“ Izzy, ” the man says through gritted teeth.
“Whatever, I don’t care,” Stede says, rolling his eyes. “Fix whatever needs to be fixed, I’ll pay for it. How long will it take?”
Izzy suddenly smiles, and the smile isn’t comforting at all. It reminds Stede of a cat ready to pounce, claws out and looking for blood.
“I have to order the part, and since you’re willing to pay, it’s going to cost,” Izzy says. “I’ll label it as urgent, and it should be here tomorrow morning.”
Tomorrow? Stede doesn’t know what he expected, he doesn’t know much about cars, but he had expected for it to take only a few hours. He exhales, thinking he’s going to have to call his insurance and rent a car or something so he can go home. Or maybe get a hotel.
“Okay, sure,” Stede says, waving his hand dismissively. “So the car should be ready tomorrow afternoon?”
“That’s the plan,” Izzy yawns. “Now, I see you already wrote down your credit card information, but I’m going to need some ID to process all this, and I’ll have to see your credit card again, and insurance–”
“Izzy,” Ed says warningly.
“Edward,” Izzy spits back.
Stede stands up, positioning himself between the two men. “Lead the way, I’ll show you whatever you want.”
Izzy makes a weird face at that, then shakes his head. “Come on.”
Saturday, 01:15 PM
Stede stands on the sidewalk, still on hold with the car rental company, and he’s ready to just throw his phone on the ground and walk home. He turns around and notices Ed walking towards him, a friendly smile on his lips.
“Hey,” Ed says. “Got a ride yet?”
“No,” Stede pouts, pointing at his phone. “I’ve been on hold forever with this dreadful elevator music.”
“Huh, I didn’t know they played Styx as hold music,” Ed teases, and Stede playfully shoves him away. “Hang up, come on.”
Stede blinks at him, and takes the phone from him, hitting the end button. “You’re coming with me,” Ed explains, handing Stede’s phone back to him.
“Am I?” Stede asks, feigning shock. “Do I have a choice?”
“Of course you do,” Ed grins. “But you know you’re dying to spend time with me.”
Stede hums, his foot nudging the overnight bag he set on the ground. He doesn’t deny it, he merely smiles at Ed, who looks at him as if Stede is the most wonderful thing in the world. Which, he’s not, obviously. Ed needs his brain checked. Stede knows of a couple specialists who could probably check on that.
“Mate, where did you go?” Ed says, wrapping his hand around Stede’s wrist. His fingers are warm and calloused, and Stede hopes he never lets go.
“Don’t you have to work?” Stede wonders, nodding towards the car shop.
“He’ll survive,” Ed shrugs, his hand now slowly traveling up Stede’s forearm. “So, you’re coming with me or not?”
Stede wants to say, I can’t, I live two hours away, I must find a car or a hotel, I can’t.
But he follows anyway.
Saturday, 01:40 PM
These are the best fucking enchiladas Stede has ever had. Not spicy, not sweet, just right. He is usually awfully fussy about foods in his plate touching each other, but not this time. He lets the sauce touch the rice and the beans, and finds he doesn’t mind one bit.
“Good?” Ed asks him, almost completely done with his own plate.
“Excellent,” Stede agrees. “What’s this sauce called again?”
“Mole,” Ed says. “It’s made out of chocolate and other stuff, don’t ask me what, but I love it.”
The restaurant is small and hidden in a strip mall, but Ed swore to Stede that it would be the best Mexican food he’d ever have. And Ed wasn’t wrong. They make small talk while they eat, and Stede learns that Ed thought about becoming an engineer once, but money to finish college was an obstacle.
Stede also notices that Ed has mentioned his mom at least five times, but not his dad. Stede doesn’t pry, because if anything, he doesn't like talking about his father either.
They talk about Stede’s kids, and Stede brags about Alma being top of her class, and Louis excelling at sports. Ed seems fascinated by this and asks endless questions, and Stede talks. Stede talks and talks like he hasn’t in ages, and Ed hangs on to every word, eyes open in wonder.
It’s the best lunch he’s ever had.
Saturday, 2:30 PM
“This is nice.”
“Isn’t it?”
They walk side by side, the gravel crunching under their shoes. The walking trail circles the small pond, and they have to make way for joggers every now and then, but the weather is beautiful so they don’t mind.
