#Once Eddie’s done being dramatic: We’re still gonna get it on later right?

[morganbritton132]

Eddie posts a Tiktok of himself dramatically lamenting the fact that Steve is destroying him (ignoring him) for no reason (he put a cup of loose glitter in the dishwasher so Joan wouldn’t knock it off the counter and then forgot about it) and now, “I’m going to die from this treatment and does he care?”

He flips the camera around and zooms in on Steve on the other side of the room, replacing the pictures in the picture frames on their bookshelf with new pictures. He doesn’t even look up as Eddie exclaims, “No! He cares not!”

“You may be asking, ‘gee, Eddie, what did you do to deserve a fate such as this? Surely it must have been awful,” He monologues. “And I will tell you. I will tell you that I’ve done nothing to deserve-“

“You ruined my dishwasher.”

“-this cruel and unusual punishment from such a forgiving, and beautiful man. But alas, King-“

“Buy me a new dishwasher!”

[losersclubbitches]

You’re Number 1

Let me preface this with the fact that I’m not sure who this is for, but hopefully I figure it out. Please let me know if you asked for this so I can dedicate it to you.

“Richie Tozier! Wake up, sweetheart!” Richie heard his mother call sing-songily from the other side of his door.

“Coming Ma!” he called back, rolling out of bed in a most dramatic fashion and heading over to his closet. He picked out a bright blue Hawaiian shirt with pineapples on it, a white shirt to go underneath, and some tan cargo shorts. He pulled on plain white socks and his black Vans and headed to the bathroom, lazily taking a comb to his hair as he brushed his teeth. When he made it to the kitchen, he saw his mother cooking eggs at the stove and his father brewing a pot of coffee next to her. The baby blue 2s floated above their heads and he smiled when they flashed red as the two kissed.

“Rich, we’re down here,” his mother reminded when she caught him staring. He shook his head to clear the thoughts and looked them in the eyes.

“Right, sorry. It’s just, the numbers are so distracting,” he spoke, giving a sheepish smirk.

“I know, sweetheart, but just try, okay?”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Want some coffee, kiddo?” his dad asked, turning to him. Richie smiled.

“Sure!”

“Creamer?”

“Whatcha got?”

“Caramel and hazelnut.”

“I’ll take both, please.”

“Any preference how much coffee vs creamer?” his father inquired.

“50, 25, 25,” Richie answered.

“Coming right up.” His father prepared the coffee and set that and a plate of eggs and toast in front of Richie, ruffling the boy’s hair.

“Thanks, Dad.” When he was done with breakfast, his mother dropped him off at school, kissing him goodbye as he spotted his friends leaning against the wall, the bright yellow 3s distinguishing them from the rest of the crowd of colors and numbers. They waved him over and he went, waving, too. As he got over there, Bev offered him a cigarette and he took it, lighting it with the lighter from his backpack pocket. He heard a distant call from the drop-off lane.

“Bye, Eddie-Bear. Have a good day at school,” a woman’s voice spoke. Richie cringed at the voice. It was loud and grating and would have spiraled him into an overload, had he not been smoking.

“Bye, Ma. I love you,” a boy replied. The car door closed and Richie flinched. When he looked, the car was about 70 feet away. He shouldn’t have been able to hear either of them from that distance. Not to mention, the boy was looking down at his black converse.

“Hey!” someone called and the boy looked up. Richie caught his eye for a moment and his heart stopped. The boy had innocent brown doe eyes with a glassiness to them that Richie couldn’t resist. His brown hair was neat and swept to the left side of his face and he was wearing an anxious expression. Overall, he was beautiful and Richie’s heart fluttered dangerously.

“Hey, who’s that?” Richie asked his friends, distractedly turning to them. He didn’t want to take his eyes off the boy.

“Eddie Kaspbrak,” Bev told him, putting out her cigarette against the brick wall and throwing it into the trash can nearby. “He just moved here last week.”

“Yeah. I did a tour with him on Monday,” Ben spoke from where he was perched on the half wall of the steps. “Why?” Richie glanced at him, then out of the corner of his eye, saw Henry Bowers and his gang stalking over to Eddie.

“Uh, no reason.” He put out his cigarette and rushed over, getting there just in time to stand in front of the boy now on the ground where Henry had shoved him. “Hey, leave him alone,” Richie demanded and very much regretted it as the large, black 10s with red Xs appeared before him.

“Hey, Tozier, we’re down here, ya freak,” Henry reminded, shoving Richie’s shoulder. Richie stumbled back, but didn’t fall.

“Can’t you idiots find something better to do?” Richie demanded, standing his ground.

“You wanna say that again, Tozier?” Henry hissed.

“You heard me, Bowers. Unless you’re so stupid your brain stopped processing multi-syllabic words.”

“How’s this for processing, asswipe?” Henry punched him and Richie fell, hitting his head on the grass. He heard someone gasp loudly in his ear, but no one was that close to him.

“Richie!” He heard Ben call and opened his eyes to see his friends rushing over. He heard the bell ring and noticed everyone around him head inside except his friends and the new kid. Eddie, God, was he okay? Richie sat up and looked at the boy, who was a few feet away and breathing heavily and sounding like a teapot at a boil.

“Eddie, are you alright?” Richie asked, noticing the slur in his voice. He shook the fog from his brain and sat up, crawling over to the other. Eddie nodded and pulled an inhaler from the fanny pack strapped to his waist and took a hit from it. His breathing slowed and got less whistle-y.

“Rich, are you okay?” Ben asked, kneeling next to him. Richie waved him away and crawled closer to Eddie.

“Eds, are you okay?” he questioned, reaching out to the boy. Eddie flinched back but quickly relaxed and nodded.

“I’m fine,” he assured, standing up and brushing off his pants. “Thanks for standing up for me. You didn’t have to do that.” Richie stood up as well, assessing the damage to his elbows.

“No worries, Eds. You don’t wanna mess with Bowers and his gang. They’ll either pummel you to a pulp or make you do their bidding,” Richie instructed.

“Richie, what the hell were you thinking?” Stan chided, arms crossed.

“To be honest, I wasn’t,” Richie replied.

“Figured,” Stan muttered.

“We should probably go. Don’t want to be late for class,” Ben spoke. Everyone nodded and headed into the school building, separating and heading to different classes.

“What’s your first class, Eddie?” Stan asked.

“U.S. history with Mr. Scardons,” Eddie answered.

“Same as me and Rich,” Stan told him. “I’m Stan, by the way.” He stuck out his hand and Eddie hesitantly shook it.

“Nice to meet you,” Eddie spoke.

“Be right back,” Richie cut in, patting Stan on the shoulder before turning off down a separate hallway.

“Where’s he going? Class starts in two minutes,” Eddie pointed out.

“Richie’s never on time to class,” Stan clarified.

“Don’t five tardies add up to a missing? And three missings add up to truancy?”

“Yeah. Richie’s smart, though. He’s never late enough to count as tardy.”

“Oh.” They headed into the classroom and took their seats, leaving one between them for Richie. The teacher was there, sitting on the edge of his desk with a stack of papers in his hand.

“Good morning class. We’re gonna start a little early today,” he greeted, giving the papers to a student in the front row. “So, we’re gonna be starting our projects within the next week or two. The paper that’s being passed around is your assignment sheet. Make sure to read it carefully. The second bell rang out and Eddie startled slightly.

“It’s okay. You’ll get used to it,” Stan comforted, taking two papers and handing them to the other.

“I hope so,” Eddie replied, smiling at Stan. The door to the classroom opened and Richie walked in, head held high, taking his seat between Eddie and Stan. Stan handed him the assignment sheet.

“Thanks, Stanny.”

“Mr. Tozier. Glad to see you here. Any chance you can show before the bell?” Mr. Scardons asked.

“Starting class early, Mr. Scardons? Any chance you could cut me some slack?” Richie jested, smirking. The teacher just rolled his eyes and turned to the board, starting to write. Stan and Eddie grabbed out their notebooks and Richie pulled out his laptop and started the program, then opened his notes and started to type. Once class was over, the three left, talking the whole way. Stan and Richie parted ways until lunch. At lunch, they met up with the rest of their friends. Eddie and Richie showed up a little later than the rest, smiling and talking.

“Anyway, thanks for letting me borrow your book today, Richie,” Eddie expressed as they sat down.

“Of course. It’s not like I use it, anyway,” Richie replied. “I have the audiobook.” He pushed the food around on his tray, separating it, eyes trained above the heads of his peers. Stan clicked his tongue, drawing the other’s attention back down. Eddie frowned slightly, but dropped it, figuring it wasn’t his business. But Richie wasn’t eating and while Eddie didn’t know what he’d had for breakfast, he did know that people need three meals a day.

“Are you not hungry?” he asked, taking a bite of his sandwich. Richie snapped back to reality, looking at him.

“Hmm?”

“Are you not hungry?” Eddie repeated. Richie shrugged.

“Eh.” Eddie started to say something, but was cut off by a yell that originated from across the cafeteria.

“Hey, Tozier! What do you think you’re doing?” the guy from before, Bowers, Eddie assumed, called, stalking over with the rest of his gang.

“Eating lunch,” Richie responded, quirking an eyebrow.

“I meant, what do you think you’re doing with our fresh meat, retard?” Eddie flinched at the word; it hurt and it wasn’t even directed at him. Richie didn’t seem affected by it at all, though. 

“He doesn’t belong to anyone, Bowers, back off,” he sneered, standing up and blocking Eddie from their view. He looked back at Eddie and felt his heart clench. The boy looked scared, breathing heavily, but he was looking up at Richie with adoration. Richie’s heart fluttered, but he drew himself back to the matter at hand. Henry stepped forward.

“What did you say, freak?” he demanded. Richie frowned.

“I said Eddie doesn’t belong to anyone. He’s new here and he doesn’t need your bullshit, Bowers,” he told the other. He felt Eddie grab his hand comfortingly.

“He’s fresh meat, Tozier. Means he belongs to us. You should remember that,” Henry reminded, smirking to his friends.

“That was a mistake, Bowers. You should know about mistakes, you were one,” Richie bit back without thinking. Henry and his friends stopped laughing and the older boy stalked forward, getting in Richie’s face.

“What’d you say to me, Tozier? You know I can still beat your ass and no one would know, right?” Henry hissed. Richie reeled back.

“Jesus, ever heard of a toothbrush? Your breath reeks.” God, he wished he’d stop talking.

“You tryin’ to get killed, Tozier?” Belch Huggins chimed, snarling.

“You wouldn’t kill me. Especially not with the information I have,” Richie replied coolly. The older boys reeled back and Richie smirked.

“Oh, yeah. You forgot about that, didn’t you? The kid stays with us or I ‘accidentally’ leak your little secret all over the web,” Richie threatened.

“Fine. Keep your little boyfriend, freak. Have fun with the loser group,” Henry growled, turning on his heel and stomping away, his groupies following him. Richie sat back down and continued to shove food around his tray.

“Hey, thanks,” Eddie expressed. Richie looked at him.

“For that? Ah, that was nothin’, Eds. Don’t mention it,” Richie dismissed, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

“I mean, it was something. And I’m thanking you,” Eddie asserted. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yeah, well, they’d either make you their lackey or their punching bag and you’re too cute to be either of those,” Richie divulged absentmindedly, taking a small bite of his food. Eddie silently cheered; Richie was actually eating a little and he counted that as a win. But then his mind brought him back to what Richie had said.

“Y-you think I’m cute?” he asked, blush rising in his cheeks. Richie didn’t seem to notice, staring at his plate as he shrugged.

“Yeah.” He took another small bite and Eddie smiled.

“I’m glad you’re eating,” he mumbled, looking down.

“Well, gee, Eds. Didn’t know you cared about a fella that much,” Richie exaggerated, putting on a deep Southern Voice, placing a hand over his heart. Eddie blushed even more, staring at his own lunch and taking another bite.

“Well, studies show that eating three meals a day pretty much every day is beneficial for cognitive function,” he recited.

“Well, thanks, Eds.” Stan scoffed, bringing the two back to reality.

“I tell you that all the time, Rich,” he grumbled.

“Yeah, but you’re more naggy, like an overbearing mom. Eddie’s like the sweet mom who really cares,” Richie replied, looking at his friend.

“Are you-” Stan gaped at him and Richie laughed.

“Don’t worry, Stanny. I’m just yankin’ your chain. I appreciate you for looking out for my well-being. Both of you.” They both gave nods of acknowledgement and continued their own lunches. After the bell rang, they parted ways again, heading for their last class of the day. Eddie, Bev, and Richie all had chemistry class together. Bev and Richie, per usual, walked in a little over a minute after the bell rang. The teacher just sighed and continued the lesson. Richie and Bev spent the whole lesson whispering to each other while Eddie took notes. Richie was also taking notes, but was clearly more focused on his conversation. Once class had ended, Eddie packed his things to head home but Richie caught his wrist. Eddie felt the area get warm along with his cheeks, but Richie didn’t seem to notice.

“Hey, Eds. We were all planning on going to study at The Clubhouse. Wanna come?” he offered.

“I’ll have to ask my mom, but hopefully I can,” Eddie replied, nodding.

“Cool. We’ll meet at the library at three.” Richie let go of his wrist and smiled widely, walking away with Beverly. Eddie hid his wrist under his books and kept his head down as he left the school. His mother was waiting in the pickup lane for him and she honked.

“Eddie-Bear!” she called. Eddie heard some people snicker and ignored them, shuffling to her can and tucking himself into the front seat. He buckled himself in and his mother drove off, not even noticing his silence. “How was your first day, Eddie-Bear?”

“It was good. Hey, Ma? Some friends invited me to study with them at the…library later. Can I go?” he asked.

“Are these ‘friends’ people that I’d approve of you hanging out with?” she questioned. Eddie thought about it. Richie was absolutely the kind of person his mother despised. He was loud and always late and Eddie was absolutely sure he smoked. But then he thought of Stan and how the others seemed like model students and nodded.

“Yeah. They’re part of this after-school study group and they’re really nice,” he told her, heart picking up when he remembered what Richie had done for him. His wrist was still warm and felt like it was glowing.

“Alright. What time does the group meet?”

“Three.”

“Alright. I can drop you off now so you’ll be early since it’s on our way. Is that alright?”

“Yeah, Ma. That’s fine.”

“You have your afternoon snack?” his mother inquired as she stopped in front of the library.

“Yeah, Ma. I have it.”

“And your phone?”

“Yep, Ma. Got it all.”

“Alright, Eddie-Bear. Have a good time. Call me when you want me to pick you up and don’t leave the library with anyone who seems unsafe, okay?”

“Okay, Ma. I won’t,” Eddie vowed, noticing Richie smoking as he sat on the steps.

“Bye, Eddie-Bear. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Ma.” She planted a sloppy kiss to his cheek and Eddie cringed away slightly.

“And stay away from that hooligan. I don’t want him infecting your delicate lungs.” Eddie got out of the car.

“I will Ma. I’ll see you soon.” With that, his mother left and Eddie made sure she was gone before walking over to Richie.

“Hey, Eds. The others are already at The Clubhouse. Ready?” Richie greeted as he put out his cigarette. Eddie was surprised he didn’t bring up his mother.

“Yeah. I just need to use the restroom first.”

“Want me to hold your stuff?”

“I’m okay, thanks.” Eddie headed inside and went to where the signs said the bathroom was. When he finally set his books down and examined his wrist, he saw that the name on his wrist was glowing. RICHIE. Could Richie Tozier be his Soulmate? The one he’d been trying to find since he noticed the mark when he was five. There had been a couple other Richies in the other towns he’d been to, but none of them made the mark glow. So he and his mom had moved shortly after. He could tell she wasn’t happy about him having a male Soulmate, but she was happy that he had a Soulmark in general. Denoting someone who would be perfect for him by nature. No one had Soulmarks to tell them anymore. Everything was left up to chance for everyone but the lucky few who got them. But Richie didn’t have a Soulmark that Eddie could see. They were usually on the wrist, but sometimes appeared on someone’s shoulder.

“Hey, Eds! You comin’?” he heard Richie call from the other side of the door. Eddie splashed water on his face and tugged on a sweatshirt from his bag to cover his Soulmark, then left the bathroom, running right into Richie, who caught him before he could fall back. Eddie felt his Soulmark burn his wrist and pulled back, clearing his throat.

“Uh, thanks, Richie,” he expressed, a heavy blush on his cheeks as he looked up into Richie’s brown eyes. There was a pause as Richie’s gaze trained above his head, shocked look on his face. They stood like that for a minute before Eddie caught Richie’s attention, noticing that people were staring at them. “Richie, are you okay?” Richie snapped out of his daze and stared in Eddie’s eyes and Eddie felt his heart jump.

“Uh, yeah. I’m alright. Thanks, Eds.” This time, Richie cleared his throat, pulling further away and dropping his hands. “Shall we go?” he offered, starting to walk away. Eddie followed him, staring down at his Converse.

“Hey, Rich?” he started as they hit the edge of the woods. Richie looked back, eyes still a bit dazed behind his glasses. Eddie wondered what he’d seen.

“What’s up?”

“Do you have a Soulmark?” Eddie asked.

“I don’t have one on me, but a lot of people don’t anymore. Why?” Richie replied, running a hand through his hair.

“Uh, no reason. Just wondering.” That was a disappointment. What if Richie was his Soulmate but he wasn’t Richie’s? He’d heard of a case like that where the person had then had hanahaki disease and died from choking on a clump of flowers. He didn’t want a death like that. He had to be Richie’s Soulmate. He just had to. He and Richie headed to a secluded part of the woods and Richie opened a trapdoor in the ground, leading Eddie down into The Clubhouse. It was a large space for such a small opening.

“Woah. This is really cool,” Eddie mused, looking around in awe.

“Thanks. I designed and constructed it,” one of the boys, Ben, Eddie recognized, chimed.

“Is it safe?” Eddie asked, feeling his lungs compress with the dust in the air. He took a hit from his inhaler.

“Perfectly. It’s not done, though, so we can clear all the dust out soon if you want,” Ben offered.

“That’d be great, thanks.” Eddie stuck out a hand to the other. “I’m Eddie, by the way. I don’t think we formally met.”

“Ben Hanscome.” As Eddie made his introductions, Richie motioned to Stan to follow him outside and headed back up the ladder. He sat down against a tree, then pulled a cigarette from the pack he’d gotten after school and lit it, taking a long drag to clear his head.

“Rich? What’s wrong?” Stan asked, closing the trap door behind him. Richie took another long, slow drag from his cigarette. He ran a hand through his hair, but didn’t say anything. Stan sat down next to him. “Richie, talk to me. What’s going on?” It wasn’t until a few minutes later that Richie spoke, putting out the cigarette against the tree and burying the butt in the grass.

“Stan, I think Eddie’s the 1,” he mumbled, so quietly that if Stan hadn’t been shoulder to shoulder with him, he wouldn’t have heard it.

“What makes you so sure?” he inquired.

“I couldn’t see his number even when we met. But at the library, I swear, I saw a glimpse of a 1, Stan. And I think he’s got a Soulmark. He asked me if I had one and I swear, when I grabbed his wrist after class, I saw his arm light up,” Richie relayed.

“Light up?”

“I dunno. I only saw it for a second. But I could have sworn it was blue, purple, and pink.”

“Like the bi flag?” Stan guessed. Richie nodded.

“Yeah. But I can’t be sure if any of this is right.”

“How will you be sure?”

“I have to kiss him. And that is not going to be easy.”

“We could play ‘Spin the Bottle’,” Stan suggested. “As a break from homework.”

“Stan, I could kiss you!” Richie exclaimed, eyes bright. Stan held up a hand.

“Save it for Eddie. Let’s go.” The headed back down into the Clubhouse and started their study session. When it looked like everyone was getting restless, Stan perked up.

“Anyone up for ‘Spin the Bottle’?” he posed, quirking an eyebrow. The others gave forms of agreement, but Eddie looked skeptical.

“Is that safe?” he asked, worrying his lip as Stan pulled a bottle from his backpack.

“You can do cheek kisses if you want, Eds, but it’s more fun on the lips,” Richie told him. “Plus, we don’t have any diseases, if you’re worried. My first kiss was Stan and he’s the cleanest person I know.” Eddie saw the blush on Stan’s cheeks as he averted his eyes. Maybe those two were dating and Eddie was going to ruin their relationship with all his stupid “Soulmates” business. He was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of the bottle spinning in the dirt, landing on Bev. She and Richie met in the middle of the circle, hands on cheeks in a passionate kiss. When they pulled back, Richie smirked.

“New lipgloss?” he inquired, licking his lips. Bev nodded, sitting back. “Vanilla. I like it.” Bev beamed, then spun the bottle. It landed on Bill and they kissed, just a quick peck, but it left a pink blush on Bill’s cheeks. He spun and hit Stan, who spun and hit Richie, rolling his eyes. Richie kissed Mike, who then kissed Ben, who gave Bev a sweet kiss who then spun Richie again, who landed on Eddie. Eddie blushed and glanced over at Richie, who looked to be just as nervous.

“We don’t have to kiss, Eds,” he assured. “It’s really fine if-” Eddie cut him off by slamming their lips together. He felt Richie tense for a moment and almost pulled back, but then the other relaxed into the kiss, bringing his hands up to cup Eddie’s cheeks. Eddie could feel a boiling warmth everywhere Richie was touching him, down to where their knees pressed together just slightly. He felt the warmth surround him and fill him up and all he wanted to do was just keep kissing Richie, anywhere, anytime, including in front of his mother. But the urge to breathe was just slightly stronger than the urge to keep kissing and so Eddie pulled away, panting slightly and looked at Richie, who was staring at him, eyes flicking between his lips and just above his head.

“What? Is there something on my face?” he asked jokingly, but Richie nodded, pulling up his phone’s camera. Eddie looked at himself. His lips were glowing pink, purple, and blue, as were his cheeks. When he looked down at his knees, he saw the same, albeit muted, colors coming from under his jeans. Richie Tozier was his Soulmate. But was he Richie’s?

“Eddie, you’re my Soulmate. I know that this is all really weird, but my Soulmark works a bit differently. See, I can see my relationship to people with numbers and colors above their heads. I can also hear everything my Soulmate hears,” Richie explained. staring at his hand twisting together in his lap. Eddie reached forward and grabbed them, making his own light up.

“I guess we both have color Soulmarks,” Eddie pointed out. “I light up wherever my Soulmate touches me. I can also feel whatever they’re feeling when we touch.”

“Yeah? What am I feeling?” Richie tested. Eddie closed his eyes.

“Elated. Nervous. A little scared. Hungry,” Eddie relayed. When he opened his eyes, he saw Richie staring at him, smiling widely. He could also feel the love Richie had for him. This, he could get used to.

[thestarsaroundyourscars]

Hanzier, by the river, life or death

Thank you my dear! I hope you like this!

Read on AO3

When Mike asked his friends if any of them would like to go on a camping trip with him, he expected all of them to say no. If he had to pick one to say yes, he would've said Bill. Maybe Stan, if he thought it would give him a chance to see some birds.

Mike never thought that, out of all of them, Richie would be the one to say yes. At first, Mike thought he was joking and he waited, amused for the punchline, only it never came. Now, it was a week later and the two of them were making their way through the woods and Mike was starting to believe Richie was serious about it. 

They kept having to stop because Richie was in terrible shape and his noodle arms were having trouble carrying his backpack. Mike would wait patiently for him to recover, hand him a water bottle, offer to carry his stuff. He didn't mind that it was taking twice as long to get to the campsite as usual, he liked having Richie there with him. 

"Fuck Mikey. Are we almost there?" Richie huffed, breathing heavy. He was slumped against a tree, arms wrapped around the trunk to support his weight. His bag was so overpacked that if he tried to stand straight, gravity would make him fall on his ass. It happened once already and Mike had to pull him back on his feet while Richie wailed about knowing how turtles felt now. “I feel like I’m gonna pass out any minute and I know that on any given day you could carry me like a fainting damsel, but I doubt you can also carry our things.”

Mike chuckled, handing him a water bottle. “We’re almost there Rich, don’t worry.” 

It still took them half an hour and several breaks to get there and when they did, Richie tossed his backpack on the ground and dropped himself right next to it, whining dramatically about how he couldn't feel his legs.

Knowing it would be a while before Richie got up, Mike started setting up their tent. They only brought one, because Richie didn't own a tent and because they really didn't need to bring something else they'd have to carry. Besides, Mike didn't mind sharing a tent with Richie. It was big enough for both of them and they had their own sleeping bags anyway. It's not like they would be sharing a bed or something like that. Not that Mike would mind that either. 

He was staking down the corners of the tent when he heard Richie let out a whistle. Mike turned around to face him, he was still on the ground but now he was leaning back on his elbows, smirking. "Damn Mike, I recovered my breath just for you to take it away again."

Mike felt his face go hot. He tried to blame it on exertion or the fact that he was working under the hot sun, but he knew it was all on Richie and the way he licked his lips while staring Mike up and down. 

He bit down a flustered smile, rolling his eyes at Richie. "You're just being dramatic because you don't want to help me."

"You seem to have everything under control, buddy."

He did. And he finished setting up the tent quickly after that. 

As soon as Richie was able to stand on his legs again, Mike was dragging them into the woods. 

Richie gave him a wary look."Where are going?" 

"We're going for a walk." 

"A walk? Why?" Richie whined. "We already walked to get here."

Mike chuckled, his hand dropped from Richie's arm to wrap around his wrist as he picked a trail. "We didn't get to enjoy that one."

"You mean, because of my whining and complaining? Because that's not gonna change." 

Mike rolled his eyes, picking up the pace. He intended to let go of Richie's wrist but then Richie was lacing their fingers together. Mike felt the tips of his ears start to burn.

"Uh."

"So I don't wander off, you know." Richie said, shrugging. His cheeks were an adorable shade of pink. "I don't want to get lost in the woods, Mikey."

Mike's lips twitched and he squeezed Richie's hand. 

Richie did complain, huffing when making their way up a particularly steep incline and panting when he felt like he was melting inside the black jeans that he insisted to bring, but he also admired the view, pointed excitedly at a squirrel they came across and happily accepted the berries Mike picked for him. 

After a while, they decided to head back. When Richie started to whine again, Mike offered to give him a piggyback ride.

"Thank you, stud." Richie said, climbing on Mike's back. 

"I think you meant steed."

