𝐒𝐄𝐗 𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 ʳᵉᵈᵈⁱᵉ

𝗧𝗪𝗢

Eddie never liked romance movies. It wasn't because of the cheesy dialogue or predictable plots. It wasn't even entirely because of the heteronormativity, though that was a rant for another day. It was the morning after scenes. The pretty picture of a perfectly groomed couple blinking warm sunlight out of their eyes and kissing gently amidst perfectly placed covers with nary a hair out of place. It was unrealistic. But that wasn't even the biggest thing that got on Eddie's nerves. He couldn't put his finger on it for a long time but when he finally came to terms with the reality of his situation a few years ago, he realized exactly what it boiled down to.

Fear.

He had been so terrified that he would never experience anything close to the intimacy that two actors managed to portray in a movie that he convinced himself he hated it all and avoided watching rom-coms for years. He'd closed himself off to ever wanting that because he'd been convinced that he would never have it. As he woke slowly, he realized just how much those movies got wrong. There was very little magic as he slowly became aware of himself.

Instead, there was a fuzziness to his mouth that reminded him he didn't brush his teeth before falling asleep. But even that faded into the background as he shifted a little and was suddenly hit with the soreness present throughout his body. His limbs protested as he stretched, trying to relieve some of the discomfort. Then Eddie slowly opened his eyes but then snapped them back shut again, turning away and groaning at the blinding sunlight that was shining through the open curtains of Richie's window. His eyes flew open again with a gasp.

Richie.

There was a noticeable weight on the other side of the bed and it was impossible not to feel the warm breath on his shoulder as Richie slept on. His fingers were barely grazing Eddie's hip but the touch made his skin grow hotter now that he was aware of it. Turning his head slowly, he blinked against the sunlight and let his eyes trace over the other man. His hair was even more wild than it looked last night and his face was lax in sleep, his lips slightly parted as he breathed in and out evenly.

Eddie couldn't do much but stare, his eyes flitting over Richie's face. He looked different without his glasses. Younger, somehow. Maybe it was the more visible freckles or the smoothness of his expression. His lips were full and just the tiniest bit chapped. Eddie almost couldn't believe that he was really there even though the evidence was right in front of him. Reaching up his hand slowly, not wanting to wake him, he carefully brushed a stray curl away from Richie's forehead and softly let his fingertips brush over his face.

He traced from his forehead to his temple. There was a small, thin scar at his hairline. Eddie's fingers moved down to his cheek, connecting his freckles like constellations. Then down to his jawline. Another scar just under his chin. His thumb brushed over Richie's lower lip, causing him to shudder a little. Eddie stilled at the movement, wondering if he'd been caught. A few moments passed in silence and Richie didn't move again. Eddie carefully pulled his hand away only for Richie's to lift, clasping his fingers gently around Eddie's wrist.

He brought his hand back to his mouth, slowly brushing his lips over the tips of Eddie's fingers without opening his eyes. Eddie watched with a somewhat dazed expression, though his heart was racing quickly in his chest now that he knew Richie was awake. Warmth filled his cheeks as Richie's eyelids began to flutter and Eddie braced himself as he pressed a full kiss to his palm. Then Richie's eyes finally opened, their dark, warm depths meeting Eddie's gaze for just a moment. Then...

"Fuck," Richie cursed, his voice low and gravelly and definitely not doing certain things to Eddie as he snapped his eyes back shut and lifted his free hand to press over them. "Fucking sun's too goddamn bright."

A smile tugged at Eddie's lips.

"You didn't close your curtains," he said, his own voice a little scratchy too.