“Do you come here often?” Stede asks Ed.
“Hmm, you flirting with me?” Ed smirks, glancing at Stede.
“Ha.” Stede gently presses his elbow against Ed’s side. “I think we are quite past that.”
“Are we now,” Ed muses, voice low and sweet. “But yes, I come here often, whenever I want to clear my mind.”
Stede bites his tongue and they continue walking in comfortable silence for a while, their hands brushing often. Stede’s pinky finger touches Ed’s, and it’s a brief moment, it’s barely a second, but it’s enough to make him feel fiercely alive.
“How often is that?” Stede now feels Ed’s pinky wrapping around his. “You, coming here to clear your mind.”
“Every week or so,” Ed says, their pinkies interlaced now. “I get bored often and start thinking things that I shouldn’t be thinking about, like fleeing the country or becoming a pirate.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” Stede admits. “It sounds quite fun to be a pirate. Swashbuckling and hunting for treasure! Can you imagine?”
Ed laughs for what seems an eternity, the sound music to Stede’s ears, and he makes the move to hold Stede’s hand properly. Stede feels his face flush as Ed’s fingers slide between his, squeezing his hand in the most tender of ways, and this has to be a dream, it has to be.
They walk for a few minutes more before making their way to the parking lot, where Ed’s interesting purple station wagon is waiting for them.
“I still can’t believe you drive a station wagon,” Stede chuckles.
“Are you hating on my sweet girl?” Ed frowns. “Kraken, don’t listen to him.”
“I just imagined you driving something like, a truck or a bike,” Stede laughs. “Kraken is quite nice, don’t get me wrong. I can tell you take great care of her, she seems very loved.”
“It was my mum’s,” Ed explains, unlocking the door on the passenger side. Stede leans against the car as he notices Ed hesitating with the key. “It’s cool to work with Izzy because I can get stuff fixed with no problem. I don’t think I could ever get rid of her.”
Ed looks at Stede, and his eyes seem watery, but then he blinks and the tears are gone.
“I don’t want to go home,” Stede says suddenly. It seems to startle Ed, who is already holding the door open for him. “I don’t want to go back to that empty place, where it’s just me and a pile of newspapers.”
“You wanna run away and be pirates?” Ed smiles.
“That sounds lovely,” Stede says. “And I’m serious.”
“I’m serious too,” Ed nods, moving closer to him. “I’ll take you wherever you want, Stede. To the end of the world or the fucking ocean, you name it.”
“In the station wagon?” Stede asks, Ed’s lips dangerously close to his. Ed snorts, pressing his forehead and nose to Stede’s, and nods eagerly.
“Yeah,” Ed breathes. “Let’s go.”
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Of all the places he had imagined, this is not where Stede expected to go next.
“Hmm, a car wash doesn’t seem a very pirate-y place to me,” Stede notes as Ed pays the vending machine.
“Mate, Kraken has needed a wash since last weekend,” Ed says, pressing a button. The gate opens and Ed joins the queue for the tunnel.
“I actually wash my car myself,” Stede says proudly as he looks around. Ed scoffs, hands on the steering wheel as the queue starts moving.
“I do too, just not today,” Ed points out. “I’m tired and my knee hurts. And I have a man to impress.”
“Oh really?” Stede moves in his seat to look better at Ed. “Tell me about this man.”
Ed is still looking straight ahead, his foot gentle on the brake. “He’s a gentleman, and he’s very handsome. He has two kids. He has an okay car, and he has the nicest smile I’ve ever seen. I haven’t even known him for a day but he already makes me feel things I have never felt before.”
“Does he?” Stede feels flustered, hearing Ed talking about him like that.
“Fuck yes.”
It’s their turn now, and the attendant is signaling Ed to move forward, making sure his tires are in the right position. The attendant gives them the thumbs up, and Ed puts the driving stick in neutral. Black Sabbath is playing, a song Stede isn't familiar with, and he's about to tell Ed about it when Ed exhales loudly.
“I really want to fucking kiss you,” Ed says simply. Stede gapes soundlessly, heart racing as he tries to not to pass out right there and then. Ed’s car jolts forward, the conveyor belt starting the journey into the car wash tunnel.
