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august-anon · 3 years

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Are You Still?

I got hyperfixated on It a couple months ago and now here we are lol, this has been in my fic backlog for a while now. Hope you enjoy this one!

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Fandom: It (movies)

Ship(s): Reddie

Characters (lee/ler): Switch!Richie/Switch!Eddie

Word Count: 3879 words

Summary: Richie finds himself in a position that brings up some of the few fond memories he has from Derry. He decides to relive some of them.

[ao3 link]

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Richie yelped as his legs and feet were suddenly shoved roughly off the couch, startling him out of his doze. He glared up at the offender and saw Eddie, already glaring back at him as he took a seat on the other end of Bill’s couch.

“What the fuck, man?” Richie asked, bringing one of his legs back up to shove at Eddie’s shoulder with his foot.

“If you’re gonna sleep, go do it in a bed,” Eddie snapped back, crossing his arms. “Don’t take up the whole fucking couch with your freakishly long sasquatch legs. This isn’t even your couch anyway, what the hell is wrong with you?”

Richie rolled his eyes. “The others aren’t getting here for another two hours, I think I’m allowed a fucking nap.”

“If you went to sleep at a normal fucking time,” Eddie said, slicing his hand through the air, “you wouldn’t need to take so many naps. What the fuck do you even do all night? I get texts from you at like, three in the morning!”

Richie leaned forward with a grin. “Well, if you really want to know--”

“If this is a joke about my mom you better shut the fuck up right now.”

Richie tossed his head back with a laugh. “Alright, alright.”

Richie had enough self control to give the scene about two minutes to settle. Then, he swung his legs back onto the couch and draped them over Eddie’s lap.

“Hey!” Eddie said, trying to push his legs off. “Get off me, asshole! Stop taking up the whole couch!”

Richie tilted his head back and let out an obnoxious snoring sound. Eddie huffed out a frustrated breath and it took all of Richie’s stage skills to not start laughing at him.

Then, unexpectedly, Eddie swung his own legs up on the couch along with Richie’s. Richie startled, jerking his head up to give Eddie an odd look, but yelped when Eddie started kicking and shoving at Richie with his feet.

“What the hell, man?!”

Eddie didn’t reply. There was a grin growing on his face as he slid down the couch, trying to reach further with his feet. Richie found it entirely too adorable, which unfortunately distracted him from Eddie sending a foot flying toward his face. Richie yelped and barely dodged out of the way in time to save his glasses from Eddie’s wrath. The scene unlocked a memory in his mind, long buried despite regaining his memories from Derry.

At this point, Richie only hogged the hammock as an excuse to get close to Eddie. It was honestly pretty uncomfortable, the hammock wasn’t meant for two people, even as `small as Eddie was, and it was a hassle to get them both to fit most of the time.

Which, surprisingly, was only partially where the kicking came in. The rest was because Eddie and Richie were just like that.

They were arguing loudly over the hammock again, which happened pretty much every time they were in the clubhouse together. Richie barely managed to dodge a foot, clearly aiming to hook around his glasses and throw them off his face. It was one of Eddie’s favorite moves, because it left Richie blind and annoyed, and it wasn’t exactly easy to annoy someone as annoying as Richie.

Before Eddie could go for his frames again, Richie grabbed his ankle, fighting for control of the limb. Eddie tried to tug his leg back, shouting a number of obscenities at Richie, but Richie just grinned a memory sparking in his mind.

“Hey Eds--”

“Don’t call me Eds, fucknut!”

“Are you still ticklish as fuck?”

Eddie’s eyes went wide and he started yelling even louder. Out of the corner of his eye, Richie caught Bev laughing at them while Stan rolled his eyes. They could shut the fuck up, in Richie’s humble opinion, this meant absolutely nothing at all, and Richie’s heart was totally not beating wildly out of his chest.

Richie started scratching his nails against the arch of Eddie’s socked foot, and Eddie’s obscenities quickly became interspersed with laughter. Richie couldn’t help but laugh along with him, wiggling his fingers along with his scratching to try and get an even better reaction.

“Fuck -- Richie, please!”

Richie smirked at him. “Begging already, Eddie Spaghetti? I know you can last longer than that.”

“Rich!!”

Foolishly, Eddie kicked at Richie with his other foot, trying to knock Richie’s hands off him. Instead, Richie let out his best evil laugh (it fell a little flat, Richie definitely needed to workshop it, but even still, a blush rose to Eddie’s adorable little ears) and grabbed Eddie’s other foot. Eddie shrieked and tried to escape, but Richie quickly pressed Eddie’s legs together before wrapping his own legs around Eddie’s knees to keep them there.

“Richie, don’t you fucking dare!”

“Oh, I dare, Eds.”

Richie immediately went back to scratching at Eddie’s arches, grinning when he burst back into loud laughter. He scrunched his soles and tried to shake Richie’s hands off, twisting and turning and kicking what little he could, but unable to get free from Richie’s hold. He couldn’t even flip the hammock over to knock them to the floor, though it was clear he was trying.

“What’s wrong, Eds, can’t get away?”

Even through his laughter, Eddie still managed to cry out, “Don’t you fucking call me that!”

As usual, Richie ignored him, moving down to tickle at his heels. Eddie tumbled into childish, high-pitched giggles that were so adorable that even Richie’s ears went pink. It was nothing compared to the flush suddenly filling Eddie’s face, though, all too aware of how he sounded.

“Cute cute cute!” Richie called out to him.

Eddie didn’t reply, he simply covered his giggling face.

“Aw, come on Eddie, don’t hide!”

“Shut the fuck up!”

Richie decided to be nice and stop embarrassing Eddie, moving his fingers up to tickle just under Eddie’s socked toes. Eddie’s hands dropped from his face as his eyes bulged out of his skull, shrieking and trying desperately to kick his legs out of Richie’s grasp. He tried to sit up to reach Richie’s hands, but Richie used one foot to push back against his chest while still pinning Eddie’s knees as best as he could.

“Richie!!”

Richie grinned. “Yes, Eddie my love?”

“Please!”

Richie chuckled under his breath and cocked his head to the side. “You know, you haven’t actually asked me to stop.”

Richie lightened his touch so Eddie was only giggling, and Eddie’s eyes widened in surprise. He stammered for a few seconds, even as he was giggling and panting, before he found his words.

“Yes-- Yes I have!”

“N-n-no you h-haven’t!” Bill helpfully called across the clubhouse.

Eddie went so red that Richie was almost worried he would burst a blood vessel in his face. He couldn’t help the stupid grin that spread across his face as Eddie glared at him.

“Well-- fucking stop, then!”

Richie stopped immediately, freeing Eddie’s legs. And he may have been an asshole, but he was at least nice enough to not mention the disappointment that crossed Eddie’s face when Richie finally freed him.

“Hey Eds--”

Eddie’s scowled deepened, even as he kept his feet flying toward Richie’s glasses, trying to knock them off. “Don’t call me Eds, fucknut!”

Richie grinned brightly, trapping Eddie’s feet and legs in that same hold from so long ago. “Are you still ticklish as fuck?”

Eddie’s eyes went wide. He started kicking even harder, trying to free his legs before Richie could attack. Richie wiggled his fingers threateningly above Eddie’s socked feet.

“Don’t you fucking dare!” Eddie shouted. “I will fucking kill you, don’t you fucking dare!”

Richie laughed. The whole situation was starting to give him a bit of deja vu, the only thing missing was the near-sickening swing of a shitty old hammock from all of Eddie’s squirming.

“Oh, I dare, Eds.”

Richie started scratching at Eddie’s arches with both hands, showing no mercy. Eddie burst into laughter immediately, trying and failing to tug his legs back. Just like when they were kids, Richie couldn’t help but laugh with him.

“Richie, come on!”

“Yes, Eddie?”

Eddie squealed at a particularly vicious wiggle of Richie’s nails against his skin, arching his back and scrunching his feet up. His feet wiggled and twisted in Richie’s grasp, and Richie play-growled as he tried to keep them still and tickle them at the same time.

“Hold still!” Richie said. “Or’ll I’ll go for your toes!”

Eddie gasped through his laughter, thrashing even harder. Richie laughed as he tightened his legs around Eddie’s own.

“Please!” Eddie yelled.

An evil grin spread across Richie’s face. “Please tickle your toes?”

Eddie yelled wordlessly.

“I think I will, since you asked so nicely.”

Richie dug his fingers into the fabric beneath Eddie’s toes, trying his best to tickle despite how scrunched up his feet were. He was really more tickling the balls of his feet at this point. Eddie howled and tossed his head back, more pleas and curses falling from his lips.

“Alright, that’s it,” Richie said. “If that’s how you’re gonna be--”

Richie started pulling Eddie’s socks off. Eddie desperately gripped them in his toes, squirming and kicking to dislodge Richie, but there was a smile on his face all the while even though Richie wasn’t actively tickling him. His dimples were bright and deep, even with the scar that cut through the one on his left cheek, and his ears were a bright pink. Richie’s heart stuttered in his chest.

Damn his stupid fucking childhood crush, coming back to bite him in the ass over 20 years later. How could he still be in love with Eddie Kaspbrack, even after all these years?

At least Richie was good at burying his feelings, especially before people could see them on his face. And Eddie, arguably the best at reading him (aside from Stan, at least, but Stan could read everyone like a book with no effort at all), was thankfully a little too distracted to notice Richie’s own pink cheeks and ears.

Richie finally managed to tug his socks off, throwing them somewhere else in the room. They could find them later. He made sure his grip wrapped around Eddie’s legs was properly tight before gathering up Eddie’s big toes in one hand. The other started spidering gently over Eddie’s heels, making him tumble into giggles just like when they were kids.

“You know, Eds, you haven’t changed one bit.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Eddie yelled through his giggles, the pink spreading down his ears and into his cheeks at the sound of himself.

His giggles weren’t as sweet and childish as they once were. They were deeper now, and less bright, but they were bubbly as ever and no less beautiful. Richie felt his own blush spread down his neck and he hoped Eddie didn’t notice that, either. Well, embarrassing Eddie had always been a great way of distracting him, before.

“You’re as adorable as ever, Spaghetti!” Richie said, wiggling his fingers just a tad higher so they just barely reached the bottom of his arches. “Ticklish as ever, too.”

Eddie shrieked and tried to scrunch his feet as Richie moved higher, but Richie kept his grip tight enough that he had no success. Slowly, he started inching his fingers even higher, moving towards Eddie’s toes. If he remembered correctly, this spot would get Eddie to scream.

“You know, Eddie,” Richie said conversationally, raising his voice to talk over Eddie’s laughter, “If you told me to stop, I would.”

“I did!” Eddie said.

“No you haven’t,” Richie replied at the exact same time as Bill, who Richie hadn’t even heard come back in the room.

Richie jumped, his tickling faltered for a moment, shooting a glare over at Bill.

“Fuck off,” he and Eddie said in unision.

Bill raised his hands in surrender and left the room, muttering something about “weird flirting rituals.”

Well, fuck you, Billiam, because Richie was sure as hell not flirting, no sir.

He was just… tickling the shit out of the guy he’d been hopelessly in love with since he was eleven. It was no big deal. Just two bros being dudes.

Richie turned his evil grin back on Eddie once Bill had gone. “Last chance to stop this,” he said.

“Fuck you,” Eddie snapped, his blush going from pink to red.

Richie’s smile widened. It wasn’t anywhere near a “stop.”

He immediately started scratching his nails beneath Eddie’s toes, keeping his touch soft and gentle to start. It still had Eddie screaming in seconds, struggling desperately to pull his feet from Richie’s grasp.

“Asshole!” Eddie gasped through his laughter.

“That’s still not telling me to stop,” Richie said in a sing-song voice.

“Please! Rich!”

“That is also not telling me to stop. Are you sure you hate this as much as you pretend to?”

“Fuck!”

Richie cackled as Eddie thrashed around on the couch. He wiggled his fingers at the skin under his toes, twisted his fingers between them, and even scratched at the stems. The whole time, Eddie was going ballistic, tears of laughter building up in his eyes. Even through all this, he still hadn’t told Richie to stop. Richie was starting to wonder if he was going too far.

Then, Eddie started sitting up. Richie tried the same trick from when they were kids, using one of his feet to push at Eddie’s chest so he couldn’t reach Richie’s hands. The only issue was, Eddie was a lot stronger than when they were kids. He wasn’t that tiny little boy anymore, riddled with false illnesses, afraid he was as breakable as glass. He was still tiny, sure, but he was strong. Eddie worked out now (which Richie definitely appreciated, not that he would ever admit it).

Even weakened with his howling cackles, Eddie still managed to push his way up. His eyes were glowing with mirth, his face was bright and open with his unrepentant smile, and his cheeks were rosy and healthy. Richie couldn’t help the way his fingers faltered at the sight.

It was all the opening Eddie needed. His grin went from bubbly to feral in milliseconds and he tugged his feet out from Richie’s grip without any effort at all. Richie quickly realized that those were runner’s legs, because Eddie worked out, and that Eddie had been holding back that whole fucking time.

Richie had two epiphanies at once. One, Eddie had been letting Richie tickle him, he wanted it, and that set off all sorts of butterflies in his chest and stomach. Two, Richie was absolutely and totally fucked, which set off a whole different brand of butterflies.

“Eds-- Eddie, let’s talk about this--”

Eddie’s grin widened. “Don’t call me Eds.”

Then, Eddie lunged. Richie made a very embarrassing sounding yelp, that he very much hoped Eddie would keep to himself, and tried to scramble back over the arm of the couch. He failed, obviously, seeing as the only working out he’d ever done in his life was running from the clown and Bowers, and Eddie could probably run a marathon and not break a sweat.

Richie quickly found himself pinned underneath Eddie, Eddie’s weight straddling his thighs. Richie’s hands were still free, but he’d never been especially coordinated, and it only got worse with even the threat of being tickled.

Probably because of some subconscious desire of his to have wiggling fingers dig into every sensitive spot he has. Not that he’d ever admit any sort of desire out loud.

“Since you so mercilessly went for such a bad spot--”

“You were kicking me--!”

“-- I think I’ll return the favor.”

“Wait,” Richie cried, but it was pretty unconvincing given the giddy smile on his face. “Eddie, wait, no!”

Eddie took on a patronizing voice. “All you have to say is ‘stop.’”

That was totally unfair. Richie said “stop” when being tickled about as much as Eddie did, which was almost never.

Richie wasn’t given much time to think about that, however, because Eddie wasted no more time in digging into his hips. Which, even more unfair in Richie’s opinion, going for a death spot so soon, when Richie worked his way up to Eddie’s toes.

He jumped and bucked as Eddie squeezed at his hips, which quickly turned to squealing and attempting to curl up when Eddie started scratching at the bones. Eddie’s nails, unsurprisingly, were a lot better manicured than Richie’s own, which meant they tickled like fuck. Richie felt like he was going to crawl out of his skin in the best of ways, and he chose to cover his flushing face with his hands instead of trying to shove Eddie off.

“Eds, please!”

Eddie hummed. “Mm, no. Tell me to stop, Rich.”

Richie wailed in ticklish embarrassment, now blushing for a completely different reason than Eddie being the cutest man on the planet. Now, he was fucking hot, all in control and making Richie lose his mind and shit, and he couldn’t even enjoy it because, as he said, he was losing his mind.

Well, he was blushing from that and the exertion of his laughter. Hopefully one could disguise the other.

“Cute cute cute,” Eddie said in a nasally, high-pitched voice, probably meant to mimic child-Richie.

Richie had a lot of things he wanted to say to that, not the least of which was a heartfelt love confession thanks to the object of his affections calling him fucking cute, but he went with a safer option instead.

“You’re shit at that!” He cried through his laughter.

Eddie’s tickling paused and Richie sucked in a few deep breaths, eyeing him warily. Eddie raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t think you’re in a position to fucking insult me right now.”

Oh shit.

Eddie shoved Richie’s shirt up and shimmied his jeans a little lower on his hips, sending all sorts of weird, conflicting messages through Richie’s brain. Then, while Richie was still trying to process that shit, Eddie ducked his head down and Richie lost all the breath he had regained.

He was shocked out of his stupor by the most torturous raspberry ever given in the history of mankind being blown against the dip of his hip. Richie was certain it was the loudest he had ever yelled, which was saying something because Richie was loud. He couldn’t gain enough control over his arms to do much more than grip Eddie’s hair. He didn’t bother trying to pull or push him away, he just held on for dear life as Eddie systematically destroyed him.

Richie howled and cackled and screamed, and Richie was glad that Bill was the only other one in the house because he really did not need every single Loser hearing him make these noises. Sure, they heard it echo in the clubhouse when they were kids, but Richie was an adult now and had to maintain some semblance of control and maturity.

Then again, Bill would probably spread this around like wildfire.

Just when Richie thought he’d reached peak ticklishness, Eddie somehow led him to an all new peak. Richie’s screams went silent as Eddie gently dragged his teeth against one of his hipbones. Ticklish sparks shot straight up Richie’s spine, too ticklishly keyed up to realize how fucking hot that was, and he bucked up with a strength he didn’t know he possessed. The two of them landed in a heap on the floor.

Richie landed on top of Eddie, whose legs wound up wrapped around his waist. Richie held himself up on his forearms, resting on the rug on either side of Eddie’s head. Richie was still panting for breath, the wide, tickle-induced smile still stretched across his face and a blush still travelling from his ears to his neck. Eddie was grinning up at him, the pink flush spreading through his cheeks once more.

Richie wasn’t sure who moved first. All he knew was that suddenly, they were kissing. They were both smiling too wide for it to be a particularly effective kiss, but it still sent magical sparks zinging through Richie’s chest. If this was how all of their tickle fights were going to end from now on, Richie was going to have to start them more often.

“Fuck,” Richie whispered when they pulled back.

Eddie pressed their foreheads together with a chuckle. “I guess that’s one way to do it.”

“You know,” Richie said, still whispering. “I only tickled you so much when we were kids because you were fucking adorable when I did, and I was practically in love with you.”

Eddie locked eyes with him.

“I don’t think you hated it as much as you pretended to, though,” Richie finished with a grin.

“Fuck you,” Eddie snapped, but there was no heat to it. “And now?”

“Now?”

“Why start a tickle fight now?”

Richie grinned. “Well, Eds--”

“Fuck you!”

“-- I gotta say, the years didn’t make you any less adorable.”

“Yeah?” Eddie whispered, and Richie felt Eddie’s legs tighten around his waist.

“Yeah.” And then, because Richie couldn’t be serious for more than two minutes at a time, he said, “Still not as cute as your mom, though.”

Eddie groaned, slapping his shoulder. “Beep beep, you fucking asshole. I thought we were having a moment.”

Richie raised his eyebrows. “We could have another, if you want.”

One of Eddie’s hands came up to thread through the hair at the nape of Richie’s neck. Just as he started to tug Richie down, just as their lips started to brush, there was a snort from the doorway that had them jumping apart. Richie barely avoided clunking his head against the end table as he sprang away from Eddie.

“Finally,” Bill said. “B-B-Bev owes me fifty d-dollars.”

“Fuck off!” He and Eddie shouted in unison.

Bill laughed and raised his hands in surrender, leaving the room again. “D-don’t christen your n-n-new relationship on my rug.”

Richie scowled at Bill’s back until he was out of sight. Then, he turned his gaze back towards Eddie, who was already crawling towards him again.

“Wanna make out until the rest of the group gets here?” Eddie said with a grin.

Richie grinned back. “Only if I get to tickle you and you laugh into my mouth.”

Eddie laughed, already pulling Richie closer. “You’re so fucking weird.”

“You love it.”

Eddie sighed. “Unfortunately, I love you. Obnoxious as you are.”

Richie could barely stop smiling for long enough to press his lips to Eddie’s. Eddie shoved him back onto the floor, landing on top himself this time. Richie did end up skittering his fingers up and down Eddie’s sides and ribs, tasting the giggles that Eddie let out into his mouth. Eddie wasted no time in returning the favor, either, dragging his blunt nails across Richie’s skin to get him giggling against Eddie’s lips.

It was by far the best make-out session Richie had ever had. Partially from the tickling, Richie would never complain about that, but mostly because it was Eddie. Whenever the rest of the Loser’s arrived, they would be pretty hard-pressed to get Richie to stop kissing Eddie for even a moment. They had a lot of lost time to make up for.

#tickle fic #My writing #it tickling #lee!eddie #ler!richie #ticklish!eddie #lee!richie #ler!eddie #ticklish!richie #it movies #eddie kaspbrack #richie tozier #reddie

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nblesbianbenhanscom · 3 years

Note

prompt #17 for reddie? :)

“I want to feel like this forever.”

just a little miniseries reddie for you. ❤️🧡💛💚💙

you can also read it on ao3

***

After Derry, after the hospital, after almost a year of recovery and fighting with his mother every day multiple times a day about seeing Richie, Eddie has had enough.

“Ma, I’m leaving,” Eddie says quietly to the mirror in the cramped bathroom he’d shared with her since he was a late teen. He clears his throat. “Ma, now don’t get— Please don’t get—” Pause. “Ma, I’m forty-one years old. It is well past time I moved out and—” He groans.

This is a disaster. He knows she’s going to see right through him, she’s going to know this is because of Richie.

And she’s not entirely wrong. To be fair though, he knows he’s not doing it for Richie, but Richie is a huge motivating factor to get out from his mother’s thumb. All Eddie really wants right now is to be with his love, and he knows his mother is going to have issues with it, but he can’t live for her any more.

Eddie opens his mouth to rehearse some more when Sonia knocks on the door and Eddie lets out a little shriek.

“Eddie, darling, are you alright?” She calls through the door.

“I’m fine, ma.” He flushes the toilet and washes his hands as she tries to delay the inevitable.

“Well, hurry up, your supper’s getting cold.”

When he opens the door, she is still standing there, waiting.

“Ma, what are you doing? Let’s go eat.” He takes her elbow and guides her down the stairs just the way she likes. Pot roast is waiting for them in the dining room, and as Eddie helps push in Sonia’s chair, he can’t help but wonder if this is going to be the last meal of hers he’s ever going to eat.

