( closed ) i think you ought to stay away from here

[wheezed]

Who: Eddie Kaspbrak & Richie Tozier
When: july 14
What: Eddie + Richie get caught in an event dome ( followed by long overdue communication )
Warnings: event-related trauma; probably references to IT-canon (child-murdering monsters! parental abuse!); probably canon-related homophobia references —— will update as needed

( Things are...better. Maybe. They're talking, and that's already a huge improvement on the weeks of silence that gnawed away at Eddie painfully. There's an elephant in every room they walk into, of course there is, but Eddie certainly won't be the one to bring things up. Frankly, he's just happy that Richie's willing to talk to him again, after what happened.

So it's not perfect, but it's good. Things only feel a little stilted as Eddie chats his way through the walk, and it's only slightly obvious that he's desperately filling any silence with noise of some kind. It's not perfect, but he'll take it. Honestly he doesn't entirely remember why they've gone out this time – looking for something for HTC, he thinks, but it's hardly important. Eddie didn't even argue about the safety of the domes before he agreed, and now that they're out he's only regretting that a little.

After all, they haven't run into problems yet right?


Something feels wrong right away. Eddie's brows burrow into a deep frown and there's this gut feeling that just punches through him. He takes a deep breath in and turns to tell Richie that they have to go–

Richie isn't there.

Panic claws at him instantly, and there's barely time to suck air into his lungs before he starts calling out about as loud as he can manage. )

Richie? Rich, where did you go? Richie?!

Comments

[badimpression]

[Richie's riding a similar high, feeling better than he can remember feeling ever before, the weight of years rendered insignificant. It's staggering, but in a very good way, and only a little bit scary, like the rush from a carnival drop tower.

He sighs dreamily as Eddie leans in to meet him, barely joking, and covers Eddie's hand with his own.]

Lips zippered.

[For once, he means it. Richie shuts his mouth and presses back into the kiss, and boy howdy, it was one thing to kiss Eddie on a whim, his hands sticky with blood and his head swimming immediately afterwards with shame, but this is an entirely different beast.

He was scared, then. Richie's been scared for a really long time. But right now, thinking of nothing but scribbling on a cast and socked feet nudging his face and two ice creams, never one, he doesn't feel scared at all.

After a moment, he pulls back just far enough to start peppering sloppy kisses all over Eddie's cheek, smacking his lips exaggeratedly, with an accompanying mwah! each time.]

[wheezed]

( There's a strong urge to look around them and make sure there's no one observing them. A holdover from Derry, naturally, where even a hand clapped on a shoulder too gently could result in all sorts of ridicule and torture. If anyone were to catch them kissing back home–

well, Eddie doesn't like to think about how that might end.

It's different here though, and sure there are some pretty awful dangers lurking but at least he doesn't have to worry about the consequences of Richie scattering kisses over his face. All Eddie has to do is scrunch his face up, grabbing hold of Richie's shoulders to keep him from going anywhere even as he shrieks out a laugh. )

Lippers zippered.

( There's a pink flush to his cheeks and ears that he just can't get rid of, and even as he tries to get out a form of protest it just comes out hollow. After all, he is giggling through the whole thing as he wiggles his head out of Richie's reach. )

Richie, Jesus you're gonna slobber all over my face!

[badimpression]

[Richie's heard Eddie laugh a whole lot of different ways.

He's heard how Eddie laughs when he's mad and doesn't want to, but can't help it. He's heard the way he wheezes when he's trying not to let anyone hear, and the wild sort of shriek he makes when he's not thinking about who hears at all, like the time Richie tried to dunk Stan at the quarry, and copped a mouthful of water for his efforts, instead.

This laugh is different. It's more like a giggle- and he's sure saying as much would earn a smack from Eddie- unrestrained and joyful, and it fills up every hollow between Richie's ribs. He's still astounded this is happening.]

Not if I keep my lippahs zippah'd I won't!

[But he stops all the same, instead just standing there staring at Eddie and grinning like he doesn't even know he's doing it.]