#anyway enjoy two losers finally ending what I think is technically romantic edging

[demodoggonetired]

" Of Grit "

For the @steddiemicrofic August Prompt: Cake || 311 Words || Rating: G || Warnings: None

Steve vaguely recalls a heated debate, a held hostage remote knocked, and an open window.

One minute: channel surfing. The next: wrestling in the mud behind the Munson trailer. 

Neither are winning the tussle. Steve has years of jock tendencies but Eddie’s surprisingly wriggly, his fashion hiding what muscle he maintains. And Steve’s certainly paid attention to Eddie’s… maintenance. 

The two have been circling awhile now, mutual interest in pursuing more, obvious. But their competitive natures won out; who would cave first?

Well, Steve doesn’t mind upping the ante.

It’s a move that’s worked with previous partners; precise placement of the hands, plant yourself atop, apply body weight, hold their attention… 

Wiping his lips clean, Steve eases in for the kill, slow.

Glance at Eddie's lips.

Back to his eyes.

Lean those final centimeters.

And plant a hard kiss to his nose.

(Snag the remote from Eddie’s loosened grip, mission complete!)

Steve smirks, leaning back, expecting Eddie's reaction. When he only remains frozen, Steve can’t help but pause.

Thankfully, the metalhead comes back into himself, lurching upwards with a mud glob to Steve’s face.

Blinded, all Steve can taste is grime and clay. Defenseless to the sudden, confident press of lips to his own. A kiss of grit, certainty, and relief from month-long tensions.

Steve thinks he's willing to concede this one, the remote snatched and Eddie leaving with a chortle of victory.

He touches his mud and kiss slicked lips. Yeah, he doesn’t mind losing the battle if he wins the war and all that comes after.

—

When Wayne finally returns from his 10-minute lunch fetching, he’s greeted by the boys caked in mud, unable to make eye contact without breaking into giggles.

He’ll be gruff about the mess, but he’s all too happy to send them to clean up if it means Eddie gets more days like this.

[totaltozier]

Cruel to Be Kind: Part 2 - Richie x Eddie

NOTE: Okay wow so this somehow ended up being almost 3k words long! but my boys deserved a happy ending. it is still sort of open ended so if a part 3 is wanted it can be written! my beta isn’t available right now but anyways here it is so pls enjoy! 

(also i talk about stars and planets in this a lot but I’ve got no reason why it just happened) Merry Christmas everybody!

WORD COUNT: 2762

SUMMARY: Richie drunkenly kissed Beverly, breaking Eddie’s heart in the process. He wants nothing more than to make it up to Eddie but can he say the right words to make it happen?

Richie lay in his bed, the stupid mistake he made replaying over and over in his mind. It had been a week since he had messed up but he couldn’t push away the thought no matter how hard he tried.

It had been almost a full week and Eddie hadn’t spoken to him since that night. He somehow managed to avoid Richie at school, always leaving whenever Richie was arriving and always disappearing during lunch. Richie had called Eddie probably a thousand times but Eddie never picked up. He had left countless texts but never received any back. Richie even sent Eddie an email trying to get any type of response from the boy but nothing seemed to work.

It would be an understatement to say that Richie hated himself. Currently he loathed himself and knew that he would for the rest of eternity. Understandably though, since he had made the mistake of the century. Actually, more like the mistake of the millennia.

Richie stared up at his ceiling and noted how the small stars on his ceiling glowed in the darkness of his room. Eddie had given him a package of glow in the dark planets and stars for his tenth birthday after he had mentioned how much he liked the ones on Eddie’s ceiling. That was seven years ago now and only a few planets remained lost against the scattered stars.

Richie could feel tears starting to pool up by his eyes again. He had been crying since he got home after school. Richie reached up to wipe away the droplets of water before they could spill over onto his cheeks and knocked his glasses with his fist. Fed up with emotions, he tore off his glasses and threw them across the room onto his carpeted floor, not really caring where they landed. Richie pulled his sleeves over his hands and pressed the heel of his palms into his eyes until he could see stars there too.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid.” He mumbled loud enough only for him to hear.