"Nope, I meant stud." Richie said, winking. Mike felt a pleased smile appear on his face. 

Back at the campsite, Mike told Richie to go take a nap because his friend looked like he was going to pass out any minute. In the meantime, Mike gathered some wood for a fire, chopping it with an axe. The hot sun was beating down on him and made Mike take off his shirt half way through the task, sweating profusely. 

Half an hour later, Richie emerged from the tent, shielding his eyes from the light. It made his shirt ride up a little and the sliver of exposed skin made Mike's grip on the axe falter. He forced himself to look away, he didn't want to drop the axe and chop off his toe because he was distracted by the line of hair disappearing into Richie's jeans. 

"Holy fucking shit." He heard Richie gasp and he put his axe down before turning around to face him. Richie was staring at him with wide eyes, his face a dark shade of red.

"Hey Rich." 

Richie faltered. "I know there's a very good line about a lumberjack and something about you giving me wood, somewhere in my head, but I don't think my brain is working at the moment." 

Mike chuckled, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, he didn’t miss the way Richie followed the movement with his eyes, mouth parted slightly. 

Then he shook his head and focused on the chopped wood at Mike's feet instead. “Are we having a fire?”

“Yeah, I brought chocolate and crackers, I thought we could make s’mores.”

Richie's face lit up, grinning at Mike, big and honest. "Fuck yeah." He said, pointing at the axe. "I would offer to help you, but I doubt I could lift that fucking thing over my shoulder."

Mike snorted, waving him off. “I’m almost done anyway. If you want to help, you can refill our water bottles.” He suggested, pointing over his shoulder at the river. 

Richie wrinkled his nose, eyeing the river with distrust. “Is that safe?”

“Who are you? Eddie?”

“Hey, I’ve heard him rant about Listeria or shit like that too many times, man.”

“Well, water is pretty clean up here but don’t worry, we’ll boil it before we drink it just to be safe.” Richie nodded, grabbing their water bottles. “Be careful though, the current is pretty strong.”

“Got it, chief.” 

The campsite was near enough to the river that Mike could see Richie sitting down on a rock, leaning forward to fill the water bottles. He could also hear him singing to himself. 

Mike felt a silly grin break in his face, he ducked his head trying to focus on the task at hand.

Mike's crush on Richie wasn't new to him, but lately he was having a hard time keeping his feelings in check. When Richie said he would go camping with him, Mike was both excited and worried, because he would get to spend time with Richie but they would also be alone in the woods for three days and Mike didn't know if his heart- and other parts of him- would survive that. Especially in those moments where it seemed that maybe Richie was also attracted to him, like before, when he was practically drooling at the sight of a shirtless Mike or when he held his hand as they walked through the forest.

A loud splash made Mike whirl his head towards the river, thinking maybe Richie accidentally dropped one of the bottles in the water but when he did, he didn't see his friend. 

“Richie?” 

Mike expected him to pop up from behind a tree with a stupid grin on his face but he didn’t. He felt a lump starting to form in the back of his throat. 

"Rich this isn't funny, man." He tried, but again, nothing. “Fuck.” He muttered, dropping the axe and running towards the river. 

He saw the water bottles neatly placed on top of the rock Richie had been sitting on, but no Richie. The river had grown and the current was stronger than before and Mike started to panic. 

He looked around, fear prickling under his skin. Then he noticed something a few feet away and he recognized the eye-watering pattern of Richie's ridiculous Hawaiian shirt. He ran towards him and dropped to his knees. Richie was lying face down and Mike was scared to roll him over. He did it anyways and gasped, Richie was bleeding from a small cut on his forehead and his eyes were closed, he didn't seem to be breathing. 

“No no no Richie fuck.” Mike shook his shoulders, but Richie remained unmoving. “Richie, come on man.” 

He pressed his hands to Richie’s chest and started pushing, grateful that he attended that first aid seminar the first week of college. He pinched Richie’s nose, tilting his head back and pressed their lips together, blowing air into his lungs. When nothing happened he did it again, muttering under his breath, Richie and come on and please.

After the third time, Richie surged up, spluttering and coughing up water. Mike fell back on the ground with a relieved sigh, giving Richie some space while catching his own breath.

“Motherfucker.” Richie groaned, voice hoarse and strained. “Fucking hell, my fucking lungs feel like they’re on fire. What the fuck.”

“Yeah, what the fuck, Richie?” Mike shot back. “I told you to be careful and you, what? Decided to go for a swim?”

“I didn’t- Fuck.” Richie coughed a few more times. “I wasn’t trying to go for a swim, I was filling up the water bottles like you said, but then my glasses fell off and when I tried to reach for them, I lost my balance and hit my head with a stupid rock and then nothing.” His hand went to the cut on his forehead, it wasn’t big, wouldn’t even need stitches thank God, but there was a bruise already forming around it. “Shit. That hurts like a bitch. Not as much as my chest, but pretty fucking close.”

Mike scrunched up his face, apologetic. “That’s partly my fault, I think I went too hard on you trying to get you breathing again.”

Richie blinked. “You gave me mouth to mouth?”

“Well yeah, you weren’t breathing and I-”

“Wait wait! You’re telling me that you kissed me for the first time and I was fucking unconscious for it?”

Mike's eyebrows knitted in a frown. “It wasn’t really a kiss.”

“It’s literally called the kiss of life, Mikey.” Richie said, then rolled his eyes. “Of course, that would happen to me.”

Mike snorted. “Well yeah, you’re the only blind idiot I know who would drop his glasses and then himself in a river."

"Hey, rude." Richie narrowed his eyes, then waved him off. "But no, I meant- I finally get you to kiss me and I didn’t even get to enjoy it.”

"Finally?" Mike's eyes widened and he spluttered like he was the one who nearly just drowned. “Wait, enjoy it?”

Richie rolled his eyes, snorting. “Who’s the blind idiot now?” He shot back. “Come on Mikey. I’m pretty sure I popped a boner when I saw you chopping wood, shirtless and looking like a fucking sex god. I've been hitting on you for years! I held your hand the entire fucking time we were walking. I agreed to go camping with you. Me, the guy who drives his car to the store that is only a block away, who gets winded walking up a flight of stairs. Why the fuck would I do that unless it was to spend time alone with you?"

Mike chuckled, wrapping his head around Richie's ramble. "There are easier ways to do that, you know. Ones that don't end with you almost drowning."

"Why do easy, when I can do you?" Richie said, winking exaggeratedly. 

Mike started laughing. Hard. "That was terrible, even for you Rich." He said and Richie stuck his tongue out at him. "Do you have a concussion, is that your concussion talking?"

"Fuck you, Mikey." Richie said with no heat. He was also laughing, face scrunched up adorably. His glasses were still missing and Mike knew they would have to worry about that later, but right now it allowed him to see the glint in his pretty blue eyes. It made his own laughter catch in his throat. He lifted his hand to push back some of Richie's wet hair before cradling his face. Richie stopped laughing, staring at Mike with wide, slightly unfocused eyes. 

"I like you, Richie." Mike said, heart fluttering at his own admission. 

"Ditto."

"And I really want to kiss you right now."

Richie gulped, nodding and letting Mike pull him close at the same time he leaned in, connecting their lips. Richie hummed into his mouth, a short little noise that that made Mike's heart speed up as Richie delved deeper into the kiss. Richie held onto Mike's shoulders, feeling him up. Mike totally forgot that he was shirtless until he felt Richie's hands running over all that skin. His own hands were tangled in Richie's hair and he pulled, putting some space between them. Richie whined, chasing after his lips and Mike chuckled, leaning back to give him a big, giddy smile.

"Wow." Richie said, licking his lips and staring at Mike in a daze. 

"Yeah." Mike agreed. "That was so much better than our first kiss."

Richie frowned, offended. "Hey, no. I was unconscious. You can't hold that kiss against me." 

Mike smiled, if he was being honest, he didn't think he had stop smiling for a while. He placed a chaste kiss on Richie's lips before standing up. "Come on, buddy. We have to find your glasses and clean up that cut. Then we can get you some s'mores. The more sugar you eat, the easier it will be to stay up all night." Mike didn't miss the way Richie's eyebrows did a little wiggle, he let out a snort before explaining. "I'm not letting you fall asleep when you could have a concussion."

Richie heaved out a dramatic sigh. "And here I thought you were keeping me up for," Another eyebrow wiggle. "Other reasons."

Mike's lips twitched at the same time his stomach fluttered. “I wouldn't be opposed to that." He winked, pulling Richie along with him.  

He wouldn’t be opposed to that at all.

Tag list: @daddyphantomtbh​​​ @yes-dillman-yes​ @richietoaster​ ​ @beepbeeprichiellc​ ​ @its-stranger-than-you-think​ ​ @lemonaayyee​ ​ @losers-gotta-stick-together​ ​ @tinyarmedtrex​ ​ @richiefuckfacetozier​ ​ @sam-i-am2468​ ​ @richardtoz​ ​ @s-s-georgie​ ​ @reddie-for-anything​ ​ @eddiefuckinkaspbrak​ ​ @constantreaderfool​ ​ @stanleuyris​ ​ @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​ ​ (if you want to be added, let me know!)

[scoopsohboy]

I Got You Babe || Platonic Richie x Beverly

A/N: This is my first attempt at writing fanfiction in YEARS and my first time ever writing “It” fanfiction. I have a BIG series in mind based in the universe of this fic but, I knew I needed to get this piece written down first. This whole series is inspired by this moodboard post created by asthmaticeddie. Go check it out, Kay is so talented and lovely! My fic would likely be Eddie POV, so I would never get to actually write this scene! So I’m doing it anyway! 

Summary: Richie gets into a fight at a party. Bev has to pick up the pieces. 

Warnings: Mentions of violence, blood and spit, slight internalized homophobia. Angst that becomes fluff.  

Word Count: 1508

Richie had fucked up.

That much was painfully obvious to on-lookers who watched Bev as she escorted him from the party. She flashed her brightest smile whilst moving her newfound responsibility by the collar of his Hawaiian shirt through the throngs of people. Her cheeks were a stark red, a harmonious gradient from her cherry lips to her fiery locks.

She shot a quick look back to where her friends stood, mere feet away from the incident. Eddie and Ben were watching the pair storm away, concern plastered all over their faces. Meanwhile, Bill, Stan, and Mike clearly had a handle on damage control, talking Bowers and Co. down from rushing at Richie. Who, by the way, was just asking to get choke-slammed through a coffee table at this point. The punch across the face was an appropriate escalation.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer!" Richie shouts bitterly, before throwing his empty beer can in their general direction. Bev picks up her pace and tightens her grip.

Despite how it feels as if this crowded college party is never ending, the pair finally make it to the front door. Somehow, Stan had managed to follow the pair through the crowd and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. It didn't fix anything but, the gesture reminded her to inhale, in addition to exhaling. Imagine that. Richie opted to sit on the front porch while he waited for his roommate.

"He's messy tonight," Beverly grumbles, running her hands across her face and up into her hair.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Stanley observes, head cocked, eyes following Richie as he begins to spit excess blood and saliva onto the ground, "He looks normal enough to me," this elicits a soft, tired chuckle from Beverly and Stan cracks a smile, "Seriously, though, do you want any help with him?"

"No, no, Stan the Man, you're good. He's just gonna make it his goal to bother you the entire time anyway."

"Fair," he pulls Bev into a side hug, as they stand in the doorway, watching Richie hock a glob of blood and spit on the pavement once again, "And hey, if you make it through the night, tomorrow we'll get breakfast on me." She hummed her appreciation of his proposal, giving his side one last squeeze before stepping into the threshold of Trashmouth Wrangling.

"Bevvie!" Richie cheered as she stormed past him and towards the car, "We should stop at the store!" He caught up to her within two strides, trying to hold her hand.

“No,” Beverly declared, knowing she was already in for a long night. Richie pouted, before spitting yet again, “Stop it. Get in the car."

Spit.

"Don’t spit again, Richie!"

Spit.

"I swear to God! Stop! Spitting!”

Spit.

She hit her much taller friend on the back of his curly haired head, as he laughed against the cool October night. Upon impact, Richie’s glasses slid down the bridge of his nose, as crooked as the smile playing on his lips. He leaned clumsily against his friend’s dingy Ford Freestyle, the freezing touch of the vehicle cooling him down. His intoxicated laugh had echoed off into whatever residential neighborhood the pair had found themselves in this time. He looked off down the street, expectantly, as if he was waiting for someone to return his drunken call. The quirking edges of his smile faltered as he turned to beam down at the angry redhead. Her perfectly and intentionally sculpted brows arched at his childish display, “You done?”

He smiles wider, full of teeth. He spits on the pavement again before spiraling into hysterical laughter. He had no spit or blood left in his mouth at this point. Just defiance. Beverly extends both of her hands forward and shoves her friend, “How fucking old are you?!” her cry is shrill as she goes to get in the driver’s seat. Richie, knowing that he’s already pushing his luck, gets in the passenger’s seat unprompted. He even buckles his seat belt without a glare required. He leans far back in his seat, “Old enough,” 

“Can you not quote Superbad at me right now? I don’t even know how to get out this fucking neighborhood!" Beverly begs, fiddling with the GPS her aunt had gifted her before the semester had begun.

"Are you mad at me?" Richie asks.

"Yeah, Rich, I'm fucking pissed," the engine revs alive as they pull away from the curb.

"Why? I held on to your hair tie all night, like you asked," he holds his wrist out dramatically, providing evidence. The redhead rolls her eyes, softening slightly. Slightly.

"I'm mad because you couldn't just let that piece of shit have the last word. Just this once!" Bev lectures, "Everything was going fine! We managed to pull Mike out of the library for one Friday night! Ben was socializing while he got us drinks!"

"Bill was going to makeout with you," Richie quips.

"You know what, Trashmouth, maybe he was!"

"He was not. Too nervous,"

"Ah! Irrelevant!" Beverly's face had done this lovely little trick it does when dealing with intoxicated Tozier, where it fluctuates from pale to bright pink to the brink of purple, rinse and repeat, "You did enough showing off for Eddie before Bowers showed up. This didn't do you any favors. I don't think beaten to a pulp is exactly his type,"

This struck a nerve.

Richie fell silent in his seat, suddenly very intrigued by the rolling foliage that whipped passed the window. His hands gripped the sides of his seat, fingers picking at the torn upholstery there. Bev didn't push it; she would remember to yell at him for that later. She glanced over at the lanky man every few minutes, looking smaller every time she did so. His busted lip was pursed into a thin line and his posture was frail, hunched. His chest rose and fell rapidly, the only part of him that was active.

Bev broke the silence, "He's probably worried about you, ya know."

"Why would he be?"

"Rich. I'm your roommate. I'm your friend. Do you think I don't have eyes?" A whine escaped from his lips and he shut his eyes tight at the realization that his secret wasn't much of a secret anymore. She gave her friend a wry smile that was practically audible, as she reached her hand across the center console to hold his, "Or a functioning gaydar?"

The duo laugh at this, Richie letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, "Please," he begged, "never use that term," despite how it had alleviated tension between them, it built up a bubble inside him, how quickly this new "quirk" about him gave her the ability to shove him into a box. Bev nods. Richie begins to fiddle with the radio. Despite being drunk off his ass, he was still too sober to be having this conversation.

"Richie...it's not like anyone of us Losers would judge you. Eddie's out and proud-"

"And that's good for Eddie," he cuts her off, wanting to change this conversation as rapidly as he's flipping the channels.

"I just...don't see why you don't just come out and go for it? I have no idea if he likes you back...you're a little polarizing like that. But what is the harm in trying?" Bev wonders, genuine support and a longing to understand in her voice.

"I don't know if there's anything for me to come out as," Richie admits, leaving the radio alone, "I mean...I think Eddie's great. Well...probably more than great. Definitely more than great," he ignores the giggles that emit from Bev, "But...am I really...gay? I couldn't tell you. I've made out with Stan's sister enough back home-" he cuts himself off to respond to Bev's scandalous expression, "you don't know shit-" she throws her head back and laughs, "that there's no way I can't like girls. Do I even need to come out? What does that even mean? Can't I just date who I want? Can't I just make out with who I want at a gross college party, no questions asked?"

Bev shrugs in response, her attitude towards Richie having made a complete 180 since their car ride began, "You got me there," she pulls his hand up to her mouth and let's a kiss linger there until the red light turns green, "We're almost home, Richie, just relax. We can keep talking about this and cuddle on the couch. Or not. Either way, this stays between you and me, bub,"

"What a fuckin' sap," he playfully teases, before turning the volume dial on the radio nearly all the way up. Through the speakers of this behemoth of a car twangs the familiar, funky chords of Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe". The two share a look. A look of love and exhaustion and understanding...of the fact that they were about to scream-sing this song until the very last note. This song was a promise. Melodramatic and disco-based. But a promise nonetheless.

[eddieeatsass]

Stripped Bare - Chapter 2

Summary: Eddie gets an offer from his company to work in Barbados over the summer. Beautiful weather, all expenses paid trip, and a stay in a suite at one of the most highly rated resorts in the world. How could he say no? Unfortunately, Eddie soon realizes there were a lot of reasons to say no. His skin doesn’t take kindly to the harsh sun, his suite ends up being the size of a shoe box, and, oh yeah, it’s also a nudist resort. Pairing: Reddie (side Benverly and Stanlonbrough) Rating: E Warnings: Eventual smut, explicit language

Read on AO3

“So yeah, she’s probably one of the most bad-ass people I’ve ever met.” Bill finished off his story with a thoughtful nod, as if he was lost in his own memories while recalling them. “I would not want to be on the wrong side of Beverly’s fury.” He explained as an after thought.

Eddie had been listening to Bill talk about his best friends for 10 minutes. Technically, they were on the job, but no one had flagged down Eddie yet and he welcomed the distraction from the naked bodies he still hadn’t gotten used to. Plus, it was cute the way Bill’s eyes lit up as he talked about his friends. Eddie secretly hoped he could be on that list one day.

“And then there’s Richie.” Bill started back up, a fond smile accompanying his words.

Eddie leaned against the lifeguard chair that they were both standing under and focused on the way Bill’s lips moved as he talked.

“He’s a huge fucking dork. I love him, but I mean that guy has a bigger comic book collection than anyone I’ve ever met. He also never shuts up, we call him Trashmouth because-”

As Bill continued describing his friend in great detail, Eddie found himself thinking about Stan. He felt kind of guilty that he’d tricked Stan into coming. He’d be arriving later that day and he had no idea what to expect. Eddie had been there for a few days now and, granted, it did get a little easier once you got into the habit of keeping direct eye-contact with everyone you meet, but it still wasn’t comfortable. Stan was going to hate it, was going to hate him.

“Anyway, they should be here soon, you’re gonna love them.”

“W-what?” Eddie stared at Bill dumbfounded. Clearly, he’d missed something important when he zoned out.

Bill just laughed, not taking any offense to Eddie’s spaciness.

“Richie and Bev, I mentioned earlier that they come here every year. I get an employee discount that extends to friends and family, so they usually spend the majority of the summer bothering me while I work.”

“Oh, that actually sounds kind of fun, having your best friends around.”

“It’s fun until the 3rd time Richie pretends to drown just to get me riled up.”

Eddie laughs at that visual, picturing a big dramatic scene ending with Bill stone-faced as he returns to his lifeguard post, now unnecessarily wet. The image is enough to make Eddie completely miss the new presence suddenly behind him.

“I hate you.”

Eddie recognized the monotone drawl immediately. He doesn’t turn around though, is too afraid to face Stan right away. Instead he keeps his gaze trailed on Bill who is flicking his eyes back and forth between Eddie and the face behind him, silently questioning the situation.

“You’re not gonna turn around?” Stan asks.

“Mmm, nope. I like it here.” Eddie responds matter-of-factly, planting his feet a little more firmly in place.

Bill’s confusion finally gets the best of him. He peeks around Eddie’s body slightly, addressing Stan directly as he introduces himself.

“Oh yeah, sorry, Bill this is Stan. Stan, Bill.” Eddie supplies without moving.

“Nice to meet you, I think?” Bill says hesitantly, checking Eddie’s face for confirmation.

“Don’t mind him. He’s just worried I’m gonna be mad that he tricked me into working at an all-you-can-ogle buffet for the summer.” Stan says.

“Are you?” Eddie asks.

Stan sighs, but Eddie could hear the smile when he spoke. “No, I’m not mad. Confused, maybe.”

The second Eddie had confirmation that he could let go of his anxiety, he was whirling around to face Stan and talking at the speed of light.

“Oh thank god because I wasn’t sure I’d be able to survive this summer without you here! I mean this is so weird, right? Like ‘excuse me sir can I have a towel’ oh yeah sure let me just wade through this sea of naked bodies to bring you a towel that you won’t actually use to cover anything up. And this can’t possibly be sanitary, right? How often do these patio chairs get cleaned? And the water, I mean how many people do you think have free-peed in there today alone? AND WHAT ABOUT BONERS!?”

Stan has his hands on Eddie’s arms before he could spiral any further. Stan chances a glance over at Bill and is surprised he’s still standing alongside them. He gives Bill a mental check-mark for being able to deal with Eddie’s neurosis and then turns his attention back to the task at hand.

“We’ll deal with it.” Stan says, his tone surprisingly convincing.

Eddie nods in agreement. “Okay, yeah, we’ll deal with it.” He repeats.

Having gotten that out of his system, and with the new presence of his best friend, Eddie actually sported a real smile for the first time since he’d arrived at the resort.

“Why are you here so early, by the way?” Eddie asks, once he realizes what time it is.

Stan shrugs. “They got me a direct flight.”

Eddie’s jealousy shows in the way his nose crinkles up. He didn’t get a direct flight.

Stan just smiles and opts to change the subject.

“So, our supervisor is hot.”

Bill and Eddie both agree embarrassingly fast, looking at each other afterwards and sharing a laugh.

Stan got a grasp on things considerably faster than Eddie did. A week and a half in and Eddie was still struggling with the environment, years of sexual repression making it hard to normalize it in his mind. Stan, on the other hand, had adopted a rather naturalistic approach.

“Bodies are not inherently sexual, Eddie.”

Eddie huffed out a groan in Stan’s direction. They were in the supply room grabbing towels for guests, Eddie taking a purposefully long time just to avoid going back out there.

“I know that, Stan.” Eddie bit back with no real bite.

“We’re born naked, it’s normal. None of these people are here for sex, just to enjoy their time in the freedom of their body.”

“It’s not normal to see your neighbor, doctor, and teacher’s dick.”

“None of these people are your neighbors, doctors, or teachers. You don’t live here.” Stan challenged.

“You know what I mean!” Eddie rushed in response.

“Try and think of it this way, you’re never going to see these people again. So what if you know what Mr. Fraser’s dick looks like? In a few months it’s just going to be irrelevant information your brain stores away to be forgotten.”

Stan had a point. It’s not like Eddie was going to form any type of meaningful relationships with any of the guests. This was strictly professional, and the same way that you don’t remember every customer’s face, you also won’t remember every customer’s genitals.

“Are you about done folding those towels or do you need another minute?” Stan teased, nodding towards the small stack of towels he’d been folding and refolding to procrastinate for as long as possible.

“Yeah, I guess.” Eddie conceded, tucking the towels under his arm and following Stan out of the room.

They made their way back out to the deck and distributed towels to the guests who had requested them. Just as Eddie had handed the last two towels over to an older couple, he heard a voice calling him over.

A few seats over from where Eddie stood, a hand was waving at him. Being caught off guard, Eddie didn’t have time to concentrate on keeping his head eye level, and boy was that the biggest mistake of his life.

The man in question was unmistakably naked, that much wasn’t surprising given where they were, but what was surprising was that he was hot. So far, Eddie had counted himself lucky that he hadn’t seen any guests that he found particularly appealing, but this guy changed that real fast. He was tall, Eddie could tell even though he was sitting down. He had long limbs that stretched out from his body in an almost lanky way, but it worked for him somehow. He was well defined but not obnoxiously so, and atop his head was an unruly mop of black hair that mimicked the dark happy trail that lead down to…

The biggest cock Eddie had ever seen in his young life.

Well, fuck. If he hadn’t been staring before, he definitely was now. How could someone be so big while flaccid? Eddie almost bypassed being turned on just to admire how impressive that length was.

“Excuse me?” The voice rang through the space again, bringing Eddie’s eyes up to meet the pair gazing towards him. He didn’t look like he’d noticed Eddie staring, but then again, maybe he was just being polite? Oh god, or what if he had noticed and now he was calling Eddie over to tell him off. No, this guy didn’t look like the type to chew Eddie’s head off.

Eddie kind of wanted him to chew his head off... But, in a sexy way.

“Sorry to interrupt your inner monologue, I was just wondering if you could get me something from the bar?”

Eddie’s throat was dry. Something from the bar sounds great right now. He could chug a gallon of water right on the spot and still be dehydrated. He realizes with a start that he still hasn’t said anything since being waved over and the guy was probably starting to wonder if Eddie was mute.

“Yes.”

Okay, great job Eddie. That’s a start. Now just continue with what you say every day.

“What can you get me.”

Nope, that’s not it.

The stranger’s eyebrows shot up, a smirk that had no business being so charming taking over his features.

“I don’t know, what do you want?”

Okay, so the stranger was smoother than Eddie could ever dream to be, but he was also teasing Eddie, and in any other circumstance he’d be peeved. But this wasn’t any other circumstance, and Eddie had to admit it was kind of endearing.

“What can I get you.” Eddie corrected himself, choosing to ignore the man’s last comment.

He chuckles. It’s deep and throaty and Eddie wants to swallow it whole.

“Just a virgin sex on the beach, please.”

“You’re a virgin!?” Eddie blurted out, before his brain could catch up with his mouth.

The stranger seemed to stall for a moment, before his grin grew even wider than before.

“Well, I haven’t had sex on the beach, if that’s what you’re asking. Too much sand getting in too many places.” He played along.

Eddie didn’t want to think about this man’s ‘places’. Eddie wanted to die.

He decided quickly that the only way he would get out of this interaction with at least some of his dignity left intact was if he left as soon as possible. Clearly his mouth couldn’t be trusted, and neither could his eyes, apparently, since they were already wandering back down the man’s body on their own accord.