“I want you to,” Stede breathes. Flashing neon lights illuminate the inside of the car, shadows dancing on both their faces, but Stede can still see the want in Ed’s eyes.
Follow me now, you will not regret leaving the life you led before we met
Ed takes off his seatbelt, sliding closer to Stede. He places his hand delicately on Stede’s thigh, and Stede’s eyes stay glued there, watching how Ed’s fingers squeeze gently, fingertips digging in.
You are the first to have this love of mine, forever with me til the end of time
“Edward…” Stede breathes, not moving, wanting, waiting. Ed leans in, his hand leaving Stede’s thigh and placing it on the left side of his jaw. Ed’s thumb traces a line on Stede’s jawline, and it leaves nothing but fire behind.
“My name sounds so good when you say it like that,” Ed mutters. “Fucking Stede Bonnet. You’re so fucking dashing, mate. Look at you.”
Stede whimpers as Ed’s lips settle on his forehead, a soft kiss there, layers and layers of foaming soap blocking the sight of their surroundings. Stede is suddenly aware of his heavy breathing as Ed’s lips trail down, kissing the tip of his nose.
Your love for me has just got to be real, before you know the way I’m going to feel
“You’ve got me all fucked up,” Ed whispers. “I’m shaking.”
And the thing is, Stede is shaking too, as if he’s freezing to death in the middle of a desert. Stede swallows, aware of Ed’s breath on his lips, and he can almost taste the other man, he wants to, he needs to, he –
I’m going to feel
“Please,” Stede whines, because yes, he’s fucking whining and begging and doesn’t care who hears it. There is a tight, warm pull in the pit of his stomach as he makes eye contact with Ed.
“Fuck,” Ed gasps, and finally kisses him.
I’m going to feel
Stede stays anchored in that moment, feeling nothing but Ed’s lips moving against his, the kiss soft yet biting, and Stede has to pull back, he has to pull back or he’s going to burn all over.
“You oka–” Ed starts, and Stede leans his forehead against Ed’s, the truck still moving, the world still turning.
Now I have you with me, under my power
Stede shifts the angle, kissing Ed more fully, more urgently. It’s a hurried kiss with teeth and lips and tongue, and hands are roaming everywhere, tugging at clothes and buttons and belts, and time is running out –
Our love grows stronger now with every hour
The kiss is rough, messy; but it’s also comfortable and safe. Stede doesn’t know how to feel but he has never been kissed like this, he’s never kissed anyone like this. Stede runs his hands across Ed’s shoulders, and all of a sudden the truck skids to a halt.
“Oops,” Ed mutters against Stede’s lips. “I guess the wash is over.”
“Yeah,” Stede nods. “Don’t wanna get stuck here.”
“We don’t?” Ed smirks, sliding back to the driver’s side, reaching for the seat belt. He runs his fingers through his beard, smoothing it down. Stede attempts to fix his dress shirt but it’s futile. He’s pretty sure he’s missing a button now.
Ed drives out of the car wash, and glances at Stede, who can’t stop fucking looking at him.
”Sorry,” Stede blurts embarrassedly.
Ed laughs, the sweetest sound, and Stede feels it deep in his bones.
Saturday, 06:00 PM
Stede expected Ed’s place to be completely different from his, but this man continues to surprise him.
Stede’s house is filled with expensive furniture, most of it traditional but elegant, with colorful fabrics everywhere. Stede has rows and rows of bookshelves, each one filled to the brim, delicate collectibles adorning the shelves here and there.
Ed’s apartment is more modern, minimalist, with darker colors. But he also has plenty of bookshelves, with books haphazardly placed next to each other, model boats and skull candles adding to the decor, an eclectic collection of a life that Stede still doesn’t know too much about.
“My goodness,” Stede says, picking up one of the tiny boats. “This is incredible.”
“My friend Pete whittled that one,” Ed says, standing next to Stede. “It’s pretty cool, huh?”
“Pretty fucking cool, I’d say,” Stede agrees. “And all these books… Is this a first edition Vonnegut?”
Stede flips through the pages carefully, fascinated by the yellowing pages, and holds the book as delicately as he can. “Yeah, mate,” Ed smiles. “And it’s signed.”
“What!?” Stede flips to the first page of the book, and sure enough, there’s Vonnegut’s signature and self-portrait. “How did you –? When–?”
