THE SEVENTH WHEEL.. mike hanlon x pennywise ✔️

ii. a clown

As Mike started to bike home, he ran into Richie and Eddie, who were leaving the coffee shop.

"Mike, my man!" Richie cawed, walking over. Eddie shadowed him shyly. "What's up, my dude?" he asked as Mike got off of his bicycle.

"Nothing much," said Mike, glancing at Eddie. Eddie gave him a small grin when they locked eyes, but Mike couldn't help but notice how he held on to the back of Richie's shirt like a security blanket. "How about you?"

"I'm good, just had my coffee, and now we're off to see a movie! Right, Eds?" Richie chirped, slinging an arm around Eddie. Mike couldn't help but notice how similar Richie was to a bird. He was loud, and just looked like a bird in general.

"Don't call me Eds," Eddie scoffed, but he nodded. Mike watched as he moved his arm to hold Richie's hand that was around his shoulder. "We're going to see Nightmare on Elm Street. Wanna join us?"

Mike declined, but thanked them for the offer. He didn't want to admit it, but there was a tiny flash in Eddie's eyes when Mike said no. He probably doesn't want me to interrupt whatever Richie has planned for the theatre.

He hopped back on his bike and continued riding. He saw no sign of Bill and Stan when he drove by, and when he was about to reach his house, he heard a rustle in the bushes. Startled, Mike got off his bike and prayed to God that it wasn't the Bowers gang.

Creeping towards the bush, he pushed the branches out of the way and was met face-to-face with a clown.

This clown had red streaks running from the ends of his mouth to above his eyes. His face was the palest of white— but it's handsome, Mike thought, embarrassed. The clown looked at him curiously.

"Hullo," Mike said to the clown. The clown tilted his head.

"You're saying hi to me?" the clown said, taken aback.

"Yeah. What are you doing in this bush?"

"Waiting for someone. Well, anyone, really."

Mike found this a little weird, but he didn't question it. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Pennywise. But... my friends call me Penny."

"Nice to meet you, Pennywise. I'm Mike Hanlon."

☾

Mike and Pennywise made small talk for a little while, until Penny said he needed to go home.

Mike waved goodbye and biked home. He ran into Stan on his way back.

"Oh, hey, Stan," Mike said, slowing down his bike.

"Hey, Mike," Stan replied, stopping his bike as well. He fiddled with his hands while he talked. Stan had always been fidgety.

"I saw you and Bill earlier today. On the porch," he added.

"Oh, really?" Stan said, looking a little embarrassed. "What did you see?"

"Just you two whispering," Mike prodded, hoping to hear what exactly they had been whispering about.

"Oh, nice. Well, I've gotta get home, said Stan. And he got back on his bike and left.