Eddie forced his eyes to the ground and mumbled a quick “I’ll be right back with your drink.” Which he’s surprised to get out without some sort of slip up. His feet were carrying him away before he even got an answer. He was headed in the wrong direction, not even relatively close to the bar, but he couldn’t get himself to turn back around. Now that he’d put distance between him and the hot stranger, his heart had started beating irregularly fast, and it wasn’t because of a panic attack this time.

Eddie flung the door to the storage room open, startling one of his co-workers who was exiting the room. Eddie gave him a meek smile, a “sorry for almost beheading you with the door” apology. The co-worker, who Eddie wouldn’t be able to name even if he cared to try, just returned the smile and passed by Eddie.

He only waited a few seconds before slamming the door shut behind him and slumping against the surface, face pressed into the hard wood. He groaned audibly as he let the embarrassment finally swallow him whole.

“Poor Jack is going to be traumatized now.”

Eddie just about jumped out of his skin at the sound of another voice near him. He turned around to see Stan leaning against the wall with an amused smirk.

“Who?” Eddie asked.

Stan nodded towards the door. “You threw that door open so violently I thought the poor boy was going to shit his pants.”

Eddie felt bad now, knowing he may have given his co-worker PTDS, post-traumatic door stress. Jack may never be the same.

“So, are you done being dramatic or do you need another minute?” Stan asked.

Eddie walked over to the stack of clean towels neatly folded on the counter, calmly placed his elbows on either side, and proceeded to smother his face in the fresh cotton. He let out the loudest, longest groan he could, letting the sound muffle through the layers beneath him. He kept going until there was no air left in his lungs, and then, taking a deep breath, he lifted his head back up to face Stan.

Stan’s eyebrows were raised as he waited for an answer beyond a groan.

“I saw a cute guy.” Eddie offered.

“Okay.”

“I made an idiot of myself.” He added.

“Mhm.”

“I need you to bring him a virgin sex on the beach, so I can spend the rest of the day wallowing in my misery.”

“Eddie,” Stan sighed. “You can’t just avoid him.”

“I can and I will.” Eddie declared stubbornly.

They had a stare down for a few moments, until Stan finally took pity on his best friend.

“Fine, what does he look like?”

Eddie proceeded to describe the stranger, leaving out the part about his big dick and stunning physique. Once Stan was pretty sure he couldn’t miss him, he left, leaving Eddie alone with the towels and his shame.

  Eddie managed to go three days without seeing hot stranger again. He didn’t see much of anyone, actually. Bill had switched his shifts around with another staff member for a couple of days while his friends got adjusted to being in town. Eddie had yet to meet them, the infamous Richie and Beverly, but he was sure it was only a matter of time. The resort wasn’t that big, after all.

Stan had gotten heat stroke within his first few days of working, so he was on mandatory bed-rest, per Mike’s instructions, until he felt well enough to work again.

This left Eddie working his shift one man down, and alongside employees he hadn’t gotten to know yet. He supposes he could try and be more social, chat up the lifeguard who’d taken Bill’s shifts, but the woman who now sat up on Bill’s lifeguard chair had a look of judgement in her eyes that reminded Eddie too much of his mother. It made his solitude much more enticing.

The day dragged on. Since Eddie was the only pool boy working that day he was constantly running back and forth to fetch things for the guests. He thought he’d finally caught himself a minute of downtime when someone new was waving him over. With a discreet sigh he steeled himself, plastering a customer service smile on his face before he made his way over.

The hand belonged to a girl, probably around Eddie’s age if he had to guess, who was easily stunning enough to be a model. Eddie was as gay as they come but that didn’t mean he didn’t have his few exceptions, and this girl could definitely be one. He didn’t want to fuck her, that would be a bit too much whiplash for his dick, but he did want to spend hours running his fingers through her hair and telling her just how pretty she was.

Speaking of, her hair was the most striking color of crimson he’d ever seen in real life. It was long, falling down her freckled back and ending at the dip in her waist. Despite being completely nude, she had a delicate gold chain around her neck that settled just between her breasts, adorned with a small key. It looked old, worn in, and Eddie found himself starring at it before he realized it probably looked like he was staring at something else in that area. He flushed pink before his eyes flickered back up to meet hers, a daring blue that rivaled the red of her hair but held the same fire.

“Hi! Sorry, I know you’re busy. I was just hoping to get a glass of lemonade when you have a chance?” Her request was accompanied by a warm smile. It made Eddie feel safe. It was an odd feeling, but not unwelcomed.

“Pink or regular?” Eddie asked, only a bit shaken by her politeness in contrast to the other guests he’d served that day.

“Just regular. But no rush!”

She sounded so genuine that Eddie couldn’t help but smile back. Just then, as if to drive home his point, he was being called over by another guest as she rudely snapped her fingers in his direction.

It took about ten minutes before he found the downtime to pick up the lemonade from the bar. He made sure to get the bartender to garnish the glass with a little wedge of lemon and an umbrella. It was silly, and probably too extra for something as simple as a lemonade, but he liked this particular guest and wanted to do something special, even if it came in the form of miniature plastic umbrellas.

He made his way over to the area where he’d last seen the redhead but instead of sitting in the spot she’d been in previously, she’d moved a few chairs over and was now talking to another guest. From their body language, Eddie guessed they didn’t know each other, but they were definitely trying to. The redhead was sitting on the edge of the chair, leaning in to listen intently to whatever the guy was saying.

He was extremely animated as he talked, his face lit up in an endearingly cute manner. He seemed to be a tall guy, but while hot stranger had been tall and lanky, this man was tall and broad, filling out his frame with strong arms and a round belly. He was quite hairy, but not in an off-putting way. Blonde locks eased into neatly trimmed facial hair, a round beard that framed his equally round cheeks perfectly. Eddie knew from a quick glance that he was hairy in other places too, but he didn’t want to be caught staring again, so he forced himself to behave.

Eddie wasn’t sure how to approach the situation, to be honest. He didn’t want to interrupt their conversation, which they were both too engrossed in to notice him awkwardly standing nearby, but the lemonade in his hand was keeping him from getting back to work. Not that he wanted to get back to work, standing around and people watching (see: eavesdropping) was definitely favorable, but he didn’t want to get behind on an already busy day. Just as he was preparing himself to step in, a presence from behind spoke up.

“You better jump in now before she jumps him.”

The voice was right in his ear, it startled Eddie so much he lost his footing as he tried to swivel around to see who was behind the comment. He saw a flash of black hair and dark eyes receding quickly from his vision, and he realized too late that he was falling. He tried to put his hands out behind him to catch himself but was enveloped by water instead. The water quickly filling his lungs burned, his wet clothes weighed him down, the chlorine stung his eyes. He knows how to swim, knows he should be trying to, but he’s too overwhelmed by the suddenness of the situation to think clearly.

Then there were arms circling around him, a strong pressure against his back, and in seconds he’s breaking the surface of the water. The body behind him doesn’t let go, which Eddie is grateful for considering he’s too busy coughing to focus on anything else. He can tell they’re moving but his orientation is all off, he can’t differentiate up from down yet.

He’s being pressed up against the edge of the pool within seconds. His head is still cloudy with water and panic, but the feeling of steady ground against the palms of his hands helps to ground him. He vaguely starts to register that his feet don’t touch the ground of the pool, and the only thing keeping him up is being pinned between the ledge and the stranger behind him.

At that realization, Eddie swiveled his head around, trying desperately to figure out who had been his savior. The face was too close, featured fixating into nothing more than a blurred cyclops from Eddie’s vantage point. He blinked a few times, trying to get the water out of his eyes as if that would make a difference. When he opened his eyes again, the stranger had leaned back as much as he could without letting go of Eddie, and that’s when he realized who had saved him.

Hot stranger. Hot stranger was holding him. Hot stranger was appraising him with a look of worry. Hot stranger was… Shit, he was saying something that Eddie couldn’t hear through the water in his ears.

“What!?” Eddie said, probably a bit too loudly.

Hot stranger chuckled, his smile even more charming up close. When he repeated himself this time, Eddie heard him clearly.

“You really fell for me, didn’t you?”

He was… making a joke? Right now? While Eddie was dripping wet and fighting back mortification and still struggling to get his breathing back under control? What kind of asshole makes a joke before apologizing?

Eddie knew his anger was unwarranted, a by-product of his ever-growing embarrassment, but just because he was self aware didn’t mean he was good at controlling it.

Choosing not to acknowledge the comment, Eddie sent him a glare over his shoulder. He tried wiggling in his spot, searching for leverage to pull himself out of the pool while still wedged between a rock and a hard place. He re-settled his palms on the granite surface beneath him, ready to hoist himself up and out of the pool, when he felt it. The hard place.

Hot stranger was still holding him up from behind, lithe arms circled around Eddie’s torso and chest pressed to his back, crotch rested against the curve of Eddie’s ass. The thing was, hot stranger was still naked. Meaning, Eddie had a cock pressing right up into the backside of his wet uniform, which clung to him much more now than when it was dry.

What happened next isn’t Eddie’s fault. It’s biology, a Pavlovian reaction. Eddie’s gay and right now there was a dick pressing against his ass. That does something to a guy.

“Get off me!” Eddie seethed, grabbing hot stranger hands and removing them from his body. He bobbed down in the water at the sudden loss of support but managed to keep a hand on the edge of the pool which aided him to hoist his body up and roll onto the deck, much less gracefully than he would have liked.

The redheaded lemonade girl from earlier, who had probably been watching the whole show unfold, was offering him her towel. It was a nice gesture, but Eddie couldn’t risk getting caught with a hard-on, especially not while working at a place like this, so without a word he pushed past her, running towards the doors to the storage room.

He didn’t worry about anyone else being in there, threw the doors open and let them shut behind him with a thud as he paced towards the back of the room. He removed his soaked clothing in the process, stripping down to his underwear and grabbing a clean towel when he reached the small hidden alcove.

He wasn’t proud of his next move, screwing his eyes shut before shoving his hand into his briefs unceremoniously. He brought the fresh towel to his face to soak up some of the water as his hand moved rapidly, spurred on by his anger and embarrassment and shame. It didn’t take long for him to release into his fist, his moan muffled by the towel. Once his breathing evened out again and his head was clear, he rid himself of his sullied underwear and wrapped the towel around his waist.

He gathered his discarded clothing, moving slower now, almost lethargic. He threw the garments into one of the empty washing machines, throwing in a few of the used towels that were piling up as well, so he could at least pretend he was still doing work. Then Eddie slid to the floor, hung his head between his knees, and began making a list of all the things he wanted to yell at that stupid, arrogant, unfairly hot stranger.

[theonyxpath]

Aye, right now we’re becalmed on the Acid Sea! But we know that if we can get closer to Waterdog Port, we can catch the great winds that blow and sail right in! We just need yer help to get there!

In other words: our Pirates of Pugmire has a little more than a week to go and we are 81% funded. So anything you can do to spread the word about this excellent supplement to both Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau would be just the push we need to set us sailing to “funded” and beyond! Just click here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/pirates-of-pugmire-a-realms-of-pugmire-tabletop-rpg

While we were at UK Games Expo, we must have handed out hundreds of cards with the Pirates of Pugmire Kickstarter info and url, and we had the great pleasure of talking to folks about it, and Pugmire and Mau, too! And then we directed them to our sales allies at Leisure Games on the other side of the hall. They actually brought more Mau up from London on Saturday because interest was so high.

Which is always great to hear!

There was also a lot of interest in Scion 2e, with a nice number of satisfied KS backers letting us know they loved their books – including one backer who came over pretty much to give us hugs just because she didn’t want us thinking all the backers were as mean as the ones posting in the Kickstarter comments. Most appreciated!

But I think there were more folks there interested in getting the two Scion books than there were backers, which at the time wasn’t possible although we directed them to all the places they could order them. (We later found out that one of our Retailer backers from the kickstarter did have the books there, but I think they were gone almost immediately). So that was fantastic in that it bodes well for the in-store sales for the books that started last Wednesday.

We just never know if a successful Kickstarter has hit most of the potential audience for a project, or if there are enough folks wanting to buy out there to justify the extra print run. It’s certainly looking good for both Scion books so far, both in stores and on DTRPG where the books are #1 and #2 sellers as I write this!

When we weren’t talking to attendees, the booth was a hub for meetings, both planned and unexpected (Hi, DaveB!), and where Eddy and Matthew were recording the Onyx Pathcast UKGE Edition. If you listen to last Friday’s edition, you can hear our latest incredible idea for an RPG: Thomas the Tank Engine and the Trainsformers.

Although completely impossible due to licenses and the basically goofy idea that it is, we left it in because despite the premise, the whole conversation demonstrates the sort of free-form brainstorming we do when examining new ideas for projects. I won’t say it is well-worth the listen, but its good to have that process recorded somewhere!

When not at the booth, most of our crew were GMing/SGing various games, and in particular the debut of our first Onyx Path convention tournament set of games. Throughout Saturday our gang ran Chronicles of Darkness sessions for a handful of the game lines under that umbrella brand, and the players of all of those sessions voted for which player in their game they thought should advance to the final.

You probably read about that last week, but what was particularly gratifying to me was how the players leaving the rooms were excited talking about their games afterwards, which is great, and then when we sat down together to compare notes how the Storytellers were raving about the players and how excellent the sessions were, which is fantastic!

All-in-all, a superlative trip. Hip hip, and all that.

While we were exploring Merrie Olde Englande, it seems that a few projects were teased here as well. For example, I noted that Dixie posted this on the blog when she filled in so very well for me last week (Thanks, Dixie!):

Time to reveal just what this is, and I’m gonna do it! It is the logo for the community content brand for all of our game lines that use the Storypath System. We’ll be releasing the formats, templates, and rules, for each line as it get released, so naturally we’re starting with Scion 2e. Then, as the Trinity Continuum, Dytopia Rising: Evolution, and They Came From Beneath the Sea!, etc, are released we’ll open up that line in the Storypath Nexus.

Expect the Scion Storypath Nexus to be opened once we are done with this month and into July. You’ll be able to post your Scion ideas on DTRPG: characters, adventures, sourcebooks, tips, etc, and set a price and get paid for it by adoring Scion fans everywhere!

Also in July, and at a different Community Content site – this one being the Slarecian Vault for Scarred Lands – is the dramatic start of a mega-adventure series!

Vengeance of the Shunned is a collaboration between nearly two dozen creators which includes:

A 10-part adventure path that takes the characters from levels 1-15

8 side quests to allow additional advancement, flesh out the campaign, and show the impact of these terrible events on the Scarred Lands

A collection of creatures, new and old, optimized for 5e

A gazetteer detailing important locations featured in the campaign

An overview of the Scarred Planes with guidelines for how they function in the 5e rules

We’ll be passing on more news about this project from the creators in the weeks to come!

Finally, I teased something something about keeping your eyes open on June 13th, and I just want to underline that once again. Not going to tell you where to look, but keep an eye on our social media. We’re trying something very different for us as a way to lead into something in July that a lot of you have been asking about, so we hope you get a kick out of it.

The kick part was not a clue, really, just a figure of speech. Although, I guess you could apply it to…

Many Worlds, One Path!

BLURBS!

Kickstarter!

Our Pirates of Pugmire Kickstarter is nearly 81% funded, and we’re going for the last week Big Push!, so swing over to our ship and check it out!

Pirates of Pugmire is a chronicle sourcebook for both Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau. It’s usable in either game, or as part of a joint experience. Some highlights include: * Two new species for players to enjoy: lizards and birds * Six new callings, including two for dogs and two for cats * Rules for building, sailing, and sinking ships * A trove of new allies, enemies, and treasures * Information on Waterdog Port and Port Matthew * “Going on the Account,” a chronicle of three new adventures, taking characters from 1st through 6th level

You can also hear Eddy discuss the writing and design of Pirates of Pugmire on the Onyx Pathcast on your favorite podcatcher, or here on : https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/)

ONYX PATH MEDIA

Onyx Pathcast art by Michael Gaydos

This Friday’s Onyx Pathcast is the second Scion 2e Actual Play with Matthew, Eddy, and Dixie!: https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/

And Here’s More Media About Our Worlds:

This week’s Onyx Path News was a bumper live edition, as Matthew talked about new releases, Kickstarter, and the UK Games Expo in some depth: https://youtu.be/9te69TM7pP0

For all your Satyros Phil Brucato and Mage: The Ascension needs, our roving Mage developer has been interviewed by both the Symposium Podcast and Mage: The Podcast crews in recent months. Check his content out at the following links: https://symposium.podbean.com/e/the-symposium-podcast-episode-4-the-evolution-of-ascension/ https://symposium.podbean.com/e/the-symposium-podcast-episode-5-how-to-become-a-writer/ https://magethepodcast.com/index.php/2019/04/13/gods-and-monsters-with-satyros-phil-brucato-hiromi-cota-james-sambrano-and-isabella-price/

Gods and Monsters with Satyros Phil Brucato, Hiromi Cota, James Sambrano and Isabella Price

Red Moon Roleplaying recently concluded their Scarred Lands actual play but have recently started up a new V5 one here: https://www.redmoonroleplaying.com

The Story Told Podcast published a superb overview of Changeling: The Lost, as well as an interview with Meghan Fitzgerald, AND the next part of their Dragon-Blooded actual play for Exalted: https://thestorytold.libsyn.com/

Occultists Anonymous haven’t stopped with their Mage: The Awakening actual play, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list… but if you’re just after the latest episodes, these links will also work: Episode 19: Blood on the Windhttps://youtu.be/4R33Ar-Abe4 The cabal takes on the werewolf pack leader! Episode 20: Take a Breathhttps://youtu.be/kNJ-Efu3FIc The cabal deals with the fallout of their fight

Fandible‘s excellent They Came from Beneath the Sea! actual play concluded after two stunning parts we really recommend you check out: http://www.fandible.com/they-came-fro…

Caffeinated Conquests are still going with their amazingly fun Gauntlet of Spiragos campaign for Scarred Lands: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list…

And of course, the ever-fantastic Devil’s Luck Gaming continue to run one of the best Scarred Lands actual plays around today on their Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/DEVILSLUCKGAMING

Please check any of these out and let us know if you find or produce any actual plays of our games!

ELECTRONIC GAMING

As we find ways to enable our community to more easily play our games, the Onyx Dice Rolling App is now live! Our dev team has been doing updates since we launched based on the excellent use-case comments by our community, and this thing is awesome! (Seriously, you need to roll 100 dice for Exalted? This app has you covered.)

ON AMAZON AND BARNES & NOBLE:

You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle (from Amazon) and Nook (from Barnes & Noble).

If you enjoy these or any other of our books, please help us by writing reviews on the site of the sales venue from which you bought it. Reviews really, really help us get folks interested in our amazing fiction!

Our selection includes these fiction books:

OUR SALES PARTNERS:

We’re working with Studio2 to get Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau out into stores, as well as to individuals through their online store. You can pick up the traditionally printed main book, the screen, and the official Pugmire dice through our friends there! https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

We’ve added Prince’s Gambit to our Studio2 catalog: https://studio2publishing.com/products/prince-s-gambit-card-game

Now, we’ve added Changeling: The Lost 2nd Edition products to Studio2‘s store! See them here: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/all-products/changeling-the-lost

Scarred Lands (Pathfinder) books are also on sale at Studio2, and they have the 5e version, supplements, and dice as well!: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/scarred-lands

Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/

And you can now order Pugmire, Monarchies of Mau, Cavaliers of Mars, and Changeling: The Lost 2e at the same link!

On Sale This Week!

This Wednesday, we’re releasing PDF and PoD versions of both the Tales of Excellent Cats fiction anthology and Adventures For Curious Cats for Monarchies of Mau on DriveThruRPG, and Tales will be available on the Amazon and Nook epub stores!

CONVENTIONS!

Gen Con: August 1st – 4th Save Against Fear: October 12th – 14th GameHoleCon: October 31st – November 3rd We’ll also be back at PAX Unplugged later this year!

And now, the new project status updates!

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY WEBB (projects in bold have changed status since last week):

First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)

M20 Victorian Mage (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

Geist 2e Fiction Anthology (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition)

Exalted Essay Collection (Exalted)

Trinity Continuum Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum Core)

Wraith20 Fiction Anthology (Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition)

One Foot in the Grave Jumpstart (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2e)

Dragon-Blooded Novella #2 (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Exigents (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Terra Firma (Trinity Continuum: Aeon) Titanomachy (Scion 2nd Edition)

Crucible of Legends (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Many-Faced Strangers – Lunars Companion (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Redlines

Monsters of the Deep (They Came From Beneath the Sea!)

Tales of Aquatic Terror (They Came From Beneath the Sea!)

Scion: Dragon (Scion 2nd Edition)

Kith and Kin (Changeling: The Lost 2e)

Masks of the Mythos (Scion 2nd Edition)

Scion: Demigod (Scion 2nd Edition)

Second Draft

Tales of Good Dogs – Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)

Dragon-Blooded Novella #1 (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Across the Eight Directions (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition core rulebook (Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition)

City of the Towered Tombs (Cavaliers of Mars)

TC: Aeon Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Legendlore core book (Legendlore)

Development

WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)

Oak, Ash, and Thorn: Changeling: The Lost 2nd Companion (Changeling: The Lost 2nd)

M20 The Technocracy Reloaded (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

Creatures of the World Bestiary (Scion 2nd Edition)

Heirs to the Shogunate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Scion Companion: Mysteries of the World (Scion 2nd Edition)

Deviant: The Renegades (Deviant: The Renegades)

Chicago Folio/Dossier (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Let the Streets Run Red (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Cults of the Blood Gods (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Heroic Land Dwellers (They Came From Beneath the Sea!)

TC: Aeon Ready-Made Characters (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Manuscript Approval

Trinity Continuum: Aberrant core (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Pirates of Pugmire (Realms of Pugmire)

Hunter: The Vigil 2e core (Hunter: The Vigil 2nd Edition)

DR:E Threat Guide (Dystopia Rising: Evolution)

DR:E Jumpstart (Dystopia Rising: Evolution)

Editing

Memento Mori: the GtSE 2e Companion (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition)

Night Horrors: Nameless and Accursed (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)

Spilled Blood (Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition)

Lunars: Fangs at the Gate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Post-Editing Development

M20 Book of the Fallen (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

V5 Chicago By Night (Vampire: The Masquerade)V5 Chicago By Night Screen (Vampire: The Masquerade)

CofD Contagion Chronicle (Chronicles of Darkness)

Witch-Queen of the Shadowed Citadel (Cavaliers of Mars)

Distant Worlds (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Scion Ready-Made Characters (Scion 2nd Edition)

Dark Eras 2 (Chronicles of Darkness)

Indexing

ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE!

In Art Direction

Contagion Chronicle

Dark Eras 2

M20 Book of the Fallen

VtR Spilled Blood – in the worx.

Trinity Continuum Aeon: Distant Worlds – AD’d.

Trinity Continuum Aberrant – Sketches coming in.

Hunter: The Vigil 2e

Ex3 Lunars

They Came From Beneath the Sea – final art notes in.

Ex3 Monthly Stuff

In Layout

V5: Chicago

Trinity Core

Trinity Aeon

CoM – Witch Queen of the Shadowed Citadel 

Proofing

WtF Shunned by the Moon

Signs of Sorcery – At WW for approval

DR: E

Scion Jumpstart

Aeon Aexpansion

C20 Cup of Dreams – This week.

Ex 3 Monthlies – At WW for approval

Scion Ready-Made Characters – 2nd proof.

At Press

Dragon Blooded – Deluxe Printing

Dragon-Blooded Cloth Map – printed and being shipped to Studio2

Dragon-Blooded Wallpapers – Going out to backers

Dragon-Blooded Screen – Printing

The Realm – Reviewing errata

Trinity Core Screen – Printing

TC Aeon Screen – Printing

Trinity Core Digital Screen and Reference – Going out to backers

Trinity Core Wallpapers – Going out to backers

TC Aeon Digital Screen and Reference – Going out to backers

TC Aeon Wallpapers – Going out to backers

Tales of Excellent Cats – PDF and PoD versions available Wednesday on DTRPG!

C20 Player’s Guide – PoD files uploaded

Adventures for Curious Cats – PDF and PoD versions available Wednesday on DTRPG!

Geist 2e – Gathering Errata

Book of Oblivion – Putting in errata

Trinity: In Media Res – PoD files uploaded

Blood Sea: The Crimson Abyss (Scarred Lands) – Advance PDF files getting uploaded

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

It’s still Pride Month so this gets a double week listing! This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, so let’s remember Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Brenda Howard, and all the other activists throughout the years who made Pride possible. Happy Pride to all our LGBTQIA+ fans and freelancers, and I hope any celebrations you attend are amazing!

[richietoaster]

Steady Feet, Don’t Fail Me Now

AO3 Link

Pairing: Reddie

warnings: NSFW- THESE CHARACTERS ARE 18 AND THEY DO SHIT TOGETHER OKAY? IF YOU ARE NOT MATURE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THAT DO NOT READ THIS also some fluff and swearing but what else is new

word count: 9,870

Summary:  “You know how to dance?” Eddie demands, still skeptical, and Richie is almost offended. “Yes, actually,” he scoffs with a good natured laugh. “Is that so hard to believe?” Eddie opens his mouth, but Richie cuts him off before he can tell his friend that yes, that’s incredibly hard to believe. “Don’t answer that, dickhead,” Richie says as he gets up, wiping his sweaty palms onto his jeans. “C’mon, get up.” He instructs and holds out a hand to pull Eddie to his feet. “I’m teaching you.”

also known as the fake dating fic 

LET ME JUST SAY THAT THIS FIC WAS BEING IN THE PROCESS OF BEING WRITTEN FOR WEEKS NOW AND I WOULDNT HAVE POSTED IT IF IT WEREN'T FOR SOME OF MY BETAS (ROSE AND TORI) LIKE I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH SO THEY ARE THE REASON FOR IT BEING POSTED SO YALL CAN THANK THEM @killerxqueer @delicateloser

“I have this stupid wedding to go to next month,” Eddie says casually, eyes still fixed on the living room TV, instead of looking at Richie who was lounging on the couch beside him.

“Yeah?” Richie acknowledges.

“Yeah,” Eddie repeats. “One of the bridesmaids is a family friend, and our age, and my mom is trying to set me up with her,” he explained, rolling his eyes.

Richie lets out a low laugh, “Sounds like something ol’ Mrs. K would do.”

“That’s not even the worst part,” Eddie sighs, playing with a loose strand of string on one of the pillows.

Richie looks up at Eddie from his slouched form, “What’s the worst part?”

