Chapter Text
Sitting in the living room, Mary squirms uncomfortably. Stede sits across from her reading a book with his legs crossed. He glances up at her past his book occasionally trying to figure out what is the matter, maybe her dress is just uncomfortable, it does seem awfully thick. He adjusts his bright teal, silk blazer over his form fitting, gold turtleneck cashmere sweater. With matching pants, he uncrosses his legs and recrosses them the other direction. He taps his foot on the ground slightly, still wearing his brown suede shoes, starting to get on edge the more Mary stares at him.
“Stede I don’t love you.” She blurts out softly, her lip trembling even though a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. His eyes go big behind his book and he slowly starts to close it. “Oh” is all he whispers back tilting his head down, his perfect blonde curls drooping in front of his face slightly as he notices the scuff on his right shoe and starts to wonder where it came from.
“Stede?” she asks softly with a hint of annoyance, probably because she’s been trying to get his attention back to her since she spoke. He continues to look at his shoes but hums slightly. “Stede, I’m sorry I said it that way, I’ve been trying to think of another way, but you always wanted me to be honest with you right?” Still no answer from the blond gentleman. She sighs, “I can call Lucius for you if you don’t want to stay here for a while. That’s up to you though. I just know you’ve never been happy with me Stede, I’m not the right person for you. I care about you, you mean a lot to me and will always be a part of my life, but I don’t feel the way I am supposed to in marriage, and I have a feeling that you don’t either. Does that make sense?”
He closes his eyes for a second, reliving the 7 years they had been together, and the 6 they had been married. The awkwardness of being near one another, their parents breathing down their backs to have children, Mary never being able to understand his hobbies and him not understanding hers, she was right in a way. He huffs, of course she was right. Women were always right in a marriage, that’s what he’s always been told, but he was curious what would happen if there were no women, who he might become. Mary waits for any sort of answer as they sit on the couch in the dining room, distanced from one another like at a middle school dance. He nods slightly, he doesn’t know to which part he’s nodding to, but he’s nodding nonetheless.
She places a small hand on his back and grabs her phone, “Hello Lucius, I need you to come get Stede”, she says quietly and he stands up, still not uttering a word.
Numbly, he walks up the stairs to their room gathering some things to stay at Lucius’ place. He’s been there before, they were old college roommates so he knew the whole situation with Mary. After he’s packed he sits on the edge of the bed, their house dead silent, it had never felt so eerie before. He knew it felt empty, like something was missing, but maybe that was more of a feeling inside him rather than the house.
He hears a knock at the front door and he grabs his things heading back downstairs, Mary is already there talking softly with Lucius and he gives him a weak smile. “I’ve got him Mar, I'm sorry that it’s gotta be like this for both of you.” he says softly and takes Stede’s bag for him and goes to the car letting Stede have a moment with Mary in case he needs it, which he does. Stede stands in the doorway, the crisp air making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up feeling a shiver going down his back, at least he can still feel something at the moment.
“Look Stede,” she starts softly taking his hand in hers, “I know we would have never have chosen each other, not in a million years, but all we have is this one life to live.” He nods slightly and squeezes her hand.
“Thank you Mary” he says softly “for being honest and for…” he hesitates “for being right.” She nods and sighs softly letting go of his hand as he turns away, glad that he finally said something on the subject.
“Your welcome Stede, we can talk about how to move forward when you’re ready, ok?” He nods knowing she would never push things upon him like his father used to. He heads to Lucius’ car sliding into the passenger seat not saying anything still.
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Lucius glances at him a few times while driving and then suddenly takes a sharp turn making Stede grab onto the ‘Oh Shit’ handle above the window.
“LUCIUS!” he nearly screams, not sure what emotion to feel at the moment and it starts to seep out of him when he doesn't want to. “Sorry,” Stede mutters, tears welling up in his eyes.
Lucius rolls his eyes, “you don't gotta be sorry Stede I’m the one driving, I just had an idea. Somewhere we can go where you don't gotta think about anything, is that ok?” He asks, living with Stede for so many years had changed the way he treated people, but knowing he can sometimes be a dick. Stede shrugs and looks out the window now not sure how Lucius would be able to do that in the first place.
