#also the way this would tie so well to the idea of eddie getting closer to finally acknowledging his identity. the glass closet of it all.

[thatbuddie]

if the eddie isolation thing comes from some kind of plague/contagious agent and they need to keep eddie separated from the rest of the team i’m gonna need a scene with buck and eddie and a glass in-between them.

palms pressed as close to the glass as possible. it’s about them being right there but not together. it’s about how eddie has probably isolated himself emotionally before this for a couple of episodes by keeping the kim thing silent. but now he’s literally isolated. and he just wants out. he just wants to be on the other side with buck.

and buck being right there but he’s not able to do anything, feeling helpless once again. having to leave eddie behind to stay with christopher, not knowing whether eddie will make it once again. and their foreheads just fall forward and rest on the glass. and their eyes close. and they’re together but not at all.

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

Sea salt and freedom

Words: 1,385 [also on AO3]

Rated: M

Tags: Fantasy AU; Dragon Eddie Munson; King Steve Harrington; Soul bond; Mates; Implied sexual content; Monsterfucker Steve Harrington; They're in love, your honor

Notes: @house-of-the-moving-image said give me Upside Diner or Hic sunt dracones verse for my birthday, and I said why not both? Here's your surprise second ficlet, enjoy! 🐉💕

“Is this really necessary?” Steve asks as his dragon slips his favorite piece of silk over his eyes. He tries to go for annoyed, but can't quite keep the giddy laugh out of his voice. Hasn't been able to ever since they left the castle for their little get-away. “Or is this another weird sex thing of yours?” 

Eddie hums in mock-thought, a deep rumbly sound that floats through the fuzzy darkness behind the blindfold and tingles all the way down Steve’s spine, in his soul. His hands tie off the knot at the base of Steve’s neck, then go on to toy with his hair. His breath tickles the shell of Steve’s ear as he speaks. 

“What a question, beloved. You know how much I enjoy making you squirm.” As if to prove his point, he nips at the junction of Steve’s neck and shoulder, chuckling at the shiver and sharp intake of breath it gets him. “But also, you'd be able to see it once we're over those mountaintops, and I don't want you to just yet. Wanna look at your face when you do. So be good and wear this for me, yes?” 

Steve swallows the moan that's building in his chest, even though it's difficult with Eddie peppering his neck and jaw in bites and kisses. 

“Is this even safe? Doesn't sound like the best idea, riding you blindfolded.” 

“Oh, but it isn't far now, my pretty. And besides, you've ridden me plenty of times,” Eddie replies, and Steve can practically hear the suggestive brow wiggle. He rolls his eyes behind the blindfold. “You'll just need to rely on your other senses and trust me to keep you safe. You can do that, can't you?” 

Steve melts into Eddie’s touch as he is turned and pulled into a kiss, and forgets to reply. He doesn’t need to. They both know that trusting each other comes as naturally as breathing.

*

It's the weirdest feeling, flying blind, but it works surprisingly well. What he lacks in sight, the rest of his senses seem determined to make up for. Suddenly, he's hyper-aware of his dragon’s body under his, the way those strong muscles move. They announce every swerve and change in course before it actually comes, allowing him to adjust his weight in turn. Where his regular, human senses don't suffice, the soul bond fills in flawlessly, like a safety line tethering him to his mate's body and mind. 

The sensation is strange and thrilling and exhilarating. He thought he knew how much in tune they are - Eddie’s body and soul as familiar as his own. But this? It's like the lines between their very beings are blurring into each other. It’s strange and beautiful all at once, and it makes him wonder what else they could do with the blindfold on. His dragon purrs, and the invisible connection thrums with it - the familiar, wordless Mine. Steve smiles, pressing himself closer to his mate's body so that he can kiss the warm scales. Yours. Always.  

The roughest part is getting off his dragon’s back, actually. They land with barely a sound and he descends with practiced ease - but the ground is all soft and weird. He wobbles and makes a startled, undignified sound, and the only thing that saves him from landing square on his ass is Sweetheart’s giant head shoving itself into his space to steady him.

"What the fuck?” Steve mutters while the body next to his shifts and his dragon's laughter turns human. “Warn a guy!” 

“But where would the fun be in that?” Eddie quips. Steve can feel how he drapes himself around him - arms around his waist, tail circling his legs, wings enveloping the both of them. “Didn't wanna give anything away.” 

He trails off, letting the silence linger between them. 

Except it isn't silent. Instead, there's a million and one strange sounds. The rush of wind catching on cliffs. The rustle of dry grass. The shrieks of unfamiliar birds in the distance. 

Water. 

Gurgling, lapping, murmuring all around them, mingling with the other sounds, filling all of his senses. He can feel it in the very air, can feel the spray of it settle on his skin, in his hair. He gulps and licks his lips and they taste like salt. 

“Eddie,” he breathes. His voice comes out hoarse and shaky, but he doesn’t find it in himself to feel embarrassed. Knows he doesn't have anything to feel embarrassed about anything when it's just the two of them. “Eddie, let me see.” 

He only realizes that his hands have flown up to tear at the blindfold when Eddie’s settle on top of them, gently prying them away. 

“Of course, my king. Allow me,” his dragon rumbles, kissing his knuckles. Then, he drops Steve’s hands and reaches for the blindfold. 

The knot slips open. The silk falls away. 

And for the first time in his life, Steve sees the ocean. 

At first, he thinks he must be dreaming, because there's just no way this much water is real. He's heard stories of it, of course, has imagined it a thousand times over. But then again, he had heard plenty of stories about dragons, and none of them ever came close to the real thing. 

For a long while, he just stands and stares, not knowing where to look first. The sunlight catching on the water, creating rippling patterns of light? The waves, crowned with white seafoam, lapping at their feet in a weirdly hypnotic dance, leaving dark imprints on the sand in their wake? The way the sea and the sky melt into each other on the horizon, so much like their souls? 

He thinks he could look at all of this forever and never get tired of it. 

“Well?” Eddie asks. His smile is large and eager, and a little smug. His tail twitches excitedly where it's curling around their ankles. “Do you like it? Because I'm trying to pick up what you're thinking, but all I'm getting is that weird, fuzzy-” 

He doesn't get any further, because Steve whirls around, grabbing his face in both hands and crashing their lips together, and his words trail off into a pleasantly surprised oomph. The suddenness of the assault tips their balance, and before Steve knows it, they're going down in a heap on the sandy ground. A particularly large wave sloshes over them, wet and foamy and cold. Steve shrieks and laughs all at once. Eddie hisses - much like Dustin’s cat that one time Joyce accidentally emptied a bucket full of dishwater over its head - and glowers at him in affront, but that only makes matters worse. Steve erupts in a fresh round of cackles that only quieten when Eddie seals their lips together and licks them right out of his mouth.

He doesn't quite know how long they stay like this, but it must be a while, judging by the way his clothes are drenched in salty water and his stomach hurts from laughing and his head is dizzy from all the kissing. 

“It’s beautiful,” he murmurs against Eddie’s lips, fingers carding through wet curls to find the base of the horns. His dragon’s pupils blow wide, the gold around them swirling and glowing with desire. The bond thrums with it and Steve feels the familiar heat pool at the base of his own spine. “Do you … Do you think I can go for a swim?” 

Eddie huffs a laugh. 

“You and the water. I swear you must’ve been a little merman in some other life.” His hands have pushed up Steve’s soaked shirt, fingers drawing patterns on the naked skin. “Of course you can, just don’t expect me to join. I’ll stay on land where it’s nice and dry and enjoy the sight.” 

“Oh, I’m sure you will,” Steve grins and surges up for another kiss. It tastes like sea salt and freedom. “You can warm me back up once I’m done. Maybe we could … go for another ride with the blindfold?” 

The bond crackles with desire, like a firework of tiny sparks. Eddie hums, low and pleased, and maneuvers Steve into a sitting position so that he can pull the wet shirt over his head. 

“Now that, my liege, would be my greatest pleasure.”

[riddle-me-ri]

Scenario with various riddlers: Riddler gives his s/o a kiss on the cheek. Just before he is about to leave they say, "you missed." In a nonchalant way. While Eddie is standing there confused, his s/o walks up to him and cups his face, "here let me show you." And then they give him a big ol smooch on the lips.

A/N: AAAHHHH you've done it anon, you've done it rip, you've killed me. Eeeee I love this idea so much it's so soft and sweet it made me squeal like a teenager and kick my feet in glee. I live for soft moments with the mean green beannsss also cause of that…this is stupid long. Sorry not sorry

Riddlers x Reader - You Missed Me, Now You Gotta Well…You Know

Arkhamverse Riddler:

After finally getting him to sleep for more than two hours and talking him into eating a decent meal. It made sense that once he woke up and ate breakfast the next morning, he would be making a beeline back to his shop. 

"Well, time to head back to work…I guess I did need this…supposed break…"

You rolled your eyes, knowing this is as much gratitude as you'll get out of him. "You did need it and you're welcome." You stood up from your chair and walked with him to the door of his workshop. 

"I'll come back up in a few hours." Edward said as he turned to face you. He pursed his lips, hesitating. 

"Okay, Eddie." You smiled, stealing glances between his eyes and lips. 

Edward leaned into the side of your face and gave you a gentle kiss on your cheek. You slightly giggled as his stubble tickled against your skin. 

He's about to turn back to face the door. His hand barely turned the doorknob, when you spoke up.

"Eddie, you missed!"

"What do you mea-?" He started to ask but was interrupted by you grabbing the sides of his face and colliding your lips with his. 

When you finally let go, you were giggling at the absolute bright red blush on his face. 

“See? Wasn’t that better?”

Reevesverse/Dano Riddler:

“Off to work already?” You were wiping away the sleepies from your eyes, when you notice Ed coming out of the bathroom. He was dressed in a white collared button up shirt, tie, and dress pants. 

Ed chuckled at your adorable sleepy state. He went over to your side of the bed. “It’s 7:30, sweetheart. I gotta go.”

You let out a dramatic pathetic whine. “Eddie, it’s Saturday…”

“I know, I know. But this case we’re working on is high priority at the office. The sooner I come in and solve it, the sooner I can come back home, okay?”

You pouted. “Mm…okay.” You crossed your arms, not annoyed at Ed, just his stupid unappreciative job.  

Edward smiled softly as he leaned in and gave you a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back soon, okay?” 

“You didn’t do it right!”

That wasn’t the response he was expecting. “W-what do you mean?”

“You’re supposed to kiss me here,” you tapped your lips. “I’ll show you.” 

You stood up on your knees and pulled him closer to you by his tie. You planted a big kiss on his lips. Poor man was shocked for a minute, but was able to recover fast enough to return the kiss. 

Reluctantly you pulled back from his lips. “Have a good day at work, Eddie.” 

Gotham Riddler:

“Hey, Eddie, did you want to have dinner at my place tonight?” You offered. Your focus was on the filing cabinet, as your fingers flipped through the tabs, finding the proper home for a file Ed just returned. 

“I-S-Sure! I’d love that.” 

You two have been dating for the past few weeks and things were going well. He had already shown you his home, you figured it was fair you showed yours. 

“Sweet. It’ll be my first time cooking for company in my new place, it’ll be…interesting to the say the least.” You finally slid the folder to it’s rightful place. When you shut the cabinet, you turned your head to the side to see Ed yet again closer than he was initially. 

“I can’t wait.” He said sweetly. You notice his eyes dart from yours to down to his feet. He also occasionally bit his bottom lip. 

“Is there something on your mi-”

He placed a chaste kiss to your cheek. Both of your faces started tinting red at your cheeks. 

“I-I…sorry…that-that probably wasn’t appropriate for the work place.” He muttered nervously. 

“Probably not, but you did it wrong.” 

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He was fairly certain there was no mistaken a sweet kiss to the cheek. 

Until you cupped one side of his face, your thumb gently stroking where his skin began warming up. You brought his head down closer to yours as you stood up to meet his lips with yours in the middle. You could feel him take a sharp intake of air through his nose, it took him a minute before he finally kissed back.

When the two of you finally broke apart. It took everything in you not to giggle at the wide-eyed goofy look on his face. 

“You okay, Eddie?” 

He nodded, “n-never better.” 

Batman the Animated Series Riddler:

It was a peaceful night in. It was one of Edward’s first nights back home after getting out of Arkham. Needless to say you were glued to his side for most of the day, not that he was complaining. He held you just as tightly in return. 

Dinner was finished. The dishes were drying. You two were cuddling on the couch, watching a late night game show. 

After a little over an hour, Ed decided to get up from the couch. 

“Where are you going?” You asked, almost pitifully. 

Ed chuckled. “Just to the bathroom, darling. I’ll be right back!” 

“Quick kiss first!” You giggled. 

Ed shook his head in disbelief, but he obliged you by leaning over and kissing your cheek. 

“EEHRR! Wrong!” You said. You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him down and gave him a kiss on the lips. 

Edward laughed into the kiss, but returned it with fervor nonetheless. When you pulled back from his lips. You both chuckled at each other. 

“Does my prize include freedom?” 

“Ugh, fine, I guess. Just hurry back!” You playfully scoffed before taking your seat back on the couch. 

Zero Year/Capullo Riddler:

“And just where do you think you’re going?” You asked defiantly. 

Edward was once again trying to walk out on his post-coital cuddle duties. 

“I’ve gotta go, babe. Besides you know I’m not all into that aftercare stuff.” He defended. 

You groaned. It was true he did say that from the jump, but would it hurt him every once in awhile. You scoff at the thought, yeah it might, may even kill him one day to actually be just a smidge vulnerable. 

“Ugh, fine, whatever.” You waved your hand in a shooing motion. You flopped over to your side of the bed, with your back facing him. You pulled the covers up over yourself to hide from him. 

You were confused when the room got quiet and you didn’t hear the familiar sound of the door closing. 

You felt someone tap on your shoulder. You turned to see Ed standing with a stupid lopsided grin on his face. 

“What? I thought you were oh so busy?” 

“I may be selfish, but I’m not entirely cruel.” He leaned down and left a faint of a peck on your cheek. 

You rolled your eyes. “Nuh-uh you’re not gonna half-ass my kisses either!” You grabbed the lapels of his jacket and crashed your lips onto his. Ed didn’t miss a beat, as he began licking the bottom of your lip, non-vocally asking for entrance. 

However instead of usually obliging him, you tore your lips away from his. 

You fake yawned. “I’m tired, let me sleep and you do whatever it is you gotta do.” 

Ed grumbled in annoyance. You stayed motionless until you heard the door closed. Once it closed, you let out a tiny fit of giggles and tickled kicks of your feet in glee. 

Twojar Riddler:

You guys were taking a cab back from a night out. You two were absolutely all over each other. Touching, tugging, holding, caressing, and of course kissing. 

However, Edward was kissing you everywhere, except for your lips. 

“E-Eddie!” You giggled, his sideburns tickling the skin on your neck as he trailed kissing along your shoulder. 

“Hm?” He asked, not relenting on his kisses. 

“Y-You’re kissing me in the wrong spot.” You argued. 

“Oh, is that right?” He asked, teasingly. Ed removed his head from the side of your neck and looked at you. 

“Tell me, where is the right spot?” He smirked.

He kissed your shoulder. “Here?”

He pecked your neck. “Here?” 

“Perhaps here?” He kissed your cheek.

You started giggling again. “Eddie…” you playfully whined. 

“What? You haven’t told me where.”

“I think you know…”

“Hmm…you know what. I think I do.” 

Edward finally leaned in, cupping your cheek and pulling your lips to his. 

Gotham City Sirens Riddler:

You heard the door to the office burst open and then slam shut. The sound made you jump out from behind your desk. 

“Edward! I-Is everything oh…” 

Edward was in absolute tatters. His green suit was covered in soot, with some edges to it slightly burned off. His hat was bent and also burned around the edges. His dress shirt was also untucked and wrinkled. His cane broken in two, each of the pieces he dead gripped in his fists.

“Ed! A-Are you okay?” 

“Fine! Just peachy.” He snarled. He started making his way down the hallway to his office. 

“Well, uh, w-what…do you need anything?” You asked unsure what to say, but still wanted to help him. 

“I said I’m fine!” He snapped. 

A few minutes go by, Edward had long since discarded his ruined suit and shirt. He still kept the hat, hoping to possibly fixing it. Currently he was trying to tape his cane back together. Until he heard a small knock on the door. 

He was about to bark at you to dismiss whoever it was that wanted to see him, but he was surprised to see you with a plastic bag. You walked over to him and took out a water bottle, bandages, hydrogen peroxide, aspirin, and super glue. 

“Hm.” Edward softly let a smile grow on his face. You began applying the antiseptic liquid to the burns on his arm and softly bandaging them. As you did this he took the opportunity to give you a thankful kiss on the cheek. 

“I’m gonna need more payment than that for patching you up.” You said, teasingly. 

“Is that so?”

“Mm hm, my help isn’t cheap!”

He cupped your chin between his thumb and forefinger. He chuckled, “of course it isn’t.” He leaned in closer and kissed you, gratefully.  

Young Justice Riddler:

You were minutes away from seeing Edward off on another mission. It was your job to stay behind and keep a lookout.

 Needless to say the two of you have gotten pretty close over the years. You guys have only been dating for a couple months now and Ed’s adorable awkwardness has only quadrupled in that time span as he’s getting used to the new status of your relationship. As well as what your relationship usually entails. Like PDA. 

“You’re up, Eddie!” You called for him. You were sitting at your desk; typing, clicking, and swiping away at touchscreens to make sure everything was in working order. 

“O-Oh it’s time to go already.” Ed was lost in his own head, just staring and watching you do your thing. He really wishes he could just stay with you, but nope they needed someone as a scapegoat. 

“Sure is. You’ll be fine, I’ve got eyes all over the facility.” You reassured. 

“I-I don’t doubt it.” He chuckled nervously. 

He stood up out of the chair. “Well, I’ll see you later.” He hesitated at first before finally swooping into your side and giving you a kiss on the cheek. 

You tried so hard not to squeal out loud. That was one of the boldest things he’s done yet. 

“Aw, come here!” You jumped out of your seat. You wrapped your arms around him, almost knocking him off his feet. You leaned in and planted a big sweet kiss on his lips. “There! That’s a real kiss!”

“N-N-Noted.” He stuttered, his face slowly glowing a faint pink from his forehead to his neck. 

Telltale Riddler:

Honestly, you should just be grateful he even kissed you on the cheek. Good luck trying to get him to give you a proper kiss. 

“Aww, come on, Ed! You can do better than that!” 

You had just finished cooking dinner and all the old fart did was give you a small peck on the lips. 

“What do you mean?”

“You can’t even give me a kiss?”

He shifted his eyes left and right, confused. “Didn’t I do that?”

“Well, yeah, but like…a proper one…on the lips…” You explained. 

Edward groaned. “Fine, I suppose you’re right.” He got up and walked over to you and gave you a small quick peck on the lips. You didn’t even have a chance to return it. 

“I believe I’ve paid the piper as they say,” with that he twirled around and headed to his work station.

“Ed! Come back here!” You immediately started walking after him. You were going to get your kiss one way or another. Even if it meant kissing his corpse. 

Hush (DCAU) Riddler:

“You ready, Ed?” You asked. 

You were always so nervous whenever he was about to disembark on a new plot he’s cooked up. You always knew the odds of him being caught and incarcerated again were very high. You always mentally prepared yourself for that possibility. While simultaneously hoping he would get away. 

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” He tightened the eye mask around the back of his head. 

He noticed you by the door. You were rocking on the heels and balls of your feet and your hands were rubbing both your arms. 

Ed walked over to you. “Hey, are you okay, sweetie?”

You nodded frantically. “Y-Yeah, yeah of course.”

He quirked his eyebrow at you. “You know I’m the smartest man in Gotham, right?”

“Of course I do.”

“So you know, that I know you’re lying…”

You bit your lip, before sighing. “I’m just nervous, like I always am. I don’t like seeing you go and then you don’t come back..” 

Edward sighed in defeat. “I know sweetheart, I know. It kills me too. But you know I always come back. It may take time, but I always come back, don’t I?” 

You nod, “y-yeah, eventually, yeah…”

“You’re the best, you know that.” Ed claimed. “So amazing and patient with me.” He gave you a sweet reassuring kiss on your cheek. “I love you for that, you know? You make me feel like the luckiest guy in Gotham!” 

You giggled softly. “I love you too, and you missed.”

“Hm?”

“You missed my lips…” You muttered. 

Ed playfully knocked himself in the head with the palm of his hand. “Silly me, you’re right. You’re right.” He had a goofy smile on his face as he leaned in and gave you a proper, long, sweet kiss.

[imharnaannesta]

Okay, I know everyone is speculating that the thing that breaks Eddie is going to be Christopher in some sort of danger and I know people want it to be soon and, ideally, non-traumatic for Chris (who,admittedly, doesn’t deserve any more trauma). And I’ve seen a lot of speculation about what it could be, but honestly, for symbolism, I think it should be a water related disaster of some kind. And I haven’t seen anyone bring that idea up.

But seriously, two of the most important events in relating to Buck’s place in the Diaz family have been directly related to two water related events.

First, the tsunami. The aftermath of the tsunami is when Eddie equates Buck’s love for Christopher to his own. He tells Buck that there’s no one he trusts more with Christopher. The tsunami also cements Buck and Christopher’s relationship as one that feels much closer to father and son than that of a friend of the father and the son of a friend.

Then, the well, where water again plays a major role. We find out much later that this is when Eddie changed his will to make Buck Christopher’s legal guardian in the event of his death. The fact that this event is specifically tied to the changing of the will reads as being very intentional. There’s no reason they had to tie Eddie changing his will to a specific event, let alone the well. It could just as easily have just been changed “awhile ago” or “after a few close calls” it could’ve even been “my lawyer brought it up” or “Bobby suggested” but instead the will is tied directly to the well. (I might of course be reading way too much into this but really, I feel like firefighting is risky enough that being buried by mud in a rainstorm can’t have been the only risky experience Eddie had that year)

What’s also interesting about both of these incidents is that Buck and Eddie and Christopher and Eddie reunited separately. Buck and Chris get separated during the tsunami and Eddie finds Buck first before Chris arrives and while Eddie goes to reunite with his son Buck stays behind and collapses. Meanwhile Christopher is, of course, not present for the well collapse so Buck and Eddie reunite on screen without him. Individually and out of context this seems unimportant but in combination I think it adds to the symbolism.

So far Buck, Chris, and Eddie have had to make their way back to each other separately, after being separated by water. But even reunited they haven’t come together as a family, the reunions have been separate. And each time Buck has been pulled closer to being part of the family after the fact.

It’s almost like every time the tide goes out Buck gets pulled closer to Eddie and Chris.

And there’s symbolism in water itself. As destroying but also life-giving. As cleansing. As clarity. As a baptism. But water also relates to Saint Christopher, the Saint who’s medal Eddie wears throughout the show. The medal is generally related to Chris throughout, which makes sense and wouldn’t spark much interest except that the story of Saint Christopher also has to do with water. Saint Christopher is said to have carried a child (Christ in disguise) across a river and that is the act generally portrayed in images of Saint Christopher. This is notable in the context of 911 because we have seen a parallel to this imagery in Buck trying to bring Chris to safety during the tsunami but ultimately being unable to carry him to safety as they are separated.

It’s also notable that Saint Christopher is the patron Saint of travelers, meant to protect travelers from death on their journey. This makes the potential connection to Saint Christopher’s story especially interesting because Eddie is no longer on a physical journey, (and neither is Buck, although they’ve both been on physical journeys before they met) but Eddie is now, unquestionably, on an emotional journey.

These things combined lead me to feel that it would be very satisfying and symbolically resonant for the next big break in Buck and Eddie’s related to come in another water related event.

(Personally I would have a disaster strike while Eddie is out with Chris and Buck is working and have Buck and Chris become separated from Eddie, who can’t participate in efforts to rescue them because he isn’t on duty, and have Buck successfully bring Chris back to Eddie, ending in a reunion between all three, and followed by a break through in their relationship)

[raelikestoramble]

yesssss, I'm still trying to recover from the finale... Can you do an story w Eddie pining for Buck after his break up w Ana? Like he releaized his feelings for Buck after getting shot and almost dying but Buck is together w Tyler? Please and thank youuuu

AN: Sorry, this got away from me and I wrote more than I thought I would! Thanks for the great prompt, I really loved it but wasn’t sure where to take it, so a lot of this is Eddie’s internal thoughts. Hope you still like it!

