Chapter Text
The stars were oddly luminous tonight as they sparkled against his tear stained cheeks. They had yet to dry tonight, like most nights.
Ed tuned his guitar silently on the roof of his house.
The cool night breeze welcomed him. It was on his roof, he felt surrounded by the company of the universe. The stars were his audience, and they shone brighter tonight than ever before, emitting a gentle glow onto Ed’s tan skin as he strummed a slow tune into the evening wind.
-
Every night, he would listen to him when he took his night walks. The walks were meant to clear his cruel mind; to be at ease for the short time he spent wandering deeper and deeper into his neighborhood. Stede had begun to take this route when he’d noticed a man playing the guitar on his roof. He’d quietly walk by before finally making the loop back to his home. Stede was enraptured with the melody he’d play, for the past three nights, memorizing his way route so he might hear it again. Ed hadn’t noticed him the first handful of times he walked by, not thinking anything of it. Tonight however he caught the man rounding the corner of his street and watched him. Again? Isn’t this the fourth night now? Had he walked by to listen to him play? What was this guys deal? He looks harmless…
He strummed louder, grabbing his attention as the man walked in front of his home. Stede would try not to stare the other nights, let the man on his roof be, but now he knew he’d been caught. He gingerly turned to look up at the stranger sitting on the roof.
“Sorry, I don’t- I mean…” Stede didn’t really know how to explain to this very handsome stranger that he’d been purposefully walking out of his way to hear him play.
Ed only motioned toward the ladder on the side of the house, silently telling him to join him. Stede gaped at the ladder. Was this a good idea?
He lifted himself up the ladder anyway with only a bit of struggle. He stepped carefully on the inclined roof under his feet and sat down next to the man, wringing his hands in his lap.
"Nice night..." Ed stated, not looking up from his guitar. Stede just stared at the man, wondering if this could possibly be a dream, because what was he doing on a roof with a complete stranger? Breaking the monotony, he supposed.
He looked up, seeing the countless number of stars that littered the sky above them both. Ed glanced at the strange man next him, finally getting a better look at him before beginning to play a familiar tune.
Stede turned back to listen, staring at Ed’s hands, his fingers moving fluidly across the strings, then his eyes… and his tear stained cheeks.
“I’m sorry, my name is Stede. I… started taking my walks this way when I heard you play, and now…”
“And now?” the man said, chuckling at the absurd mess that was this situation. He wasn’t laughing, he was intrigued with him to say the least, not just anyone was willing to climb a roof for some tired old song he could never finish. The corners of Stede’s lips twitched toward the stars. The unknown song seemed to almost lull him to sleep. He hummed with it, closing his eyes. For some reason, everything felt calm. No judgment coming from the man next to him at all.
He stopped playing to ask him a question.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" He asked, placing his hands on the strings of his guitar.
“I think so… if that’s ok?” Stede said.
Ed eyed Stede; his gentle face and his tired eyes. It was as if he was staring into a mirror.
Stede’s emotions seemed to be reflecting his identically.
"Why do you always walk at night...?" he asked.
“Why do you play your guitar at night? On your roof?!” Stede asked incredulously, just above a whisper. He let himself laugh for the first time that week. The man chuckled but didn’t answer.
Stede kept his gaze towards the stars.
"It's supposed to clear my head... but it only fills it with more thoughts." Stede sighed.
Ed nodded slowly, his hand slowly going back to the neck of his guitar. As he played, Stede pulled away from him and climbed down the ladder, deciding not to bother the man any longer.
As he walked down the man's driveway he heard him speak.
“Ed,”
“I’m sorry?”
“My name. It’s Edward. For next time,” For next time.
Stede smiled. “Goodnight Ed,” and turned on his heel before making his way back to his own home.
He knew better than to ask why Edward’s cheeks glimmered with the wetness of emotion, but decided he would ask another day.