Richie stayed like that for forty-five minutes before falling asleep with red eyes and wet cheeks.

Eddie had the worst week of his life so far. It would probably amount to being the worst week he would ever experience, it was that terrible. He hadn’t spoken to Richie since he yelled at him outside Chelsea Marshall’s house before driving away in Richie’s truck.

Eddie was supposed to be Richie’s safe ride home that night but in the moment he didn’t care how or if Richie even got home that night. He just got in the truck and drove as far away as he could. Eddie made it to the lookout point two towns over where he parked the car and cried for an hour as he looked over the small towns below. He watched as the odd car would drive through the quiet streets that were only lit up by headlights and the stars above.

Eddie loved the stars. He loved knowing that they were constant and always going to return each night the same way they were the night before. He always missed them on cloudy nights but it was okay because Eddie knew that they were always there looking down keeping an eye out for him.

Eddie felt bad for the stars that night. They didn’t deserve to have to watch the mess that was Richie and Eddie right now.

Eddie sat in the truck all night, drifting in and out of sleep as tears quietly slipped from his eyes. As the sun began to rise again greeting the new day, Eddie turned the truck back on and drove towards home. Around 7 AM Eddie pulled into Richie’s driveway and parked the truck in its proper place. He climbed out of the car and walked up to the front porch. Eddie opened the mailbox lid and slipped Richie’s keys inside before setting off and walking the short distance to his own house.

“Eddie! Come on open up!”

Eddie was curled up in his bed, a mound of pillows and blankets wrapped around him protecting him for, the outside world. He could hear the banging on his door and Bill’s voice on the other side. He just groaned and rolled over, lifting his pillow over his head before pulling it down to muffle the noise.

“I’m coming in wuh-whether you like it or n-not, Eddie!” Bill opened the door to Eddie’s room and found him hidden under the fluff mountain of his bed. He shuffled his way over and sat down on the edge of the mattress. “So, are we guh-going to ta-talk about it or what?” He asked.

“Or not.” Eddie mumbled back.

Bill let out a rough sigh. He gripped the blanket that was on top of Eddie and pulled it back revealing the small boy underneath. “You n-need to tuh-talk about it.”

“There’s not much to say Bill. Richie cheated on me and he broke my heart and I could go my whole life not needing to see him again.” Eddie explained. He grabbed back the blankets and pulled them over his head again.

“You d-don’t mean that” Bill stated.

Eddie sat up in his bed. “Why would I want to see the person who took my heart and threw it off the top of Kilimanjaro?” Eddie argued. “Fuck him.”

Bill sighed and glanced out the window at the end of Eddie’s bed. “W-will you at least leave your stuh-stuffy bedroom? Your m-mom said you haven’t left in tuh-two days.”

Eddie crossed him arms and contemplated the thought for a moment. Bill was right, his bedroom was stuffy and him not leaving it for two days was sort of gross. The dust amount probably doubled over night. Great, now he’d have to change his sheets and vacuum his room.

“Fine.” Eddie agreed as he climbed out of bed. “But you have to buy me a milkshake to make it worth it.”

“Deal!”

“I’m not understanding what you’re saying Richie.” Stan stated.

Richie tugged on his hair in frustration. “I’m saying that I fucked up and Eddie won’t listen to me when I try to explain how I fucked up!”

The two boys were at the barrens. Stan had originally dragged Richie along while he looked for birds, something about the early spring being the best time to see red cardinals, but Richie had just been complaining the whole time. Stan was sat on a low branch of an old oak tree while Richie paced below.

“What do you mean by how you fucked up?” Stan asked.

“The kiss meant nothing! Bev and I were joking around. You know that she’s with Ben anyways!” Richie huffed.