“Nicked it,” Ed confesses. “Mum used to clean houses for a rich family back then, and they had this copy in the library. They fired my mum after my dad showed up drunk looking for her one day, so I went back and stole it.”
Ed says all this in a rush, as if Stede won’t judge him if he says it quickly. Stede places the book back on the shelf, and turns to face Ed.
“I’m so sorry that happened,” Stede says, placing a hand on Ed’s hip. “But I am glad you stole that book. How dare they!”
Ed laughs and leans in, kissing Stede in a much softer way than he did at the car wash. Their lips part for a second before Stede kisses him again, a slow kiss, hot and consuming, and both of them chase after it. Stede feels Ed’s teeth scraping along his bottom lip, and there’s hunger in Stede’s gut, a want that he had never known before, and he wants to drag Ed down with him.
Stede splays his hands over Ed’s waist, feeling the warmth of the skin there, and it feels good, it feels right, but Ed pulls back, placing a hand on Stede’s chest.
“I don’t know how to do this,” Ed whispers.
Stede’s brain screeches to a halt, and he just stares at Ed for what seems a small eternity. He probably looks stupid.
“Do, uh, what?” Stede frowns, and hopes he comes across as understanding, because he is. “Sex?”
“No, no, no,” Ed snickers. “I am well acquainted with sex. I meant this. I am fucking crazy about you, I don’t know how to handle this.”
“Oh, thank god,” Stede blurts in relief. “I mean, I don’t have oodles of experience, but you know. Didn’t want to make you uncomforta–”
“Stede–”
“We don’t have to have sex, we really just met–”
“Stede–”
“I’ve only been with a couple of men, but it was nothing to write home about–”
“Oh my god,” Ed groans. “Stede, I think I might be falling in love with you.”
That shuts Stede up right away. Love? Falling in love with him? Falling in love with Stede fucking Bonnet?
“Well, I–” Stede touches Ed’s cheek, letting his hand linger there. “Me? Are you sure? Do we need to get a doctor?”
“This is the happiest that I’ve been in years, maybe ever,” Ed mutters, closing his eyes and leaning against Stede’s touch. “I know we just met but–”
“You make Stede happy.” Stede presses a quick kiss on Ed’s lips. “So happy I am even speaking in third person.”
“You’re really something, you know,” Ed says, beaming. “And I want to mess you up right now.”
“Please do,” Stede giggles, an honest-to-god giggle as if he isn’t a middle-aged man.
“I also have to confess something,” Ed says, not looking at Stede. “Uh, I’m more than a tow truck driver.”
“Oh, I know,” Stede says. “You’re an absolutely wonderful person.”
“Nah,” Ed says, lips twitching. “I, uh, own the car shop. Me and Iz, we’re partners. Business partners, have been for a while.”
“A business owner,” Stede muses, helping Ed get out of his leather jacket. “That’s nice, but there is nothing about you I don’t find fascinating. Business owner or not”
“What if I told you I have tentacles down there?” Ed says between kisses. “Still fascinating?”
“I’d work around it,” Stede gasps agreeably as Ed moves to his neck. “Ed, please…”
“I’m glad I didn’t leave you with the coyotes,” Ed chuckles before dragging Stede down the hallway, both of them kissing and laughing and bumping into the walls, hands everywhere.
Saturday, 06:30 PM
Ed has many, many tattoos, and Stede makes a mental note to properly look at them later. But for now, he is focused on touching, his fingers mapping every inch of Ed’s naked body. He appreciates the hair on Ed’s thighs, he appreciates the muscle giving way to his fingertips. Ed is very expressively vocal, soft groans escaping his lips every time Stede touches him.
Stede brushes his thumb up and down the inside of Ed’s thigh, marveling in the reaction he is causing. It is so strange, to be allowed to do this, to take his time like this. He steals glances at Ed, who is very much looking at him, lips parted in awe.
“I’m so hard already, and you haven’t even touched my dick yet,” Ed says in wonder. “What the hell are you doing to me?”
“I just–” Stede feels warm all over, wading into this uncharted territory of love and lust mixed together. “You’re so exquisite. I can’t stop touching you.”
