#i also wrote this in procrastination from my bichie thing i'm currently working on so haha go me

[stanananathon]

reddie proposal

Let’s make one thing clear: Eddie knew exactly what was going on. He knew Richie was planning on proposing from the second the idea popped into the lanky boy’s head—literally.

Richie was a terrible liar—especially to Eddie—so when they were having a quiet night in Eddie’s childhood bedroom and Richie suddenly gasped (and tried to hide it as a cough) Eddie knew exactly what was going on.

They were on one of their annual visits to Derry to keep Mrs. Kaspbrak at bay. It was the end of the night and the two adult men were cuddled up in Eddie’s old twin bed. They had been reminiscing on the “good ol’ days” and Eddie had brought up their first date.

They were fifteen and had no idea what they were doing, so the best thing they could think of was to watch a movie at the Aladdin. Richie had reached across the armrest to link his fingers with Eddie’s, who had glanced over to see Richie watching the movie as if nothing had happened, but Eddie could see the blush coating his cheeks. He had just smiled and squeezed Richie’s hand as he drew his attention back to the movie.

Richie and Eddie talked about how long ago that was how long they’d been together. Ten years, Eds. Who knew you’d stick with me this long? Then Richie had gasped, started coughing, and Eddie could already see the cogs working in his head.

So the cogs started going in Eddie’s too.

He was not going to let Richie have this. He’d get way too emotional and start crying a sentence into his speech, which would make Eddie start crying, and then they’d just be one big mess.

Besides, Eddie knew that everyone would assume that Richie was the one to propose and Eddie doesn’t know who he is if he doesn’t try to challenge people’s assumptions of him.

So, he started planning his marriage proposal to Richie. He knew exactly how he was going to do it, too. After Richie and Eddie had moved to New York they decided to go on a date to celebrate. They went to a small ice cream shop they had no idea how they found, and then walked around the city until they stumbled upon a small park with a little bridge.

Eddie would take Richie to the ice cream shop and then propose on the bridge. Richie would cry and Eddie would pretend not to tear up and it’d be beautiful.

Except that is wasn’t. Well, that’s not true. It was beautiful, Eddie will admit, but it definitely did not go as planned. 

It was a Tuesday night when Eddie finally got the ring. He knew he couldn’t hide anything from Richie so that meant the proposal had to be that night. As he waited for Richie to get home from work, he admired the ring in his hands. It was a simple gold band with Eds engraved on the inside. He knew how special the nickname to Richie was, and it was long ago that Eddie admitted that he didn’t actually hate it. But he put it on the inner band so that it could be between them. Not everyone needed to know he secretly liked it. 

Eddie quickly pocketed it when he heard the key turn and looked up to see his gorgeous boyfriend tumble through the door.

“Baby, you will not believe what happened at work today. This old ass lady came into the shop asking about a specific classical record, so I told her where the classical section was, right?” Eddie nodded as Richie rambled through his story while he took off his shoes and jacket and made his way around the apartment until he ended up next to Eddie at their dining table. “And then, after spitting on my shoe, she just left.” Eddie chuckled at the story and took Richie’s hand in his. 

“Well, I think I know of something that might make you feel better.”

“Oh, yeah?” Richie wiggled his eyebrows and leaned toward Eddie.

“Not that!” Eddie giggled and pushed him away.

“How about we go get some Sylas and Maddie’s? I hear they’ve got some new flavors to try.” Richie perked up at that. 

“Yeah. Yeah!” Richie jumped up. “Let me just go change out of this shirt. It’s all, um, gross from--from work. Yeah. Be right back!” Eddie pursed his lips as Richie ran to their bedroom. Absolutely not. Richie was going to steal his idea! Well, then Eddie would just have to make sure to propose first. 

As they ate their ice cream Eddie tried not to let the wonderfulness of the evening get in the way of staying ahead of Richie. But it was just so nice. He felt eighteen again, going on their first date in a new city. Richie was just as excited as the first time they came to this shop, gazing at the ice cream flavors like a little kid, and eating like one too. Eddie had to hide his smile with a fake scowl when he saw the dollop of ice cream just chilling on Richie’s nose, to which Richie seemed to completely oblivious.