He sits down across from her and waits for her to dish him up some food. They talk quietly through dinner, but it’s all haze. Eddie forgets what he’s saying almost as soon as the words leave his mouth.

Half an hour later, Sonia clucks at him. “Eddie, dear, you’ve barely touched your food. Are you sure you’re feeling alright?”

“I’m fine, just not really hungry.” He takes a deep breath. “Actually, ma, there is something I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

Just do it. Just say it. You can do this. You killed an alien, you can do this, Eddie tells himself.

“Ma,” he starts and stops. “Ma, first of all, I just want to tell you that I love you very much.”

“I love you, too, Eddie.” She frowns at him and he has to look away.

“Ma, I— I’m moving out.”

“Moving out? Don’t be ridiculous, Eddie, dear. Where do you think you can go? Your home is here with me.”

“Ma, I’m forty-one. I’m a— I’m—” He swallows hard. He can’t quite make himself say, I’m a forty-one year old gay virgin, so instead he says, “Richie has a spare room. I’m going to move in with him.” He doesn't tell her he’s not going to stay in the guest room.

“With Richie? Richie Tozier?” She shrieks. “That vile little boy grew up to be a vile man. You can’t. I won’t allow it.”

“I’m not asking for your permission, ma, I’m telling you what’s going to happen.”

Sonia looks at him in disbelief. “Edward Kaspbrak, how dare you talk to me like this. I can’t believe what you are saying. You can't leave me like this. You need me, Eddie.”

“No, ma, you need me. And I can’t do it any more. I’m sorry, but I can’t— I can’t be your excuse to not be happy any more.”

Glowering, Sonia asks, “And just what is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that you never gave yourself a chance to be happy after pop died because you were afraid of getting hurt again. You— You put all your energy and attention into me. I was your whole world so you didn’t have to go find a new husband, a new life. You were afraid and you made me afraid, and I don’t want to be afraid anymore.”

Sonia blinks. “I never once stopped you from— from having a life. You were always allowed to have a relationship. You were the one who broke up with Myra.”

“Ma, that’s not— I don’t—” He sighs. “Don’t make me say it.”

“Say what, Eddie? Explain it to me. Explain to me why you are abandoning your dear old mother. Your mother who took care of you your whole life through. I never asked for anything, never wanted anything in return, and this is the thanks I get?”

“Ma, just— I’m leaving, ok? I’m leaving tonight and—”

“Oh, Eddie, just tell me why. I’d understand if- if it was for a girl, maybe, but that nasty man—”

“Richie’s not nasty, ma, he’s wonderful. You just don’t like him because he treats me better than you.”

“He’s dirty!”

“He’s not!

“He’ll get you into trouble. Trouble like before. You really think—”

“Think he’ll take care of me if I have another accident? Yes, he will. He hardly left my side. He was there when I needed him in the middle of the night. He paid for your room, too, and you never really thanked him.” Sonia makes a small move noise of disapproval. “Look, ma. He moved here. He moved here after I got out of the hospital. He’s— He—” He shakes his head a little. “There’s nothing that I can say that will explain this in a satisfactory way, so please, just- just—” Just try and understand, is what he wants to say, but the words won’t come.

“Eddie, I only want what’s best for you, can’t you see that?” Sonia asks. “That friend of yours can’t take care of you the way that I can.”

“No, ma. No one takes care of me like you do,” Eddie says carefully. He knows they are close to the edge and he doesn’t really want to spill over. Even after everything, he believes that she loves him and only wants what she thinks is best for him, but her whole world view was totally screwed. She had done her best, but it's time to get on with his life. Their life together isn't fair to either of them.

“Then why do you want to leave me?”

“It’s not you, ma. Leaving is just something I gotta do.” Eddie looks at her and wishes he hadn’t. She’s crying and looks so, so small. She’d never really looked small before and it scares him.

“But why?”

He almost says, Because I love him, but he is literally saved by the doorbell.

“Oh, who could that be at this hour?” Sonia sniffs and starts to get up.

“It’s for me, ma. It’s— It’s Joey. He’s going to help me get my stuff over to Richie’s.”

“And where is Richie then?” Sonia asks as Eddie heads towards the door.

“At home. We thought it would be less… upsetting if you didn’t see him right now.” And it clearly worked well, cause you are so, so calm, he thinks to himself. He opens the door and smiles at his favorite coworker. Well, soon to be ex-coworker because Eddie and Richie are moving to LA in a few weeks. Guilt fills Eddie’s stomach when he realizes he hasn’t told his mother this yet.

One thing at a time, Eddie tells him.

“Hey, Joey, thanks for this again.”

“Any time, Eddie. How is she?” Joey looks past Eddie to try and see Sonia for himself.

“She’s… taking it about as well as can be expected at this point.” Eddie glances back over his shoulder to see if she’s come out of the dining room or not, and is relieved to find the hall empty.

“Come on. My room is upstairs.” Eddie moves aside so Joey can come in, and Eddie is struck by the realization that Joey is the first friend he’s had over since he was a kid. He doesn’t count Myra because that had been just a huge disaster.

It had never been a real relationship, they hadn’t even kissed. It had been so easy to just pretend like he wanted to wait for marriage, that he was an old fashioned kind of guy, and Myra had happily gone along with it. Sometimes Eddie almost felt sorry for her, but he knew that she didn’t love him any more than he loved her.

Honestly, even if Eddie weren’t gay, he knows his mother would never have really let him marry Myra, and he would be here irregardless. There had been no escaping his mother.

They head up the stairs, and Eddie can hear Sonia crying in the kitchen. He hopes she stays there.

Eddie doesn’t have much stuff he actually wants to take, and between Joey and himself, it only takes one trip to get all his stuff. They put his things in the trunk and Eddie sighs.

“I’m going to go say goodbye. This may take a while. If it gets too late, call Richie and—”

“I know the plan, Eddie. It’s ok. It’s going to be fine.”

Eddie giggles. “Yeah, sure. You wanna go in for me?” He points to the door.

“Not a chance in hell.” They both laugh. “Good luck, Eddie.” Joey squeezes Eddie's shoulder, and Eddie sighs a little.

“Thanks. I’m going to need it.” He takes another deep breath and turns to walk up the path. He opens the door and steps back in. He rubs his face as he goes to find Sonia. She’s in the kitchen staring at the leftover pot roast.

“I’m leaving, ma. I just— I just wanted to say goodbye.”

Sonia says nothing.

“Ma, please. Please try to understand. I’m not doing this to hurt you. I just want a chance to be happy.”

Sonia begins to put the leftovers away.

“Ma, say something. Please.” When she doesn’t say anything, Eddie nods. “It’s ok, ma. Maybe one day you’ll understand. Maybe one day we’ll be able to talk again.” He turns and walks down the hall.

“Eddie?” Sonia calls from the kitchen.

“Yeah, ma?” He turns and sees her watching from the kitchen doorway.

“If you leave, I never want to see you again,” Sonia says.

Swallowing hard, Eddie nods. “I love you, ma.” He turns and leaves, closing the door quietly behind him. He hates this, hates himself, hates everything. He stews in his guilt all the way to Richie’s. When they get there, Eddie hesitates.

“You want me to go get Richie?” Joey asks.

Eddie doesn’t say anything for a long moment, just sits there thinking about how Joey was the best friend he had without the Losers, and even though they’d been friends for years Joey knew very little about Eddie’s life. Eddie is amazed that Joey would be willing to just drop everything to help him. Slowly, Eddie shakes his head. “No, come on. Let’s go in. I’m tired and ready for tonight to be over.”

“Ok.” Joey squeezes Eddie’s shoulder. They get out and grab the bags. They walk up the steps and Richie opens the door before they can knock on the door.

“Hey! Eddie Spaghetti! Welcome home!” He lifts Eddie up and pulls him into a tight hug and kisses his ear.

“Hi, Richie.”

Richie puts him down. “Uh oh. I take it things didn't go well with Mama Kaspbrak?” He ruffles Eddie’s hair and he can’t help but smile.

“We’ll talk about it in a bit.”

Grabbing Eddie’s face, Richie pulls him close and he gives him a huge smooch. “Ok, babes.” He looks up at Joey and steps aside to let them both in. “Thanks for all your help, Joey. We couldn’t have done this without you.”

Joey waves him off. “You’re ok. I was happy to help.” He sets the bags down. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Will do,” Richie says. Joey waves and walks back out.

“Bye, Joey. See you Monday!” Eddie calls. He waves and Richie closes the door. He takes a deep breath and leans against the door.

“Was she awful?” Richie asks.

“Oh, yes.” Eddie walks over and pulls Richie’s arms around him. Richie pulls him close and kisses the top of his head.

“I’m sorry, Eds. What can I do?”

Shaking his head, Eddie looks up at Richie. “Thank you for being so amazing.”

“Me? What did I do?” Richie asks.

“You exist.”

Richie smiles and kisses Eddie gently on the lips. “Love you, Spaghetti Man.”

“Love you, too, Richie.” He rests his head on Richie’s chest and they just stand there for a few minutes.

“So, you wanna unpack tonight or just go to bed?” Richie asks.

Eddie takes a deep breath and sighs. “Do you have any ice cream? I didn’t eat much dinner.” It’s weird to think that this time last year, Eddie would have balked at the suggestion of ice cream so close to bedtime, would have pointed out that it would probably give them stomach aches, but in this moment, it’s all he wants.

“I think we might have some. Let’s go look.” He takes Eddie’s hand and laces their fingers together as he leads the way to the kitchen. Eddie leans against the counter as Richie opens the freezer. “We’ve got rocky road and vanilla bean.”

Eddie thinks for a moment and just nods. “Sure.”

“Which one?”

“Both.”

“You got it babes.” Richie puts the ice cream on the counter and gets some spoons. “Want help up?”

“What?”

“If we’re going to eat ice cream out of the carton, we do it sitting on the counter.”

Laughing, Eddie makes a face. “You’re so goofy.” He kisses Richie’s cheek. “Help me up?” He of course doesn’t need help, but he just wants another excuse for Richie to touch him. When they are both up on the counter, Richie opens the ice creams and hands a carton to Eddie. They bang them together and dig in.

After a few minutes of silence, Richie asks, “You wanna talk about it?”

Sighing, Eddie takes another bite of ice cream. “She said she would never talk to me again.”

“And that’s a bad thing?” Richie asks.

“Richie!” Eddie shoves his shoulder smiling a little despite himself. He takes a deep breath. “Look, I know she was terrible, I know she’s going to be terrible, because Lord knows she’s not going to leave me alone despite what she may say, but I can’t help but feel sorry for her. She has nothing without me.”

Richie takes a bite of Eddie’s ice cream and considers this for a moment. “Spaghetti, your mom is what, a million?” Eddie smiles and rolls his eyes. “Your dad died when you were a kid. Your mom has had pretty much your entire life to get a life of her own, but she refused. If your mom really wanted to be happy, she would have found a way, you know? It’s not your job to make her happy, remember?”

Nodding, Eddie sighs. “I know. I just feel bad.” And he does. He really does. It's something he's talked about at great length not only with the Losers but with his therapist, Billie, as well.

Richie tosses his empty ice cream container on the counter and pulls Eddie close.

“Baby, I love you so much. You deserve only the best.” He takes a deep breath. “You deserve to be happy.”

“I know. I love you, too.” He squeezes Richie and pulls back. He tries to stifle a yawn, but Richie sees right through him.

“Aww, Sketti. Let’s go to bed.” He puts the ice cream away and presses another kiss into Eddie’s forehead. “Come on.” He hauls Eddie up into his arms and Eddie shrieks with laughter as he wraps his arms around Richie's neck.

“Are you really going to carry me up to bed bridal style?” Eddie asks.

Richie shrugs. “I thought it was fitting, being your first official night home and all.”

Eddie pulls him close for a kiss. “I love you so much.”

“Love you, too, Eds.”

“There’s only one problem,” Eddie says.

“And what’s that?”

“You’re going to throw out your back.”

Rolling his eyes and laughing, Richie says, “Right, like you are so, so heavy. Pfft. It will be ok.”

“Richie!”

“Eddie! You’re just scared I’m gonna drop you.” They laugh.

“No, I’m not. You would never.” They kiss again. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.” He pushes his forehead into Eddie’s. “Are you ready for bed?”

“Sure am,” Eddie says. Richie carries Eddie up to his bedroom— to their bedroom.

Their bedroom.

Because Eddie lives here now. Eddie is home.

After Richie puts Eddie down, they get changed into some pajamas. Eddie just wears one of Richie’s undershirts because he'd left his bags downstairs and neither of them wanted to go back down for them. They crawl under the blankets. Richie pulls Eddie close, curling around him. Eddie holds tightly to Richie’s arm and nuzzles into his chest.

Despite his stress and anxiety, Eddie manages to fall asleep pretty quickly. He wakes up early the next morning to the sound of pigeons and Richie snoring softly in his ear. He has to pee but he’s not ready to get up so he just lays there for a few more minutes.

Then he remembers his mother. He sighs and wonders how she’s doing, if she’d managed to get any sleep. He knows Richie is right, that it’s not Eddie’s job to make her happy, but still. It’s hard to let go.

After another minute he sighs and starts to try and pull free, but Richie holds him tighter. Eddie brushes some hair out of his boyfriend’s face and kisses his forehead.

“Rich,” Eddie murmurs.

“Uh uh, not yet.” Richie shoves his face into Eddie’s neck.

“Richie.” Eddie strokes the back of Richie’s neck.

“Just a few more minutes.”

“I just need to pee, and then I’ll be right back.”

“But don’t you have to—” Richie stops, pulls back, and looks up at Eddie. “You are home.”

“Yeah. I am.” Eddie kisses the tip of Richie’s nose. “But I really have to pee.”

Richie smiles widely. “Ok, ok. But you’re coming back.” Clearly he’s not going to be the only one who’s going to need time getting used to this new arrangement.

“Yes, love, I’m coming back.” They share a kiss and then Eddie gets up. After using the toilet, Eddie splashes some water on his face. It’s weird to think that soon he’s going to move 3,000 miles away.

Taking a deep breath, Eddie goes back to Richie. He curls up and pulls him close. They doze for a little while, and when they wake up again, they still aren’t ready to get up.

Richie lays there gently stroking Eddie’s arm and they listen to the soft sounds of spring; the birds, the wind through the trees, the voices from people on the street as they go about their day, and it’s so, so nice.

Neither of them say anything until Richie’s stomach rumbles. Without opening his eyes, Richie grumbles, “Traitor.”

“We can get up and eat and come back,” Eddie points out. “We don’t have to do anything today.”

Ruffling Eddie’s hair, Richie asks, “Why Eddie Kaspbrak, are you really suggesting we procrastinate, that we shirk our duties for the day?”

Smiling gently, Eddie kisses Richie. “I’m saying, I want to feel like this forever.”

“How’s that, Eddie spaghetti?”

Licking his lips, Eddie blushes and ducks his head. “Safe. And loved. Peaceful.”

Richie swallows hard and gives the back of Eddie’s neck a gentle squeeze. “Yeah?” He asks softly. “No regrets.”

Eddie shakes his head, no. “I love you so much. I feel so lucky, so damn lucky that we got this chance again when— We almost lost each other twice. It would have killed me to lose you a third time.”

They fall silent for a moment and then Richie sniffles a little. Shocked, Eddie pulls back to look at him.

“Richie what—?”

“It’s just— I’m just—” He swallows hard and tries to take a deep breath. “I—” He laughs.

“It’s ok, Richie. Talk to me.”

“I just love you so much, and I mean I know you love me, but I didn’t—” He lets out a small sob. “I never hoped, never dreamed you could love me as much as I love you. That— That you would—”

“Richie, I love you so much. Why would you even doubt that?” Eddie wipes away some of Richie’s tears.

“I didn’t. I mean, not really. It’s just—” He sighs. “My past relationships, for the most part, were good. We cared about each other and took care of each other, but they weren’t like this, weren’t this… this intense. It’s so amazing that we got lucky like we did, and I think— I know— I feel like—” He shakes his head a little.

“Richie, are you really at a loss for words?” Eddie asks and Richie laughs.

“I just love you so much. And I want to keep this feeling too. I want this moment to last forever.”

They kiss again and Eddie curls up under Richie’s chin. They don’t sleep, but they don’t talk and they don’t move, and it’s all just so nice.

Eventually they get up and shower so they can go get food, but it’s really ok because they are together and they love each other, and they know things aren’t always going to be smooth, but for right now, for these moments, everything is good, perfect even. They know that in the end, they will always have each other, and that’s more than enough.

#reddie #eddie kaspbrak #richie tozier #sonia kaskpbrak's a+ parenting #it #it miniseries #miniseries it #it (1990)#just some fluff and stuff #hope you like it❤️🧡💛💚💙💜#bookeddie

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thestarsaroundyourscars · 4 years

Note

Yoo if you’re still taking requests from the kissing prompts can I request “in the moonlight” and “a bet” with reddie please and thank youu!!

Thank you! This prompt is hella old but hopefully you’ll still enjoy it

You can also read it on AO3

“I can't believe I let you talk me into this.” Eddie muttered, letting Bev drag him through campus, towards the bonfire party.

“It will be fun!” She promised with a grin. As they got closer, Eddie heard the shouts of drunk college students over the noise of crackling flames.

He let out a sigh, that didn’t sound fun at all. “Just promise me you won't ditch me.” Eddie said. The last thing he wanted was to end up alone, in a party he didn’t even want to be in. “You're the only reason I'm here.”

Bev looked at him over her shoulder, one of her eyebrows raised. “Really? You're not secretly hoping that Richie will be there?”

Eddie spluttered, cheeks flushing pink. “What? Why would I― I'm not―” Bev was snickering and he glared at her half heartedly. “Shut up.”

It wasn’t like she was right. He wasn’t hoping that Richie would be at this silly bonfire. Eddie was sure he would be there. Unlike him, Richie never missed a party. But Eddie was, in fact, hoping to see him tonight, to spend time with him. He thought he had been subtle about it, but it seemed Bev was onto him.

The bonfire came into view. People were drinking and dancing around a large, burning pile of wood. Eddie wrinkled his nose, who thought it was a good idea to have a bunch of drunk people near a fire?

“See? Fun!” Bev said with a delighted grin, she released Eddie's arm. “Alright, I'll get us some drinks.”

“I told you not to leave me!” He said, shaking his head.

But Bev was already walking away. “I'm not leaving you! I'll be right back!” She shouted over her shoulder before disappearing into the crowd.

It was a lie.

Eddie waited at the spot where she left him, shifting uneasily on his feet. But when she didn’t return he found an empty log and sat on it, glaring at the flames.

He was considering going back to his dorm when someone sat down next to him. Eddie looked up to find Richie grinning at him, the sight made his heart skip a beat.

“Hey Eds, having fun?”

Eddie rolled his eyes. “Because being surrounded by drunken idiots is clearly my idea of fun.”

“Well, at least the bonfire is cool.” Richie said, bumping his shoulder against him.

He chuckled, looking at the flames and shrugging. “Yeah, I guess.” Then his nose scrunched up. “But I'm not looking forward to my clothes and my hair smelling like smoke for an entire week.”

Richie leaned forward in one fast movement, startling him. His first thought was that Richie was going to kiss him, which made no sense, but it still made his heart speed up. Instead, Richie pressed his nose to Eddie’s hair, taking a deep breath.

“Smells good to me. Soapy and clean, pure Eddie.”

Eddie's cheeks were burning, he pushed Richie away with a light shove. "Well, I haven’t been here for long."

“Is that why you don't have a drink yet?”

“Bev said she would get me one, then she disappeared.”

Richie chuckled softly. “Yeah, I saw her talking to Ben and Mike. That's why I came looking for you. I figured you would be around here somewhere, glaring at people who actually know how to have fun.” He smirked at Eddie. “And I was right.”

Eddie huffed indignantly. “I know how to have fun. This―” he gestured vaguely around them, “―is just not it.”

“Alright.” Richie said, pausing to drink from his beer bottle while giving Eddie a considering look. “Tell me what would you be doing if Bev hadn’t dragged you here?”

Eddie bit the inside of his cheek. The truth was, that before Bev barged into his room and dragged him outside, he’d been looking for something to watch on his laptop, ready to spend his Saturday night under his covers, watching movies. Richie clearly expected something like that, if his smug expression was anything to go by. "I can be fun." Eddie said instead, making Richie laugh out loud.

"Sure you can, Eds." He said, voice dripping with sarcasm. Eddie glared at him, and when Richie raised his bottle to drink more beer he reached over and snatched the bottle away. Without giving it much thought, he brought it to his lips and, ignoring Richie’s protests, he gulped the beer down.

His face scrunched up at the taste, but he didn't stop drinking until the bottle was empty. Richie was staring at him, wide eyed and with a slight flush on his cheeks. It made Eddie feel slightly flustered himself.

He cleared his throat and tried to make his expression smug. “See? I’m fun.”

“The life of the fucking party.” Richie agreed with a chuckle.

“Mmm, exactly.” He didn’t understand how he felt a bit tipsy after only half a bottle of beer. The last thing he needed was for Richie to also tease him for being a lightweight. “I'm the most fun person on campus.”

Richie gave him an uncharacteristically soft smile. “You're certainly the cutest.”

The words made blood rise to Eddie’s face. Before he was forced to respond to that, they heard catcalls and whistles coming from a group near them. When they looked over, they saw two people kissing in the middle of a circle. Richie noticed the way Eddie’s nose scrunched up and said, “I think they're playing truth or dare. Wanna go over there Mr. ‘I'm the most fun person on campus’?”

Eddie rolled his eyes. “Richie, that game is just an excuse to make out with strangers.”

“Duh. That's what makes it fun.”

“You know what's not fun?”

“You?” Richie supplied with a smirk.

“Mononucleosis.” Eddie finished, and Richie tossed his head back with a laugh.

“I mean, you could always choose truth. You look like the kind of guy who picks truth every time.” He said with that same smug expression from before. It bugged Eddie, especially considering Richie was right. On the rare occasion Eddie had attended parties in high school and was roped into games of truth or dare, he always stuck with truth. It was safer. And boring, according to Richie.

