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“I’m just saying I think it might do you some good,” Fang says, kicking his turquoise corgi-patterned socked feet up onto Ed’s coffee table, taking the mug of peppermint tea Ed hands him.
“Downloading some… bird app?” Ed replies quizzically, settling down into his own armchair with a grunt befitting of an elderly man and his weary bones. (Ed is below 50 but the bones can still be weary.)
“Yeah! I mean it’s not like a bird-watching app. I love you man, but you do not have the patience for that. Remember that time I took you fishing?”
Ed chuckles softly, taking a sip of his own tea - a breakfast tea with a dash of oat milk and seven sugars. Oh he remembers it - he remembers more specifically it being the one and only time his lovely most-mild-mannered friend yelled WILL YOU FUCKING ZIP IT at him. The whole waiting on a lake’s edge in the cold, the peace and tranquility thing in nature - perhaps not for him.
But he was bored. Bored out of his skull really. Like yes, sure, he had a big fancy architecture business and he’d managed to work on some cool projects in his time - even going as far as to name the company ‘Blackbeard’s’ but now? He’s kind of really fucking done with it. Everyone wants the same thing from him - high skyscrapers with striking glass walls and sharp edges, something metal and intrusive on the skyline. He lost his passion for it a while back, all he does now is get dragged from pillar to post by Izzy signing documents, finalising plans and being paraded in front of a client when they demand Blackbeard’s attention. Blackbeard gets put on a pedestal even when the last thing Ed wanted was any limelight.
Fang is one of his closest friends - who somehow had managed to remain a friend despite being Ed’s colleague for many years. (Ed could not say the same for Izzy unfortunately. Maybe one day they’d get back to being friends again.) Fang has always been the one to keep Ed in check when his ego is getting a little big, his mood a little grumpy. He’s also been the one to sit with Ed while he eats a pint of ice cream when Jack or whoever else has left again. (Ed is however proud to say he hasn’t seen or spoken to Jack Rackham in years now and if he does ever again, it’ll be too soon.)
“Look, it’s just, you were saying you want to slow down a bit. Everything is so fast-paced with calls and contracts and legal shit every day. I agree, you deserve to take your own time a little slower.”
“And you think … sending digital birds will help me do that?” Ed raises his eyebrow sceptically.
“I’m just saying you might have fun, boss. Make a connection or two. When’s the last time you messaged someone who wasn’t an employee?”
Ed opens his mouth to speak but Fang interrupts him. “And your mother doesn’t count!”
Ed rolls his eyes but understands what his friend is saying. “I texted Anne last week,” he says defiantly, picking his phone up and clicking on the referral link Fang sent him a few minutes ago.
“She’s your ex-girlfriend. Who also used to work for you.”
“Yeah, well, she’s married to your ex-girlfriend,” Ed grumbles as the app downloads.
“And they are much better off without us.”
Ed couldn’t disagree with that, to be fair.
“Anyway, boss, I better be off. Your niblings need their dinner.” Fang drains his tea and stands up patting Ed’s knee by way of goodbye. The niblings in question are Fang’s pack of animals - three dogs, two cats, a parrot and a rescued bunny named Wolf. “Have fun!”
“Bye mate!” Ed calls after him, turning his attention to his phone.
Fang lets himself out with the familiarity of someone who is more like family, free to come and go in Ed’s home as he pleases really, but with his absence, it does mean Ed can focus on this app.
Fang had been going on about it for a couple of days; saying it was cute and silly but a nice way to take the time to send a communication.
‘Roost’, the app opens. ‘Slow-cial media’ it read, which makes Ed grin.
He sets up his account - BlckBrd - a little nod to both Blackbeard and blackbirds. He might not know much about nature, but he does like blackbirds, their song calling out at dawn sweetly.
He picks his first four starter ‘pigeons’ - a puffin, a snow goose, a great horned owl and a snail because he can’t resist.
He adds Fang - ‘FangyZeBaddy’ - and sends him the snail for a fun of it with a ‘hey mate!’ It does make him laugh when it says, despite Fang living only a few miles away that it is going to take Gerry the Snail over seven hours to get there.
Ed adds a couple of their mutual friends from Fang’s list - Ivan (IvanTheMan), Maggie (Hellkatz) , even Izzy (FirstMate) has an account he notices and dutifully sends his pigeons off to greet them. He finds he is surprisingly okay with not getting an instant response; it’s fun watching his birds fly off at different speeds to their destination. Maaaaaaybe Fang was onto something. Nice to take it a bit slower and the birds add a fun little twist to the messaging experience.
