Random OneShots

Cursed tattoos pt.3

By: ceruleanandconvalescence on Ao3

Reddie

~~~~~

The date was horrible. First, he was late (thank you to his GPS who shut off halfway there). Second, he spilled coffee all over Stan while trying to be nice and pour him a cup. Thirdly, he was so loud they were "politely excused" (kicked out) of the restaurant.

Richie doesn't get embarrassed much, but right now? He's mortified. To make matters worse, the couple has been muttering quietly to each other for the past five minutes.

All Richie can make out are the phrases "Stupid idea" and "You were right."

So, yeah. He blew his chance. Time to go draw and call Ben and cry. Sounds great.

He coughs, interrupting their quiet argument, "Sorry, guys. I um, I'll get out of your hair. I was gonna go to the pond near here anyways afterwards, y'know get some sketching done, so it's cool."

They look a bit awkward, having caught on that Richie feels unwanted.

Stan is the first to speak, "Oh, why that pond? We go there to birdwatch sometimes-"

Eddie mutters, "Some of us are dragged against our will."

"-But it's rather small, and dirty."

He shrugs, "Same as you, I guess. I go for the birds. Makes me think of my soulmates."

Stan and Eddie share a look, before the latter bites the bullet, "Do you want us to come with you? Maybe you can share what happened."

He winces, "I'd rather not," he puts on a narrator's voice, "You have to at least be a level four friend to unlock traumatic backstory."

Eddie lets out a snort, "Yeah? What are we at then?"

"Jury's still out," he takes in a breath, "I'd like it if you guys came, but...I don't think I'm in the mood for talking anymore."

Stan shrugs, "That's fair. Your car or ours?"

"I thought we could just walk. It's not that far from here at all."

Eddie sighs, "You stupid nature freaks are going to kill me with all this outdoors time."

Stan smirks, "Oh, my bad Mr. National Parks donor of the year."

He blushes, "That was ONE TIME! And a bet! Shut up!" and lightly shoves him.

The walk to the park is filled with slight small talk that fizzles out pretty quickly.

Richie, for once, isn't in the mood to fill the silence. Not now, not when he feels like such a loser. Throughout lunch, Eddie and Stan talked about how they graduated college early and moved to be closer to one another. They have their own businesses that do well enough, and Richie just...doesn't have any of that.

He never went to college, barely scrapes by with the bookings he has, and doesn't have anyone to come home to, unless you count his cat, Monchi. (He doesn't.)

Deep in thought (that's new), Richie doesn't even realize they've arrived until Eddie says something.

"God this place is filthy."
"Huh? Oh shit we're here."

Stan cocks an eyebrow as he sits down on a bench, "Penny for your thoughts, Trashmouth?"

Richie shrugs, as he sits as well, "Just thinking about work, I have another client booked for next week so I need to find some bird references."

"Oh? What kind?" Stan asks.

Eddie interrupts, "Don't tell him anything he'll never shut up. He loves birds."

Richie laughs, "It's actually a bird I haven't drawn in a while, but it's one of my favorites. A swallow, which would be me as a bird. You know, cause that's what I like to do," he wiggles his eyebrows.

Eddie scrunches up his face, "Gross dude."

Stan is deep in thought and after a minute pipes up, "Our soulmate used to draw those all the time."

Richie's eyebrows pinch together, "Used?"

Eddie coughs, "He uh. Stopped."

"Oh, fuck is he dead, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-"

Stan lays a hand on his shoulder, "It's alright, it was a long time ago."

Richie nods, and the three fall into a comfortable silence as he pulls out his book and begins to draw.

Hours later it's getting dark and Eddie has fallen asleep on Richie's shoulder.

"He's so cute cute cute when he's sleeping, I don't wanna wake him," Richie whispers softly to Stan.

Stan smiles softly, "Yeah, he's basically an angry gremlin when he's awake...But we need to get going."

He smiles sadly, "Okay," he shakes Eddie, "Hey wakey wakey eggs and bakey."

Eddie doesn't seem to realize who he's fallen asleep against, leaning up to give him a kiss on the cheek saying, "Thanks baby," in a sleepy voice.

Richie burns red, "Not your baby sweetheart," he winks, "but I can be."

That wakes Eddie up, "Oh shit, I am so so sorry."

Richie shrugs and turns to look at Stan who is amused, "Don't sweat it. I need to head home though, I'm opening tomorrow. See you around."

As soon as Richie is out of earshot, Eddie whacks Stan in the arm, "The fuck! You let me kiss him!"

"He said he used to draw swallows all the time."

"Yeah, just like our soulmate."

Stan gives him a look and watches the pieces click.

Eddie's eyes grow wide, "Fuck does that mean-"

Stan nods, "Richie is definitely our soulmate. And he doesn't want us."