Stan lowered his binoculars from his face and looked down at Richie. “That’s quite vague, Richie. And Beverly being with Ben isn’t much of an excuse either, technically you both cheated.”

“I know. But… I don’t know. She was high and I was drunk and that annoying girl was going on about English class while at a party! You don’t talk about homework at a party, Stan!” Richie explained. Stan rolled his eyes before encouraging his friend to go on. “Bev and I went into that room to get rid of her since she couldn’t take a hint.”

“And how does this lead to you and Beverly kissing?” Stan asked.

“Bev joked saying that the girl outside probably thought that she and I were fucking and we joked at how ridiculous that sounded, which it is, and then I don’t know, I think she mentioned how we had never kissed each other but somehow I’ve kissed all of the other losers”

“No one wanted to kiss you, Richie-” Stan interrupted.

“You all loved it! Anyways she just pulled me in and kissed me! In a friend way, not in a romantic way, Stan!” Richie said.

“That’s now what Eddie saw though” Stan added.

Richie stopped pacing and slumped against the tree Stan was in. “I know. But he won’t answer my fucking calls and let me explain that to him.”

The two boys sat in silence for a moment. Richie closed his eyes trying to calm himself down. He could hear the faint sound of birds chirping and figured that Stan was already looking at them through his binoculars.

“I’ve lost the best thing I’ve ever had and now I don’t know what to do.” Richie said in a low voice.

Stan carefully climbed down from the old oak and landed next to Richie.

“Let’s start with a milkshake then, huh?” He suggested.

Richie slowly stood up and brushed off his pants. “Only if you’re paying.”

Eddie and Bill had arrived at the diner fifteen minutes ago yet for some reason they hadn’t been seated yet. The hostess had walked by four times too. Each time saying that she’d be right back. Yet the two were still standing by the door and frankly their legs were getting tired.

Eddie was scrolling through his twitter when the door opened signalling the bell to ring beside him.

“Oh hey Bill!”

Eddie’s head whipped up to see Stan and Richie standing in the doorway. He instantly felt his heart drop down to his stomach.

“Hi St-stan” Bill greeted back.

Eddie looked anywhere but at Richie and obviously Richie had noticed.

“Hi Eds” He offered in a soft voice as if he was trying not to scare him.

Eddie swallowed and peered up at the taller boy. “Hi.” Of all the places to go in Derry, why did he and Richie have to end up at the same one?

Unfortunately for Eddie, the hostess had finally come back to greet them. The four boys must have been standing close together. “Table for four?” She asked the group and Eddie took a step away from the others in a desperate attempt.

“No, no, just two-” he started but his voice was overpowered by Stan’s.

“Yeah, actually do you have a booth available?” The hostess nodded and walked away intending for the boys to follow her. They all followed, Eddie fell to the back not looking forward to what would happen once they got there.

Stan and Bill slid into the booth across from each other leaving Richie and Eddie to sit across from one another on the end. Although Eddie didn’t want to sit across from Richie, he was glad that he was able to escape at any moment if he needed to.

“S-so,” Bill spoke up, “w-what are you tuh-two doing here?”

Eddie picked up the menu to distract himself and he scanned over the dessert section as if he didn’t already know the options. This was his favourite diner, Richie had brought him here on their first date two years ago.

“Richie and I were out bird watching and decided to switch up the scenery” Stan answered.

“Birds live outside, Stan” Eddie mumbled with his eyes glued to the picture of the triple fudge cake.

“We were walking by” Stan explained. “What are you guys going to order?”

“Struh-strawberry sh-shake” Bill answered.

Richie hummed. “I was going to say vanilla shake but the chocolate shake looks so tempting right now so I’m torn between the two” He answered while flipping through the menu pages.

“Sounds like a reoccurring theme for you these days” Eddie grumbled from behind his menu.

“Eddie…” Bill said warningly.

But Richie interjected. “No, fine, let Eddie say it. Go on Eds, say what you gotta say.”

“I don’t have anything to say to you.” Eddie said.

