the downfall // richie tozier angst // reddie

5

It was over. For now, at least, but it was.

Richie would stay with Eddie most nights, if he couldn't he'd go to another friend's, or just the streets.

He usually had pretty productive days of being outside, with or without friends. Not like it was his choice, however.

Richie didn't want to be up and productive. He wanted to be in his bed sleeping all day. He didn't want to be awake anymore. Even if he had escaped his father's abuse, what if it came back?

The thoughts were always one to scare Richie, to the point he started to give in. He grew to hate himself more and more as the days went on.

He got the money from him job to finally buy more clothes, and with that, he bought jeans, hoodies and long sleeved shirts. Nothing that old him would wear.

Typically, the clothes were because it was freezing outside and outside was to be his known home at the time, but a reason being caused him to never be happier about these articles on clothing.

Went sat in his living room, chugging a bottle of beer, which when empty, he chucked at the wall, hoping Richie would appear and get hit by it. He didn't miss Richie. He missed the satisfaction of throwing him around and hurting him.

He rose from his spot on the couch, and finally left the house. He walked with his hands in his pockets lazily as he looked around.

Ten minutes passed until Wentworth came across some figure in the grass. He furrowed his eyebrows, walking closer and closer.

He noticed the boy's hair, for he hadn't seen his face yet due to the fact that he was turned around.

Went grabbed locks of his hair and he yelped, reaching for anything to help. He managed to get a hold of the bag he brought before being ripped to his back and dragged across the grass.

He screamed and squirmed and protested but it wasn't worth it after nearly ten minutes in.

Richie begged Went to let go of his hair. It burned his scalp and sharp pains shot through his body as Wentworth yanked it around. His hands clasped over the one in his hair that held a fistful of black locks, trying to make the grip looser so he had a chance to escape, or even get out of this hellhole.

Before he knew it, Richie was back. Back in his house. He sat up, his body weak and tired. Recognizing the pain, he grabbed his phone from his pocket and checked the time. 2:04 AM. Richie let out a breath, struggling to stand as he crawled across the floor towards the front door. He opened it quietly and crawled out into the night.

He sat on his front porch, panting and groaning. Richie opened his phone again and dialed Eddie's number.

Eddie awoke to vibration that spread through his mattress. He opened his eyes tiredly, picking up the phone that rang. He sighed once he realized who it was and answered.

"What? You woke me up, hoe," Eddie grumbled. Richie let out a breath. "You good?"

"Eddie," Richie announced.

"Yeah?"

"He fucking got me. Again."

Eddie's eyes widened and he shot up in his bed. "Fuck, are you okay?!" he asked, panicked.

"No. I don't know what he did but I do know my whole body's aching like it used to."

Eddie knew what he was referring to, and slid out of bed immediately. He ran over to his shoes and began to slide them on, still holding his phone up to his ear.

"Alright. Where are you. I'm coming," he said strictly, making Richie nod and breathe out aggressively once again.

"My front porch. I can't move."

"Fuck!" Eddie whispered, storming over to his window. "I'm coming."

"Thank you."

Eddie hung up, slipping out his window and onto his front lawn. He began to run, even though he was still tired from being woken up. He ran until he saw Richie's house, slowly coming to a stop as he fell to his knees in front of Richie.

"Rich! What the fuck?! Are you okay?!" Eddie asked urgently, quickly bringing Richie into a hug.

"No." Eddie sighed, digging his face into Richie's shaking shoulder.

"Jesus, you're shaking like crazy."

"I'm terrified, Eddie." Eddie pulled out of the hug, looking Richie dead in the eyes.

"Come on, we're going," Eddie said.

"Did you not hear me?? I can't move!" Richie said, nearly bursting into tears. Eddie panicked and looked around, worried.

"What- What do I do? How do I move you? We both know I'm not strong enough to carry you."

"I don't know, Eddie, just please get me away from here," Richie mumbled painfully, trying not to cry.

Eddie let out a breath and decided to try and pick Richie up. Once Richie was successfully lifted into his arms, he took a break for it and walked as fast as he could. It hurt, but he would do anything if it meant helping Richie. He would do whatever was needed to help the boy he loved.

Eddie set Richie down in his front yard, looking around as he held onto the taller boy. "Okay. I-I'll be back. I'm gonna get something to help you up," Eddie rushed. Once Richie nodded, Eddie sprinted up to his window and climbed in. He grabbed a chair and proceeded to try and shove it through his window. To his surprise, he was able to get it outside, and went out with it.

"Why the fuck did you bring a chair out here?" Richie asked weakly.

"C'mon," Eddie grunted as he lifted Richie up from off the ground. He put the boy on the chair and lifted himself into his room once again. This time, he turned around and grabbed Richie, who bit his tongue to keep from yelping. Eddie panted after Richie was on the floor in his room, immediately collapsing in front of him. "What hurts?" Eddie asked frantically.

"Everything," Richie whimpered, putting his hands over his face to cover his cries. Eddie brought him into a hug, which Richie sobbed into. "Why can't I just die? Why can't everything just be over for me?"

"No, no don't say that. Please don't say that," Eddie mumbled and sniffed. 

Eddie put his head in Richie's hair, closing his eyes and rubbing the boy's back to calm him. 

"I feel like I got fucking stabbed," Richie cried, barely being able to talk due to how hard he was sobbing.

"Like where?" Eddie asked.

"St-stomach," Richie said. "But please don't try and figure it out, I just want you right now. I don't care if I'm bleeding out as long as I get to hold you as I am," Richie mumbled into Eddie.

Eddie turned pink and he smiled. "I'm not going anywhere, Rich. I promise." Richie nodded and continued to cry.