Chapter Text
July, 1989
The morning of;
“Stede!!”
“Stede wake the fuck up!” Stede was startled into reality by his wife, Mary, shouting angrily at him.
The bright sun rays burned his eyes through the window, which made him squint up at her. She stood over his side of the bed with something in her hand.
“What’s wrong dear?” Stede answered in confusion. He couldn’t exactly see her expression but by the nature of the situation he could tell something was flawed.
“What’s wrong?! What’s wrong?! Maybe you can start with this!” She shouted and shoved a pile of magazines in his arms. He recognised them and immediately panicked.
She was already on her way out of the bedroom.
“Wait! Darling, can I explain?!” Stede yelled after her. He didn’t know how he could have explained it to her in retrospect.
How could he have explained the chronological collection of homosexual pornography to his wife.
“Don’t bother Stede!” She yelled back, he followed her voice to the front door in his matching set of pyjamas. Where a suitcase waited.
“See yourself out, my lawyer will contact you.”
—
Edward Teach also known as ‘Blackbeard’, Ed to his friends. Had only woken up. It was 3pm on a Sunday morning. Ever since he started considering retirement a couple of weeks prior, he started to work less and spend more time at the gay bar two blocks from his flat.
That Sunday was no different than any other Sunday for the past 15 years, he cleaned up and dressed, wore his lovely leathers, trousers, studded belt, an old slightly ripped Metallica shirt, he wore his leather jacket over his shoulder. He wanted to keep style consistent despite the hot weather. The bar was air-conditioned anyway.
—
Stede spent the day in a bed and breakfast in the city, the only one who would take him in such short notice.
It was labelled Izzy’s revenge, but it found it quite calming despite the distraught morning he had.
He looked at the source of his shame, the piled balked out of his open suitcase. He felt tears rise in his eyes as he hugged a pillow to his chest.
He was replaying the moment he woke up in his head when he heard someone knock on his door. He stood to answer it, crossing the short threshold of his en-suite.
“Hello Mr Bonnet.” The young man from reception greeted him, he had a kind face and pity lurking in his eyes.
“Oh, hello Lucius.” Stede replied, wiped the tears from his eyes swiftly but not going unnoticed by the dark haired man.
Stede and Lucius got into a deep conversation earlier that day when Stede walked into Izzy’s Revenge, fussing about with tears in his eyes about not being able to find a place to stay. Lucius calmed him down immediately, sat him down, handed him a cup of tea and listened. Stede told him everything including how he realised he was gay only a few months prior and about his collection of Blackbeard porn magazines.
Which Lucius grinned cheekily about and Stede went red in the face.
Lucius told him he is safe here and that this is actually a queer owned B&B. It was actually combined with a gay bar just to the right of it. Owned by a lady named Jackie.
Eventually Lucius guided Stede to his room and told him he would check on him later.
—
“How are we doing? Alright?” Lucius said while he rubbed Stede's shoulder gently. Stede nodded pathetically.
“I am sorry if I interrupted anything, but I wanted to ask if you wanted to grab a drink with me and Pete.” Pete was Lucius’ Boyfriend.
“Oh I don’t know.” Stede made a face of uncertainty. Lucius rolled his eyes at the answer.
“Come on you have to get out of your pjays at some point, might as well be now and who knows, there might be someone there who catches your eye.” Lucius said with a wink. Stede flushed and shook his head at the boy.
“I don’t-'' and before Stede could complete his sentence Lucius walked down the hall.
“I’ll come get you at 10.” Lucius said over his shoulder before he took a turn and was out of sight.
Stede sighed, I guess I could drink these thoughts away for today. He thought briefly before starting to get changed. Mary didn’t pack his whole wardrobe just what was out on the shelf. He felt a glimmer of hope in his chest at the thought that he might come back home even if it’s just to collect the rest of his things.
However, it meant his clothes were severely not matched and he couldn’t do anything about it.
—-
After Stede had a shower he stared himself in the mirror and recounted some words of encouragement that Lucius said to him. Things like “being gay is not bad, you just didn’t realise it early enough.” And “collecting porn isn’t cheating!” And “you are valid.”
Lucius was very kind to Stede.
Stede chose beige trousers and a white shirt, he wore dark blue suede loafers which he wouldn’t usually do but he didn’t have much choice.
He was still grateful Mary packed clothes for him despite being furious at him.
He felt a little guilty for going out to a bar just the day he was thrown out. But the comfort Lucius provided as a friend meant a lot to Stede. He felt like he needed it a lot at that moment and it’s not like Mary would ever take him back anyway.
He swallowed a sob that was fighting to escape and brushed his hair back, relying on the summer heat to dry his hair into his usual waves since he didn’t have any of his hair products with him.
He sat on the bed waiting for Lucius to come.