Eddie hadn’t meant for it to go on for as long as it did. Truly, he hadn’t – time had a funny habit of slipping away from him as of late; in his recovery, what mattered most to him was getting himself back to normal – or as close as he could ever return to, given what he had been through – and keeping life as stable as possible… for Christopher. No big changes, no upsetting surprises.

That thought did little to ease the lingering sense of guilt, though.

It had been only a few days since Eddie finally sat Ana down to, as delicately as he could, say that their time together was coming to a close.

She had been so lovely about it, too, because that was her nature and it had made having to break it off worse, almost. Ana was kind, sweet, understanding – perfectly nice – and, for all those reasons, she deserved better, a lot more; someone who was completely in it for her, as invested in her as she was in them. He didn’t always realise it, but he knew for a while before he broke it off that he couldn’t be that person for Ana. In time, another would be. He was sure of it.

He had felt, much to his embarrassment, tears burning his eyes as he explained to her that he entered a relationship with her for the wrong reasons… and that he had so much to figure out about himself. She had clasped his hand in hers, gave a watery smile, and told him that she understood; she had even reassured him that it was all okay and he didn’t need to be too hard on himself over it. It was the most amicable split he could’ve imagined happening. With guilt, came the sweetness of relief, an acute light feeling that he didn’t notice was missing for the longest time.

And then, once that was over and the dust had settled… he was free. Free to… wallow, he supposed, in what he had realised weeks ago, because there was nothing that Eddie could do about it.

He remembered how it felt, being disoriented, in pain, slipping from consciousness, with those blue eyes boring into his, wide and frantic, as Buck fought hard for him, for his very life. How it felt afterwards seeing his face come into view from around the corner, smiling at him with such a genuine and unfiltered joy. Warmth, safety, and happiness – because Buck was family, that much he had decided to make official in a legal tie a year ago.

It was the overwhelming feeling of love, and relief in seeing him safe, unharmed and by his side the first chance he got, that sent Eddie’s mind reeling and down a path he couldn’t back out from. Buck was all of that to him, and more, and the feeling of longing had burrowed into Eddie’s mind, becoming a nagging and persistent sensation that made him feel�� sick, flustered, and even morose.

Love – romantic and sexual love - for Eddie had always been a struggle, had wound up feeling oddly… unnatural, as though he was following the expectations of others, or his own idea of familial obligation, rather than his own heart. He was chasing something that, by all accounts, should have felt right, but with Ana… and even with Shannon, it was wrong; it all fell flat in some way. Finally becoming aware of the different light in which he saw Buck in was like a piece of himself just clicking into place; he felt whole, finally.

It was more than a little inconvenient, though, realising that he was in love with his best friend… someone that he happened to see pretty much every day, either at work or off shift. His very straight, very happily coupled up best friend. It was a lot to wrap his head around.

Of course, Eddie was being very mature about it, something he could find a small bit of pride in – because he knew he needed to get over this, to respect Buck’s happiness, his relationship with Taylor, and not ruin their friendship by foolishly expressing what he really wanted. That was the respectable, adult thing to do. So, he kept his desire quiet, and he tried his best to be the good, supportive friend Buck knew him to be, but… in a small way, he had pulled back; he knew he had. Sometimes, Eddie was allowed to act to protect himself; allowed to be a touch selfish. To get over it, he needed a bit more space than usual. It was only fair.

“Eddie,” came Hen’s voice unexpectedly; he picked up instantly on the concerned undertone.

From the corner of his eye, he could see her furrowed brows and the frown lines on her face. He wished people would stop looking at him like that – like he was to be pitied, like he was still injured and helpless. The whole team all went through their fair share of ordeals… it seemed part of the job description, but there was something about the sniper targeting them that unnerved everybody more than anything else that they had faced before. It had struck Eddie’s core, too, and brought up a lot of ugly, old wounds - he was giving therapy another try because of it… and it was going better than it had before, to his surprise.

It had been months since he was shot, significant progress had been made, but there was still an unspoken tension in the firehouse at times. It was especially bad with Buck – he had pulled closer than ever, always happy, eager even, to offer his support and help in… everything, which made Eddie’s need for maintaining some space between them all the more difficult. It also gave him a sliver of hope, and that was a dangerous thing. He had grown too dependent on Buck; he had someone else to share him with now, he thought with a pang to his chest.

“Yeah?” he returned tiredly after a delay, still staring ahead.

His gaze was fixed on where Buck was sat a small distance away with Chimney by his side, his head thrown back laughing in a moment that ought to be captured in a photograph – oh, and how that beautiful, jubilant sound leaving his mouth twisted mercilessly at Eddie’s insides.

“You’ve been moving that piece of pasta around your bowl for the last ten minutes.”

“… So I have,” he sighed, letting his fork clatter against the plate in defeat.

He’d barely touched his lunch, but his appetite had been culled. Buck’s voice was loud – it carried effortlessly across the room. So, he easily overheard Buck responding to Chimney bringing up the topic of Taylor, and it was… embarrassing, the impact it had, how easily it soured his mood.

“Is that all I get? It’s ‘going well’?” Chimney exclaimed, nudging Buck’s side, a teasing grin on his face. “C’mon, Buckley. We usually can’t get you to shut up.”

Buck laughed bashfully and lifted his head up, almost catching his eye, but Eddie averted his gaze just in time to miss it. He could’ve sworn that he caught the sight of Buck’s smile faltering. He shook his head, working to tune out that conversation as best he could.

“You know… it’s okay to need more time. If you’re not ready to be back yet, no one will think less of you,” Hen suggested hesitantly, voice soft.

“No, it’s-- not that. I’m glad to be back. This is where I need to be,” he said simply.

Eddie didn’t like where this conversation was headed – but none of it broke through to his expression, and so Hen pushed on, sympathy etched into her features.

“Then… tell me what’s bothering you? You seem down, Eddie – a lot, lately – and I can’t sit here and act like I’m not worried.”

Had it really been that obvious? It was like he, a man in his thirties, had been rendered a hapless, lovestruck teenager – with how he let his feelings for Buck affect him so obviously that Hen had not only noticed but grown worried for him. It was so tragic he could almost laugh.

“Mm, I have a therapist for that,” he said with a wry smile, but instantly regretted it as he saw how Hen leant back in her seat, lips twisting into a frown.

She was trying to help, to be a good friend, and he was dismissive of her attempt right away. His tendency to try to avoid more heavy, emotional talks was one of the issues brought up in therapy and he really was working on it, but it felt impossible, in that moment, to tell the truth, to speak the words aloud to somebody else. Even though he knew Hen would, without a doubt, understand and keep his secret for him – that it might even help for her to know, as awkward and humiliating as it might be at first.

“Sorry. I just…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

He dared to look back over to the corner where Buck was – now, he was showing Chimney pictures on his phone, which were undoubtedly of him and Taylor. Jealousy welled up inside of Eddie, burning hot, and another sigh fell from his lips as he lifted a hand to run down the side of his face. It wasn’t getting easier, only more frustrating.

When he glanced back at Hen, she was already watching him, an odd look on her face, eyes slowly widening. Realisation had already dawned before he could interject and divert the conversation.

“Wait. You-- Buck--?” she started.

Panic enveloped Eddie and, before she could go any further, he abruptly sprang to his feet, hands clasped together.

“Coffee?” he asked loudly.

Without waiting for her to give an answer, he made his escape, darting over to the countertop where the coffee pot was located. After a short pause, he noticed that Hen had made no effort to follow him, because – of course she hadn’t. What was he expecting? Her to run after him, get him into a headlock until he confessed to the revelation that he had that he was head over heels for Evan Buckley? No, this wasn’t a playground. He needed to get a grip.

His shoulders slumped as he expelled a heavy breath out into the air. He gave himself another moment, to allow his heart to stop pounding wildly in his chest, before leaning up to grab a clean mug from the cabinet.

“That was awful,” he muttered to himself, swiping his favourite from the shelf.

“What was awful?” asked Buck, suddenly, appearing at his side.

“Oh, God,” Eddie jumped, and the mug almost slipped from his fingers and fell to the floor.

Catching it and clutching at it, Eddie gave a breathless laugh.

“Nope, just me,” Buck countered, popping the ‘p’, with a toothy grin on display that caused Eddie’s stomach to start doing flips. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

Eddie’s expression softened, the hints of anxiety vanishing from his face as he lowered the mug to the surface. He reached for another, automatically, eyes still on Buck. He really was beautiful to look at, all bright, excited eyes, soft dark blonde curls, and crooked smiles – and what was most unfair about it all was that his good looks weren’t the most beautiful thing about him by a long shot.

“I’ll let you off the hook,” he grinned.

Buck leaned forward and his shoulder brushed against Eddie’s, sending a jolt through him that made him step back, the contact quickly lost. Fortunately for him, Buck didn’t seem to have noticed anything.

“So, anyway, I was wondering – you got any plans tonight?” Buck asked cheerily.

Eddie was slow to smile again, but he did, because he knew what he was about to do – give in, so easily. Space was important, but… so was spending quality time with loved ones. He could practically hear his therapist’s voice offering him encouragement.

“I think I have a spot open in my schedule,” he said slowly, giving the impression of nonchalance.

“Great! What do you say to joining me and Taylor out for drinks tonight? You could bring Ana. I think it’d be good for them to start to get to know each other better, don’t you?”

Eddie’s heart sank in his chest, eyes closing for a few seconds before he plastered a placid smile to his face. Disappointment was such a bitter taste, and… he really needed to get around to telling him about Ana. Even if he and Ana were still together and he could agree to this double date, the thought of watching Buck and Taylor together for a whole night… well, he could think of a long list of things he’d rather do instead.

“Actually, I don’t think I can – I don’t know how it slipped my mind but, after my appointment, I promised Christopher that I’d spend the night with him…”

He felt bad using his own son, someone Buck loved dearly, as a shield, but it had to be done – Buck wouldn’t question anything if it was done for Chris’ benefit.

Buck’s smile strained, and there was a look in his eyes that Eddie couldn’t quite place. He dropped his gaze to the floor, and Eddie caught his lower lip between his teeth.

“Well, what about next Friday?”

“I can’t—”

“Man, I… Eddie, have I done something?” Buck interrupted; brows knit together in worry.

“Sorry?”

He looked vaguely embarrassed – and was that a pink tinge to his face? Surely not. No, Eddie was seeing things he wanted to see. He didn’t want to play that guessing game anymore, reading into every little interaction they shared, for some kind of sign. It was exhausting.

“It’s just… I don’t know, you’re a lot busier than before, maybe, but things are definitely… different. I—miss you,” he admitted sheepishly.

Clearly, this had been bothering him for a while now, and Eddie felt stupid and cruel for ever thinking that Buck wouldn’t notice that he was limiting their time together, even if only by a relatively small amount.

“Things are different,” Eddie explained carefully, trying to figure out his wording. “It makes sense that we, er, aren’t spending as much time together, because…”

Buck waved a hand.

“I know I’ve got Taylor now and you’ve got Ana, but that doesn’t mean that—”

“Buck, I ended things with Ana,” Eddie cut across impulsively.

There was an incredibly still moment that followed, and a tense quiet descended upon them, the only sounds the muffled comings and goings and odd background chatter from their other teammates. Buck’s lips parted and he appeared to be frozen as he slowly computed this information, and Eddie was almost scared to move – to break the spell.

It was getting alarming, and Eddie was about to wave a hand in front of his face, until finally he returned to reality, snapping back with a quiet and bemused, “Wait, you did what? … Why? You two seemed so happy. I thought you… that’s why…”

Eddie shifted uncomfortably, taking in a breath as he turned to properly face Buck again, making direct eye contact. Buck wet his lip, a crease forming in his brow. Eddie wanted nothing more than to know what was going through his mind, but he was at a loss this time. Usually, he could read him so well.

Eddie shrugged – an attempt in vain to still appear casual. He knew he was way beyond that point now.

“I realised she wasn’t the one for me. And… I know everyone says it, and us first responders more than anyone, and we still sometimes forget to actually live by it… but life really is too short to spend with the wrong person. I owed it to her, and to myself, to end it.”

Buck blinked rapidly, and, really, Eddie couldn’t understand why this was all coming as such a shock to him. Had he really expected he and Ana to go the distance? For him to settle down with her?

“Eddie…”

“Yeah?”

Then, the wailing of the siren pierced through the air; whatever question had formed in Buck’s mind would have to remain there, until another time.

[cowboy-eddie]

For your Buddie Bingo, may I please request the hotel sex block? Could it please be top Eddie unless you prefer top Buck and have Eddie call Buck Evan?

Hotel Sex

Warnings: explicit language (listen, fuck is my favourite word), two guys getting it on, all that comes with that (pun not intended)

Side note: if you ARE under eighteen, I don’t want to know. I’m not going to restrict my stuff to people over eighteen, and I’m not going to change my content to fit a younger audience; it’s up to you to gauge what you’re comfortable reading and what you’re not comfortable with. I take no responsibility for that side of things.

Shit.

Eddie looked really hot. He always looked hot, but tonight… it’s different.

 Buck’s attention shifted from Eddie when Christopher sat next to him at their table. The twelve year old seemed weary and Buck smiled at him, reaching over to ruffle his hair.

“Ready to get some sleep, kiddo? It’s been a long night.”

“I’m not sleepy! I want to see Miss Maddie and Chim’s first dance!”

Buck laughed at the cute nickname for his sister; he wasn’t sure where it had originated, but Christopher always called her “Miss Maddie” while Chim was just Chim. Maybe Eddie had something to do with it.

“Okay, you can stay up for that and then you, Denny and Harry are all going to bed. Capiche?”

As if on cue, the music changed and everyone cleared the dance floor at the direction of the DJ. Maddie had the biggest smile on her face despite the happy tears threatening to fall and Chim didn’t look far from joining her either. They were so in love, and they deserved every second of it after everything that had happened.

“They look happy.”

Buck’s entire body warmed at the soft lull of Eddie’s voice, reaching up with the hand not holding Jee to squeeze his boyfriend’s.

“They do.”

“You look happy.”

Buck smiled, glancing up at his lover.

“I am.”

Eddie loosened his tie, leaning down to whisper closer to Buck’s ear so Jee-Yun or Christopher didn’t hear.

“I know it’s usually the bride and groom who sneak off and fuck, but…”

Buck loved hearing Eddie like this. His quiet, touch starved man, raised Catholic in a respectful (scared of talking about sex) household, talking like that… fuckfuckfuckfuck.

“The baby’s asleep, I’m sure Hen and Karen wouldn’t mind putting the boys to bed… I suppose we could slip away.”

Eddie eyes darkened, and the flush across his cheeks that spread told Buck he was buzzed, but so was he. They were sober enough to consent.

“You looked really hot tonight, standing up there with Chim and your sister. I know the ceremony was supposed to be about them, but… all I could think about was you.”

“Hey, Chris, it’s bedtime don’t you think? How about you go and say goodnight whilst I round up the other two?” Buck blurted when he felt Eddie’s crotch press into his shoulder from where he was standing behind him. Karen happened to walk past at that moment and Buck passed Jee-Yun to her, thanking her with a sheepish smile as he explained that he and Eddie were going to bed, faking exhaustion. She didn’t even try to pretend that she believed him, cocking an eyebrow when Eddie pressed himself up close to Buck’s back while they spoke. Within seconds she was agreeing to put the boys and Jee-Yun to bed and Buck took Eddie’s hand.

“I just want to say goodbye to my sister and Chim. Wait here.”

“I hate you,” Eddie groaned, but he nodded.

“Of course, go see your sister.”

 “You looked so beautiful up there, Mads. I’ve never seen you so happy.”

Maddie separated from Chimney so she could hug her brother, adjusting her dress to wrap her arms around his neck and press a kiss to his cheek.

“Thanks for talking me down, and walking me down the aisle. It- it meant a lot to me.”

“I love you,” Buck whispered into her hair and she smiled against his suit jacket.

“I love you too, Evan. Now go, be with Eddie- ugh, I’m never getting that image out of my head.”

Buck laughed, shaking Chim’s hand on his way out. Albert, Bobby and Buck had originally been groomsmen, with Albert as Best Man, but when Maddie had made the request for Buck to walk her down the aisle considering their parents weren’t invited, it was easy for Eddie to step up into the groomsmen role. Albert’s Best Man speech had been funny and heartwarming, and Maddie had definitely been crying as she hugged him afterward.

It was time to get going; with Eddie wound up like this, Buck was in for the fucking of his life and he was not going to miss out on it.

 “Is Chris asleep?”

“Mmhmm. Karen told me he was out like a light along with Jee, Denny and to my surprise, Harry.”

“Fucking finally.”

Buck practically tore off his button up shirt and Eddie met his lips with his own, a hand snaking down between them. Buck gasped into the kiss as Eddie lightly sucked on his lower lip, massaging his length through his slacks. Already Buck could feel the arousal starting low in the pit of his stomach, blood rushing south.

“Fuck yes,” Buck muttered, “how do you want me?”

“What do you feel like, my love?” Eddie asked between teasing kisses and taunting touches. Buck sucked in a breath, already knowing his answer.

“All fours, but- but I wanna suck you off.”

Eddie pulled away from their messy kissing, swiping at his lips with his thumb as he gently pushed at Buck’s hips. Buck got the message, quickly falling to his knees. He fumbled with Eddie’s belt buckle for a second but quickly popped the button, pulling down the fly to give him the access he wanted.

 It was safe to say he was always impressed at what he found. Eddie was quiet, gentleman-ly, respectful… and packing some serious heat. It was amazing to have found a man who had it all.

“Fuck,” Buck cursed out loud and Eddie laughed as he gently tugged on Buck’s stiff, hairsprayed hair.

“Is that your default word these days? Fuck?”

“When your dick is in front of me? Yeah, most of the time it is.”

“Oh, god,” Eddie breathed out as Buck shoved his boxers down, jerking his hand roughly before pressing his tongue firmly to the underside of Eddie’s length. Buck reached into his own pants with his free hand and if Eddie glanced down he would have seen Buck touching himself while he got re-acquainted. Glancing up to stare into Eddie’s eyes, blue met hazel as Buck swallowed him down in one go, relaxing his throat as he began to bob his head. Eddie groaned, eyes rolling into the back of his head, head hitting the wall behind him when Buck took as much of him as he could then didn’t move, hollowing his cheeks.

“Oh, fuck! Oh, god-“

Buck pulled off, lips shiny and spit-slicked and red as he grinned. This was the Buck Eddie loved.

“Just Buck is fine, Eds.”

“You’re an asshole, Evan.”

Buck stood, pushing Eddie’s shirt off his shoulders and then crowding him against the wall again.

“Did you seriously just play the Evan card?”

“I did.”

“Hot. I like it.”

Eddie pushed at Buck’s slacks, making him kick them off. Shortly followed his boxers, the soft olive green against Buck’s pink skin making Eddie groan.

 Crawling on to his knees, Buck spread his legs enough Eddie could get behind him and let out a loud moan when Eddie’s hands grabbed at his ass, giving a single squeeze.

“You’re… fuck. You’re really beautiful, Evan. Like, seriously beautiful.”

Pre-orgasm Eddie could be a little poetic and Buck wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Do you have the lube?” He asked and Eddie hummed. Eyes falling closed, Buck let himself listen to the cap open and then Eddie thump the bottle against his hand, swearing because he was an idiot and forgot to buy more.

“You could have just stopped at a gas station on the way, I’m not fussy,” Buck said and Eddie snorted.

“You won’t believe the chafe cheap lube gives you. And you are fussy, pillow princess.”

“Just so we’re clear- next time I’m topping.”

Eddie laughed- that deep, rumbly laugh that Buck knew meant he was getting nowhere near his boyfriend’s ass for the time being. Oh well; when Eddie was ready it would happen. A single, wet, finger pressed at Buck’s hole and his arms buckled, falling on to his face on the soft sheets.

“Eddie,” Buck groaned out.

“I’m sorry, we can do this later if you want. I can do, uh, maybe 1am-“

“-Eddie,” Buck hissed and Eddie snorted.

“And that’s that on that.”

His finger slowly pushed in and Buck moaned, low in his throat, as Eddie’s breath exhaled on to the sensitive skin around his balls.

“Wait- wait. I’m not gonna last if you do that,” Buck blurted as Eddie ghosted his lips near his sack. Eddie withdrew, focusing on making Buck comfortable. As he dragged his finger in and out, varying speeds to keep Buck’s attention on him, he also bit praise into Buck’s cheeks.

“Steady, there you go. There you go, my love. You’re so good.”

It was safe to say that after eight months of dating and four years of knowing each other, Eddie knew all about Buck’s praise kink (and if he had one of his own, no one had to know). In response to the whispered words, Buck reached down and jerked himself in time with Eddie’s fingers moving inside him.

“No condom,” he got out, “we’re both clean.”

“O- uh, yeah, yeah. Okay.”

Eddie managed to get three fingers deep, kisses and hickeys pressed into Buck’s ass, before slowly withdrawing his fingers.

“Gonna cum,” Buck choked out and Eddie grabbed the hand he’d been stroking himself with, turning it over to pour lube into it. Buck got the idea and turned his head enough to take in all of Eddie, the flush of his skin. Even in the dark of the hotel room, Buck could see the precum leaking from his tip and he smiled, giving it a kiss before he coated Eddie’s erection in lube.

“Okay,” he said and Eddie positioned himself behind him. Pushing in, he grunted and Buck let out a high pitched whine, smiling into the pillow he pushed against his face. His fingers curled against the sheets, riding the waves of pleasure as Eddie made gentle thrusts. A harder, harsher thrust made Buck’s eyes shoot open and he straightened, pressing his back to Eddie’s chest. Eddie wrapped his arms around Buck’s waist, pressing his lips against his shoulders as his hips moved.

 One of Eddie’s hands moved, grasping Buck tightly as he gathered enough precum to make his motions smooth. He teased the tip just enough to make Buck crazy, circling his hand and pressing his thumb to the slit only to pull away when he could feel Buck’s muscles tense up.

“You’re so good, Evan, look at you. Can you cum with me?”

“Yes! Yeah, yeah, I think so.”

Eddie thrust his hips harder, dragging in a way that he knew would hit Buck’s prostate. It was confirmed when Buck cried out, head falling to Eddie’s shoulder. He turned just enough for them to kiss and Eddie smiled into it, trying to keep Buck’s focus as his eyes began to wander.

“That’s it… look at me, there you are. Hi, baby.”

It wasn’t like Buck to zone out during sex, but sometimes if Eddie leaned into the praise kink, he wondered if Buck could fall into something similar to subspace. He’d heard horror stories of subspace and subdrop; he’d never let it happen. The praise was something that came so easily, because Evan was good and he was beautiful, but he didn’t want to lean into it to a point that Buck wasn’t present anymore.

 “Eds,” Buck choked out, “close.”

Eddie’s focus turned to making Buck cum. His hand sped up, hips snapping into Buck harder and his own abs tensed- he was close too.

“C’mon, Evan, c’mon,” he panted into Buck’s shoulder and suddenly it was there. One, two, three shots against Eddie’s hand, on to the white duvet they’d have to wipe down later. Buck gasped, aftershocks rocking through his body as he came down from his high. Eddie buried his head into Buck’s shoulder and Buck reached behind himself, placing a hand on Eddie’s back.

“That’s it, Eds, cum for me. There you go…”

Eddie felt himself release, shooting deep into his lover, as he cried out against him. Buck smiled, pulling off Eddie the second his hips stopped moving from the adrenaline coursing through their bodies. He turned, pulling Eddie into a hug. Eddie’s fingers tangled into Buck’s hair, pulled from the hairspray into a rat’s nest, and Buck buried his head into Eddie’s shoulder. Their heartbeats were only just beginning to slow when there was a knock on the door.

“Could you two keep it down? There are children on this floor!”

“Sorry Hen!” Buck yelled back and he could almost see Hen rolling her eyes at him. Ah well. Chuckling, Eddie reached for a towel and Buck wiped himself down, pulling a pair of clean boxers on before getting under the covers.

“Hey, I’m just going to check on Chris. Do you need anything?”

“M’okay,” Buck murmured. He felt Eddie push his hair back, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

“I’ll be back in a minute.”

 By the time he got back, Buck was asleep in the middle of the bed.