“You're wrong.” Eddie lied as best as he could. “I picked dare all the time, and I never backed down.”

“Is that so?” Richie said, eyes sparkling with interest. “So if I were to dare you to do something right now, you'd do it?”

Eddie hesitated. He wanted to prove Richie wrong, but he was nervous about what he would dare him to do. Sure that Eddie would back down, a smile slowly appeared on Richie’s face.

That smug smile was what ultimately made Eddie say, “Yeah. I'll do it.”

He regretted it when Richie’s smile turned devious. “Well then. I dare you to kiss someone.” He said, looking at him with a challenge in his eyes, like he was certain Eddie wouldn't do it, not after he just finished talking about mononucleosis and the risks of kissing strangers.

Eddie’s lips flattened to a thin, stubborn line. “Anyone?”

"Yup." Richie shrugged. "Your choice Eds, just find someone at this bonfire and kiss them. Live a little."

Eddie looked around, his bottom lip caught between his teeth while he weighed his options. He could say no, Richie would tease him but he would never force Eddie to do anything he didn’t want to do. Kissing a stranger was out of the question, just thinking about it made him shudder. He guessed he could find Bev and give her a quick friendly kiss just to shut Richie up. Or―

Eddie looked at Richie. He was used to denying it, but Eddie knew he liked him. He liked his blue eyes, his ridiculous glasses, his messy curls. And he liked how he made Eddie laugh. How he could go from making a joke to talking him down from a panic attack in less than a second. He liked how he seemed to know Eddie better than anyone, even if they had only known each other for a year.

He wanted to kiss him. He could kiss him. And if Richie didn't kiss him back, he could just brush it off as part of the joke. No harm done. And if he did kiss him back, well― Eddie wouldn’t mind.

“Backing down, Eds?” Richie asked, interrupting his thoughts.

“No, just thinking.”

Richie opened his mouth, ready to make another teasing remark, but Eddie cut him off before he got the chance. He closed the space between the two and pressed their lips together.

He heard Richie make a surprised noise and felt him go stiff as a board. Eddie started to panic when he didn’t kiss him back right away but before he could even think about moving away, Richie was grabbing his shoulders, and his lips were moving. Eddie didn't even care about the taste of beer shared between them, kissing Richie was better than he ever imagined. He placed his hand around the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

It wasn't until they heard a few catcalls that may or may not have been directed at them that they pulled away, both of them a little flushed. The way Richie was grinning at him eased the last of Eddie's nerves.

“Still think I don't know how to have fun?” Eddie asked, voice slightly breathless.

“A little.” Richie replied, and Eddie pushed at his chest but he was smiling. “You definitely know how to kiss, though.”

Eddie felt his stomach flip. “Oh. Thanks.” He mumbled shyly.

“Can I ask why me?”

The question brought back Eddie's worries. Kissing Richie was one thing, blatantly admitting that he liked him was way more nerve wracking.

He offered a noncommittal shrug. “You were the closest to me.” He said as nonchalantly as he could.

But Richie's grin widened, like he didn't believe Eddie at all. “Oh really? So you would've just kissed any guy like that?”

“I might've.”

Richie rolled his eyes, he moved closer until their faces were only inches apart. “Right. See, here's the thing, Eds. I don't think you would've. I think you wanted to kiss me just as much as I've been wanting to kiss you.”

Eddie’s breath caught in his throat. “Wait, what?” When he had first realized he liked Richie he didn’t want to get his hopes up, knowing it would be worse if it turned out Richie only saw him as a friend so he never entertained the idea that he might like him back.

“Let’s just say,” Richie began, his hand softly holding Eddie’s cheek. “If you had dared me to kiss anyone at this bonfire, I would’ve also picked you.”

“Oh.” Eddie gasped, his heart hammering in his chest. Richie leaned in to kiss him again, without anyone daring him to do it.

And just as their lips touched Eddie thought that maybe this time, just a little bit of hope would be alright.

Tag list: @daddyphantomtbh @yes-dillman-yes @richietoaster @beepbeeprichiellc @its-stranger-than-you-think @lemonaayyee @losers-gotta-stick-together @tinyarmedtrex @richiefuckfacetozier @sam-i-am2468 @stylesmelon @s-s-georgie @reddie-for-anything @eddiefuckinkaspbrak @constantreaderfool @hammockrichie @jesuschristsupruvestar @mirandonsky @reddie4diaster @alargedepresso @purplepoisonedgem @pan-ini @reddie-to-cry @reddieforlove @trashmouthnick @multi-fandom-wby @wheezyeds @nancynwheeler @reddieslashgeneralhorror @madi-personal @reddie-tozibrak @lover-mouth @atownofeggs @that-weird-girls-blog @appojoos @castielwinovak @a-gay-treee @twoidiotsinl0ve @fcngirltrxsh @spirited-marvel @typewrxter @rebecca-the-queen @juhavs @thegoshdiddlydangdoor @soooobr @purebloodqueen @call-me-bread @britcorn @wickedlyweasley @derpyanimatesstuff @braverthanyathink @s-onora @reddie-stole-my-heart @hammockrichie @s-onora @reddie-stole-my-heart @typewrxter

#reddie #have a cute little prompt #I know it's been a while #monse writes #im-a-rocketman

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mitchsmarners · 4 years

Text

i took too many hits off this memory (i need to come down)

pairing: eddie kaspbrak/richie tozier [reddie] rating: teen audiences and up chapter warnings: mentions of past drug abuse, mentions of past child abuse in terms of s*nia kaspbrak, mentions of minor character death/near death word count: 3,515 chapter count: 4 of ? summary: Eddie Kaspbrak doesn’t remember much from his childhood. He doesn’t really know he doesn’t remember. He also doesn’t know why he’s so drawn this terrible comedian on tv, but when Eddie runs into him in a bar, and they spend the night together, Eddie’s life is changed forever. It’s finally back on track- and he doesn’t know anything about it

read on ao3. moodboard by @isaacslaheys

perma taglist: @jwilliambyers, @stebbins, @isaacslaheys, @s-s-georgie, @transrich@eddiefuckinkaspbrak, @edstozler, @emgays, @anellope, @thorn-harvester-ven, @wheezyeds, @vipertooth, @tozierking, @billdenbrough, @starrystoziers, @trashmouthtozierr, @willelbyers @loserslibrary (let me know if you want added!)

June 5 2009

Richie wasn’t sure how to tell his manager that he didn’t want to do stand up anymore. That maybe he’d never really wanted to do stand up. He liked making people laugh, and he vaguely remembered wanting to be a vanquilist when he was a kid but he’d never been able to stop his mouth from moving with the words. It was fitting that now, Richie’s job was almost just exclusively moving his mouth. Richie had gotten terrifyingly good at walking on stage, flicking off his brain and transforming into Trashmouth™. That had long since stopped bothering him, but as his career took off, Richie found himself having to be Trashmouth™ more and more and Richie less and less. He was suddenly surrounded by people who only really saw him as the foul mouthed, sex crazed misogynist his ghost writers had him portrayed as on stage. They’d promised him that kind of shit sold, and they’d been right, but suddenly all his friends actually thought and spoke like Trashmouth™ and it made him queasy. He could only handle sitting through so many homophobic and sexist conversations before he felt Richie would melt right out of him and Trashmouth™ would be all that was left of him. He couldn’t let that happen… he just didn’t know how to tell anybody.

He was doing a string of shows in Georgia, because Richie’s shows always sold better the further south he went. Richie hated the South, and not just because of his whole bisexuality thing, but because the weather sucked, the accents annoyed him and Richie Tozier did not belong anywhere where the potential of rodeo or circus existed. (Richie Tozier didn’t know anything about the Southern United States).

Richie had been born in Maine, one of the coldest states in this god forsaken country, and in 1992 his family had moved up north of the border. Richie had come back to the United States after university, because everybody told him that he would be better off getting a job in show business in America rather than Canada. He hadn’t been totally sure that was true, but he’d gotten successful pretty quickly after moving back down here so he wasn’t about to argue it.

“I don’t know what you’re upset about.” Audra Phillips, one of Richie’s few true friends, was saying to him while packing up Richie’s hotel room. He was so ready to leave the Devil behind, and get started on his break. He was fully debating on going to Canada to see his parents, it had been too long and every phone conversation with his mom felt like a guilty knife to the chest, but Richie had things he needed to take care of.

“You’ve been doing this for years, Rich.” Audra carried on, scowling at one Richie’s ratty overshirts before tossing it directly into the hotel bedside garbage. “You’re good at it, you’re making great money, you get to stay in the nicest hotels and see the country. What else could you possibly want? You’re doing things most people dream of.”

Richie huffed out an aggravated breath. “You’re telling me you never think of leaving all this behind? Not even when paparazzi follow you around the grocery store or TMZ leaks half truths that destroy your relationships.”

Audra crossed her arms over her chest. “First of all, no, I don’t. I’m living my dreams, Richie, that’s more than most people can say! And when was the last time Paparazzi followed you anywhere? Never? What’s really bugging you out, Richie?”

“I don’t know,” Richie said, only half-lying. “It’s like… sure, I’m doing great financially, and it’s nice that people want to see my shows but it’s not like they actually like me. The person they’re coming to see is basically the anti Richie. If I come out, I will lose all my fans because they’re a bunch of homophobic asstwats because that’s the audience I have to cater to.”

“Are you thinking of coming out?” Audra asked.

“Not like… tomorrow, but someday, yeah.” Richie said quietly. “I’m not going to live my life in the closet. It’s not like it’s the 1980s anymore. Honestly, if it wasn’t for my shows and how coming out would basically make all my content unuseable, I probably would have come out already. Or at least not been so hard on sneaking around.”

Audra dropped down on the hotel bed and smiled sadly up at him. “You shouldn’t have to live a lie forever, Richie, but you’ve got to be reasonable about this, too. You can’t just up and quit, you know that. You’re on a contract, Steve will not hesitate to sue the fuck out of you if you try to skimp out-”

“My contract ends with this tour,” Richie said. “That’s why I’ve been thinking about it so much, they’re trying to get me to sign on for another three years and I just… I’m 30, Auds. I don’t want to spend another three years of my life touring around to states to hate, telling jokes I don’t relate to and letting people think I can for things that I don’t. I hate that people can use my acts to justify their bullshit, you know? Three more years of that would literally make me want to kill myself.”

Audra froze for a moment, then shook her head. “If you’re having thoughts again then we can-”

“No.” Richie snapped. “It’s not like that, and before you ask- no, I’m not using anymore. I’m not going down any sort of self destructive path. I’m just… tired. I’m 30, and I’m in the closet and I’m tired.”

Audra nodded slowly. “Okay, then here’s what you’ve got to do, then. Go to talk to somebody at your bank today before you head out, just see what you’re looking at financially. Figure out how long you can bank on your ass without working while you figure out what you want to do. Then go home and see your momma, because she probably misses you, and tell Steve that you will give them an answer to resigning when you get back.”

“And what if I don’t want to come back?” Richie asked quietly.

“Then you don’t have to.” Audra said simply. “But Steve the bullshit excuse anyway. It’ll get you across the border way easier then if you tell him that you tell him to go fuck himself and that his biggest profit client is leaving him.”

There was only one branch of Richie’s bank in Atlanta, and Richie took a moment to appreciate Steve’s power as he was ushered through the bank and immediately back to meet with one of their accountants. The man on the other side of the desk wore a simple grey suit with the jacket draped over the back of his chair. His white button up shirt was rolled up to his elbows, and his hair was in tight, proper brown curls around his head. He was, in short, somebody who usually made Richie’s mouth water just at the sight but for some reason, he wasn’t attracted to the man despite how his energy put Richie immediately at ease.

STANLEY URIS, according to the sign on his desk, gave Richie a polite smile. “So, Mr. Tozier, what can we help you with today?”

Richie let out a long, slow sigh. “I’m gonna be honest with you. I’m here because I wanna quit my job, but my best friend told me that I should make sure that isn’t the world’s worst idea ever.”

Stanley Uris chuckled, and clicked on a few things on his computer. “I’m not usually prone to telling people to quit their jobs, but based on your accounts here, you’d be able to make due for at least a year if not more on your savings only. Permitting you don’t go around making any outrageous and sentrous purchases. Basic costs of living wouldn’t be a concern for a while.”

Richie had already known that, mostly. He’d only agreed to come here to soothe Audra’s nerves. Money hadn’t been a concern of Richie’s in many years, but it was nice to know he’d be okay for a while while he figured out what it was he wanted from life. What he could do.

Stanley turned in his chair and met Richie’s gaze with a wiry look. “I’m not prone to getting involved with my consults personal lives, but I have to ask Mr Tozier- why are you thinking of quitting your job? I won’t pretend your particular brand of comedy is up my alley, but you seem to have made a name for yourself in the business. Is it wise of you to walk away now?”

Richie blinked. “I don’t know anything about what’s wise or what isn’t, I never have. But I do know that this name I’ve made for myself, like you said, isn’t the name I want to carry forever. It isn’t me, and I guess I want the world to see me for who I am now.”

“Well.” Stanley’s lips twitched up in a hint of smile. “As you inquired, you’d certainly be able to make due for a quite a while figuring out what it is you want your name to be, Mr. Tozier. And a piece of advice, if I may?” Richie nodded. “There’s nothing wrong with trying to find yourself, Richie. I went through most of my life mocked for who I was, or who I hung around, or what my religious beliefs were. And it stung for a long time, but I’m glad that I stuck it out. I’m a loser and I always fucking will be. It’s often not worth it to put on a mask and pretend all the time. Be who you want to be, be proud.”

Richie definitely was not tearing up in the middle of a bank office. This strange accountant had somehow struck something deep within Richie that not even his trained therapist or NA sponsors had ever been able to reach. Almost like he knew… but that wasn’t possible.

“Yeah.” Richie said through a voice crack. “Thanks, Stan the Man. I’ll do that.”

Richie made a quick exit from the bank, truly worried for a moment that he might begin to cry in the middle of this poor man’s office. He made a rushed phone call to Steve, just Audra had advised, telling him that he needed some time to clear his head and he was going back to Canada for the short while between legs of his stand up tour. That he’d have an answer for Steve regarding his contract when he got back. Steve hadn’t been thrilled with the whole thing, but Richie supposed he was thankful that it wasn’t a straight up no. Previous attempts at negotiation hadn’t looked good, and Richie knew that.

As Richie was getting onto the plane, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out, ready to turn the device off as he boarded and he frowned at the notification. Steve had said he was going to give Richie the space he’d requested and he usually waited a couple days before he broke those promises.

Hey Richie. I know you said you needed time but SNL is interested in signing you as a full time cast member when your tour is over. Call me when you land. -Steve.

“Aren’t you worried about the cold?” Eddie Kaspbrak asked, legs draped over Richie’s in the front steps of the Tozier house. It was nearly completely packed up, the family only waiting for the school year to finish out before they took off. They wouldn’t even be staying for the summer. Eddie wished he’d known that last summer was truly going to be their last summer.

“Why would I be worried about the cold?” Richie replied with a snort. “We live in Maine, Eddie boy! I’m used to the cold by now.”

Eddie wrinkled his nose and smacked Richie in the shoulder. “In the winter, sure! But Canada- That’s winter all year ‘round, isn’t it? Won’t you miss swimming and shorts? How are people supposed to know that you have terrible fashion sense if you have to dress in parkas all year long?”

Richie laughed, and it made Eddie’s heart flutter in his chest. “Canada has four seasons just like every other country, Eds! My momma says that their summers can even get pretty hot. It’s not a land of make belief, or anything. Why are you hating on it so bad?”

“I’m not hating on anything.” But Eddie thought maybe he did hate Canada, a little bit. He hated that Richie was moving to Canada, a whole other country. It was hard enough when Beverly moved to Portland and Ben moved to another state. Another country might as well be an entire other world. Mike believed that the further people got away from Derry, the more they forgot and Eddie was having a particularly hard time thinking about Richie forgetting him while possibly living in a snowbank.

“Stop.” Richie suddenly groaned. He reached out and shook Eddie’s shoulders. “Stop thinking so damn hard, you’re making my head hurt. I don’t wanna think about it, and I don’t want you thinking about it! We can’t stop it, so can we please just spend the next month having fun and being us and NOT thinking about it?”

Eddie sighed and in a moment of weakness, dropped his head down to rest on Richie’s shoulders. He knew they were out in the open, that anybody could walk past and just… see them like this. It wasn’t safe, but for the moment, Eddie didn’t care. Derry was already hell, and nothing could make it worse than Richie leaving.

“I’m not trying to dwell on it.” Eddie said quietly, curling up into Richie’s side fully. “I’m not, it’s just…”

“Nah, yeah, I get it.” Richie wrapped an arm around Eddie’s shoulder and jostled him slightly. “But there’s no sense stressing about the things we can’t control, you know? Life in the moment, Eddie my love!”

Eddie exhaled hard. “Richie… I need to tell you something.”

August 10 2009

Eddie Kaspbrak hated airports. There was something about the energy in the place that just made Eddie feel wild and horrible. He always drove himself, always. No matter how many times people told him that flying was safer than driving, that it was stupid to drive across country when flying could get him somewhere within a day. Eddie Kaspbrak hadn’t flown since 1999 on a forced family vacation with his mother and aunts. Until today.

Eddie would much rather be making the drive to Derry rather than getting on a plane at JFK but his aunt Darlene had insisted that Eddie fly out to Bangor, that six hours was much too long. His mother might not last that long, and Eddie would so regret it if he wasn’t there with her when she passed. Eddie wasn’t sure if that was true, but he’d bought the last minute plane ticket anyway. He wasn’t too sure what a difference five hours would make, but it was never worth it arguing with his mother or his aunts.

From what Aunt Darlene had told him, Sonia Kaspbrak was as good as gone already. A stroke, late last night. The doctors weren’t hopeful for any recovery, or even for the woman to regain consciousness. It left a sick feeling in Eddie’s stomach, thinking of his mother in a hospital bed, as good as gone and being kept alive by machines. It made him feel even sicker to know that it was exactly how she’d want to go, holding onto life and sucking up resources and doctor’s time right up until the very end. Eddie had kept his mother at a distance as much as possible since leaving home for college, and in the last two years he hadn’t spoken to her at all. He’d felt no desire to. She’d made his life hard, so much harder than it had ever needed to be. He was certain that if it hadn’t been for her, he would have come out long before he did. Myra would never have happened. To this day, at 30 years old, Eddie was still trying to figure out what things are true and what are lies from her influence. He wasn’t sure he ever wasn’t going to fuck up from her, and maybe she didn’t deserve him by her bedside at all. Kay had told him that she didn’t, that Eddie shouldn’t put himself through it. He didn’t owe her a goddamn thing, and Eddie knew she was right.

Eddie Kaspbrak hated airports, he hated flying, he hated goddamn Maine and he fucking hated his mother. His plane was going to start to board any minute and Eddie was still sitting in the waiting area with his emergency overnight bag tightly in his grip. He was rapidly running out of time to make good on this plane ticket that he’d bought on his messley cab driver salary.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” A familiar voice carried over to Eddie through the waiting room. “Is that Eddie fucking Kaspbrak?”

Eddie turned in his seat, and grinned when he noticed none other than Richie Tozier walking towards him. His clothes were rumbled and he had a five o’clock shadow around his jaw that made Eddie’s stomach tighten. It was almost weird how little Richie Tozier crossed his mind, despite how intense his reaction was every time he saw him or even thought about him for too long.

“Richie Tozier,” Eddie said slowly, face breaking into a grin. He stood and walked over to Richie, with his overnight slung over his shoulder. “Back in the world of the living I see. I think your fans were starting to think you died somewhere.”

“Awe, Eds. You been keeping tabs on lil ol’ me?” Richie chuckled, reaching out to pinch at Eddie’s cheeks. “No need to worry, Eddie boy. I was merely taking some me time in the great white North. My parents live in Canada, I went to visit them and clear my head.”

Eddie’s chest twinged. “Well, welcome back to civilization then, I guess.”

“You’ve always been Canadianphobic huh, Eds?” Richie laughed but Eddie frowned deeply.

“What do you mean always?”

Eddie and Richie looked at each other for a long moment, before Richie shook his head. “I don’t know, you just strike me as the type, I guess. What are you doing here? You don’t really strike me as the flying type.”

Eddie shuddered. “God, I’m not.” He said honestly. “But my mom is dying or some shit, and my aunt is pitching some drama fit about how a six hour car drive is too long so I have to take the plane.”

Richie froze for a moment, mouth half open and eyes wide. Eddie braced himself for the evitable awkward apologies and sympathies that always came with the whole dead parent card.

“That sucks man.” Richie said finally, with a shrug. “You going back to Derry all by yourself?”

Eddie had given up on trying to figure out how Richie just seemed to know things about him. It wasn’t even that weird anymore. “Yeah.” He answered with a sigh. “If I get my shit together and actually catch my plane. I’m cutting it pretty close.”

“Well…” Richie gave Eddie a soft smile. “If you didn’t want to take the trip alone, I’m not doing anything interesting. I’m supposed to be settling into my new apartment but that’s boring and I think it would be way more to go back to Derry with you and wreak havoc on your aunts.”

“You’re moving to New York?” Eddie asked with wide eyes. He tried not to think about how a big reason he and Richie had never really been together was the constant distance and Richie’s travelling. He wasn’t sure Richie had even had a home before.

“Yeah.” Richie suddenly seemed embarrassed. “I was trying to get out of the whole stand up game, and my manager got me a steady gig on Saturday Night Live.”

“SNL?” Eddie gasped. “Richie! That’s huge! Congratulations!”

Richie’s cheeks reddened. “Thanks, man. But I’m serious about the offer. It’s no skin off my back at all. We can go see if they have tickets left, how many people could possibly be going to fucking Maine?”