The app alerts him that he is entitled to a free bird in the market so he gains a peregrine falcon and a mallard.
He’s about to close the app for the night, having sent his pigeons off to his friends when he spots the ‘pen pal’ section. Curious, he opens it and sees prompts from others across the globe. Sweet little messages about what their ideal Sundays are, something they’re proud of.
The final one on his screen piques his interest the most. TheGentlemanPirate, based in Edinburgh apparently. Quite far relatively speaking from his humble abode in East London. (Well. Victorian townhouse with a modern fit interior that he ultimately isn’t sure if he really feels all that at home in.) He likes Edinburgh though, gorgeous city and people.
TheGentlemanPirate was in Ed’s age bracket - 44-54. He has books, travel, gardening, nature and fashion listed as his interests.
His message though. That’s what drew Ed in.
“A small thing that made me happy recently is finally realising I am okay. Or going to be okay. After a lifetime of doing everything that was expected of me, I had a moment of realisation that I am sat in my little flat with my furniture and walls styled how I want and tea that I prefer and a job that I like. I even came out to my kids last week and they were wonderful about it. How lovely.”
It resonates with Ed; he’s felt a little lost lately. The award-winning pioneering architect he once was is now just a figurehead for his team, doing less designing himself and more ‘running the business’. He realises starkly that he just does what is expected of him nowadays - where had the free spirit of young Edward Teach gone? Who designed quirky buildings for fun, who thought creatively about every aspect of the process, who … wanted a great big romantic adventure?
Ed hasn’t felt like that for a long time.
He looks briefly to his surroundings - he purposefully does not live within his own design. It’s not… really how he’d style it. Once again, he’s done what is expected of him even within his own four walls, becoming some kind of character of Blackbeard. Huh.
Maybe Ed could stand to learn a thing or two. He knows for certain that he feels inextricably drawn to the author of this message.
He writes back, hoping TheGentlemanPirate whoever he may be accepts.
“You know mate? That really does sound lovely. I’m also stuck doing a lot of things that are expected of me. Not sure they make me happy anymore. It’s nice to see a fella my age finding their happiness now. Congrats on the coming out, welcome to the club. ♥️”
Quickly, a notification comes through that Ed’s letter has been accepted. Ed finds himself grinning like an absolute loon, his heart picking up into a flutter. What on earth is that about? It’s not like he knows anything about this guy. He shakes it off, selecting his peregrine falcon to deliver his message.
11 hours it’s going to take.
Ed can wait 11 hours.
Three weeks later
‘Shakespeare has arrived! Your message from TheGentlemanPirate has been delivered!’
Ed grins, immediately reaching for his phone to see Stede’s message.
“Ed! Good morning (although it might be the afternoon by the time you get this.) I’m travelling again this week, so my message times might be varying☹️I hope you know receiving a bird from you really does brighten up my day though.
In answer to your last question, I have to admit I am indeed rather partial to a fine fabric. I’m a bit of a clotheshorse (I may have built an auxiliary wardrobe into my bedroom…)
I bet you wear fine things well also.
I hope you’re having a lovely day.”
Of course the guy has had an entire second wardrobe built. He seems like an absolute lunatic. Ed kinda loves it.
TheGentlemanPirate’s response to Ed’s first pen-pal message was one of the sweetest things Ed had ever read in his life. Telling Ed that he had once been given the advice of ‘we only have this one life’ so it isn’t worth doing things that make you unhappy. He’d thanked him profusely for ‘welcoming him’ to the club. Ed found himself typing out a reply as he sat at his work desk, office door closed to hide the grin on his face. And then TheGentlemanPirate wrote back.
And again.
And again.
Of course, they’re miles apart so every message takes a good chunk of the day but his messages always make Ed smile, normally arriving just before he went to bed or first thing in the morning.
After their initial few pen pal messages, they’d become friends on the app. They agreed to swap names - TheGentlemanPirate as it turned out was called Stede. They agreed to not Google each other or swap social media or even do the little voice notes in the app - it added a nice little layer of mystery to their budding friendship. It felt kinda nice to not have the pressure of appearance and the usual social media expectations, that they could get to know each other just through their words. (Even if Ed was more than a little curious about what Stede looks like.)
They had, however, found out they were both originally from AoNZ - after Ed had asked Stede if he was from Scotland or just based there. It made Ed happy knowing this though, that they had an extra bit of connection from their shared homeland.
