Breathe ⭐️ Reddie

24

Even though they weren't in any trouble and their task was confidential and thrilling, it had to have been the most dull three weeks of the teenagers lives. They weren't allowed to leave the base, so their days consisted of working out and spending hours in the Analysis Room, trying to narrow down who the men could be.

Mike and Leroy had interrogated the men they captured, but they refused to give anything; no names, no ages, and no information. They had been threatened with torture, but none of them seemed to care; they were extremely loyal to whoever they were working for.

Richie wasn't having the most amazing time, with the constant challenge of trying to recover from his injury. However, as the weeks went on, the wound hurt less and he was getting stronger. Soon enough he was wrestling with some of the others and was able to best both Ben and Bill. Eddie still defeated him, but their matches lasted longer.

Richie was grateful he hadn't had to wrestle Bev, Mike, or Stan, because they seemed to be the only three capable of defeating anyone in the facility, besides Henry Bowers, who was bigger than all of them.

One afternoon, after their training was completed and they had showered, Eddie and Richie were walking along the corridor toward the Analysis Room to try to find something. Their analysis and search had been fruitless; they hadn't been able to get any information, despite their voice recognition devices and the blood they took from their prisoners.

"Ya know, I've got a good feeling about today," Richie said, wrapping his arm around Eddie's shoulders.

"Thank god you do, because I think it's gonna be like every single other day. As in, we'll research and get excited because we think we'll have something then realize: boom. Nothing," Eddie responded bitterly.

Eddie was not happy about their current position. All of the teens understood the tech and could work behind a desk, but Eddie hated being stuck in a room all day. He wanted to leave and go on missions, but the superiors had people check on each of the teens at different points during the night so they couldn't leave.

"Did you not take your chill pills today?" Richie asked. They had gotten more comfortable being a couple in the base, and that raised Richie's confidence. So, he teased Eddie whenever he could.

"Shut up, Richie. I'm serious. We haven't gotten anything!"

"And we won't find anything if we think like that. Come on Eds, where's your optimism?"

"Nonexistent."

"You're beginning to sound like Stan."

Eddie scoffed and pushed Richie's shoulder. Richie smiled and pushed him back, earning a playful glare from Eddie. They continued to mess around, until Henry Bowers walked around the corner. He saw the two and walked straight toward them.

Eddie stood in front of Richie. He knew Henry wouldn't mess with him, but he had no respect or reservation when it came to teasing and harassing Richie.

"What do you want, Bowers?" Eddie asked, glaring at him. He had never gotten along with Henry; not after he decided to call Bev a slut and bullied her for not being born into the Hive. Henry lived with his mother in the Hive, but no one knew anything about a father.

"Calm down, Kaspbrack. I'm not here to tease your sorry excuse of a boyfriend. I was sent by the superiors. They need to see you," Henry said, a bored expression on his face.

Richie and Eddie shared a look, before following Henry.

Before they could, Henry glared at Richie and spoke again. "They want to see Eddie alone," he hissed.