[captain--sif]

Salt on my shores

Words: 1.5k Fandom: 9-1-1 (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Diaz (9-1-1 TV) Characters: Evan "Buck" Buckley, Eddie Diaz (9-1-1 TV) Additional Tags: Christmas, Advent Calendar, Christmas Decorations, Christmas Cookies, Established Relationship, Banter, Marriage Proposal, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Christmas Fluff, Romantic Fluff Summary:

Chris makes holiday decorations for their home. Domestic Buddie fluff ensues.

Buddie Advent 2020, Prompt: Homemade Holiday Decorations

Read on AO3, on wattpad or below. Edit: added the cut now for better readability, now that tumblr isn’t being a dick anymore.

The door to their house clicks closed as Buck carries the groceries through the corridor into the kitchen. Eddie is standing at the stove, cooking, and looks up when Buck slides up to him, the two of them sharing a quick kiss to say hello.

“I brought bell pepper,” Buck says, getting two of them out of the grocery bags and putting it down on the countertop next to Eddie.

“Thank you” Eddie replies, rifling through their cutlery drawer in search of a good knife.

“They had a sale on the cereals you and Chris eat so I got a few more packages” Buck continues, putting them away “I also bought some gingerbread cookies for Chris to take to school and for us to take to the station. I thought it might be nice.” He looks up to see Eddie smiling at him while chopping the bell pepper.

“Don’t chop off your finger,” he directs Eddie’s way “you still need them.”

Eddie laughs and turns back to the countertop, his knife making a noise when it lands on the wooden cutting board.

“I got everything on our list besides vanilla sugar, so I had to get vanillin sugar,” Buck winces before shrugging “But it should be alright. I don’t think we’ve ever used real vanilla sugar before. We’ll survive one more time without.”

“The recipe explicitly calls for vanilla sugar.”

“They all do” Buck cries out, good-naturedly rolling his eyes at Eddie. “You can always subtract it with vanillin sugar. And it’s cheaper.”

“But not when vanilla is in the name of the pastry” Eddie interjects.

Buck sighs. “Well, I got you your vanilla beans.”

Eddie turns back around to look at Buck and leans forward to drop another kiss on his lips. “Thank you.”

Buck grins. “You’re welcome.” Over Eddie’s shoulder he perceives what looks like colorful Christmas cookies cooling out on a baking tray.

“Oh, did Christopher make these with his friend earlier?” he asks, reaching out to grab one and pop it into his mouth.

“Don’t eat it!” Eddie rushes toward him, his voice going into a higher pitch.

Buck lowers his hand that’s holding the cookie, suspiciously inspecting the white-ish grainy dough and the stark red and green icing.

He lifts an eyebrow. “Are they poisonous?”

“They’re decorations” Eddie informs him “they aren’t meant to be eaten.”

Buck furrows his brows. “They made cookies? That are not to be eaten? But supposed to serve as decorations?” He laughs. “You don’t think Chris will actually stick to that. A few days and they’ll all be gone. He won’t even notice that I ate one of them.”

Amusement takes over Eddie’s face. “Well, you can try, but you’re seriously gonna regret eating it. It’s salt dough.”

“What the fuck is salt dough?” Buck grimaces. “Doesn’t sound very tasty.”

Eddie laughs as Buck puts the cookie back on the tray. “It’s not. Apparently, it’s some kind of self-made modeling dough. Good for kids because it’s not toxic.”

“Except for the whole salt thing.”

“Still not healthy to eat” Eddie agrees “but I’m not sure you can bite through it anyway. The finished cookies are pretty hard.”

“You want me to prove that I can?” Buck teases.

“Please don’t. We can’t afford the dentist’s bill.”

Buck laughs, then steps closer to the tray, taking in the different cookies lying around. He recognizes some shapes of their own cookie cutters, as well as some new ones, likely belonging to Christopher’s friend. What he thought to be icing when he picked it up earlier, turns out to be some kind of glazing the children painted the cookies with.

“They really don’t look too bad.” He praises.

Eddie nods, leaning back against the counter he was previously cutting bell pepper on. “We could put some ribbons through them and hang them on the tree.”

“Sounds good.”

  So that's what they do, the three of them, sitting in their living room, the salt dough cookies and multiple rolls of colorful bands that Eddie went out to buy explicitly for this occasion all strewn between them, and each of them a painted cookie in hand, fiddling one end of the fabric through the hole to tie it around the other once it pushed through. Slightly off to the side stand three cups of hot cocoa and somewhere between all the ruffles and rolls, there's also a box with edible Christmas cookies. That last one was Buck's idea ("Would be fitting, don't you think?") that Eddie was vehemently against because he already saw this afternoon ending with someone chipping his tooth off after biting into the wrong cookies. He fears that might as well be him.

All that to say: Buck knows the cookies that should be hanging on their Christmas tree. He's seen them all, on the first tray, in the box they kept them in after, on the table when they were tying the ribbons. He's seen them enough times around the house to know how many there are or at least how many there should be .

So when Buck comes home one evening, a few days later, and catches sight of the decorated fir tree in their living room, he can't help but notice that there are more salt dough figurines than there should be if Eddie and Chris had put up all the ones they prepared earlier.

Not by a lot, subtle enough not to be excessive, but enough not to fool Buck.

Curiosity piqued, he approaches the tree, lifting up the designs unfamiliar to him. They're innocuous enough: some hearts, some stars, some snowflakes and Christmas trees, not too different from the ones Chris had made with his friend.

But then Buck's eyes and hands land upon a ring of some kind. Most of it is painted yellow (Buck assumes it's meant to represent gold, and he admits it looks close enough) but there's a small tint of blue towards the other side of the ring, the one that was facing towards the stem of the tree initially. Buck's breath catches in his throat.

His mind occupied, Buck only realizes Eddie has slipped into the room once he clicks the terrace door close behind him. He jumps a little at the sound, causing Eddie to laugh and tease him about it.

“What’s got you so jumpy today?” Eddie slides up next to Buck, leaning in for a kiss but stopping in his tracks once he realizes what it is that Buck’s holding. Then he laughs. “I thought I would have a little more time until you found it.”

A grin spreads on Buck’s face, his eyes lifting to Eddie’s, with a mischievous glint in his eyes but the ring still spinning between his fingers.

“Really, Eddie?” he asks “the next time you don’t want me to find something maybe don’t hide it in plain sight, oh wait, I think hiding might be a bit too strong of a word.”

Eddie huffs. “It was meant for you to find. But I thought it would take you a little longer. Guess you know me too well.” Buck winks at him in response. “I guess that’s why I hung it up in the first place.”

“Is that so?” Buck says, too smug for Eddie to believe the faux innocence put into that phrasing.

“I think I changed my mind,” Eddie says, turning around, but they both know he doesn’t mean it.

So when Buck grabs him, turns him around, and pulls him closer, he leans in for a kiss.

“I wanna hear it,” Buck says, not letting him go, a soft look in his eyes that don’t leave Eddie’s face.

“You wanna hear what?”

Buck huffs a laugh. “The speech you have prepared.”

Eddie crinkles his eyes. “Why do you think there’s a speech?”

“You expect me to say yes without a speech?” Buck lifts his eyebrows accusingly, before lifting the ring next to them. “And to a ring made out of salt dough?”

Eddie laughs. “Don’t act like you wouldn’t say yes if I presented you with a paper ring.”

“But only because I love you.”

“Well, everything else would be kind of embarrassing now.”

Buck laughs, leaning his forehead against Eddie’s for a second before asking again. “So I don’t get a speech?”

“It’s symbolic,” Eddie explains after an affected sigh. “The ring. We can’t wear rings at work anyway and I knew you’d scold me for picking up extra shifts just to buy an engagement ring you’ll hardly wear and because I couldn’t wait for you to do it instead and you seem to have become quite the fan of salt dough decorations, so I thought why not. We’ll get real rings for our wedding anyway and this is… something personal.”

“That’s cute,” Buck admits, leaning forward to plant a kiss on Eddie’s lips. “And my answer is yes, obviously.”

Eddie drags Buck even closer and deepens the kiss.

Also find this on AO3 or wattpad.

[laurawritesandgames]

Title: Objections

Fandom: Beetlejuice (Musical)

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Beetlejuice/Adam/Barbara, Charles/Delia

Prompt: Wedding

Content Warning: Set during coronavirus pandemic

Summary: It’s Delia and Charles’s wedding day. The Maitland-Deetz household tries to keep their irreverent demon from spoiling the big day. Little do they know it’s not Beetlejuice they need to worry about….

It had taken ten minutes, but Barbara was finally satisfied with Delia’s lashes. “There. I think we’ve got it.” She moved aside to let Delia see herself in the mirror.

Barbara had put her hair and makeup skills to the test and helped Delia out on her wedding day. Why invite over a makeup artist and hair stylist during a pandemic if you didn’t have to?

Delia examined her reflection and beamed. “It’s perfect.”

That was being kind. It wasn’t exactly one of the dramatic looks on Delia’s wedding Pinterest board. More dramatic makeup would’ve suited her dress better. Ordered from Italy, her dress was a gold ballgown with dramatic tiered tulle flounces on the skirt and a deep V neckline. The gold in the dress played off the gold accents in Delia’s bright orange hair, which was in romantic waves down her back. It was daring and sweet all at once.

When the pandemic hit, the household had talked about postponing her and Charles’s wedding. But Charles’s parents were old-fashioned, and since Delia and Charles wanted to try for a baby right away, they decided to have a virtual wedding instead.

“I can’t thank you enough, Barbara.”

“I’m not letting you do your own hair and makeup on your big day!” She gestured to the laptop. “Now go show the girls.” Her bridesmaids were eagerly awaiting drinking mimosas and celebrating Delia’s look. Barbara had met them at Delia’s virtual bachelorette party, though, of course, they hadn’t known Barbara was there. The bachelorette party had also been rather subdued, considering Delia’s usual standards. She, Barbara and the bridesmaids had streamed both Magic Mike movies, ate popcorn and drank champagne. What else could you do in a pandemic? “I’ll go check on the preparations.”

Delia’s phone, face down on the makeup table, buzzed again. Someone had been texting her all morning, and Delia had been ignoring them. Her gaze flicked to the phone, jaw tightening before she looked back into the mirror.

Barbara gestured to the phone. “I can grab that for you, too.”

A hint of a frown worked its way between Delia’s brows. A moment later, her expression relaxed, and she waved the suggestion away. “I’m fine, darling. I’ve been getting so many robotexts lately. You know, you could stay and have a drink. You’re a bridesmaid too, dear!”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I like keeping busy!” And if I bump something or the camera catches me drinking a mimosa, the focus is definitely not going to be on the bride. Barbara excused herself and went downstairs.

The walls of the living/dining room were decorated with curled gold ribbons and champagne-coloured tulle banners beneath the crown molding. The ghosts and Beetlejuice had moved all the furniture—quite easily, with telekinesis—and added two rows of four chairs on either side of an elegant pale gray runner. The rug led the eye to the laptop, set up on a crystal-laden table where the officiant would’ve stood, and the pale-wood wedding arch wrapped in the same champagne tulle. Everything looked perfect.

Adam, Beetlejuice, and Lydia, the family’s impromptu wedding photographer/videographer, were gathered around a photo album. It took Barbara a second to recognize it.

“Aww, our wedding album!” She joined the group, resting her head on Adam’s shoulder. He kissed her temple, pulling her closer with both arms. The book continued floating in mid-air.

“Obsessed with sunflowers much?” grumbled an unimpressed Beetlejuice.

“I guess so,” Adam said. “My family’s farm had a little sunflower patch. That kinda became our thing.”

“Love the mason jars,” Lydia commented.

“Hey, those were the big thing in 2009,” Barbara said. She supposed their wedding had followed a lot of popular trends: an outdoor barn wedding, lots of tea lights in mason jars, and even a photo booth. But they’d managed to be ahead of the curve on a few things. “Remember our party favours, sweetie?” she asked Adam. “They were little terrariums in stemless wineglasses.”

Adam grinned and squeezed the arm around her waist. “They were tied with ribbons that said ‘Thank you very ‘mulch’ for coming to our wedding!’”

Lydia chuckled; Beetlejuice rolled his eyes.

“Don’t encourage that,” the demon said to his friend. He continued scowling at the wedding album, but Lydia seemed happy to keep looking at the photos.

The most pages they turned, the more Barbara’s mood slid closer to Beetlejuice’s. All those photos were full of friends and family she couldn’t see anymore. Most of her friends’ Facebooks or Instagrams were private, so she couldn’t even do any light internet stalking unless she wanted to log into her old accounts and confuse everyone. Was Lisa still going back to school to get her Masters, or had the pandemic put that on hold? Was Alison still having issues with her mother-in-law? Barbara had no idea. Dead women didn’t have friends. Not to mention her family….

But a wedding was no time to be sad. She pasted a smile on her face and even managed a few cute wedding stories.

“Remember when your uncle Eddy tried to drink his wedding favour?” she asked Adam, who chuckled. “He almost choked on a succulent!”

“But he kept trying to drink from it! Three times!” Adam chuckled. A moment later, his smile faltered. “Probably because he’s a massive alcoholic.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.” That story wasn’t quite as cute as she remembered. “So, um, why don’t we do a last-minute check? Make sure we’ve got everything.”

“All right,” Lydia said. She took the photo album from midair and put it away, frowning slightly. “This is probably going to be the nicest moment I have today, so thanks for that.”

Barbara and Adam shared a worried look. Lydia was deeply ambivalent about her father marrying another woman only six months after her mother died. Lydia had used that fact to extract a lot of concessions about the wedding: Delia had let her wear a black dress and take photographs on her analogue camera instead of a digital camera.

“C’mon, kid!” Beetlejuice said. “Just wait ‘til I get the party started!” He blew a party favour, and sparkly beetles flew behind him.

While Lydia rolled her eyes fondly at her friend, Barbara and Adam shared another worried look. The young woman went upstairs to get changed.  

Barbara turned to Beetlejuice. “I just wanted to remind you about your promise, Beetlejuice. I know it’d probably be very funny to interrupt the ceremony. Maybe Lydia would even appreciate it. But this day means a lot to Delia and Charles. They’ve found each other through a lot of pain and hardship, and they deserve a fun, special memory.”

Beetlejuice waved her words away. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You don’t know this about me yet, but I love a good party. And people can finally see me! Well, only people here, but whatever. Why would I mess that up and have everybody pissed at me? I’m here for the fun and the food, baby.”

As much as Barbara wanted to believe him, she suspected that the only reason he didn’t have a disruption planned was because of Lydia’s innate goodness, not his own.

“I noticed you didn’t love us going through the wedding album, buddy,” Adam said. “Is everything okay?”

He shrugged. “It just…it looked nice. Your wedding.” He glanced between Barbara and Adam, loudly announcing, “None of that boring-ass shit at our wedding, okay?”

Barbara tried not to look too surprised—Beetlejuice loved shocking them. “Noted. But it’s also not going to be jump scares every minute, or a projector that reveals everyone’s darkest fears, or some kind of Saw situation.”

Beetlejuice’s eyebrows rose. “I was just thinking there’d be singing cockroaches and banners made of bats, but those are way better! You wanna plan it, baby?”

“I said ‘not.’ It’s not going to be any of those things. Did you even hear that part?”

He darted in close and kissed her lips. “Eh, we’ll find a compromise that works for all of us. We’re all about that life, right?” His neck stretched cartoonishly to kiss Adam on the lips as well. Then he poofed away in a cloud of smoke.

After a few moments, Adam said, “Did he just ask us to marry him?”

“I think it was a joke proposal. You know him. If he really wanted to propose, there’d be a lot more pizzazz. And possibly dead bodies.”

“Right, of course.”

“Would you have said yes if he’d been serious?” Barbara asked, curious.

“Things between the three of us have been going pretty well, but I don’t think I’m ready to jump into another marriage quite yet. And you?”

It was exactly what she’d expected from Adam. They’d changed since their deaths—six months later, their afterlives involved parenthood, isolation from friends and family, a lot more free time, and a polyamorous relationship. But it was nice when she could guess what he was thinking. Not everything had changed. “The same. Maybe in a few years or so.”

*

Before the ceremony, Charles and Lydia stayed in the living room, helping older relatives log on to Zoom and greeting people as they logged in. Charles was wearing a pale grey tuxedo with a metallic grey tie and pocket square. Lydia looked like an elegant classic Hollywood starlet with a goth twist: her black lace gown had a subtle skull pattern to it, barely visible unless the light hit it just right. Her onyx choker and bracelets looked like thorny vines going up her pale arms and encircling her neck. On her head was a raven fascinator with golden bead eyes, her one concession to the wedding colours.

The laptop screen filled up with squares of happy, smiling faces. Everyone had dressed up for the occasion, wearing suits and dresses.

“Betcha most of them are wearing sweat pants,” Beetlejuice said.

“Well, hopefully we’ll never find out,” Barbara replied. The three of them were sitting on the white chairs on either side of the aisle. Most people watching this meeting online probably assumed these chairs were only there for symmetry. As far as they knew, Lydia was the only other person physically at this wedding.

Despite her earlier claim, Lydia was smiling and chatting with Charles’s parents and, to Barbara’s surprise, Emily’s mother. Coming to your son-in-law’s wedding six months after your daughter’s death must have been hard, but if there were any issues, Barbara didn’t see them, and she wasn’t about to eavesdrop on a family moment.

Emily was sick for years. I suppose her family had a lot of time to mourn her. She thought about her parents and her sister at her own funeral. What had that been like?

Lydia took video of Delia coming down the stairs to the bridal chorus, played on speakers set up throughout the room, then put the video camera on a tripod so she could participate in the ceremony.

“I want to thank everyone for joining us today,” the officiant said. “In lieu of wedding gifts, the bride and groom have asked that you donate to the Rural Connecticut Preservation Society. I’m pleased to share that we’ve raised $10,000, which will be donated after the wedding.”

If Charles had had any reservations about donating to a charity dedicated to stopping housing development in rural Connecticut, which directly impacted his career, he hadn’t brought it up during the wedding’s planning stages. Lydia had suggested the charity, after all.

Everyone applauded.

“We will now bless the rings,” the officiant said.

Lydia took out the rings, held them both tightly in her hands, and whispered her blessing into her clenched fists. She smiled mischievously at Charles.

“I suppose if they burst into flame, we’ll know Mom disapproves.”

There were a few awkward chuckles from the assembled, none louder than Delia’s. “That’s my darling, unique stepdaughter for you! Oh, Lydia, you’re so funny!”

In a mocking, little-girl voice, Lydia replied, “I appreciate the compliment, my dearest stepmother.”

Barbara and Adam made sure that they were holding Beetlejuice’s hands so he couldn’t raise them.

The demon scoffed. “You know, I don’t need my hands to do ghost magic? I could just set the rings on fire with my mind.”

“Do not—”

“I wasn’t gonna! Jeez.”

With a theatrical flourish, Lydia showed off the rings to the laptop camera. Barbara half-expected them to be Netherworld green, but they were normal. “My blessing has been spoken. Please speak your blessings now.” Ideally, everyone would’ve been able to touch the rings and speak their blessings in private.

After a pause, Delia’s father spoke first, and others followed. The wedding program had provided a few sample blessings, but people were free to write their own. Delia’s mother began crying halfway through hers.

“Save something for the wedding speech, Amanda,” her father joked. He reminded Barbara of her own dad.

Barbara and Adam gave their own blessings. “Delia and Charles, we wish you health, happiness and love as you start your new life together,” they said, touching the rings, making sure not to brush Lydia’s hands.

Beetlejuice had declined to take part in “New Age bullshittery,” so he remained hovering over his seat.

The rest of the wedding was more traditional, probably to appease Charles’s parents. Barbara’s mind wandered. She and Adam had come so far, hadn’t they? She held Adam’s hand lightly, running her thumb up and down his palm—rather, she did until Beetlejuice forced his way between the two of them and sat on both of their laps.

“Poor baby, no one was paying attention to you,” she cooed into his ear.

“It’s the worst,” he agreed. She ran her fingers through his spikey green hair. Adam gave him some attention by resting his head on Beetlejuice’s shoulder. That seemed to do the trick—he sighed and relaxed.

Readings were read, vows were said, and rings were exchanged. Charles’s vows were simple and straightforward—too curt for Barbara’s tastes—but Delia’s were long enough for them both. Barbara fought the urge to check the time. She felt like Delia had been going for 10 minutes.

Delia actually appeared to be wrapping up when “I object!” sounded over the laptop’s speakers.

A square popped up on Zoom, revealing that the speaker was a tanned older man with more salt than pepper in his hair and bright white teeth. He had a faint accent that Barbara couldn’t place. She’d never seen him on any of Delia’s photos or social media.

Delia made a few choking noises in the back of her throat, the colour draining from her face.

Charles glared at the screen. “You,” he spat out.

Clutching Charles like a lifeline, Delia drew herself up as tall as she could. “Jeremy, log off immediately! I don’t know how you got my number or how you got this link, but get out, you narcissistic psychopath! You don’t get to be a part of my life, not after what you did!”

“Delia, my love, I know you still feel something for me—“

‘My love’? This can’t be the ex-husband, can it? Years ago, Delia’s ex had sailed away to Rome with the secretary he’d been cheating on her with.

“Hey,” Beetlejuice whispered, “I never possessed someone over the internet before. Maybe if we all work together, we can do it?”

Jeremy had opened his mouth to speak again. If ghostly powers could stop this disaster, they had to try. Barbara grabbed Beetlejuice’s and Adam’s hands and held them out to the laptop screen.

“—and I—” Jeremy continued. His gaze abruptly unfocused. Barbara tried to force words into his mouth.

“I’m so sorry!” he said, just as she’d scripted. “I’m going to log off and…and…and throw myself into a dumpster like the piece of trash I am.”

She hadn’t told him to say that. Barbara glanced at Beetlejuice, who grinned back at her.

“And then,” Jeremy continued, “I’m gonna take my toenail clippings, and my belly button lint, put them in a blender, take a shit in that blender, start the blender, and pour myself a shit-shake. It’s my regular Saturday morning routine, baby!”

Lydia rushed forward and tapped a few keys. His square vanished from the screen.

“I blocked him,” she said.

“Thank you, stepdaughter.” Delia sniffled, and Charles handed her a Kleenex from his suit pocket.

As Delia struggled to compose herself, Barbara whispered, “A poop-shake? Really, Beetlejuice?”

“It was Adam!” He couldn’t even keep a straight face, and chortled. “Okay, you caught me. Hey, I had to make sure he’d never be able to look these people in the eye again.”

Delia glared at the laptop screen. “Lydia, darling, explain to me how you set this event up again.”

“I set it as a private Zoom event. Everyone involved in the ceremony had to have a link and a password.”

“So,” Delia said, “who gave my ex-husband—who, I’d just like to remind everyone, is a cheating bastard—the link and the password?”

Slowly, one of Delia’s aunts raised her hand, her face bright pink behind her makeup.

“Millie!” Delia’s mom exclaimed.

“Mom!” shrieked one of Delia’s cousins.

Most people on the Zoom call started shouting at once. It took a few minutes to hear Aunt Millie’s explanation.

“I had no idea he was going to object,” she squeaked. “But he was such a big part of our lives for such a long time, and I thought he deserved to at least see the ceremony….”

“Aunt Millie,” Delia said, “you are no longer welcome!”

“Of—of course. I’m so sorry, Delia.” Aunt Millie took out her glasses and peered at the screen. “Er, which button do I…?”

Lydia took care of it, and banned her.

“And everyone thought I’d use my ghost powers for evil,” Beetlejuice boasted. “Look at me, doing good deeds! Being a goddamn hero!”

Barbara would’ve responded, but poor Delia sagged against Charles, tears running down her face. She tried to speak, but only managed a quiet sob.

“We’re going to take a break,” Lydia said quickly, turning back to the laptop. “See you in 10 minutes, everyone.” She muted them and closed the laptop.

Beetlejuice waved his hand to grab Delia’s attention, grinning broadly. “Thought I’d mention that if you know where he lives I could teleport to his location and, well, cause a little havoc.”

“Do we need to go over the house rules?” Barbara asked. ‘No Murdering’ was the first one.

“No murdering, this time! Just a little non-fatal revenge.”

Delia hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. “No, thank you.”

“Non-fatal?” Lydia asked Beetlejuice. “Are you sure? Our wedding did set a precedent for murder….”