Eddie should say no. It couldn’t bring Richie home with him, to his crazy aunts and his dead mother. To Derry at all. Eddie barely remembered Derry, outside of spending almost all his time locked up in his bedroom. But he remembered enough to know that it was a horrible place, almost like it was permanently stuck in the 1950s and there was something… evil about that place. Just thinking of it made Eddie’s palms sweat and knees shake. But on the other hand…

“It wouldn’t be good for our friendship for me to reject you twice at this stupid airport.” Eddie said, forcing his voice to be light. “Let’s go.”

#reddie #reddie fic #my writing #richie tozier #eddie kaspbrak #memories

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softest-cinnamon-roll · 4 years

Note

“I don’t care what you say, The Nightmare Before Christmas works for Christmas and Halloween” with reddie please ^^

10. “I don’t care what you say, The Nightmare Before Christmas works for Christmas and Halloween”

* * * * *

It was Eddie’s workplace’s annual Christmas Party and once again Eddie wanted to be anywhere but where he was.

Currently, Eddie was squished between Monica from Accounts and Bradley from Sales as they spoke over him about New Year plans as though he wasn’t even there. It was always the same, Eddie was invited to these things, but only out of curtesy, nobody really wanted him there. They never did.

Even though it was a Christmas Party, the company he worked for always had some new underlying agenda going on as to justify the free drinks and fancy meal. This year, it was all about scoring a deal with the CEO of Tozier Industries, a high ranking and popular entertainment business. They dabbled in radio, television, film and news and it would be a great investment for their company to have them on their side.

“I can’t believe we threw an event for Mr Tozier and he didn’t even bother to show up,” Bradley scoffed. “I haven’t seen him anywhere around here, which is an absolute joke. I know that Mr Gray wants him to be a part of the company as it is great publicity, but this is absurd.”

Eddie held back the urge to speak up in Mr Tozier’s defence. Wentworth, the CEO, was a busy man Eddie could only imagine. Since it was Christmas he probably had plenty of other engagements to attend to over a measly Christmas Party. He knew, however, to keep his mouth shut as he would only be shut down anyway. It was pointless. He had no idea why he was even employed there, as no-one cared to listen to any one of his ideas, even if they were good ones.

Thankfully, the conversation moved away pretty quickly when Annabel from the front office elbowed Bradley in the side to shut him up. Monica giggled that high pitched fake laugh that she had before changing the subject. “What movie will we watch for the end of year movie night next week? I vote for Love Actually, it is such a classic Christmas Rom Com.”

Bradley groaned, rolling his eyes, “We watched that movie last year. This year it’s time for something different! Like Die Hard! It’s a great movie to watch at Christmas.”

Unable to hold back any longer, Eddie cleared his throat and spoke up, “What about the Night Before Christmas? It’s classic Christmas movie…”

The three co-workers all stopped and turned their attention to Eddie, narrowing their eyes a little. “Oh Eddie, we didn’t even see you there. When did you show up?” Monica laughed. “Anyway, that movie isn’t a Christmas Movie, it’s a Halloween movie. You should know that, Eddie.”

Bradley choked back a laugh and Eddie felt his cheeks flush red. He knew the movie could be watched at both Christmas and Halloween, but it was clear no matter what he said, the three assholes in front of him would only find another way to make his suggestion invalid.

Just as Eddie was about to turn around and go hide in the bathrooms for the remainder of the evening, someone stepped up behind him, staring at the three of his, still laughing, co-workers. “I don’t care what you say, The Nightmare Before Christmas works for Christmas and Halloween,” The male said, raising a challenging eyebrow at them, daring them to say anything.

Eddie turned his head to get a better look at the new arrival who was speaking in his defence and he swallowed thickly. The guy was dressed formally in a suit and tie, was a whole lot taller than Eddie with wild curly hair and thick framed glasses that perched on his nose. He was also standing next to Mr Gray, who was less than impressed, as always.

“May I introduce you to Richard Tozier, Wentworth’s son. Went couldn’t make it this evening so his son has come in his place in order to discuss a possible contract.” Mr Gray announced and Bradley’s face went sour, followed by bright red in embarrassment. Eddie held back a giggle. “Richard this is Bradley, Monica and Annabel, they are all very important members of my team and they are looking forward to possibly creating an agreement with your company.”

The smile that was on Eddie’s face disappeared as Mr Gray ignored the fact that he was present and Bradley smirked, moving to the side and blocking Eddie out of their circle. He sighed, looking for the nearest exit in the hopes of making a quiet escape, but a voice cut him off.

“And who is this?” Richard asked, his eyes meeting Eddie’s as he turned around. “I want to know the name of the cutie that agrees with me on when it’s appropriate to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

From behind him, Eddie could see the glares of the three co-workers as all the attention was now focused on him. Mr Gray cleared his throat and ushered Eddie forward, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, sending an uncomfortable shiver down his spin. “This is Edward. He works…where do you work again Eddie?”

“Risks,” Eddie whispered. Eddie was one of the company’s risk analysts, even though he felt he would be much more suited in handling events and meetings. He was good at that, communications was what he was qualified to do! “I work in risks.”

Richie raised an eyebrow and Eddie felt a blush form on his cheeks. The words that Richie had used earlier to describe him only just registering in his mind. He had called him cute. “Well Eddie from Risks. What do you think of my company creating a relationship with Gray Enterprises?”

In all honesty, Eddie wanted to scream at Richie to run for the hills and never look back. He wanted to tell him that joining the company would be a terrible investment and that he should focus on more local companies that would bring him better revenue. However, everyone staring at him, including his boss, Eddie knew he had to lie. If he didn’t, he’d be fired on the spot.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he smiled. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a headache coming on so I think I’ll retire for the night.” Eddie took a step back, not missing the disappointed look on Richie’s face. From where he was standing, he noticed Richie’ pull something out of his pocket, scribbling on it with a marker. If he could, Eddie would have stayed just for him, but he couldn’t bare to be in the presence of his asshole coworkers for another second. It wasn’t like he would ever see Richie again, as everyone would make it their personal mission to keep them far away from one another.

Before he could get far though, Richie stepped forward and reached out and shook Eddie’s hand, slipping whatever he had been scribbling on into his palm. He winked at Eddie, “Lovely to meet you, Eddie. I hope we’ll see each other again soon.”

Eddie swallowed, heat pooling in his stomach at Richie’s intense, yet intriguing stare. He let go of his hand, stuffing the piece of paper into his pocket and heading out of the building into the cold night. It wasn’t until Eddie was in the cab on the way home that he looked at what Richie had handed him.

I’d like to see you again, off the record this time. Call/Text me - 212-470-2271.

* * * * *

@richietoaster @tozier-boy @eds-trashmouth @bitchbrak @sloppybitchreddie @its-stranger-than-you-think @maximusfraker @jem-carstairs-is-perfection @thejadeazalea @halfway-happy353 @tinyarmedtrex @inthebreadbinwrites @kat-ships-everything @takeourpure @lo-v-ers @that-weird-girls-blog @studpuffin @s-s-georgie @reddie-for-anything @trashmouthtozierr @richietoizer @girasol-eddie @bi-bi-richie @honeybeehanlon @mars-14 @reddiesetandgo @marsisaplanetyall @xandertheundead @sedanleystanley @hawkinsbabe @beepbeeprichiellc @stellarbisexual @oldguybones @stanleuyris @eduardoandale @purplepoisonedgem @reddie-to-cryy @pink-psychic @violetreddie @toziesque @queen-sock @appojoos @moonlightrichie @rreddies @disneyfan567 @annxmatron @lifesucksheres20bucks @anellope @roobarrtrashmouth @are-you-reddie-for-it @callmechee @nancynwheeler @reddieforlove @twoidiotsinl0ve @madi-artist @tozierking @s-onora @atownofeggs @wilding-throught-thehallways @no-she-wasnt-reddie @dadbodrichie @thorn-harvester-ven @eddiekasbpark @sparklingrainbowdragon @ransonelovebot @gloire-celeste @derrylosers @3tothe1

#reddie #richie tozier #eddie kaspbrak #writing tag #festive prompts

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nerianasims · 3 years

Text

Billboard #1s 1973

Under the cut.

Carly Simon – “You’re So Vain” -- January 6, 1973

Knowing who this song is about -- if there even is someone -- would make it a lot less fun. "You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht" is one of the greatest lines of all time. The subject of this song is a grade-A douchebag, and yet his life's kinda enviable, isn't it? He can fly his plane to see the total eclipse of the sun, he hangs out with spies, he seduces his close friends' wives, his horse wins races. But he "gave away the things he loved." He chose to be a movie character instead of having love, which is rather sad. It's a more complex song than it seems at first. And it's a lot of fun.

Stevie Wonder – “Superstition” -- January 27, 1973

Can't write too busy jamming. Okay so this song is great. The sentiment is one we need a hell of a lot more of. The music has my favorite funk beat. It's my favorite Stevie Wonder song, and one of my favorite songs period. Actually this is three in a row of my favorite songs now.

Elton John – “Crocodile Rock” -- February 3, 1973

Well that ends that streak. I don't like Elton John's music. I find it dull and irritating. I can't even pinpoint why entirely, because I can't listen to enough of his music all the way through. I have had to listen to this one all the way through at every wedding reception I've ever been to, though. It's a boring dance song, and boring dance songs are very bad things.

Roberta Flack – “Killing Me Softly With His Song” -- February 25, 1973

Roberta Flack is great, but I prefer the Fugee's version of this song. Flack's version is a little too color-within-the-lines for me.

The O’Jays – “Love Train” -- March 24, 1973

An optimistic, happy song about everyone loving each other and getting along. It's also a good dance song, which makes it easy to get on board.

Vicki Lawrence – “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia” -- April 7, 1973

She killed her sister-in-law for cheating on her brother? Really? Really? Well this is where revenge leads -- now her brother's dead too. This song doesn't get at anything interesting and the story is simply unpleasant. The music in this song's not spectacular or anything, but it deserves a better story.

Tony Orlando & Dawn – “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree” -- April 21, 1973

This lounge lizard singing a twangy country-ish song doesn't work. He doesn't know how to do it. Also, it sounds like they were trying to make it into a novelty song. Someone coming home from prison and hoping his wife will still want him is in very poor taste for a novelty song. This song somehow became about soldiers returning home. It's a really bad song for such a poignant and complex topic. It's a really bad song for anything.

Stevie Wonder – “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” -- May 19, 1973

Stevie Wonder and his wife Syreeta Wright were in the process of breaking up when they recorded this love song together. They stayed in each other's lives until Syreeta passed away, though. Knowing that makes this song even more moving.

The Edgar Winter Group – “Frankenstein” -- May 26, 1973

How did a hard rock instrumental reach the top of the charts? The riff is pretty great, and some cool things are going on with the electric guitar. Hard rock instrumentals aren't my thing, though. But I think it's good, even if I don't want to listen to it.

Paul McCartney & Wings – “My Love” -- June 2, 1973

John and Paul both started producing lighter, slower songs after The Beatles broke up. I feel like George was keeping them grounded. Or I guess maybe Ringo -- who knows? This is tolerable, which is more than I normally say about too-light 70s love songs. Actually I think this is also a sex song. For the most soporific sex imaginable. Paul McCartney's bass playing was awesome when he was in The Beatles. I don't get why he didn't build songs around that after they broke up.

George Harrison – “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” -- June 30, 1973

Another spiritual song from George Harrison, but it's better than "My Sweet Lord" in multiple ways. First, the melody's not plagiarized. Second, it has forward motion. You can actually dance a little to it if you want. Third, there's a bit of anguish there. Spiritual songs are always better when they have the tang of pain to them. And Harrison's guitar is on point. Pretty good.

Billy Preston – “Will It Go Round In Circles” -- July 7, 1973

The last two #1s were by ex-Beatles, and this one is by the man often called "the fifth Beatle." It's the best of these three by quite a ways. It sounds to me like it's about the creative process. A song with no melody, a dance with no steps. And the one I like the best: "I've got a story, ain't got no moral/ Let the bad guy win every once in a while." Sounds like his story's a lot farther along than the song and the dance. The music is funky and soulful with a lot of different things going on, but without feeling overly crowded. Excellent.

Jim Croce – “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” -- July 21, 1973

Leroy Brown is a big, mean man, and everyone's scared of him. Until he goes after the wrong woman and her husband kicks the everloving crap out of him. Being big and mean doesn't count for much if you're a dumbass. It's sort of a country/funk blend, and I like it.

Maureen McGovern – “The Morning After” -- August 4, 1973

Mneh. I know why this one became a big hit; it was the ballad attached to a hit disaster movie. The Poseidon Adventure, one of the biggest disaster movies. I don't get disaster movies either. This song is schmaltz.

Diana Ross – “Touch Me In The Morning” -- August 18, 1973

Diana Ross sure sang a lot of songs in which she was desperate for a man who didn't want her. This time, she promises to be content with having sex just one more time in the morning with a one-night stand. How low maintenance of her. It's slow. It's boring. It gives me the icks.

Stories – “Brother Louie” -- August 25, 1973

Louie is white. He falls in love with a black woman. When he takes her home to his parents, they explode. I think he probably chooses to stay with her, but the song isn't clear. There's the fetishizing "Danger, danger when you taste brown sugar" line. Interracial relationships were really dangerous then still, so that's something. But I don't like the music, I don't like the singing, that one line is really bad and so I can't like the song at all.

Marvin Gaye – “Let’s Get It On” -- September 8, 1973

After learning about Marvin Gaye's life, I am extremely torn about this song. Marvin Gaye's father was a horrible right-wing preacher who made him think sex was a wicked thing. This song is Gaye's celebration of shedding the guilt instilled in him, and finding how wonderful making love was. But I still can't like this song. It's too light for me. (Marvin Gaye's father ended up murdering him -- he was truly a horrific excuse for a human being -- but at least Gaye was mentally free before that.)

Helen Reddy – “Delta Dawn” -- September 15, 1973

Helen Reddy manages a lot more emotion in this song than she did in "I Am Woman." I get it; I prefer stories to polemics too. That doesn't mean I like this song. A story song should have more than two verses and a repetitive chorus. Also, I don't like stories where women go mad because men promise to marry them and then split. I'm looking at you, Charles Dickens. Everyone's got tropes that make them itch, and this is one of mine.

Grand Funk – “We’re An American Band” -- September 29, 1973

My family moved a lot, but I always spent summers with my Grandmother in her cottage near Flint. So Flint is more my hometown than anywhere else. I'm definitely cool with a band from Flint laying claim to the "American Band" label. That doesn't mean I like the song. It's about touring and drinking and groupies, and then it's about repeating the chorus about a hundred and twelve times. Yeah, the music rocks, but it's repetitive and bores me as much as any soft rock ballad ever could.

Cher – “Half-Breed” -- October 6, 1973

I have a lot to say about this song. Way too much. Therefore I'm going to say nothing, except that nothing changes overnight, and this song is a massive improvement over the previous decade's songs about Native Americans.

The Rolling Stones – “Angie” -- October 20, 1973

I liked when the Stones were nice in "Ruby Tuesday." I don't like it so much in this one. It's a step too far. He's singing about how he still loves "you", Angie, but it's time to break up, and I just can't hear it as anything but insincere, fair or not. I feel like he's got someone else waiting. I do like how Mick Jagger makes "Angie" sound like "Angel" when he sings though.

Gladys Knight & The Pips – “Midnight Train To Georgia” -- October 27, 1973

Diana Ross was jealous of Gladys Knight and the Pips, and undermined them at least once. I am not surprised. Gladys Knight is a better singer than Diana Ross, and who wouldn't want the Pips singing and dancing behind them? This song is about how the singer's boyfriend is leaving on a midnight train to Georgia because he couldn't make it as a star in L.A., and she's going with him. Good for them. I love this song.

Eddie Kendricks – “Keep On Truckin'” -- November 10, 1973

Right into falsetto from the start. Sigh. This is a disco song, and it's not technically about trucking, but there are a lot of truck metaphors in it. I find a lot of disco weirdly hard to dance to -- I can't locate the beat somehow. I can dance to The Alan Parsons Project but not the Bee Gees. This is one of those disco songs I have trouble with. So it doesn't work for me to listen to or to dance to, and it's falsetto. Not bad falsetto, but still falsetto the whole way through. I don't hate it but I don't want to hear it again either.

Ringo Starr – “Photograph” -- November 24, 1973

This song is about looking at photographs of someone and missing them. It sounds a bit like an early Beatles song. George Harrison helped Ringo write it, and some of Phil Spector's collaborators gave it the "wall of sound" treatment. The former is likely why it's got a good melody and some interesting musical touches; the latter is why it gives me a headache.

The Carpenters – “Top Of The World” -- December 1, 1973

The singer is newly in love with someone who loves her, and it makes her feel wonderful. Very straightforward, honest, and unembarrassed, and Karen Carpenter's voice is gorgeous as always. The hook is dangerous; this song is likely to be in my head for a few days. That's okay though, because I like it.

Charlie Rich – “The Most Beautiful Girl” -- December 15, 1973

This is a country song in which the singer realizes he just destroyed his life, and is desperate to salvage it. He's asking if you've seen "the most beautiful girl in the world," because he needs to find her to apologize for the things he said that drove her away. It's sad and sweet, but it doesn't make me feel an awful lot.

Jim Croce – “Time In A Bottle” -- December 29, 1973

When this song would come on the oldies station, my mother would yell "Gah!" and change the channel to anything else. Her graduating class, very much to her chagrin, had decided it would be their song. (I don't remember what my graduating class's song was, but I remember some of us trying to get "I'm Too Sexy" to win and failing. I think we ended up being saddled with "I've Got Friends in Low Places.") In any case, I was prejudiced against this song before I heard it the whole way through. Jim Croce died young in a plane crash, so that is very sad. My reaction to this song is still the same as my mother's. It's glop.

BEST OF 1973 -- "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder WORST OF 1973 -- "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence

#billboard number ones

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eds-trashmouth · 5 years

Text

Can You Hear My Heart Beat For You? (2/3)

A/N: I know it’s been literally forever. But I did it. I finished this part. I decided to end it here and part 3 is going to be the sexy time. So there will be smut, but this one was already long. I’ll link part 1 incase you need to reread it. I know it’s been so long. Also, I will be finishing the second part of Good Side. I just figured I should finish this first since I started it first. Also my girl Sara gave me the idea for Eddie to say he’s lovesick (the scene went differently than I thought it would so it’s not exactly what we talked about but I still wanted to give her credit for that one)

Pairing: Reddie

Word Count: 3,000k+

Rating: PG-13 for trashmouth

Part 1

(AO3)

8 days 1 hour and 17 minutes

Eddie could not for the life of him get his mother to make him another appointment. He knew he couldn’t fake something too terrible, it had to be small and fixable. Like a cold. But the last time he went for a cold he came running out of the doctors room like a bat outta hell so his mother has been worried about sending him back to that doctor. He still refused to tell her exactly why he was running but she accepted the simple “I didn’t wanna be at the doctor anymore Ma” answer so really what more could Eddie ask for.

He had asked Bill a hundred times what he should get a check up for but Bill refused to help him lie to get a guys number.

“Just go into the office and ask for him. Easy.”

“It’s not easy Bill! How many times do I gotta say it?!”

“Oh my dear Eddie. It is indeed that easy. You just can’t accept the fact that you have to put yourself out there to get what you want.” Maybe Bill was right. He couldn’t just expect the world to work around him and his insecurities. He had to step up and take control of his own love life.

“Okay Billy, you’re right. Time to put myself out there.” Eddie stood up quickly, wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, and stormed out of the room. Not even 10 seconds later he was coming back in.

“This is my room, my mom won’t let you stay here alone...”

“It’s also almost midnight on a Friday, I doubt the doctors office is open.” Eddie’s eyes widened.

“Oh yeah. That too...”

It’s been days since Bill had told Eddie to stop being a pussy. As the days passed, so did Eddie’s confidence. It only took him 2 days 20 hours and 56 minutes to decide...he was a coward. There was no way he was going to just march into a doctor’s office to get some perfect boy’s number. He could, however, ask a certain hopeless romantic to help him out.

“Ben, I just need your advice.” Eddie had told him the whole story as soon as he answered. However, he called him on a Monday, his day for studying so Ben was a little less than helpful. He could hear a sigh and rustling on the other side of the phone then silence. He waited.

“Eddie, you do realize you’re an adult right?”

“Of course I do Ben. But I can’t just go and ask him. I just can’t. What if he says no?”

“You’re missing my point. You’re an adult. You can make your own appointment, and go by yourself. Then go from there.”

“Oh,” How had he not thought of that himself. It was so obvious. He wouldn’t have to worry about his mom, and if he changed his mind he could just leave. “You’re right. I can totally do that. Thanks Ben.”

“You’re welcome Eddie. Now please let me get back to his paper. It’s due by midnight.”

“Yes sir! You got this Ben.” And with that, he hung up. He would call in the morning and set up an appointment.

1 day 12 hours 8 minutes

It was time for his appointment. Walking through the too familiar hospital had his stomach churning. His mind kept racing. What if Tozier was taken? What if he was a jackass? What if he was straight?! He pushed down all his thoughts and took a deep breath before opening the waiting room door. He could tell by the mass of people that he’d probably have to wait awhile. There were at least five different families waiting to be seen. Each more annoying than the next. The first name called was an adorable little girl with her hand wrapped in gauze. Eddie assumed some kind of cut; probably pretty bad if they’re coming to the doctor. Eddie got a little nauseous just thinking about it.

He waited an entire hour to be called. Perhaps they were short on staff today. The same fiery redhead called for him with a smile. This was it. This was his chance. Did he know for sure Dr. Tozier would be performing his check up? No. But he decided if he didn’t see Tozier today then that was fate telling him it wasn’t meant to be. This was his ONLY chance. The nurse led him back through the same hallways and down to a similar room as before.

“The Doctor will be with you shortly, you’re welcome to have a sucker while you wait. Oh, I’m Beverly by the way. In case you need anything.” With a smile and small wave, Beverly was out the door. Eddie could feel his anxiety starting to show its ugly head. In just a few short moments he would, hopefully, be face to face with the man of his

dreams. Tozier wasn’t even here yet and Eddie could already tell his face was pink. He would just simply ask. ‘Want sum fuk?’ And that would be that. He had to be casual. He couldn’t let him know he’s been pining since the last visit. A soft knock on the door kicked him back to reality.