“I have to dance with her,” Eddie groaned.

“What’s the problem?”

“A slow dance, Richard ,” he says with an exasperated sigh.“Not only do I have to pretend to like girls, but I have to dance with one, too. And I don’t know how to dance.”

Richie barks out a laugh, but when he see’s Eddie’s face fall, immediately apologizes.

“Stop laughing at me,” Eddie complains, and hits his chest lightly.

“Why is that such a bad thing? That I can’t dance?”

“It’s not,” Richie giggles, “I- um. I could teach you if you want me to,” he offers, and hopes that Eddie won’t notice how nervous he feels.

“You?” Eddie asks incredulously, raising an eyebrow at his best friend.

“Yeah, I could.”

“You know how to dance?” Eddie demands, still skeptical, and Richie is almost offended.

“Yes, actually,” he scoffs with a good natured laugh. “Is that so hard to believe?”

Eddie opens his mouth, but Richie cuts him off before he can tell his friend that yes , that’s incredibly hard to believe.

“Don’t answer that, dickhead,” Richie says as he gets up, wiping his sweaty palms onto his jeans. “C’mon, get up.” He instructs and holds out a hand to pull Eddie to his feet. “I’m teaching you.”

Eddie gives him a look.

“Okay, don’t look at me like that, first of all,” Richie says, rolling his eyes. “You’ll be fine. Great, even. Second of all, take my hand,” he says, holding out his hand once more.

Eddie slowly reaches out for it and inhales deeply when Richie is drawing him closer, his eyes widening a fraction that he hopes isn’t noticeable to Richie.

“Take one step.” Richie whispers.

Eddie does… Right onto Richie’s foot.

“You suck at this,” Richie laughs causing Eddie to glare back at him, and Richie’s laughter softens into a smile that almost looks sweet. “Just take your time,” he says as a kind of apology. “Let’s try this again,” and with that Richie gently corrects Eddie’s position.

Eddie takes a deep breath, and after clearing his mind and listening to Richie’s instructions, Eddie gets his footing correct within minutes.

“You’re doing well. Now do me a favor, yeah?” Richie lifts the other boy’s chin up, “Stop looking at the ground. Keep your eyes locked on mine.”

Eddie can’t move after that. Richie’s hands feel like they’re burning on his hips and the second their eyes meet and bore into one another, he feels like he’s being held in some kind of trance.

Neither of them hear the front door open.

“Eddie are you and- oh.”

The two leap away from each other as if they’ve been burned, when they see Bev standing in the archway, looking startled but with a mischievous glint in her eye. She looks like the cat who’s caught the canary.

“Was I interrupting something? Shit, I was, wasn’t I?” She asks, the smirk on her face growing dangerously.

“No, we were just-” Eddie tries to explain, but Bev cuts him off.

“It’s okay, Eddie!” Bev insists, grinning wildly. “No need to hide your relationship.”

“There’s nothing to hide!” he insists, “because we’re not dating.”

But it’s no use.

“You don’t have to lie,” Beverly laughs, “We kinda figured... Anyway, I was just coming over to tell you that we were waiting for you both at the quarry, but I can see you’re busy, so…” she winks and Eddie can feel his face burning. “Yeah. Bye,” and with that she rushes out, very likely about to tell the others what she saw.

Eddie finally brings himself to look up at Richie once more, cursing the fact that he can still feel the warmth spreading from his cheeks to the tips of his ears. Richie is smirking down at him and he does not like that look.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Eddie demands, and pushes Richie further away from him.

“Like what, boyfriend ?” Richie teases, eyebrow raised and god, that should not be making his stomach do flips like that.

“You know we’re not together, stop that,” he snaps, trying to fix Richie with a glare but he knows he’s never been very good at being intimidating. Especially not to Richie.

“We could go along with it.”

Now that causes Eddie to do a double take and he stares at Richie. “Why the fuck would we do that?”

“Why the fuck not?” Richie asks, holding his hands up in an exaggerated shrug. “Plus, you know nobody’s going to believe us if Bev tells them what she thought she saw.”

This should not make sense. He should turn around right now, and say no to Richie. He’s going to say no to Richie because this is a terrible fucking idea.

“Yeah, you’re right,” he finds himself saying instead.

“It also gives me the chance to hold my best friend’s hand in public without being questioned,” Richie says with a wink and grabs Eddie’s hand.

Eddie cracks a smile, and tugs his hand out of Richie’s grip. “That’s gay.”

“That’s the point,” Richie says with a grin.

Eddie doesn’t know why he agreed to this.

The next morning, Richie is standing at Eddie’s locker, loudly complaining about how his mom cancelled his subscription for some comic book.

“I’m so upset, Eddie. You don’t understand ,” Richie whines. He’s practically ready to start stamping his feet.

“I don’t,” Eddie agrees, opening his locker and rummaging around inside instead of looking at Richie. “Besides, you’re eighteen, do you really need to be reading comics?”

Richie clutches his heart dramatically. “How dare you say that. You wound me.”

Eddie laughs, crinkles forming at the corners of his eyes as he looks up at his friend, “I’m serious, Rich! I-” he stops talking when he sees Bev coming their way over Richie’s shoulder.

Richie goes to turn around but Eddie pulls at his shoulder, “Don’t look. Beverly is coming.”

“Right, okay. What do we do?”

“I don’t know, touch me or something- wipe that grin off of your face, asshole.” Eddie hisses, trying to move his lips as little as possible so that Bev won’t see.

Richie ends up leaning against the lockers, placing a hand on Eddie’s hip, and dragging him closer.

Eddie tries to ignore the way it feels to have Richie touching him like this in public and begins a staged topic, “You can come over tonight, if you want,” he says, trying to sound flirtatious as Bev walks into earshot and feels ridiculous. “My mom has some board meeting and won’t be home until late.”

“Yeah?” Richie asks, smirking down at him suggestively. “I’ll be there… Oh, hey, Bev,” he says, faux casually as she joins them and he turns to look at her.

She grins, “Morning, lovebirds.”

“Where are the others?” Eddie asks, with a roll of his eyes.

“Bill, Ben, and Mike are in the library studying for a test they have next period. Stan should be here third period.”

“Oh, yeah. He has a doctor’s appointment.” Richie remembers.

“Good luck to him. He hates needles.” Eddie says, hyper aware of Richie’s hand that is still resting firmly on his hip.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, they’re saved by the bell. Literally.

“See you guys later,” Richie says and turns to leave, his hand finally moving from it’s resting spot and Eddie tries not to think about the fact that he’s disappointed by that.

“You’re not gonna kiss your boyfriend goodbye?” Bev challenges with a teasing smirk. Just because I’m here doesn’t mean you can’t show affection,” she teases and Eddie can tell that she’s having way too much fun with this.

He and Richie give each other a nervous look as if asking the other if it’s alright, before both of them are cautiously leaning in, with a quick peck to the lips. To say at the least, it’s bad. Richie’s bottom lip goes over Eddie’s top one and he’s half kissing his nose. Eddie can hear Beverly giggling behind them and Eddie himself is burning with embarrassment.

Richie bolts after that.

That night, Eddie is sitting at his desk and finishing up his homework as it’s nearing midnight. Just after he puts his books away and is about to get ready for bed, he hears a familiar, faint tapping sound at his window. He lifts it up in one swift motion. “Richie? What are you doing here?” he he hisses, careful not to speak to loudly for fear of waking his mother.

“I came to see your mom,” he taunts as usual and pauses. “But she’s not here so I guess I’ll have to settle for my boyfriend instead,” he finishes with a wink.

“You don’t have to call me that when we’re alone, you know,” Eddie groans.

“Yeah,” Richie agrees with a nod. “I just figured that I should get used to saying it, though.”

“I guess so,” Eddie mumbles and it does make sense.

“Anyway,” Richie continues, and Eddie looks up at him. “Speaking of the situation, you are a terrible kisser,” Richie laughs and pokes his side.

“Excuse me, but that wasn’t even a kiss,” Eddie snaps, thinking back to how Richie had almost completely missed his mouth that morning. “It was a disaster.”

“I agree,” Richie nods. “Which is why we should practice.”

Eddie freezes at that, his mouth gaping slightly and his eyes wide.

“What?”

“Yeah, Eds. Did I stutter? We should practice,” Richie repeats himself as if it’s the most obvious choice in the world. “Make it look believable - Because that mess we pulled earlier, that was the furthest thing in the world from believable.”

He’s right and Eddie hates that he’s right.

“Okay, okay,” he agrees. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Always am,” Richie says with a grin and there Eddie’s stomach goes again. “Now come here,” Richie says in a low voice, and pulls Eddie against him. Eddie’s face is flushed and he can feel his heartbeat quickening. He watches Richie lean in and then he’s pressing his hands against Richie’s chest to stop him.

“Wait!” he gasps. “ Wait .”

“What’s wrong?” Richie asks, his confusion evident, but he doesn’t let go of Eddie.

“I’ve- I’ve never kissed anybody before.” Eddie says quietly, clearly embarrassed.

Richie smiles again, but this time Eddie can tell Richie isn’t making fun of him. The smile is soft and sweet and it makes Eddie’s heart skip a beat. “I’ll be gentle, Eds,” Richie says, his voice slipping back into it’s usual joking cadence. “No need to worry your pretty little head.”

Eddie bites his lip, but nods. “Yeah,” he says, looking down at where their chests are still almost but not quite meeting and taking a deep breath before looking back up at Richie. “Okay.”

The two both lean in slowly, Richie’s hand finding Eddie’s cheek. Their lips brush over one another’s carefully. It’s chaste at first. Then, Richie is guiding Eddie’s arms to rest around his his neck and nudging his face with his nose. Eddie opens his mouth slightly, getting the hint.

To anybody else, this would be weird. Kissing their best friend in the middle of their bedroom. It should be weird for Eddie too. It’s not, and that’s what scares him. Having Richie’s lips brushing against his feels so natural and right and-

Richie has stopped kissing him. Eddie’s eyes fly open and Richie’s lips are swollen and red. Eddie wants to tug him back in.

“Can I stay the night?” Richie asks abruptly, and Eddie is surprised - Richie never asks permission.

“Y-Yeah, of course,” he says.

Eddie eyes Richie as he moves to lays in his bed, acting as if what just happened didn’t. He already knows he’s fucked. He stares for a moment longer and then climbs into bed with his friend.

See, get a hold of yourself, you’re fine, Eddie tells himself. But then Richie throws an arm over his waist, and it shouldn’t be different, but it is. They do this all the time, but now Eddie sees Richie as more than a friend and now nothing is the same.

“Night, Eds,” Richie mumbles into his neck.

“Don’t call me that,” Eddie whispers, and tentatively places a hand on Richie’s as it lays across his chest. “Goodnight, Richie.”

It doesn’t take long for the two to get the hang of this whole “fake dating” thing, and Eddie tries not to think about that fact. Whether it be holding hands in front of their friends, using pet names for each other, or a quick kiss to the lips - you name it and they do it without hesitation or a moment’s thought.

That’s the thing - they know they only have to put the act on for their group of friends. And they stick with that. That is, until Eddie oversleeps one day and walks into school late, only to see Richie talking up some girl. His blood boils. He tries to calm himself down - he knows he doesn’t have the right to be angry. They’re not even a real couple. Yet, that doesn’t stop him from storming over.

The girl looks over in his direction, “Oh, you must be Ed-”

“Excuse us for a second,” Eddie interjects. He takes hold of Richie’s arm, pulling him into his space, and kisses him without a second thought.

Richie’s eyes widen for a moment, and then he’s relaxing, closing his eyes and putting a hand onto Eddie’s cheek.

When they pull away, the girl is gone.

“What was that?” Richie asks. “Are you.. Are you jealous ?” he says, and he looks far too happy with this realization.

Eddie pales and tries to backtrack. “You can’t just flirt with some girl. We’re supposed to be dating. What if one of our friends were to see you?” He’s surprised at how quickly the excuse comes to mind, and is satisfied when Richie seems to take it at face value.

“I didn’t think of that.”

Eddie rolls his eyes. Of course he didn’t.

“We’re a team now,” Eddie says seriously, and looks into Richie’s eyes. Richie smiles and Eddie’s heart starts beating wildly once again.

“We always have been,” Richie agrees.

The second time they kiss without their friends around is that same night. Richie’s laying on Eddie’s couch while Eddie sleeps on the armchair across the room. They were having a movie marathon, but the smaller boy had fallen asleep not even two movies in.

Richie checks the time. It’s half past one AM. He sits up, stretches, and picks Eddie up from his curled position in the chair and cradles him to his chest, carrying him bridal style up to his room.

He places Eddie carefully onto the mattress, but when he turns to leave through the window, Eddie grabs his hand, making him stumble back.

“Why are you leaving?” Eddie mumbles, his voice thick with sleep.

Richie touches his cheek and tries desperately to ignore the thundering of his heart. “You need to sleep,” he replies softly, and brushes back the hair on Eddie’s forehead.

“Come lie down with me,” Eddie asks, and that’s that.

Richie can’t say no to him - he never could. He slides under the blankets next to his friend. “You’ve been asleep since ten o’clock,” he says with a soft smile.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” Eddie asks, slowly starting to sound more awake. “You know our movie marathons are my favorite.”

“You looked so precious,” Richie says, hoping that it sounds as teasing as he normally does instead of how genuine he feels saying it.

“Fair,” Eddie hums and gives Richie a small smile.

“Aren’t you a little cocky?”

“The cockiest.” Eddie laughs.

They fall into a comfortable silence. Richie shifts closer and slings an arm around Eddie’s waist. “You know, you’re the best cuddler out of all of our friends,” he says quietly as he pulls Eddie in closer to him. His chest is pressed against Eddie’s back and he’s afraid Eddie might be able to feel how hard his heart is beating.

“Yeah?” Eddie asks. “Why’s that?”

“Well,” Richie starts, “Bill thrashes everywhere- can never get comfortable. Stan refuses to cuddle at all so that counts him out. Mike says it’s weird. I’m convinced Bev is gay, and Ben would always rather be reading a book.”

Eddie snorts.

“So, it comes down to you,” Richie finishes, and squeezes the arm that’s wrapped around Eddie’s waist just a little bit tighter.

“I feel honored to be able to claim that title,” Eddie says with a grin, and if he burrows a little closer into Richie’s warm chest, neither of them say anything.

“You should,” Richie smiles, resting his forehead on the top of Eddie’s head, completely unbothered by the feeling of Eddie’s hair tickling his nose. “Although, your mom comes close to it. You’re gonna have to step up your game, Kaspbrak.”

Eddie turns in Richie’s embrace so that he’s facing the taller boy, and weaves a hand through Richie’s hair. “I don’t think it’ll be a problem,” he replies. He blinks a few times then impulsively presses a quick kiss to Richie’s lips.

“You’re getting better at that,” Richie comments, and Eddie can feel his cheeks heat up.

“Yeah?” he asks, looking up at Richie’s face and biting his lip.

“Yeah, I think you’ll have to do it again though,” Richie says seriously. “Just so I can confirm that it wasn’t just a fluke.”

Eddie shoves Richie’s shoulder, “Richie!”

“What?”

“You can’t say that,” Eddie grumbles. “We’re best friends,” he says, and tries to pretend that the thought doesn’t make his stomach sink like a stone.

“Who are pretending to be in a relationship,” Richie says, as if that explains everything. “We might as well play the part.”

“What do you mean?” Eddie asks, and drops his hand from Richie’s hair.

“If it wasn’t for Bev and her loudmouth, we wouldn’t be in this mess, right?”

“Right,” he confirms.

“Well, who knows how long we’ll have to keep this up for.”

A voice in the back of Eddie’s mind tells him that they could easily just tell their friends the truth but Eddie pushes the thought away. That would be much too simple and besides... he was enjoying this. He might as well take advantage of it while he could.

“So.. you’re saying that we should.. Kiss more?” Eddie makes a face.

“Yeah, why not? I mean, it’s great for practice. Plus, you’re not half bad.” Richie nudges Eddie’s face with his nose, and his lips are just a breath away from Eddie’s.

“God, this should be so weird.” Eddie whispers against Richie’s lips, reveling in the feeling of Richie’s hands on his lower back..

“If it’s weird, we don’t have to,” Richie says quietly. “Just figured it could help our situation. Make the best of it and all,” he offers.

“No, yeah, it’s fine.”

Richie searches Eddie’s eyes for a moment, trying to find any hint of hesitation. When he finds none, he closes the gap between them completely, kissing Eddie soundlessly. Eddie wants to melt into the touch and let Richie kiss him all night, but stops himself.

Eddie pokes his friend’s face. “You should sleep,” he says quietly, silently reminding himself that while he might be enjoying this, he shouldn’t get too carried away.

“Why? There’s no school tomorrow,” Richie whines and rests his forehead against Eddie’s.

“Yeah, but if you don’t go to bed at a reasonable hour, you know you’re going to complain about being tired in the morning.”

Richie sighs, “Okay, mom, no need to be a smartass.”

“I hope you don’t kiss your mother with that trashmouth of yours,” Eddie says with a laugh.

“No,” Richie agrees, “but you don’t seem to have a problem with this trashmouth kissing you .”

Eddie chooses ignore Richie’s comment and instead focuses on trying to slow his rapidly beating heart. “Go to sleep, Richie,” he says softly.

If they sleep closer together than before, they don’t say anything.

Richie wakes up the next morning to the delectable smell of bacon wafting up the stairs to Eddie’s bedroom. He stretches out his long limbs in the bed and yawns before pushing himself out from under the blankets and prodding down the steps.

“Good morning,” he greets Eddie from the doorway of the kitchen. “What’cha makin’, boyfriend ?” he teases.

“Stop calling me that,” Eddie laughs, looking up to see Richie leaning against the doorframe. “Bacon and Sausage. I can make Eggs, too, if you want.”

Richie strides across the kitchen and wraps his arms around Eddie’s waist and presses a kiss behind his ear. “Sure, if it’s not a problem,” he murmurs, taking in the scent of Eddie’s shampoo.

“Of course not,” Eddie says quietly, blushing bright red at the affection but not pulling away.

The two sit at the kitchen table when Eddie finishes cooking and eat their breakfast off of Mrs. Kaspbrak’s perfectly matching dishware in an amiable silence until Richie looks down at his phone and speaks up.

“What do you want to do today?” he asks Eddie, causing the smaller boy to look up from his breakfast. “Bill texted and said we should go to the mall later.”

“Don’t wanna.” Eddie says through a mouthful of food.

“Why not?” Richie asks with a smile, thinking about how Eddie is just too fucking precious.

“Because we just went to the mall, like, two days ago,” Eddie grumbles. “Just tell him you’re gonna chill at my house today.”

Richie raises his eyebrow and gives Eddie a lascivious grin as he whips out his phone, “Oh so that’s what we’re calling it?”

“Type, Tozier,” Eddie commands as he rolls his eyes at his best friend.

Richie chuckles and does as he’s told.

“What did you say?” Eddie asks.

“I said, ‘not today, Bill. I got better things planned,’” Richie says with a waggle of his eyebrows. “And I even added a winky face for good measure.”

“Richie.”

“Lighten up, Eds, I’m supposed to be your boyfriend, aren’t I?” Richie teases. “I have to say things like that,” he says with a roll of his eyes.

Eddie huffs, “Yeah but it’s just another lie that we’ll have to keep up with.”

Richie is silent for a moment after this, and Eddie eyes him warily. Richie and silence rarely mix well, and given the strange circumstances they’ve found themselves in lately, Eddie is immediately suspicious.

“Then let’s be truthful about this one, yeah?” Richie says quietly, breaking the silence after staring at Eddie for a long moment.

“What do you mean?” Eddie asks, looking at Richie quizzically.

Richie stands up from his chair and walks around to Eddie, taking his hand and leading him to the couch. He sits himself down criss-cross in front of Eddie and Eddie doesn’t like this at all. He hates not knowing what’s going on, especially when it comes to Richie and this whole fake dating thing they’ve gotten themselves wrapped up in.

“I don’t-”

Richie cuts him off, placing his hands on either side of Eddie’s face and says what he had texted Bill out loud. “I’ve got better things planned.”

He swoops in and places his lips onto Eddie’s. He couldn’t hold it in anymore, and he’s so grateful that Eddie isn’t pushing him away. They move slowly together, and much to Richie’s surprise, Eddie is the one the one to run his fingers down Richie’s back, pulling him closer. Richie groans into his lips in appreciation and squeezes Eddie’s hips firmly.

The rhythm of their kiss changes, suddenly becoming wet and open-mouthed. It’s the first time it’s been more than just a peck, without the excuse of it being for ‘practice’ behind it.

“This okay?” Richie asks against Eddie’s mouth, as he breaks away for air.

“Yeah,” Eddie gasps breathlessly and leans back, gripping Richie’s collar and attempting to pull Richie down on top of him.

“Having fun there, Eds?” Richie teases, placing a hand on the couch next to Eddie, bracing himself so he doesn’t fall onto him.

“Shut up, Richie.”

Richie doesn’t need to be told twice. He slides a leg between Eddie’s thighs and kisses him harder, almost sure he’s bruising their lips, and not caring one bit. They spend the rest of the morning that way, sometimes pausing to watch something on the TV, but always gravitating right back to one another.

It’s around lunchtime and they’re so caught up in each other, they don’t hear the front door opening as all their friends come spilling into Eddie’s house.

“Hey you guys- okay, holy shit, holy shit!” Mike’s voice breaks the silence, making the two jump apart.

“You weren’t kidding,” Bill blinks, eyes wide.

“Do you ever fucking lock your door?” Bev asks with a grin.

“My mom likes to leave it unlocked when she goes to work, if I’m home. I should really start though, shouldn’t I? Since you never knock ,” Eddie snapped, glaring up at his friends from his place on the couch, still trying to catch his breath from the kissing and the shock of being interrupted.

“In our defense, we didn’t think we would need to,” Ben explains weakly.

“If you guys were going this hard at just kissing, I don’t wanna know what your sex is like.” Stan makes a face.

Eddie’s face goes as red as a tomato and shakes his head, “We- We- We haven’t had sex !” he spits out as soon as he can get his tongue untied. The ‘yet’ lingers awkwardly in the air.

“ Anyway ,” Bill says sharply in an attempt to change the subject. “W-we have to come t-to retrieve you in g-going to the mall,” he announces. “Your p-plans can w-wait.”

Richie groans. He hates his friends.

After an hour or so of wandering as a group, the other five ditch Eddie and Richie to go to the food court, and Eddie decides to find a suit.

“Yeah, that wedding is in like three weeks,” Richie says, swaying their hands between them.

“Two, actually,” Eddie corrects him.

“Even worse. It’s not like you to wait until the last minute for this sort of thing,” Richie says, but he’s smiling as he says it and he squeezes Eddie’s hand softly. The gesture feels incredibly intimate and Eddie fights back a blush.

“Well excuse me, but I’ve been spending all of my time with you as of late,” he snaps in an attempt to not let on exactly how much the small gesture was affecting him.

Richie pulls him in by his hand until Eddie is pressed up against him. “Yeah, you’re right,” he murmurs. “I like that choice better,” he licks his lips, staring at Eddie’s.

Eddie’s face reddens. “Yeah, me too... ” he says, and presses a chaste kiss to the corner of Richie’s mouth before taking a step back and pulling Richie in the direction of the tuxedo shop.

“C’mon, Romeo, help me pick out a suit.”

Richie picks out two, and Eddie has three as they head to the dressing room. Eddie walks into the corner stall and changes into the first one, admiring the way it looks in the mirror before walking out to show it off to Richie.

“I like this one.” Eddie comments.

Richie is sitting on the chair in the waiting area and his eyes widen when Eddie emerges.

“Me too,” he says lowly, eyes dragging up and down Eddie’s body. “But you still got four more to try on.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Eddie says, before turning over his shoulder to go back into the stall and undress, hanging the suit back up on the hanger.

He puts the second one on, having trouble getting the vest on. “Hey, Rich?” he calls. “Can you come in for a second?”

Eddie unlocks the door, allowing the other boy to step in.

“What’s wrong?” Richie asks as he shuts the door behind him and steps up behind Eddie, putting his hands on Eddie’s hips and kissing his neck softly.

“Trouble getting the vest on,” he explains. “I don’t think I like this suit though, anyway,” he adds as an afterthought, looking at himself in the mirror.

“I don’t either,” Richie says from behind him, and as his grip on Eddie’s hips tightens, Eddie looks up to make eye contact with him through the mirror. “You should take it off.”

It’s quiet for a moment until Eddie speaks quickly, “We need to go home. Right now.”

Richie’s eyes darken, spinning Eddie around to help him take off the dress shirt and vest, and when Eddie reaches down to undo the button on the trousers he had been trying on, Richie can’t help himself anymore. He dives down to capture Eddie’s lips in a kiss that the smaller boy gasps into, and Eddie clutches at Richie’s own shirt, the trousers forgotten for a moment.

Eddie tears away a moment later, his chest heaving and shoos Richie out of the stall so that he can change back into his original clothes. When he emerges, he takes the first suit up to the nearest register, leaving the other four abandoned in the stall.

“Are we just leaving them?” Eddie asks, breathing heavily. They’re practically speed walking to Richie’s truck.

“They can call an uber or something, I don’t know,” Richie said. He honestly couldn’t care less how their friends got home, and he grabs Eddie’s hand. “But we’re leaving.”

Eddie shoots a quick text in the group chat: ‘Something came up! We gotta go. Hopefully you can call an uber. Sorry guys!’

As soon as they see that Mrs. Kaspbrak’s car is still not in the driveway, they race into Eddie’s kitchen, and Richie slams the door shut behind them, making Eddie jump. Richie pushes him against a wall, kissing him hard and pressing his groin into Eddie’s as he grips the smaller boy’s sides.

“God, Eddie,” Richie mouths at his neck, dragging his lips down his throat. “You’re so hot ,” he groans, and uses the grip he has on Eddie’s hip to pull him closer until there is absolutely no space between them.

“Have you seen yourself?” Eddie says breathlessly, and yanks at Richie’s hair, eliciting a loud moan from him.

“Upstairs,” Richie growls in Eddie’s ear and Eddie can’t move fast enough.

Eddie kicks his bedroom door shut and actually leaps onto Richie. Richie catches him and holds him up on his waist, kissing him feverishly as he stumbles back toward Eddie’s bed, falling onto it when he feels it against the backs of his knees.