Beetlejuice chuckled, and the two fistbumped.

After a moment, the demon frowned. “Wait, should I fistbump you for murdering me?”

“You already completed the ‘bump—you can’t take it back now,” Lydia said.

“Shit, you’re right.”

Delia stared at the living room, lips quivering. “Maybe…maybe this is a sign. The universe must not want me to get married again!”

Beetlejuice floated over. “Delia! Signs don’t exist. Trust me, I’d know! There is no heaven, no hell, no meaning to anything! The universe is cold, distant, and uncaring. It’s basically my mom,” he joked. “But the point is—it doesn’t care what you want, and nothing you say or do can affect it.

“Besides, girl!” Beetlejuice leaned in. “Chuck is rich as fuck. Lock him down!”

Charles glared at him before turning back to Delia. “I still want to get married to you, Delia.”

“Are you sure?” She blew into her Kleenex before continuing. “There are women who…who don’t have ex-husbands that ruin their weddings and—and make a scene in front of all their friends and family….”

“Delia,” Barbara said quietly, “you’re not the first person to date an asshole. I mean, look at me and Adam.”

Beetlejuice appreciated the burn, even if it was at his own expense—he cackled over Delia’s tepid chuckle.

“Don’t blame yourself for what just happened,” Barbara continued.

Delia whimpered into her Kleenex. Charles stroked her hair lightly.

“Delia,” he said, “I stood in front of our friends and family and told them how you were the brightest light in my darkest time. I meant every word of it. Nothing will change that. I love you.” He kissed her so deeply that Barbara looked away to give them some privacy.

When they were done, Lydia cleared her throat. “I’ll go get the digital camera so we can adjust the photos faster. That way you won’t have to worry about your makeup looking perfect.” She began to set her analog camera down.

Delia shook her head. “No—you said this was your artistic vision, and I won’t see it compromised.”

Lydia looked surprised. “Oh.” Her smile was small but sincere. “Thanks, Delia.”

Delia took this as an invitation to hug her stepdaughter. Lydia rolled her eyes, but patted her shoulder and didn’t pull away.

“Besides,” Delia added, “this camera was your mother’s gift to you, and I don’t want her coming back from the Netherworld to tell me off.”

Beetlejuice facepalmed. “That is not how the Netherworld works! That’s not how any of it works.”

“Well, it couldn’t hurt to make sure, could it?” Delia stepped back. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just fix my face.”

“I can help,” Barbara said, and Delia nodded.

Once they were upstairs, Delia collapsed in her makeup chair, sighing heavily.

“I actually thought it was going to go well,” she commented. “That I’d have one beautiful day even in the midst of the world’s ugliness. I was so stupid. Nothing ever goes right for me.”

Barbara reached out to pat Delia’s shoulder before stopping herself. When Delia looked confused, she explained, “Lydia said touching me or Adam is like touching an ice cube tray straight from the freezer.”

“I don’t mind.”

Hesitantly, Barbara touched Delia’s shoulder. It was the first time she’d touched a living person other than Lydia in months, and hugs from a 16-year-old girl she didn’t know that well were rare. The older woman shivered but didn’t pull away.

“Lydia’s not wrong,” Delia admitted. She put her hand over Barbara’s, squeezing slightly. “But a hand offered in friendship should never be refused. You know, it’s been almost four months since I last touched someone who wasn’t Charles.”

“Hopefully this coronavirus pandemic will end soon.”

“I’ve been saying healing prayers twice a day.”

Barbara wasn’t sure they’d be effective, but healing prayers were more than most of America’s leaders were doing. At least Delia was listening to the science and wearing a mask when she went outside. She’d grown so much in the short time Barbara had known her.

Barbara missed her friends from when she was alive. That was natural. But she couldn’t let her loss keep her from recognizing that she’d made a friend after death, too.

“Thanks, Delia,” Barbara said. “Not just for the healing prayers, but for everything. Having two ghostly housemates and a demon would be a lot for some people, but you’ve taken it in stride.”

Delia chuckled. “I once lived in a commune of 200 people. Living off the land, growing our own food…and digging our own toilets.” She wrinkled her nose, then chuckled. “You three are a walk in the park compared to that!”

“If there’s anything you need from me or Adam, please let us know. We don’t want to trouble you or Charles.”

Delia opened and closed her mouth. After a moment, she said, “Well….I suppose I do have a rather personal question….”

“Shoot.”

“Beetlejuice—is he actually good in the bedroom?”

Barbara giggled. “He is. He’s had millennia to think about what he’d do if he ever had sexual partners again. He’s very…inventive.”

“I’ll admit, I’m surprised. He doesn’t seem the type to be concerned with another’s pleasure.”

“Oh, there’s definitely times he forgets. But then we get to teach him. Ahem. Now,” she nodded to the mirror, “let’s get your makeup touched up.”

*

Barbara wouldn’t ever be hungry or thirsty again, but the stuffed butternut squash was delicious. Delia and Charles had deferred to Barbara and Adam’s local expertise when they planned the menu at their wedding dinner. Adam knew most of the farms the vegetables had come from.

The Deetzes had said goodbye to all their guests, and the family was eating their wedding dinner in the dining room.

Delia had been going to give out the crystals on either side of the laptop as wedding favours—the stones were mostly rose quartz, moonstone and a pale white stone called selenite. But after Jeremy’s arrival, she said she needed to cleanse the crystals. “I’m going to give them a few lunar cycles, just to be safe.”

Barbara nodded, pretending she understood what that meant. “Adam, Beetlejuice and I are dead. We’ve got nothing but time!”

“I just want to thank everyone again for your hard work,” Delia said, smiling at them. “Lydia, for your photographic eye and leading the blessing. Barbara, for the hair, makeup, decorating and emotional support. Adam, for sending out all the emails and doing the tech support. All the ghosts, for intervening when a certain someone decided to crash the party.”

“It was mostly me,” Beetlejuice said. Barbara rolled her eyes at Adam, who chuckled.

“He is the ghost with the most,” Adam said, making Beetlejuice grin.

“My mistake—thank you, Beetlejuice. Thank you all for being part of one of the most important days of our lives. Thank you for being our family.”

Barbara sniffled a bit as she and Adam applauded the speech.

“I got the happy couple some extra gifts,” Beetlejuice said. “For the wedding night.”

“I’m going into another room,” Lydia announced abruptly, setting her plate down. “Another house. Another life.”

As she left, Beetlejuice grinned. “We’re rated PG-13, guys! It’s just rose petals on the bed and some boozy chocolates. Figured you two have your own toys—”

Lydia started singing loudly as she covered her ears, taking the stairs three at a time to get away.

Barbara tried to figure out what he had in mind. “These rose petals won’t become spiders, will they?”

“They’re totally normally and boring, if you must know. I ordered them off Amazon.”

“How?” Adam asked. “You have no money.”

“I typed in Chuck’s credit card, duh.”

“What?” Charles snapped.

Barbara and Adam sighed. Beetlejuice’s morality was a never-ending project that was not without its consequences.

Not for the first time, Barbara reflected that it was a good thing the Maitlands loved working on projects together.

*

After the wedding dinner, as Barbara, Adam and Beetlejuice were cleaning up, Lydia came downstairs. She was carrying another photo album and wearing a glum expression. She’d changed out of her party dress, and was wearing a comfy hoodie and sweat pants—all black, of course.

“Got a sec?” she asked quietly.

“Of course, sweetheart,” Barbara said.

Lydia showed them a photo—a younger Emily Deetz on a younger Charles’s lap, grinning at the camera in a fancy restaurant.

“My mom and dad’s wedding wasn’t like today’s. There wasn’t any structure. It was just a big party at one of the best restaurants in New York, followed by wandering the city with all their friends and family. They stopped in at dingy bars to listen to live music, they caught a comedy show, they walked through Times Square at two in the morning. They almost got mugged! Mom was hard core like that. Daddy attracts dramatic weddings, doesn’t he?” she joked.

Her smile dropped a second later. “And Daddy looks just as happy here as he did today. I was photographing him and Delia the whole time. I’d know.”

“So,” Beetlejuice said, “the big takeaway here is that Chuck is in love with the women he gets married to?”

Lydia chuckled sadly. “Something like that. I mean, one of them was a woman he met in college, while the other was his employee…. But who cares about things like abuses of power when it’s true love? Daddy and Delia keep trying to make me comfortable with their love story, but how can I be? If it were any other situation, I’d be blasting Daddy online as he stars in the latest MeToo scandal, right?”

Barbara nodded. “You’re right. It’s pretty rare for a story like Delia and Charles’s to end this way. You sound like you’re carrying a lot, Lydia. Do you want to sit and—”

“No, thanks. I just wanted to whine for a bit. Delia’s family seem nice, at least. Except for Aunt Millie, obviously.” She closed the photo album in a short, frustrated gesture. “Well, goodnight, guys.”

“Do you mind if we check in with you tomorrow?” Barbara said. “See how you’re feeling?” Sixteen was such a tough age—particularly when your father was remarrying.

“If you want.” She shrugged, as if she really didn’t care, but her small smile made Barbara hopeful that she’d made the right decision. The only thing more difficult than being a teenager was parenting a teenager she’d just met a few months ago.

Beetlejuice was frowning as Lydia left. “Guys, we gotta help Lyds!” He was nothing if not loyal. “We should break Chuck and Delia up, right?” He leaned in to Adam. “I got the perfect way to do it. You know how Delia thinks Emily can come back from the Netherworld?” Beetlejuice became Emily Deetz for a moment, still with a few mossy patches and green hair. “Well, what if she can? And then we tell Delia to GTFO!”

That he was asking them instead of just doing it was a pretty good sign.

“Well, Bug,” Adam said, “think about it—if Lydia didn’t want this wedding to happen, she could’ve objected herself. Or asked her father not to get married to Delia.”

Beetlejuice became his usual self again, looking disappointed. “Oh. Right. Didn’t think of that.”

“She’s an intelligent, sensitive young woman with complicated feelings about a complicated issue,” Barbara said. “I think the best way to help her is to listen to her without judgement.”

“Why is the right way always the most boring way?” Beetlejuice said, sighing.

Barbara knew how to get him happy again. “Now,” she said, running her hand along his shoulder, “why don’t we finish up and go upstairs? After all this work for everyone else, we deserve some…ah, quality time together.”

Beetlejuice fistpumped and chortled. “Yes! Unfortunately, because of this fic’s rating, we gotta cut it off here. I just wanna let everyone know, it’s gonna be freakin’ awesome—'cuz I’m awesome, baby.”

Barbara had no idea what he was talking about, as usual. Adam kissed her cheek, and they went back to the dishes.

[inawickedlittletown]

I’m With You (21/22)

Summary:

Having a crush was nothing to be ashamed of…lying to the family and friends of said crush about being the guy’s boyfriend, that was a whole other problem. When Buck saves the life of Andrew Diaz and accidentally makes a nurse think that he’s Andrew’s boyfriend, Buck soon finds himself lying to Andrew’s firefighter friends/coworkers as well as Andrew’s family including Andrew’s very suspicious and attractive brother, Eddie.

Based on the 1995 movie While You Were Sleeping.

Words: 3,356

Read on Ao3

Masterpost

Previous Chapter

–

It wasn’t until a few weeks later that Andrew explained what he meant when he said he was leaving. Apparently, it was because he’d been offered a job on a wildland firefighter crew. Eddie knew at once that their mom was not going to love hearing that, but he could also see how much Andrew wanted to do it and so he would do it no matter what anyone said. 

“You’re crazy, you know that,” Eddie said. 

Andrew shrugged. “One of Josh’s friends is a smokejumper and I just...as much as I love what I do now, that has some appeal for me, you know?” 

“No, I don’t,” Eddie said. “Have you told mom and dad yet?” 

“No,” Andrew admitted. “Mom wouldn’t understand.” 

“I can’t say that I understand,” Eddie said. 

Andrew just shrugged him off. “It’ll be a few more weeks. I’m gonna go visit them and let them know. But, Eddie, I’m doing this. Anyway, how’s the dog doing?” 

“Legolas is doing fine. Christopher loves having him around. I keep meaning to say thank you. And it’s lucky that Carla likes him too. He’s really well trained.” 

Eddie hadn’t been too sure about taking Legolas in not because he didn’t like the dog or because he was worried about how Christopher would deal with it, but because Eddie knew his work schedule on top of Christopher’s schedule meant he wasn’t home enough to watch the dog. Or to walk him. He hadn’t been sure that Carla would welcome the new addition to his house, too, but she loved Legolas. And then past all of those reasons, there was the Buck of it all. Buck had loved Legolas and any memory that Eddie had of the dog was attached to Buck. 

“That’s good,” Andrew said. “And have you considered talking to Buck?” 

Andrew brought it up every single time they talked. Eddie ignored it. 

“Eddie, come on.”

“I did talk to him,” Eddie said. “Remember. And that’s that.” 

Andrew didn’t push. Eddie was sure that soon he would stop asking and Eddie just wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. It wasn’t that he wasn’t angry anymore, it was that he missed him. He had known Buck for merely a few weeks, but he’d carved a space in Eddie’s heart and he’d taken that piece with him and Eddie hated him for it. He hated him for all the guilt that he’d made Eddie feel and for how Eddie couldn’t in his own mind figure out how much of everything had been lies or almost lies. Mostly, his mind always went back to the kiss. Buck had kissed him back. 

It was no indication that Buck felt anything at all for Eddie, but Eddie did think that it was more likely that Buck did feel something than not. None of that meant that Eddie could actually make himself call or text Buck. 

He did spend a lot of time wondering about how Buck was and how things were going with his sister. Once, Eddie had even driven all the way over to Coffee Time, but he hadn’t even gotten out of his car. 

Sometimes, Eddie just hoped to run into him so that meeting him was out of his control and it could happen. The universe was just not that interested in helping Eddie out like that. For a while, Eddie had hoped that maybe Andrew would force the issue and make Eddie somehow see Buck again, but that didn’t happen either. 

So, Eddie focused on Christopher and on Legolas. He visited abuela and Pepa. He hung out with his friends, and he did his job, and he prepared himself for the day when his brother wouldn’t be with him in the ladder truck. 

—

Maddie was well aware that she had showed up in her brother’s life and made a mess of things for him. Buck had always been resilient though, so she wasn’t too surprised when Buck didn’t hold it against her and his mood improved until one day he showed her his application for the Fire Academy. 

At first Maddie had wondered if that was a good idea and if Buck really did want that, but it became pretty clear to her that it was. Especially once Maddie met Josh because Josh could fill in the blanks that Buck hadn’t. He told her all about Buck’s quick reactions in emergencies and about the day that Buck had spent babysitting Christopher. 

“He’s quick on his feet and physically...I mean, I have eyes, Maddie.” 

Maddie liked Josh. He was sweet and funny and exactly the kind of person that she needed in her life. He also seemed to care about Buck a great deal which meant that Maddie appreciated him even more. Josh was the last tie to the Diaz brothers seeing as Buck wasn’t talking to anyone else that tried to reach out to him. In part, it was because of her. Josh was instrumental to getting Maddie her new job. It wasn’t an easy job and Maddie never could have imagined being a 9-1-1 dispatcher and yet it was a different way to help people and it kept her relatively anonymous which suited her situation well. 

Maddie was not at all surprised when Buck got accepted into the training program. She did worry about his reasons for wanting to pursue a career that might bring him closer to the people that he wanted to avoid, but Maddie also knew that she needed to let him make his own choices. It was partly for that reason that Maddie also started to search for a place of her own. 

Buck’s apartment was nice. Much nicer than Maddie could have expected when she first arrived, but it also only had the one bedroom up on the loft and while Buck’s sofa turned out to be really comfortable, Maddie also needed to have her own space. 

Buck went apartment hunting with her the first few times she started looking, always trying to push Maddie into finding a new apartment for the two of them instead. Eventually, she made him stop following her around. It was on one of those days when she was on her own that Maddie ran into Eddie Diaz. 

Maddie didn’t even recognize him at first. After all, she’d seen the guy all of once and there had been other things for Maddie to worry over at the time. Eddie did recognize her. 

“Hi. Maddie, right? Buck’s sister?” 

“Eddie?” Maddie asked. “Or is it Andrew?” She was looking at the dog attached to a leash that was currently lifting his leg against a pole. The dog belonged to the fake boyfriend right? 

“Eddie,” Eddie said. “How...how are you?” 

“Good. Thanks for asking. And you?” 

“I’m fine,” Eddie said. “Just taking this guy out on a walk. Uh, how is — is Buck doing alright?” 

Maddie didn’t know how to answer. Her brother was resilient. He was strong. He was probably the strongest person that Maddie knew. He was also floundering a bit even while he found his professional passion. 

“He’s okay,” she settled on. 

Eddie’s brow creased into a frown and his eyes shone with concern. Eddie really was handsome and that was so indicative to why Buck had liked him. Did like him? Maddie really didn’t know what Buck felt about the whole thing. He didn’t really want to talk about it and the last thing that Maddie wanted to do was to bother him and pester him to talk about anything he didn’t want to talk about. 

“I’m glad that he has you,” Eddie said. “He, um, he was really lonely. Missed you a lot.”

“Buck talked about me?” Maddie asked. 

Eddie gave a short nod. “We all wondered where his family was...why he was so alone. He told me about you and how he hadn’t seen or heard from you in years.” 

There was an accusation in his words and he was watching her. The dog sat down at his side without much bother to complain about the pause in his walk. 

“I think that’s my business, don’t you?” Maddie asked. “I mean, considering that you haven’t tried to talk to my brother since all of that went down. He doesn’t say it, but I’m pretty sure he misses you. All of your family. From what I can tell, it’s why he kept up that lie for so long and why it was so hard for him to tell you all.” 

Eddie looked all at once like he’d been punched, but also like he was ready to do some of the punching as well. 

“Buck isn’t answering Chim or Hen. I think even Athena tried to call him,” Eddie said in a low tone. “And I’m sure he won’t answer if I try either. I guess you Buckley’s are practiced at that, though. You screened his calls for years.” 

Maddie didn’t know what to say. In all actuality, she didn’t know Eddie very well. Or, at all. He was just the guy that his brother had become friends with and that he’d lied to about dating his brother. The whole thing was complicated and only made worse by the knowledge that Buck had bonded with these people. He’d allowed them in and told them things about his life. About her. He had to be hurting more than he’d allowed Maddie to see and not just about the loss of these people he’d grown to care for, but because Maddie had abandoned him. She left him. 

“I’m sorry,” Eddie said and he touched her elbow. “I’m not handling a lot of this well. I just mean that when we talked about you he was always really sad. And you’re obviously here and I’m glad. I’m so glad he’s not on his own anymore. But I also know him well enough to know that he probably hasn’t told you about how he felt not being able to reach you.” 

“You care about him,” Maddie said. 

Eddie shrugged his shoulders. “That isn’t the point,” he said and then, “I have to go.” 

He walked away and Maddie was left wondering why men had to be so stubborn. 

—

Some aspects of his training were easier and others harder, but Buck loved everything about the Fire Academy. It did remind him a little bit of his Navy Seals training, but it was different too. By the end of each day, he was exhausted in a way that meant Buck’s mind could stop thinking about Eddie. Eventually, his thoughts did go back to him and to the last time that he saw him at Coffee Time and mostly it meant that Buck could replay their conversation and come up with all the ways in which it could have gone differently. All of them ended with them on better terms. Friends. Maybe more. Often he thought about how it could have been more. 

A few weeks into training, Buck had just finished his day and gone to pick up some groceries when he ran into Chimney. 

“Buck!” Chim said and hugged him before Buck could move. “It’s been so long! And look at you, you’re looking good. How are you?”

“I’m — I’m good. You?” Buck asked and he felt a bit awkward because of course he’d been ignoring Chim’s texts. 

It was mostly to do with how Buck just didn’t know what to say or how he was supposed to keep Chimney as a friend and not constantly want to know about the rest. He wondered about Pepa and Isabel all the time. He worried about the 118 and the kind of scrapes they might get into on calls. Once, he thought that he saw Athena when he drove by a police car, but it was his eyes tricking him. 

“I’m good. We’re all good,” Chimney said. “I do wish you would have answered my texts. But, I get it.”

“You do?” Buck asked. The last thing he’d expected was for Chimney to not be upset with him. 

“Of course. None of that was easy for you. And what are you up to now?” 

A part of Buck didn’t want to tell him, but he’d done enough lying. So he smiled some. “Actually, I made it into the fire academy.” He avoided looking at Chim directly as he said. 

“What? That’s...Buck, that’s amazing,” Chimney said and clapped him on the shoulder, his face lit up in such a genuine manner that Buck was glad to have told him and to have Chim’s support. It reminded him of how good of a friend Chimney really was. 

“It’s going well,” Buck said. “I think it’s...it’s what I’m supposed to do. And how is...how is everyone?” 

He almost asked about Eddie directly. He did want to know about everyone, but it was Eddie that he wondered about. 

“They’re great. Hen is going to be jealous I got to see you. She’s not upset, you know. None of them are. They’d like to see you, I think.” 

“Not Eddie,” Buck said. 

Chimney tried to hide a grimace. “I’m sure he’d want to see you,” he said. “He’s been...well, Andrew says he’s being a stubborn child.”

Buck laughed at that. “How is Andrew? Is he doing okay?” 

“He has all his memories back,” Chimney said. 

By the time that Buck and Chim went their own ways, Chimney had gotten Buck to promise that they could do dinner soon. Chimney even went as far as to invite Maddie along. 

“I mean...what else could she possibly have to yell out about you that I don’t already know?” Chim said. 

“Sure. And invite Hen. Karen too, if you want. I — I do want to see them again. I’ve missed them. Everyone, really.” 

That was how just a week later, Buck found himself in his car with Maddie, driving over to Chimney’s apartment. Maddie was telling him about the apartment that she’d finally settled on and as glad as Buck was to know that his sister was going to be staying, he also wasn’t looking forward to not having her around at his apartment all the time. 

“So which one was Chim again?” Maddie asked when Buck had parked. “And what kind of name is that anyway?” 

“Nickname. His real name is Howie,” Buck said. 

It wasn’t Chimney that opened the door when Buck knocked, though. It was Andrew, his smile wide and with that twist of mischief. He pulled Buck into a tight hug the moment he saw him. 

“I won’t kiss you this time, don’t worry,” Andrew said before he let him go and Buck couldn’t help but laugh. 

“I didn’t expect to see you,” Buck said. 

“Well, I’ve been expecting you,” Andrew said. “Kinda a change for us, isn’t it? Anyway, come in come in. And, Maddie. Hello, I hope you brought your inside voice.” 

Buck almost laughed when he saw that Maddie’s cheeks had gained some color at that comment. Instead, he steered Maddie inside and Andrew just shrugged when Buck glanced at him. Buck hadn’t managed to step much farther before Hen was standing in front of him. She didn’t hug him or say anything, instead she punched his shoulder. 

“Did your phone get destroyed in an earthquake again?” she asked. 

“Ah...no. I didn’t—”

“You’re an idiot,” Hen said and then hugged him. 

Chimney showed up, then with Karen behind him. “Well, come on everyone. Dinner is ready.”

“By which he means that he managed to take all the food out of the take out containers,” Andrew said with a nudge at Buck. 

“From what I hear, you’re not much better in the kitchen,” Buck said. 

Andrew raised an eyebrow. There were parts about Andrew that reminded Buck of Eddie, but it didn’t hurt like he’d thought that it would, to see Andrew. 

“So, I said something once about you making me dinner,” Buck said. 

“And how did you get out of that lie?” Andrew asked. 

They walked into the dinning room. Maddie had already sat down with Chimney and they seemed to be getting along. 

“I, um, I think I acted like I was shocked that you would lie about your cooking skills,” Buck said. 

“Of course,” Andrew said and he stopped Buck before he went to sit. “Buck, I want to hear everything. How all of that was for you. How it happened. All of it.” 

Buck froze. He didn’t know if he’d ever expected for Andrew to ask about it so point blank. 

“I don’t — I’m not mad. I guess I just want to know more. If you’re willing to tell me.” 

“Yeah,” Buck said. “Yeah, sure.” 

“Cool.” 

Buck sat down in the seat next to his sister and Andrew sat across from him. Karen called his attention from next to Andrew and Buck remembered how he’d always really liked Karen as she started asking about how his training was going. 