Stede travels a lot for work - he’s an interior designer, has designed all sorts from hotels - both boutique inns and large chains - ,offices, rich people’s homes and even schools. It means his work can take him all over the place, searching for unique pieces or meeting with clients. Ed had wondered briefly if Stede has ever decorated one of Ed’s buildings, before deciding it might be unlikely. Stede seems to design with warmth and colour and patterns, at least from the way he speaks about design and matching preferences for his clients with ‘only the finest fabrics or furniture!’ - he wouldn’t touch one of Ed’s metal and glass monstrosities. He also didn’t exactly want to admit who he was - he’d told Stede he was owned his own architecture firm but that was it. With Stede being in the design world, it was likely he knew of Ed’s work, but it had been so long since Ed had been ‘just Ed’ with anyone, no pretence or prior notions about him, he just wanted to keep that a little while longer.
Ed felt safe talking to Stede, safer than he had with anyone in a long time. It was like his heart and his soul settled into the safe wings of their virtual birds as they fly between London and wherever Stede is. Some kind of new home.
Ed wasn’t… quite ready to admit it yet. Just how much his heart rate quickens, when he gets a bird from Stede, how his lips would quirk into a smile instantly. How all he wants to do is talk to Stede more and more. How sometimes it was tortuous that their messages could take over a day to arrive depending on their bird’s flying speed.
Stede was going to be travelling a fair amount for the next couple of months he had told Ed, meaning their messages were going to take even longer.
As much as Fang had been right, that Ed did need something like this, that slowed his brain down from the constant communication available in the world nowadays, he’d love to hear from Stede just that little bit faster.
“Shakespeare has arrived! Your message from TheGentlemanPirate has been delivered!”
Common Raven. Dublin, Ireland ——> London, United Kingdom. 8hrs 43 mins.
“It is quite simply the biggest travesty of Taskmaster that Joe Wilkinson didn’t get any points for the potato hole-in-one. I know he stepped on the mat but he should have got a style point at least!”
“Delivery complete! Rory successfully delivered your message to TheGentlemanPirate.”
Mallard. London, United Kingdom ——> Madrid, Spain. 14 hrs 48 mins.
“Morning mate! Hope you’re enjoying sunny Spain. Have a sangria and think of me stuck in the office with grey skies looming! Today’s question: would you rather fight a horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses?
“Wordsworth has arrived! Your message from TheGentlemanPirate has been delivered!”
Red-crowned Crane. Madrid, Spain —→ London, United Kingdom. 19 hrs, 9 mins.
“Just sending this from the airport! I will end up beating this home🤣Spain was lovely and the client was pleased. I did indeed have a sangria, sat on my hotel balcony and honestly, I was kinda just wishing I had someone to share it with. I hope we get to share a drink together one day Ed.
In answer to your question, I think surely 100 duck-sized horses is the answer? They’re smaller and I could at least herd them!
Sleep well my friend. Speak to you tomorrow.”
“Bryon has arrived! Your message from TheGentlemanPirate has been delivered!”
Red-tailed Hawk. Edinburgh, United Kingdom —→ London, United Kingdom. 10 hrs 12 mins.
“You’ll need to bear with me. This message will be rather long, but to properly answer your question I need to give you some context.
My ex-wife and the mother of my children, is a wonderful woman and friend to me. At least she is now. We were never well-suited, it was always sort of assumed that we would marry, for the benefit of our father’s businesses. Yes, that kind of thing does still happen. Found myself at the end of the aisle with her with no real way out, both of our fathers practically blocking the exit as if they knew we wanted to run. So we did it. What was expected. Marriage, kids. (I cannot say I have been the best father, but I love my kids and I know they love me. At the very least, my kids know I am a safe place, even if I have some mistakes to make up for - I was quite absent when they were young, throwing myself into the boring corporate work my father lined up for me because ‘that’s what men do’.)
But when my father died, it was the first time in years I could truly think. About everything and I realised I wasn’t doing anything that made me happy. I hated my job, I wasn’t close with my kids. My marriage was failing.
I wasn't a good husband. I kinda just… left for a while. I’m not proud of it. I am hoping I am making up for that now.
Me and my ex divorced - turns out she’d been having some complicated feelings surrounding her art teacher anyway. I started my design business, something I’d always had a passion about. I came out, I’d been suppressing that my whole life and it’s made me feel so free.
I guess I am what the kids would call a baby gay - my assistant certainly does call me that! I’ve been on a couple of dates. Nobody special though.
So, Ed, to answer your question. No I have never been in love.
What about you?”
“Delivery complete! Martha successfully delivered your message to TheGentlemanPirate.”
Common Kingfisher. London, United Kingdom —> Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 12hrs 31 mins.