Eddie is straddling his hips, their lips moving together in a perfect rhythm.

It doesn’t take long before Richie is sliding his hands up Eddie’s torso underneath the fabric of his shirt, moaning underneath him as Eddie grinds his hips into Richie’s. A moment later he’s pulling Eddie’s shirt over his head.

“Richie,” Eddie hisses as he breaks away from the kiss to allow for the removal of his shirt..

“What do you want, baby?”

Eddie doesn’t answer him, but promptly goes back to kissing him, shoving his tongue inside of his mouth.

Everything seems to be going fine...perfect even, until Richie squeezes Eddie’s hips and flips them over so that Eddie is laying on his back. Richie is still between Eddie’s legs and is moving his hands up Eddie’s slender, bare chest, and begins leaving a trail of hickeys from his behind his ear to his collarbone.

“Richie...” Eddie’s voice sounds like a warning but Richie pays no mind, to engrossed in Eddie’s neck as he licks and bites marks into his skin..

“Richie,” he tries again, but Richie is kissing down his chest now.

“Richie!” he all but shrieks, and that is enough to startle Richie from his ministrations.

The curly-headed boy finally sits up, staring at Eddie with wide eyes. “What? What’s wrong?”

“Get off of me,” Eddie scrambles up and hastily slides his shirt back on.

“What happened?” Richie asks, genuinely confused. “What did I do?’

“We are best friends, Richie!” Eddie is saying, spitting the words out between deep gasping breaths. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”

The words hit Richie like a slap in the face and he gapes at Eddie, half shocked and half furious.

“Who’s telling you that?” he demands. “ Yourself? Because clearly, you didn’t have a problem with it when I was seconds away from sucking your dick.” Richie snaps.

“See! Right there!” Eddie says desperately, hands gesturing furiously. “We’re best friends in a pretend relationship .” and with that, Eddie turns his head away from Richie to look at his lap, afraid to look at Richie when he continues. “Pretend, Richie. Not real.”

“It started out that way, didn’t it?” Richie says coldly after a moment of deeply uncomfortable silence.

“What do you mean?” Eddie asks, looking up at Richie’s pained face.

“What if I don’t want it to be pretend, huh, Eddie?”

Richie looks angry and Eddie doesn’t understand. This was Richie’s idea in the first place, so why should he be upset with Eddie if he doesn’t want to do it anymore?

“Then we can just tell the others the truth if you don’t-”

“No. That’s not what I meant,” Richie insists, exasperated. “I want it to be real. I want to be your boyfriend,” he explains and realization begins to dawn on Eddie as he sees the pain in Richie’s eyes increase tenfold. “The kind that kisses you all the time, not just in practice for this stupid charade or as an act in front of our friends. Do you understand me, Eddie?”

Richie is staring at him now, waiting for a response. He looks raw and torn open, and Eddie nods after a few seconds, finally getting it.

“You’re...in love with me?” he asks tentatively.

“Yeah, I am.”

“Why didn’t you fucking tell me?” Eddie says, inching closer to him.

“Because I knew you’d freak out like this!” Richie says and he looks like he might cry.

“I’m not freaking out because you’re in love with me,” Eddie says quickly. “I’m freaking out because we’re best friends-”

“If you say we’re best friends one more fucking time -” Richie snaps, but Eddie plows on.

“-pulling shit like this, while I’m falling for you, too,” Eddie finishes, dragging Richie in by his shirt. “And it’s so fucking hard to stop when you’ve got these-these big brown eyes and I just… You are doing things to me, Richie Tozier.”

He looks up at Richie’s eyes and the shock on his face is evident, but Eddie watches as it fades away and a hopeful smile takes it’s place.

“Do you want me to stop?” Richie asks as he touches Eddie’s cheek.

“God, no,” Eddie says with a laugh, and pulls him down, kissing him. His arms immediately find their way around Richie’s neck.

“You are the worst,” Richie says, moving his hips in hopes of receiving some sort of friction. Eddie can feel him against his thigh.

“Richie, holy shit.”

“You gonna do something about it, loverboy?” Richie teases with a wink. “Or will I have to take care of it myself?”

Eddie narrows his eyes and pushes him back down on the bed, climbing into his lap with his knees on either side of Richie’s hips once again. He presses his hips down, slowly but firmly, eliciting a long broken groan from Richie’s throat. Eddie revels in the noise for a moment, and then he’s rolling his hips down into Richie’s repeatedly, and Richie is losing it.

“Oh my god, Eddie-” Richie gasps, digging his nails into Eddie’s hips.

Eddie picks up his pace, letting one of his legs move between the other boy’s thighs. His face is in his neck, panting, mouthing at his skin, but not biting and sucking like Richie had been.

“Mark me,” Richie says breathlessly. “I’m all yours, sweetheart.”

Eddie does as he’s asked and though he starts small, it quickly devolves into sharp bites that he sucks into his mouth. This isn’t a cute trail like Richie had left on his neck; he’s leaving giant purple bruises all over Richie’s throat.

Richie can feel himself shaking beneath Eddie and he’s struggling to get the words out, but he needs more. “Faster,” he begs. “ Please , Eds.”

Instead, Eddie stops his movements abruptly, leaving Richie a whining mess.

“Shut up, Richie,” he groans, and slides his hand between them and underneath the elastic of Richie’s sweats and the waistband of his boxers. He takes Richie into his hand, gripping firmly but not squeezing. He jerks Richie’s length slowly, pointedly not giving Richie what he’s asking for and delights in the sight of Richie falling apart underneath him.

Richie begs him again, and Eddie takes one last long, slow, pull and Richie is already chanting that he’s going come. Eddie squeezes Richie at the base of his cock to stop him from coming just yet, and as Richie lets out a wrecked gasp, Eddie leans forward, slotting his lips with Richie’s and biting at his lower lip. He shoves his tongue into Richie’s mouth, and brings his unoccupied hand up to Richie’s hair.

He weaves his fingers into Richie’s curls and gives an experimental, teasing tug and Richie whimpers into his mouth. Eddie smirks against his lips and begins slowly sliding his hand up and down once more. He yanks on Richie’s hair again, much harder this time, pulling Richie’s head falls back and Eddie could listen to the noises Richie makes at this all day. But he doesn’t waste time thinking about it, and bites down on Richie’s neck as he swipes a finger over his slit, and that’s all it takes for Richie to release all over his hand.

As the tension releases, Richie collapses back against the bed, shaking and gasping for breath, his fingers still clenched in the fabric of Eddie’s pants, and Eddie draws his hand out from Richie’s pants, fingers dripping with Richie’s release.

“You gonna go wash your hands?” Richie asks with a hazy grin when he finally catches his breath.

But Eddie doesn’t answer, locking eyes with him, and Richie watches as Eddie’s tongue emerges from between Eddie’s swollen lips and just licks the liquid from his hand.

Richie nearly comes again at the sight.

Eddie crawls down to lay beside him, tracing shapes with his fingertips on Richie’s stomach.

“Can we just stay here forever?” he asks as he rests his head on Richie’s chest.

“I’d be okay with that,” Richie says with a smile, and leans his head down to kiss Eddie’s forehead. They spend the rest of the day in Eddie’s room.

Later on, Richie is muttering something in Eddie’s ear about how pretty Eddie is, making him giggle, but he stops short when they hear a knock on his door.

“Eddie? Those aren’t your shoes, downstairs. Is someone with you?” Mrs. Kaspbrak’s voice is muffled from behind the door.

He looks at Richie, panicking. “U-uh,” Eddie knows he can’t lie to his mom, “Yeah, just Richie, mom!” he calls to her. “We’re just reading comics!”

Mrs. Kaspbrak is quiet for a second, “Okay, Eddie… Just tell me next time you want someone over.”

Eddie breathes a sigh of relief when he hears his mother’s footsteps travel back downstairs. He looks up at Richie, who’s already staring at him, a smile playing on his lips. He smiles back, reaching up to cup his cheek, and presses his lips to Richie’s.

In the days following, Richie and Eddie are even more inseparable than usual, and they’re just always touching.

They get caught, more than once and by multiple teachers, making out against the lockers - being threatened to stop with the PDA, or they’d have to stay in detention.

Richie thinks that detention would be worth it.

Eddie tells him that it’s not, and that they have more than enough time to make out when they get home.

-

“Richie,” Eddie gasps out suddenly between kisses.

They had found themselves back in Eddie’s living room after school that day and were taking full advantage of the time they had before Mrs. Kaspbrak would come home.

“What is it baby?” Richie asks, sitting up on Eddie’s waist. He has Eddie trapped between him and the couch, pinned between his legs, and god, is that a beautiful fucking sight.

“I want you to be my date to the wedding next week,” Eddie says nervously. He knows that they’d already discussed their feelings for each other but they had never actually talked about how things would change going forward.

Richie claps their hands together and pinches his cheek, “Aw Eddie bear! You want me to be your date ?”

“Yeah I want you to be my date,” Eddie says firmly. “But I don’t want you to go as my date.”

“What do you mean?” Richie asks, suddenly feeling nervous himself.

“I want you to go as my boyfriend.”

“Oh…” Richie blinks, realization dawning on him. “Oh. Eddie, you sap,” he grins, and leans forward to kiss him. “Of course I’ll go as your boyfriend. God, I love you.”

“I love you too,” Eddie replies, grinning against Richie’s lips.

Eddie feels Richie’s hands slid under his hips and then flip them over so Eddie is seated on Richie’s lap. “I didn’t realize that you liked me on top,” he says with a raised eyebrow, the shadow of a smirk playing across his face.

“Hmm... only sometimes,” Richie teases and pulls Eddie’s hips down, lifting his own up to rut against him and watching as Eddie’s head rolls back at the contact. “Love watching you fall apart above me,” he groans, biting his lip at the sight.

Eddie looks down at him, just as he opens his mouth to let out a moan. If that isn’t the most sinful thing that Richie has ever seen, he doesn’t know what else to compare it to.

“You know I can’t believe you’re real sometimes,” Richie says, meeting Eddie’s crotch with his own.

“Why is that?”

“Fuck, just look at you-“ Richie groans, and trails his hands up Eddie’s thighs. “I’m drowning in you.”

Eddie smirks down at him and fuck, Richie thinks he might actually explode at the look in Eddie’s eyes.

“Oh yeah?” Eddie taunts, and grinds down into his lap even harder.

Richie throws his head back and groans at the feeling of Eddie pressing against him, his eyes closing tightly as his fingers fist in the fabric of Eddie’s shirt just above his hips.

“Nuh uh,” Eddie scolds and pulls at Richie’s hair, yanking his head up and forcing Richie to look at him as he let out a long, guttural groan at the feeling. “ Look at me,” Eddie demands. “I want you to watch me. Keep your eyes on me, alright, gorgeous?”

At this point, Richie doesn’t think he can look away even if he wanted to. “O-Okay..”

“Stop holding your breath,” Eddie tells him, and until then, he didn’t even even realize he was doing so.

Richie grabs Eddie’s thighs, helping him align their hips better. He was already done for, though. They both know this. One touch and it was over, but it’s always that way for Richie. Electricity runs throughout his veins, hormones shutting down the logical side of his brain. From there on in it’s all intoxicating, the way Eddie intensely moves on top of him, and he needs more.

“Richie...” A sinful sound escapes Eddie’s lips, leaving him taking in an extra breath, “I want... I want...”

Richie looks up at him with glazed over eyes, knowing the answer, but needing to hear it.

“Use your words, princess,” he says softly, instructing Eddie.

“I...want you to...Fuck me...” Eddie says between gasps, grinding his hips down into Richie’s with each gasp.

“Fuck…” Richie shudders. “Okay, yeah...yeah,” he says, sounding incoherent.

Eddie lets out another high pitched, keening moan as Richie ruts up against him involuntarily and Richie thinks he might melt.

“Do you...Have any-” Eddie gasps.

“No, fuck...baby,” Richie groans. He had no idea this was going to happen today and he was totally unprepared. If they had just gone to his own house…Richie grabbed Eddie’s hips to still them, wracking his brain for an alternative. “But I can-”

Eddie surges forward and kisses the words out of his mouth.

“Hold on,” he gasps, breaking away from Eddie’s mouth. “Hold on, hold on.”

Eddie whines, and Richie reaches up, grabbing Eddie’s throat and pulling him down, “Eddie, shut up.”

Eddie has his eyes closed, his mouth is parted, and he is shaking, “O-Okay,” he can feel Richie’s eyes dawning on him, full of wonder and realization.

“Is that... Is that a thing for you?”

It’s almost enough to distract him, but Richie flips Eddie over onto his back, and leans in to kiss him softly, before pulling back. Eddie tries to pull him back in, but Richie grabs his hands and pins them back down on the couch.

“Stay here,” he says firmly, “Don’t move...I’ll be right back.”

Eddie whines but obeys and stays on the couch, Richie looks down at him as he stands and his knees almost buckle as Eddie’s hand slides down to grip himself in Richie’s absence. He shakes himself out of it and runs to the kitchen and starts frantically slamming open the cabinets, rifling through Mrs. Kaspbrak’s neatly organized shelves until he finds a jar of coconut oil, and races back to the living room with it.

When he gets back, Eddie has already taken his pants off and is laying there, hand slid under the waistband of his boxer briefs and pumping himself slowly, head thrown back with his eyes closed. Richie gapes at the sight for a moment, before kneeling onto the couch, one foot on the floor and one knee between Eddie’s legs.

“Getting started without me, huh?” he asks, leaning down over Eddie once more and pulling Eddie’s hand out from his waistband. Eddie lifts his head to look at him and Richie nudges his nose against Eddie’s, before kissing him again, setting the jar of coconut oil down on the floor as he does.

Eddie’s hands find their way to the hem of Richie’s t-shirt and start pulling it up. Richie breaks away from Eddie’s mouth to allow him to pull the shirt over his head and as soon as the shirt hits the floor his lips are back on Eddie’s. His thumb begins rubbing circles into Eddie’s hip as the smaller boys hands slide up his torso to grip at Richie’s shoulders, and Richie hooks his fingers into the waistband of Eddie’s boxer briefs.

“Is this okay?” he asks softly, pressing his forehead to Eddie’s as he grips the elastic.

Eddie nods frantically and lifts his hips slightly as Richie slowly pulls them down his bony hips. They get tangled around his ankles and Richie laughs softly, leaning back off of him to free Eddie’s legs and pull them off. Eddie grab’s Richie by the belt buckle as soon as his underwear has been tossed aside and pulls him back down on top of him.

He fumbles awkwardly with the buckle for a moment and Richie must be able to tell how frustrated he is because he hears his boyfriend laughing, and looks up to fix Richie with a glare. Richie smiles at him and reaches down between them with the hand that isn’t holding himself up, and unbuckles the belt with a flick of his wrist, before sitting up to pop open the button of his jeans. Eddie reaches forward to pull down the zipper and starts pushing them down Richie’s hips.

“Get these off,” Eddie grumbles, eagerly yanking them down and Richie huffs a laugh and kicks them off behind him.

“Geez, you’re so impatient,” Richie teases, rolling his eyes but sighing affectionately, and leaning over Eddie again, ducking his head down to nip at Eddie’s throat.

“Yeah well,” Eddie gasps at the feeling of Richie’s lips traveling up his jawline. “I’ve been thinking about this all day, so jot that down.”

“Is there any time of the day where you’re not being a sassy little shit ?” Richie mumbles against his ear, and bites at the soft skin below his earlobe.

“Are you really gonna complain about that right now?” Eddie snaps with a raised eyebrow, his hand sliding between them to hover at the elastic of Richie’s boxers.

“I guess I shouldn’t be when your hand is that close to my dick, huh?” Richie asks, and presses his hips so that his groin is up against Eddie’s hand, shuddering as Eddie slips his hand beneath the waistband to take Richie in his hand again.

Eddie squeezes him, “Yeah, you really shouldn’t.”

Richie’s eyes are rolling to the back of his head, “Stop teasing,” he groans, and then pauses as a thought occurs to him. “On second thought, let me take care of you,” he says, and bats Eddie’s hands away, despite his protests.

Richie sits up to grab the coconut oil off the floor and dips two of his fingers into it, feeling it melt into the warmth of his fingers. He places a hand on the inside of Eddie’s thigh and holds his fingers up, looking at Eddie as if to ask if he was ready.

“That’s not going to burn, is it?” Eddie asks nervously.

Richie lets out a surprised laugh. “No, baby, of course not,” he says. “I promise.”

Eddie nods and spreads his legs slightly, though there isn’t much room for them to go on the couch. Richie hooks his dry hand under Eddie’s leg, lifting it up to rest his calf on Richie’s shoulder. He presses a kiss to his thigh, smiling against the sensitive skin as Eddie shivers beneath him, and presses his fingers up against Eddie, rubbing the oil against his skin.

Eddie jumps slightly at the touch and digs his fingers into Richie’s shoulder. Richie looks up at him.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah,” he whispers shyly. “It’s okay,” and smiles at Richie in a way that he means to be encouraging, but Richie can tell how nervous he is.

“We can stop if you want to, baby, just say the word,” Richie says, moving his hand away to rub soft circles into Eddie’s thigh.

“No!” Eddie says quickly. “No, I...I want you to keep going,” he says, taking a deep breath and reaching between his legs to grab Richie’s hand and guide it back to its previous position.

“Okay,” Richie smiles at him, kissing each of Eddie’s knees as he presses one of his fingers inside of Eddie, pausing as Eddie breathes in a sharp gasp of air. “You’re doing so good, baby,” he says encouragingly, crooking his finger slightly and making small circles with it, feeling Eddie constrict around him. ���Just breathe. Don’t forget to breathe.”

Eddie lets his head fall back against the couch and tries to do what Richie is telling him to. He takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, trying to relax around the foreign feeling of Richie’s finger inside him. Eddie winces, the pain not fully subsided yet.

“It won’t hurt the entire time,” Richie promises, “I’m gonna add another finger, okay?” he says, but waits for permission before he goes through with it.

Eddie nods, his eyes screwed shut, “O-Okay...I trust you.”

Richie pauses for a moment, a smile forming on his lips. He grabs Eddie’s hand with his free one, entwining their fingers together, his heart skipping a beat as Eddie squeezes his fingers. He pushes another finger in, nearly stopping when he hears a squeal forming in Eddie’s throat.

“Keep- Keep going, I’m fine,” Eddie insists, sensing Richie’s hesitation. “It won’t hurt the entire time,” he says, repeating Richie’s words back to him. And, fuck, Richie fucking loves this boy.

He continues pressing the second finger into Eddie and starts pumping them in and out slowly. As Eddie begins to relax slightly, he pushes in further and bends his fingers, brushing against a spot that draws a long, low moan from Eddie’s throat, and Richie watches, mesmerized, as he starts to fall apart before his eyes.

He begins to scissor his fingers back and forth, stretching Eddie open and thinks he might explode when Eddie pushes his hips back, further onto his fingers.

“I.. I’m ready,” Eddie mumbles through a moan, and Richie looks up at him as he audibly swallows.

“Are you sure?” Richie asks, kissing his thigh again.

“Yeah,” Eddie says, nodding at him and smiling, and Richie is reminded of the sun because Eddie’s smile is so beautiful it might actually blind him. “I’ve never been more sure of anything, other than you.”

Richie’s heart is in his throat and he feels like he might cry, but fuck, that would be so embarrassing. So instead, he pulls his fingers out and leans forward to kiss Eddie one more time, before sitting up and reaching behind himself for his jeans. He fumbles with the pockets for a moment until he pulls out his wallet and slides a condom out of one of the folds.

He tears the packet open with his teeth and squeezes the tip of the condom between two fingers before sliding it on, and tossing the empty packet aside.

He positions himself back between Eddie’s legs and slides a hand between them to press himself against Eddie. He kisses his thighs one last time before pressing in, grasping Eddie’s fingers in his as he does so.

“You look gorgeous,” Richie whispers, watching Eddie fidget with his tie, and rolls his eyes. “Come here.”

Eddie sighs in defeat and shuffles over to his boyfriend, letting Richie fix his tie. He’s shaking with nerves and he’s sure Richie can tell.  “Essentially, I’m coming out today, when I don’t dance with that girl.”

“How is that coming out?” Richie asks, scrunching his face up in confusion.

“I’m going to dance with you instead,” Eddie explains, taking Richie’s hands in his, and smiling at the way Richie’s eyes soften and the small smile that alights on his face.

“You don’t have to do that, babe,” Richie says quietly, squeezing Eddie’s hands affectionately.

“I know,” Eddie says, looking down at their intertwined fingers before looking back up at Richie’s smile. “But I want to,” he says, disentangling their hands so that he can reach up to grasp Richie’s neck, pulling him in for a soft kiss. “How can I not? You were the one who taught me how.”

“How to what? You’re going to have to clarify because I’ve taught you a lot of new things recently.” Richie smirks, his tone suggestive.

“I’m going to choke you if you don’t shut up,” Eddie snaps and glares at his boyfriend.

“Sorry, baby,” Richie says with a grin. “You’re the one who’s into that, not me.”

“Get away from me,” Eddie blushes, and narrows his eyes, jokingly pushing him away. “You’re the worst.”

Richie smiles and wraps his arms around Eddie’s waist, “Nope, you have to stay here forever.” He drags them playfully back onto Eddie’s bed, tugging him down, blowing raspberries into the crook of his neck.

“Richie,” Eddie laughs, “Stop it!”

“Make me.”

Eddie closes his eyes, trying not to let Richie’s words go straight to his dick. Yet, he looks down at him, leaning in to kiss him softly. He opens his mouth, letting Richie’s tongue invade his mouth. Just as he goes to entwine his fingers in Richie’s hair, his mom is knocking at the door. Eddie tears his lips off of Richie’s.

“Eddie, Richie, come on, we’re going to be late,” his mother calls from the other side of the door.

They both stand up, fixing their suits.

“This almost feels like..” Eddie trails off.

“...Like we’re getting married?”

“Y-Yeah…” Eddie swallows.

“All in good time, sweetheart.” Richie presses a kiss to his temple, opening the bedroom door, letting Eddie walk out first. He follows behind, a smile fixed on his face.

The bride and groom are finishing their first dance, when he hears his mom speak.

“Eddie, go on,” she says, the excitement in her voice making him cringe. “There she is, There’s Anna, go dance with her.”

Eddie blinks at his mother before turning away, his hand shaking, and reaches for Richie’s. He pulls him up, taking him to the floor.

“You remember how to do this or are you gonna step on my foot again?” Richie jokes, placing a hand on his waist and pulling Eddie in close to his chest.

“Listen, asshole, it was an accident.” Eddie snaps, but there’s no malice in his tone, and the smile he’s wearing definitely overpowers the attitude. He places one hand on the back of his neck and lets Richie take the other in his own.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” Richie smiles and leans down, resting his forehead onto Eddie’s. He spins them a bit, Eddie giggling.

“You are the love of my life,” Eddie whispers.

“How did I get so lucky?” Richie asks, smiling at Eddie, unable to tear his eyes away from the beautiful boy in his arms.

“In which way?” Eddie asks, grinning at Richie mischievously.

“That was good, Kaspbrak,” Richie grins and a laugh bubbles up in the back of his throat.

“I know,” Eddie smiles and bumps his nose against Richie’s. “How mad does my mom look?” he asks.

Richie peeks at Mrs. Kaspbrak over Eddie’s shoulder and he tries not to laugh. “Very.”

Eddie knows he’s going to get an earful from her as soon as she can get him alone, but he can’t find it in himself to care right now. Not when Richie’s hand is on his waist and they’re swaying to the music.

“Kiss me for good measure?” he asks, tilting his head back to look Richie in the eye as he smiles at him.

“Eddie ‘Savage’ Kaspbrak? More likely than you think.” Richie muses but leans in, capturing his lips with his own. They linger for a second, pulling back slowly, savoring the moment between them.

Eddie hums when Richie pulls him closer, “You think this is gonna be us, for real one day?”

“I know it will be,” Richie says, and he finds that he really means it.

“Promise?” Eddie asks, resting his head on Richie’s shoulder as they continue to sway.

“I promise.”

Eddie leans up once more, pressing his lips to Richie’s. “That’s all I could ever ask for.”

“You’re all I could ever ask for.”

Tag list: @reddie-to-go @january-embers-beverly @kathrynew30 @eddiesrichie @hallmarkhanlon @reddieforanything @celerystyk 

[yourprayer]

occulous repairo

merry christmas ya filthy animals!!! it is finally time to reveal myself to my it secret santa recipient!!!! this fic is for the lovely @wyttolff (big thanks for helping organize this whole shebang!! i hope u love ur gift dear <3 i sent u anons lmao i wasn’t slick)

occulous repairo, a losers club hp au 

pairings: reddie (for now, tbh i might turn this into a full-blown Thing)

word count: 6.1k 

warnings: mildly graphic depictions of a broken arm?? General Wizarding Buffoonery 

“God- damn- shit-”

“Rich, calm down, jesus christ. You’re not gonna get it if you keep pressuring yourself. Relax.”

“I am fucking relaxed Eds, it’s just not working-”

“It’ll work if you stop clenching your fist, for starters.” Eddie sighed, reaching over and forcing Richie to loosen his grip on his wand. Richie tried not to notice how gentle Eddie’s guidance was, or his perfectly kept nails, or his soft-

He tried not to notice.

“Now, when you say the incantation, let it flow instead of spitting it out. And maybe don’t say fuck so much.” Eddie quirked an eyebrow at him, which took him a second to catch as his gaze lingered on Eddie’s hands.

“Thanks, professor, any other tips you got?” He said defensively. He knew Eddie was just trying to help him, but he couldn’t help his tone. He’d been trying his accio charm for half an hour to no avail, and he was pissed. Charms was his best course, and he’d never struggled with something so much in all his years of schooling. His pride was wounded, and he wasn’t prepared to receive advice.

Eddie blanched, before his expression turned sour. “Fine, be that way. I hope you fail your Runes test.” Eddie grumbled, before casting a perfect Summoning spell on Richie’s Runes book. It sailed so close to Richie’s face he thought it might smack his glasses clean off, but thankfully it only knocked them askew.

“Bitch.” Richie glared at him, reaching up to fix his spectacles. Eddie only responded with a flat glare and a wordless repetition of the charm, causing Richie’s glasses to soar off his face and into Eddie’s waiting hand.