“You told them,” Buck said. 

Chimney shrugged.  “They asked about you.” 

“And I think that I get to take some credit for you doing this. Don’t I?” Andrew said with a wiggle of his eyebrows. 

Buck nodded at him. “I guess you kind of do,” Buck said. In all reality, he owed Andrew a lot. Without Andrew and his penchant for buying coffee almost every day, Buck would have never met any of these people — he wouldn’t have met Eddie. 

“I’m glad you’re doing it,” Andrew said. 

“I am too,” Buck said but turned back to Karen. “How’s Denny? Where is Denny?” 

“He’s over at Athena and Bobby’s,” Hen said. “Hanging out with Harry.” 

Buck nodded. He was sort of glad that Athena and Bobby weren’t there. It was easier with Hen and Chim. Athena was intimidating and in some ways so was Bobby. Buck had no idea how they’d reacted to learning about all the lies Buck had told. 

“You might end up being a good replacement for this guy,” Chim said as everyone started to dig into their food. 

Buck paused mid-chew, but quickly finished chewing and swallowed. “What does that mean?” He looked to Chimney first, but then his gaze went to Andrew. 

“I’m transferring to the Smoke Jumpers,” Andrew said. 

“What’s that?” Maddie asked. 

“Wildland firefighter,” Buck said with just a touch of awe. 

“I’ve been planning this for a while,” Andrew admitted. “Before the accident even.” 

Buck nodded and he returned his attention to his food. Around him other topics of conversation started being picked up. Chim was telling Buck about his own experience in the fire academy while Maddie was telling Karen about her new job at dispatch. Buck was glad that Maddie liked it so much and that she was sticking around. 

“I’m glad you have her,” Andrew said with a motion at Maddie. “You know, when I first found out you were lying to me, I was angry. And then Chimney told me about how alone you were and why this all happened and I could tell once I got to talk to you. And then, well, I figured messing with you a little was the least I could do.”

“Of course,” Buck said. 

“And messing with my brother was fun too,” Andrew said. 

Andrew fixed him with a long look then, a knowing one that told Buck that Andrew knew everything. Or maybe not everything, but that he had some idea about what had happened with him and Eddie. 

“How is he?” Buck asked. 

“Stubborn mostly,” Andrew said. “But he misses you, Buck.” 

Buck didn’t want to admit to Andrew how much he missed Eddie, too. How much he wished that things could be different between them. 

“And I think you’re being a little bit stubborn too,” Andrew said and he quirked an eyebrow. 

“I wouldn’t even know what to say,” Buck whispered. “Last time I saw him...it didn’t go so well.” 

But he missed him and he wished that being around Chimney and Hen and Andrew and even Karen didn’t make him wish that Eddie was there too. 

–

Next Chapter

Notes: Just one more chapter left. I can’t even believe it. Please let me know what you all thought about it! 

Tagging: @tranquility-or-chaos @diazbuckleysworld @stilesgivesmefeels

[tozierbraks]

reddie for 50 & 8?

“Why are you so jealous?”

“Oh god, I need a drink”

“Oh god, I need a drink,”Richie Tozier groaned as he fell into a chair beside Beverly Marsh. On his other side was an empty chair, Eddie left it empty and sat in the next one. His eyes flitted around the circle between these five strangers, one after the other until they landed on Richie and stuck. He had always been tall, but now he was broad, filling out the leather jacket he wore over his typical button up. Eddie knew it was typical because he had caught most of Richie Tozier’s stand up specials on late night TV. He spent most nights on the couch nowadays, so the TV was usually on.

There was a scramble for drink menus, though most everyone had a usual to rely on. As Ben wondered aloud if they would have his favorite bourbon Eddie snorted a laugh when a memory flashed through his mind of all of them  as teenagers in their clubhouse hideout passing a bottle of bottom shelf vodka around their circle. Growing up makes you picky. The conversation was raucous, no one noticed his laughter except Richie who quirked his eyebrow. Eddie waved him off, but it was too late, he was caught in Richie’s crossfire.

“So wait, Eddie, you got married?” At the taunting tone of Richie’s voice Eddie’s wall went up and he brought out the fiery temper he used to keep everyone far from it.

“Yeah, why’s that so fuckin’ funny dickwad?”

“What, to like a woman?” The flames went up higher, and Eddie narrowed his eyes.

“Fuck you, bro.” 

Richie echoed him, but Bill jumped in and shifted the spotlight to Richie himself who brushed off the question with some dumb joke about Eddie’s mom. Something itched in Eddie’s mind at that, memories coming in uncomfortably like growing pains. When the conversation finally moved away from himself and his immediate family he exhaled and focused on his plate of food.

He was glad to be beside Richie, rather than across from him. It made sneaking glances his way much easier. He caught Richie staring back a few times, his eyes heavy with the weight of taking this all in. As they settled into the nostalgic camaraderie Eddie leaned his right arm on the table, his elbow pushing into the spot saved for Stan Uris. He tried to relax, but couldn’t shake the drop of dread in his stomach that was growing larger the longer he stayed in Derry. Ben talked about his architecture firm, they congratulated Bev on her successful fashion line and her marriage though she offered about as much enthusiasm about it as Eddie had for his. While Bill filled them in about his wife something bumped Eddie’s elbow. He looked to see Richie’s own also leaned on the table, his chair seemed closer than it had been, Eddie could start to smell his cologne now.

“Yeah Bill, I’ve seen your wife at parties,” Richie spoke up. “Real pretty, real nice.” He nudged Eddie’s elbow. “Oh, sorry, Eddie, I know that might be a sore subject for you people less fortunate in that department.”

“Fuck off, Tozier.” He yanked his arm back away from Richie, but Richie caught him, wrapping his hand around Eddie’s bicep.

‘Hey I was being sincere, I’m real sorry about that wife of yours.”

“I’m sorry you could never manage to pull one,” Eddie retorted, trying and failing to pull his arm away. He met Richie’s eyes and found a curiously intense stare, way too serious for the way they were giving each other shit. Catching Eddie’s eye, he snapped out of it and laughed when Eddie tried again to get his arm out of his grasp.

“Still stronger than you, Eds.” He let Eddie’s arm go but caught his hand as Eddie moved back. “Arm wrestle me, I don’t think we ever had a real tie breaker when we were kids.” Eddie was only half listening. Richie’s hand wrapped around his own turned that annoying itch of lost memory to a roar, he was totally tuned in to the blood rushing in his ears. The memory never really came though, besides a blurry idea of sitting at a cafeteria table trying to prove something by arm wrestling Richie way too often. There was more to remember, the warmth of Richie’s palm was pulling at it like a magnet, but it was too far gone still.

Returning his attention to the room he saw that Richie had scooted to the seat next to him and was poised and ready to wrestle. The competitive glint in his eye sparked Eddie and he returned to that childlike energy he hadn’t felt in years. He lost, but he was laughing too hard to care.

It didn’t last long, though. Soon Mike reminded them why they were really here. The fortune cookies exploded into horrible monsters. Richie declared he was leaving, and Eddie followed. Ignoring Mike’s protest, they sped back to the hotel where Richie waited for him at the front door.

Inside, they walked side by side up the stairs. The rush was over, now they kept a slow, steady pace down the long hallway. Anything to postpone their goodbye at the end of this. Eddie’s head pounded with a migraine made worse whenever he thought about the heavy tension between them. Halfway down the hall Richie nudged his shoulder against Eddie’s.

“Betcha can’t wait to get back to that wife of yours.”

“Why are you so jealous?” he joked back, throwing an elbow into Richie’s stomach as they arrived at the door to Eddie’s room.

It was the wrong thing to say. Richie sank back against the wall beside the door. He wasn’t smiling anymore, his lips a thin line. He was frozen, only his eyes moving as he searched Eddie’s face. They were desperate, begging Eddie for something he didn’t have.

“Richie…

“You really don’t remember, Eds?” Richie’s hands were in his pockets, his gaze trained on his sneakers.

“Remember what, Richie?’ His head pounded with frustration, with memory he just barely  couldn’t get to. “Just tell me,” his voice cracked on the last syllable, and his pitch rose as he grabbed Richie’s arm. “Cause I’m going to lose my fucking mind soon.” Folding his hand over Eddie’s where it gripped his bicep, Richie pulled himself up and into Eddie’s space, stopping only when their noses brushed.

“This, Eddie,” his voice was ragged. “Please. Please remember.” Eddie closed his eyes, breathed Richie in, felt their hands still clenched together on Richie’s arm.

“Tell me, Richie, I need to hear it.”

“1993. We were seventeen before I had the balls to say anything. You even had to fucking ask me if the movie we went to was a date because I was too chicken shit to hold your hand or anything.” Eddie shuddered, he remembered. “But when we made it back to your room I finally kissed you.” Richie was almost speaking against his lips, tingling now from the memory. “And we…well, doesn’t matter.” Eddie smiled, closing his eyes against Richie’s intense stare. “I was so fucking scared, Eds. Not scared enough to stay away from you, though. It was a secret, but it was us and that was so fucking worth it. I’m just pissed it took me four fu-”

Drowning in the visions flashing through his mind, Eddie reached out for a lifeline by closing the gap and pressing his lips against Richie’s, grabbing his other arm. Richie’s reaction was immediate, he threw his arms around Eddie’s waist and pulled them flush, pouring himself into the kiss. It wasn’t exactly familiar. Richie was at least twenty years older, a little broader, the stubble on his skin scratching Eddie’s chin was new. But it was Richie, and that was all it took to leave Eddie weak in the knees. Too soon, Richie lifted his head, though he didn’t loosen his hold.

“You remember? Or are you just being nice?”

“No,” Eddie laughed his exhale. “Not being nice. Might be having a heart attack though.” Richie laughed and dropped his forehead down against Eddie’s.

“Well sure, kissin’ me has that affect on people.” Eddie bumped his fist into Richie’s chest and scoffed before he put his hand over his own heart to feel the racing pulse. He jumped when Richie reached up to hold it in his own. For as long as he dared, Eddie let the silence surround them, savoring this feeling before the spell had to break. When he heard Ben’s frightened voice from downstairs he knew it was time.

“Rich, you know we can’t leave them.”

Richie stood back up, his back pressing against the wall again. His brows dipped, and his voice was pleading.

“Eddie, come on…” But he knew when he had lost the fight.

“You can go, but I’m going to stay.”“Fuck that,” Richie spat. “Just got you back, there’s no way I’m leaving you here.”

‘Fine,” Eddie nodded. “Then we’ll leave together.”

Richie beamed, and pulled him towards the door to the room, already digging in Eddie’s pocket for the key.

[reddie-fangirl24]

Meeting (A Reddie/Titanic Crossover)

NOTE: This is for @itfandomprompts Today’s prompt is Crossover. I have been thinking about a Reddie/Titanic scenario for a while. Let me know what you think of this piece. Maybe I will write more. Enjoy!

Running down the decks of the Titanic, his shoes beating against the hardwood, Eddie sobbed. He inadvertently shoved passed other passengers, only angering them. Not one asked if he was okay. A man of his age shouldn’t be crying. Nobody cared! That’s how his life had always been. Eddie just ran, trudging up and down stairwells to other parts of the ship, not going to stop until there was nowhere else to run.

Puffing a gust of smoke, Richie relaxed as he lounged on the third class steerage deck. He needed to get away from it all. Despite being an extrovert who loved to be surrounded by people, Richie enjoyed time alone. Come to think of it, he hadn’t been alone for a long time. Besides, Stanley had eyes for that Patty woman who he met just this morning. And he was the one who said that love, at first sight, didn’t exist. 

Staring up at the stars, this all still didn’t feel real. Richie felt as if he’d wake up, back out on the cold, lonely streets of England. It had been years since his parents died. They were 40. Like he was now. No, that was not going to happen to him. He made a promise to his ailing mother to live his best life. He was going to do just that.

Shaking his mind out of those thoughts, Richie needed to wake up to the fact that he was on the Titanic. He was sailing back home to America. There... well, maybe things would get better. For a reason he could never understand, they were never okay. He just had to learn the hard way that living in England was not the right life for him.

 Nobody had a sense of humor for a comedian... struggling comedian, like him. At least people admired his drawings. 

Just then, Richie heard someone. They quickly ran by, sounding as if they were crying. Sitting up on the bench, Richie noticed a familiar man disappear around a corner.

Eddie ran into the stern’s flagpole, grasping it to hold himself steady, and catch his breath. Taking out his inhaler, he took a breath. It didn’t make him feel better. Hot tears soaked his face.

Picking his head up, Eddie’s eyes hooked onto the Atlantic Ocean slowly moving through the sea. Feeling drawn to it, Eddie slowly paced the last of the deck, until he was gripping the railings on the very end of the Titanic.

“Honestly, Eddie, you’re hardly even a man! Why don’t you grow a backbone... or-or something!”

Or something. 

Slowly, with shaking legs, Eddie started climbing up the rail and struggled over to the other side. Eddie gasped nearly misplacing a step. Then again, this was the whole point anyway. Right?

Here he was. Eddie’s back against the railing, facing the dark, ominous ocean. His feet were just clinging to a small section as his hands clasped the bars. He could feel himself sweating, making his hands slippery. His inhaler. The only way he could get into his pocket as if he let go of the railing. 

Did water always look this monstrous? How would Eddie know? He’d never been swimming a day in his life. The ship’s propellers were churning in the sea, chopping the water into pieces, but it did not break.

Eddie slowly leaned forward, closing his eyes, slowly loosening his grip.

“Hey! Stop!”

Shooting his head around, Eddie came face to face was a man. Just from his set of clothing, he could instantly tell that he was third class. His hair was a tangled mess of curly black hair. He wore glasses with one broken lens. The man was also taller than he was. Aside from his baggy clothing, the man was quite... handsome. Not to mention, familiar. 

“St-Stay back!” Eddie ordered feeling his heart racing. “Don’t come any closer!”

It was definitely the man he saw from afar yesterday. Now that he was closer, Richie noticed the tear streaks covering his face. And he was definitely not dressed for the weather. He almost looked as if he’d been in a fight. No coat, his shirt buttons half-opened, revealing some of his chest, and his bow tie was also tangled around his neck. It was about to fly away at any second due to the wind. 

Richie’s heart sunk seeing him this way. The man looked even worse from yesterday. And now here he was. Attempting suicide. There was definitely something wrong. 

“You expect me to walk off when you’re going to jump off the stern? Nah, not happening! C’mon, take my hand. I’ll pull you back in,” Richie instructed. He still stood at the distance the man told him. 

“No, I mean it!” Eddie shook his head. He lifted his hand for only a second but grasped the railing with white knuckles. His eyes shifted in confusion, panic, and also a light of hope. “I-I’ll let go!”

Eddie turned back to the ocean, again looking down from the sheer height and leaning forward. But, he turned back to the man, wondering why he wasn’t saying anything. 

Richie took his cigarette out of his mouth, held it in his hand and gesturing to the frightened man that he was only throwing it overboard. Eddie never took his eyes off the object until it disappeared into the black, rough sea. It was no more. 

Then Eddie watched as the man just nonchalantly put his hands inside his pockets and put a foot up against the ship’s anchor sitting close by. He looked as if he were trying to stretch out his leg. If it were Eddie’s imagination it looked as if he were smiling. “No, you won’t.”

Eddie huffed, blood racing into his cheeks, making him flush. Was he egging him on? “What do you mean ‘no, I won’t’? Don’t you tell me what I should or should not do! You don’t know me!” Or did he?

It was evident from the man’s sophisticated language that he was of a higher class. That didn’t make a difference. Lots of people out on the streets knew big words. And some of them never even attended school. 

Richie took another little step closer, further intriguing Eddie. “You know, if you really did want to jump, you would have jumped already!”

His hand looked so smooth, so inviting, more welcoming than Myra's forceful, and admittedly beefy hands dragging him everywhere. This man was very respectful. He didn’t even know him.

Eddie shook his head, a tear escaping his eye. “You’re just distracting me! Get away!”

“I can’t, not when I’m involved now,” Richie said to him. “If you let go I’m jumping in there after you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! You’d be killed!” Eddie stated the irony. He stared back down at the ferocious current. He almost forgot about the terror.

Just then, Eddie turned his head, hearing a noise. The man was now taking off his jacket, letting it hang over the ship’s anchor. Now that his coat was off, Eddie could study the man’s frame. His shoulders were muscular. Eddie couldn’t take his eyes off his chest which was slightly revealed. And his arms were... No, he had to focus!

“I’m a good swimmer!” Now he was untying his shoes. “Beat my dad in a swimming race when I was four!”

“The fall alone would kill you,” Eddie went on, his voice shaking, as his impedible doom swamped his mind in all the awful possibilities.

The man hummed, staring at the stars as if he were trying to figure them out. “I don’t know, I’m more worried about that water being so cold,” Richie said with all the fear residing in his voice. Eddie turned to him intrigued. That’s right, he had never been swimming a day in his life. His mother refrained lessons about the ocean, fearing that he could drown even without going swimming. 

“How cold is it?” Eddie asked him, curiously. Eddie’s tone almost sounded like a child.

“Pretty damn freezing,” Richie answered nodding his head, looking down at the water. “Ever uh... been to Maine?”

Maine. “Huh?”

“Maine. It’s that state that’s right at the top of...”

“I know where Maine is!” Eddie snapped at him. For some reason, Eddie didn’t want to think about Maine right now. Why?

The man recoiled a bit from his sharp tone, startled. Oh no, please don’t leave! Having this man concerned for his own sake when he had no idea who he was, warmed Eddie’s heart.

“Sorry, you just seemed more of the indoor type of guy,” Richie apologized. Eddie’s heart stung at the remark. Now he was going to make judgments, too?

“Anyway, I grew up in Derry, Maine,” Richie hesitated before going into a story. “Well, when I was a kid, we uh, lived close to this lake. And well, long story short, I fell through the ice when I was thirteen.” He stared into Eddie’s immense brown eyes. “That water plus this great beauty... it punctures you like a thousand knives all over your body. You can’t breathe, or think... at least nothing besides the pain.”

What was Eddie even doing? Eddie’s entire body was shaking, feeling the cold. 

“Which is why I don’t want to jump in there after you. But, I don’t have a choice. I guess I’m kinda hoping that you’d rethink this, come back over the rail, and get my ass off the hook.”

Eddie giggled. Was that his own laugh? The man stared at him, chuckling, too.

“You’re crazy!” Eddie said to him half smiling.

Richie leaned forward, his own blue eyes capturing Eddie’s soul. “I might be crazy, but I’m not the one hanging off the back of a ship.”

Eddie frowned, having forgotten about the situation.

A hand fell in his line of vision. The soft, welcoming hand. “Come on. You don’t want to do this. Gimme your hand.”

Slowly unfastening his hand from the railing, Eddie took the man’s hand and turned himself back around, slowly, now face to face with the man who sighed in relief.

“There we go! Names Richie Tozier!”

Eddie smiled, now having a better view of the man’s charming face. “Eddie Kaspbrak-Bennington.”

Richie snickered. “Can you write that down for me? Now come on, get back over here, you!”

Feeling an immense, and yet overwhelming, feeling of contentedness, Eddie started to climb the railing.

Unbeknownst that Eddie’s own shoelace had come untied, Eddie slipped falling over the edge! Richie caught him just in time, practically having the wind knocked out of him as he slammed hard against the railings. Eddie’s piercing screams of terror sounded over the boat deck, alerting officers.

“I’ve got you, Eddie! I won’t let go!” Richie yelled, pulling with all his might. “You gotta pull yourself up!”

“I can’t!” Eddie cried, struggling to find some sort of grip. He was just dangling over the bold letters of the Titanic’s name. The water crashed against the ship, shriveling up in the propellers. 

“Yes, you can!” Richie encouraged him.

Nobody ever encouraged him before. Suddenly finding strength, Eddie caught his hand on the edge of the ship where he’d just been standing and managed to pull himself up. He only slipped once more. Not giving in, Eddie tried again for his own sake, having no desire to end his life anymore. Slowly, but surely, both Eddie and Richie worked together until Eddie was close enough for Richie to grab him and safely pull him back over onto the deck of the ship.

The position they landed in was quite embarrassing, with Richie on top of Eddie, his arms still around him. Eddie had just about passed out from the shock. Richie gasped. Not at the approaching officers, but at this vague memory from when he was a kid. This man... was he...

Recognizing Eddie as a first-class passenger, Eddie was still in a daze, slowly comprehending everything as the officers sat him up and walked him over to the benches, giving him a blanket. 

Keeping a close watch on Eddie, Richie was kept aside until Myra and Eddie’s mother showed up to the scene. Immediately Eddie’s mother fell to her knees, shrieking at Eddie in hysterics. Amused at the way she was acting, even asking if he scraped his knees, the woman was acting as if Eddie were a child. Once the officers alerted them of what they had seen, right when Eddie’s mother was going to give Richie a piece of his mind, Myra shoved right passed her and blew up, shouting in Richie’s face.

“What in the world were you thinking?! You just wanted to attack my husband and throw him over the ship?!”

Richie briefly glanced at Eddie, who was shivering from the fear and the cold. His mother still had an arm around his shoulder, pushing his hand into her chest. 

“Look at me when I am yelling at you!” The woman was shorter than him, and yet she shoved her face into his, spit flying off her mouth.

“I am!”

“Now you're going to talk down to a lady? I want to know why you attacked him! Sure, Eddie is not the most masculine of men you’d ever see, but that gives you no right to attack him! Why you should be clapped in irons for the rest of the voyage...”

“Myra,” Eddie interrupted her rage. He stood up on his shaking legs, kept the blanket wrapped around himself and walked forward. Myra stared at him angrily, like a bull. Eddie was also taller than her. She was ten times his own body-mass, that was for sure. It was a funny image to Richie who was trying to hold back a snicker. 

“I was studying the propellers,” Eddie said, nervously smiling as if nothing had happened.

“What?” His mother asked, confused. 

“Um... I-I was trying to surmise the propellers, and I had leaned too far over the railings. If it weren’t for Mr. Tozier, I would have fallen overboard!”

Myra just stared at him as if he were out of his mind, as did his mother. “Eddie, that is the stupidest thing you've ever done!”’

“And dangerous. Eddie, what have I told you about leaning too far over?” His mother chimed in. “You should never have left the dinner table without us!”

Ashamed, Eddie nodded in agreement, briefly staring at Richie.

Myra calmed down and chuckled. She gave Eddie’s shoulder a pat, rather roughly. Eddie could have fallen to the ground. “You and your fixations with machinery, Eddie! I swear you'd lose your head if it weren’t glued on.”

“Well, I guess the boy is a hero!” An officer declared, letting Richie loose.

“That he is,” Eddie’s mother remarked with little emotion. She eyed him, disapprovingly. Richie swore that he recognized that look.

“Well, I suppose you could go with a reward. Eddie, you wouldn’t have a twenty on you by chance, would you?” Myra asked him so cheerfully.

Richie laughed. “That’s the going rate for the man you love?” he teased.

Myra eyed Richie, sinisterly. Wow, this woman really looked like the woman who he assumed with Eddie’s mom. Were they twins?

“He does make a fair point,” Eddie spoke softly. Immediately he shrunk inside the blanket upon seeing a death glare from his mother and Myra, averting his gaze.

Myra’s scowl turned to a cruel smile, sliding her cold hand across Eddie’s cheek, almost painfully pinching as if he were a child. “Ah, you’re displeased, huh, Eddie? Well, what to do now?” Her voice was almost singing, making her disgust known.

“How about dinner tomorrow evening?” Eddie’s mother suggested, with a grim smile. 

“Yes, dinner in the first class! Wouldn’t that be nice?” Myra chimed in with the same mocking tone as everyone else. “Why don’t you regale us all with stories of your adventures?” 

Richie looked at Eddie. His brown immense eyes lit up under the stars. It was hard not to look at him.

Richie shrugged. “Sure, count me in.”

“Good! Now let’s go inside! It’s freezing out here!” Myra lamented, clapping her hands together and blowing against them, creating heat. “Eddie, could I take that blanket from you?”

“You got a fur coat on!” Richie confronted, turning up his nose.

She turned back staring at Richie with this intense expression. Eddie looked worried. The man was not afraid to speak out. Eddie wished he could do that.

“Funny how your shoes are untied,” Myra remarked quietly right in his face. Richie glanced down. Shit! But, then the woman made a reminiscent smile of someone he once knew. “Hiding any secrets are we?”