“Come in.” Eddie heard himself speak as if on impulse. The door opened and he almost cried. There stood a short middle aged woman, her blonde hair pulled into a tight bun.

“I’m Dr. Sylvia, what seems to be the problem today?” Her voice was soft but confident. Suddenly he forgot what he even thought of to say. He was only thinking of Tozier. Fuck. He obviously didn’t have a cold. He wasn’t throwing up.

“Uhh, I’ve been having some minor pain in my finger and I was wondering if I uh broke it?” The Doctor squinted a little as if confused, then nodded and walked close to Eddie.

“Which one seems to be the problem?” Her hand held out waiting for Eddie to place his.

“My uh, left middle.” He gave her his left and watched as she began bending his finger with no issues. She pressed softly on each section of knuckle. Eddie hissed a bit when she got to where his finger met his palm, realizing he should at least pretend something hurt.

“So here?” She pressed again a bit harder.

“Yeah, it’s not too bad. I was just worried.” She nodded once again.

“Well, it’s most definitely not broken. I believe it could just be that you smashed it a little or hit it on something. I’m sure it’ll get better all on it own.”

“Thank you miss.” He was embarrassed.

“You may leave whenever you like. Thank you for coming in today.” She left the room as Eddie let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. That was his chance, and Tozier wasn’t here. It was silly of him to think he would have the exact same intern over two weeks later. But wishful thinking is Eddie’s specialty he supposed.

13 hours 45 minutes

After his less than successful trip to the doctor Eddie decided the world hated him enough today, and he would stay in. Forever. Or at least until tomorrow. Sadly, his friends had other plans. Around 10pm there was a small rock on his window. Then another three hit simultaneously. He knew it was Bill, that was his signal to sneak out. He couldn’t be bothered to moved. The covers helped to hide his sadness, his pathetic sadness, from not getting a date with a stranger. A wonderfully eccentric stranger. It’s just...nothing had ever felt that easy. He never felt something so electric so quickly. It was like there was a magnet attached to Tozier’s lab coat or something. He was attracted immediately. His phone rang, pulling him out of his thoughts. With a sigh he answered.

“Stop moping and come out to the new over 18 club with us! It’ll get your mind of your love life. Hell, maybe you’ll even find a cute boy to dance with.” He expected Bill, not Mike, to be calling him. He could easily tell Bill no, but Mike? Everyone knew he’d never say no to hanging out with his homeschooled friend.

“Mike...I just. Wanna lie here and wallow.” If Mike let it go then he’d be golden. He could just stay in bed for the rest of his days.

“Cmon Eddie. Come dance with us. It’ll be fun I promise.” With a sigh and a small squeak Eddie agreed. Saying goodbye and getting up to get dressed. He knew he wouldn’t have time to tame his bedhead the way he’d like to so he settled for just brushing it back into a beanie. He never wore beanies, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t look cute in one. The light blue beanie matched his light blue v-neck he paired with a pair of black overall shorts. Of course a huge hoodie to cover him until they got to the club as well. A quick and easy outfit, perfect for dancing but not enough to get any unwanted attention. He’d go, dance with the boys a little, then make an excuse to go home.

The club was about a 15 minute drive in Mike’s old pickup. It was still in the city but almost on the outskirts. Eddie watched as buildings faded and passed by the window. His mind still going back to that cute set of curls with an adorable face to match. He was utterly infatuated and there’s nothing that he could do about it. He didn’t even know his fucking name. His plan had failed. His simple, basic, stupid plan. Failed. The dark blue exterior was lit up with seemingly every colored light imaginable. “Nerve” in bright neon caught Eddie’s eye immediately. It was nice. Definitely a dance club.

As they got to the bouncer, the music from inside came busting through the doors. Although muffled, he could still tell they were playing some rap song with a good beat. Getting in the door was easy enough though, Bill and Eddie were now sporting a black X on their right hands symbolizing they were underage. No drinking for them. The other boys went straight for the bar while Bill and Eddie grabbed a booth on the side of the giant dance floor. They would go actually dance later but for now Eddie just wanted to sit.

“So how was Doctor tall nerdy and curly today?”

“Nonexistent.” Eddie looked at his palms, a little embarrassed.

“What do you mean? What happened?”

“I should’ve known it was a dumb plan. He only filled in the last time because the doctor was busy. I didn’t even see him. The world just has it out for me Billy.”

“Cmon Eddie. You know that’s not true. So you didn’t get to ask out this guy? Oh well. There are plenty of guys out there. I know you gotta sort through the bullshit but it’s not like you’re destined meet your soulmate at 19. You have plenty of time my friend!”

“I know, it’d just be nice to have a boyfriend ya know? Or at least a date every now and then so I don’t feel like I’m making absolutely zero progress.” At that, Mike and Ben walked over with some mixed drinks and a few waters.

“These bad boys are for you bad boys.” Mike winked giving a water to both of the younger boys. After that, the conversation went casual. Boring casual, but casual. Eddie was in his own little world. Still wallowing in disappointment. He was watching Mike and Bill talking but couldn’t get himself to actually listen. His mind always going back.

“I’m gonna head to the bathroom. Then probably dance a little, I’ll come get you before I go out there.” Eddie excused himself from the booth and went searching for the bathrooms. It didn’t take too long, just down a hallway, then some stairs, then to the left. On his way through the hallway he spotted an outdoor area with some chairs and tables. Probably for smokers. The bathrooms were nice enough, for a club at least. No vomit on the floor and no shit smeared on the walls so it’s got that going for it. He did his business, washed his hands for exactly 20 seconds, and headed back up the stairs. An obnoxious voice caught his attention as he walked past the outdoor area. Looking toward the voice, his breath hitched.

There he was. Still tall. Less nerdy. More curly. He wore a black flannel over a vintage band tee and ripped black skinny(ish) jeans. He was a walking wet dream. His hair seemed to curl out in every direction and his glasses nowhere to be seen. He couldn’t help but stare, the guy he’d been pining over for weeks was standing 15 feet away. Right next to the redheaded nurse, Beverly? If he remembered correctly. Like some kind of destiny. Eddie was never one to believe in destiny, so maybe it was his doubts that made him walk away or maybe it was just his anxiety but as he met Tozier’s eyes he walked.

More like he ran, as he decided to leave he caught a glimpse of the set of curls making their way toward him. And he ran, like he always did, hoping to whatever would listen that Tozier hadn’t seen him and he could just go to the dance floor and disappear. The dance floor was dark, only a few lights from the stage to illuminate it, and a giant group of people. It was perfect to hide in. He made his way to the middle, slowly moving his hips to the beat as he walked to make it seem like he was dancing. Surprisingly once he got to the middle he saw Mike and some boy dancing. Well more like grinding on each other. As he got closer he could see blonde curls and a cute face. Mike sure does have a type, and this boy is one hundred percent it.

“Hey stranger. Took you long enough to get back.” Mike was smiling and turned to his dance partner. “This is Stan. He got ditched while his friends went out to smoke. I told him I’d keep him company.”

“Hi Stan, I’m Eddie. Mind if I dance with you guys?”

“Well of course you can. That’s what we’re here for isn’t it?” Eddie couldn’t help but smile as they went back to dancing. The music seemed to flow through his whole body. He wouldn’t say he was the best dancer but he could definitely keep rhythm. He was questioning wearing shorts in December but out here on this sweaty dance floor he couldn’t be more happy to have them. It’s just a perk that they also made his butt look pretty good.

“Staniel, please tell me you were going to introduce me to these cuties.” Eddie slightly jumped at the loud voice behind him. He saw Stan roll his eyes but smile.

“Of course I wasn’t Trashmouth. I was saving them the hassle of knowing you.” Eddie turned to see who Stan could possibly be talking to like that, however he wasn’t expecting to be met with the familiar face of a beautiful stranger.

“Well, if it’s the cutie from the clinic! Glad to see cancer hasn’t taken you yet! How have you been feeling?”

“Lovesick...” Eddie couldn’t believe that came out of his mouth, but he couldn’t help it. He was staring again. “Uh! Sick, just sick. But uh, I’m o-okay now.”

“How is it that we meet again little Eddie Spaghetti? Seems like fate doesn’t it?” The smile on the taller boy’s face seemed to stretch ear to ear. He was so pretty. Eddie was royally fucked. He couldn’t even speak. He just stared.

“How is it that you managed to weird out the shyest boy here?” Stan was shaking his head watching the interaction.

“He doesn’t mind, do ya Eds?” He winked. He fucking winked, like Eddie wasn’t having an internal crisis right in front of him. He wanted to speak but with the shock of Tozier standing in front of him he couldn’t say a word.

“Ya alright there Eddie? Do you need to sit down?” Mike was to his side instantly, checking on him. Eddie really didn’t deserve him and he’d remind him of that later. When he could speak. “Let’s get you to Bill and Ben.”

“Wait. I’m a Doctor. I’m sure I can help him.” Tozier was still being as cocky as ever and something about him drives Eddie crazy.

“You’re an intern, not a doctor.” It came out like word vomit. It seemed like Eddie either said too much or nothing at all. If the rudeness of his statement offended the boy he didn’t show it. He simply smiled that ear reaching smile and bent down to get a closer look at Eddie.

“How high is that heart rate, do you think sugar?” His face was inches away and Eddie couldn’t help but count the freckles splattered across his face. His eyes scanned his whole face taking inventory of those freckles, landing lastly on his lips. He could tell they were a little chapped but in this moment Eddie couldn’t think of anything more appealing than smashing his soft lips into them.

“My eyes are up here darling, at least ask my name before undressing me with your eyes.” Eddie felt two fingers lifting his chin so he could get a look into his eyes.

“I-I wasn’t undressing y-you. Don’t be so cocky, it’s not a flattering look on you.” Tozier’s mouth hung open, definitely not expecting Eddie to have an answer.

“He’s a fiesty one! I like a spicy bottom.” It was Eddie’s turn for his jaw to hit the floor. Mike and Stan watched as the boys slipped into their own little world right there on the dance floor.

“A little forward, huh?”

“When I see something I want? Definitely. I can show you just how forward I can be if you’d let me check out that little body of yours again.”

“I don’t even know your name, as you so crudely pointed out seconds ago. Unless your parents named you Trashmouth and for that I’d say I’m so sorry.”

“What can I say? I’m just talented with my mouth.” That smirk again. “You definitely need my name, so you know what you’ll be screaming later. Richie, Richie Tozier. At you service luv.” Eddie cringed at the terrible British accent but couldn’t help feeling smitten at the same time.

“Well Richie. I’m not one to go home with just anyone. So no can do my good sir.” This time Eddie slipped into a British accent, making Richie’s smile even wider.

“My lord, you are perfect.” The sudden softness in his voice sent a shiver through Eddie’s entire body. He was back in Eddie’s face, he could feel his breath on his lips. “Let me at least take you out. I can’t let you run out of my life like I let you run out of that exam room.”

Without anymore thought, Eddie surged forward catching Richie’s lips with his. It didn’t take long for him to feel Richie’s tongue working his mouth open. He’s never been a fan of smoking, but he could get used to the taste of this Trashmouth.

“How about you pick me up tomorrow? I’ll go to dinner with you then we can see where it goes from there loverboy.”

“That sounds like dream.”

-Taglist

@richietoaster @geckolover001 @pennys-pet-kitty @aesteddie @elhopps @summerxle @mexicanqt @punkrocktozier @richietczicr @tozier-club @kristashae @princesass-theresa @dandeliontozier @doctor-lobster @queennugget3 @halfway-happy353 @reddieafterdark @beep-beep-reddie @hmufinn @stanuterus @not-reddie @curlywheelers @i-is-gazebo @temptedtozier @reddie-to-fight @girasol-eddie @mirandonsky @annoyingtozier @sedanleystanley @richieshawaiianshirts @tyrror

Let me know if you want to be tagged, should’ve been tagged, or no longer want to be tagged!!

#reddie #reddie fanfic #reddie fic #kat writes #reddie asf #richie tozier #eddie kaspbrak #lol #i kinda hate this

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eddieeatsass · 5 years

Note

4 & 20 (pun for sure not intended)

Soulmates + Accidental Texting/Sexting from this prompt list. I picked Reddie, hope that’s okay! (This also sort of turned into a bit of a Coffee Shop AU by accident but not fully because neither of them work there.)

A soulmate bond; something everyone hoped to feel, but only a select few got to experience in this world. You may have heard of someone’s parents having a soulmate bond, or read about a couple in another country who’s bond lead them to one another, but to get your hopes up that it’d happen to you was a recipe for disappointment.

They taught about it in school as part of the sex-ed curriculum, explained all of the signs and how ‘you’ll know if you’ve found the one’. But along with that discussion came the history of the bond, which included the conversation about its dwindling over the decades. Now, only 1 in 1000 people were said to experience the bond, and that statistic was a few years old itself.

Eddie had never believed he was destined for the bond. It only happened to special people, people who deserved it, people who the universe deigned worthy. And Eddie was just Eddie.

So you can imagine his disbelief and borderline hysteria when he began feeling tingles in his spine one afternoon.

He was sitting at a coffee shop when it began. At first, Eddie wrote it off as his back going numb due to bad posture. The hours hunched over his laptop furiously writing paper after paper probably didn’t help. He straightened himself up, stretching his legs out beneath the tiny table and did a few subtle neck stretches.

The tingles seemed to go away, but only to make room for the next onset of symptoms. A noise similar to wind chimes seemed to trickle into his ears. He looked around, confused as to where the noise was coming from, but didn’t find a source. He shook his head and the sound faded away.

In the back of Eddie’s mind he was putting the pieces together, but he refused to believe what was happening. These were just coincidences; there was no way he was- he’d found his- no. It didn’t exist. Not for him.

As he began packing up his stuff, his hands hurriedly shoving things into his messenger bag, he was hit with an overwhelmingly sweet aroma. It smelled... almost indescribable. It certainly wasn’t comparable to anything Eddie had ever smelled before.

It was intoxicating, almost materializing into thin air like a cartoon, carrying Eddie towards it like he was no longer in control of his feet. He found himself standing in line behind a taller man who was just finishing up his order. Eddie eagerly peeked around him in search for what may be emitting that wonderful scent. It must be something from the bakery in the back, or a drink the baristas were making, or-

“Sorry, uh, at the risk of sounding totally creepy, you smell fucking amazing. What cologne are you wearing?”

Eddie blinked up at the man in front of him, who had turned around and was now addressing him. What had he said? The wind chimes were back. His back was buzzing. The smell intensifying.

“I... what?” Eddie asked dumbly.

“Your cologne, I have to know what it is so I can buy some.”

“I... don’t wear cologne.” Eddie said slowly.

Confusion seemed to cross the other man’s face before it fell. He cleared his throat, suddenly looking uncomfortable.

“Do you hear those wind chimes?” The man asked calculatingly.

Relief flooded Eddie. Okay, so he wasn’t going crazy, he wasn’t experiencing the bond, this man also heard the wind chimes!

“Yeah, what’s up with that? Why did they set up wind chimes in a coffee shop?”

The man stared at Eddie for a few moments before stepping closer, reaching around Eddie and placing a hand on the small of his back. The move was incredibly intimate, totally inappropriate for two strangers who had just met, but somehow it felt electrifying instead of boundary breaking.

“Does your back hurt?” He asked lowly, putting pressure where his hand rested.

“Uh, yeah, a little. More like-”

“Tingles.” The man supplied.

Eddie swallowed, his pulse quickening.

“Are we...” Eddie left the question open ended, half hoping he was wrong.

“I think so.”

And just like that, Eddie’s world began blurring. The wind chimes in his ears were replaced with buzzing and his vision began speckling like TV static. He wavered on his feet before he registered a distant feeling of arms holding him up.

When his brain caught back up with him, he was sitting at his table once again, leaning heavily against another body.

“Hey bud, you back with us yet?” A voice asked.

“What? What happened?” Eddie asked, blinking away bleary eyes and taking in the new setting.

“You fell for me.”

Eddie turned his head to see the man from earlier wearing a grossly charming grin. He had to school his features to not let his own amusement at the man’s comment show.

“Well, you actually started passing out, but I like my version better.”

Eddie nodded slowly. He wanted to say something but he couldn’t think of anything that felt worthy enough. If this was really happening, then this was a monumental moment. He couldn’t waste their first few exchanges on something so mundane.

Luckily, the man seemed to have no qualms about speaking. In fact, he hadn’t stopped speaking, Eddie realized. He’d zoned out in his own thoughts and had missed a large chunk of conversation; conversation that, seemingly, had resulted in the man holding Eddie’s phone?

“Hey, wait- What are you doing?” Eddie asked, reaching for his phone in a panic.

“I’m adding my number to your phone.” The man said nonchalantly, un-moving.

Eddie’s heart did a little skip when the man passed his phone back, contacts open to a new addition.

“Richie Tozier.” Eddie read aloud, trying out the name on his tongue.

Eddie heard Richie’s name echoed in the shop, their heads both turning towards the barista who was holding out Richie’s drink.

“Sorry, gimme a sec.” Richie excused himself, taking his drink from the barista with a kind smile and walking towards the cream and sugar counter.

Eddie immediately used the time alone to text Beverly. The text turned out to be mostly gibberish, excited fingers making more typos than Eddie would normally let slide, but the gist of it still got across; Eddie had a soulmate, he just met said soulmate, and said soulmate is HOT.

He got a response almost immediately.

You’re not too bad yourself, cutie.

Eddie stared back down at his phone until realization dawned on him. He hadn’t texted Beverly, he’d accidentally texted Richie, who’s eyes he could now feel boring into him from across the room. Eddie’s face was on fire, his body refusing to move as he felt Richie’s presence return.

“So do I get a name or should I just keep calling you cutie?”

“Eddie. Kaspbrak. EddieKaspbrak.” Eddie stuttered out.

Richie took a sip of his drink, letting his eyes look Eddie up and down as he fidgeted under the gaze.

“Eddie and Richie. I like it.” Richie decided aloud.

Eddie’s responding grin was blinding, so much so that he almost didn’t notice the equally blinding grin he got from Richie.

“So, EddieKaspbrak,” Richie said, rushing through Eddie’s name like he himself had moments ago, eliciting a small bashful chuckle from the smaller man. “Would you like to go on a date with me?”

Eddie nodded, a blush covering his freckled cheeks as he responded.

“I’ve been waiting my whole life to hear you say that.”

#reddie #reddie prompt #reddie drabble #reddie fanfic #reddie fanfiction #reddie fluff #reddie au #richie tozier #eddie kaspbrak #reddie soulmates #my writing #my posts #monstersscream #ask

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ifyoucouldholdme · 4 years

Text

The Six Dates of Eddie Kaspbrak

Chapter 2

Read on AO3

Chapter 1

Words: 1975

Pairing: Reddie

TW: Eating Disorder

The next morning Eddie fluttered awake to the unusual absence of a particular mop headed dork. Richie normally snored in a tussled heap well after Eddie rose for the day, forcing the other to crawl over his sprawling limbs to escape their wadded sheets. Today, though, the spread had been neatly laid down and tucked around Eddie. The smell of coffee brought him sweetly out of his dreams.

“Richie?” he mumbled, still in a lifting haze. Richie never woke up early, much less make the bed or start coffee. A wrinkled letter folded on the nightstand caught Eddie’s eye. With a hefty sense of suspicion, he unfolded the note.

My dearest, darlingest Edward Spaghettward,” it began. Eddie chuckled a low, “Even in a note, asshole?” and continued reading.

“You’ve been working real hard lately, what with the studying, and the papers, and the chronic masturbation.” Eddie cringed. “You deserve some good clean fun. We’ve put together a little surprise for you. Be at the mall by noon today. Don’t be late or you won’t get any of this sweet ass for the foreseeable future. –Richie”

“Bold of you to assume that I want your crusty ass,” Eddie smirked. With Richie, you could never guess what to expect. Eddie stretched with a yawn. “Guess I’m going shopping today.”

The open lobby in which Eddie perched in waiting could hardly qualify as a mall at this point. It was more a few specialty shops interspersed with vacant hollows where other doomed businesses once profited. He sat on a bench between two such plots situated directly across from an alternative fashion boutique. Glimpses of band apparel and various jewelry and accessories peered out from behind the poster covered windows at Eddie in his plain khakis and polo. The store was what his mother referred to as a “tramp’s palace.”

As a teenager, she refused to let him wear jeans at all, much less all black with a studded belt. The cartoonish image of Sonia’s overexaggerated scream which suddenly sprung to mind brought a snort out of him.

“What’cha laughing at?”

The snort turned into a shriek. Eddie nearly toppled out of his seat. Looking over his shoulder, he met eyes with a giggling Beverly Marsh. Her smile beamed down at him, probably due to the shimmering bronzer she wore, but partly, he thought, because Bev just had that kind of sunshine within her already.

“Holy shit, Bev! You could’ve sent me into a cardiac arrest!” he scolded her. Beverly just winked in reply. “You’re not as fragile as you think, Eddie. You ready to go?”

Eddie’s brow knotted in confusion. “Go where?”

“Of course,” Bev rolled her eyes, “Richie didn’t explain anything, did he?” Richie never explained anything, at least not in any comprehensible way.

“Apparently not. He just left me a note this morning saying to meet him at the mall by twelve.”

“That goof,” Bev chuckled as she hopped in front of the bench. “Edward Kaspbrak, it is my pleasure to invite you to Eddie Spaghetti Week!”

With a look of patient annoyance, he deadpanned, “Eddie Spaghetti Week?”

“That’s right!” She smirked and gave an enthusiastic thumbs up. “Each day this week, you’re going out on a special date with each of us. So, come on!”

Eddie’s confusion swiftly turned to anxious embarrassment. His cheeks flushed, and his palms grew sweaty. “A d-date?” he stammered.

“Don’t worry, silly,” she reassured, pulling the anxious boy to his feet, “they’re platonic dates. Well, at least mine is.”

Wait, what? “What does that mean?” Beverly may or may not have heard, but either way she changed the subject and pulled Eddie towards the forbidden tramp store.

