problematic ➳ reddie

98

warning: homophobic slurs

june ❀ age 18-19

it was the big day. some were waiting for it more than the others. the some being sonia kaspbrak, soon to be gray, and bob gray himself. the others being eddie kaspbrak and richie tozier by his side.

richie knew how much this affected eddie. he'd be having a father figure after eighteen years of living under his mother's apron. must be a huge change. although once eddie and richie's colleges announced that they got in (because they really had to get in) they'd get out of here. they weren't planning on staying here for one second longer.

"drink this" richie handed eddie a glass of water. at least it looked like it. the smaller boy who was sitting on the bed of the hotel room, took the glass with shaky hands and brought it to his lips, immediately spitting the liquid out as strong taste of vodka filled his mouth.

"what the hell richard?! it's my mother's wedding! are you trying to make me ruin them? I have a very low alcohol resistance and you know it"

"i wasn't planning that, idiot" richie rolled his eyes and sat next to eddie, who sighed shakily. "you need to relax. you've been on edge the whole day. it's giving me anxiety"

"i'm sorry" eddie sighed and looked at the glass in his hands. "i just...I just hope mom knows what she's doing"

richie didn't reply. he placed a hand on eddie's shoulder. eddie smiled sadly and put his hand on top of richie's. "thanks for being here..."

"hey, of course..." the other nodded. "it's not like I was planning on leaving you here alone. after what you've told me...that bob guy's a dick"

"the biggest" eddie breathed shakily.

richie was going to make a joke about that, but seeing eddie in the edge of a panic attack, he decided to save eddie from his jokes. instead, he cupped both of eddie's cheeks. "you're brave, you know that"

eddie shook his head, tears falling from his eyes, but richie was quick to wipe them off. "no, you are. the most bravest I've ever met. you can go through with this"

eddie pulled away from richie and stood up. he walked to the mirror, looking at himself through the reflection. looking back at him was staring a short boy with tear welled eyes, a few tears staining the red waistcoat he was wearing over an eye stinging white button up, which was tugged into his black suit pants. "god, look at me...I look like I came out of the 20s"

richie soon appeared behind him, wrapping his arms around eddie's hips, so that his hands met in the front of eddie. "you look beautiful"

"why does that sound familiar?" eddie smiled a little and looked at richie's reflection, which looked much more mature. even though he was wearing the most plain black tuxedo, he managed to look the most handsomest man in the whole wide world.

richie hummed in eddie's ear. "what would make you think you look beautiful?"

eddie bit his lip and blushed a little. "you know, richie..."

richie hated seeing eddie like this. he hated seeing him embarrassed of himself. richie wanted to tell eddie that he was amazing the way he was, and maybe eddie did know that but he still struggled over self hate.