“Hey, give those back!” Richie blinked against the sudden blurriness and wildly reached out for Eddie’s hands. Eddie snorted and held the glasses out of Richie’s reach.

“Not until you stop being an asshole. I’m just trying to help you.”

“I’m sorry, okay, Jesus-”

“Say it like you mean it.”

“I’m sorry, princess-”

“Not in the fucking voice Rich, and don’t call me princess-”

“Look, I’m sorry, seriously, Eds.” Richie’s hands dropped to his lap as he looked dejectedly down at them. “I’m just… really frustrated with myself.”

“I know.” Suddenly his glasses were being placed gingerly across the bridge of his nose. “You’re gonna get it, okay?” Eddie gave him a tender, serious look. “Don’t knock me for helping you.”

“I’m sorry. Thank you for your advice.”

“What, ya gonna braid his hair?” Bev’s voice cut through their reverie, causing Eddie to realize that the hands he’d just used to replace Richie’s glaces were practically tangled in the other boy’s hair. He pulled them back to his lap, his face flushing. Bev laughed at the action.

“You know you’ve got first dibs on these curls, love.” Richie threw over his shoulder at her with a smirk.

“Class!” Their professor rapped his wand on the podium in front of him, shooting a glare at Richie, who was his frequent Problem Student. Most teachers tended to assume that if someone was talking out of turn in class, it was Richie. They tended to be right. “Focus up; we’re shifting to our second spell of the day.”

“Goodie me.” Richie mumbled under his breath, sitting back in his seat with his arms crossed. He was still chuffed about the last spell; he didn’t want another one to muck up.

“I think you’ll find this one quite useful, Mr. Tozier.” His teacher gave him a hard look. “Turn to page twenty-seven. Let’s work on occulous reparo.”

Eddie did his best to hide a laugh as Richie flipped open his book to the page of the glasses-repairing spell. Richie’s ears went red as many of his other classmates began to laugh too, realizing the diss from their teacher. This redness stayed on his ears throughout the duration of the lesson, hiding his face in shame as their professor went through the steps. When they were left to attempt the spell on their own, however, his mood was quick to change.

“Having some trouble there, Eds?” Richie found himself smirking over at a frustrated Eddie, who had failed to fix the crack in the pair of practice readers they had been provided for the twentieth time.

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t say fuck so much.”

Richie looked at Eddie with his biggest shit eating grin. He also thanked his stars Eddie wasn’t a dementor; otherwise he’d be getting his soul sucked by now.

It’d be worth it for the kiss, though.

Richie pushed the thought away immediately.

“I’m gonna-” Eddie’s face of rage faltered, changing to confusion. “I’m- I’m too flustered to come up with a threat right now, but just know you’re gonna regret that comment later.”

“I’m quakin’ in my boots!”

“Beep beep.” Eddie huffed, turning back to his spectacles. Richie watched him attempt the spell a few times before Eddie’s cheeks began to tinge pink. “Are you staring for a reason, trashmouth?”

Richie faltered. “Uh- no. No, nothing.” He pushed his curls back nervously, before turning to his practice glasses and performing the spell perfectly on the first try, as per his usual. He sighed, feeling relief that his mojo was back. Eddie eyed his glasses with jealousy before dejectedly attempting the spell one more time.

“Here-” Richie said after a pause, wrapping his hands around Eddie’s wand hand. “Try gripping it like this.” He helped Eddie adjust his hold on the wand. “And uh… try flicking with a little bit more force.” Richie chanced a glance at the smaller boy’s face; he was looking at their tangled hands with his mouth slightly agape, his expression strange. Richie swallowed and let go with hesitation.

He also tried not to notice the snickers of Bill and Bev, the next table over.

Well, he tried to.

________________________________________________________________

“Jesus Billiam, and you shit on me for overeating.”

“Sh-shut up Tozier. I e-e-eat a lot at m-meals, sure, b-but you eat like a c-cow. All d-d-damn day.”

“Touche.” Richie shrugged, taking a massive bite out of his sandwich as he reached across Bev’s plate for another.

“You know you could just ask me to pass you one.” She griped.

“It’s my only stretch for the day, just let me have it.” Richie said around a mouthful of food.

“Sexy.” Bev scrunched her nose and gave him a disgusted look. He smiled wide, revealing bread-and-meat filled teeth. She lightly punched his shoulder. “Ugh, that’s fucking nasty. You know that may work on Eddie but it’s not gonna charm me.”

Richie furrowed his brow, swallowing his food. “Excuse me?”

“Excuse you! I saw you two in Charms. The tension was practically rolling off of you guys in waves.”

“What! There was no- there wasn’t tension, Bev, we were just-”

“Just doing what you always do, tragically pining over each other with no hope of requisition.” Bev sighed dramatically. “It’s saddening, really.”

Richie glared at her through squinted eyes and coke-bottle glasses. “I do not pine.”

“Yes you do.” Bill said nonchalantly through a mouthful of chicken.

Richie huffed, turning back to his plate. “I do not pine!” His following dramatic gesture was cut short by a flying piece of treacle, which hit him squarely in the forehead. He flinched, shocked by the contact, then glanced around the Great Hall to see where the projectile originated from. Near the end of their table, a certain Mr. Bowers and his cronies were sniggering. Richie went red and turned back to his friends.

“Shit Rich, you okay?” Bev asked in a concerned tone as Richie pulled off his glasses to inspect them for debris.

“‘M fine.” He griped. “It’s assholes like Bowers that give our house such a bad name. I don’t want people to think of me in the same class as that.” He gestured towards Bowers, who was currently trying (and hilariously failing) to change his cider into rum.

“T-technically you’re not.” Bill said. “He is a c-couple classes ab-bove us.”

Richie gave him a flat look. “He’s still a Slytherin.”

“You’re twice the Slytherin he’ll ever be.” Bev said with a wink.

Bill and Richie both smiled at her. “You’re darn right I am.” Richie beamed, hitching up his robes on his shoulders.

That time Richie didn’t notice Eddie’s small face, peeking over Mike’s shoulder across the way at the Hufflepuff table, a small blush on his cheeks as he watched Richie preen.

Richie didn’t notice, but Eddie did.

________________________________________________________________

“C’mon Eddie, I thought you’d done this before.” Ben was still laughing, though on his behalf he was making at least some semblance of an attempt at disguising it. Richie did nothing to hide his guffaws as he watched Eddie try to right himself.

“Yeah, once! That doesn’t mean I’m a fucking pro at it!”

“Language, Mr. Kaspbrak. One point from Hufflepuff.” Their professor uttered boredly as she passed them, on her way to assist another student.

“Sorry Professor.” Eddie grumbled from his current position, which happened to be hanging completely upside down from a broom that was floating about six feet off the ground. The only thing keeping him from meeting it was his death grip with all of his limbs around the handle.

“You look like a koala!” Richie cried through his laughter, complete with actual tears.

“A very unhappy one.” Ben added lightly, sending Richie into another peal of laughter that caused him to nearly fall over.

“THIS ISN’T FUNNY!” Eddie screeched down at them, desperately making an attempt to flip over to the topside of his broom.

“Would you like some help?” Ben asked cautiously.

“No, Benjamin, I’m thoroughly enjoying myself.” Eddie snapped, carefully shimmying with his feet.

“Oh my God, where’s Bill, I’ve gotta get a picture of this-” Richie finally managed when he regained control of his laughter.

“YOU WILL NOT.” Eddie called down, taking a second too long to glare down at Richie. His loss of focus caused a loss of footing, and before he knew it he was dangling from the end of his broom, his grip reduced to his bare hands around where the base met the bristles. He let out a shriek as he fumbled; he was still a good couple of feet from the ground.

And rising.

“Ben- Ben! BEN IT’S GOING UP WHAT DO I DO-”

“Let go of it, Eddie!” Ben watched in shock as Eddie’s broom steadily began to climb. Richie instantly ceased his giggling, his expression turning serious.

“WHY IS IT DOING THIS BEN HELP-”

“Eddie you have to let go! It won’t stop until you stop touching it!” Ben called up to him, looking around for their professor.

“I can’t! I can’t, I’m too high!”

“Eddie just let go, I’ll catch you!” Richie yelled, moving to stand underneath the floating boy.

“I can’t! I could crush you!” He looked pleadingly up at the broom, but for all he was concerned, it was on a path of its own, its mind unknowable to him. He could almost feel the rate of his ascent increasing along with his rapid heartbeat.

Mike came jogging across the pitch, their professor in tow.

“Dear God, what’s going on with him?” Mike asked incredulously, craning his neck to squint up at Eddie against the glaring sun.

“His broom’s being fussy.” Ben sighed. “He won’t let go.”

“That’s the only way you’re gonna get down!” Mike yelled up to the frightened boy.

“That’s what I told him.” Ben said.

“Eds, c’mon, I said I’d catch you!” Richie yelled again, trying to persuade him with a smile. He was only met with a squeak as the broom above them pitched wildly, causing Eddie to loosen his grip. He righted himself, but his hold was only tenuous.

“Eddie, come on, you have to let go!” Mike pressed, pulling his yellow striped scarf and rolling up his sleeves. He moved to stand next to Richie.

“I CAN’T!”

“Rich and I will catch you, if you don’t let go now it’s gonna pitch you!”

“I’M TOO HIGH UP!”

“Well it’s not gonna come back down when you’re worked up like that!” Ben huffed, growing frustrated with Eddie’s stubbornness. Bill and Bev finally made their way to the front of the small crowd of students that had gathered to spectate, their faces painted with worry.

“Mr. Kaspbrak, you need to listen to Mr. Hanlon. It’s the only way we’re going to get you down.” Their professor said calmly from her place next to Ben. “Mr. Hanscom, will you go get the nurse’s team, please. I suspect he’ll have a rough fall from this height.” She said quietly to Ben. He nodded and pushed through the crowd, headed back towards the castle.

“Eddie, please, come down.” Richie pleaded, his fear growing more and more palpable. Richie had already hit a good five-eleven in height, and by his measurement he thought it likely he could fit another one of himself between him and Eddie. The turf on the pitch was meant to soften the blow from a fall, and many a student had been pitched off of brooms and onto the grass from greater heights before. But Eddie had never been more than Richie’s height off of the ground before, and this was only because of all the times the trashmouth himself had hoisted Eddie over his shoulder for a joke. It was no secret to anyone that Eddie was fragile, either; the boy was on more magical medicine than Richie’d ever heard of, and spent at least a quarter of his time in the hospital wing for various injuries over their five years at Hogwarts so far. This fall was shaping up to be a rough one indeed, and growing prospectively worse by the second.

Eddie’s wild eyes caught Richie’s as he looked down in panic. Richie responded with raised eyebrows and a nod, gently encouraging Eddie down. Eddie’s eyes then caught Mike’s, who’s arms were out and ready to catch Eddie on his way down. Richie mimicked his position, his feet shoulder-width apart. They both looked to Eddie again, but instead of his agreement of readiness, they were met with fearful eyes that soon disappeared into the blur of a shaking head.

“No! No, I can’t do it!” Eddie was doing a fairly good job of hiding it, but Richie could tell the small boy was damn near close to tears as he clung desperately to the end of the broomstick.

“Yes, you can, Ed-”

Mike’s words were lost as the broom gave another violent jerk, and Eddie was yanked dangerously to the left. The movement caught him off guard, and his threadbare grip was rendered moot at the wood slipped from beneath his hands. Richie saw a wild flailing of limbs eclipse the sun in his gaze, and heard a cry of fear the likes of which he’d never heard from his closest friend.

And then Eddie was falling.

To him, it wasn’t like he’d heard described from Ben about his Quidditch games or how he’d seen it in the movies. There was no slow-motion rendering, no recollection of his life in a succinct flash, no endless churning through open air. Maybe it was because the fall wasn’t from nearly as high as Ben had come down from before, or because he was so unused to the feeling, but instead of a weightless, floating, gradual fall, it happened and was over faster than anything he’d ever experience. He was in the air, and then he wasn’t. Like that. Like lightning.

For Richie, however, there was slow-motion. Eddie’s broom had positioned him directly above Richie’s head, instead of neatly poised above he and Mike’s waiting arms. Neither of them had enough time to adjust their positions in reality, but to Richie it seemed as though he’d had time enough to move out of the way. He watched, as if through lens, as his best friend plummeted through the air, expression aghast and limbs askew, directly towards his face.

Crunch.

There was an audible gasp from the spectating students.

“Oh fuck…”

A groan from Eddie.

“I second that.”

Richie’s gruff reply.

“Guys?”

Then Mike was above them, their professor and Bill, even Beverly’s curl-framed face all swimming through Richie’s vision. After a couple of blinks they came sharper into focus; after a couple more it became apparent that his glasses had an exceptionally gnarly fracture in them.

“Did I catch him?” Richie mumbled up at them through a crooked smile. He felt a hot, wet splotch forming on his upper lip.

“Yeah, with your f-face.”

“Enough, Mr. Denbrough, make space.” Bill’s and Beverly’s faces disappeared. “Mr. Kaspbrak, can you hear me?”

Something stirred on top of Richie’s chest. He looked down the best he could, his head not wanting to bear much weight.

His heart couldn’t really bear the sight of it, either.

A quick tally told him all limbs were accounted for; four for him, four for Eddie, all easily visible. His were thankfully laid out the way they were supposed to be. He had been knocked flat, but thankfully nothing had folded or crumpled. His ass hurt from where it hit the ground, and he was fairly certain the wetness on his face was from a bloody nose. By his worst estimate he had a mild concussion, at his best a few bruises. Definitively he was okay. But the weight on top of him was another story.

Eddie had all four of his limbs alright, but as Richie realized with growing horror, one of them was very nearly facing the wrong way.

Eddie slowly raised his head, his eyes meeting Richie’s over Eddie’s twisted and mangled arm between them. His gaze quickly left the other boys and settled on what hardly resembled his right arm. Richie watched as the color drained instantly from his face. He’d never seen Eddie look so upset before.

“Mr. Kaspbrak-” Their teacher repeated, before Eddie let out a moan.

“Oh- oh god…” He wretched, making Richie genuinely worried the smaller boy would throw up on him.

Mike’s hands were suddenly on Eddie’s shoulders, guiding him up enough to get Richie out from underneath him. They got Eddie back into a sitting position, and Richie able to kneel in front of him.

“Mr. Hanlon, please escort Mr. Kaspbrak to the infirmary. Mr Hanscom should intercept you on the way with aid. Mr. Denbrough, please accompany Mr. Tozier.”

“I don’t need attention, I’m okay.” Richie said quickly, eyes not leaving Eddie’s face. He could already see a bruise forming high on Eddie’s cheekbone. His face must have been what collided with Richie’s nose. “I’ll help take Eddie up.”

“Alright, alright, disperse then.” The professor said in a huff to the surrounding crowd of students. Most of them departed, but Bill and Bev stayed on, observing worriedly. They had to be dismissed again at the threat of house point deduction, which even then barely worked. All that got them to leave was a non-verbal agreement between the four of them that Eddie would be okay in the hands of Mike and Richie.

“C’mon daredevil, lets go get you cleaned up.” Richie muttered quietly in Eddie’s ear as he and Mike hoisted Eddie up from the ground.

“Oh- oh god I’m gonna hurl.” Eddie said feebly, his steps uneven and wobbly.

“Be sick to the left, then, can’t have you staining my fresh laundry now.” He joked, though it sounded nervous even to his own ears. He felt nearly as shaky as the smaller boy, his thoughts swimming with worry. He was concerned Eddie could pass out before they got him up to the infirmary.

“You got him, Rich?” Mike said calmly.

“Yeah.” Richie said, slinging Eddie’s unbroken arm over his shoulder.

“I’m gonna run ahead and see if they’ve got a stretcher.”

“Good on, mate.” Richie nodded at him as he turned and sprinted in the direction of the school. “Okay, Eds, just you and me now. I need you to do your best to stay upright, okay? Don’t worry about going too fast or anything, just stayin’ afloat, okay?”

“M sorry…” Came Eddie’s slurred response. His head was hanging, and Richie could feel his skin growing clammy from the hand he had clasped in his. The smaller boy was too white, and too wobbly.

“Nothing to be sorry for Spaghetti.” He had to bend over quite a bit to accommodate their height difference, and the awkward position was starting to belabor him. “Not your fault you got tossed around by a stick.”

“Shoulda.. Tried harder…”

“Shoulda let go sooner is what you shoulda. You really scared me there, love.”

Both of them pretended not to notice the pet name.

They did.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t ‘sorry’. Just don’t do it again.”

Part of Richie hoped Eddie didn’t notice the gentle way he was stroking his thumb across the hand he had in his, his small attempt at comforting the immense pain he knew the other boy must be in. His small attempt at comforting himself that Eddie would be okay.

The other part of Richie really, really hoped he did.

_______________________________________________________________

“I mean Christ Staniel, it was practically backwards.” Richie whispered hurriedly, pushing his newly fractured glasses up the bridge of his nose for the umpteenth time. He’d broken into quite a sweat hauling Eddie across the grounds, and his glasses now refused to stay on a face slick with sweat.

“I’m only sad I missed it.” Stan deadpanned, his gaze never leaving his parchment. “I’ve always wanted to see Eddie hit you in the face.”

“With his whole body?” Richie whisper-yelled incredulously. Their Runes professor shot them a dirty look over his shoulder before continuing. Stan waited for the teacher to turn away before speaking again.

“Of course not.” Stan gave Richie The Look; the one that told him Stan was switching out of sarcasm. “They said he’ll be okay, right?”

“Yeah, the nurse already has him set.”

“Fuck, you watched that?”

“They had me do it. Eddie was screaming at everyone; he didn’t want them to touch him at all.”

“Jesus.” Stan breathed, chancing another glance at the professor. They remained undetected. “I’m just glad you’re both okay...ish. You could’ve been a lot worse off.”

“Me too.” Richie glanced guiltily down at his arms. His right was slightly bruised and sore from where Eddie’s weight had landed on it, and he new his nose was quite the sight. “I’m just so fucking pissed he got hurt instead of me.”

Stan gave him a knowing look.

“Finally.”

Richie looked up at him, eyebrows knitted.

“Come again for big fudge?”

Stan cocked an eyebrow. “Just… finally.”

“Mr. Uris!” Their teacher suddenly interrupted, causing the two of them to jump slightly. “Something to share with the class?”

“No, sir.” Stan mumbled.

“Then can you at least share with me what…” He paused as he drew a series of symbols on the board. “...This means?”

Stan took a moment to squint at the figures. He could only state with confidence about half.

“I cannot, sir.”

“Never thought I’d see the day when my star student couldn’t answer a simple question. Five points from Ravenclaw. You and mister Tozier here better focus up or I might just deduct from Slytherin as well.”

Richie and Stan gave him twin death glares as he turned back to the board.

________________________________________________________________

“Finally what?”

Stanley nearly jumped out of his skin. “Jesus FUCK, Richie.”

“Finally what?”

“Were you fucking hiding behind that suit of armor waiting for me?”

“Only for like an hour, anyways finally what?”

“You’re hyper-fixating again.” Stan muttered bitterly as he straightened his tie (and attempted to quell his fluttering heart rate).

“ADHD, sue me. Finally what?”

“Christ Rich, let it go.” Stan hitched his book bag strap further up his shoulder, checking his special wand pocket to ensure the instrument was still safely tucked in after his scare.

“Well tell me what the fuck you meant then!” Richie flapped his arms frustratedly, his loosely worn green striped tie following suit.

“I have to meet Bill for our study session-”

“You’re not going anywhere, Stan-The-Man,” Richie pulled his wand from his back pocket (where he foolishly kept it, in Stan’s opinion) and dramatically jumped into a dueling stance. “Before goin’ through me.”

“I’m not fighting you over it, asshole-”

“Then tell meeeeeee.” Richie whined, dropping his shoulders and hands flamboyantly. A group of second year girls scurrying past watched him in confusion.

“You’re not gonna like it.” Stan snorted, watching as Richie gestured crudely at the girls.

“Try me.” Richie folded his arms.

Stan mirrored his position.

“I only meant your little pity party there in Runes was an admission. One I’ve been waiting on. Hence, finally.”

Richie drew his eyebrows together in confusion. “Admission of what? That I felt bad? That’s no secret, wouldn’t you-”

Stan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. This is exactly what I’m talking about.”

“I’m so confused.”

“Of course you are. You haven’t had pre-dinner yet.”

“Which I’m skipping right now to interrogate you, thank you very much.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry my minding of my own business between classes has disrupted your thievery of the kitchens.”

“Okay first of all, it’s not thievery if the house elves have given up on fighting me over it. Secondly, what the fuck are you talking about.”

Richie was using his pleading voice, the one that got Stan every time.

They locked eyes in a stare down.

Stan lost.

“You’re in love with Eddie.”

“I am?”

Stan blanched. “Yes, Richie.”

“And why is this news to me? Shouldn’t this be something I’m aware of-?” Richie trailed off.

“Yeah, it fucking should.” Stan put his face in his hand. “Look, Richie, seriously, you need to take some time to address your feelings. What you said in class? About feeling guilty? That was some cheesy shit. I’m talking grade-a Debbie Macomber novel. Maybe you should sit with that for a bit.”

Richie gave him a blank look.

“You think I have feelings for Eddie.”

“I know you do.”

“Okay, and how do I not know this?”

“Because you’re blind as a bat.”

Richie crossed his eyes to look at the break in his thick lenses. “Touche.” He looked back at Stan, and paused.

“I don’t have feelings for Eddie.”

“Really? Prove it.”

“Prove it? How?!”  

“Get through one whole day without telling me how cute his hair is.”

“Well that’s impossible Staniel, you know I love his-”

Richie suddenly dropped the end of his sentence.

“Fuck.”

Stan cocked an eyebrow.

“I have feelings for Eddie.”

Stan nodded, much like a babysitter to a three year old who’d finally gotten the hint.

“Fuck.”

________________________________________________________________

“Mr. Kaspbrak, you have a visitor.” Eddie heard the nurse say quietly through the drapes thrown round his hospital bed.

“I’m not-” He croaked, before being cut off.

“Eds, it’s me.”

The curtains slowly pulled back to reveal a pale and drawn looking Eddie, his right arm currently obscured from view.

“Hi, Rich.”

He nodded at the nurse, who turned and left. Eddie stepped back to let Richie into the enclosed space, swinging the curtains closed behind them. Eddie sat gingerly on the bed, cradling his arm close to his chest. It was bound in bandages and hung in a white sling, which had been admonished with a scrawling rendition of the word “loser” in all capital letters.

Richie had spent the last god-knows-how-many minutes on his way to the hospital wing (which, despite his multitude of trips to meet Eddie there, he still never seemed to find in a reasonable amount of time) mulling over in his head what the fuck he should say. He’d start by voicing his concern, follow it up with a joke that will do nothing to dispel either of their discomfort, maybe throw in a couple of anecdotes about the rest of his classes with Stan for extra stalling time, but then inevitably reach the point where he’d spill his guts because Lord (and every one of his friends, for that matter) knew he couldn’t keep a thought in once he’d had it, and say the damned words that could very well cost him one of his closest friends. Or perhaps bring them much, much closer, a hopeful voice had quietly persisted in his head, though he tried not to give it much notice.

He did.

He also very, very much noticed the damn sling.

“The fuck is that?” He asked, perplexed, drawing his brows together as he gestured at the word.

Eddie flushed, looking down at his feet. “Fucking Greta is the nurses aid today. She was supposed to just change my bandages and leave, but… We started talking and she asked if she could sign it and I said yes and... “ Eddie took a breath, exhaling deeply. “It’s charmed on there, I’ve spent the last hour trying to get it off.”

“That fucking bitch…” Richie muttered, sitting down next to Eddie.

“It’s okay.” Eddie looked smaller than Richie had seen in a long time. “It’s what I am.”

“Darn right you are!” Richie said indignantly, clapping Eddie gently on the back. “King of the losers.”

“That’s actually Bill, but thanks.” Eddie gave a small laugh, relaxing into Richie’s touch. He left his hand on Eddie’s back.

“Whatever. Big Bill can step down for a bit. You deserve the crown for getting through today.” Richie smiled, lightly beginning to massage the smaller boy’s spine.

“It certainly has been one, hasn’t it.”

The two spent a moment sat in comfortable silence, Richie slowly working out a knot in the center of Eddie’s back. The comfort soon turned charged however, as both boys sucked in a breath to speak.

“Eds-”

“Rich- Oh, sorry, you go first.”

“No, no, you go.” Richie shook his head fervently, his heart rate jumping.

“I just- I’m sorry. I’m really embarrassed. I should have listened when you guys told me to let go. I made us all look like dumbasses, me falling on you like that.” Richie quirked an eyebrow, nearly letting out a laugh. “I’m also sorry for falling on you.”

Richie did laugh at that. “And I’m sorry for not scooting to the left. The impact really hurt my ass, I’ll have you know.”

Eddie snorted. “Oh, you poor thing.”

“Doc says I can’t sit for a week.”

“You’re sitting right now, asshole.”

“Yeah, and it’s hurting my asshole, so maybe think about that before you judge me.”

Eddie gave a real laugh then, his face crinkling up happily, his freckles stretched across his nose in a smattering of stardust.

Richie fucking noticed.

“Eddie.”

Eddie looked up at Richie, surprised by the serious tone in his voice.

“Yeah..?”

“I- I think I like you.”

Eddie gave him a flat look. “Well, I would sure hope you do. We’ve only been friends for years.”

“No, Eds, I- like you. As in- I’d like to kiss you.”

Eddie’s face froze. “Oh.” His brain caught up with the moment. “Oh.”

“Can I?” Richie’s voice was barely a whisper. “Kiss you, I mean.”

Eddie just stared blankly at him, all conscious thought flying right out of his mind.

“Richie-”

“Shit.” Suddenly Richie’s hands were scraping over his face. “That was way too forward, fuck, I’m sorry-”

“No, no Richie, you’re fine.” Eddie laughed nervously. “I just.. Wasn’t prepared for that is all.”

Richie’s face burned behind his hands.

“I would like that.”

Richie peeked through new cracks between his fingers.

“You would?”

Eddie smiled and nodded sheepishly.

“Yeah. Maybe.”

Richie dropped his hands in awe, leaning towards his friend.