“Wow, Stede mate. Thank you for telling me that.
For what it’s worth? I think you’re a good Dad. Sounds like we both know what bad Dad’s sound like and if your kids know that you’re a safe place to land no matter what, then you are doing something right. I think they probably even know you had to leave for yourself now. Even if it hurt them at the time - but a Dad who came back and showed up afterwards? Better than one who stayed away.
Coming out later in life is never easy, but I am so happy for you. Finally getting to live authentically, it’s pretty damn good right?
But seeing as you were honest too.
I thought I was in love once. Dated this guy - we’ll call him CJ - on and off for years. I wasted literal years of my life chasing him. He’d always manage to say just the right thing to charm me back into bed with him when I was going to chuck him out. Because he could be fun, that was the thing. He could make me laugh, he could be good for an adventure. He was never abusive or anything, not like that - just so emotionally immature and afraid of any real commitment that he dragged me along in his whirlwind, keeping me hooked in just enough.
It was the third time I caught him cheating - and god knows how many times I didn’t catch him - that I finally said enough was enough. Haven’t seen him for three years now and I am better off for it.
So no I don’t think I have been in love either. Not properly.”
“Kaur has arrived! Your message from TheGentlemanPirate has been delivered!”
Zebra Finch. Copenhagen, Denmark —→ London, United Kingdom. 23 hrs 45 mins.
“Edward!!! (I am assuming your full name is Edward.) You mean to tell me you have NEVER used a hair mask!
You said you have long hair!!!!
I am sure you look after yourself but sweetheart, you should treat yourself! Get yourself a nice fruity smelling hair mask and have a long bath. It’s what I do to relax, a lovely pamper evening.
You said you have a bad knee right also? The bath should help with that too.
Your hair will feel so soft after and you’ll feel all light and floaty.
I’m sorry you had a bad day at work. And I'm sorry that Izzy is getting to you. Look after yourself alright?
Even if you do it just for me.”
“Delivery complete! Rose successfully delivered your message to TheGentlemanPirate.”
Great Horned Owl. London, United Kingdom —→ Copenhagen, Denmark. 13 hrs 39 mins.
“Alright! Fine. Call me sweetheart and I’ll do anything you ask. (That’s a joke… of course.)
I am going out to the shop right now and I’ll get a mask. Never really been a bath guy to be honest, but I suppose seeing as I have a tub, I probably should use it more often.
I’ll report back.”
“Delivery complete! Graham successfully delivered your message to TheGentlemanPirate.”
Galah. London, United Kingdom —→ Copenhagen, Denmark. 13 hrs 30 mins.
“Okay mate, you were right. My hair feels soft as fuck and I smell like guava fruit.
And the bath was great on my knee actually. I should do that more often, rest it and let the heat soak into the muscles. It feels so much better this morning than usual. Thank you for looking out for me. ♥️
Safe journey home today.”
“Delivery complete! Donna successfully delivered your message to TheGentlemanPirate.”
Swallow-tailed Kite. London, United Kingdom —→ Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 11hrs 51 mins.
“What’s your guilty pleasure song? Something that you don’t wanna admit to being on your playlist.
In the spirit of sharing, I’ll let you know that if you looked at me, you’d correctly assume that guy likes 70s and 80s rock. But MMMBop by Hanson has consistently been in my Spotify Wrapped for literal years.”
“Keats has arrived! Your message from TheGentlemanPirate has been delivered!”
Snow Goose. Edinburgh, United Kingdom ——> London, United Kingdom, 6 hrs 38 mins.
“You say that like it’s something to be embarrassed about! I love it!
I tell my kids they should never be guilty about anything that brings them pleasure… but do I tell them exactly how many One Direction songs I have on my playlists??
Absolutely not.”
“Shelley has arrived! Your message from TheGentlemanPirate has been delivered!”
James’s Flamingo. York, United Kingdom —→ London, United Kingdom. 4hrs 58 mins.
“Hey Ed!
How nice that this may actually get to you at a reasonable time!
I find myself reaching to tell you when anything good happens to me so excuse the fact you’ll be getting at least two messages from me today.
I just had a really excellent catch-up with my daughter - she’s almost finished with her last year at Uni, I think I may have told you that? So a bonus for me being in Yorkshire for work meant I could visit her.
She is still a bit unsure of what she wants to do ‘when she grows up’ (who isn’t really?) but she said she had a proposition for me - she asked if she could work with me! At least for a year or two once she’s graduated. She figured “it’s a good way to get some experience, some money and travel all in one!”
