Fear Factory / reddie circus au

Nine - Frying pan into the Microwave

Eddie was awoken by a streak of golden sunlight tickling his cheek. Hesitantly he opened his eyes.

Richie's sleeping face lay inches away from his.

Eddie could see all of the freckles that splattered across his cheeks, like a painter had flicked paint on a canvas. He looked so peaceful.

It took Eddie another moment to realise that Richie's right arm was softly wrapped around his waist and his left hand in Eddie's hair.

Eddie blushed, looking down to hide his embarrassment even though there was no one around, or awake, to see.

As gently and as swiftly as possible, Eddie weaved himself out of Richie's arms and slipped out of bed. He turned for a second to look at Richie, his unruly curls falling softly across his face.

Sweet.

Eddie crossed the trailer, making sure not to stand on any of the creaky floorboards, and stood in front of the mirror. He looked at himself.

His hair was messy and falling into his eyes and his t shirt was creased. But apart from that he looked normal. But the thing was he didn't feel 'normal'

He glanced back over his shoulder at Richie and as soon as his eyes landed on the beautiful boy his heart stopped. He felt it stop, almost like he was excepting it too.

Did he like Richie? He felt strange, strange because he remembered kissing Richie. He remembered the heat and the gentle kisses, but it felt so hazy, almost as if it were a dream. But it hadn't been, had it?
The more he thought about it the more confused he got.

It did happen, he did kiss him. Eddie looked back at the boy making the subconscious decision to talk about it unless Richie did first.

But one thing was for sure, Eddie liked Richie. A statement he was sure of, but no matter how many times he repeated it in his head it didn't feel any less complicated.

'Richie is a boy. Boys aren't meant to like boys.' Eddie kept thinking, doubting himself. He knew the sort of things that happened to homosexuals in Derry. Horrible, horrible things.

Eddie tried to clear his mind.

"Morning Ed's," Richie said, his voice slightly croaky.

Eddie turned to look at him, unable to stop the small smile spreading onto his lips,
"Don't call me that,"

Almost instantly, Richie felt the same pit in his stomach Eddie had felt when he first woke up. Richie remembered kissing Eddie, and how afraid he was to do it, but it almost felt too miraculous to be real.

Nonetheless, Richie's arms ached to hold Eddie again. A pain he didn't know how long he could restrain.

All of Richie's confidence had been used up last night and now he felt anxious again. Anxious about whether he'd messed things up with sweet little Eddie or not. He swore not to mention the kiss unless Eddie did first. That way he knew he wouldn't over step any boundaries.

"It's your first big day today," Eddie said smiling.

Richie tilted his head, still drowsy from sleep. Suddenly realising what Eddie was talking about,
"Holy shit," Richie whispered, sitting up.

"Holy shit indeed," Eddie said walking over to a slim, tall closet beside his bookshelf, "It's going to be your first time performing with us,"

Richie felt slightly nauseous, the ominous feeling he had felt when he first arrived several days ago seeping back into him.

"But Eddie I don't have an act," Richie said, panic building in his chest,

"Of course you do Rich, your a hypnotist,"