“I just-” Richie nearly groaned in frustration as he was stopped short. “..don’t see how you would wanna kiss a loser.” Eddie gestured at the broken arm tucked between them. If Richie was suddenly, magically doing everything Eddie wanted, he might as well charm him into a little removal spell.

What could he say? He knew how to play Richie like a fiddle.

Contrary to Eddie’s, however, Richie was struck with his own idea.

Whipping his wand out of his back pocket, he sat cross-legged on the bed facing Eddie, his concentration face on. Eddie raised a brow but followed suit, mirroring his position.

“You still keep your wand in your back pocket?” Eddie gave him a disgusted look. “That’s so fucking dangerous, Richie-”

“Shut up.” Richie mumbled, beginning to mutter an incantation under his breath.

“The fuck are you-”

“Shut up.” He resumed his spell, concentrating sharply as he drew a concise “v” through the air.

“Rich-”

“There.” Richie straightened up, tucking his wand back into the pocket, warning (as usual) unheeded. He smiled at his work, satisfied.

“What’d you-” Eddie’s words left him as he looked at the sling. Shining brightly over the “s” was a red letter “v”, transforming the insult into a title (he was certainly not over-proud to wear, no sir) on his arm, a very unexpected response.

“That better?” Richie was smiling at him, his usual, every day Richie smile, the one he had when he beat Mike at chess or when his Christmas gift to Bev went over well, or when he got a higher grade than Stan in a Runes essay. It was pride, for sure, but on Richie it was never cocky or obnoxious (though they all loved to tease him as though it was). It was always a smile of accomplishment, from a boy told frequently by the world that he was incapable. It was a smile of achievement, victory; it was infectious. It was one of Eddie’s favorite things about Richie.

His Richie, who he’d always known, always been aware of loving.

Eddie surged forward unexpectedly, sealing their lips in a clumsy kiss, one that seemed to sing through the air on the sigh of Stan’s finally.

“Better.” Eddie mumbled as they shakily pulled apart, both breathless and dizzy. It took all of two milliseconds before Richie was cupping Eddie’s face in his hands, kissing with a power he didn’t know he had. Eddie did his best to reciprocate, tangling his left hand in Richie’s curls (another finally drifting through the cosmos) with his limp right arm still tucked between them. Their knees knocked together awkwardly, and the leaning over was putting painful pressure on Richie’s ribs (he realized dimly that they might not be in the best shape after the fall), but the kiss was soft and meaningful and right.

Through the haze, Eddie noticed one more thing.

“Rich-” He pulled out of their kiss, nose hovering just in front of the others. “Your glasses are still  broken, the glass is scratching my face.” He giggled a bit, Richie pulling a face at being interrupted.

“Fuck, I don’t care-” He went to throw them off, pulling Eddie closer again.

“Let me fix them.” He laughed, grabbing them away from Richie and setting them on his leg. He leaned around to grab his wand from the bedside table.

Richie watched him with a raised eyebrow, remembering Eddie’s many failed attempts, and dreading just how long this would take.

Eddie balanced the glasses before taking his wand into his non-dominant hand (a recipe for disaster; Richie braced himself) and swished-

“Occulous repairo.”

A quiet woosh surrounded the glass as the fragments popped back into place and seamlessly wove back together. Both watched in awe as the whole set repaired itself.

“Wow, Eds.” Richie whispered in quiet reverence as Eddie replaced his wand on the table, before turning around and attempting to deposit Richie’s glasses back on his face one-handedly.

“Whoa whoa whoa, let me help you with that, you already fucked up my ass, I don’t want you to do the same to my eye.” Richie quipped as he put the specs on himself.

Eddie half-heartedly rolled his eyes. “I spent all day learning that spell for you, and this is the thanks I get.”

Richie got that devilish twinkle in his eye.

“Oh I’ll give you a good thanks.” He smirked before scooping Eddie up into his arms, kissing wildly all over the other boys face. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” He exclaimed between Eddie’s laughs.

“You’re welcome, Rich.” Eddie managed through his giggles, as Richie’s kisses slowed. They shared a deep look before kissing again.

They stayed that way, laughing and kissing and joking and being, and all afternoon Eddie couldn't stop thinking about the way Richie looked at him after he successfully completed the spell; that same, wonderful, proud-of-you smile that he’d always wanted to be on the receiving end of.

He hadn’t noticed it all those times before, but thinking back on it as he did now, he realized just how many times he had.

He hadn’t noticed, not before, but this time, he finally did.

[abdicatedarchive]

nessvul vs. edcom || eddie and vanessa

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍: litwaks arcade and the icecream place // spring 2021.

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑���𝐍𝐆: eddie x vanessa.

𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒: none.

𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒: eddie runs into vanessa unexpectedly after a bad day. it becomes one of his favorite days of all time.

Vanessa loved coming to the arcade, of course she had a gaming system set up and it was top of the line but nothing was better than this ambience. Marvel vs. Capcom: infinite was the game she choice to play today. Beating multiple people with Morrigan alone she was feeling herself. People looked at her and assumed she didn't know how to play, one person told her she looked to soft to be into video games. That was dumb. She just smiled, batted her lashes and destroyed them. "Okay who next, I promise to go easy on you." She clapped her hands, having a ball.  

Eddie had been at the arcade for a while, playing his comfort game. There was nothing like playing Dragons Lair. It brought him back to when his step-dad was trying to get to know him. So when he would ask what Eddie specifically wanted to do once a month ... Eddie always chose the arcade. He didn't want his new dad to teach him to ride a bike or anything like that, he wanted the crowd funding (aka a guilty guy dating his mom) to improve his experience. Eddie had been staring at his friend for a while. She was one of those really cool people that Ricki had introduced himself to, someone Eddie would never have the confidence to approach. But now they were friends. And it turns out she was even cooler than just being a hot girl. She was into all the stuff that they were into. He glanced over to see that the que of people who had lined up to play against her had settled down. Ed heard the call for who was next, and this was his moment. His hands were a little sweaty from being glued to the arcade machine, so he wiped them off on his jeans and headed over to her. "Hey Nessa" said Eddie as casually as possible. She's your friend dude, chillax, he thought to himself. "No need to go easy, I want to get absolutely wrecked" he said with a smile. He had played plenty of Marvel vs Capcom, but this was clearly her game of choice.

The skatepark and the arcade was her first stop even before checking in and doing the tours and the other welcome things. After that she was in the arcade atleast twice a week. At first most people didn't take her seriously, she wore designer clothes and they said she looked like she should be in a mall or a club somewhere. It made her happy to show the nay sayers just how wrong about her they were. Even entering some of the tournaments when it suited her not always winning but being a force to be reckoned with. Hearing her name Ness looked over and smiled brightly at him. "Eddie!" She hugged him before returning ro the controls. "I am in love with that whole sentence." She focused back on the screen. Nessa had met Eddie through a mutual friend and she was sure he would take one look at her and think she was not his cup of tea. She was happily wrong. "Finally someone who can give me a challenge and not just try and check me out the whole time." Nessa was being dramatic she didn't mind it, it was just thay they made it obvious. "We should make this interesting if I win, you have to buy me a well deserved ice cream and brownie."

Eddie smiled when she got all excited, he had done it right. "Totally dude, eyes on the prize" he said, fuck, why did I call her dude? Eddie thought to himself, stupid!. He brushed it off, he was going to be fine. They were friends and that was good. No reason to mess anything up by getting himself rejected. She might not look like a gamer, but she had the heart of one. If she wasn't in this packaging, Eddie probably would have been obsessed in a more realistic way. He just knew she was too far out of his league to even really worry about getting a shot, but then she basically proposed a date after this. "I don't want to take your money, but I'm more than happy to" he said with a laugh, they were going to hang out after this. That was cool. They didn't really ever hang out without Ricki there. He felt his heart rate pick up, but this was about the game. It was focus time. Eddie didn't usually take well to losing, but he figured losing to her best game wasn't too much of an ego hit. He put his hands on the controllers, "Ready when you are" he said giving her a thin lipped smile.

Nessa liked that Eddie didn't treat her like she was some spoiled princess. Maybe cause he didn't know that side of her? Nah she carried that around like a badge of honor. She was a little take back by being called a dude no one ever in her life has called her that but she thought it was cute. "Oooh I love it when you talk shit, so much more satisfying when you lose." She picked her characters. Eddie was cute like could be pretty popular cute but he was smart and the guys she knew never hung out with guys smarter than themselves. Vanessa was smart and she was pretty, plus her parents had money so she could do whatever she wanted. She loved that. Looking over her team again she nodded feeling comfortable in her selection. She moved her hair behind her ear so it wouldn't distract her.  "Let's do this." She pressed the start button and started the fight.

The real reason Eddie treated her like one of the guys is that he didn't really know any other way to do it. If he pursued her, both him and Ricki would probably lose a friend. "I'm just a simple man who likes free ice cream" he joked, putting his hand over his heart, "humbled already, and looking forward to you being humbled". Eddie selected his team and focused in on the game. She wasn't even here, just an NPC like usual. No pretty girl sitting next to him at all, no pretty nails or nice perfume. Just Ed and an old arcade game. The game began, and he put up a good fight but she ultimately did win. There was a lot of yelling, they were probably the loudest people in there. He let out an exhausted breath after they were done, "Fair is fair. Ice cream and a brownie from me to you" he said as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Me humbled?" She scoffed playfully. Tossing her hair over her shoulders she looked him and flashed him her sweetest smile. "I can taste my victory now." She started looking at the screen. Nessa liked being able to be competitive without being judged. Eddie always matched her energy when it came to playing. Jumping and clapping her hands when she won she looked over him. "Yessir, I humbly accept." She teased. "Before I forget, I went to text you last night and I don't have your number. I wanted to know of you wanted to do D&D. I was going to ask Ricky too." She grabbed her purse and slid the things strap onto her shoulder. " I know you two are a pair." She wasn't sure if they were dating or just really good friends.

She looked cute when she had won, not that she didn't always. Eddie smiled when she remembered that he had mentioned D&D offhandedly. "Yeah man, that would be fucking amazing" he said, not thinking about his language again. Why did he keep reaffirming that she was a man? Clearly not a man. He knew he was gonna beat himself up over that later tonight when he was trying to sleep. "Yeah, has Ricki told you the backstory on that? So we're sort of related in the least related way possible" he said as the two headed out of the arcade. The night air was kind of cold and he had a light jacket with him so he passed it to her nonchalantly. "So his bio dad that helped his moms get pregnant is my step dad. He's never been like in the family, but I like to think he's my brother" he said, giving the shortest version of it that he could.

Every time she hung out with Eddie she got a warm feeling in her body.  She wasn't sure why though, but she did know that he always had her smiling and she actually liked that. " We just need to find some time do campaigns and stuff. I'm free all summer." She wasn't going back home to be bored and she could start the next semesters work a little bit early  "No. He didn't." She felt dumb for her assumption after he told her. " Honestly I thought you two were like together, together." She tried not to laugh. "I'm so sorry babe. It's just that yall are always together and I don't know." She touched his arm. "I'm glad that you guys are close. It's cute."

"Yeah I'm just doing some papers and stuff for kids in summer classes, but other than that I'm free" said Eddie, he was excited about what summer with more friends than just Ricki was going to look like. "It actually happens a lot. We have couple energy apparently, but just best friends" he clarified with a nervous laugh. Did Nessa think he was gay? Well he wasn't not gay, he is bi. But still. Just another little friendzone moment as they were heading down the street to the icecream parlor. He opened up the door for her, "after you" he said as he gestured her to go in.

"Oh good So i won't be alone this summer. Most people are doing the summer camp thing." She shook her head. " I'm kind of hyped were gonna chill. I love Ricky to death but we need to chill just the two of too." She looked up at him. "Unless you don't want to." She hoped that wasn't the case. "I see that I misunderstood but I think it's cute how close you guys are. "She walked into the parlor. "Thank you babe." She went to the counter and ordered a ice cream they could share. "Free for the cute couple." The older lady said giving a wink to Eddie.

This girl wanted to hang out with Eddie one on one? Now this, this was something different. "I'm down, for sure" he said, swallowing hard afterwards. His throat felt really dry. The woman at the register thought they were a couple. How could she possibly think that when Eddie was so awkward. It made him feel pretty good about himself though, like maybe he wasn't. His haircut was in right now, fun when the things you were bullied for in middle school become trendy according to tiktok. "Thank you so much, this one drags me all over town but I insisted we come here" he said with a laugh as he put a big tip into the tip jar. The two headed to the back booth, and Eddie was very confidently ignoring the fact that he was lactose intolerant. The small things you do.

Nessa was happy that he agreed, she didn't want to be bored all summer since most people left and did the counselor thing. She liked kids just not enough to spend hours around them, especially in that summer heat she wasn't sure her hair would agree. She wasn't going to correct the woman it got her a free snack and he looked happy to go along with it. She couldn't help but smile, she shrugged flipped her hair, "I'm going to start listening to him, he knows how to make me happy in more than one way." She winked and watched the lady giggle and her face turned red.  She sat down next to him. " You still owe me, you got lucky with the free snack."

Eddie let out a laugh at Nessa's comment, absolutely uncomfortable at the prospect but intrigued at the idea that he could actually be seeing her. As they sat down next to each other, he nodded, "I do still owe you. A bet is a bet" said the boy. He liked the idea of hanging out with Vanessa again, just the two of them. He hadn't been too painfully awkward yet. "What are you doing this summer? If you're not doing the counselor thing?" he asked, hoping that was a normal enough question.

"I love it when a man can keep his word." she said simply, "Just got to tell me if I get too clingy, I don't want to ruin anything you got going on." she didn't know to much about him or the things that he did besides the whole paper thing. She knew he was smart and liked games. "Do you want some?" she pointed to the ice cream with her spoon. "I get intern at a company, but their pretty chill so I come and go as please. So i do what I need to then I bounce and hit the park or the beach.

Eddie took the other spoon and had a bite of ice cream, "I've got nothing going on really. Just having fun, writing papers and working on some projects. Personal projects, not projects for other people" he clarified. He didn't waste all of his potential on others. "That's cool" Ed responded as he took another bite of ice cream. "Is that typical for you?" he asked, "like a relaxed work environment. I feel like that suits you. No 9-5 for this lady" he said, realizing that he sounded like a total dork. There was nothing smooth about this encounter except for the ice cream, which was totally going to give him hell later.

Nessa nodded as she took a bite of the brownie. "Wow I have like one solid thing and you have like a whole list." She had to hand it to him not many people their age wanted to do more than just chill out for the summer. She nodded as she wiped off some ice cream with her thumb off the corner of his mouth. "Relaxed and gorgeous is my preferred work environment." She teased. A airy chuckle left her lips. " You get me. That 9 to 5 is so 1999." She put down her spoon. " I have a question I have to ask, do you have a significant other that's going to be mad you're spending your summer with me?"

Her hand was touching his face, and how did even her hands smell good?! It was intoxicating. "I mean thank god 9 to 5's do exist, or we wouldn't have gotten the Dolly anthem of the century" said Eddie, a natural smile forming on his face. His cheeks were a little flushed from the physical contact. Now she was asking if he had a significant other, and his cheeks burned redder. "Oh nobody, just vibin right now" said the boy, wondering why that was the verb he chose. And if he truly had been vibin with being single, then he had been straight chillin for the last 20 years. "What about you? Cool guy going to be coming around, upset you're playing DND with a bunch of dorks and skaters?" he asked, trying to see what the situation was. Any and all advice Ricki had given him in the last 20 years falling to the wayside as he forged his own awkward path.

"You listen to Dolly Parton? That's a  huge check in my book." She didn't know to many people that even knew who that was. He kept surprising her, she liked it. It was nice to be around people who weren't trying to impress other people. He blushes, she wasn't sure she saw anyone blush around her. She bit her lip, was it weird she liked that but not in a friend way, like a crush.'You vibe?" She raised her brow in amusement. She wondered if he was really out here vibing with other people or did he mean it in another way. "No, I'm single, single. No one is even looking my way. Its summer and no one is trying to...well you know with me.  It's weird. Hold on sir I also  play dnd, games and skate does that make me a dork too?" She shook her head or am I not cool enough for the whole dork squad.

"Of course I listen to Dolly. She invented theme parks, literacy for children, and fake boobs all while being a really nice person. Dolly Parton is the greatest living legend of all time, take a back seat Bezos. Earth already has a savior" Eddie replied, the statement flowing out of him at a rate which he could not stop. He kind of shrugged when she asked him if he vibed. Vibing wasn't really the term to explain hopeless romantic turned cynic turned hopeless romantic every second of the day. Wake up? Love is dead. See a pretty person on the street? Love is alive. The birds are chirping. Life is here to live it. Don't talk to her? Love is dead. It was a vicious cycle with a very quick return rate. "Queen of the dorks" said Eddie with a kind smile. She really was queen of the dorks. Vanessa enjoyed everything that they liked, and did it while being hot and funny and smart. It was intimidating, but at least the dork stuff made her feel human to him. Like she was one of the guys, just in hot girl packaging.

Nessa listened as she took a bite of the brownie. He had a point Dolly was iconic and the whole world should appreciate her more.  "You're like a true fan, that's kinda hot Eddie." She complimented. He was unapologetically himself and she could learn from that. She was too but he was a better person than her. He wasn't materialistic or unrationally dramatic.  She was happy he didn't see that part of her ge might not want to hang out with her. Ricki was way more laid back so she didn't care he wasn't going to stop being her friend but Eddie was more together. "I like that." She looked at him proudly. She liked being called a Queen mostly, it boosted up her ego. " Thank you, that just made my whole week." She gave him a sweet smile. She wondered if he was this nice to all hos friends or just her? Did it matter?!

He laughed when she said he was hot. Eddie was not hot, at least he assumed not because no one had ever taken an interest in him. It was kind of hard to hit on people, especially when his wingman was really charismatic and cool. Girls always went for Ricki, it was part of the cycle. Like a girl? She goes for your brother who is not your brother. "I'm just saying the truth" he said, grinning at her. This was a moment he was going to remember. A moment where he didn't have any rage inside of him. Just Ed. "This campaigns gonna be a lot of work. Are you ready for the grind?" he teased her. A good DND campaign meant a lot of hours on the table and behind the scenes. Eddie realized he wasn't going to mind much, especially if she was going to be there. He couldn't help but stare at her, he liked her ears. Weird thing to be attracted to, but they were just so ... cute? Was Eddie having a stroke? Because it sort of felt like it.

Nessa ate some more of the ice cream saving him half the brownie. It was nice to see Eddie out of his element, usually he wasn't spotted without Ricki and if Ricki wasn't around she didn't know what he was doing. She adored Ricki but she didn't want to think about him now. She was sure that they probably didn't like it when people compare them to each other. "I'm so ready, so my parents rented me a  condo and i have a room dedicated to this, you can come by and see the set up and help me make it better." she looked over at him. "I mean obviously  we're going to have food but i don't know i it needs fairy lights. I'm trying to make it more cool and so much me." she knew they weren't going to want glittery and cute, soft and comfortable maybe. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked over at him, "You okay babe?" she could tel he was staring, omg was their something on my teeth or my face? she thought as she panicked internally.

"Yeah I just was disassociating there for a second" said Eddie, the light coming back into his eyes. "I'd love to come over and see it. Even help make dinner, or pick up the takeout. Whatever works for everyone" the boy replied as he took a large spoonful of brownie. "I feel like whatever your vibe is for how you want to decorate is going to be great, don't even think about the boys. It's your space" he encouraged her. If there was one thing he knew nothing about it was how to decorate a space. His whole room at home was just covered in tech and LED lights. Sometimes it was hard to even get to the bed with all the boxes of random things he was working on and had abandoned. Once something became too frustrating, he either broke it or he put it in a box or both. It wasn't exactly an effective system.

Was she that boring he was disassociating, at that moment she didn't know what that actual meant and she would have to to go and Google that later. "Wait can you cook?" She said a bit surprised, Nessa was good at alot of things but cooking was not one of them. "Maybe you could teach me something because honestly I can't cook to save my life."She wasn't even trusted to make scrambled eggs. She was thankful for her Doordash and cafeteria, or she would of starved. "No,I know I just don't want to suffocate you with vanilla candles and Lavender scented beanbag chairs. "Plus your opinion matters to me." Down to earth wasn't her thing she liked the whole drama of it all. Her board was rose gold and glittery.

Eddie smiled at her, "I was a busboy in high school. The kitchen guys let me make my own meals on long shifts. You pick up a few things" he replied, "I would be more than happy to help you out a little." He liked the idea of getting to spend more time with her, especially in her apartment. It would feel like playing couple to some degree. Eddie cocked his head to the side, "they make scented beanbag chairs?" he questioned, never having heard of such a thing ... but honestly it sounded kind of nice. "Anytime you want my opinion, just text me" Eddie encouraged, excited about the DND sanctuary this girl was putting together. She was so fucking cool, how did he ever even become friends with her? Well ... Ricki. But besides that.

Nessa never had a job before, her mother said she didn't have the temperament for someone telling her what to do. Nessa wasn't sure if that was true or not but she didn't question it." Thank you I think its a life skill that I desperately need to learn  if I ever plan on being truly independent or stuck on a island or a zombie apocalypse." She tapped her chin as she thought about it. "Yeah it's suppose to help mellow people out while they sit on them." She started to think it was too much, boys didn't care what things smell like. Well except for her, she always made sure she smelled good. " Don't tell me that and then get mad when I text you for every decision that I need help with." She said seriously. She looked at him and touched his arm softly.

"Cooking lessons it is. We can start easy with a bowl of cereal. I'm pro cereal into the bowl first, oat milk second" said Eddie, "but there are some crazy people that are milk first cereal second". He thought the whole idea was preposterous, but to each their own. Eddie thought about it for a second, "that sounds ... kinda nice actually" he responded in regards to the scented bean bag chair. He thought about how you could definitely get away with farting on it. Then she was touching his arm, and he felt his stomach drop. "Y-you can seriously hit me up anytime with questions" he said, stumbling a little on his words. She was touching him, and she smelled so good.

Nessa couldn't help but chuckle. "I can make cereal and I don't trust anyone that puts milk first, i'm pretty sure that they're psychopaths." she wasn't sure if that was true or not but it was a very strong belief of hers. "I'm thinking of something like Ramen or scrambled eggs. " she wasn't that thrilled to work with a stove but the thought also excited and gave her a reason to get cute aprons. "You'll love it as soon as you sit in them, its so comfy."  she knew they would love it and that the beanbags could be cleaned at a dry cleaners just in case sauce or something spilled on it.  "Just know you can't take it back now, this is now a sealed deal." she joked.

"Right? It's just so ridiculous, and what if there's a splash when you put the cereal in?" Eddie replied, doing his best to be normal like he was talking to one of the guys. Because that's what this was. She was one of the guys, just that one of his friends who smelled good and was really hot. "We can definitely start there" said the boy as he ran his hands through his hair. It was getting longer, maybe he should cut it. Would she like his hair if he cut it? Maybe just a trim, maintain the flow. "It's a pact" he said as he put out his hand to shake hers.

"I just don't get it like I pour enough for the cereal I poured but if you do it the other way then you might have to add more of one or the other and that's just too much extra work for cereal." she shook her head. "Good my parents are going to love you." she watched him run his hands through his hair. He had such nice hair, the volume alone was a dream. Would it be rude to just start playing in his hair, she just wanted to see i it was as soft as it looked. Snapping out of her thoughts she looked at his hand and touched his chin then shook his hand." Deal."

Eddie grinned when she touched his chin, thinking about how her parents would love him. He could do that. Meet someone's parents and be normal. Right? Maybe. Probably. Not likely. Perhaps. He was torn. "How about Friday, we start our first lessons?" he suggested, wanting to see her as soon as possible. But he had also heard Ricki say things like don't be too eager. So he was keeping his distance, four days was a good amount of time ... right? He was unsure, but their hands were still in the shake. He didn't know how to let go.

Vanessa wasn't sure she had plans on Friday, she might of gone shopping or maybe get her nails done, Maybe get her hair done. That wasn't a Friday thing it could be done any day and she looked goo regardless. "I will make time for you, we can do a little food shopping. It's going to be so cute." she said thinking of the instagram pics she post of her little adventure. She pulled her hand back and ran her fingers through his hair like she wanted to from the beginning." What conditioner do you use?"  this was rude right? she was already doing it though.

Spending time together was cute? What did that even mean? He knew she was cute and going to be there, but he didn't really think that spending time with him was a cute activity. Maybe cute in the pitying way. What was cute about the grocery store? His brain flatlined when she put her fingers in his hair, it felt so good to be in her space like this, "um" he said trying to remember what he even put in his hair. "It's a little douchey, but 2-in-1 caused my sister Natalie to flip out one time when she had to use my shower. So I use ogx coconut milk now, and I oil my hair once a week with the same brand" he said, because she genuinely wanted to know. Maybe they used the same one. He wanted her hands to stay in his hair, "you can do that whenever, consider it the other side to our texting agreement" he said almost robotically.

She didn't move her hands as she continued, taking his umm as her saying it was going to be cute. "I mean it like we're doing something cute together, Like I've never been grocery shopping so I imagine as it being cute. Not us cute we're hot." she wasn't sure how her explanation was going over with him, she didn't think she just wanted him to be walking around taking pics.  She wanted to explain it better but his hair was calming to her. "Text that to me later I'm going to try it." she slid a little bit closer to him, I use Dr carol's deep conditioner and a hair mask i make myself but it doesn't make me want to play in my hair like this." she looked at hi realizing how close she had gotten. "I could do this all day but i just realized how uncomfortable this might be for you."

Hot? She think's they're hot? He's hot? This day was overwhelming. He would touch her hair, but he had heard from his sisters that touching a girls hair could be bad. Hand oils and things, and hair washing schedules. A whole thing. "Nah, I'm good. Just touch my hair whenever you want or need to" he said as he took a breath. "May I touch yours? To see the softness difference" he asked, consent was very important to him. It made him feel like a dork having to ask before anything, but he wasn't exactly the maker of grand moves. Not that this was a move. Well, he'd like it to be. But he wasn't going to get his hopes too high. He'd had a crush on her for a while, but he did his best to shove it down for the sake of everything. Usually his crushes sent him soaring, and he would burn out quick. This had been more of a slow burn.