—
Jackie’s was a nice place, not very crowded for a Sunday night but still had a significant amount of people. Edward Teach sat at his usual place by the bar, he often waited for his best mate Izzy to finish at work, but they had an argument the previous week and he had not seen Izzy for a couple of days so he seemed to be alone for the night. He’s sighed into his drink as he watched Izzy’s employee walk in. Lucius, a nice lad in his 20’s.
Edward started to wave at him when he noticed an older man being pulled along by his hand behind him. Lucius noticed Edward quickly and walked up to him.
“Hello Edward.” Lucius said way to happy for Edward’s current mood.
“Lucius,” Ed nodded, then pointed with his eyes at the blond man.
“I thought you and Pete were still together. Who’s this guy?” The older man Edward was referring to was not paying attention but was in fact staring distastefully at the music being played at the other corner of the bar.
“Ugh, God! No, Pete and I are fine, Edward this is Stede Bonnet, Stede this is Edward Teach. My boss’s best friend.” Lucius introduced them. Stede smiled awkwardly, he brought his hand forward for Edward to shake which he did. Squeezing his hand gently.
Lucius quickly caught on, looking between the older men. He cleared his throat.
“I’m just going to go look for Pete, Mr Teach would you mind keeping Mr Bonnet company for a little while.” Lucius said suggestively but neither of the men were properly listening. Both were lost in the other’s eyes.
“Yep, run along now.” Edward murmured, waved Lucius off and pulled a chair out for Stede to take next to him.
“What would you like? On me.” Edward offered. He found the other man immensely attractive, despite his subtly unsettled look. He also noticed that the man didn’t recognise him, which sadly rarely happens at any local queer space he attends.
Being a gay porn star had its disadvantages.
“Oh just a short brandy please. Thank you.” He said kindly, with a shy smile. He clearly was not aware of the somersaults he caused Edward’s heart to do .
“So.. how do you know Lucius?” Ed asked just a couple of seconds later.
“Oh… well, I’m staying at Izzy’s Revenge, and well he offered to take me out with Pete.” Stede said briefly. Oh, he might just be visiting.
“Oh, where are you from?” Ed continued the conversation, curious about the other man.
“Well, I’m actually local, my wife just broke up with me because she found out I was a homosexual.” Stede acted like he didn’t drop the bomb of the century while Edward stared at him wide eyed.
On one hand he was glad Stede was gay, on the other he realised the man must be devastated because his marriage ended.
“I’m sorry man, how long were you married?”
“Just nearly 10 years.” Stede muffled into his glass of brandy.
“Oh man, that’s nearly a lifetime.”
“Unfortunately I only realised I fancied men a few months ago, so I couldn't have prevented it .” Stede was holding his head up by his hand, his face tilted towards Edward.
Edward nodded, he couldn’t relate, he knew he was gay from a young age. Though he could imagine what it would feel like.
“I’m sorry man.” Ed said again, rubbing a loose gripped hand over Stede’s shoulder. Stede nodded, his high cheeks turned darker. The other man looked so sad and embarrassed Ed just wanted to make him feel comfortable. He decided a few jokes, maybe a dance would loosen the other man up.
“Thank you,” Stede started, his eyes glinted.
“What for?”
“For being so kind.” Stede smiled, Ed felt his heart squeeze sweetly.
“I’m just glad I could help.” Ed smiled back, he grabbed Stede’s hand that was nearest to his and slid his hand against the back of it. The had another couple of drinks while talking about their lives.
An obscure pop song started playing; it just reached the chorus when Ed managed to pull Stede up from his seat to the dance floor. Stede moved less awkwardly than he had when he first arrived, the couple of drinks they had might’ve contributed towards this.
The song was slowing down and Ed pressed Stede against his body, allowing him follow his movements, their hips were tied, the rhythm flowing through them, Ed brushed his fingers through Stedes short blond mane.
Stede was trying so hard not to trip over his own feet, he was so glad when Ed took initiative. However, he was trying his hardest not to get hard once their hips pressed together. He grabbed the other man’s shoulders, trying to steady himself, when Ed looked up.
Ed isn’t a stranger to hook ups with random people but this felt different. Stede felt different. When he looked at home he wanted to hold him, kiss him even. He didn’t want to rush into it. He looked away almost immediately after feeling like he was starting to lean in. He cleared his throat quickly.
“Ahem, so I should probably head home soon-“
“Yeah, eh me too.”
“Oh really, well, I’ll walk you.”
“No, really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not at all.” Edward replied with a sweet grin that made Stedes heart flattered .
“Sweet.” Stede replied with a grin of his own oblivious to his own affliction at the other man.
—-
Edward walked Stede to the entrance of Izzy’s Revenge, leaning against the frame as stede stood there, a shy expression made an appearance. Ed couldn’t resist teasing Stede further and leaned forward, brushing his nose against Stede’s cheekbone, pressing his lips softly against the other’s cheek. A second later the moment was gone.
Ed straightened up quickly.
“Goodnight.” Ed said before turning around and started his walk home, not waiting for Stede’s reply. Knowing fully well he left the man a flustered mess at the doorstep.