“For my date with you, we’re going to give you a makeover!” Eddie instinctively opened his mouth to refuse, but this was finally an excuse to see what lay behind the barricade of posters. As loud as his mother’s voice was in his head, his curiosity shouted louder.

Eddie’s hands trembled inside his pockets as he followed Beverly throughout the store. The day he finally stood up to his mother in the Derry hospital happened so long ago, yet he could still hear the piercing rattle of her voice warning him against the sin of the heavy metal bands and the black fingernail polish which now caught his eye. He recalled the day she caught him watching MTV. That day he learned all about Satan worshipping rock stars, the risk of AIDS from sharing needles with other drug addicts, and the homosexual snares of men wearing eyeliner. He knew somewhere on a conscious level that his mother’s hatred was just emptiness fueled by fear and ignorance, but that sense of shame she left behind still embedded itself deep in his bones.

Beverly, having already found a basket full of makeup and skirts to try, rounded the corner to find Eddie lost in his thoughts while mournfully gazing at a display of studded wristbands and chokers. “Grab some, Eddie, and we’ll see how they look.” Eddie turned with the expression of someone who’s name was just called for the draft. “I…that’s…I wouldn’t be able to pull off a look like that Beverly…”

The epitome of encouragement, Bev rolled her eyes with a smile and grabbed a handful of the accessories. “You totally can, honey. I’ve already grabbed you some outfits. Let’s try them out!” Eddie sputtered out excuses and denials, but Beverly took none of it. She grabbed him by the elbow and rustled him to the changing rooms.

Beverly must have had a drastically different concept of what fashion worked on Eddie than he did himself. He could see himself wearing the graphic tees, although some of them were a little overboard in their intense imagery. However, she had thrown him several pairs of skinny jeans over the changing stall door. The self-loathing mounted higher with each pair he tried on. Most felt like they fit. He could still bend his knees and squat down without splitting anything, thank God, but he wouldn’t dare wear anything so form fitting in public. He didn’t want to force anybody else to see the shape of his body, at least until he could force himself to slim down again. Lately he felt the pull to once again slide down the path of eating nothing but a piece of boiled chicken and two large cups of coffee a day. The last time, before he broke down, he was able to at least drop three sizes. He didn’t reach the goal he wanted, but at least he was skinnier than he was now.

“Oh my God, Eddie, we have to get this one for you,” Bev decided, and she tossed a top over the door. Eddie caught the bundle of fabric and unfolded it. “I can’t wear this, Beverly!” he cried. The woman had thrown him a damn long sleeve crop top!

“Just try it on Eddie. You’re going to look bitchin’, trust me.” Eddie wanted to trust the caring voice outside the changing stall, but she didn’t know. She didn’t understand how disgusting he looked. With a huff before he could change his mind, he slipped the shirt over his torso. As he looked in the mirror, he liked the style, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the midriff he despised so terribly. That was the final shot to his composure. He dropped to the bench behind him, tears finally overtaking him.

“Eddie,” Bev’s voice floated through the door, much softer than before, “is everything ok in there?”

“Fine. Can we stop now?” he sniffed loudly.

“Can you at least let me see how it looks?”

Eddie scoffed. “There’s no way in Hell I’m coming out dressed like this.”

“Ok, then, I’m coming in there” Eddie panicked, turning just in time to see Beverly crawling under the stall door.

“What the hell, Bev?” he whispered loudly. She stood, dusting herself off. She held a small bag of things she must have already purchased as he was going through the outfits they selected. She saw the tears falling down his face even though he tried to hide them. With a heartbroken smile, she kneeled beside Eddie, taking his hand in hers. “Eddie, honey, if you really don’t like this stuff, we don’t have to try any more on. But I saw you looking at some of the styles out there. You didn’t look like someone who absolutely didn’t want to try them out. I’d like to show you that you can try for anything you want to try, but I need you to trust me. Will you? At least enough to try and see what I see in you?”

The sudden intimacy of the moment made him squirm in uncomfortable closeness. His entire childhood was spent denying anything he wanted himself, from wanting to date boys even to the clothes on his back. Beverly’s loving support was new to him, but he wanted to try. If not for himself, he could try for her. “Ok, Bev,” he whispered.

“That’s my Eddie,” She beamed. It turned out, inside the bag was some hair gel, eyeliner, and various wristbands. She even brought out the studded choker that caught his eye before. After a moment, she had transformed him entirely with just a few simple adjustments. She swiftly swooped his hair into an oddly fitting mohawk, slicking every strand up to a fine point. His eyes watered badly when she tried to apply the makeup under his eyes, but after a few blinks and touch ups, he looked like a punk straight out of the rock concert. She placed the finishing touches with the wristbands and the choker and painted his fingernails black and yellow. “There we go,” she whispered, pulling out her phone, “You look fierce as fuck, Eddie. See?” She snapped a picture with her phone and presented it to a blushing Eddie.

“Wow…that can’t be me…”

“I told you to trust me. You definitely rock the punk look.” Eddie still felt ashamed of how much of himself could be seen in this outfit, but he had to admit that Beverly was right. He did look pretty punk. She raised the phone again. “How about you give me your best punk face?”

Eddie thought for a moment, then made a face more bizarre than he intended. Beverly guffawed loudly, clasping a hand over her mouth as she remembered they were still in one changing stall. “Ok, I don’t know what face that was, but it was hilarious. Give me another one.” Eddie cracked a smile, then dragged his hands down his face and stuck out his tongue making a comedically grotesque expression. Beverly cackled, not caring who heard her this time. “Oh my God, what the hell is that supposed to be?”

Eddie giggled wildly. “That’s what Richie looks like when he wants to make out.” The two carried on like this over several more poses in their impromptu photoshoot. Eventually, they exited the changing rooms and bought their choices before they could be kicked out. As they caught the bus back to the dorms, Eddie was too caught up in spending time with Bev to focus on whether people were staring at his weight or his clothing. He felt for once that he could be what he wanted. He rested his head on her shoulder, careful not to stab her with his now tall hairstyle. “Thank you Bev,” he whispered as he flipped through their pictures on his phone.

She grabbed his hand and leaned into him as well. “Trust me Eddie. You are fierce enough to be anybody you want to be. Don’t forget that.” They fought to stay awake the rest of the ride home. As his mind wandered, he couldn’t guess how the others were going to top this day with Beverly. -

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roobarrtrashmouth · 5 years

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It Fandom Prompt

Hi all it’s been a while since I posted the last prompt. But I had a summer course to teach and then landed jury duty. So no excuses but I just used all the excuses.

This is a prompt from ANONYMOUS asking for Reddie meeting in a coffee shop.

Perma Tags

@tinyarmedtrex @mrs-vh @constantreaderfool @honeybeehanlon @speakslowtellmelove @african-gem @honkhonkrichard @itfandomprompts @oldguybones @coffeekaspbrak @veganmikehanlon @leftcowboywasteland5

Chestnut

To read on AO3 click on the title

It was starting to look like just any other Thursday morning… at work. The line was slowly reaching the door. The customers in said line were looking at their phones, or even worse, glaring at Stan at the register. He was going as fast as humanly possible, but for some reason that wasn’t fast enough today for some. As the barista for in the house, Richie had a perfect view of the seats and line. Better this position than the unique brand of hell that was the drive through. Mike, Stan’s boyfriend, and Bev had pulled that shit duty today.

Stan, Mike, Bev and Richie had all started within a month of each other. He didn’t know how he had lucked out to have found such good friends to work with.

At 7am it was already getting warm so it was bound to be another hot day here in Southern California. He knew that before the end of his shift the coffees would do their shift from hot to iced or blended.

He found a reason to walk behind Stan. He placed his hands on Stan’s shoulders and whispered, “You’re doing amazing sweetie.” Gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek and smiled at the next person in line. Who promptly returned the smile.

Stan smiled back and responded drolly, “Thanks babe. Your next order is a large iced macchiato upside down.”

Snapping to attention he made eye contact with the customer and said, “Ok, one cold mac and flip it. Coming right up.” He winked and smiled at the woman as he prepared her drink. Flirting, with either sex, as easily as some people breathe.

They kept up this pace for the better part of an hour. Stan handing, or more frequently, yelling the order to Richie. Rich pulling it and passing it along. This was interspersed with quick glances up to see how the line was coming. In their corner Mike and Bev were moving just as quickly, snappy banter and all with their driving customers.

The snappy comebacks and constant conversation is what they were told by the owner is kept their regulars coming back. A friendly genial atmosphere.

Richie glanced up and for the first time since he learned to pull espresso he over foamed and made a mess, getting foam all over the middle part of his apron.

“You ok there Rich? You literally creamed your apron.” Stan chuckled at his wit. He rarely was able to get one over on his best friend even though Stan thought himself the funniest person he knew.

“This soy latte just got me too excited, Stanislaus.” Richie said taking it in stride.

He over foamed because at the back of the line was what he thought was quite possible the most handsome man he had ever laid eyes on. He had very wavy chestnut colored hair and was about half a head shorter than Richie was himself. Richie was instantly smitten.

After handing a fresh drink to the customer and apologizing, Richie eased over and whispered to Stan. “Stanny the Manny, see that cutie pie at the end of the line. YOU have got to get me his name. No fakey fakey shit, his real name. Feel me.”

“Oh god are you really going to try to pick that poor guy up here? At work?” Stan said giving Richie a long suffering look.

“Hey, just stand back and watch the master at work.” Richie said with confidence.

“Your funeral. But I got you.” Stan said.

It was an agonizing 3 minutes before the chestnut haired cutie made it to Stan. The whole time Richie watching as he got closer, but not in a creepy way, he hoped. Just lots of, what he hoped, was cute side eye and peripheral vision.

“Good morning what can I get you?” Stan asked the chestnut haired beauty.

“Double espresso please.” Chestnut said. Richie almost lost it again, Chestnut’s voice was like music to his ears.

Stan quick glanced at Rich, “One double espresso, got it. Is there anything else I can get you?” Stan concluded.

Chestnut hmmm then looked Stan dead in the eye and smiled. “As much as I would love to have the carrot cake muffin. I shouldn’t.” Then out of nowhere he looked at Richie and smiled.

Richie who had been leaning against the espresso machine quickly stood up straight, smiled and said, “Oh are you on a special diet, because if you aren’t, call today a cheat day.”

“Oh so you think I should be on a diet?” Chestnut said raising his eyebrows.

“Oh heck no, you look fit.” Richie smiled back censoring himself since he was at work.

Chestnut had a bit of redness creep into his cheeks and smile appeared on his face, “Thanks. I’m a runner. It can be hard to keep weight down with all the carb loading we have to do.”

It was now Richie’s turn to beetle his eyebrows. “Wow. Cool. I am totally not a runner, unless someone is chasing me.” He said with a self deprecating laugh.

“May I have your name for the order?” Stan said bringing the two of them back to reality.

“Oh. God. Sorry. Eddie. The name’s Eddie.” Chestnut revealed.

Stan smiled broadly, “Thank you. Eddie, I’ll have Richie here made your double espresso. We’ll have it out to you in a bit.”

“Thanks.” Eddie said smiling first at Stan then at Richie. He walked away making his way to one of the tables for two by the far window.

As he was walking away Stan could hear Richie mumbling low to himself, “Turn around… turn around…”

When Eddie sat down he took a moment to look up and smile yet again at Richie. Richie working hard to be casual smiled back.

As soon as he was done pulling the double espresso Richie said, “Stan babe. I’m taking my 15. Be back.” Richie continues, “Thanks Stanny.”

“For what?” Knowing exactly what was coming.

“For getting his name and dropping mine. You are the best friend and wingman a guy could ask for.” Richie tells him and kisses his cheek.

Richie slides past Stan, reaches into the display case and grabs a carrot cake muffin.

“Who’s the muffin for, Rich?” Stan quips.

“For the running stud over there. I’m taking it to my future husband.” He says quietly and walks over to Eddie and offers both espresso and muffin and appears to ask to sit down. Eddie smiles up at him and indicates for him to take the other seat.

#reddie #eddie kaspbrak #richie tozier

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forestiel · 5 years

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hi! reddie & benverly shipper here (lover of all the losers tho) just thinkin, what do u think ben and richie talked about when ben tried to get richie to stay? do u think richie may have hinted about his secret?

hi! thank you for asking me about this, I wanted to see them talking so bad!! @dear-wormwoods and I have actually been writing a Ben and Richie pining shenanigans at the Derry Town House thingy for a while now (It was supposed to be done before the movie came out but :))) I’m slow and can’t write and get sad too often, so it’s all my fault) and I was so surprised when they did talk in the movie… but then they didn’t show it sdjfhsjdfs. Okay, excuse my english bc i’m not a native speaker but here i go:

I’d like to think so, anon. I mean, I imagine Ben already knew or suspected about Richie’s feelings because he knows what it is to hide them and love in silence. If I remember correctly, Richie came back straight after his encounter with IT, and his emotions were probably all over the place. So, I’m guessing Richie tried to push Ben away, told him off, probably spilled some bs, but Ben didn’t buy it. He was not about to leave his friend like that. They all needed to be together. Richie wouldn’t hint at anything if he could avoid it, but eventually I like to think they ended up talking about it without talking about it, if that makes sense. With knowing looks and meaningful silences. Ben would never force him to say it out loud if Richie didn’t want to, but he’d want him to know he doesn’t have to live in fear. Somehow, in that short time Ben tried to let him know they’d love him for who he is, like they’d always done, and nothing would ever change that. He thought about Beverly saying Bill’s name, and realized that neither of them had had the courage to share their feelings on time, but Richie deserved to take a chance with Eddie. Besides, losers stick together no matter what, and they had to get the job done. Richie didn’t say it (we know it’s too damn hard) but maybe speaking in codes made it a little bit easier. I imagine Richie did believe Ben’s words, and he accepted it. He cracked another joke and it made Ben laugh. After sharing a hug Richie said he’d stay, and he promised he’d try, but when it comes to things like this it’s really hard not to run away from the fear and the truth like you’ve done for such a long time.

#it chapter 2 spoilers #it spoilers #it chapter two spoilers #aaa i love you anon im sorry im so dumb and cant explain things kjsdkfs

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need1etail · 5 years

Text

My Opinion of Redtail’s Debt

I’m writing these out while reading the book so I don’t forget anything! This is just a way to motivate me to read. This is really long sorry. WARNING SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT

Chapter One

I liked it! Not much to say here it was kind of a boring chapter, not much happened. I kind of like how Redpaw seems admire Tigerclaw but can also tell he’s just too ready to fight. I don’t have much to say cause I read it a couple days ago and can’t remember much lol.

Chapter Two

- Wasn’t White-eye born with one blind eye? Am I just dumb?

- I like how Red is a little awkward around Sparrow and White. Like they’re being all lovey-dovey and he’s just like “I’ll . . Just be over there I guess … ”

- “[Redpaw] couldn’t help the warm curl of admiration that ran through him. He’s so brave.” Redpaw do you have a little crush? Honestly though … The way Red is talking about Tiger gives me little crush feels. I don’t ship it of course it’s just kind of cute. THIS IS FUTURE DASH SORRY I JUST REALIZED THEY’RE RELATED! I will say that I enjoy Red’s admiration of Tigerclaw though ;w; Please disregard any crush things you see in the future, I did not realize they were related I’m so sorry. in my au they’re not related so I hope you can forgive me cause I forgot that my AU isn’t canon eheheh sorry

- I wish Spottedpaw and Redpaw had more of an interaction than just “Here’s your herbs stay safe”. I like Willowpaw so far honestly?

- I miss the forest territories :(!

- I’ll kick that hawk’s ass how dare he hurt my son

Chapter Three

- “‘Don’t leave me,” [Redpaw] whimpered.“ DON’T LEAVE THE POOR BOY PLEASE.

- I like Sparrow’s interactions with Redpaw, especially when he thinks he might be hurt. He really seems to care for his apprentice.

- I really love Willowpaw. Scared for her brother :(!

- "If there’s anything I can ever do for you, T-Tigerclaw, just name it,” … “I owe you everything.” That seems like it’s gonna come and bite Red in the ass :/

- Tigerclaw obviously is just trying to get on Redpaw’s good side and I love it

- “You owe me more than one,” [Tigerclaw] purred cheerfully, “you owe me your life!” Please don’t turn that on him I know your evil but my poor son doesn’t deserve this!

Chapter Four

- Adderfang is a good dad! Supportive of his son! I love him!

- Runningkit and Mousekit I adore them.

- I know 100% that RunningRed is not going to be canon cause the editors suck, but honestly? I just wanna take this time to say that I absolutely adore them.

- Tigerclaw is scaring me lol

- AWW SWIFTBREEZE! I love Red, Willow’s, and Spotted’s good parents ;w;!

- I forgot the Clan thought Misty, Stone, and Moss were Blue’s and Thrush’s for a sec. I wish Thrushpelt could have seen them grow up :(

- Bluefur is so strong I adore her

- Tigerclaw’s taking Redtail out hunting and I’m nervous …

- Aw I love Sorrelpaw!!

- Don’t make fun of my son Tigerbitch

SORRELPAW

- YOU TELL HIM STAGLEAP! NO ONE HURTS SORRELPAW

- Please don’t hurt Stagleap ;w;

- Hhhh oh no Red and Tiger’s relationship seems really abusive and I hope it doesn’t turn out like SH ;n;

Chapter Five

- Runningkit I love you

- My poor Redson

- Sunstar don’t be too harsh please

- BCJAJXJX TIGERCLAW SHUT THE HELL YOUR FACE SORRELPAW DID IT ON ACCIDENT

- Red speak up please! Poor boy.

- Noooo my little red boy stop. You don’t owe Tigerclaw anything

- I’m glad Sunstar was reasonable enough to talk to Heaterstar

- Talltail! My boy!!

- Tigerclaw and Thistleclaw are little bitches I hate them

- Sunstaaar just listen to what Heather has to say

- Crookedstar and Cedarstar don’t want anything to do with Wind and Thunder’s drama

- I love Stagleap. He seems really level-headed but firm. I can’t remember him much from Tallstar’s Revenge heck

- I honestly like that Redtail sees Tigerclaw as a good cat so he can’t bring himself to say that he was wrong. It’s … Hard sometimes. I understand.

- Stagleap is a good, reasonable boy <3

- “I owe him everything … But does that mean i have to follow him, no matter what?” HHH that hits a little too close to home honestly

- Lol why wouldn’t Sunstar believe Redtail? He was there, plus he knows that Tigerclaw is too aggressive for his own good. Redtail just talk to him.

- Sunstar I love you but you’re a bit of a dummy :/

- Ooohh I honestly love Tigerclaw in this book so far. He’s pretty chilling. But uh LEAVE MY POOR SON ALONE

Chapter Six

- I like Brindleface and Frostfur’s relationship

- Poor Red boy :(

- YES REDDY CALL TIGERCLAW OUT FOR HIS BULLSHIT

- YESSSS GASLIGHTING Sorry I just like abused characters. But it seems like Redtail is gonna be treated the exact same as Spotted so :/? That’s real disappointing. Remember, if someone is abusing you please seek help! You aren’t obligated to stay with them if they’re hurting you, physically or emotionally!

- Don’t hurt the elders and queens please :(

- Honestly with Bluefur’s past and the death of her mother, I’m surprised she’d want to go through with this? Come on Erins she’s probably traumatized by WindClan’s camp.

- Only … Only six cats? This is a whole camp you’re barging into guys

- I really hope Tigerclaw and Thistleclaw don’t kill anyone

- I love WindClan’s camp honestly I love WindClan

- Aren’t Red and Patch brothers? I kind of wish they had more of a brotherly relationship :/

- I lied they’re cute

- HXJSXJ “WE’RE NOT GOING TO HURT YOUR KITS” THRUSHPELT SAYS AS HIS CLAN ATTACKS WINDCLAN CAMP

- Poor Ryestalk!!

- :( I feel bad for the kits. Poor things are losing their den

- Barkboy <333

- Bluefur learned her lesson about the med den

- Redtail it’s not your fault!

- BEAT TIGER’S ASS STAGLEAP

- Poor Plumclaw and Ryestalk. I hope they come out okay

- I LOVE YOU REDTAIL YOU’RE SO BRAVE

- Fuck yeah I Redtail stare him down

- YOU TELL HIM REDSON! <3333

Chapter Seven

- Idk if they’ve said this before but “They haven’t changed a whisker” is my favorite phrase from Warriors idk why

- You go Redtail don’t let Tigerclaw scare you

- Yeah I hate the fact that Sand isn’t Redtail’s daughter anymore :/ It might have been because now Squirrel and Bramble aren’t related anymore (which I’m sure they are somehow) But I wanted to see a cute relationship between Sand and Red!

- Darkstripe has a thorn in his tail because he is a thorn in the tail.

- :( Redtail don’ gooo

Chapter Eight

- I wish we could have seen some more Dust and Red interactions. Maybe see how Dustpaw was before Darktail got his dirty paws on him?

- Ehhh Ravenpaw’s OOC? But I can excuse it cause he hasn’t been traumatized yet

- I wish we saw that Ravenpaw and Redtail were closer maybe? Just cause I always liked the idea that Ravenpaw really looked up to Redtail and wished he could ask Bluestar if she could have him and Dustpaw swap mentors

Chapter Nine

- nooooo Ravenpaw would never say that ugh

- Tigerclaw leave Ravenpaw alone! He may not be the Ravenpaw i know but FUCK OFF

- What?? What happened to Oakheart was killed by falling rocks? didn’t everyone in RiverClan agree to that? Was their pride hurt so they lied???? What happened to “It would be immoral for a deputy to kill another deputy”?????? Ugh okay now I’m angry

Chapter Ten

- Ooo I love the murder scene though. It’s almost exactly how I imagined it

- NOOOOO YOU CAN’T DO THE UNFULFILLED PROMISES TO ME DUSTPAW WAS WAITING FOR HIM ;n:!!!!

- I love the scene where he’s being guided to StarClan by Sunstar omg . I’ve been waiting for a POV character in StarClan and even if this is the closest we’ll get, I’m happy

- OOH THAT last scene was good. Firepaw! I love him.