Nessa could be a little self absorbed she knew she was hot, being rich and a spoiled  that gave her a certain kind of confidence.  Now she wasn't sure if it was her being into herself or it was forreal but she had a nagging feeling that he might actually like her. Why else would he let her play in his hair like this. "You're spoiling me." she teased. He didn't seem to mind so she wasn't about to make a fuss for something that she so obviously wanted to do.  "Go for it." she hadn't put any product in it, she just brushed it and left.  Lucky for her it curled up on it's own.  "If it didn't look like it before they definitely looked like a couple now. She didn't care  it wasn't like she knew any of these people and they should be so lucky to witness anything she was doing.

Eddie put his hand through her hair, realizing he had never been this close to a girl for so long. Laney had given him his first kiss earlier in the week, but that had only been a few moments. He had wanted his first kiss so that if he were to get to kiss someone (specifically Nessa) then he would be prepared. He had been pretty sulky about it for the last 10 years, but every time he caught feelings for a new girl the shame of not having his first kiss just skyrocketed. "It is soft" said Eddie, "but hair like this ... it's an art" he said, in a moment of fake cockiness. "I'm kidding, but forreal. Your hair is great". Was great a good way to describe someone's hair? He definitely could have given her a bigger compliment.

Vanessa liked her hair being played with it, it always made her feel calm and relaxed she didn't want him to stop. The only thing men wanted to do with her hair most of the time was pull it. Nothing was wrong with that and she liked it but this felt good, it was making her a little weak in the knees. "Thank you." She rolled her eyes at his comment. Oh that was cocky, she thought as she smirked. He was coming out of his shell. Her hair was great, marvelous if you will. She was very proud of it but she wasn't playing in her hair shebwas playing with his. " I think we should stop before the nice people here get a different kind of show." She winked pulling her hands away even though she didn't want to.

"And what kind of show is that?" he asked, almost naively. He thought he was sure what she meant, but he wanted the clarity on it anyways. Because if he was reading into this wrong he was going to look like a total loser. As he said this he took his hand out of her hair but stayed sitting just as close. Part of his brain told him to back up, but he didn't want to. She smelled so good, his brain was shutting down.

She wasn't sure if he really didn't catch on to what she was saying or he just wanted her to tell him.  She studied him for a second before leaning in so no one else could hear what it is that she was saying. She started whispering some sexual things that would make a nun blush red. Slowly pulling away she moved back tobher spot . "That kind of show."She bit her lower lip. She didn't worry about embarrassing herself with what she said.

Eddie's ears were glowing red, and his cheeks grew red to match. He took a hard swallow and a deep breath "that's exactly what I was thinking" he replied, letting out an awkward laugh. He really didn't know what to say. Eddie rubbed his hand on the back of his neck and looked over at her. "You um... you do that often in the middle of the ice cream parlor?" he said, doing his best to make a joke. He was a funny guy, but his brain felt like it was on fire and all the blood in his body was definitely elsewhere.

Nessa watched as he turned red, like he got really red it made her smirk. She wasn't sure if she had ever seen anyone that red before she liked that she could make him do that. She wondered if she could do it again, she wanted to do it again. Nessa wasn't sure but she was going to see, you know for science. "Well." she moved closer to him her lips close to his, Nessa was always one to tease, she was known for it all through ice cream. "No but i'm more than willing to give it a go if you are." she whispered so only he could hear her.

Eddie looked down at her lips and then back up to her eyes. He thought about how he'd had his first kiss only a few nights ago. How he had wanted to get it out of the way so that he could do this. He could do this. "As long as it doesn't impact the party" said Eddie quietly in reference to their DND group, his hand touching the nape of her neck as he pulled her in for a small soft kiss. He looked back at her, she was so beautiful. He couldn't believe that had actually happened, that he had been able to kiss a girl like that. Vanessa was nothing like he'd ever met before.

She wasn't sure what he was going to do, he wasn't really an easy one to read. If this what mysterious guys were like, it was so much better than the ones who she could read like a book. Plus she never gave a guy like Eddie the time of day, she was shallow and went for the buff, jock types.  Maybe he could change that.  "I never let anything ruin my parties." She said truthfully, she had been waiting forever play DND, nothing was coming to change that. She was taken back by the kiss, his lips were so soft it felt almost unreal. "Wow." She whispered.

He was on cloud 9, this whole afternoon had been confusing as hell. Was he the kind of guy who just kisses the girl? What did it mean? Did it mean anything to her? It kind of was everything to him. His chest felt tight, he was so anxious about all of it. "Wow in the good way, right?" he asked insecurely, "because I'm always willing to try again". He wanted to kiss her again, he was worried he would never get the chance. Part of this felt like an elaborate prank, like Ricki was going to pop up any second and yell gotcha.

"I've never kissed anyone's who lips were as soft as yours. It's incredible." She said softly. " so yeah that wow was an amazing wow but I think you need a few follow up kisses just make sure." She looked at him, this time she initiated slipping her tongue between his lips. She wondered how many other girls he's kissed, how many other people got witness his lips on theirs. She could do this all day, it might lead to other things but maybe she shouldn't fuck it up  by being her.

For his first proper makeout, things seemed to be going well. Eddie mimicked her exact moves and put his tongue into her mouth, keeping his hand on the back of her neck while making sure not to tug on her much. He became very aware that while there were only a few people in here, this was a lot of PDA. Affection. He was receiving affection from Vanessa. This was already the most amazing day of his summer by far, and there was no way that he was going to top it. But he had to remain cool, girls like this did not like guys making a huge deal out of everything. They were in their 20s, he couldn't be a dweeb about this. "Do you want to get out of here? I think we might be overstaying our welcome" said Eddie with a smile as he looked around. He was glowing almost, his cheeks still red.

This was definitely the right way to start off her summer, making out with a hot guy who doesn't know that they are hot in front of people and making them uncomfortable.  Vanessa slid her fingers in his hair as she continued to kiss him. She knew all eyes on her but when wasn't that the case, that's how she liked it...it was part of who she was. She whined when he broke the kiss again. Her eyes moved to look on the side of her, he was right people were staring but it probably bothered him. She looked up and smiled. "Yeah, let's go." she pulled back and standing up, putting her hand into his. They had just made out hopefully holding hands was okay. Aha she did make him blush again. He was too cute when he blushed, not that he didn't have a reason. It was a steamy exchange.

Eddie wasn't a suave man, but having her hand in his made him feel on top of the world. Like he could do anything, so, once he held the door for her and they were both outside he leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek before they kept walking and holding hands. "You're the most beautiful person I've ever met" said Eddie awkwardly as the thought came into his mind and out of his mouth before he could even think about whether or not he wanted to say it out loud. It was the truth, so he wasn't too embarrassed, but his ears that turned bright red were giving him away.

Nessa strutted out of the ice cream parlor and into the welcomed heat.  She looked up and smiled after he kissed her on her cheek. He was sweet, she didn't attract sweet, she attracted jerks and players. She was lost in her thought when she heard him speak. "Inside or out?" she inquired. Seeing how red he got was the best thin. She wondered how long until she wasn't able to do it anymore. "You're the only guy that treated me like this, sweet, like i'm more than  my jimmy choo's and Fenty lingerie." she admitted. "I like you Eddie." she said softly. She never liked admitting things but what was the harm since the were getting to know each other.

"My money is on both" said Eddie honestly. He liked that there was someone who understood him and his hobbies. Someone who could get down with the guys but could also embrace her femininity. "Well, not to play my cards too right or too wrong but I don't know what either of those things are" said Eddie, running his tongue over his teeth inside his mouth before cracking a smile. "I like you too, Vanessa. I can already tell this is going to be the best summer ever" he replied, swinging their hands a little. He felt normal, like he wasn't some alien tasked with the impossible of getting to know people. Like a regular human boy who liked a regular human girl.

"I'm still working on the inside part." being spoiled didn't exactly her a terrible person but she likes to call herself difficult. Anything she wanted she could get, her parents never told her no so she wasn't accustomed to hearing it and it ade her feel like she was better than most. A trait she carried all through her school years. "My shoes." she lifted up her leg and showed her heels. and my bra and make up." she pulled down her shirt to show her bra, winking as she fixed her clothing. "We can make it one that we can never forget." she moved in front of him, leaning up to kiss him again. Maybe this summer would be like the lays she liked, love, sex, pain, joy and she gets to be the main character.

Eddie looked over at her, "I think working on it is the mark of a good person. If you have nothing to work on then you're not being honest with yourself." Eddie had been in and out of therapy for years, but every time he got a new one it was always the promise that he was good if he would just keep working. He had a bit of a jolt when she showed him her bra, like a deer caught in headlights. Eddie took a deep breath and looked back as quickly as he could to make eye contact, "It's uh, nice makeup" he said, still a little flustered. Before he could even think much, she was kissing him again, and he moved his hands onto her waist, pulling her in and kissing her softly. "Can I walk you home?" he asked as the kiss broke.

She couldn't help but chuckle. "You sound like my therapist." she had to go to therapy not because her parents thought there was something  that she needed to work on but because there were complaints that she was a bully and her school said it was that or expulsion. She liked that he was surprised, he was not like any other guy that she was used to.  "Thank you, I'm glad you like it." she tossed her hair over her shoulder. His damn lips, why were they s damn soft. she thought to herself. "Yeah." she grinned. The last time someone walked her home was high school maybe if even that. She didn't know why but it was giving her butterflies in her stomach.

"This way?" Eddie asked before they started walking in the right direction. "So, weird question. But if you could go back to any day on your timeline and just get to watch for the sheer joy of it. What day would it be?" Eddie really liked the idea of perfect days. Sometimes he would only realize he was having the perfect day after it had already happened, but today he already recognized it. Well ... his afternoon hadn't been perfect but it had led him to Litwaks which led him to kissing a girl that he never thought he'd get the chance to kiss in this lifetime. So today definitely counted, every thing happens for a reason.

Nessa nodded, taking his hand again. "Hmm." Nessa said as she thought for a second. "Well when I was 9 my grandmother took me to this like garden slash park thing. She thought my parent were turning me into a diva. We sat under a cherry blossom tree talking, she taught me how to rollerblade, gave me these rollerblades that she drew blossoms on. They were used but oh they were perfect." she looked at the ground still smiling." It was the perfect day, but she passed soon after and my dad threw away the skates, so i learned how to skateboard until i got another pair." she shrugged it off. "What about you Eddie, what's your perf day?"

"There's nothing like a pair of already broken in skates" said Eddie before she shared that her grandmother had passed, "I'm really sorry to hear that. Maybe sometime you could paint cherry blossoms on your new skates" he suggested. People talking about death made him think about his dad. He felt like every day he remembered less and less about the man. "My perfect day to watch would probably be the last day of school in 8th grade. We had field day outside and it was just insane, and then Ricki and I went to the skatepark until after dark because we were technically high schoolers and our curfews had changed. I don't remember what we talked about, but I know I laughed so hard I thought I might have to go to the hospital because it hurt so bad" said Eddie, leaving out the detail that if he could watch a day back it would be this one. He would want to watch to see how he could pull off this caper again, to ensure that he wasn't making it all up.

She adored the skates, but her parents were snobs and though they came from old money they didn't believe on hand me downs or having used things. "I would but I can't draw plus it was knowing someone loved me enough to actually give me something sentimental instead of just the most expensive whatever." Vanessa loved being rich, and she loved her parents and she knew they loved her but their love languages was gifts and she liked acts of service and things like that. She smiled hearing his perfect day, it sounded perfect.  One of those days that you would remember in twenty years and smile at your youth. "I don't know if I'm entertaining enough to make you almost die laughing but I will make me my business to make a memory that you always want to come back to. Something you'll never forget." She squeezed his hand and jumped to kiss his cheek.

This day was folding out better than he could have ever imagined. "I think you already have" said Eddie with a smile as she kissed his cheek. He wasn't sure if she usually did this: the wholesome kind of dating. But it felt like he was really checking all the boxes at the moment. Eddie didn't necessarily identify as a hopeless romantic, but he was romantic comedy inclined. He mostly resonated with the first 30 minutes of the movie when people are awkward or fuck up. "You're really cool, ya know. For a geek" he teased her, running his thumb over hers as they held hands. He was starting to feel more comfortable, and able to open up. It wasn't like she was going to regret kissing him now, right? What if tomorrow she regretted it? It would feel like his whole ego was crumbling, she'd already done so much reparations to it tonight alone.

She blushed slightly, he was so sweet it was so unreal. That meant one thing something was wrong with him, maybe he had a temper or maybe he was no good in bed. Wait maybe he wouldn't want to take you into bed. Nah she was gorgeous why wouldn't he want to get up in her sheets.  Maybe he was too good for her and he would realize it.  Why was she overthinking this, he was walking her home, they made out in a ice cream parlor in front of old people that meant something to some people. "If you give me a chance I bet I can one up this day." she smiled, playfully hitting him. "Geek?" she scoffed." The hottest geek you know." she stuck out her tongue, She didn't want this day to end. She would not bet one of her Birkin bags that she would be here with him, happier than she had been in awhile.

"One up this day? I'd like to see you try" Eddie said with a little surprise in his voice. This day was already too good for him. Any more and he would be outed as desperately inexperienced. He didn't want her to know that. "You took the words right out of my mouth" he agreed with her as he shoved her a little as they took up most of the sidewalk. It felt like the end credits, but he knew this was only the start. He was going to fuck up and then it was all going to be over, and Ricki was going to shake his head and tell him that he shouldn't shit where he eats. The friendships between them and Vanessa severed. And it would be all his fault because he wasn't enough. But for now, he thought he just might be.

Taking his hand and twirling she smiled at him. "Just you wait Mr Dalton, you'll be fifty married with children and you'll be sitting telling your grandchildren about this summer. How a girl named Vanessa Samson was one of the most exciting things to ever happen to you." She walked in front of him taking his arms and wrapping them around her as they reached her apartment building. She hoped they would still be friends at least for that long but Nessa was a realist. She believed in the magic of summer and all that. You find love in heartache or whatever, she believed she was around to be memories. Anything more or longer didn't seem real to her, she knew they would bore of her. She didn't want him to, she wanted him to like her.. always.

He smiled at the idea. "I hope you're still around to tell them yourself" said Eddie hopefully, there was no reason to be realistic about anything. They could be empty promises ... but they didn't need to be. "This you?" he asked as he looked up at the apartment building, "nice digs". He wasn't going to invite himself up. He didn't want to ruin the perfect night by fumbling around or telling her that he didn't know anything about how to make her feel good. He was gonna go home with a smile on his face and then frantically be online all night looking for the solution to his problems. Eddie pulled her in for another kiss before he knew he was heading out, "I'll call you" he said with a smile as he pulled his baseball cap out of his back pocket and put it on his head backwards.

Her smile spread when he said that, a girl could only hope.  She was going to daydream about them in 50 years given secret looks if they were married or hooking up at the reunion. She was going to call her mother and annoy her with her head in the clouds, but this time she could actually her that he's a good guy.  She looked back at her building and nodded, she had a nice condo her parents paid for, so much better than dorm living. "Yes it is, remember how to get here for our little lessons." she smiled. She wondered if he wanted to come up, while she kissed him like she didn't want to stop. She wanted to whine but she nodded okay and walked backwards, watching him walking away and bumping into the door. Squealing as she went into the building hoping he didn't hear her. //END

[midnightiscoming-kasabian]

New/Old interview with Ian (November 2016) _______________

Mike Dolbear DRUMS | Interview with Ian Matthews - Kasabian

“Rock compares to jazz like killing someone with a baseball bat vs. putting a pillow over their mouth”. Ian Matthews has both ways down like few others.

Coming from a jazz background he swapped the thin sticks for some proper wood and has been the power house behind British Indie Rock band Kasabian for the last 13 years.

2015 has also seen Ian seeking out new adventures joining a team surrounding master drum builder Keith Keough launching the brand new British Drum Company.

I caught up with Ian after his performance at the London Drum Show to chat about his musical upbringing, Kasabian and his new venture into the drum building business.

[x]

You started at the age of four after your babysitter taught you your first beats?

Yes, my babysitter (now passed away) was one of my dads mates and a long standing friend of the family. He would come to babysit me and bring me drum sticks when I was about two. I still remember ‘Mama - Dada - Mama - Dada’. His dad had an amazing red sparkle drum kit which I always loved. I think that’s where the seeds were sown.

My dad being a pianist wanted me to play the piano too but he realised that I wasn’t interested. So when I was four he tried to find a teacher who would teach somebody so young. There was a guy who lived just around the corner in Bristol called Mike Holmwood who was playing as a session player at the time for a band called The Brotherhood of Men. He had me come round the house, stick on some Cowboys and Indians or whatever was on the telly on a Saturday morning, gave me some milk and biscuits; take me up to the drum room for ten minutes to teach me some stuff; then back down for some more Cowboys and Indians; then back up for another ten minutes and so on... He did that for several years and taught me how to play brushes, jazz independence, how to read and all that. He got me to a point where when I was seven years old my dad turned around to me as he was packing his organ in the back of the car and went: ''Son, you’re coming with me''. The drummer for his social club gig was ill so I filled in. I went to do the gig with him and got £5. From that point I was hooked.

This guy Mike used to tell me about playing with confidence and feel. It was something I didn’t quite understand then but he sowed those seeds in my head. I’m making music for the sake of how I’m doing it as opposed to what I’m doing and I’ve got on as a drummer from the age of 19/20 as a drummer by going into from that direction.

Was it a conscious decision for you to make drumming your career or did it just happen?

I went through school still doing all these gigs with my dad and then joined a Bristol drum corps called The Troopers when I was ten. I don’t think we were a very good drum corp; we rehearsed twice a week and we also came last in the championships, but it taught me how to play with others and we used to race each other on rudiments trying to become the lead drummer.

I also did some school orchestras and in the band of the Avon and Somerset fire brigade learning to play with a wind band, playing military type stuff and lots of reading. I also did wedding gigs and jazz gigs, so I was always involved with music through school.

Even my drum teacher at the time, Eddy Clayton, used to dep me out for his gigs so I was playing in the pubs of Bristol when I was 13. Props to all these middle aged jazzers letting a 13 year old boy sit in and count them in.

I left school and had some crappy jobs which all weren’t really well paid and I just realised I could make nearly enough doing a couple of function gigs on the weekend. So I decided I would like to just sit at home and have to do nothing else but just play the drums and see if I can live of that. So I did.

You once made this beautiful comparison between rock and jazz being like “killing someone with a baseball bat vs. putting a pillow over their mouth”.

[laughs] Yes, this was kind of a half joke between me and a friend of mine who’s a jazz violinist. I’ve done jazz gigs with him and it’s so different than going on stage for a hundred thousand people driving a drum kit through the stage. That’s why we came up with that. To me, brewing on a ride cymbal at mid- to up- tempo, or even a slow brush thing, the inner me is trying to bring as much intensity to that musical moment of a whisper as I would at a yell.

You’re left-handed but you set up your drum kit right-handed?

I had this question a lot during my time as a teacher. You find people have left/right issues with their bodies. For me, I’m left-handed writing but my natural instinct is to kick a ball with my right foot, so my right foot was always gonna be my kick drum foot. Also, I was just put on a traditional drum set by my first teacher. I can’t even remember if he made me play like this or if I just naturally did it because I as a kid I watched all these drummers on our little black and white TV making their drums shake, guys with massive bangs of hair and huge sideburns. Maybe that’s where it came from. I’m not against playing lefty but it’s just the way it rolled. The right foot thing though was important for me.

Let’s talk about Kasabian.

I had a teacher who indicated to me that if I wanna get on the scene I needed to make sure to make friends and connect to as many engineers as possible. That’s where you meet the musicians who are doing stuff and where you get a call of people who need a drummer. These are the guys who are active, not the getting stoned in a bedsit dreaming about being a rock star.

I had red light fever and every time the recording button got pressed I would jam up. I tried getting as much training as possible, whether it was paid or not.

Mat, a friend of a friend, ran a studio called Big Bonk and I used to go there and record for free on his projects and in return he would throw me some work. Sometimes there was 50 or 100 quid in it. Kasabian from Leicester were coming down. They got some development money from their manager to spend on a drummer and Mat recommended me.

The day before the recording I fell down the stairs, sprained my right ankle badly and was inches from picking up the phone to cancel because I couldn’t walk. I still did it. I limped down to his basement, the boys looked at me and I went: ''I’m your drummer for the day''. That’s when I first met them. I did the session in pain you wouldn’t believe, they were blown away it seems and I did a couple of sessions with them after that.

They got signed the year after in 2002 but I couldn’t really get involved because I was doing enough stuff already. I was working with a guy signed to Virgin, another artist signed to Real World and was going to Paris a lot doing some African crossover stuff replacing Manu Katche in a band.

During that time the guys were sharing a farm up in Leicester working on their record. We lost contact a little through 2003 and later that year they started getting on the road playing the Dog & Duck here, the Dog & Duck there, driving up and down the motorways in a Mini Metro and an Austin Maestro.

In 2004 the manager called me in a panic saying they needed a drummer next week and they wanted me. It was Easter holidays so I went in and we tore it up for two weeks. After that the manager said: “Do you want to come and work with us? I can hire you and we have enough money to replace your teaching and feed your family. Come with us for 18 months.” I went for it and it was amazing. In fact they made me a band member in 2005 - so it’s kind of a gradient in membership. I wasn’t just parachuted into a famous band. I proved myself, we proved ourselves and together we made it all possible. I met them 15 years ago and it’s all been developing ever since.

There’s a bit of a time off for the band at the moment?

Yes, we last seriously toured in 2014 when we headlined Glastonbury. That was a big gig. That whole year was really dense.

Then 2015 we just did about 15 or 20 festivals mostly in eastern Europe, we also went to Brazil and did the Lollapalooza tour of Latin America taking in Chile, Peru, Colombia and Argentina. Then come the end of August we decided we’re on our sixth album, we need to give us some time off. We also wanted to give the public some time off and not just bring out another album and go back out on tour.

This coincided with Keith inviting me to become partner in the British Drum Company.

2016 was quiet apart from May where Leicester, Kasabians favourite team, won the Premiership in the most dramatic way ever and we played their victory parade in front of 150,000 people in Victoria Park. In my down time I did some jazz gigs, some funk gigs, a little bit of session work here and there, the drum company and my family. I’m not pursuing a project because by the time it gets going Kasabian will be back out.

Let’s talk about the British Drum Company for a bit.

So Keith is a guy I met a few years ago at the Scottish Drum Fare and we got on like a house on fire straight away, it’s like Bro-Love. We stayed in contact every since and every time I was in Manchester we met up for a drink, some food or he came to see a gig - we just became mates and we would trade on each other on our perspectives on drum maker vs. drum player. I always knew I wanted to work with but he was with Premier and I was with DW so we just didn’t have the situation.

It came to that he left Premier and Al Murray convinced him to keep on building drums, so the two of them started collecting partners. Stu Warmington does our marching devision, Alan Kitching is our product designer and there is me, which is flippin’ amazing. Keith literally just turned around to me at V-Fest, the last gig of our tour and went: “You’re up for this then mate?”. And I just went: Wow! Fuck yeah!

It must be something like a little boys dream to be involved in building your own kits. Is there any limit to what you can do or can you just try anything?

Mate, it’s incredible! Keith is the genius and what the rest of us do around Keith is to steer his genius in the right way. We’re like a band. We’re flying very quickly, we’ve only just gone a year and already everybody is going: oh yeah, British Drum Company. People are intrigued still  but we all came together because we’re all senior in what we do somehow. We’re not ‘having a go’ or just investing in a business and try go get people in to run it who are not that emotionally into it. We’re five partners who came together to create something magic that we’re proud of and I think it’s working.

I think it has taking people by a bit of a shock that a little Manchester workshop can create a drum kit which sounds f**king unreal.

I had that moment when I left DW, who I was very loyal to, and turned up to London Drum Show last year [the official launch of British Drum Company]. I got up in the lift, got to the booth, drums all over the floor, the boys all red-eyed because they’d been up all night to finish the last drum kit and you could still smell the solvent. Keith gave me a drum key, put me on this 24” kick drum kit and told me to tune it up. I took a deep breath: Right, this is the moment, let’s see what I’ve done. I hit the drum and I tell you now: the adrenaline that went through me when I realised I’d done the right thing was incredible. We set the whole thing up, I played it and my first words when I turned to Keith were: ''I’ll take this kit on a stadium tour tomorrow. I’ll never forget that moment''.

I’m catching you just after your masterclass in the Mike Dolbear room here at the London Drum Show. How does this compare to being on stage with a band?

Well, I’m coming here to a full room of people and I have Ash Soan, Karl Brazil, Mark Richardson, Cherisse Osei and Tina from Zildjian out there who all came to see me. Bloody hell! I’m nervous of those situations but it’s not the playing, it’s the talking. Am I actually gonna manage to entertain these people and give them something?

When it comes to playing music I’ve been doing it long enough. The intense acceleration of Kasabians career happened in the mid noughties - especially when Fire came out. Suddenly we started headlining all these festivals. I remember being at T in the Park and looking at this enormous stage, there was Channel 4, T4 cameras everywhere, celebrities hanging about and 60,000 people out the front and I shit myself! I had my moment of ‘Wow’ and had to talk myself down of it. I told myself: I’m only here because the boys want me here and the way I play. I can’t change the way I play that’s just the way it is. We are only here because the people out there want us there. We can’t change the way we play, that’s the way we do it. So if we only go on stage and play the way we play and not be scared of that, then happy days surely! We spent hours together in dressing rooms and tour buses talking about these issues, Tom just always went: ''You have nothing to prove''.

So I think those other drummers can think what they like, we’re all mates. I could have a bad one today and wouldn’t give a sh*t. I’m only human.

I know that I’ve made 100,000 people jump at the same time in a field so there is something about my humble basic beats that works. That’s me being arrogant of course but if we get into the psychology of it... and maybe there are some readers out there who might have to read that. It’s like sports psychology.

Finally, what’s next?

The company is keeping me busy pretty good. We’re doing most of it via social media so my phone is just going ‘bing’ all the bloody time.

In the meantime, the weather is changing for Kasabian, we’re gonna be brewing up. The new record is in completion I think and for all you Kasabian fan readers, there’s gonna be something special coming your way.

That’s the good thing though: if I do go out back on tour with Kasabian this year, I’ll still be helping to manage the company.

I feel very lucky at the moment.

Thanks a lot for your time Ian!

Interview -Tobias Miorin

Photos - Francesco DesMaele

www.mikedolbear.co.uk