problematic ➳ reddie

117

April  ❀ age 22-23

  Richie shut the microphone from ahead of him and laid his head down in the dark office room. He had just finished one of his podcasts where he talked shit about the society and told his usual jokes and usual voices and got a few calls from the listeners.

He took his glasses off his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. He has been way too stressed these last few weeks. His listener rates has been going down and not only that, he is exhausted. He has to think every night what to talk about, that's why he isn't getting sleep and that's why everytime he gets home from work, he sleeps, not getting to even kiss Eddie hello.

Richie sighed a long and exhausted sigh and got up, holding his rib as he did so, turning the lights off, grabbing his stuff and locking up the place.

It didn't take long for him to arrive home, seeing Eddie curled up on the couch, a pillow pressed against his stomach and in between his legs. The smaller boy startled awake when Richie shut the door behind him.

"Rich..." Eddie rubbed his eyes and then glanced at the clock. "It's near midnight"

"I know" Richie nodded and removed his shoes. "I'm sorry. You can go back to sleep."

"No" Eddie shook his head and got up. "You'll go to bed now. Let me take care of you, please. You're working way too late"

"Eddie-"

"Shh" Eddie shushed his fiance and pulled his jacket off. "It's okay. C'mon"

Richie was too tired to argue, so he let Eddie led him to their bedroom and remove his clothes. Eddie slowly pulled Richie's T-shirt over his head, eyes immediately hitting on a bruise which was shining on Richie's right rib. Eddie looked at Richie, who was avoiding Eddie's gaze.

The smaller boy kneed down, cupping Richie's other cheek with his hand. "What happened?" His other hand gently stroked the bruise, his fingertips dragging along the purple skin.

"New York happened" the raven haired beauty replied and turned to Eddie with tired eyes.

Eddie frowned and was about to ask why, but Richie was way ahead of him.

"They recognized me from the podcasts and remembered that I was a fag. There were three of them, one of me. I tried, failed" Richie explained and laid on his back, pulling away from Eddie's touch.

"But...when?" Eddie stood up and looked sadly at the love of his life who was exhausted to death.

"Yesterday" Richie mumbled as his eyes began closing.

"But" Eddie sighed shakily, tears brimming in his waterline at the idea of Richie getting hurt. "Can you not go tomorrow for work? I have a day off at college too...Please stay home?"

Richie opened his eyes and looked how Eddie carefully crawled on his other side. "I can't let down my listeners, Eds"

"You can't let me down either" Eddie whimpered and laid next to his fiance. "Don't go"

"I have to" Richie wrapped an arm around Eddie and kissed his hair. "It's okay. I'll be okay"

"You have to promise me that you won't get hurt" Eddie sniffled on Richie's bare shoulder.