I am honestly … so thrilled she even wants to work with me. She’s got a knack for design and she’s so good with people, she’ll be excellent with clients. I thought a few years ago genuinely she might never even want to speak to me again, after I kind of blew her life up. But she wants to work with me!!
As a more selfish point, it means I get to stay home a bit more I guess. I am a homebody really, and while I love my job, I am more than happy to do my research and designs from home while someone else does the travel. It’d be nice to settle down.
I’m just feeling really happy today.
And… Ed. I hope you know you make me happy too. This year, getting to know you like this. It’s been delightful.”
“Delivery complete! Ace successfully delivered your message to TheGentlemanPirate.”
Anna’s Hummingbird. London, United Kingdom —→ York, United Kingdom. 5hrs 16 mins.
“Stede mate! That’s fantastic news, I’m pleased for you.
Sounds like a great move for you both.
Never apologise for sending me two messages mate, quite frankly… I’ll take as many as you want to send.
You make me happy too. Honestly, you might be my best friend.
Actually, you know what, scratch that. You ARE my best friend.”
“Delivery complete! Bill successfully delivered your message to TheGentlemanPirate.”
Common Vampire Bat. Bruges, Belgium —→ Paris, France. 7hrs 57 mins.
“As if we’re both away for work for once! Kinda couldn’t resist sending the bat now I have them even if they’re a bit of a slow bugger.
Just been at the meeting to finalise these building plans with the client who DEMANDED I, as the owner, attend in person.
Izzy said it would look good if I made an effort to come after they asked, but I don’t know what good it did. They still signed - I wasn’t even in the room when they did.
You know what you said the other day? That I should think about retiring.
Reckon you might be right. I’m gonna talk to Izzy about winding down when we get home.”
“Emily has arrived! Your message from TheGentlemanPirate has been delivered!”
Jabiru. Paris, France—→ Bruges, Belgium. 4hrs 46 mins.
“Ed that’s great news! Not about the clients being demanding but the retiring. I think you deserve it - at the very least, an extended break sounds in order for you.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Bruges otherwise, it’s a lovely city.
Speaking of breaks though, as we’re coming up to September, I am planning to take a bit of an extended break myself too. I’ve got a couple more trips coming up but my daughter will be taking on some work including the travel. I will still be working, just more from home is all. I’ve been away from my little flat a lot this year and I miss being in one place quite frankly.
I wondered if maybe… we could meet. While I am on this break.
I fully understand if you’d prefer not to, to just keep talking like this, but it would be nice to see you. Have a chat where we can reply instantly and not wait several hours!
Let me know what you think.”
“Delivery complete! Sarah-Jane successfully delivered your message to TheGentlemanPirate.”
Emperor Penguin. Bruges, Belgium —→ Paris, France. 13hrs 54 mins.
“I only had a stupid bloody penguin left to send this, my other birds are flying to AoNZ while my friend Fang is back home visiting his family, so please don’t take the length as a lack of eagerness.
Because yes Stede. I’d love that so much. SO much.
I really want to see you. Kinda have done since we started talking to be honest.
Name the time and place, I will be there.”
“Sylvia P has arrived! Your message from TheGentlemanPirate has been delivered!”
Oriental Scops-Owl. Amsterdam, Netherlands —→ London, United Kingdom. 12hrs 3 mins.
“I am so nearly done with this last work trip for a while thank god!! less than 48 hours to go!
I can’t wait. I’m going to take you to bookshops and cafes and ice cream places and the galleries. It’ll be so nice to just… exist with you for a bit.
I should land early in the morning so I will nip home first and then meet you just below the Scott Monument as planned? Your train gets in just after lunch right?
I wanted to ask though, Ed.
If it’s not too presumptuous… I wondered if you might stay with me?
I know you’ve booked a hotel, but I have a guest room that is finely decorated and it’s comfy, and it might sound kinda stupid but I like the idea of bringing you a tea, perhaps sharing some breakfast we could make together in the morning.
You don’t have to, but I thought… it might be nice.
See you soon. (How thrilling to say that!)
“Delivery complete! Adric successfully delivered your message to TheGentlemanPirate.”
Superb Fairywren. London, United Kingdom —→ Amsterdam, Netherlands. 15hrs 46 mins.
“Yep, 12:43 the train gets in. I will be waiting by the Scott Monument, purple rucksack and all.
I’d love to stay with you. That sounds really lovely.
See you soon. (I agree. Thrilling to say that!♥️)”
“Delivery complete! Amy successfully delivered your message to TheGentlemanPirate.”