When they finished, Eddie suggested they go to the park. Richie clearly perked up at this, which only spurred Eddie’s determination. If he thought this was going to be his night, he was sorely mistaken.

Maybe Eddie was taking this competition a little too far.

Oh, well. He’s in too deep not to keep trying to win.

They decided to walk to the park as the weather was actually quite pleasant. The majority of the walk was spent in a comfortable silence, walking with their hands entwined. Every now and then Richie would point something out to Eddie and find a way to make a ridiculous enough comment to get a giggle out of him.

On the walk, Eddie went through his speech and his chest felt like it was filling up with a balloon. God, he loved Richie so much. They made it to the small bridge, and Eddie, lost in the feeling, gave them a moment to relish in it.

Well, that was a mistake. He didn’t factor in Richie’s impatience, and after a heartbeat, Richie cleared his throat and turned toward Eddie.

“Um, Eds. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something for a while.”

Eddie stiffened at once. How could he have slipped up?

“You have no idea how much you mean to me, Eds. In these past years—“

“Oh, no! You are not doing this!” Eddie cut Richie off. Richie stared at Eddie with wide eyes and his mouth hanging open.

“Eds—“

“No! You asked me out, and you asked me to move in with you. I get this! This is mine!” Still baffled, Richie tried to stutter his way through a sentence, but Eddie, already on a roll, aggressively dropped to one knee. He wrestled the ring box out of his pocket and thrust it at Richie.

“Richard Tozier, marry me.” He blurted out. But then he stopped.

“Wait wait, no that’s not how I wanted this to go, dammit.” Eddie looked down for a second, trying to remember his speech but his mind was blanking in his flurry.

“Eddie.” Eddie’s head shot up to see a grinning Richie with watery eyes. “Are you telling me to marry me?” He joked. Eddie laughed at that. The tension settled.

“No, damn.” He smiled. “I’m asking. I am. Richie, we’ve been together for the past ten years. When we were thirteen, I never thought I’d end up making out with you in your bedroom, but two years later, I did. Then I couldn’t imagine myself with anyone else. I act like you annoy me, but we both know I don’t mean it. I love you so much. You make me a better person, and I never want to be apart from you. So, because I knew you were trying to do this and I wanted to be the one to do it, and also because I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything ever, will you marry me?”

Tears were officially streaming down Richie’s cheeks as he laughed and lifted Eddie off of his feet, twirling him in the air. 

“Yes, of course, you competitive dumbass.” Richie set Eddie on his feet and kissed him so hard his head spun. When Richie pulled back he grinned at Eddie. “Now it’s my turn.” Then he dropped to one knee and whipped out a ring box with the perfect ring inside. A simple silver band that gleamed in the moonlight.

“Eds. Eddie Spaghetti. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Easily. I can pinpoint the exact moment I knew I was gonna marry you back when we were fifteen. Bowers was beating me up and you immediately ran in, tiny fists flying.” Eddie lightly punched Richie at that but giggled all the same. Richie grinned and continued. “You didn’t even think twice. You got beat up pretty bad, but when I asked you why you jumped in, you didn’t even hesitate. You told me, ‘Because you’re my friend. Why wouldn’t I?’ and I knew in that moment I was gonna spend the rest of my life with you. I hadn’t even asked you out yet, but I just knew. I know you’ve already asked me and I already said yes but even though you asked first, technically I had the idea first, so Edward Kaspbrak, will you do me the honor of being my husband?” 

Eddie wiped at his face as he nodded and giggled and cried and pulled Richie up to his face to seal their lips together. He thought he knew the moment Richie wanted to propose, but turns out he was actually ten years late.

He and Richie pulled back to grin and laugh at each other. Eddie was so damn happy. He was certain that this was the best moment of his life so far. He and Richie finally broke their gaze and they looked down to slip the rings on each other’s fingers. 

“Oh, oh wait!” Eddie took Richie’s off again and held it up to him. “Look on the inside.” He smiled bashfully and waited for Richie’s response. Richie read the nickname on the inside and a grin crept across his face. He slid the ring back on and kissed Eddie.

“God, I love you so much. You’re the best thing.” Eddie just smiled and pulled Richie closer as he deepened the kiss. 

So, Eddie got to propose first. It did not go how he had planned but as far as he was concerned it was the perfect proposal.