affection || reddie 💫

Chapter 19

"Eddie..! Eddie no no please please i'm sorry! Eddie!!!" Richie screamed as he jolted awake, sitting up in shock.

Eddie groaned and rolled over to look at his boyfriend, "what..? What's wrong—" he cut himself off when he noticed the tears streaming down Riches cheek, "Rich..? Oh my god Rich are you okay..?"

Richie just pulled Eddie into a hug and sobbed quietly into his shoulder, "don't let me go.. p-please j-just don't let me go.." he said, his cries sounding so painful they made Eddies eyes almost well with tears too, "shhh Rich it's okay.. I got you.. I'm right here.. everything's okay.."

Richie buried his face into Eddies neck, holding onto him tightly, "I- I saw it.. you were right in front of me- a-and you.. oh my god.. you died Eddie I saw it-" Richies words being cut off when he let out another loud, painful cry, not being able to handle the thought of Eddie dying.

Eddie then laid back down, bringing Richie with him and allowing him to sob into his chest. "It was just a bad dream Rich.. I'm still here.. my heart is beating, it's okay.. i'm not going anywhere alright..?" he reassured him, gently stroking a hand through Richies hair to comfort him.

For the next hour, Richie clung onto Eddies body like his life depended it, not letting it go for even a second, he would sniffle every few minutes and let out small whimpering sounds, slowly falling back asleep in his boyfriends arms whilst Eddie continued to stroke his hair and rub small circles onto his back, making sure he was able to get some rest.

*the next morning*

Eddie slowly opened his eyes, feeling the weight of Richies body still on top of him, he gently moved him off with a struggle, being surprised at just how tight Richies grip was on him the whole night.

As he moved him off, Richie rolled over, stretching and making a little sleepy sound, Eddie shifted closer to him and began stroking his cheek, moving the hair out of Richies eyes before placing a gentle kiss to his forehead.

"Rich..?" he asked, trying to get him to open his eyes, "Chee.. you awake..?"

Eddie watched as Richie breathed in and opened his eyes, looking up at him. His eyes weren't as lively as they usually were, he had dark circles under them and they were still slightly red and puffy from crying during the night, "you okay..?" Eddie asked, placing multiple kisses across his face.

Richie nodded and rubbed his eyes, blinking multiple times as his vision wasn't very good, "I need to get back home before my mom notices that i'm gone.. are you gonna be alright on your own..? Cause if not I can call Stanley or-" "I- It's okay Ed's.. I'm j-just really tired.." Richie replied, barely even being able to keep his eyes open.

"I'll let you sleep.." Eddie whispered, placing a soft kiss to his lips.

"C-could I have a hug first..?" Richie asked, his voice sounding broken.

Eddie immediately wrapped his arms around Richie, hugging him as tight as possible, he could feel Richie trembling underneath him as he softly caressed his cheek, the longer Eddie hugged him, the more the trembling began to go away.

After a few minutes, Eddie broke the hug and looked into Richies tired, dull eyes, "I love you.. more than anything Rich.." he whispered, "don't ever forget that.."

Richie looked back up at him and pulled Eddies face down gently, connecting their lips for a few seconds, "I love you too Ed's.."

Eddie then slowly crawled out of the bed, pulling the covers up over Richie and kissing his cheek, he watched as Richie then buried his face into the pillow, causing him to smile, after watching him for a few more seconds to make sure he was okay, he then closed the door quietly and headed out.

*meanwhile at Bills house*

Bill looked out his window, the rest of the losers asleep downstairs in the living room, he stared outside at the road, yawning when suddenly Stanley walked up next to him, causing him to jump.

"J-j-jesus Stan you scared t-the h-hell out m-me.." he said, looking over at him, "sorry.. what you watching?" Stanley asked, peering out of the window.

"N-nothing j-just watching the r-r-roa— r-r-roa.." he sighed, giving up on trying to speak, "you know Bill, if you stuttered as much as you did in bed, then you probably wouldn't be able to speak at all," Stanley smirked.

"s-seriously Stan..?"

Just at that moment, Bill saw someone on a bike going past and quickly looked down, "is that Eddie?" he questioned, both of them looking at each other before running downstairs.

"Eddie!" Stanley called, swinging open the front door, Eddie turned to see Bill and Stanley standing there, he turned his bike and cycled into the driveway, "oh hey guys," he smiled, putting his bike down, "wh-where's Richie..?" Bill asked, looking over at him, "he's still sleeping, I gotta get home before my mom notices i'm gone.."

"O-oh okay, w-we were all p-planning to g-go to the quarry t-t-today, did you and R-richie wanna come too..?"

"I mean.. I can come, but I think we should just let Richie rest today.. he's not doing too well.." Eddie replied, looking down.

Stanley raised an eyebrow, "he was fine yesterday, what happened?" 

"He just.. he had a bad dream.."

"So he cant come out with us because he had a nightmare, is that what you're saying..?" Stanley laughed.

"Stanley it's not funny, he's an absolute wreck right now, you should see him, it was more than just a nightmare, I don't know how but it's completely destroyed him.. he wouldn't let go of me the whole night after it happened."

"Geez.. I- I'm sorry Ed's, m-maybe w-we should all g-go visit him tomorrow, t-t-try to cheer him up y-you know..?" Bill suggested, glancing at Stanley.

"Sure.. we'll go cheer Richie up tomorrow because of his nightmare.." Stanley said, sarcasm in his voice.

"Fuck you Stan, he's seriously hurt you asshole.. I gotta get going.." Eddie frowned, getting back onto his bike.

"W-wait Ed's, you still c-coming to the q-quarry l-later..?" Bill asked.

"I think i'll pass.. I'll just see you guys tomorrow.."

Eddie then cycled off down the road, Bill instantly shooting Stan a dirty look, "w-what the f-fuck Stan..?"

"Sorry Bill.. I just didn't think—" "N-no Stan, R-richies your friend, y-yeah he may be a d-dick to y-you sometimes but he c-cares about you.. s-so have a little sympathy.."

Stanley looked over at him, now feeling bad for what he said, Bill then sighed and shook his head, "l-look j-just don't be a d-dick when w-we see them t-tomorrow okay..?"

Both of them then headed back inside, all of the other losers getting ready to go to the quarry for the day.