OKAY SO last thoughts:

Someone said that she-cats were brutalized so Redtail could seem like a good guy and I didn’t see it? Who were the she-cats??

Also, I think some people hated the fact that Redpaw admired Tigerclaw but. I liked that part. It was interesting. And it made sense! Tigerclaw was a strong, brave warrior who hadn’t shown his true intentions yet so. It makes sense that Redpaw admired him

Overall it was . . . good? Better than everyone said it’d be. I didn’t love it I didn’t hate it. It was just eh. I’d read it again. Redtail was a good cat who genuinely seemed loyal and brave, just like we wanted.

I’ll do Tawnypelt’s Clan next!!

#rambling #redtail #redtail's debt #redtail's debt spoilers #spoilers #wc #wc spoilers #warriors spoilers #warriors #warrior cats #warrior cats spoilers #tigerclaw

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mitchsmarners · 5 years

Text

wouldn’t you like to see something strange

pairing: eddie kaspbrak/richie tozier [reddie] w/ stanley uris/patty blum [stanpat] word count: 2,878 summary: Patty grabbed Richie’s backpack from him and grinned up at him. “Welcome to Derry. It’s the hotel California of towns.” ⤹ written for @thundercatseddie as their prize for winning 3rd place in my follower celebration.

permatags: @thundercatseddie, @eddiekabsprak, @appojoos, @s-s-georgie, @eddiecare, @jwilliambyers, @tozierking, @eddiefuckinkaspbrak, @sloppybitchardtozier, @chaotickaspbrak, @vipertooth, @edstozler, @anellope, @tozierpunks, @thorn-harvester-ven, @wheezyeds, @emgays, @thegoths, @wilding-throught-thehallways, @reddie-to-cryy,

Richie leaned his head against the car window, with his eyes squeezed shut. Fall Out Boy blared in his ears as he hummed the beat to himself. He didn’t want to be here. This was as good as the last place he wanted to be.

Patty yanked his headphones out of his ear and smirked at him. “What’s the point of wearing headphones if you’re going to sing out loud anyway?”

Richie liked his new step sister, he really did. She was a sweetheart, only a year younger than he was. If Richie had it his way, he wouldn’t have a step sister at all, but he supposed that he’d lucky out with Patty Blum. It was, at the end of the day, not his new stepsister and stepfather that Richie was against- but the cross country move from California to Maine.

Richie could already feel the cold starting to seep into his bones, and he didn’t think it would be leaving any time soon. The car pulled up in front of the house he supposed he now had to call home, and the family shuffled out. The majority of Richie and his mom’s belongings had made their way over weeks earlier, and Patty and Mr Blum had gotten the house set up for their arrival. Richie knew it was a nice thing to do, but he didn’t want to be here.

Patty grabbed Richie’s backpack from him and grinned up at him. “Welcome to Derry. It’s the hotel California of towns.”

Richie frowned. “What?”

Patty blinked up innocently. “You know. You may come, but you may never-”

“Yeah, yeah. I know the fucking song.” Richie grabbed his backpack back from Patty and moved towards the front steps. Patty didn’t even struggle to keep up with him, even with the extra several inches Richie had on her height. He vaguely remembered his stepfather praising Patty’s track times during the usual “my kid is better than your kid” competition when they’d been dating, but Richie had never paid much attention. Maybe he should have.

“Are you going to be a dick forever?” Patty asked in exhaustion. Richie stopped dead in his tracks and whipped around. Patty rolled her eyes. “Because you almost seemed like you’d be cool, and I think we’d get along pretty well... if you’d stop being a dick.”

Richie let out a rough sigh. “I’m sorry. You seem cool, too. I just-”

“Didn’t wanna move across the country. I get it.” Patty smiled. “It sucks. Nobody wants to do that, but it’s really gonna suck if you already decide that you aren’t going to like it before you gave it a chance.”

Richie groaned. Of course, she was right. He knew that well enough. He planned on getting over it, but he wanted to wallow in it a little bit longer. Patty didn’t seem keen on allowing that, and seeing as she was the only person Richie knew in the entire state- he supposed he’d have to allow it.

“Hey!” Patty suddenly lost all interest in talking to Richie, pushing past him and rushing through the fallen leaves on the ground. Richie turned and watched as Patty tossed herself into the arms of a proper looking boy with slick dark hair. A small, light brown kitten circled their feet and seemed to be giving Richie the stink eye.

Patty pulled away, grabbing the boys’ hand and pulled him over to Richie. The small kitten seemed to skip along behind him. There was something... mischievous about the boy. A glint in his eye, a sinister curl to his grin. Richie felt the hair on his arms behind to stand up, and the dirty glare the kitten was giving him certainly didn’t help things.

“This is my partner, Stan.” Patty said, smiling wide at Richie. The kitten between Stanley’s legs let out an angry meow. Patty laughed. “And this is Eddie. Never one to be forgotten.”

“I love cats,” Richie said, though he wasn’t really sure about this one. “Can I hold him?”

Stan let out a laugh. “You can try.”

Richie swallowed roughly, looking down at the small kitten between Stan’s legs. The thing looked up at him with wide brown eyes, human like eyes, fucking daring him to try it.

Richie swallowed roughly, looking down at the small kitten between Stan’s legs. The thing looked up at him with wide brown eyes, human like eyes, fucking daring him to try it. Richie Tozier wasn’t about to be shown up by a five pound fur ball.

Richie reached for it, and the little fucker let out an almost human sounding hiss. It knocked Richie’s arms away, and then Richie wasn’t quite sure what happened after that. Next thing he knew he was sitting on the ground, and there was an incredible cute, incredibly angry boy in a sweater too sizes too big for him and mom jeans standing above him.

“DO NOT FUCKING TOUCH ME!”

Richie’s mouth dropped open, eyes blown wide. He didn’t try to get up from the ground, just staring at the boy (cat? boy? cat?) standing above him. “What the fuck.....” He said, suddenly aware of how Stan was laughing behind him.

“I said you could try.” Stan said with a smirk.

Patty whacked him lightly in the arm. “You could have given him some warning.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Stan replied, and Richie swore he saw something glimmering around this boy.

Patty just laughed and Richie scrambled to his feet. Hands shaking, he turned to glare at his step sister. “Care to tell me what the fuck is going on?”

Patty shrugged. “I told you. Hotel California of towns.”

Richie let out a loud, long, annoyed breath. Almost a growl. “What.... you’re all a bunch of monsters? And what are you?”

“A Gemini.” Patty replied.

Richie gagged. “God, that’s disgusting. I’d rather have cat boy over here.”

“WOW!” Patty cried and smacked Richie in the chest. Richie stumbled back, rubbing at his chest and wincing.

Richie ran his fingers through his knotted curls and shook his head. “Okay, can I please get an explanation. Because I’m pretty fucking sure people can’t just turn into animals whenever they please!”

“Mortals.” The cat boy said with a high, pleasing voice. “They always freak out. They’re so predictable.”

“Eddie, you are also a mortal.” Stan said in a bored voice. “If I stabbed you, you would die.”

Richie choked on the air and Eddie’s face turned bright red. “Oh yeah, tough guy? You think you’re so great. You’re not great, you’re a pussy. You won’t do shit.”

“And what would you do, Eddie?” Stan said calmly. “Gonna go home and make a voodoo doll of me?”

“You know, maybe I fucking will-”

“Eddie! Stanley!” Mr Blum’s voice carried over to them. Richie jumped a mile in the air, nearly toppling himself over. The teens all turned to look at him, Stanley’s composure never slipping and Eddie blinking into the image of the boy next door. Richie’s heart was in his throat. “It’s good to see you boys! It’s been awhile!”

“It’s good to see you, too, Mr Blum.” Stan said smoothly, voice dripping with something so soothing and calm that it brought Richie’s nerves down instantly. The realization of that only brought them sky rocketing back up.

“Do you kids have any plans for tonight?“ He asked. “I know Patty’s missed you, and I’m sure it would be great for Richard to get to know the town. The rest of your friends.”

“No, I...” Richie said, pulse racing through him. “I should... unpack.”

“But Richie, Dad and I unpacked pretty much everything already.” Patty jumped in, cheek rested against Stanley’s shoulder. “Come out with us, it’ll be fun!”

“Yeah, Richie.” Eddie said with flashing eyes. “It’ll be fun.”

Richie nodded, lips pursed. He was going to die, wasn’t he? But before he could even try to think of another excuse, Patty’s fingers were wrapped around his wrist and he was being pulled away from safety.

It was eerily dark and quiet streets of this town that Richie never stepped foot in. He walked with two strange creatures he’d never met before, and the stepsister he’d only met a handful of times. He was sure even the moon was watching them.

“Where are you taking me?”

Patty smiled at him, and shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.”

“I am worried about it, though. Very worried, actually.”

Eddie the Cat Boy patted Richie on the shoulder, then squeezed almost painfully. Richie felt something shoot down his spine. Richie jerks away, heart racing in his chest and Eddie’s eyes were wide and sharp as he watched him move.

Richie cleared his throat as he rub absentmindedly at his shoulder where Eddie’s hand had just been. “I’m still really confused.” Richie said in a voice that he knew was too high pitched compared to his usual. “And I’m not completely sure you aren’t going to kill me, so there’s also that detail and-”

“Nobody is going to kill you.” Stanley said, his voice sending a wave of calm over Richie. Fake calm, Richie could feel, but it didn’t make him feel any less comforted. “We’re taking you to meet our friends.”

“And they’re going to kill me?” Richie continued.

Stanley rolled his eyes. “No.”

Richie side eyed Eddie, who was looking Richie up and down as though he was seizing him up for slaughter. “Are they all secretly animals?”

Eddie rolled his eyes. “They fucking wish.” And with that, Eddie morphed back into the small cat from before and ran off. He didn’t move far, just a few more houses down the road before he bounced up the front steps. It looked like any other house Richie had ever seen, similar but slightly different to all the other houses on this same street, but Richie was all too quickly learning that nothing in Derry was “normal.”

“Let’s go.” Patty said “It’s party time.”

“There’s a party in there?” Richie questioned, staring up at the dark house. The windows were dark, and there was dust on the front porch. It looked like nobody had touched the house in years, maybe decades, beside the little kitten paw prints in the dust left behind by Eddie. “This is an abandoned house.”

“Nothing is ever truly abandoned.” Stan said wisely. He walked up the dusty steps and left no footsteps.

Richie looked at Patty, raising his brow. Patty just shook her head, linked her arm with his and lead him into the house. The inside was different from the outside. It looked larger, and it was lit up with soft orange tinge lights, and soft instrumental music almost like a backtrack. The whole place smelt like pumpkin pie and a smile tugged at the edges of Richie’s lips.

A boy with soft blond hair came around the corner and smiled at the sight of them. “Patty! You’re home!” He quickly embraced her and gave Stan a small nod. His eyes turned to Richie then. “And you must be her new step brother, Richard?”

“Everybody except her father calls me Richie.” Richie said, sticking his hand out and shaking with the blond boy.

“Cool.” He said simply. “I’m Buh-Bill. Welcome to my house.”

“You live here?” Richie asked, looking around. It seemed cozy enough, but there wasn’t much furniture besides an old holey looking couch and singular coffee table.

“Well, n-no.” Bill said. “Not technically, no. I have a house where I live with my family. But I live h-h-here sometimes, too.”

Richie nodded and let himself be guided further into the house. Bill and Patty took turns introducing him to people and Richie couldn’t remember a single name until they moved into the kitchen. There was buff looking boy standing above the stove, stirring, while Eddie the kitten walked along the counter.

“This is Mike.” Bill said, voice suddenly much softer than with anybody else he’d introduced Richie, too. “He’s a witch.”

Richie did a double take. So far, Bill had left the introductions with just names, though Richie had been able to guess that girl with the bright green skin or the boy with the glowing eyes weren’t exactly human.

“Bill’s always so nice about it.” Mike said in a voice as sweet and soothing as honey. “I might be a witch by blood, but I’m not very good at it.”

“You’ll g-g-get there.” Bill said with a smile as he walked over and looked into the pot on the stove. It made Richie a little nervous to watch the steam rise up out of it and curl into the air.

“So, what is this.” Richie asked with a toss of his hands. “Fucking Halloweentown?”

Patty let out a laugh, while Stan moved over and took Eddie off the counter. He placed him onto the ground and Eddie quickly morphed back into his human self. There seemed to at least be some sort of magical benefit that Eddie kept his clothes when he switched forms.

“If you want to be so obtuse about it, sure.” Eddie said sharply. “It’s the HellMouth. It’s a homing call for supernaturals. The closer to the HellMouth you are, the stronger your powers are. Derry settles right on top of one.”

“What like...” Richie wrinkled his nose. “Like Buffy?”

“Do you determine your life with only fucking television references?” Eddie asked.

“Okay, well.” Richie rolled his eyes. “Halloweentown is a movie franchise, first of all, and-”

“This isn’t some stupid Disney movie!” Eddie cried. “This is real shit, okay, and-”

“You turn into a cat when you’re bored!” Richie countered. “That’s the most Disney movie thing I’ve ever heard, are you kidding me?”

“That is so not funny, asshole.” Eddie cried., “I could destroy you. It wouldn’t even be hard! Little toothpick like you, I wouldn’t even need to use my powers, I could just choke you out with my bare hands!”

“Kinky.”

Eddie’s entire face turned bright red and his body seemed to vibrate with rage.

“Wow.” A deep voice suddenly sounded in Richie’s ear. “I’ve never seen anybody get under Eddie’s skin so quickly. You have no regard for your own life at all.”

Richie spun around, but there was nobody there. His skin broke out in goosebumps all up and down his arms. His spine tingled as he looked around with a deep frown. “What the fuck-”

“Hi.” The voice said. Directly in front of Richie’s face. Where nobody stood. Richie screamed and stumbled backwards. He collided directly with Bill’s chest, arms coming to wrap around his midsection to keep him standing up-right.

“Relax, relax.” Bill said with laughter in his voice. Eddie was hunched over at his middle, cackling, and everybody else looked close to laughing as well. “It’s just B-B-Ben. He’s invis-vis-visible.”

“He’s...” Richie cleared his throat and pushed away from Bill’s arms and dusted himself off as though it would save his dignity. “Right, of course. I obviously should have assumed that. Invisible boy. Why the fuck not?”

“You guys are freaking him out!” A girl with bright red hair that seemed to glimmer in the low light came into the kitchen with a large, black wine glass in her hands. She smiled at him. “It’s Richie, right? I’m sorry my friends are such insensitive assholes.”

Bill and Mike both had the decency to look ashamed of themselves, while Stan kept his expression annoyingly emotionless and Eddie just rolled his eyes.

“No, it’s okay. I think I’ve got it.” Richie said as he looked at the group of misfit creatures. “Mike is a witch, Eddie is probably a witch too but he’s also a bitch-” Eddie made a loud, offended noise and Mike snorted into his pot of steam. “Ben- wherever he’s standing is the Invisible Man and Stan is like... yeah, I don’t know about that one actually but he’s weird.”

Stan rolled his eyes. “I’m a fae.”

Richie blinked. “That’s not very Halloween-y.”

“This isn’t fucking Halloweentown!” Eddie shouted. He tossed his hands into the air with a deep scowl. “It’s not all mummys and werewolves and Edward Scissorhands!”

“Edward Scissorhands isn’t from-” Richie started but Eddie held up his hand and glared at him. “Okay, okay. And Bill you’re, like just a person, right? Like me and Patty.”

Bill cleared his throat awkwardly and Richie swore he saw Mike tense up. “I, once was. Yeah.” Bill seemed to slowly go transparent before Richie’s eyes, and Richie’s breath caught in his throat. “No so mu-mu-much anymore.”

“Oh, you’re...” Richie felt his cheeks heat up. “You’re a ghost. I’m sorry, man.”

“No, it’s okay.” Bill waved him off. “I’m uh-uh-only a guh-ghost suh-suh-sometimes.”

“Sometimes? How does that work?” Richie asked.

“I’m working on it.” Mike said in a stiff voice and Richie knew to back off quickly.

The girl came over and poured a slick looking black liquid into her wine glass and swished it around before sipping it slowly. “I’m Beverly. I’m a demon.” She turned to him, her eyes dancing with a thick ember. Her hair almost seemed to be fire itself more than human hair. “So, don’t fuck with me.”

“I wasn’t planning on it.“ Richie said simply. “I wasn’t planning on any of this.”

#reddie #reddie fic #my writing #it fanfiction #it fic #richie x eddie #richie tozier #eddie kaspbrak #fic gifts #dibot

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softest-cinnamon-roll · 5 years

Note

HOW DARE YOU I NEED A PART 3 PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET EDDIE CONFESS HIS FEELINGS

So many requests for this second part! I just couldn’t let you all down!!! (there was another 5 on top of this but I couldn’t have them all screenshotted!)

My bribe for you Amelia. I filled my half of the deal, now it’s time for yours!

Warning for homophobic slurs and Sonia K’s A+ parenting!

Part One || Part Two

Read on AO3

* * * * *

It was loud screaming that woke Eddie up from his light sleep the following morning. He had managed to fall asleep at around midnight to the sound of Richie’s voice on the other end of the phone. Over the course of their conversation, Eddie had many chances to admit to Richie how he felt, how much he had missed him, but he didn’t. In truth, he wanted to wait until they were face to face to do it.

Now though, now he had a screaming mother down the stairs, being fended off by both Maggie and Went. With a quick look at the clock, Eddie sighed as he realised it was just after eleven in the morning. He rolled out of bed and crept to the door, pressing his ear to the wood as he listened to what was going on down the stairs.

“You lied to him Sonia!” Maggie snapped and Eddie could imagine her crossing her arms and glaring at her. “You lied to him and said he wasn’t accepted into any colleges! How could a mother do that?”

He heard his mother scoff. “You listen to me, little miss perfect. Even back in High School I hated your guts. Always acting high and mighty with your perfect hair and your slim body. You don’t get to tell me how to raise my son. He needs me! He needs to stay here in Maine, and be with his mother!”

It was Went who spoke up next, his voice low and dangerous. It took Eddie by surprise, as Went was always so calm and kind spoken. “Excuse me, Sonia, but I don’t appreciate you talking to my wife like that. Eddie came to us. We didn’t sneak into your home and steal him from you. He chose to come here.”

His mother laughed, “This is ridiculous, as if my son would choose to come anywhere near you and your faggot of a son.”

Eddie couldn’t take it anymore of his mothers insults and he pulled open the door, rushing down the stairs to the scene. Went was staring at his mother with wide eyes and Maggie had a hand over her mouth. “Mom!” Eddie snapped. “What the fuck!”

“Oh there you are, Eddie bear!” His mom breathed and tried to step into the house, to get to him, but Went was in the way. “Come on darling, let’s get you away from these people.”

He shook his head, “Away from these people? These people are my family more than you have ever been! Ma, you lied to me to keep me in Derry! I thought no college wanted me because I was stupid, but in fact it was because you were scared of me leaving you!”

His mother blinked at him, at his outburst, and her eyes narrowed, “Now Edward, that is no way to speak to your mother. You come here right now, we are going home and you’re going to call that college in California and tell them you’re not going.”

“No.” Eddie shook his head, crossing his arms and staying firm. “No Ma, I’m staying right here with Maggie and Went, and then in a few days I’m going to catch a bus to California and I’m going to go to UCLA. I am done being stuck here with you, I’m done being treated like a weak innocent child. I’m not weak, I’m not sick. I’m pretty damn amazing if you ask me!”

Eddie felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up to see Went smiling at him, that strong supportive smile that he had seen him give Richie all through their years of friendship. His mother didn’t like this, and tried to step into the house again, but this time Maggie stopped her.

“You’re not coming into my house. Not after you insulted my son, and my husband. Never mind myself and Eddie.” Maggie snapped. “I think it’s in everyone’s best interests that you leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere!” His mother hissed, stomping her foot on the porch and Eddie had to physically hold back a shiver of embarrassment. “This is all your fault! You and that- that son of yours! He’s twisted and warped my Eddie bears mind! I never should have let them be friends, look what he’s caused!”

Eddie’s eyes narrowed and he finally moved down the remaining steps, getting closer to his poor excuse of a mother. “That’s my best friend you’re talking about, and he didn’t do anything to me! In fact he’s the one who makes me strong! I love him! I’m in love with him! I’m gay ma!”

It was the first time he had ever said that he loved Richie out loud. All of the other losers had just...guess and he had simply agreed. To finally speak it out loud, even if it wasn’t to Richie himself, was somewhat...empowering. His mother was staring at him with eyes so wide he was scared they’d pop out of her sockets.

Just as she was about to say something though, a new voice cut through all the squawking she was making, causing Eddie to freeze up on the spot.

“You love me?”

There, standing about five feet behind his mother in the front porch. Was Richie himself. He looked bone tired, and was holding an overnight back. Eddie was sure he was hallucinating because Richie was meant to be in LA right now...not in his front garden in Derry, Maine.

“Richie?” Eddie croaked and his best friend smiled softly, that smile that was only ever reserved for him. “Oh my god, Richie!” He stumbled forward, pushing past his mother as he rushed down the lawn and all but threw himself into Richie’s arms, legs wrapped around his waist.

Richie laughed, his hands moving under his thighs so he could support his weight and holding onto him tightly, “Jeez, Eddie Spaghetti, did you really miss me that much?” He asked through his chuckle and Eddie just clung to him that little bit tighter, tears in his eyes.

God he had missed Richie and his stupid comments.

“Yes I missed you, you idiot,” Eddie mumbled into his neck, completely ignoring the audience they had in the form of Richie’s parents and his, still angry, mother. “You- you heard what I said.”

“Did you mean it?” Richie asked and Eddie let himself drop down from Richie’s hold, still keeping his arms around his neck and their faces close together. Too close. “Did you, Eds?”

Eddie nodded his head, biting his lip as his stomach flipped, the nagging fear of rejection rising to the surface. “I meant it Richie. I- I’m hopelessly in love with you.”