Black Swan. London, United Kingdom —→ Amsterdam, Netherlands. 8hrs 17 mins.
“Hey Stede.
I am about to head to bed - early start tomorrow to get to the train - I hope you see this before your flight, I think I have timed it right.
I need to say this before I see you. To let you know how I feel before we meet in person.
I have feelings for you. Romantic ones.
It sounds insane, I know. We’ve never met, I don’t even know what you look like. But I feel so safe when I chat to you. So supported, so happy. I have never really had that with anyone before. You’re the first person I want to share anything with, tell a woe to - I want to do life with you. You’re so fun and kind and sweet, and I don’t know what I did to deserve you being in my life, but now you’re here, I need you to know how much I value your friendship.
But I’d love it if we could explore this being more.
Can this trip be a date?
If the answer is no, it’s okay. I want to be your friend still, I just had to say this before we actually met, so you knew it wasn’t just a reaction to being in- person. I like the you, that I know here through these digital birds that we send - I am so sure I will like all of you in fact. I can stay at the hotel if you’d prefer too.
I just… really like you man.
See you so soon.”
Ed isn’t panicking.
Not yet, he isn’t.
It’s not like he’d completely laid his soul bare via a fucking animated swan that travelled across the ocean to a man he’s not actually ever met in person whom Ed is fairly certain he’s in love with and had no message back.
He had the confirmation it had been delivered, but nothing since then. He hasn’t even looked at his phone in a while, clearing notifications while he cleared his head waiting for Stede. It was a nice day at least, warm with a breeze and no sign of rain. Ed had the dregs of a blueberry iced matcha in his hand. But however pleasant his surroundings, it was doing nothing to assuage the rising worry in him.
It’s just… Stede is over an hour late.
Especially when he’d said he was going to be home earlier that day?
Ed had taken to sitting on his suitcase a little while ago, his knee not tolerating the standing especially after being on a train for 5 and a half hours. But he was looking around desperately at any man who walked past.
They hadn’t shared much about their physical descriptions as agreed - and Ed had stuck to his word and never googled Stede. He had figured there couldn’t be that many Stede’s around so he might be easy to find - but they’d promised so he never had. He is getting mightily tempted to do so right now though as every minute passes with no Stede.
Ed knows Stede is blond and around Ed’s age, late 40s, knocking on the door of 50. He doesn’t know for certain, but he just feels Stede will be a snappy dresser - the guy does have an auxiliary wardrobe for his summer linens after all. Nobody has gone by with that description - and as stupidly romantic as it seems, Ed kinda figures he will just know when he sees Stede.
He’s told Stede he has greying hair, black ink tattoos on his arms and he’d have a purple rucksack and quite frankly, Ed knows he stands out in a crowd. He has a sneaky suspicion Stede will recognise him once they meet anyway - Blackbeard isn’t exactly an … unknown in the design world.
So therefore it is possible Stede has arrived and already slunk off, turned off by Ed or … perhaps, hurt that Ed didn’t tell him who exactly he was.
Ed curses himself for not getting Stede’s number. He had thought it was all cute not swapping numbers, their communication remaining only via Roost. He liked the idea of it being their sole form of communication until they met; it being the place they met and fell in…. no. No. Not going there until Stede is here. If he ever does.
Ed keeps shaking the drink cup, letting the rattle of the melting ice attempt to soothe him. He sits back on his case, his foot tapping nervously.
Maybe this had all been a mistake. Ed should never have agreed to come here. Certainly shouldn’t have told him he had feelings for him. Maybe Izzy was right, that it was insane he was doing a trip like this to see a bloke he’d never met, never even heard the voice of or verified the identity of.
But Ed knows deep down, however insane it might be, he had to follow his heart for once. He likes Stede, really likes him. Ed has never loved chatting with anyone more. Ed has fanciful daydreams of their new life, settled up here in a beautiful city, travelling together, sharing everything. A bed, a home, a life. He wants Stede, plain and simple even without knowing what he looks like or what he is like in person.
Ed has even started designing again - quirky, fun, eco-friendly wooden buildings with softer edges and a purpose. No client attached, just something he could look into building simply because he could. Stede has made him feel inspired again.
He doesn’t really want to admit how many times he has googled can you be in love with someone you’ve never met over the last few weeks.
(Google says yes. Yes, you can be.)
Ed’s watch ticks over to 15:00 and he’s less worried now. He’s angry actually. How DARE Stede leave him like this?
Looking like a fucking hopeless lovesick idiot, sat here with his trusty purple rucksack and his suitcase and some dumb expression on his face as if he deserved to expect something good.
