𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 - 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑

[Tuesday, March 26th, 1986. NOW.]

When you woke up, it was by the first tentative rays of the morning spring sun tickling your cheeks as they fell through a gap in the curtains, and for a beautiful moment, the world was perfect.

Because you'd spent the night in Eddie's arms.

Memories flitted to the surface of your mind, mirroring the swarm of butterflies in your belly, painting a smile on your lips as happiness, pure, unfiltered happiness, surged through you like liquid sunlight at the thought of everything that had happened between Eddie and you, the faint pleasant ache between your legs testifying that it hadn't just been a beautiful dream.

I love you, monster slayer.

Eddie's words, spoken with the gentlest voice, the most radiant warmth in his umber eyes as he'd gazed down on you, unravelling underneath his loving touches, every caress and kiss mirroring those beautiful five words.

He knew. He knew everything, and he still hadn't left. Not just that – he'd chosen to stay. To be with you.

And for the first time since Starcourt – and when you were being totally honest, the first time ever since Barb had gone missing – you'd had a deep, peaceful sleep void of nightmares, filled only by the steady tune of Eddie's heartbeat against your ear, his even breaths fanning over the side of your face just as it did now upon waking.

Yes, in these beautiful, ephemeral moments in the twilight zone between sleep and waking, where there was only Eddie, your head resting on his chest, his arms slung around you as if he was scared he'd lose you if he didn't hold you close, his soft curls tickling your cheek...there were only happiness and peace.

And then, reality came back crashing in, thunderclouds swallowing the sunlight in your heart, replacing it with terror of the storm to come.

Crimson thunderclouds.

Tonight, it would all end – either with Vecna's death...

You couldn't finish the thought.

Gently, you untangled yourself from Eddie's arms, careful not to wake him, and sat up beside him, the duvet slipping from your shoulders and the cool air of Eddie's bedroom kissing your bare skin, and you looked at Eddie beside you.

He was lying on his back, his dark curls fanned around his head on the pillow like spilled ink, and your heart squeezed in your chest with love, so much love, for this guy who'd stumbled into your life with his tattoos and his worn-leather-and-ripped-denim looks, his sunshine-smiles and chocolate eyes brimming with humour and wit and warmth, with all the kindness in his heart of gold, with music in his voice, who'd chosen to stay soft in a world made of razor-sharp edges ready to cut him. Stumbled into your life when you'd needed him most and had taken the shards of your heart in his gentle hands to put them back together, piece by tiny piece.

Holding the dark thoughts at bay for a few more blissful, calm minutes, you watched him in his slumber. Eddie's features, framed by those beautiful dark curls, were serene in his sleep, illuminated by the pale light of dawn creeping over the sky outside, a soft pink blush chasing away the night to herald another beautiful spring day. So utterly opposing what lay ahead once the sun dipped below the western sky by the end of day, the horrors nightfall would bring.

If only you could freeze this moment, pause it like a VHS tape. Catch it like fireflies in a jar and keep it forever.

You allowed yourself to admire the way his long, dark lashes rested on his pale cheeks, the softest smile which played on his plush lips, evoking the memory of those lips brushing against your skin, all those kisses you'd shared last night. With a soft smile of your own, you reached out, fingertips gently grazing the side of his face to brush away a few stray curls, tracing the line of his jaw and watching this soft smile on his lips deepen underneath your feathery caress.