Fear Factory / reddie circus au

Twenty - Don't call me that

"You ready?" Eddie's asked, tightening the waistband of the harness wrapped over Richie's hips.

Richie blushed and nodded. His face illuminated a calm blue under the show lights. The impatient crowd below laughing and screeching.

He felt nervous. But not as nervous as he had when performing hypnosis in front of a crowd. He could never bare to do that little party trick of his again, the thought of his sick manipulation made his stomach churn.
Saying his thoughts aloud he leaned across and whispered to Eddie,
"I'm never going back to hypnosis after this."

Eddie smiled, his eyes bursting with the colours that refracted off them,
"No need, your going to be my partner on this forever now,"

Richie smiled, feeling warm inside, except for the tiny worry tugging at his conscience in the back of his head.
"What- what if I fall?"

Eddie smiled sympathetically, reaching a hand onto Richie's cheek,
"I will catch you,"

Richie gazed into Eddie's eyes, a cheeky smile curving onto his lips.

"Oh and I have to say," Eddie smirked, "You look pretty funny in a jumpsuit,"

Richie blushed embarrassed, looking down at the navy blue costume in which he wore,
"Eddie we are literally matching, so you must look hella funny too,"

Eddie rolled his eyes before giving Richie a short kiss on the cheek and heading to the edge of the platform, descending down the ladder. Leaving Richie alone up in the canopy.

Even though he was alone, he couldn't help but smile. Everything was getting better. Healing.

Bill haven't remembered Richie either, but for a different reason. The possession in which he had been under was so strong he had barely been conscious the whole time. The thought made Richie grimace with guilt.

When Bill woke up, a few days after Richie, his stutter had returned. There was a group decision to make Mike the new ringleader, as Bill felt too self-conscious of his speech impediment to continue. Bill couldn't have been more glad to step out of the spotlight and pass his top hat and tailcoat onto someone else. He seemed happy returning to juggling and acrobatics which he hadn't done since he was younger, but you couldn't tell because of how good he was.

Mike had been delighted by the news and has been doing an amazing job as ringleader so far. He seems happier then ever and the crowds seem to love him.

Beverly and Ben have also grown even closer then before. Something Richie had thought to be impossible. Beverly's anxiety's also seemed to calm, she had said all the bad auras and omens keeping her awake had become dormant. That she could now focus on the things that were most important to her. Ben.

They've even decided to move into each others trailers. Leaving a free one for Richie.

Richie had apologised to Stan about ditching him but Stanley understood that his birds were something any normal person would get annoyed of after a while.

Talking of Stanley's birds, he had gotten some new ones. Eddie and Richie had taken him to a special reserve on the outskirts of Derry to pick some out.

He had chosen the most beautifully delicate stork-billed kingfisher with a damaged leg, with promise of trying to nurse it back to health.

He also chose a painted bunting, a small bird with bright fuchsia underbelly, blue head and lime green wings. It instantly became the most beautiful bird Richie had ever seen, and he didn't know a lot about birds.

Eddie had also been right. Love can conquer anything. And in this case, love was strong enough to overpower hypnosis.
The individual heartbreaks the boys had experienced only brought them closer together. They needed each other, it was like they were each other's oxygen.

Eddie had continued to teach Richie trapeze, whether he was genuinely keen on getting Richie to learn or whether he just wanted to spend time with him, Richie couldn't tell. But he didn't mind.

He had the love of his life back and that's all that mattered. It was all that ever mattered.

Eddie and him.

Now Richie stood, waiting, as he could hear the ring of Mike's voice from far below.

"May I present to you, for the first time ever... Richie Tozier and Eddie Kaspbrak on trapeze!"

Richie took a deep breath and gripped onto the bar. The cold metal sticking to his sweaty palms.

Through the dim but colourful lights Richie could make out Eddie's small frame, silhouetted, on the platform at the opposite side of the tent. Only a 20 metre drop to the ground away. Shit.

Just stepping towards the edge of the platform made Richie's breathing rapid and shallow. He could feel his pulse pounding in his temples.

He had practiced so many times before. Just never in front of a crowd. Only in front of Eddie.

Richie always thought that trust must come before love, however that is not true, for love and trust can arrive at the same moment. When love is given in this way, immediate, no explanations, the trust arrives too. Perhaps that is why people advise caution or call it foolish, but to Richies it never was. Love was love... And Richie loved Eddie. Richie trusted Eddie.

He took a deep breath and stepped over the edge.

His body felt weightless for a second before the swing of the trapeze thrust him forwards into the air. Threatening to throw him off, but Richie kept a firm grip.

His messy hair was pushed back in the breeze as he swung his lanky legs, beginning to build momentum.

He didn't have time to concentrate on his nervousness, he was to focused on getting his timing right.

He looked up.

Ahead of him, Eddie stepped off the platform, falling gracefully in the air before being swung forward too.

The two of them now tussling elegantly in the air, swinging closer to each other with each swing of their legs.

Eddie then swung his body up, hooking his legs over the bar so that he now sung upside down, with his arms hanging down, headfirst, towards the ground.

Richie took a deep shaky breath, copying what Eddie had just done.

Clumsily he hooked his lanky legs over the bar and let go, now hanging upside down like Eddie.

The crowd gasped as the tension grew.

3.
Richie counted in his head as he swung past Eddie.
2.
He remembered Eddie's promise. Eddie promised to catch him.
1.

Richie reached his arms out, closing his eyes afraid. He suddenly felt two hands wrap around his and Richie unhooked his legs from the bar.

Richie gasped in fear as he fell slightly. Feeling the grip on his wrists tighten as he was caught by Eddie, who still hung upside down.

Richie looked up at the boy who was supporting him. Richie smiled. Looking into Eddie's warm loving eyes.

And in that moment Richie realised something. That the power of love brings hope... yet at times the steps towards love cause pain and loneliness. We are born to love and with all necessary courage to walk the path to it, no matter the roughness, no matter the hardship.

Richie had fought so hard for this and he had finally won.

"Told you I'd catch you," Eddie grinned over the applaud of the audience.

They stared at each other lovingly, overcome with euphoria and lust. What a beautiful moment this was.

"Never let go," Richie whispered, a shy smile spreading onto his freckled cheeks.

The contagious smile causing Eddie to do the same.

Both boys knew that love is the foundation of all humanity, and for a house to stand, the foundations must be solid. Love was their rock, and this is where the wise men built their home.

"I love you," Eddie whispered,

"I love you too Ed's,"

Eddie smiled, his face finally peaceful,

"Do not call me that."

THE END