Young and Yearning (IT Imagines and Oneshots).

Reddie; Ignorance.

Richie and Eddie's friendship was going through a rough patch. Richie had been specifically avoiding Eddie - and Eddie was painfully aware. What he wasn't aware of, however - was Richie's feelings towards him. The feelings that had began to surface after the fight with Pennywise.

"Rich, come on," Beverly was urging Richie one day, "Tell the kid,"

"Seriously, Ringwald?" Richie spat, skimming rocks at The Quarry, "There's no fuckin' chance he'd ever love me back."

Richie's voice lowered into barely a whisper. Bev's heart ached for the boy. She took a quiet seat next to him as he stared at the rocks compiled in his lap.

"No chance.." He finally whispered, before taking the rocks in his hands and slamming them down onto the water's surface. They sank to the bottom. Beverly stood next to the boy and wrapped her arms around him. He stood still, no emotion, no feeling.

Eddie was browsing the shelves of the pharmacy, searching desperately for disinfectant wipes.

"Eddie?" A voice came from the doorway. He span around quickly. Ben stood there - after a Summer trip to his Aunt's.

"Benny!" Eddie said happily, throwing his arms around the wide boy. Ben held him tight before his brow furrowed.

"What're you looking for?"

"Disinfectant wipes?"

Ben nodded, before joining Eddie's search.

"Hey, Benny?"

"Yeah?"

"How can you tell when you like someone?"

"Like?" Ben asked, confused.

"Like, like."

"Love?"

Eddie shook his head quickly.

"Like.. a crush?"

"Ah well.." Ben thought for a moment, kneeling by the bottom shelf, "They're never off your mind, I guess? And uh- you care about them with your whole heart. Why?"

"There's someone, I guess," Eddie said gently, taking a seat - his head leaning against the bottom shelf.

"Who?"

"Can't say," He shrugged simply.

"Why?" Ben asked, taking a seat next to Eddie and turning to his right to hand him a packet of disinfectant wipes.

"Look you seem trustworthy enough, but-"

"Seem?"

"Ben-" Eddie took a deep breath, covering his face in his hands, "I'm gay."

"Eddie," Ben said, wrapping his arm around him, "There's nothing wrong with that, you know?"

"There's everything wrong," Eddie said, a sob flowing through his body. Ben took him in his arms, and gently lead him out of the pharmacy - leaving the wipes on the floor. Eddie slumped against the wall, his eyes blood shot and his nose a fiery red.

"What's wrong with who you're attracted to, Eddie?" Ben asked gently, after a few moments of silence - only broken by Eddie's sniffling.

"Boys like girls, that's what my Mama says. It's yucky, it's a-" He choked out another sob, "-Sin."

Ben heart ached in sorrow for the vulnerable boy. The Losers Club were all aware of the psychological abuse Eddie had been forced to endure the majority of his life, and the adjustments he was having to make to edge away from the bad habits.

"It's perfectly natural, Eds."

The nickname pained Eddie, but he never would have showed it.

"Who you love is whoever you love, doesn't matter."

"What should I do then, Benny?"

"If your feelings are strong, tell 'em Eddie. What's the worst that could happen?"

What was the worst that could happen, with Richie? Eddie didn't have the faintest clue, and Ben seemed reliable enough. He would just have to catch Richie at the right moment - because despite the ignorance between the two, the chemistry never flickered. Eddie didn't say a word. He simply stood from his seat, took a deep breath (or a stifling sniff, however you want to see it) and began to head to Richie's known favourite place - The Quarry.

Richie sat, now alone - on the edge of The Quarry. He heard gentle footsteps from behind me and tilted his head slightly to see who it was. A pair of thin legs. A pair of bright red boardie shorts. A strangely familiar yellow Christine shirt.

"Fuck," Richie thought. Without a second thought, he was falling feet first into the water below him.

"Richie, you fuck knuckle!" Eddie yelled, hesitating then jumping in after the idiotic boy. He reached the bottom with a less eventful splash than Richie's - but soaked from head to foot nonetheless.

"I despise you," He said loudly, resurfacing and wiping his hair out of his face - slicking it against his head. Richie stared in awe, and continued as Eddie opened his eyes.

"Sorry, Eddie," Richie said softly. Eddie joined him, in taking a seat next to him - a vivid amount deeper in the water due to his petite figure.

"What's going on, 'Chee?"

"Nothing, Eddie."

"What is it?" Eddie pushed, kneeling upwards a little, "Just tell me."

"I can't."

"Why the hell not?" Eddie spat.

"Cause I'm in fucking love with you, you fucking idiot," Richie said suddenly, standing from his seat and wading further into the water.

"You're- what?"

"You heard me!" Richie yelled back, dunking his head underwater. Eddie clambered after him, pulling him out of the water. Richie's hair fell back onto his face, his glasses remaining in the water. Eddie rested his hand on Richie's cheek, almost subconsciously.

"Tell me again," Eddie said slowly, his hand raising to push Richie's hair out of his eyes. Richie shook his head, "Why?" Eddie asked finally. Richie simply pointed to his mouth.

"..Trashmouth."

Eddie's face broke into a wide smile. He moved his face closer to Richie's, toes pointed and hand comfortable. Richie found himself not moving away, instead moving closer. Finally, their faces were inches apart.

"Stupid fuckin' Trashmouth," Eddie whispered as Richie closed the gap between them passionately. Almost toppling over into the water due to the force, the two found each other in each other's arms - both almost on the verge of tears.

"Stupid Trashmouth," Richie confirmed, nodding his head out of the kiss. Eddie laughed allowed and looked down at himself.

"We're going to get fuckin' pneumonia, Rich."

"You say that before you say you love me back."

Eddie glared at him, intertwining their fingers and dragging him out of the water.

"I love you too, dumbass."

Richie didn't reply - instead stared out at the shore of The Quarry, where Ben and Beverly were standing.

"Shit.." Richie said quietly, to which Eddie span around.

"Oh.. No," Eddie spluttered as he looked to wear Richie was facing. A wide smile was plastered across Beverly's face and a small one across Ben's. Eddie and Richie reached the shore.

"You guys.." Bev wooed.

"Save it, Marsh," Richie laughed.