Richie blinked back at the boy in front of him. Eddie looked rough, as if he hadn’t slept in days although Richie probably looked the same. “Okay, sorry I assumed.” He went back to looking at his menu.

A few minutes passed and the boys sat in silence.

“Does anyone want to split some fries or-” Stan started but Eddie cut him off.

“Why did you do it?” Eddie asked throwing down his menu and crossing his arms on his chest.

Richie looked across at Eddie and pushed his glasses up on his nose. “Can we talk about this? Just us two please?” He said softly across the table. Eddie sighed but nodded his head gently.

Richie slid out of the booth and waited as Eddie did the same before leading him out of the diner. Richie walked around to the side of the building and stopped along the wall leaning his back against it. Eddie stood in front of him.

“Now before I say anything, just please let me say everything. I know you’re going to want to interrupt but please just let me say it all first.” Richie begged.

Eddie fiddled with his hand in front of him for a moment before nodding, allowing him to go ahead.

Richie explained everything. He told Eddie everything he had said to Stan earlier that day with more detail so Eddie would know the full story. Eddie stayed quiet the whole time. Richie couldn’t read his face though, unsure of how he was feeling or what he would say once he was finished.

“Okay…” Eddie finally said.

“Okay?” Richie questioned back.

Eddie looked around trying to figure out what to say but he couldn’t find the words. “I- I don’t know what to say Rich.”

“Do you at least believe me?” Richie asked hopefully. Eddie’s eyes stopped wandering and finally met Richie’s, his brown eyes looking lost.

“Sure. I mean, you’ve never lied to me before but all of this still really hurts” Eddie said.

“I know that I’ve fucked up so, so badly Eddie and I’m never going to be able to forgive myself for it so I wouldn’t blame you if you never do either.” Richie explained. “I just needed you to know the whole truth before you decided that I’m a mess and you deserve better.” Richie was now looking down at his feet ashamed of himself for all the pain he had caused Eddie.

“This past week without you has been the worst one of my life and if there’s even the smallest shred of forgiveness that you’ll give me I will spend every single day, hour, even second of my life trying to make it up to you Eds, because I can’t live without my favourite person, my best friend.”

Eddie stared at Richie. His curls were a mess upon his head, he had bags beneath his eyes, and his cheeks were flushed with red. The tall boy looked like a mess honestly, but Eddie still had the longing need to want to hold him and tell him everything’s going to be okay. Richie had sent Eddie through hell the past week but he had been there too.

A minute passed and Eddie still hadn’t said anything.

“I can’t lose you Eds, I really can’t.” Richie’s voice was shaking now and Eddie saw his eyes start to well up.

Eddie thought his heart was already broken but looking at Richie right now made him hurt even more. He didn’t say anything but instead closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around Richie and held him as tight as he could. Richie hesitated at first, his body tensing up at the unexpected contact but quickly gripped Eddie back and held on to him as tight as he could.

“I’m so sorry and I hate how I made you feel. But I love you so much Eds, I really do and I’m never going to not love you.” Richie whispered into Eddie’s hair.

Eddie’s face was pressed against Richie’s chest. “I know and I love you too” he mumbled against the soft shirt. “It wasn’t okay but I want to fix this” he added.

Richie nodded his head even though Eddie couldn’t see it. “I’ll do whatever you want me to, Eds.”

Eddie lifted his head from Richie’s chest and looked up to see his face. He placed a gentle kiss upon Richie’s lips for a soft second before letting him go and taking a step back. Richie gave him a small smile.

Richie reached out for Eddie’s hand before he could step any further away and laced his finger with his. He gave the small hand in his a little squeeze and his heart skipped a beat when Eddie squeezed back like he always had.

“Do you maybe want to go inside and share a vanilla milkshake?” Richie asked cautiously. “I know they’re your favourite.”

Eddie smiled and nodded his head at the idea. “Yeah,” he answered. “I’d love that.”