Even if Stede doesn’t feel the same way, even if Ed has completely misread whatever this was, he deserves a response. A stupid digital bird that Stede thinks they’re simply better off as friends, or maybe actually hey you could back off a little buddy, we haven’t even met yet - but they’ve spoken for months. Even called each other best friends.
Ed deserves a reply. Even if it was the slowest animal on there, if it would take weeks. Maybe he should go to AoNZ, visit his Mum. Let Stede’s answer take forever and a day to travel around the world.
Screw this. This has a mistake, one that Ed has to get away from; he has to get away from the feeling of his heart breaking into a million tiny pieces. There are people milling about, going about their day, the sun is still high in the sky and Ed wants the ground to swallow him up.
Fuck Stede and his cowardly way out, letting Ed travel all the way here, and then leaving him stranded. Ed makes to stand up, brushing grass off his clothes in an angry huff, wiping a furious tear from his eye. He’s deleting that stupid fucking app right now and booking a train home and -
“Ed?”
Ed looks up sharply at his name being called. He wants to yell, tell him it’s too late, scream what bloody time do you call this, how could you leave me sat here like a fool.
Instead, his voice catches in his throat as he sees an angel.
A sweaty, panting, suitcase-dragging, slightly bedraggled angel, but an angel nonetheless. His blonde hair is curled and styled neatly, even if there are some loose strands threatening to escape. He’s Ed’s height more-or-less, he has glasses perched on his nose and he is indeed immaculately dressed - even for someone who has just got off a plane apparently, tight jeans with sleek leather loafers and a tight navy t-shirt which shows off… oh fuck, he has ARMS. Ed is in trouble.
“Ed, I am so sorry. My original flight was cancelled so I got on the first flight I could, which landed at bloody Heathrow so then I had to get the train back up here as the other flights were all booked. But then the train got delayed and … I look like a mess. I nearly looked you up to message you but I didn’t want to break our promise, I even wrote something via - OOFT.”
The rambling angel is cut off as Ed flies into his arms, his anger and his sadness melting away with the ice cubes left in his cup that he drops to the ground to hug Stede tight, practically burying his face into the man’s neck. He smells good, some fancy expensive aftershave lingering on him, the fruity smell of his shampoo and something just … comforting that’s purely him.
Arms encircle Ed’s back and hold him tight. “I’m here. I’m here,” Stede whispers. “I’m so sorry, I -”
“Apologies and explanations later. Just this for now,” Ed interrupts, hugging Stede close. It’s been a long time since he’s had a hug this fucking good.
He pulls back slightly to look into Stede’s eyes properly. They are beautiful and deep and hazel and golden and something Ed wants to get lost in time and time again.
“Hi.” Stede grins.
“Hello.” Ed grins back.
“I got your message. Last night. Or this morning rather, but…” Stede seems to hesitate a moment, but Ed does not miss the way his eyes flick down briefly to Ed’s lips.
He feels the same. Ed can read it in his eyes, the affection, the hope glittering there.
Holy shit he feels the same.
“Kiss me,” Ed says quietly before he can think about it too much. Because it’s all he can think about, because this man is everything Ed has ever dreamed of. And he’s here, he’s not at the other end of a slow messaging bird.
Stede leans forward, closing the gap between them eagerly, his hand flexing on Ed’s back as their lips touch in a chaste but soul-consuming kiss.
Ed’s fluttering heart rate finally settles into a moment of peace and clarity.
Ed is home.
They pull back from the kiss, soft giggles erupting from their chests as they hold each other; there is awe and disbelief that they are really there in Stede’s expression which Ed knows must be mirrored in his own.
“Ed?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you Blackbeard?”
“Yeah. Does it matter?”
Ed could hear the hesitation in his own voice, really hoping it didn’t.
“No. Not at all,” Stede smiles at him, tipping forward to rest his forehead onto Ed’s. “You’re Ed. My Ed. I’m so glad you waited for me, I really am sorry-”
Ed cuts him off with a kiss. He couldn’t wait to just be Ed for somebody - and how lucky, he’d found the perfect person to be just Ed for.
God, he owes Fang a hefty raise. He was right, slowing down had been exactly what Ed needed after all.
Two weeks later
Ed’s phone buzzes with a notification. Damn, he thought he’d put it on silent last night. Then again, he’s been a little distracted at bedtime lately. He lifts his head off the downy soft pillow to stare at it blearily and then lets out a huff of sleepy laughter as he realises what it says, opening it and sitting up to read it.
