Chapter Text
Chickens
When the sun rose on this fine morning, the rooster, Captain Cockerel, seemed to have surpassed his own record for volume. With the break of dawn, Captain Cockerel unleashed his customary, ear-splitting salutation to the day, jolting Ed awake. Of course, Stede remained blissfully undisturbed by the rooster's morning serenade. It was, after all, a typical occurrence – that man could sleep through a hurricane without batting an eye. Ed, having shared a roof with Stede for over a year, had come to realize that his partner possessed an array of quirks destined to baffle him for the entirety of their lives. This particular ability to sleep through the avian alarm clock was just one perplexing piece of the Stede puzzle.
Captain Cockerel had stopped his screeching momentarily, and Ed took the opportunity to roll over in bed and bury his head in the pillow. Just when it seemed like he was ready to re-enter dreamland. The rooster screamed again and Ed shot up.
“Goddamn chickens!” he muttered under his breath, casting a disgruntled glance towards the feathered culprit outside. He considered the potential of revenge and wondered how upset Stede would be if they were to have chicken soup tonight for dinner.
Out of the question. Stede adored the chickens, and this was evident in the personal touch he had given each one, having named them with care and taking pride in their upbringing. The idea of getting the chickens was entirely his after the pair had stumbled into a market and came across a farmer selling chicks.
"What kind of Inn would we be without serving eggs for breakfast?" Stede had exclaimed, his eyes bright.
Ed, not wanting to curb his boyfriend's enthusiasm, suggested, "We could make omelets or something," having seen the potential in the small chicks.
But that was months ago, and the chickens are now almost fully grown. Whatever inconvenience they posed was overshadowed by the joy it brought Stede. After all, if the chickens made Stede happy, then the occasional commotion and extra work were deemed well worth it in Ed's book.
Suddenly overtaken by the urge to embrace the day, Ed rolled out of bed with a quiet determination, mindful not to disturb the peaceful slumber of the figure beside him. Swiftly dressing, he readied himself to dive into the morning chores that awaited, a routine ingrained with the rhythm of the roosters and the promise of a new day on the horizon.
Stepping outside, Ed was met with the familiar chorus of clucks and squawks as the chickens eagerly greeted him.
"Calm down, mates! I've got your seeds right here," Ed chuckled, addressing the enthusiastic chickens surrounding him. Ed would probably never admit it, but he had grown to love their feathery children.
“Daisy, for Christ's sake stop stealing feed from your sister”
“Penelope, mind your manors”
“Fetherina, please that's a rock love”
After tending chickens, Ed gathered the freshly laid eggs, securing them in a basket. With a sense of satisfaction, he moved on to the remaining items on his morning to-do list, the routine chores that kept the inn running smoothly.
A while later, Ed caught the sounds of movement from Stede's direction. "He's finally awake," Ed mused to himself, a wry smile playing on his lips. The day had officially begun for both of them.
Stede walked in, his presence bringing a lively energy into the room.
"Good morning, Ed!" he greeted with a warm smile.
“Morning Babe” Ed replied, reciprocating the greeting with a grin.
“Been up long?” Stede asked
"Just long enough to deal with the morning ruckus from our feathery children," Ed replied with a chuckle. "How about you, Captain, did you sleep well?
"I slept alright but had this peculiar dream. We were out fishing, and you managed to catch a colossal squid. You end up Insisting on bringing it home, we ended up with a squid in the living room." Stede chuckled
"Well, if I snagged something that impressive, we'd sure as hell keep it, wouldn't we?" Ed stated as he moved closer to plant a gentle morning kiss on Stede's cheek.
"What's the plan for today?" Stede inquired. As he leaned into Ed’s affection
"Well, the morning chores are sorted, but we still have a few finishing touches to add before we open the inn!"
"Oh, that's right! We need to hang our decorations!" Stede exclaimed, spinning on his heels as he searched for the wall decor
"You settled on having the lighthouse over the fireplace, didn't you?" Ed inquired.
"That's right! Where's the toolbox again?" Stede quipped with a sense of mild urgency.
"Ah, I do believe I stashed it under the bed," Ed replied a hint of mischief in his tone.
"Why on earth would you put it there?" Stede asked.
"Uh, just in case we need some late-night bed repairs," Ed quipped, a playful glint in his eye.
Stede shot a brief glare, contemplating a retort, before deciding to back away in search of the elusive toolbox.
With the toolbox in hand, a new challenge presented itself: the brick fireplace posed an obstacle. Ed pondered aloud, "If the fireplace is made of brick, how on earth do we manage to get a nail into the wall to hang the painting?" The question hung in the air, requiring a creative solution.
"I haven't the slightest clue," Stede admitted
The following hours unfolded in a flurry of activity as Ed and Stede engaged in a struggle to hang the painting on the fireplace. Laughter echoed through the inn as they experimented with different methods, each attempt bringing them closer to a solution. Eventually, they figured it out. They carefully made small holes into the mortar between the bricks and fashioned makeshift hooks using sturdy pieces of iron. They hung the lighthouse painting, their collective sense of pride warming the room as much as the crackling fireplace beneath.
“We did it," Ed exclaimed, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.
“We sure did” Stede smiled
Ed and Stede leaned in, sealing their success with a celebratory kiss.
As their lips met, a sudden clap loud clap of thunder in the distance rumbled through the air, disrupting the sweet moment. Ed and Stede pulled away, their celebratory moment interrupted by a shared look of parental concern.
"The chickens!" Stede exclaimed, the worry evident in his voice.
The distant clap of thunder served as a reminder that their feathery children will need shelter now rapidly approaching storm. The two hurriedly set aside their triumph and dashed outside, ready to ensure the safety of their animals.
Fifteen minutes later, Ed and Stede had successfully gathered all ten soaking-wet chickens, ensuring their safety from the impending storm. The chickens, now snug and drying inside the pair's master bedroom, clucked and chirped in protest, seemingly unimpressed by the unexpected bath but grateful for the swift rescue. Ed and Stede exchanged relieved glances as they laid down blankets for the chickens to lie on
"Poor babies are all wet," Stede remarked, a mixture of amusement and concern in his voice as they comforted the soggy chickens.
Ed chuckled, “I reckon they'll forgive us once they're all fluffy and dry."
“We need to dry them off!” Stede declared
"I'll be right back; I'll go get some towels then," Ed declared, leaving the room with a determined stride.
"Alright, dear!" Stede called after him his attention turning back to the chickens as he continued to reassure and comfort them.
Ed walked down the hallway, the rhythmic patter of rain on the windows accompanying his steps. Ed's footsteps halted abruptly as he heard fervent knocking at the front door. As he approached the door, he wondered who might be seeking refuge on this stormy day.
As Ed swung the door open, he was greeted by a drenched couple – a lady in a clinging dress and a man standing there, holding two suitcases. Raindrops trickled from their clothing, forming puddles on the entryway.
The lady, with a polite yet hopeful expression, spoke up, "Is it possible that we could spend the night here and wait out the storm? We seem to have been caught in quite the downpour." The man beside her nodded in agreement, both strangers seeking shelter.
Ed hesitated for a moment, "Of course, you're welcome to stay," he said with a smile, ushering them inside.
“Welcome to the Unicorn Inn”