Secrets...

Richie shivered, grasping the bench trying to hold himself up.

Myra noted Richie’s reaction and smiled in her victory. She then walked off, her nose high in the air, with Eddie’s mother in tow. The officers also left the scene.

“Are you alright?” A concerned Eddie asked, holding the blanket around his lean shivering shoulders.

Richie caught himself, trying to make his voice calm, and standing tall. “Yeah.”

“Eddie!” Myra called out to him, making Eddie jump.

“Come along, dear, before you catch a cold!” His mother concluded.

Eddie nodded in gratitude to Richie, wanting to say so much. “I have to go. I will see you tomorrow evening?”

“Yeah. See yah, Eds!” Richie playfully saluted him.

Eddie smiled. His cheeks flushed. “Good night, Mr. Tozier.”

Snorting, Richie shook his head. “We’re the same age, man! Just call me Richie!”

Embarrassed, Eddie smiled. “Richie.”

Richie watched the man disappear inside. He finally relaxed against the bench. What a night. What did this mean? It was the same warm feeling he had when he was with... him. No, he was not. Richie doubted that this man would even show up tomorrow. But, he hoped that he would. 

[carlisle980]

👀

Manchester, 1972

It would rain on commencement day. She checks her hair in the mirror one last time. She’s fixed it twice since arriving. Thankfully they’ve moved the ceremony indoors. She smooths her collar, rolls her shoulders. Practises her smile as the words of her speech run through her head. She mouths them, pacing, the click-click-click of her high heels echoing off the walls, setting a cadence for her to follow.

She is nervous. It isn’t that she lacks confidence in her ability to deliver the speech, exactly, it’s …

Her musings are interrupted by a knock at the door. “There she is … the woman of the hour!”

She turns to see Reginald Crawley stood in the doorway in coat and tie.

“Reggie! Oh wow, hi! I hadn’t expected you to turn up today. I didn’t know as Daddy could spare you.”

“We only had two patients on for this afternoon and both of them rang to cancel. And even if they hadn’t, your mum would have persuaded him to close early. It’s not every day his only daughter delivers the Head Girl’s speech at Lady Barn House.”

“About that …” she mutters, studying the floorboards.

“What is it? Not nervous, are you? You’ve performed a thousand times.”

She responds with a withering look. Meets his eyes. Sees him grinning, and grins back. Shrugging her shoulders, she tells him, “Yes, but speaking is rather a different animal from playing piano. That, and I still feel like a bit of an interloper, I suppose.”

“Because you’re leaving a year early and these aren’t the lot you started with.”

She opens her mouth to reply, then closes it promptly. He’s done it again, she realises. He’s said precisely what she’s thinking. Again, because it’s been happening rather frequently of late. It’s true that they spend a lot of time with each other, she managing the clerical things at her father’s surgery and he assisting with as many procedures as his training permits. She works the maximum hours allotted a secondary student, determined to put by as much money as she can for her university tuition fees. But her brother works just as much as the both of them, and if he’s got any inkling as to her mental state he seems completely oblivious.

Of course, there could be an explanation for Ed’s aloof manner of late. He’s recently been spending the little free time he’s got in the company of a young lady called Alice Tamworth. Alley. She was two years ahead of Isobel at Lady Barn House. She’s taking a degree in literature at U of M. Isobel likes Alley. Rather a lot, in fact. But she’s turned Eddie’s brains to mush. Which is why Isobel has resolved that love is not for her. The path she’s chosen demands excellence, and the pressure on her will always be greater by virtue of her having been born female. She can’t afford to give her studies — or her work — less than her absolute best.

Why, then, is it suddenly so difficult to ignore the piercing blue of Reginald’s eyes? And why does it feel as though his ability to discern tiny details about her is rooted in something deeper than just friendship?

“Earth calling Isobel,” Reginald teases.

“Hmm? Oh, sorry. I was miles away.”

He grins. Was he always so handsome?

“Penny for them.” He pulls out a chair for her and indicates she should sit before taking a seat of his own.

She smiles softly, feeling her cheeks pink. “I doubt they’re worth that much.”

“Ha’penny, then.” He smiles again. Her heart pounds in her chest. He’s gorgeous. How had she missed it all this time?

“Have you noticed a change in Ed lately?” she manages. If he’s so skilled at reading her, she shouldn’t have to elaborate.

“You mean the way his brains leave the building whenever Alley’s around?” He shakes his head. “Wanker.”

“Exactly, and I hope you tell him that! Lad’s twenty; he can do what he wants, but—”

Reginald scowls. “No, he bloody well can’t! Not as much as your dad relies on him; never mind the fair fortune he and your mum are spending on his education. Oh I’m bally well brassed off with him; don’t you worry … missing clinic hours, failing to submit assessments. He’s had the world handed to him on a silver platter and he’s blowing it spectacularly. But haven’t you got bigger fish to fry?”

She grins. “Well then … tell us how you really feel!” He studies his shoes and she notices the way his ears redden. She likes that about him. Come to that she can’t think of anything she doesn’t like about him. Shaking off that realisation, she continues, “It’s everything you said … and I suppose it also makes me think that if love does that to a person, it’s an experience I’ll have to forgo.” He scoffs and she rebuffs him. “You can’t sit here and tell me I’m wrong, Reggie! Both you and my brother got onto the premed course by virtue of your marks alone. I, on the other hand, was made to provide twice the number of character references and go ten rounds with the department chair over whether my science A-levels will count seeing as I finished them a year ago. And all of that despite having higher UKCAT scores than the both of you!” She pauses for breath, her expression moving through agitation to resignation. Ruefully she adds, “It’s a risk I can’t afford.”

He rises from his chair and walks towards the door. It’s only moments until she’s due at the podium. “Look, I’ll go. I came to say good on you and break a leg and walk out there with your head held high because you’ve earned this …”

Getting to her feet, she moves to the doorway. “Reg, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so ratty. Thank you for coming to see me.” She squeezes his bicep, smiling softly.

“I’m not going to argue with you. We haven’t any of us chosen an easy path: you, me, or Ed. And there’s no doubt you’ve had a harder go than us. You’ll always have an uphill climb. I just think it’s a mistake to write off love because of it.” The earnestness in his eyes catches her on the back foot.

“That’s as may be,” she demurs, eyes cast towards the floor. “All the same I can’t see why you should trouble yourself with what I think. I mean I know I’m like a little sister to you, but—”

“No, Isobel. That’s not how I see you at all.” Their eyes meet. He takes a small step closer to her. The world stops turning as she watches his eyes flit from her own eyes to her lips. He touches her shoulder, his hand moving up to cradle her cheek.

Surely he isn’t … He can’t … He is! He’s going to kiss me! “Reggie,” she whispers, almost too faintly to hear, “I don’t know how … I’ve never—”

“I know,” he murmurs. “It’s alright.” He leans in. She can feel his breath on her face.

I should close my eyes, she thinks. Aren’t you supposed to close your eyes? He stops just short of her mouth. Giving her time to pull away. Oh! he’s warm. And he’s handsome. And I don’t want to close my eyes. I should touch him. Shouldn’t I touch him? She’s never been in such close proximity to a man before. To be sure, she’s danced with Daddy and Ed at weddings and hospital functions, but they don’t count. She reaches up with uncertainty and fumbles, her hands finding purchase in the lapels of his jacket.

In the next moment his lips touch hers and apprehension vanishes. He is so gentle, brushing the backs of his fingers across her face. She has no idea what she’s doing, how to make this enjoyable for him, but as the first kiss melds into the second she opens her mouth under his, and then so does he. She makes a sound that surprises her, moaning into his mouth when he deepens the kiss and she doesn’t want this shouldn’t want this oh sod it all this is incredible but what the hell does it mean? Oh shut up, for the love of God would you just shut up and enjoy something like a normal person for once you fool?

“Oh!” she gasps loudly when the tip of his tongue slips just past her teeth. Alright, I was wrong; this isn’t unpleasant at all and his mouth is so sweet and I don’t want to stop and—

He pulls back. She gasps again, missing the softness of his lips. “Are you alright?” he pants. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” She frowns, inching closer to him again, aiming to put her hands on his shoulders. He stops her, taking her hands in his own.

She has never thought of herself as small. In fact, she has scarcely ever given any thought whatsoever to her stature. Wit is the standard by which she has measured herself against others. Intellect. But now she notices two things: firstly, that her hands are tiny, held inside of Reginald’s. And secondly, she doesn’t want him to let go. Ever.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he whispers, looking down at their hands. Her left thumb has begun tracing tiny circles over the blue veins on the underside of his wrist. He should stop her. He doesn’t.

“Why not?” she counters. “It was … nice. Wonderful, actually. I suppose the first time was going to happen sooner or later, and there’s no one I’d—” She stops herself suddenly, realising what she’d been about to say. There’s no one I’d rather have done this with. She scolds herself. But you just finished saying that love is for fools, not for women fighting like hell against men for the right to practise medicine. Not for you. Her cheeks flush bright red and she presses a hand to her mouth.

Yet he still holds the other. He waits for her eyes to meet his.

“There’s a longer conversation to be had,” he says gently, astutely. “But now you’ve got to go. Look, it doesn’t have to mean anything, Isobel, if you don’t want it to���”

“Yeah, but you do! You never do anything unless you mean it.” She pauses briefly, pacing back and forth. “Right, I can’t talk now. But we need to do …”

“So ring me up when you’re ready. Best of luck out there, you’ll smash it. I’m going to go find your dad and mum.” He drops her hand and starts to walk away.

She catches his wrist. “Wait,” she implores him, sounding less steady than she means to do. “Reggie, I …” She leans in and presses her lips to his, deepening the kiss when a soundless ‘Oh!’ escapes his lips. “I don’t know, alright?” she whispers when they break apart. He nods. “But I’ll ring you.”

He lifts her hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. “You’ve done it, Izzy,” he says, giving her fingers a squeeze before leaving go of her hand. “Congratulations.” As he walks away she touches her lips. They still tingle from his kisses.

[eddycurrents]

Abe Sapien: The Secret Fire - “The Garden (II)”

Words: Mike Mignola & Scott Allie | Art: Max Fiumara | Colours: Dave Stewart | Letters: Clem Robins

Originally published by Dark Horse in Abe Sapien #28-29 | November-December 2015

Collected in Abe Sapien - Volume 7: The Secret Fire | Abe Sapien: Dark and Terrible - Volume 2

Plot Summary:

Abe Sapien visits with Maggie, a girl literally touched by those who first came after the Hyperboreans, and learns a bit more about his place in the world to come.

Reading Notes:

(Note: Pagination is solely in reference to the chapter itself and is not indicative of anything within the issue or collections.)

pg. 1 - Something seems to be whispering to Abe. Not sure that’s a good thing or a sign that he’s losing it.

pg. 2/3 - Great double-page spread here that gives voice to many of his concerns through snippets of conversations with others.

pg. 4 - I think this may just be the bear that we saw in “The Shadow Over Suwanee”, unfortunately changed by the mists. Tentacles, exposed flesh, not very pretty, but a great design from Max Fiumara. Also, a nice way to further tie this together with the last arc.

pg. 7 - And still haunted by Grace’s words. Keeping him away from going towards another city. It’s sad to see Abe alienating and distancing himself from the world.

pg. 9 - Nice to see Stazz back. Even if it’s just a brief moment for Panya to tell her to continue to keep Abe’s location secret.

pg. 10 - It’s still very interesting that Panya wants Abe on his own, finding out whatever he needs to find out. It makes you wonder what she herself knows.

pg. 11 - Gorgeous art here from Fiumara and Dave Stewart. It’s nice to see that there are still some areas that are lush with “normal” wildlife. Even if it is a swamp in the Carolinas.

pg. 13 - Abe seems a little snippy.

pg. 15 - Interesting to see that the girl that the witch was talking about turns out to be real. Although the build up of “destiny” again seems to be something that all of the agents seem to rankle against.

pg. 17 - The continued blending of past and present is interesting here. It continues to make it feel as though Abe is haunted by the past.

pg. 19 - Maggie doesn’t look like she was actually Abe to be...well Abe.

pg. 22 - I’m not sure if the occultist getting closer to the Black School is ultimately a good thing. The Ogdru Hem just hanging out in the background is also spooky.

pg. 23 - More beautiful nature. I love that colour on the bird in contrast to the darkness of the land and house.

pg. 25 - That Maggie’s mother can understand her fine is an interesting detail. Also, Abe reassuring them that she’s not speaking gibberish, but an ancient language.

pg. 28 - This is a different interpretation of the two paths. Traditionally, this is something that’s broken down into the two different types of magick. The right-hand path representing white magic, the left-hand path black magic. Though many reject the idea of black magic as an impossibility, defining it as magick that works against the will of magician, and instead look at it as embracing subjects that would otherwise be considered taboo, like sex magick. There are many who will argue the differing points of what constitutes what, but by and large they all almost posit that it doesn’t categorize as “good” and “evil” forms of magick.

pg. 30 - Maggie seems to think that Abe is going to do something to everyone else that’s not led down into the ancient city underground. It’s like Hellboy’s destiny to destroy the world.

pg. 31 - And just like Hellboy, Abe rejects the idea of that destiny. It’s nice that they’re all consistent.

pg. 33 - I do love the presentation of these flashbacks. Nice colour wash and worn panel borders.

pg. 35 - This bit on many different factions knowing of something coming in the future and recontextualizing it to fit within their own perspective to their own ends makes a lot of sense.

pg. 37 - So Liz is a “Vessel of the Fire”. We should probably remember that and put it in context with some other stuff we’ve seen recently.

pg. 38 - Interesting to find out that Abe has “guardian angels” and that one of them is Panya.

pg. 40 - And that the other one is indeed Edith Caul. It seems I wasn’t crazy in thinking that it was her back in A Darkness So Great.

pg. 42 - Even more fascinating that she doesn’t consider him Caul any more, that he’s been reborn and transformed. That his “home” isn’t Rhode Island, but with his new family of the Bureau.

pg. 44 - This should be an interesting homecoming.

Final Thoughts:

Everything is coming together in Abe Sapien and BPRD: Hell on Earth as the end nears and all of the pieces are falling into place. It’s very impressive the interconnectivity of the various seemingly disparate parts of the overall Hellboy universe going right back to the very first story. It’s been a long game, but it’s very fulfilling as we see what happens of all the little bits and pieces. Even if the answers that we do get don’t necessarily fill Abe with confidence or hope.

It’s also very interesting that Mike Mignola and Scott Allie are telling us exactly what Abe and Liz are supposed to be in the future of the next race of men and a vessel for the fire, but we’re still not quite sure what that means.

d. emerson eddy feels like onion rings. A crusty fried exterior with a soft tissue inside that makes you cry.

[valetikinvestigations]

Sam + birthday dinner

This is a long one guys!

”Why exactly am I wearing this?” Eddie fiddled with the black skinny tie before throwing his arms down in frustration.

“Because it’s Samantha’s birthday and you love her.” Syd cocked her head to the side and took in her former lover. So much had changed in such little time. When she looked at him now he was far different from the man she’d once known. He was softer. More easy going.

“I don’t love her.” Eddie stated matter-of-factly. Grabbing the tie from one end he slid it off his neck in one swift motion.

“Fine, you admire her? Adore her? Feel an immense attraction toward her? Stop me when I’ve found the right word.” She tried to hold back her laugh as she watched the man fidget with his suit.

“Shut up.” Eddie threw the tie onto Syd’s paisley comforter and unbuttoned his jacket. He began to slide his arms out of the confines of the uncomfortable suit when Syd walked to him and hit his back. A signal that a dinner jacket was a requirement, not a suggestion.

“Come here.” The blond beauty twirled her fingers, motioning for him to spin around and face her. “I’ll fix this.” Eddie towered over Syd. Even in heels the private investigator was still four inches taller than her. “We’re going to Nobu for Sam’s birthday. I got us a table overlooking the ocean.” Her fingers popped-up Eddie’s collar and slid the tie around his neck once more. “And I know how much you hate sushi, but it’s Sam’s favorite so you’re just going to have to suck it up.”

“I never said I hate sushi.” He watched her hands work on his tie. It was almost mesmerizing the ease with which she looped the tie and made a perfect knot.

“On our second date you spit it out into your napkin.” Syd patted Eddie’s shoulders and gave him a warm smile. “I must say, you clean up nice.”

“Thanks.” In that moment Eddie felt oddly safe within the walls of Syd’s bedroom. So, he did something out of character for him. He decided to ask his former girlfriend for her opinion on something that meant a lot to him. Usually, this was reserved for Sam, but she wasn’t there and he wanted this to be a surprise. “I uh- I got Sam something. I’m not sure she’ll like it.” He rubbed the back of his head with a cupped palm and slid out a small cube box from the pocket of his trousers. He didn’t bother opening it, instead he placed the present in Syd’s hand.

“What did you get her?” Pinching her thumb and index finger against the velvet material of the box she heard it pop as the piece of jewelry came into view. It glimmered beneath the lights. “Eddie, this is beautiful. She’s going to love it.”

Sam couldn’t contain her excitement. This is the best birthday ever! It wasn’t an overstatement. This was definitely one of her best birthdays, top ten at least. The brunette beauty couldn’t have imagined the day getting any better. Having Eddie show up at her house and barge into her room with a cake in hand was utterly amazing. They’d sat on her terrace, bare feet crisscrossed against the cold cement. A slice of cake in one hand and a cold ginger ale in the other. He’d played with her hair and she’d asked him if he was ever going to get back on the board. He promised her he would, one day. And she’d told him he was her best friend.

He hadn’t been startled by her confession. Instead he’d smiled in return almost an admission that she was his best friend as well. The morning could not have been better and now this dinner that Syd had organized was the cherry on top of a perfect day.

“My name is Samantha Swift. My friend Sydney made reservations.” Sam tapped her fingers against the podium and waited for the man to find her dinner party in the reservation book.

“Ah, yes. Samantha Swift, party of seven. Right this way.” The head waiter guided her through the restaurant. Her ears were bombarded with the sounds of silverware clanking against white china and the laughter of guests enjoying themselves.

“Thanks.” Sam stopped walking once they’d reached the terrace. Their table overlooked the beach and the sun was just beginning to set. The sky was melting into hues of orange, pink and purple. Her friends were scampering around, setting gifts one one table and fixing the floral arrangements that Syd had obviously been in charge of. “You guys look so beautiful!”

Everyone was dressed in their best attire. Berto’s hair was slicked back into a tight ponytail and he was wearing patent leather dress shoes. She had no idea he owned shoes like those. Her gaze shifted to Monica. The tall woman wore a a black body con dress and her raven tresses were pin straight and slipped into a half-up style. And then there was Eddie. He was hiding behind the beaming hostess like a child clinging onto his mother on his first day of kindergarten. “Everything looks amazing. It’s perfect. Just perfect!”

“You look amazing!” Syd made her way over to her client and pulled her into a tight hug. “Happy Birthday sweetheart.”

“This by far is one of my top 5 birthdays.” Samantha pressed her friend closer and didn’t end the embrace until she noticed Eddie finally making his way over. “Thank you for organizing all of this.”

“Of course.” The blonde woman watched as the male-female duo stood inches away from each other in complete silence. “I’ll start ordering the first course.” She removed herself from the situation, hoping that some privacy would inspire either of them to actually speak.

But they didn’t. They remained standing inches away from each other and it felt like a million years before either of them spoke.

“You clean up nice.” Samantha decided to be the first to break the tension. It was hard to figure out why he was so guarded with her. Maybe their morning had been too much for him. Her uncensored personality might have been off putting. “I’m glad all of you guys came.”

Eddie opened his mouth to say something but no words came out. Why am I nervous? He could feel the palms of his hands getting clammy. It was strange. He was around this woman on a daily basis. And in that moment, he felt a million knots forming in his stomach. Since words seemed to allude him he decided to wrap his right arm around her waist and lay his forehead against her shoulder. She was his best friend, the only person he shared everything with. “You look beautiful”

Hearing him speak allowed the actress to breath once more. “You don't look half bad either.” Her hands melted into his neck, her fingernails dancing across his nape. “I’m glad you’re here.” It took every ounce of strength for her to not kiss him. It would be so easy. She was sure he wouldn’t stop her. All she had to do was place her cheek against his and he would get the message that she wanted him closer.

“Alright you too. Foods on its way. Lets take our seats and open some presents!” Syd waved everyone to the table and began assigning them their seats.

“We should probably head on over.” Sam wanted to hold his hand. She wanted him to guide her back to the table, but she knew it would be too much physical connection. Instead, she strode to the rest of her guests alone. Her best friend only few steps behind her.

“Happy birthday Sam!” The voice came from behind, the cadence was familiar but the actress had a hard time pinpointing who it belonged to.

Almost like he was reading her thoughts Eddie turned to face the voice and find where it was coming from. A big smile formed across his lips as he saw his friend saunter towards them. “Chris? What are you doing here?”

“Sam’s agent invited me.” Chris was donning something fancy for the first time since forever. Her hips were hugged by the tight material of the red bondage-style skirt. The exposure of her mile long legs were toned down by the grey v-neck top. Giving the police officer an effortless “cool-girl” vibe. “Is it alright that I came?”

“Of course it’s alright. It’s more than alright.” Sam extended her arms out towards the woman and pulled her into a hug. This was the first time she’d ever hugged Chris. Neither of them knew what to do. The woman didn’t return the embrace, but she didn’t pull away either. “Thanks for coming.”

“Guys! The foods here, sit down.”

“I’m coming, mom.” Sydney always hated it when Sam called her that, but it seemed fitting. She was the only person that’d ever taken care of her. During her acting jobs she made sure Sam had enough to eat, went on a 30 minute walk, had clean clothes, and a fully stocked fridge. She was also the only person that checked on her while in rehab. “We should probably go sit down before Syd gets pissed.”

“Right.” Eddie slipped his fingers between Sam’s hand without even realizing it. The motion almost instinctive. He began guided her to the table unaware that both Sam and Chris were caught off guard by his actions.

Sam looked down at the table. The flames of the votive candles glittered against the glass vases that held white roses. Pulling a rose from the vase she pressed it onto her nose. “These are my favorite.” Biting down on her lip she stretched her right arm across the table motioning for Syd to hug her. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” Syd waved her hands in a downward motion. “Now everyone sit.”

Sam nodded her head and felt Eddie slide behind her. His hands gripped the chair and a slow pull could be felt against her knees. Squatting down she allowed her partner to push in her dining chair. “Thanks.” Before Monica had a chance to sit next to her, the private investigator unbuttoned his jacket and sat beside the actress. His hands brushed away a few strands that were glued against her shoulder.

You’re beautiful. How can you be this beautiful? All he wanted to do was touch her. After the morning they’d had he felt like they were closer. How could he be close to her if he couldn’t act on all the urges coursing through his body. He wanted to hold her hand, kiss her neck, kiss her lips. He wanted to melt his fingers into her hair.

“The foods here.” Sam’s soft smile and grip against his shoulder pulled the man out of his stream of thoughts. “Ah, it’s my favorite!”

The waiter placed a lobster shiitake salad with spicy lemon dressing on the golden charger in front of Samantha. Gliding over to the man next to her, the young girl placed a yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño on his plate. Once everyone was served the sparkling water began being poured into wine glasses. “Everything looks so good!” Sam admired the food on everyone’s plates and had to fight the urge to steal some. Looking to her right it was obvious that her partner didn’t share her sentiment. His eyebrows were furrowed deeply and his fork clanged against the plate. He lifted the fish with the tip of his knife before allowing it to plop back down into the sauce. “Do you want to switch plates?” Sam offered her food, much like a mother concerned that her child wouldn’t meet their daily quota of calories ingested.

“No, it’s fine. It looks great.”

Sam wasn’t convinced. “Here take mine.” She picked up both plates and switched them around. “It’s really good, I promise.”

Her smile forced Eddie to at least take a bite of the food. He picked up his fork and stabbed it into a piece of mushroom and shrimp. Inspecting the contents on the utensil he closed his eyes and took a bite. “You were right, it’s not terrible.”

“Not terrible? It’s wonderful!” Sam shook her head in amusement and dug her fork into her fish. Taking a bite of the food she began to bob her head side to side in enjoyment. “Today’s been amazing.” Picking up her glass of water she made a quick cheers motion before taking a long swig.