Instead of replying to Eddie’s confession of love, Richie cupped both of his cheeks and leaned down, closing the distance between them. Eddie gasped, not expecting the kiss, but it was definitely not unwelcome. The feeling of Richie’s lips on his, soft and slightly chapped, was more than any dream or image Eddie could have come up with. It was short, as they did still have onlookers, but as they pulled away Richie’s eyes screamed that this was not over.

“Get your filthy hands off of my son!” His mother screamed, having finally found her voice and Eddie struggled not to roll his eyes so hard Stanley would be proud of him.

Richie just laughed and wrapped an arm around Eddie’s waist. “I’m so sorry, Mrs K, but I’m afraid our affair will have to come to its end. You see, I am very much in love with your son, and there is only enough room for one Kaspbrak in my life.” He put a hand over his heart. “I know this may hurt you, but I have made my choice, and you’re just going to have to deal with it.” As his mother stood there in shock, Richie started to lead Eddie back into the house. “Come on, Spaghetti.”

“Please don’t call me that,” Eddie muttered, rolling his eyes. All thoughts of his mother were forgotten as they stepped back inside the Tozier household. He didn’t even give her a second glance back. She didn’t deserve that much.

“Oh you can’t lie to me, Eds,” Richie cooed, ready to close the door. “You love me.”

And he did.

* * * * *

perma-taglist

@richietoaster @tozier-boy @eds-trashmouth @fucking-reddie @strange-reddie-loser @eds-kas @propertyofthelosersclub @its-stranger-than-you-think @yes-dillman-yes @totaltozier @reddietofall @reddietofight @reddie-to-fight @reddie-eddie-spaghettie @bitchbrak @reddieways @maximusfraker @jem-carstairs-is-perfection @thejadeazalea @reddie-eddie-spaghetti @halfway-happy353 @ellomello16 @liliemm @tinyarmedtrex @cacti-cool @inthebreadbinwrites @kat-ships-everything @takeourpure @lo-v-ers @mrs-vh @studpuffin @s-s-georgie @reddie-for-anything @trashmouthtozierr @richietoizer @girasol-eddie @bi-bi-richie @honeybeehanlon @mars-14 @reddiesetandgo @marsisaplanetyall @xandertheundead @sedanleystanley @hawkinsbabe @beepbeeprichiellc @stellarbisexual @oldguybones @ripeddiekaspbrak @captainbartholomew @purplepoisonedgem @reddie-to-cryy @pink-psychic @violetreddie @fuzzylogik @queen-sock @appojoos @moonlightrichie @rreddies @disneyfan567 @annxmatron @lifesucksheres20bucks @anellope @roobarrtrashmouth @are-you-reddie-for-it

#reddie #richie tozier #eddie kaspbrak #writing tag

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beepbeeprichiellc · 6 years

Text

It’s You and Me

Prompt: Hot/Cold/Seasons/Holiday

Ship: Reddie

Rating: E (some angst but mostly not)

Warnings: None.

And tag @itfandomweek

A03

Richie fell in love along with the seasons.

Summer was hot and lively, full fun and excitement. They were just kids, looking for shelter from the heat in various activities. Their favorite was the quarry, the cool water soothing their scorched skin, the weight of the word disappearing, allowing them to be free from the shackles of their shitty town. It was here the Richie first noticed the flutter of his heart, one sunny afternoon in the summer between his junior and senior year of high school. The losers had gathered as they did, splashing one another and yelling obscene things that would echo between the space where their friendship lay.

It was easy to forget the hormones and changes that ravaged bodies, the murky water hiding their lanky limbs and awkward teenage posture. Every now and then Richie would see it, whether it be the swell of Beverly's bosom, or the striations in Mike’s toned biceps, he would catch glimpses of their age, a fleeting reminder of the years spent together.

One by one, the others left leaving two lone Losers to their own demise. The sun was settling in the west, threatening to end their fun. Although never spoken, they knew neither of them wanted to return to their home for fear of the truth that stained the walls. Instead they stayed a little longer, laughing a little louder and floating a little closer. Richie would make a crude joke and Eddie would respond with a playful shove or an insulting remark. It was easy with Eddie, easier than the others and when their were alone it was as if the world melted away.

They finished the day by sitting at the edge of the quarry, feet dangling off the edge and shoulders touching. Silence stretched between them, comforting and welcomed. Every now and then Richie would steal a glance, admiring the way Eddie’s jaw sharpened just below his cheek or the way his neck met his shoulder. His stomach would knot whenever Eddie would catch him, both of their faces flustering from unspoken embarrassment.

“My mom wants me to stay in Derry after graduation.” Eddie muttered, the smile fading from his face. “Says if I move away she can’t take care of me anymore.”

“Well what do you want to do?” Richie asked, the hairs on the nape of his neck rising as Eddie licked his lips. “Do you want to stay in this shit hole after high school? Are you really going to deprive the world of the wonderful Eddie Spaghetti?”

Eddie bit the inside of his cheek, “You know I hate it when you call me that.”

“No you don’t.”

The small boy never corrected him, instead sliding his palm across Richie’s and intertwining their fingers. It hadn’t been the first time they had held hands, but this seemed more intimate, more precious even. This moment was just between the two of them and no one else, just Eddie and Richie sitting at the edge of their childhood unaware of the fleeting season that would leave them in a cloud of of unspoken feelings and lingering stares.

Because summer may be hot and lively, full fun and excitement but it was also fleeting and unforgiving to those who held on too tightly.

----

Autumn was calm and chilly, full of changes and new things. Richie spent his first day at UCLA alone and afraid. People here were different than the ones back home, more intimidating and confusing. He had gotten lost, missed the first half of orientation and managed to insult his roommate in the first five minutes of meeting him. Never had he felt so worried, he was confused by the adaptations that he never asked for in a University that he had dreamed of attending. All of the Losers had separated, Bill heading overseas, Mike to New Haven, Stan to Florida, Ben and Beverly to Colorado and Eddie to New York.

For the first time since he was five years old he didn’t have a single friend to meet up with, to complain to when times got hard. So that’s why he was currently sitting on his bed, phone in hand wallowing in his own self pity. Instinctively he dialed the number he had memorized on the plane ride here, his heart pounding along with ever ring. For a second he was afraid there would be no answer, but then-

“Hello?”

“Hey Eds!” Richie breathed, his stomach settling and chest aching. “Long time no speak!”

“I talked to you before I got on my flight ten hours ago.” Eddie shot right back, his tone unamused and flat. He sounded so tired, and Richie could tell that he was barely hanging onto the conversation. There was a yawn on the other end, “What’s up trashmouth? What’s wrong?”

Richie forced a chuckle, “How do you know there is something wrong?”

“Because I know you better than anyone else.” Eddie replied easily, the reality of his words making Richie’s breath hitch. “It’s your first day at college, I know for a fact everyone is partying and getting wasted and you are calling me instead. Don’t you have better things to do than to ring up little old me?”

Richie couldn’t stop the grin that began to curl at the corner of his lips, his hands gripping tightly onto his cellphone. “I will never have better things to do than to call my best friend.” And he meant it, truly and honestly. Leaving his friends was hard, leaving Eddie was agonizing. They were the final two to depart, spending the last of their time together, blissfully unaware of what was soon to come, or at least pretending so. There was another yawn on the other end and suddenly Richie felt guilty for calling his friend so late. “Hey Eds?”

“Yeah Rich?”

“Do you think-” He paused, the words teetering on the edge of his tongue, as if afraid to take the plunge. Releasing the breath he didn't know he was holding he rubbed the bridge of his nose, “Do you think we are all going to be friends, even after all this time apart?”

“What the Losers?” Eddie asked.

No. Us. “Yeah, the Losers. We are spread across the world now, how are we going to stay in touch, how are we going to see each other?” Breathing suddenly became hard, his lungs deflating and struggling to refill. The weight of the word was crashing onto his shoulders, his head was spinning and his mind was fleeting. “What if I made a mistake leaving, fuck I pissed off my roommate in only five minutes and I don’t have anyone to talk to and soon you are going to get new friends and you’re going to forget me and-and-and we are never going to see each other because we will have our own lives and I’ll be alone and we never got to-”

“Richie.” Eddie shouted through the receiver, stopping the vomited words that Richie didn’t know he had. “Take a deep breath.” Richie struggled with this, the air coming to him in ragged spurts. It was all too much, he tried to focused on Eddie’s soothing words, his instructions like bells to his ears. “That’s it, in and out. In. Out. In-good, that’s good.” Soon things began to calm down, the room cooled, the air thinned and he was brought above water. “Listen to me, and listen to me good Richie Tozer.” Eddie said sternly, unaware of the tears that were now streaming down the tashmouths face. “We will be friends no matter the distance or time. I could not talk to you for the next four years and I would still drop everything and meet you anywhere. What we have isn’t that fragile that it can’t take a hit like this, okay? Everything will be fine, it’s your first day so give it time. Soon you’ll be calling me about the girl you banged in the Starbucks bathroom.”

Richie laughed, wiping at his wet face. “I want to believe you Eds, it’s just-”

“Then believe me.” He cut, not harshly but rather sharp. “The Losers will still be the Losers, you will still be Richie and no matter what, you will never be alone. Have I ever steered you wrong before?”

“Yeah when you got us chased by Mr. Johnson when he caught us stealing his garden gnomes.”

“Okay, have I steered you wrong in the past ten years?”

“No.” Richie breathed, biting his bottom lip. “No you haven't.”

“Exactly.”

“Eddie?” Richie whispered, his heart aching as he closed his eyes and let out a hot breath. For a single second it felt like he was there in New York, watching his friend pace the room while he spoke just like he always did. Any moment now he would drink his herbal tea and crawl into bed, sleeping in the fetal position with a pillow scrunched under his head. He knew Eddie better than anyone, and that was what hurt the most. “I love you.” The words were sweet on his lips, leaving a tingling sensation there. Everything was sore, including his bandaged heart. It took a few moments but Eddie’s response was there, clear as that memory of them at the quarry.

“I love you too.”

Richie cried.

Because autumn was calm and chilly, full of changes and new things but it was also distant and unkind to those who feared the reaper.

---

Winter was soothing and cold, full of wonderment and thrill. It was Christmas Eve and the Losers were crammed into Beverly and Ben’s one bedroom apartment, chugging eggnog and exchanging cheap gifts. Well, all of the Losers except one. Richie was having a hard time getting into the spirit of the season, the pressure of finals and expectations heavily weighing down on him. If he was being honest with himself, he didn’t want to be here, having bought his ticket before finding out his best friend wasn’t able to make it. Now here he was, around people who loved and cared for him and all he could think about was what was missing. Excusing himself he stepped out for a much needed smoke, walking out into the snowing Colorado street with a shiver and curse. It was beautiful out, even he had to admit, and yet he couldn’t muster an ounce of appreciation for it.

The nicotine soothed his jitters, filling his lungs with the deadly poison. It wasn’t enough, but Richie figured it would just have to do. Leaning against the brick wall he sighed, trying to remember a time he felt so lost. Nearly three years into his degree and he was now wondering if it was all worth it, if the studying and late nights would be worth the meaningless paper. Maybe, maybe not but he did blame it for the gaping hole in his heart. Lifting the death stick to his lips he inhaled, the smoke strialing form the end, dancing with the blistering wind before disappearing forever.

“You know smoking causes cancer right?”

Richie’s eyes shot open, surprised to see the small bundle standing before him. His nose was red, his eyes wide and judging. Those lips, plump and moist, were turned up into a knowing grin. He wore way too much clothing, including a puffy, adorable hat that hid his chocolate curls. Dropping the cig, Richie bolted forward and pulled the shorter boy into a bone crushing hug. “Fuck Eds, I didn’t think you were coming.” He whined into his friends jacket. “Bill said-”

“I was able to switch clinicals with another classmate and I caught the last flight out.” Eddie explained, his grip on Richie's leather jacket just as tight and needy, speaking volume. “I wanted to surprise everyone, did it work?”

“Shit yeah it did!” Richie replied happily, prying away and glaring down at those big doe eyes. “It’s a Christmas miracle!”

Eddie scoffed loudly, rolling his eyes. “Okay, I wouldn’t go that far.”

“I would.” He muttered, dropping his hold on his friend and placing a much needed step between them. Instantly he felt bare and exposed, wishing he could pull Eddie back in without drawing suspension to himself. Shoving his hands into his pockets he grinned, shaking his head and laughing. “Eddie Kaspbrak, in the flesh.”

“Richie Tozier, in the thinnest thing he could find.” Eddie shot right back, biting his bottom lip. “Honestly, don’t you own a hat?

“I live in California my dear, this is the warmest thing I could find. Typically I’m in shorts and a t-shirt.” There was a heavy implication that came with his explanation, something that tainted the air between them. Eddie was here now, but soon he wouldn’t be and that was the tragedy of the Christmas season. Swallowing his emotion he punched his friend in the shoulder, playfully lightening up the tension.

Eddie snorted, returning the banter. They stood there for a second, the tension like dust in the air. Looking up towards the lit window Eddie frowned, the snow gathering on his long lashes, and it took all of Richie's strength not to brush them away. “They are all up there huh? This will be the first time we have all been together since high school graduation.”

“I know.” And he did, because despite his best efforts this was the first time he had seen Eddie in three long years. Sure they called each other, texted every now and then but that didn’t replace actually being with someone, really being with them. It was like stepping into a dream and all he wished he could do was hold on forever. “It’s crazy right? We are all friends after everything is said and done.”

“I told you.” Eddie smugly said, shimming his shoulders. “I’m always right.”

“Yes, you are.” Richie whispered to the sky, smiling at the warmth in his chest.”Even I must admit.”

“So tell me Tozier,” Eddie playfully cooed, rolling on the balls of his feet and grinning. “You got a pretty little thing waiting back in Cali for you?”

Richie’s heart sank into the gathering snow below his feet, swearing the pain into the concrete. Dropping his gaze he fought the frown that threatened to end their easiness. Swallowing thickly he forced, “Yeah, I-uh actually do.”

Eddie blinked, his face faltering for just a second before turning upward into a forced emotion. “Oh really? Found someone that would put up with your bullshit huh? That’s awesome!”

“Uh-yeah her name is Christine, she’s a science major at UCLA” It all tasted sour on his tongue, so weighted and wrong. He shouldn’t be talking about this, this was small talk he made with meaningless people, not Eddie. Never Eddie. “We’ve been together for about a year now.”

“So it’s serious.” Eddie said, sounding surprised. “God damn, this woman must be pretty amazing to get Richie Tozier to commit.”

She has nothing on you, Richie wanted to say but knew he couldn’t. “She is, she wanted to come along and meet everyone but her parents have do a big thing for Christmas and you know how it goes.”

“Yeah, I do.” Eddie whispered, making Richie’s bones shake and gut knot. There was something else he was going to say, his mouth opening to speak but the words refusing to come. Slamming his jaw shut, he only shook his head, grinning mostly to himself. “God, Richie Tozier. I can’t believe it’s been this long.”

“Too long.” Richie replied..

The door swung open then, and there was a squealing noise as Beverly jumped the steps of her apartment and pulled Eddie into her arms. This was followed by the rest of the gang, essentially stealing the small Loser away from Richie. They wouldn’t get another moment alone the rest of the holiday and Eddie would leave without knowing the bitter truth that Richie held in his heart

Because winter was soothing and cold, full of wonderment and thrill but it was also lonely and depleting for those who seeked something untouchable.

----

Spring was warm and inviting, full of rebirth and overcoming. Even during one of the most important moments in Loser history Richie still managed to dig himself into a trench. There were voices on the other side of the window, talking and laughing about the upcoming events and all he wanted to do was steal a smoke. Sixteen hours in and the event was in full swing, guests arriving by the dozen, all flocking to the wedding of the century. It was only the rehearsal dinner, the pressure rising with the moon.

Breathing in the smoke he cherished the feeling, it had been over a year since his last cigarette and it didn’t remember it tasting this good. The kick had been a compromise with his girlfriend, a effort to ease their problems but it hasn't worked because they didn’t work. She was merely been a placeholder, someone to keep him warm at night while he sorted out his life. Two years out of college and he had landed the job of his dreams, essentially killing his relationship where it had stood. Christine had been good to him, but she wasn’t the love of his life.

That person had a hold on him that couldn’t be explained.

There was a slam of a car door, followed by a screeching, enraged voice. “-know what? Fuck you too asshole, take your money and shove it right up your homophobic sphenter!” Richie could feel his throat clench, the air in his lungs vanishing as he trudged through the brushes to get a better look.

Sure enough there was Eddie Kaspbrak, standing in suit and tie with his face redden in what could only assume to be anger. He hadn’t changed much, and yet all Richie wanted to do was memorize what hadn’t been there the last time he had seen him, over three years ago. The car sped away, it’s tires crying out while the short man shook his fist in the air and shouted absolutely obscene things.

Even flustered and pissed, he was still the most mesmerizing thing he had ever seen. With a huff and curse Eddie grabbed his suitcase and readjusted his tie, bouncing on the balls of his feet and glancing at the entrance with furrowed brow. He looked on edge, even from afar, the nervous tick Richie had grown to love coming into play as Eddie ran his slim fingers through his hair, ruining it forever.

It was all Richie could take and his feet carried him before his mind could catch up, stumbling from his place in the brush and onto to the black asphalt. Eddie stopped in his tracks, meeting Richie's gaze and stopping the world under him. They stood there for a moment, taken in one another until Eddie broke into an award winning grin making Richie’s blood run cold. “Well look what the cat dragged in, been spying on me have you?”

Automatically his mouth answered, “”I was just trying to get a better look at your mother.”

Eddie laughed, actually laughed at the overused joke lie if it was the first time hearing it. His lips curled over his teeth, the warm and inviting rumble coming from his chest and floating into the air like balloons. Richie wanted to pull him close, to tell him everything he had kept to himself over the years but kept his distance, knowing the moment they touched he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. “Jesus Eds, it’s not that funny.”

“It is because it’s really you.” Eddie replied, this laughter dying down into a small chuckle. “It’s you and it’s Ben and Beverly’s wedding and just-” He sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. “God damn I can’t believe I’m actually here.”

“I can’t believe you are here either.” Richie whispered, unable to hide the want in his tone. His heart ached, his stomach flipped and there was a second he thought his pulse had stopped. “I’ve missed you so much.”

That was when they were caught, pulled apart by Bill’s strong hug and Mike’s loud announcement of the last Losers arrival. Eddie was dragged inside to meet the rest of the group and that was the last time Richie was able to speak to him until after the bride and groom kissed, married after over a decade of love and commitment. It had been beautiful, absolutely breathtaking. Tears were shed, and cheers were shouted as the two ran down the aisle hand in hand.

The reception was decorated with freshly bloomed flowers, filling the room with their sweet scent. Bill made the best man toast, and Richie did his maid of honor duties and embarrassed his friend with horrific stories of their past. With the formalities aside, things began to lull into a sense of calm, people danced, drank and enjoyed themselves, all the while the trashmouth couldn’t take his eyes off of one very gorgeous groomsmen.

Music played in the background, a sweet serenade of their past and as Richie crossed the room he could feel his nerves shift under his skin. Eddie was talking to Stan and his new girlfriend, Patty was her name, his eyes sparkling in the dim light. He was perfect, so perfect that he could die happy knowing he had been so lucky to even know someone like Eddie. As he approached the conversation dulled and Richie couldn’t help the dryness in his throat.

Stan took the hint, wrapping his arm around Patty’s waist. “Come on sweetheart, let’s go congratulate the happy couple.”

Patty pouted, “Wait no, I wanted talk to Eddie about-”

“Later.” Stan whispered, winking in Richie’s direction. The two watched the couple leave, engulfed by the crowd, disappearing completely.

It was Eddie who broke the trance, “So where is Christine? I haven't seen here around and wanted to make the proper introduction since you are a bad boyfriend and refuse to do so.”

The sentiment made Richie smile, even when putting on a show Eddie knew to put others first. He was too good for this world, too good for him. “She’s not here, we broke up last week.” It was like a weight was lifted from his chest, freeing him completely. “She wanted marriage and kids and I guess I just didn’t want that with her.”

“Oh, I’m sorry Rich.” Eddie cooed, shifting his weight from one foot to another. “That’s terrible, you guys had been together for such a long time.”

“Yeah well-” Richie shrugged, smiling down at the confused look in Eddie’s eyes. “What about you? Finally found a man worth settling down with?”

“No.” The short man chuckled, “God no, I’ve been dating but everyone I meet can’t compare to-” He stopped short, the rest of his sentence catching in his throat. Clearing it, he shook his head and looked up to his old friend with hooded eyes. “I’m better off alone, never been one to commit.”

“You were.” Richie corrected, shaking his head. “Once upon a time.”

“Once upon a time is for children stories.”

The music changed, slowing down to an gentle pace. Richie couldn’t help himself, looking to the man before him and whispered, “Care to dance with this old trashmouth?” The words sounded much smoother coming out, sliding between them like honey.

This was their moment. After all this time.

“I thought you were never going to ask.” Taking his extended hand, Eddie allowed himself to be led to the dance floor, placing his hands round the trashmouths neck and shivering when hands were wrapped around his waist. It had been over eight years since they had been this close, touching each other tenderly, with nothing but love and admiration. The words to the song didn’t matter, all that mattered in that moment was the feeling that lingered between them and the moment Eddie laid his head against Richie’s sternum.

They swayed lazily, engulfed in one another wholeheartedly. Richie wanted to say so many things, apologize for lost time but those things never came, what did was Eddie’s soft voice against his ears. “You know I still love you right? After all this time, I have only loved you.”

Richie couldn’t stop the tears welding up in his eyes, his heart filling with happiness. “Oh Eds.” He cooed, holding the man tighter against him. “I never stopped loving you.”

Spring was warm and inviting, full of rebirth and overcoming but it was also frightening and chilly for those who refused to take the plunge.

Luckily, Richie wasn’t one of those people.

He fell in love along with the seasons, and during his favorite season he finally had it all.

#reddie #it #it au #it fandom week #please read #i am so fucking late #like five days #i'm sorry #i'm tyring

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