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It’s been nearly a week since Ed received the first note from his secret admirer. Well not so secret admirer, he knows it’s Stede, each note has been written in his beautiful cursive. He’d been so excited the first time he’d sat at his desk to find a sticky note on the monitor.
When the moon shall kiss the sky
I shall look upwards in awe.
For such beauty is a rarity
that I’ll treasure till final breath
- your secret admirer
No one had ever written Ed poetry before, he kept glancing at it as he worked, reciting the lines in his head. It felt good to be the subject of someone’s affection, but more so of Stede’s affection, Ed has liked the blonde for a while now. He had considered confronting Stede about the note, maybe asking him on a date, but he was also curious to see what else the man would come up with.
On the second day, Ed finds his favourite coffee - a lavender latte, stuck to the cup was another sticky note.
Lavender man of purple hues
to bloom so beautiful and brave.
Sweet nectar and delicate buds
shall in the wind be free,
as free as heart and soul.
Lavender man of purple hues
- your secret admirer
He sips the coffee as he reads the poem, finding it to be the perfect sweetness, the floral notes a delicious addition. The words as beautiful as the first note he’d received, he spends the rest of his day dreaming about fields of lavender and a particular blonde.
By the third day, Ed had been almost expecting a note so he was glad to find one, it had only been a couple days but he couldn’t imagine not getting one. It’s the main reason why he hasn’t confronted Stede yet, he doesn’t want to lose the little flutter he gets every time he reads those beautiful words.
A ship adrift by calm seas -
a warning.
As the storm brews
it comes strong and determined,
yet I am not afraid
for I have a guiding light
calling to me like a siren.
I go willingly
in search for tranquility,
and am welcomed openly
for it was always you.
- your secret admirer
The fourth note comes with another lavender latte but this time there’s also a pain au chocolat. Ed takes a bite of the sweet treat as he reads the note, enjoying the sweetness on his tongue.
Seven sugars
never more, never less.
A gentle balance of sweetness,
and a warmth
that delights the senses.
The perfect accompaniment
to a cold winter’s eve
- your secret admirer
On Friday, Ed finds the familiar sight of a note sat on his desk, he still feels just as excited about it as he did that first day. He takes a seat as he reads through the note, his heart fluttering a little as he reads the words.
As the fire grows,
a moth entranced -
deeply and vulnerably.
As the fire continues to burn,
the moth is mesmerised wholly,
for surely there is nothing else
- your secret admirer
Ed decides it’s time, he’s going to write Stede a note back. One problem, he’s not sure he’s got such a way with words like Stede. He spends all morning writing something, crossing out parts and rewriting again and again until he finally has something he deems good enough.
Heads turn to the sun,
because how could they not?
For something so radiant
how could attention ever be elsewhere?
There is nothing else.
If the sun is gone there is nothing,
because the sun is everything
- Ed
In his lunch break, Ed heads to the local florist to pick out a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers. He waits until Stede heads out for lunch with Lucius before placing the bouquet along with the note on Stede’s desk, his heart beating faster as he imagines Stede finding it when he returns.
He can barely concentrate the rest of the afternoon. Stede will have read the note by now, but what if he doesn’t like it, and what happens now, do they just keep sending messages back and forth?
It doesn’t take long for him to find out, at the end of the day he finds an anxious Stede hovering by his desk.
“Stede?”
“Oh Ed, hi.” Stede replies, as if surprised to see Ed there despite being the one to look for him.
“Hi.”
“Did you know the notes were me the whole time?” Stede asks.
“Yeah kinda, you’re the only one who could write so beautifully.”
“You mean it?” Stede asks hopefully.
“Yeah mate, those notes have made my week.”
“I’m glad you liked them.” Stede replies, blush blooming on his cheeks.
“Do you maybe wanna go on a date?” Ed asks, deciding to take the leap after Stede had been the one to make the first move.
“I’d really like that.”
“Honestly I don’t really wanna wait, are you free now?” Ed asks.
“I suppose I am.” Stede says with a grin. “Shall we go then?”
“Yeah let’s go.” Ed smiles back at him.