Chapter Text
Edward’s sofa was perhaps the most comfortable thing Stede had ever slept on, at least comparable to his own bed. It was leather, which Stede had always had trouble sleeping on, so he’d wrapped himself like a burrito in the tan blanket Ed had given him, and he’d fallen asleep in moments.
Although perhaps that was the alcohol talking. He couldn’t be sure.
He slept in late, and Ed woke him with a cup of strong tea and a plate of… Ed had called them poptarts. They weren’t terrible, but they were far too sweet for Stede’s liking.`
He thanked him through politeness. “Very kind of you. Sorry I slept in so late, I didn’t mean to keep you out of your livingroom.”
Ed scoffed out a laugh, plopping down on the sofa by Stede’s blanket covered feet, a half-eaten poptart in his hand. “I only just got up myself. Sleep well? Not too hung over are you?”
Stede shook his head, turning to sit up straight to give Ed some more space. “I’m alright, actually. I don’t even have a headache. And I slept wonderfully, this couch is very comfortable.”
“Yeah, it better be, considering how much I paid for it,” Ed said, giving the arm of the sofa a pat. “I’ve had it for almost 8 years now, still as comfy as the day I got it.”
“Really, 8 years?” Stede glanced down at the sofa, it certainly didn’t look that old. “Good investment.”
Ed nodded, taking another bite of his poptart. “I s’pose you’ll want to be heading home soon? I’ve got to head downstairs in about 15 minutes to open up.”
“Don’t you ever get a day off?” Stede asked.
“Not really,” Ed shrugged, “I have to open up and close every day, but I have a day or two a week where I’m not on shift. I just go down to eat, say hi to the staff.”
“At least you don’t get lonely?”
“Lonely..?” Ed shook his head, weakly. “No I…” he let out a small huff, “I wouldn’t say that.” He stilled, chewing his lip.
“Oh, I’m… I’m sorry?” Stede said softly, feeling as if he’d put his foot in it. Of course he felt lonely, people who weren’t lonely didn’t ask strangers to spend the night drinking with them like he’d done.
“Nah, it’s ok,” Ed said nonchalantly. “Most of the time I’m not lonely.”
“That must be nice.” Stede let out a soft huff, “Can’t say the same for myself, currently,” he decided to confess. “Most of my friends and family have distanced themselves from me, recently. I’m on my own a lot now.”
Ed sighed softly, glancing at Stede and then down at his food. “I always… I’m fine when I’m around people, but then as soon as they’re gone I feel like I… deflate. And I’m just a husk or something.” He shook his head, “Not a great feeling.”
Stede let out a hum, nodding in concurrence. “You lay in bed and stare at the ceiling and it’s like… ‘is this all I am?’”
Ed flicked out his hand to tap Stede on the arm, “Yeah! Fuckin’, exactly.”
“It’ll go away, eventually, won’t it?”
Ed nodded, “Eventually, yeah. Probably.”
They sat in silence for a second, Stede picked at his poptart, quickly realising that they tasted worse as they got cold.
“You could always… give me a call. Next time you feel like that. Maybe talking about it will make it better?” Stede offered.
“Might take you up on that,” Ed smiled, giving Stede another pat on the arm. He ate the remainder of his food in one bite, cramming it into his mouth and washing it down with the dregs of his tea, clearing his throat after swallowing hard. “Let me walk you to your car, then.”
“Oh, sure,” Stede smiled, drinking what was left of his tea, leaving about a third of his poptart untouched.
He unwrapped himself from the blanket and pulled himself to his feet, stretching and letting out a small moan at the feeling of his back cracking. “I don’t wanna make you late to open.”
Ed nodded. “Izzy will have my head if I don’t get down there in time,” he joked.
Stede gathered his things, folding his jacket over his arm, making sure he had his phone and his wallet.
“You’ll have to come back here some time, I had a great time last night,” Ed smiled, guiding Stede to the door.
“Oh, of course. I’ll sleep on your couch any time,” Stede grinned back, following Ed down the stairs and through the back.
Ed unlocked the back door, holding it open for Stede. “I might have to make you pay from your drinks next time though.”
Stede let out a chuckle, “Oh that’s fine by me. I feel bad enough not paying last night.”
“Just don’t tell Izzy,” Ed smiled, giving Stede a wink.
Stede held back a soft smile, walking through towards his car. “I thought you owned the place? Who cares if Izzy gets a little angry, what’s he going to do? Fire you?”
Ed chuckled, nodding. “You got a point.”
Stede hovered by his car, keys in his hand. Part of him didn’t want to leave yet. He wanted to stay and talk more.
Ed leaned against the car. “I’ll uh… I’ll see you on new years? You know, we’re actually having a little party here new years eve, it’s usually just staff, but I’d love if you came too?”
“That…” Stede nodded, “That sounds really nice. I’d love to.”
He shifted slightly, closing the gap between him and Ed. He felt as if he were waiting for something, but he wasn’t sure what exactly.
“I can’t wait to see you again,” Ed said, a soft tone to his voice.
Stede’s heart fluttered as Ed moved closer still.
“Last night was… a lot of fun.” Ed almost whispered. “Best Christmas I’ve had in ages.”
Stede nodded, “It certainly went a lot better than I expected it to. First Christmas as myself I guess-“
His sentence was cut off by Ed pulling closer to him, a hand moving to his hip, leaning forward to catch his lips in a soft kiss.
He felt the air leave his lungs as Ed pulled away. He followed him, not content to stop there, kissing him back, letting out a soft groan against his lips as they sunk into each other.
A moment passed, or a year, Stede wasn’t sure which, before they separated.
“I’ve really got to go,” Ed said quietly. He clearly didn’t want to.
“I’ll be back,” Stede assured him.
Ed took a small step back, looking Stede up and down, “Yeah, you better be.” He began to walk away, a spring in his step that hadn’t been there before. “New years eve, yeah? Party starts at 8.”
Stede nodded, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
He watched as Ed disappeared inside, his heart in his throat as he got back in his car. He tipped his head back against the headrest, letting out a loud, happy breath.
He’d never kissed another man before.
It had felt amazing.