Ed sits up, lifting up his hand to place it behind Stede’s neck, and he pulls him into a kiss. Ed kisses Stede like he needs it badly, like he doesn’t need anything else, and Stede wants to give everything to him.
Stede moves to Ed’s neck, licking a path on the side, taking his time. Ed is gasping, his fingers digging into Stede’s back, pulling him even closer.
“This is so new to me,” Stede breathes. “I just want to–”
“Yeah?” Ed rests his forehead against Stede’s eyes fluttering close. “You can do whatever, fuck, Stede–”
“Lie down, please,” Stede asks, cheeks fiery red. Ed nods, doing just that, his eyes still on Stede. “Is there anything you don’t want to do?”
“Can’t think of anything right now,” Ed says breathlessly as Stede crawls up the length of Ed’s body until they’re face to face again. Ed pulls him so their hips align, throwing a leg behind Stede’s, and my god, the pressure and contact feel so fucking good . Stede is not going to last like this.
“Ed, wait,” Stede swallows, and Ed looks at him with concern. “No, it’s nothing bad, I just… I almost lost it there.”
“Me too,” Ed says, one of his hands on Stede’s back. “Let’s slow down, yeah? We have all night.”
Stede nods and Ed kisses him, and every kiss is a promise, I want you, I need you, we deserve this, I am falling in love with you, and Stede kisses back, hoping Ed can feel everything he can’t say right now, I want to stay, I want you, I need you, I think I fucking love you.
They have all night.
Sunday, 1:25 AM
“Jack almost killed my friend’s pet, so that was that,” Ed says, pressing a kiss to the back of Stede’s hand. “My track record is not the best, might want to run away now.”
Stede looks up, and kisses Ed’s jawline, tongue darting out to taste the skin there.
“Well, I think both of us deserve fine things,” Stede sighs. “Like this, like me touching your skin, kissing you, sucking you–”
“Mate, you cannot be saying these things to me,” Ed moans, pulling him in for a kiss. “I’m not 20 years old anymore, I think my dick is broken now.”
“We can’t have that,” Stede says in a stern tone. “Perhaps I will stay quiet for the rest of the night.”
“Ah, fuck off,” Ed says quietly, flipping them over and placing wet, open kisses everywhere he can, making Stede laugh the hardest he’s laughed in years.
Sunday, 12:30 PM
Stede Bonnet is in love for the very first time in his life. He feels it everywhere, all over him, it radiates from him. He is watching Ed sing along to his playlist, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, glancing and grinning at Stede every now and then.
I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
“If you keep staring at me I’m going to start thinking too highly of myself,” Ed smirks.
“You should, you’re gorgeous,” Stede says. “I will stare at you for the rest of my life if I must.”
“Please don’t,” Ed begs him. “You’re going to end up with a bad neck. You’re too pretty for that.”
“As much as I enjoy this exchange of compliments,” Stede says seriously, and Ed places one of his hands on the driving stick. Stede automatically covers Ed’s hand with his. “We live two hours away from each other. What happens now?”
“We go to the shop, tell Izzy to hurry up, fix your car–”
“Edward.”
“We pick up your car, drive to Vegas in true cerulean fashion–”
“I’m going to stab you!”
“Ooh, that sounds exciting.”
They laugh for a minute, both of them shaking their heads at each other, and then Ed sighs deeply.
“I’ll go wherever you go,” Ed says. “I know that sounds vague and not reassuring at all, but I promise you, Stede. Let’s go away, to China or somewhere. I’m all in.”
“All in,” Stede echoes. “Vegas would be nice. China maybe in a couple years.”
Ed grabs Stede’s hand and brings it up to his lips, pressing a kiss on his palm. They reach a traffic light, which turns red, and Ed stops there, lips still on Stede’s hand.
“A couple years, huh,” Ed says, muttering against Stede’s skin.
“Yeah,” Stede says dazedly, because yes, a couple years, a couple decades seem possible with Ed. The impossible seems possible with him, and Stede is ready to throw caution to the wind.
“Alright,” Ed smiles, pressing another quick kiss before lowering their hands. “Let’s go get that blue death trap of yours.”
“Edward!” Stede huffs. “It’s not blue, it’s cerule–”
Ed laughs and laughs, stepping on the gas, and Stede has to laugh too, the road in front of them open and promising like the sea.