“Look Stede I know this sucks, and I can’t imagine what you're feeling but, I’m still here to help. Let’s go get a drink and talk ‘eh?”
Stede sighs softly and shakes his head, “I suppose one drink won’t hurt.” Lucius smiles softly and puts his hand on his old pal’s shoulder, squeezing it gently before they head to the bar.
They pull up to a darkly lit looking club with a blue neon sign out front. Getting out, Stede glances up as he follows Lucius in, Blackbeard’s Delights and Other Delicacies it reads and Stede ponders what kind of place his friend brought him to.
He follows him to the bar and all the gentlemen there are very excited to see his friend. Stede stands behind him awkwardly, feeling like a schoolboy again being rejected from the circle and he takes quick, short glances around the place before his attention is brought back to the group when he hears his name.
“This is Stede everyone, he’s going through a tough time right now, figured we could show him a good time, and support him through this.” Stede smiles gently, not really glancing up at the crew in front of him, he’s grateful that Lucius doesn’t specifically state what he is going through since he isn’t sure if he’s ready to talk about it, but at least he could get his mind off it for a little while. They sit at the corner of the bar with new people on both sides of Stede so they can include him in the conversation easily.
“No no I’m telling you!” one of the friends, Black Pete, is what Stede recalls his name being, yells over the music, “Blackbeard used to be wrapped up in all sorts of crime and shit, he’s a badass!” the others laugh at him and Stede sips his drink as some food is delivered.
“Why would he be running this place then?” The one they call Swede asks softly, though Stede isn’t convinced that he isn’t Swedish at all.
“Had to lay low, obviously, caught up in all the drugs you can imagine.” Black Pete shrugs and everyone waves him off again.
“God, Roach makes the best food,” Wee John states as he eats some fried pickles.
“I heard they were all Blackbeard's recipes too.” Black Pete interjects and Wee John rolls his eyes, “What don’t you think Blackbeard can do or is somehow involved in?”
The crew laughs as Black Pete fumes slightly, finishing his drink. Lucius leaves and Stede glances back at him figuring he’s going to the bathroom, he sips his drink politely chuckling while he continues listens to everyone’s problems from work or their lives as they change the subject.
Stede offers to buy everyone a round or two as they keep him in the conversation, one of them leaning next to him slightly. “Aye thanks for the drink mate, appreciate it!” They grin and chuckle, “You could come by more often if you’d like, though you could change, you look a bit soft, yella bellied….”
Stede starts to look down and Lucius returns seeing Buttons rambling like he always does.
“Oh hush Buttons, Stede looks great tonight, very dashing.” He slips his arm around Black Pete and Stede smiles. After another hour or two, and at least 4 drinks later, Pete stands and stretches.
“Well it's time” he states with no other explanation and he kisses Lucius’ cheek as he walks away while everyone else gets up.
Stede sits there confused and looks around, “Time for what?” He asks getting up as well and walking near Lucius.
“Time for the show.” His friend smirks and they all head to the arm chairs closest to the stage. Stage? Was there a stage there before? He wonders as he sits next to Lucius and Lucius smirks at him, “What?” he asks.
Lucius’ smirk turns into a full face grin, “Oh nothing…” he mutters looking at the stage as the lights start to dim around the club while slowly coming up on the curtain on the stage, the pole shimmers in the spotlight and Stede’s eyes go wide.
“Lucius….?” He questions again, almost feeling fearful about what’s about to happen, rethinking what his friend meant about getting him mind off of Mary and showing him a good time. Though there’s a warmness creeping around Stede’s cheeks as well as his… you know.
Lucius chuckles, "You might want to finish that'' he points at the half full drink in Stede’s hand and he immediately downs it without a second thought.
All eyes go to the stage as a short man steps through the curtain, chains swinging slowly against his hip and Stede listens to Lucius cheer loudly for this little man. He glares in this general direction and holds the mic to his mouth.
“Gentlemen and gentlemen,” he bites through his teeth, “Put your fock’en hands together for, J-J-J-J Jeff, the Accountant!” He kinda yells and steps to the opposite side of the stage as a tall, dark, handsome man steps out, the crowd cheers and Stede’s eyes go big, heart skipping a beat as he takes in the sight before him.