Seeing the joy that radiated from Sam’s frame made Eddie feel that this was as good a time as any. Standing up slightly he slid the lapis blue box from his trouser pocket. “I got you something.” He placed the box a few inches from her fingers before holding his breath in anticipation.

The last time a man had given her a jewelry box it had contained an engagement ring inside. Samantha could hear the thumps of her heart within her ears.

Sensing the anxiety coursing through her body, Eddie decided to fill the space with some lightness. “Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to marry me.”

A hoarse smile escaped her lips, but she still couldn’t breathe. Opening the small box her eyes were surprised to see a small gold medallion, similar to the one Dylan had given her years ago. Inscribed in the circular pendant were the numbers 03.13.17. That was the day she’d checked into the rehab. It was the beginning of her new life. “This…I…I love it.” She wanted to cry. The sentiment behind the gift caught the actress off guard. “It’s wonderful.” She knew Eddie cared about her, but this went above and beyond anything she could have imagined. Who knew he could be so loving. It was a part of him he reserved for when she was in danger it very seldom seeped into their daily life.

“Happy Birthday Samantha Swift.” What he really wanted to say was I love you, but those words were far too strong to be uttered just yet.

“I’m glad I got to spend this day with you.” Sam loved him. It was something that had evolved slowly over time, but she was sure that what she felt was love.

[mayfieldmarsh]

It Doesn’t Work That Way

Summary: Each month Richie gets sadder. Will someone be able to stop his downward spiral before it’s too late? No Pennywise au (who is she? I don’t know her.), takes place in the late 80’s, all of the losers are 16/17, nothing nsfw so it doesn’t matter that much.

Pairing(s): Reddie, slightly implied Benverly at the begining

TW/ warnings: suicidal thoughts, self harm, parental abuse

A/N:  I don’t know if it’s that great. I’m writing some of this from experience, some of it not, so I’m sorry if it all doesn’t tie in that well. 

Words: 7.8k

Ao3 link

Richie had always thought of himself as an outcast. Yeah, he was a part of the losers club, as some people called them, but he felt that even with his friends he didn’t fit in. He felt that no one in his group really valued him. He felt as if everybody in the group had a place except for him.

Bill had been the leader of the club. He was the best at making decisions, and he was a genuinely good friend. Then there was Stan, sure had an obscure sense of humor, but he was also really smart, and he had a way of just knowing things. Mike was basically the group’s historian. He knew all about the town’s past to the point where he seemed obsessed. Ben was the group’s poet lover-boy, with the kindest laugh you have ever head. How could you complete a group without a Ben? Beverly was the only girl in the group, so how could everyone not love her? She was pretty, smart and had the best sense of humor. She was just so chill overall. Then there was Eddie, whom Richie adored. Eddie was obviously the hypochondriac, pocket-sized  nurse of the group. They all somehow fit just perfectly in the group. But then there was Richie. Sure he could crack a few at least decent here and there but, what else was he good for?

August 

School had just ended and kids were pouring out of the building like a title wave. Richie and Bev had gone to their usual spot on the side of the school where no one would be able to see them unless they were looking directly at the two. Without words being exchanged Bev took a cigarette out of her leather jacket and put it between her lips. Richie took out his lighter from his oversized jean jacket and lit the cigarette. They sat down on the side of the wall and Bev let out a puff of smoke. She then proceeded to look at Richie and give a gesturing motion to the cigarette. Richie took it between his fingers and plopped it on between his lips.

“So what’s going on with you Tozier?” Bev asked breaking the comfortable silence between them as Richie let out a puff of smoke upwards.

“What’s it to you Ringwald?” Richie replied with a grin handing the cigarette back. That had been their thing. Every day after school they would come outside and share a cigarette.

“Well since you didn’t feel the need to share your crush on Eddie with me, I now know that I need to ask what’s going on in that mind of yours,” she replied as it was obvious, but nevertheless with a smirk. If Richie had the cigarette in his mouth he would have ended up spitting it out creating a burn on his black skinny jeans. Thank god he didn’t.

“I do not have a crush on Eddie,” Richie responded looking at Bev as if she had gone crazy. Bev took the cigarette away from her mouth revealing her almost shit eating grin as she blew away the smoke.

“Surrree you don’t,” she said handing back the cigarette with a giggle.

“I’m serious Bev, I don’t like Eddie! I’m not gay!” He defends and immediately regrets it. He looks around to make sure no one is listening to their conversation. After he does a thorough examine, he lets out a relieved exhale and takes the cigarette from Bev.

Bev’s eyes soften as she continues to talk to him. “Look Rich, that’s not what I’m trying to say. Look, it’s just me. You don’t have to hide anything. We’re supposed to tell each other everything. We’re supposed to be best friends. You don’t have to worry about me judging you,” she says sweetly. A much different tone from what she was using before. Richie smiles at the idea of them being best friends. He revels in the feeling of actually being valued by someone.

Richie gave a smile to her as he handed back the cigarette. He didn’t want to be rude with her when she was genuinely just trying to be a good friend, so he held back the urge to snap back with some asshole joke.

“Why does it even matter? It’s not like he would ever feel the same way,” he said almost defeated. Bev’s lighthearted smile was taken away by his last comment. “You don’t know that Rich,” she said trying to be supportive, “for all you know he could like you right back,” she finished with a smile. 

“How would you know,” he asked genuinely wanting to know what her answer would be.

“Well I did figure out you liked him didn’t I? I see the way that you look at each other,” she smiled and inhaled the nicotine. She did have a point. “Plus he’s always wearing those tight red shorts that just seem to scream ‘gay’ to me,” she said with a suggestive high pitched voice and giggled looking back at Richie. 

“You got me there,” he laughed looking back at Bev through his big ass glasses. “What about you and Ben? How’s it going with you two, if you catch my drift?” he asked suggestively with a wink.

“Oh my god Richie, I’m not talking about my sex life with you,”  Bev rolled her eyes.

She pushed the cigarette against the wall to put it out. She then dropped it on the pavement near the wall. It had landed in a pile of cigarettes that had been manifesting since the first day of school a few weeks ago.

“We better pick up that pile sooner or later or else someone’s going to find it and catch us,” Richie scolded her but not actually caring what would happen if someone did manage to find their stash of cigarette butts. 

“Oh shut it trashmouth,” Bev smiled looking up at Richie. He threw an arm around her as they walked away from the school. For the first time in a long time Richie felt hope. Hope that one day he would finally belong somewhere, even if it was just with Bev. He didn’t know how long this new found hope would last for, but it sure as hell felt good right now. Apparently, not very long.

September

The losers club had grown worried about Richie. He wasn’t acting like himself. Truth is, he wasn’t himself.

Richie’s parents were beating down on him like there was no tomorrow. He tried to go to school with the same trashmouth physique as always, but some days he couldn’t even bare to muster a smile.

To make matters worse Eddie had gotten himself a girlfriend. The two boys didn’t spend nearly as much time together as they used to. It was all taken up by that bitch Vanessa. They had only been together for a few weeks, but at this point they were attached at the hip. Wherever Eddie went, Vanessa followed like a puppy dog. Richie hated her. Okay maybe he didn’t hate her, just the idea of her. She should not be allowed to date Eddie. Eddie Kaspbrak should be reserved for Richie, and Richie only. They had been friends since they were children. Richie didn’t understand why Eddie would do something like that to him. Richie was hella jealous out of his mind.

Richie would try to act like everything was more than okay, but eventually the losers caught on. He started to miss perfect moments to make unnecessary dirty jokes about Eddie’s mom. While Eddie might have been thrilled to know that Richie was changing into a better man, he knew better. Eddie knew when Richie wasn’t acting like himself.

Richie was standing by his locker glaring at the disgusting couple through his bulky glasses. Even though Eddie was only about 5'6, he still gained about an inch or so on his girlfriend. They were talking whilst their arms were wrapped around the other. Richie wished more than anything that he could take her place and run his fingers through Eddie’s soft hair. 

Eddie glanced in Richie’s direction and they locked eyes for a moment. Eddie looked back at his girlfriend and muttered out what only could be along the lines of a “see you later”. He then pecked her head and started towards Richie. Richie slammed his locker door shut giving one last glare as he started walking in the other direction. He didn’t want to talk about it. What could he even say? “Hey Eddie! What’s going on dude? Hey, by the way, I might actually be in love with you! So why don’t you just break up with your girlfriend right now to be with me? I’m sure you can learn to love a depressed, chain smoking, fucked up, washed up nobody like me!” Yeah. No.

Richie could hear his name being called by a sweet voice that Richie had fallen in love with over the years with. As much as he loved it, he trudged through the halls passing people loitering in the halls before the next class period. Eddie managed to catch up with him and give him a tug on the back of his oversized jean jacket which was now filled with iron-on patches he put there himself. Richie stood there before turning around to face him. Richie’s 6'1 height towered over Eddie like a skyscraper.

“Hey,” Eddie says quietly, not really thinking this situation through first. “What’s going on Spaghetti Man?” Richie asks through pained eyes, a fake smile plastered across his face in hopes of convincing Eddie he is perfectly fine. Eddie is smarter than that. He can see the hurt in his eyes, especially with those glasses magnifying them. Richie looks to the left to avoid the now uncomfortable eye contact.

“First of all, don’t call me that-”

“You know you love it E-“ 

“Second,” Eddie holds his finger up to silence Richie, “what’s going on with you? You’re acting so weird  all of a sudden,” Richie’s facaded smile faltered a bit as Eddie continued, “talk to me Richie. I thought we were best friends.” There it was again. The whole “we’re supposed to be best friends” mantra. If it came from anyone besides Eddie, Richie would have screamed. 

Ever since Bev used it last month, every loser was using it trying to get closer to Richie using that specific combination of words in a different order. He didn’t know if it was on purpose or not, but it was driving him insane. At first he loved being thought of, but after a while the rest of the losers just expected him to tell them all everything about his life. I don’t owe any of them jack shit, Richie thought.

“Aww, it’s too cute when you worry about me Eds,” Richie pinches Eddie’s cheek and Eddie slaps it away quickly, “but I’m perfectly fine. No need to worry that pretty little mind of yours,” he smiled for real that time as he ruffled the shorter boy’s hair. Eddie swipes at Richie’s hands again.

“Richie, I’m serious,” Eddie looks into Richie’s eyes carefully, but sternly. “Oh my god Eddie, how many times to I have to say I’m fine, I’m fucking fine!,” Richie tries to joke, but it ends up coming out more annoyed as he throws his arms up. Eddie looks in both directions realizing the scene that they’re starting to create. 

“Richie, calm down. This is what I’m talking about. You’re acting different,” he whisper-yells trying to be calm, but obviously not succeeding.

“Well maybe if you payed more attention to anyone else beside yourself you would’ve been able to catch on quicker!”

“What are you talking about Richie?” the pain in his eyes evident as Richie continued speaking.

“Oh don’t play dumb. You’ve been spending all of your time with that little girlfriend of yours. Have you ever thought how that made me feel?” Richie chose his next words carefully, not trying to out himself to the whole school, “Like you said Eddie, we’re supposed to be best friends, huh, that’s what you said huh?” Richie hadn’t even noticed that he was using his height to an advantage to tower over Eddie. He hadn’t noticed the rest of the hallway go silent. And he definitely didn’t notice how Eddie’s eyes had become glazed at Richie’s hurtful words. 

Richie fucked up.

“Wait Eddie,” his voice became small as he reached out to him. Eddie squirmed away from Richie’s touch.

“Just don’t,” Eddie said trying to keep his composure but letting a tear escape. He turned around and Richie watched as he walked away.

Richie walked out of that building not caring how many classes he had left. He knew he wouldn’t be able to sit through shit that he already understood. He wish that right now he could hold Eddie in his arms and tell him how much he loves the other boy.  But things didn’t work that way for Richie. It never did. 

                                ※                     ※                     ※ Richie was at home listening to his cassette tapes, trying to drown out the noise of his parents’ screams of anger. As much as he tried to fill the screeching with his own version of ambient noise, he got fed up with his parents’ bickering and went downstairs. He came down the stairs and headed towards the  door. He didn’t know where he would go, but all he knew is that he wasn’t going to come back that night.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going,” his mother slurred at him.

“Out,” he said grabbing his jean jacket off of the kitchen counter. 

“Oh I don’t think so,” his mother’s eyes showed no love, not even the slightest bit of humanity. There was no human left in either of his parents . He didn’t want to end up like that. He couldn’t.

His mother drunkenly walked up to him, beer bottle in her hand. He headed for the door again, this time more quickly.

What happened next was a blur. His mother launched a beer bottle at the back of his head. Richie had somehow managed to duck just in time. He heard the bottle smash against the door in front of him. He avoided fatal injury, but he wouldn’t walk away without scratches. The bottle had shattered everywhere, including his face. With his hands over his head, almost in fetal position, he didn’t realize the tears that had started to form in his eyes until they were pouring down his cheeks. His eyes were closed from the blow, but he didn’t feel like opening them again. He just wanted to sit there, crying, because that would be the easy thing to do. He knew that when he opened his eyes he would have to face the truth, his reality, no matter how much he wished it didn’t exist. He opened his eyes to his surroundings. He saw the familiarity of his house, but he couldn’t feel that the familiarity of home. He gained the courage to face his mother, but continued to crumble into himself every passing moment.

“Oh you’re going to cry about this shit now, oh for fucks sake give me a break,” she spoke with no compassion. 

“Give the damn boy a break Maggie,” his father screeched from behind her.

His mother turned around to face his father, “Oh really, you’re one to fucking talk Wentworth,” she points his fingers in his face.

Richie finally took his leave, deserting his parents behind him. He felt the mildly cold air hit his tear stained cheeks as he shut the door behind him.

He hopped into his beat up truck that he managed to buy with the money that he earned from working extra shifts at the arcade. 

He ended up driving. He didn’t know where he was going, but that didn’t stop him. He turned on the radio and listened to whatever shitty song that came on. He didn’t know how long he had been driving.

Then as he was about to turn the radio off, the lyrics of the next song entered his ears. It was Africa by Toto. He smiled at the memory that played in his mind. They were about 10 or 11 when Eddie heard the song for the first time. He also remembers the first time Eddie made him listen to it. At first he was reluctant because they both had a completely different music taste. But when he listened to it he was glad he did. He eventually memorized all the lyrics and every time the song would come on they would sing it together completely off pitch. That was one of the first times Richie fell for Eddie without even realizing it.

He then knew what he had to do. He looked in front and behind him to make sure there were no cars. He then did a complete U-turn and headed straight for Eddie’s house. It didn’t matter if they were on bad terms right now, Richie needed Eddie. 

Richie ended up speeding to Eddie’s, but his fast he was going was the furthest thing from his mind. Richie saw Eddie’s house come to view and without hesitation he slammed the breaks and put the car in park. Turning off the engine, he hopped out of the car and kicked the door closed before using his gangly limbs to sprint towards his best friend’s house.

As he arrived at Eddie’s house, he looked up at the window separating him from the boy he loved. It wasn’t too high off the ground. He used the brick wall and the tree next to him to haul his body up the side of the house.

Richie sat in an uncomfortable position as he knocked on the glass. Richie could see some stirring in the dark. He let a smile creep on his face when Eddie rubbed his eyes and turned on the light. Eddie looked around to see what the noise could possibly be.

As Eddie turned to Richie he let out a yelp as he realized that someone was sitting outside his window. It took him a moment to figure out it was Richie and he walked over to the window. Eddie opened it and he opened his mouth to talk, but as Richie climbed in he realized the apparent slices in his face. Soon enough Richie was in full view, looking down at Eddie.

Eddie put his hands on Richie’s face carefully, making sure not to touch his cuts. He looked into his eyes as if asking a question and at the same time searching for his answer.

“My parents, don’t want to talk about it,” Richie explained, voice low and barely audible, even for the two of them.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You have glass in your face,” Eddie said taking his hands away. Richie’s cheeks ran cold as he felt the absence of Eddie’s hands. “Yeah,” he laughed a bit at his friends concern, “I’m fine,” he said truly meaning it. There was a silence looming over them for a bit before Richie spoke again. “Can I️ stay over, or…?” he chucked.

“Yeah sure, just let me clean your face first,” he walked over to his dresser to grab his fanny pack. As he rummaged through the contents in the bag, Richie took of his shoes and sat down on Eddie’s bed. Eddie walked back over to Richie with some supplies. 

“This might sting a little,” Eddie explained before he touched the antibacterial wipes to the cuts. Richie let out a hissing noise in agony as Eddie wiped away the dry blood on his lip and cleaned it. Eddie did the same thing to the two cuts on his right cheek and the cut almost above his right eyebrow. Richie looked at the smaller boy in front of him with fondness as he calculatedly cleaned the other boy’s face.

Eddie also managed to pluck out the small glass that had ended up scraping Richie’s face. There were no words exchanged, but Eddie was all too focused on cleaning Richie’s cuts. Meanwhile, Richie was all too focused on Eddie’s face, focusing how his tongue would poke out in concentration, and how every time he managed to pull out another piece of glass, his face would light up with satisfaction in himself.

Eddie was done and he pulled out his bandaids. Richie snickered to himself. “What,” Eddie asked, a grin forming on his face as he peeled back the paper from the sticky part of the bandaid.

“Really, rainbow bandaids?” Richie snickered again.

“Oh my god Tozier, shut your mouth,” Eddie giggled, applying the rest of the bandaids. Eddie gathered the supplies to throw away. He turned to walk out of his room and throw it away in the bathroom across the hall. 

“I’ll be right back,” he whispered.

Richie laid back on the bed breathing in the scent of Eddie’s room. This is nice, he thought to himself as his eyes grew heavy.

Eddie walked back into his room quietly closing the door and locking it so that his mother couldn’t barge in the next morning and see the two; even if they didn’t have anything to hide.

“So do you want me to get my sleeping bag or-” Eddie stopped talking as he saw the sleeping boy on his bed. He thought about waking him up, but the boy had already been through enough and needed some sleep. He also thought about sleeping on the floor himself but, I’m not sleeping on the floor in my own damn house.

Eddie walked over to the bed and pulled Richie’s shoes of carefully, making sure not to wake him up. He crawled on top of the bed next to Richie. He pulled the covers up and let his back face towards Richie. And if they ended up facing each other the next morning, neither of them would mention it.

And that would become a regular thing, Richie climbing through Eddie’s window every night to get some sleep. That was, until it wasn’t.

October

For once in his life, Richie felt a tinge of happiness. He felt as if things might actually fall into place for him. He slept over at Eddie’s every night. It had become their thing. Even if they got into a stupid argument that day, there was always the unspoken promise between them that Richie would come that night. He always comes, Eddie thinks as he looks out his window. His mind replays the events that happened earlier that day.

Eddie had been walking home alone, not a good idea for such a small boy like him. He was kicking rocks in front of him, not really paying attention to his surroundings. 

“Hey, fag,” he heard from in front of him. That had caused Eddie’s head to jerk up and he stumbled a bit, tripping over his own feet. He then saw the person standing in front of him. Henry Bowers.

“Wh-what d-do you wuh-want,” Eddie choked out trying to seem confident, but failing miserably.

“Wait, you aren’t the stuttering one are you? No that’s b-buh-bill,” Henry laughed maniacally as he stepped closer to him.

Eddie tried to step back, but Henry followed every step forward. Eddie turned around and tried to make a break for it. He was abruptly stopped when he felt a pull on his backpack. Henry turned him around, and Eddie ended up face to face with Henry’s snarly teeth.

“And where do you think you’re going wheezy,” Henry gave an uncomfortable smile. Eddie then felt a clenching feeling in his gut. Henry punched him. He fell to the ground, but before he fell, he saw someone out of the corner of his eye. Richie? He was just standing there, watching. 

He landed on his back, his backpack thankfully pillowing his fall. Henry then proceeded to unstrap Eddie’s fanny pack. He then examined it with a grin, showing his snarled teeth. He opened it and poured out all the contents inside of it. If Eddie wasn’t gripping his stomach for dear life, he would have tried to grab the medication falling out. Henry gave him one last kick as if it was for good measure. Henry laughed and walked away, seemingly proud of himself. Richie had been frozen. He tried to move, he tried to call out to Henry to stop, but nothing happened. He just stood there like an idiot. Seeing the situation unfold reminded him too much of what went down at his house regularly. He shuddered at the thoughts that came back to him. 

It took him a little while to realize that Henry was now gone, and Eddie was laying there gripping his stomach in pain. Richie finally felt his legs move towards Eddie.

“Hey Eds, you okay?” Richie asked when he got close enough to ask. Eddie was still clenching his gut. 

“What do you think smartass?” Eddie felt the need to respond with sarcasm for such a dumb question.

Richie started to pick up all of the spilled medicine and put it back into the fanny pack. He then helped Eddie up from his place on the ground. Eddie seemed fine, no bruises that he saw. He handed the fanny pack back to Eddie.

Eddie took it back and strapped it back around his waist. He didn’t know if he should bring it up.

“How much of that did you actually see?” Eddie asked.

“Not much,” Richie lied, rubbing the back of his neck. Eddie knew his tells. Richie always rubbed the back of his neck when he wasn’t telling the truth.

“Oh really? Because I could have sworn when I got pushed down, I saw you standing over there,” Eddie gestured vaguely behind Richie. 

“Oh right, yeah,” Richie swallowed the lump in his throat, not really knowing what to say next.

“So you just stood there while I got my ass kicked?” he was angry. Richie didn’t say anything.

“And now you’re just standing here again,” Eddie was practically yelling.

“How come you didn’t help me! How come you’re just standing here!” Eddie waited for an apology.

“Do you even have anything to say to me!” Nothing.

“God you’re the fucking worst, you know that! You’re a worthless piece of shit! You can’t even help your best friend when he’s getting his ass kicked! What’s wrong with you Richie! What’s wrong with you!” Still nothing.

Eddie scoffed. When he walked past Richie he shoved into his shoulder for extra umph. This was a mistake because Eddie ended up stumbling a bit and he walked away with a limp from Henry’s last kick. He left a speechless Richie behind with tears filling his eyes.

Out of all the thoughts racing through Richie’s mind, only one stuck. 

Worthless.

                                    ※                     ※                     ※                        

Worthless, Richie thought as he scraped the scissors against his skin once more. He looked at his blank wrist again. He held the safety scissors in his right hand, looking at the blunt blade. He wasn’t trying to hurt himself. He just became bored with sitting in his bed, staring at the ceiling, contemplating the unruly events of that day.

Richie was crying. He took off his glasses so that they wouldn’t become fogged from his tears. Richie wish he had the courage to stand up to Henry. He wished he could have been there for Eddie. He should have been there for Eddie! Why wasn’t he? Oh he knows why. It’s because he was “worthless,” Richie’s voice came out hoarse as he pressed harder than he ever had before. 

It was an accident. He didn’t mean to. Richie wiped his tears away with his right hand as he grabbed his glasses with his left. He caught sight of his mistake. He saw blood running from the slight cut in his skin. It was a small indent the size of his fingernail, hidden within the natural lines of his wrist.

He stood up to grab a bandaid. He tried, but couldn’t take his eyes away. He watched as the light red liquid slowly shed out of his skin. He stood there in a trance. He didn’t know how long it had been; but he felt better. He let out a sigh as he fell back onto his bed. He wasn’t able to hold back the tears that invaded his eyes.

                                     ※                     ※                     ※

Eddie waited. He stayed up late to see if Richie would ever come. He ended up falling asleep on his windowsill due to his tiredness from the day anyways.

Richie never came.

November

At this point Richie was barely a shell of his former self. No one thought that the infamous trashmouth would suddenly become mute. Now, when he passed the losers in the hallway, there wasn’t even a smile exchanged. Even his smoke sessions with Bev after school had been cut short when she decided to stop showing up. He was the definition of a loner.

He had also heard that Eddie recently broke up with his girlfriend through the whispers in the hall. He wished he could have been there for his best friend. He wish he could be with his best friend, the person he loved; the only person he loved. But that’s not how it worked out for Richie.

And to be honest, he missed all the losers more than he thought he would. He missed Ben’s little poems that he would write for him during class. He missed going to Mike’s farm and seeing all of the animals. He missed the little talks he and and Bev would have after school. He missed Stan’s comments about how he could ‘never shut the fuck up’. He even missed Bill’s annoying stutter. He missed everything. And now, he was left with nothing.