It’s been a little while since he’s checked his notifications. Been busy living in the real world with bookshop wanders and coffee dates and wine-accompanied dinners and dancing in the kitchen and kisses. So many kisses.
And it’s certainly been a couple of weeks since he heard from TheGentlemanPirate on Roost. Mainly because … well. Ed’s been at his house ever since the day they met.
‘Larkin has arrived! Your message from TheGentlemanPirate has been delivered!’
“Babe did you send me a bloody snail?”
“What?” Stede mumbles sleepily, his eyes flickering open where he’s lying next to Ed, looking all sweet and cuddly and angelic, his blond curls sleep-mussed and fluffy.
“This! A snail, you sent me a snail during the whole plane delay, train delay nightmare.”
“Oh.” Stede laughs awkwardly, his cheeks flushing red with embarrassment as he shuffles to sit up. “Right. I was panicking.”
“You sent me a snail. From Amsterdam. It’s only just got here.” Ed chuckles as he opens the message.
“Ed! I am so so sorry! I literally have no other way of contacting you and all my other birds are halfway round the bloody world right now flying to my daughter. My plane was cancelled so I am about to fly to London instead. I am going to be late to meet you and I hope by some miracle you are still there but in case you’re not and you hate me for not showing up, please know I am trying to get to you. PLEASE message me back, I am so sorry.
Yes, Ed this can be a date. I’d love nothing more actually.
I have feelings for you too. Many feelings in fact, so many that at times I was terrified about what to do with them. It felt mad, that I could feel so strongly for someone I haven’t even met but god Ed, I have dreamt of you. I want to get to know you properly and hold your hand and do whatever else you might want to do.
It is not a case of what you did to deserve me, but I you. After a lifetime of feeling lonely and not enough for anyone, the universe somehow gave me you. I want to spend the rest of my life being worthy of being your person.
I really cannot wait to see you darling.”
“Look I was worried you’d think I’d ghosted you, and let’s face it you nearly did think I had ghosted you because of the stupid travel debacle and I had no other way of contacting you directly but we’d agreed not to do that and I didn’t want to dishonour our promise and I was scared you’d never speak to me again and -”
Ed throws his phone to the bed and leans over to shut his boyfriend up with a kiss, morning breath be damned, his hand snaking into Stede’s fluffy curls to keep him close.
“You wrote me a lovely snail letter,” Ed whispers, after pulling back a moment, staring into Stede’s slightly dazed, but beautiful (so so beautiful actually) eyes.
“I’ll send you a thousand lovely snail letters if it would make you happy darling.” Stede smiles at him.
Darling. Darling. Ed’s never been anyone’s darling before; he doesn’t plan to be anyone else’s anyway. It sends a thrill through every time the endearment passes Stede’s lips.
Ed kisses him again, gently shifting to pull Stede closer towards him, as their feet tangled together under Stede’s soft silk sheets.
Ed sighs dreamily as the kiss breaks and Stede wiggles closer as they fall back onto the bed, lying down, Stede’s head now rests on Ed’s bare chest, his hand splayed on Ed’s tummy protectively. Ed runs his hand through Stede’s curls as he cuddles him close.
“Babe?”
“Yeah?”
“You do realise you could have just… bought a bird? Those pink pigeons travel 900 mph in-game. It would have reached me straight away.”
There’s a pause, Stede’s hand stills on Ed’s stomach. Then a groan leaves his boyfriend and his head buries itself further into Ed’s shoulder. “Fuuuuuck. I am an idiot.”
Ed laughs, simply holding Stede close to him. He presses a kiss to the crown of Stede’s head, marvelling at how simply absurd it is that a stupid little app where you send cartoon birds to strangers brought him here.
A gorgeous cosy flat in one of his favourite cities, where Ed has been spoilt with endless cups of tea and pastries. A gorgeous cosy flat where he is now lying in bed with the most handsome man in the world, feeling the most secure he has ever felt in his life.
“Yeah, but you’re my idiot,” Ed says, tipping his head to rest against Stede’s. “And in your defence… I could have looked up if your flight had run as scheduled to be fair.”
“Huh. Yeah. Wow, we really are both idiots aren’t we?” Stede chuckles, snuggling in closer to Ed’s body, their bare skin touching creating a delightful kind of warmth between them, a feeling of happiness and contentment right there in their own little bubble.
“Idiots together. That’ll be us.”
“Sounds lovely.”
Ed resolves that he is going to send a message back to TheGentlemanPirate today too. Regardless of the animal it will get there quickly as by now, they’re in the same place. It might be the most important message Ed has ever sent actually.
It’s going to simply say I love you.