Richie wasn’t doing well, physically nor mentally. You could see that something was physically taking a toll on him. He never got enough sleep, so he was always seen with major bags under his eyes. No one could even remember what his smile looked like. It was taken by the look of gloom that never seemed to leave his eyes. 

Ever since he accidentally cut himself, he thought it would be a one time thing, nothing would come from the mistake. Yet here he was now, with little white marks stripping down his left arm, hidden by his oversized jean jacket. Richie was sick, he needed help. He knew this, he knew he was ill, but he wasn’t able to stop. He tried, he told himself he wouldn’t do it again. But whenever things got too much to handle, he needed to see the blood spill out of him again. He didn’t know how to stop.

And to be honest, Eddie wasn’t doing too well either. He took Richie’s leave harder than the rest of the losers club. He wished that he didn’t overreact to one stupid mistake Richie made. He wished he didn’t make all of the losers turn against Richie. It was his fault that they weren’t friends anymore. 

Eddie missed Richie insanely. He never knew how much that boy meant to him. He missed his crude comments. He missed his smile. He missed the way he had to push his glasses up his nose every two fucking seconds because they were to big for him. He missed seeing his dark curly hair through his window each night. He missed the way his lanky arm would wrap around him and silently lull him to sleep.

He had become distant with the rest of his friends, but not as distant as Richie. It got to the point where he would even ignore his girlfriend. When she confronted him about it, that had been the last of them. Eddie broke up with the girl, but in the nicest Eddie-way possible, saying he just wasn’t in the right place for a relationship at the moment. But that had been a lie. He wanted a relationship more than anything. But not with her. Not anyone but the one person he couldn’t have. Eddie was in love with Richie. Too bad it was too late to tell him.

Eddie constantly beat himself up about it. He couldn’t count the amount of times he almost picked up the phone and almost broke down and confessed to Richie over a phone call. He couldn’t count the amount of times he almost ran up to Richie during school to plant a kiss on his mouth.

Richie was barely in school anymore. He had only shown up a total of sixteen hours over the past month and a half. He tried to keep his grades up though, it was the only thing that would get him out of this godforsaken town. That’s why Eddie finally decided to take the chance to go up and talk to him when he saw him. That’s what he tried to do this time, only when he finally got to Richie, his mind blanked.

Richie was at his leaning against locker, arms crossed, he seemed to be in a daze. His suspicions were confirmed when Richie didn’t look at him when he walked up. Eddie tapped him on the elbow twice. Richie turned his body to face Eddie, clearly taken off guard by the way his body jerked from the touch, but his facial expression never changed.

Eddie looked into his eyes carefully. He didn’t see the Richie he knew, the Richie he fell in love with. That Richie was replaced by someone with no humor, no expressions, no emotions. Richie wasn’t talking.

“Hey,” Eddie’s voice came out small, but feeling better after of finally putting some words in the air between them.

Richie skeptically looked over Eddie. Eddie noticed this and got nervous. He leaned against the locker next to Richie’s and started to anxiously play with his fingers.

“What do you want Eddie?” Richie asked exasperatedly looking at his feet. Richie loved talking to Eddie again, but he didn’t know how to show it. 

“I- nothing. I just wanted to talk to you,” Eddie missed the horrible nicknames that Richie came up with for him.

“You just wanted to talk to me? Why, for what? So you can tell me how shitty a friend I am? No thanks Eddie,” Richie was actually beginning to get angry. Eddie couldn’t just walk up to him and pretend they were friends. It hurt Richie too much to think of all of the times he wanted to call Eddie. How many times he ran up to Eddie’s window, but deciding to turn back to go back to his own house, or wherever he was staying that night. No, it doesn’t work like that.

“N-nuh-no,” Eddie stammered out, “I’m worried about you,” he seemed so small compared to Richie even more now.

“Oh a little late for that don’t you think? Why do you even care? What made you decide to give a shit about me this time around?”

Richie crossed his arms. Doing this rolled up his jean jacket slightly, revealing the scars he bore along his wrist. Eddie took sight of this and without thinking, he grabbed Richie’s hand in his own and brought it to himself. Richie became confused at this action, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. Eddie rolled up the sleeve to see the jagged marks etched into his skin.

Eddie wasn’t supposed to know about that.

“Richie…” Eddie’s voice was soft, his eyes glossed as he looked back into Richie’s faintly blot shot eyes.

“Fuck off Kaspbrak,” Richie growled as he pushed down his sleeve, taking his arm back from Eddie’s grasp. Richie eyed him up and down before turning the other direction and walking away. 

Each boy had let the other slip through their fingers another time. Both had tears in their eyes, wishing their fate had cooperated with their desires of the other. But that’s not how life treated either of them. Why couldn’t it work that way? Eddie thought as he stood there watching Richie vanish before his very own eyes.

December

“Shut up kid!” Richie’s father screamed as he used Richie’s jacket to slam him against the wall of the living room. Richie tried his best not to let his head hit the wall, but the two objects still collided. He was probably bleeding, but he wouldn’t know for sure until later.

“You need to learn to keep your trap shut,” his father screamed with their faces too close for Richie’s comfort, “you need to be taught a fucking lesson boy.”

Richie regretted getting between his parents’ fight. His father was hitting his mother, and she was falling to the ground. He had yelled at him to stop. That’s when everything went south. He didn’t know why he even cared. His mom was just as bad, so he should’ve just let it happen.

His dad beat the shit out of him. He left bruises on his face and stomach. If he wasn’t bleeding before, he definitely was now. Richie mostly blacked out exactly what happened. All he knew was that he was now lying on the ground with his father hovering over him.

“Worthless piece of shit,” his father breathed out before spitting in his general direction. His face inched closer.

“Now get out of my sight!” he screamed at the fragile, now very broken boy.

He would have left that damn house if it wasn’t for the snow outside. It was too cold to sleep at some bus stop. He also didn’t have nearly enough gas in his tank to get him remotely far enough. But that didn’t really matter because he didn’t have anywhere to go.

He made his way up to his room, making sure to slam the door closed behind him. His parents both left, probably to go fuck somewhere else besides his shitty house. He was left alone with his tears.

                                      ※                     ※                     ※

Richie sucked down four cigarettes within the past hour. While the time passed he contemplated the piece of shit that he called his life. At this point he had nothing left to give. The world wouldn’t care if he suddenly fell off the face of the Earth; in fact, it might actually be a better place without him. He had no life left in him, no compassion. 

He had ended up like his parents. 

Richie felt himself physically rip to shreds at the realization. He had no one to care for, and no one loved him. The only person that he gave a shit about was Eddie. 

Eddie. That was Richie’s last hope. He didn’t care how long it had been, he needed to hear his sweet voice, telling him everything was going to be alright.

Eddie rose up from his bed when he heard the phone ring. He reached for it, he almost answered it, he almost picked up the phone. Then he saw who was calling him. Richie. 

Eddie didn’t want to talk to him. Ok that was a lie, he really wanted to talk to him. He just didn’t have the courage to pick up the phone.

Richie sighed when it went to voicemail. He tried three more times. No answer. He laid back on his bed wondering what to do. This was his last try.

Eddie left the room before the last call. He didn’t hear what Richie had to say to him. Eddie went downstairs and saw that he had a voicemail on his answering machine from Richie from a minute ago. He bit his nail, wondering if he should listen. He did.

Eddie was now listening to the shaky voice of Richie. 

“Hey Eds,” Richie said and Eddie smiled at the nickname he hadn’t heard in so long. He was confused as to why Richie seemed to be crying. “I know we haven’t talked in a while, so this is a pretty shitty thing to do. I just wanted to let you know Eddie, you mean fucking everything to me,” Richie let out a strangled chuckle, and Eddie wondered what he was trying to say, clearly taken aback at the bold comment. Eddie inched closer to the machine. “God I don’t even know why I’m calling you to tell this. It’s not like it will matter. You probably hate me. Your probably not even listening right now and I’m just making a fool of myself.” Another strangled laugh. “But if you ever get this Eds, I just want to let you know I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.” Click.

Eddie stood there for a moment, in a daze from Richie just said. Why was he confessing his feelings now? Why was he sorry? Then all of the pieces fit together. Richie was going to kill himself. 

Eddie didn’t waste a second of his time. Did he even have any time? He tried to call Richie back. No answer. He didn’t even bother putting the phone back in its place, so it hung from the wall making a buzzing noise. He didn’t even bother telling his mother where he was going. Eddie darted out the door, not at all caring to grab a jacket. He wished he had convinced his uptight overbearing mother to convince him to get his license. He didn’t even know how to drive, so he had to find another way to make his way to Richie’s house. It was also winter time, so there was no chance he would be able to ride his bike on the icy sidewalk. 

So Eddie ran. He ran to Richie.

Richie sucked down another cigarette. He couldn’t do it anymore. As hard as he tried, he felt his body grow heavier every passing moment. He knew he wouldn’t be able to drag it around for much longer. He just needed it all to end. He needed it to all be over. It would be so much easier if it was all just fucking over with.

He didn’t really knew how things like this worked. He stood up and made his way to the bathroom in his hall. He grabbed the razor he used for his to shave face, the one he used for the cuts striping down his arm. He didn’t want to do this. But it was the only way.

The cold didn’t bother Eddie as he ran. His adrenaline made him forget about his surroundings. He was a little over half way there.

Richie stood in the bathroom deciding what to do next. He decided he wanted to do it in the comfort of his room. He walked back into his room, shut the door, and sat on his bed.

He cried at the thought of his parents walking into his bedroom and finding his dead body. Not that they would be fazed anyways. He was going to do it. It was going to be all over soon. He rolled up the sleeve of his left arm, displaying each and every scar he had previously made. He took the blade in his opposite hand and tried gained the courage it would take to get through this.

Eddie made it to Richie’s house. He hoped it wasn’t too late. What if it was? No it couldn’t be. He cringed at the thought of finding a lifeless Richie. Eddie swung the door of Richie’s house open, glad that it wasn’t locked. As he bolted up the stairs he took sight of the beer bottles and the mess of the house. That was the least of his problems.

He finally found Richie’s room at the end of the hallway. He barged through the room and tears rolled down his eyes as he saw Richie. He was still alive. Richie’s head shot up when he heard the door open. Eddie could see the tears that covered Richie’s freshly bruised cheeks.

“Eddie what are you doing here?” Richie’s voice came out as barely a whisper, yet genuine shock and confusion could still be heard from across the room.  He put the blade on his bed and stood up to get a better view of the boy standing on the opposite side of the room.

Eddie stood in his doorway for a moment, thanking god he wasn’t too late. He then ran across the room to where Richie was standing.

Eddie grabbed Richie’s face in his two hands and looked him in the eyes before standing on his toes to smash his lips into Richie’s. He inhaled the flavor of nicotine that lingered upon Richie’s cracked lips. He didn’t hate it. In fact, he quite loved the taste of Richie.

Richie was extremely confused at the sudden action, but was in no place to protest. Eddie tasted like bubblegum. Richie fucking loved bubblegum. Richie placed a hand on Eddie’s cheek to deepen the kiss, as he also placed a hand on Eddie’s waist to bring them closer together. The fact that Eddie was still kissing him, made his heart swell. Richie tilted his head to try and get a better angle, but his glasses started to press into both of their faces uncomfortably.

They both pulled away, Eddie giggling. Richie placed both of his hands on Eddie’s face as to make sure if he was really there, if he was really even real. He smiled, burying his face in the crook of Eddie’s neck.

Before Richie could even ask him a question, Eddie started talking. “Don’t you ever do something like this again trashmouth, you hear me?” Richie nodded against Eddie’s neck. He pushed Richie’s shoulders back with his hands so he could look him in the eyes.

Richie smiled a bit, causing Eddie to grin a bit too, “Richie Tozier, you are the kindest, sweetest, most fucking hilarious, most loving person I have ever met in my fucking life. Don’t you ever forget that, alright? Alright?” Eddie had started to cry too. He couldn’t bear the thought of loosing Richie forever. He wouldn’t be able to go on.

“Richie without you I-” Eddie had to pause because he was choking on his words due to the tears rolling down his cheeks, but he nevertheless continued, “I don’t think-“ 

“Shhhhh,” Richie said, he knew what Eddie was trying to say. Eddie nuzzled his face back into Richie’s chest. They both held on to the other for dear life, with tears greased to their faces. They stayed like that for a while. 

“I love you Richie,” Eddie whispered. Richie was taken aback, but those were exactly the words Richie needed to hear. Richie loved Eddie so much his heart hurt. How could he ever be so selfish to take his own life, leaving a broken Eddie behind.

“I love you too Eddie Spaghetti,” Richie whispered back. Both boys pulled back and looked into each others eyes as they had genuine smiles across their faces.

Richie knew now that no matter how bad life got, or how hard it was to go on, someone would be there. He had someone there all along. Richie thought he would always be alone, he thought this night would be the grand ending to his pathetic life. Thankfully, life didn’t work that way.

[darlingpetao3]

Meet Your Doom (EoWells x Reader)

Rating: T

Summary: What happens when you find out your seemingly perfect boyfriend turns out to be the psychotic evil Speedster Team Flash has been hunting this whole time? The prequel to Out of This (Doom)World.

A/N: I may have altered the timeline of the final episodes of Season 1 a bit in order to fit my vision for this story. Hope it worked out!

Life was perfect.

You have the job. The friends. The boyfriend. And sure, you tend to have these pesky visions that sometimes bring on headaches in varying degrees of pain, but other than that, life was perfect.

With a pep in your step, you arrive at S.T.A.R. Labs, the workplace of your love, Doctor Harrison Wells. How did you ever get so lucky?

Your heels clack on the floor as you enter the Cortex where Team Flash relaxes after a hard day's work of metahuman ass-kicking. Harrison had let you in on the secret of him leading the superhero group devoted to saving the city and helping Barry to run faster. How your man juggles so many philanthropic projects at once is awe-inspiring to you.

“There's my favourite journalist.” Harrison is the first to spot you. He always is. He always has his lovely baby blues glued to you. “You look exceptionally beautiful today,” he says adjusting his glasses. He makes your heart skip a beat.

“And you look especially sexy today.” You bend down to give Harrison a kiss hello and he returns it with a passion you're not used to seeing outside of the bedroom and certainly not in front of his colleagues. It catches you by surprise.

“Doctor Wells, do you and the Mrs. have to do this every time?” asks Cisco.

“Apologies, Cisco,” Harrison replies. “And (Y/N) isn't my Mrs. Not yet, anyway.” He flashes you a very aware smile and takes your hand to hold.

You rest a hand on his shoulder. “Ready to leave, babe?”

“I believe I am.”

“May I?” you ask, gesturing to his chair.

“Please do.”

You sit yourself down on his lap and Harrison drives his chair out of the Cortex. Even when he turns the corner, you can still hear Cisco's voice, “See, why can't I have something like that? Something beautiful and gross.”

That evening, you cook for Harrison. You wanted to do something special for your two year anniversary with him and what better way to spend it than a quiet, intimate night in, just the two of you?

The night is filled with deep conversation and loving gazes, which also follows you to your shared bed, where you celebrate your love of each other in a whole other way....

But oddly enough, you didn't sleep well afterwards. Your body tosses and turns in the middle of the night as a vision cruelly interrupts your sleep cycle. It pounds your brain with an urgent intensity. Your visions have never disturbed you in your sleep before.

In the vision, you see a man standing with his back to you. Harrison's motorized chair rests behind the figure, and when the man turns to show his face, you feel like screaming bloody murder.

It's Harrison. The love of your life.

But his eyes glow an evil red as if possessed.

Red lightning emits from his body and in a split second, he's gone.

You wake up with sweat on your forehead and feeling out of breath. What you just saw scares you to your very core. If this vision is true (and why wouldn't it be?), you needed to alert Team Flash. All your lives were in danger.

Harrison Wells is the man in yellow.

You try not to wake your more-than-likely-evil boyfriend by pulling back the covers.

“(Y/N),” comes Harrison's sleepy voice, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I'm just going to get a glass of water,” you lie. “Be back soon.” Reaching for your phone on the nightstand, you get up and attempt to casually leave the room without looking back. Out in the living room, your fingers attempt to type out a text message to Barry, the only person who has the ability to help you in this moment, and quickly.

I don't think Harrison is who he

says he is. I need help. NOW.    

Before you can hit send, a voice sends a chilling shiver down your spine:

“I wouldn't do that if I were you.”

What's strange is that you've heard this voice for the past two years and never once has it brought this kind of fear out of you.

“I knew your visions would eventually cause problems for me,” Harrison continues, moving bit by bit closer to you. He knows. It's difficult for you to wrap your head around him walking after all this time. “But hey, it's the price I pay for loving you.”

You feel sick.

“You're him. You're the Reverse-Flash.” He's been under your nose this whole time. Almost every night you'd ask Harrison how Team Flash was faring with the hunt for the man in yellow and every time he'd say they were making progress. Lies. All lies. How could you have missed this?

“Please, call me Eobard, my dear.”

“Eobard?” The name doesn't sound right in your ears, but it could be just that you're used to saying Harrison when speaking to the man with this face.

“Yes, and it sounds so good to hear it from your lips. Say it for me again, would you?”

“I wouldn't want to give you the satisfaction.”

Harris- no, Eobard, is closing in on your personal space. You have your phone grasped tightly behind your back. If I could just press send...

Done!

The villain shakes his head. “It's a shame it has to come to this.”

“C-Come to what?” Eobard is faster than you had anticipated, as he whisks you out of the house and passes buildings and vehicles in a total blur. You tumble to the cold, hard ground of some dark and unknown underground location.

“So what? You're going to leave me in this hole to rot all alone?”

Eobard laughs.

“Well, you won't be alone,” he says. “Isn't that right, Eddie?” A weary grunt comes from over in the corner. CCPD Detective Eddie Thawne sits limp and tied to a chair. He looks dreadful. Weak. How long has he been down here? Wherever here is?

“I don't know what kind of sick, twisted plan you have going on, but you won’t succeed.” It takes everything for you to not let your voice waver. To not let him hear your broken heart through your words. “Barry will stop you.”

“Au contraire, my dear,” Eobard says with an evil smile that seems to fit him. “Mr. Allen will be helping me. Whether he likes it or not.” You have no idea what this means. Eobard uses his super-speed to carry and tie you up to another chair like Eddie's in the blink of an eye. The rope scratches at your wrists.

“You know, if we were alone, this could be fun,” the Speedster's breath is warm in your ear. “Very reminiscent of your birthday last year.”

Your stomach churns.

“Shut up.”

“Aw, come on, (Y/N). You know I love you? I'm doing this for us. Soon we will be out this archaic time and the world will be ours. I have a plan.”

We? Plan?

“I don't want any part of this. Leave me out of it.”

“I'm afraid that's not an option.” Eobard steals a kiss from you. There's no other word for it other than steals. “I'll be back for you. Sit tight.”

“Ha ha.” The underground area becomes quiet once your psycho boyfriend leaves, save for the detective's noises of discomfort. Well, one thing's for sure...

No one has had a worse anniversary than you.

Hours pass. You're sure of it. What you are unsure of, is whether Barry or anyone from Team Flash for that matter has received your hasty text for help. Your multiple attempts to talk with Eddie about the current situation are futile. He's so out of it. You wonder how long it will take until you become this way, too.

But then, you hear the sound of a hatch opening from above. A man and a woman's voice echo down to the depths of where you're being held.

It's Joe and Iris West.

“(Y/N)! Eddie!” Iris cuts away your binds while Joe takes care of Eddie's.

“Thank God you're alive!” she says. “We've been looking everywhere-”

“Iris,” you tell your work friend, “It’s Harrison. He's the Reverse-Flash!”

“His name is Eobard.” Eddie's voice is scratchy. How does he know this? “He said that we're family. He's a Thawne. My descendant.”

You are so confused. Joe must see this on your face.

“Come on,” he says. “Let's meet up with the rest of team... And get you both some clean clothes.” You look at Eddie, whose suit is dingy from however long he's been down here, and then to yourself, still clad in your nightgown. You're too tired and shaken to feel any kind of embarrassment.

“Good idea.”

You end up sleeping for almost an entire day and a half. While Team Flash works out a way to deal with Eobard, you sleep the stress and heartache away in a back room of S.T.A.R. Labs. You wish you could be more help, but you don't have the energy right now. Besides, Team Flash knows what they're doing. Right?

On and off during this time of mental recuperation, a recurring image of a dark hole in the sky flickers in your mind. Sometimes you see it for longer periods of time, others shorter. It's unclear what this means, or when this phenomenon will take place, but nonetheless, it frightens you even while sleep.

A knock on the door wakes you. Your eyes flutter open to see Caitlin standing in the doorway, peeking in. She looks upset.

You sit up. “Caitlin?”

“(Y/N), I have terrible news.”

“What? What is it?”

She takes a breath. “Doctor Wells... Thawne is getting ready to return to his time.”

“Isn't this good news?”

“He... He threatened us. Saying if you didn't go with him to the future, he'd kill us all.” This statement cuts at you like a knife. Like hell if you were going with Eobard!

But if you don't, your friends will suffer.

I have to go. For their sakes.

“Take me to him.”

Eobard, the man you thought you knew, holds his arms out and open to you as if welcoming you back into his presence.

Where is Barry? And why is he not jumping in to save the day?

You suppose you're the one saving the day, in a sense, going with this man to keep your friends from being killed. Eobard is handsy with you and very firm when ushers you towards a glass bubble-like machine. Dressed in his infamous yellow and black suit, he has you sit down beside him in the chair within. The door closes on you both and he smiles to himself. Eobard is getting his way. Like he's planned for since the beginning. As he punches a button on the control panel, the futuristic machine begins to hover off the ground. There’s a far-off look in his eye.

“Home,” he whispers.

It may be his home, but it will never be yours.

Then, a torpedoing red streak hurtles its way directly at you both. The Flash. Barry smashes the glass machine, shattering it into a million shards and broken pieces, while also managing to cradle and shield you from the collision. Eobard starts yelling furiously at Barry.

“Get back,” Barry instructs you, staying in between you and the villain. It doesn't take long for the two Speedsters to begin fighting all around the courtyard to the death. Out of the corner of your eye, you spot Eddie, who has come to help you out of the situation safely. He offers you his hand.

“Go. Get away from here, quickly.” But Eddie doesn't seem to be coming with you.

“What about you?”

“Don't worry about me.” The detective looks sad as he says this, but you hurry off to join Joe and Cisco far away from the violent battle. The moment you reach them though, a deafening gun-shot blast rings out in the air. Joe rushes to his partner, now collapsing to the ground, a seeping, bloody wound forming at his chest.

You can't breathe.

“Eddie is Eobard's ancestor,” Cisco explains in shock. “If Eddie dies, he'll never be born and- he's being erased from existence!”

You can't take your eyes off of Eobard. The face of Harrison, the face you loved, the face you've kissed an immeasurable amount of times, transforms before your very eyes. The shape of his jaw, his eyes, his hair. He's turning into a completely different looking person.

But he's still the same man who betrayed you on the inside.

Eobard keeps his focus on you witnessing his change. It's almost hard to watch with the amount of tears welling up in your eyes.

“Oh, (Y/N), we could have changed the world together...”

“You've changed my world enough for one lifetime.” Cracks of light emit from his body slowly, then all at once. Eobard lets out a painful holler as he disintegrates into the air, then and there.

Eviscerated from time.

Harrison is gone. Eobard is gone. All that's left of what once was is you toppling to the ground, with your head in your hands, unleashing everything you've been feeling since finding out his secret through an uncontrollable series of silent sobs.

It takes you a while to fully realize the entirety of Team Flash is huddling around you, trying to force you back into the Labs and away from the pull of the wormhole in the sky.

My vision.

“(Y/N)! You gotta get up!” Barry shouts. “We can't lose you! Not like this!”

Before you can yell back “what's the point?!” Barry says one final thing:

“You are a part of this team as much as anyone! Team Flash doesn't abandon one of their own!”

His words are the driving force you needed to bring you to your feet. You stare up at the daunting, spiralling wormhole hovering above and wipe the streaks of tears from your face with your sleeve.

“Okay, Team. Let's save the world.”

~

Anonymous Request: OK I know this is an odd request but can you do a sequel/prequel or mid-equal to out of this doomworld - like I love how you wrote the relationship and want more ? but only if you're cool with it. Thanks! ×