Young and Yearning (IT Imagines and Oneshots).

Reddie; Fear.

TW: Mild mention of r*pe and assault, just be weary! 

Eddie Kaspbrak never knew what true love was all about. He couldn't grasp his mind around it. The idea of treasuring someone to the point of no return, the concept of being willing to die for somebody's happiness - it all seemed an illusion to young Eddie. Whether it was through his mother's abusive actions; which he was still blind towards - or the isolation he had been forced to endure, Eddie wasn't sure.

But he didn't understand, and couldn't for the life of him. This didn't only pain Eddie, however. Through the corner of his eye was Richie Tozier. Town Trashmouth, and Eddie's best friend. Contrary to Eddie's belief, Richie was wildly infatuated with young Kaspbrak - rather than his mother, of course. This infatuating in Richie's case - was getting out of hand. To the point where the boy was love struck at the other's touch. Obsessed with the subtle laughs and smiles. Richie loved. He loved Eddie to oblivion. He wouldn't ever, and couldn't ever stop.

The winds were whistling over the cool bodies at The Barrens. The Losers Club stood, splashing around in the Grey Water - as Eddie addressed it. Eddie and Mike however, stood to the side - perturbed by the nonchalance of their best friends. Eddie couldn't peel his eyes away from Richie however, and this - Mike automatically picked up on, but did not speak about.

Here's the thing, Eddie couldn't have understand true love if it had scooped him up in it's arms and carried him out of the room. He couldn't grasp his mind around it, and this - The Losers were aware of, and their hearts ached for the poor, abused boy. The sun had began to set over the horizon, as one by one - The Losers Club announced their departure. Eddie was one of the last ones to leave, followed by a sopping wet Richie. The walk back to the Kaspbrak Residence was a horrid one, and Eddie loathed it with his heart. The only part that he merely survived was The Kissing Bridge.

The names of each star struck lover were carved messily into it, and Eddie loved observing it. Even the little R + E which stuck out to him one time. Couldn't have been Richie, of course. He was merely the town Trashmouth. This night however, was the night that Eddie's life to a horrific, and beautiful turn. The shadows of the trees loomed over the path, creating terrifying and mysterious shapes over the small Kaspbrak boy.

A new shape stood before him. In a different, terrifying way. Henry Bowers stood in front of Eddie, his large figure engulfing the petite boy.

"B-Bowers..?"

"Hello, Pipsqueak..."

Eddie shook with fear. He had always feared the Bowers Boy - with a different type of fear. An uncomfortable fear. Fear of the looks Bowers and his cronies would give the small boy as he and The Losers traipsed the halls of the school. The looks that sent goosebumps up and down Eddie's spine, even when he wasn't cold.

That night, Bowers infiltrated Eddie in ways he could never imagine. Ways that would trigger Eddie in centuries to come. Ways he was ashamed of, to the point of oblivion.

After he had escaped, with a mere amount of sanity - he fled to the nearest comfortable place, which wasn't his own home. On the contrary, Eddie fled to Mike's farm. At the farm, Eddie found himself collapsing into Mike's comforting arms. He whispered sweet nothings into Eddie's hair as Eddie found himself sobbing.

"Mikey, Mikey.." Eddie spoke through sobs. Mike had fallen quiet, and instead held the boy tight.

"Eddie, love. What happened?" He replied softly.

"B-Bowers.." The name sent a chill up Mike's spine, "He.. did things? Oh my god, Mike. He did things."

Mike found tears welling up in his own eyes and Eddie's pain - and held him closer for his own comfort, too.

"Mikey.. What's 'Chee going to think? He's going to be so ashamed, and angry. And oh my god.." Eddie found himself rambling.

"Eddie..?" Mike spoke clearly, interrupting Eddie's rambling.

"Mh?" Eddie sniffed.

"What do you think love is?"

"W-What?"

"What do you think love is?" Mike said again, extenuating each word.

"I-I'm not sure.."

"I am," Mike replied, nonchalantly, "It's what you feel for Richie. You love him, Eddie,"

Eddie fell silent.

"It's okay, Eddie. Embrace the emotion, love him until you die," Mike whispered.

Eddie did that. He quickly thanked Mike, before heading home - still shaking. His house, luckily lacked Sonia Kaspbrak. Eddie quickly, and thoroughly showered - changing out of his infiltrated clothing and into his pajamas. Finally, he felt comfortable. Still unnerved, but comfortable. As he began to settle, he heard a gentle rapping at the door.

Eddie stood from his seat on the couch, and silently made his way over to the door. Rain had been continuing to fall from the sky ruthlessly, since he had fled Mike's house. The knocking eased as Eddie approached the door. He gently turned the knob and it swung open with a gust of wind.

Richie stood in the door way, sodden in water from head to foot. His curly black locks dripped with rain and hung over his bloodshot eyes - which were increasingly smaller due to the lack of coke-bottle glasses.

"Richie?" Eddie spat, taken aback by the boy's vulnerable image, "C-Come in?"

Richie shook his head violently, and Eddie's grip tightened upon the door handle - in fear for the boy before him.

"Eddie, I'm so sorry," Richie rambled, "I saw M-Mike, 'n he told me what happened - with Bowers. Eds, I'm so fuckin' sorry.."

"Rich, I'm okay."

"No, but it's not okay - I'm going to murder him, I swear on my life. It's not okay that he fucking touched you like that. He touched the boy I fucking love, in that- that way."

"You.. what?"

"I fucking love you Edward Kaspbrak," Richie spat through the tears, rolling down his face faster than the rain was falling down the windows. Eddie stood stock still, before throwing his arms around Richie's torso and holding onto him, for his life.

"I-I lo-" Eddie tried to say, but couldn't. It seemed he had inherited Bill's stutter. Richie pressed a finger to Eddie's lips softly.

"You don't have to say it back, it's okay," Richie reassured him, to which Eddie obliged. After a few, beautifully silent moments - Eddie releases Richie from his grasp. He too, was now sopping wet.

"Come in, 'Chee," Eddie said softly, taking Richie by the hand and leading him inside - careless of the muddy footsteps they were traipsing through the house, "I'm gonna shower, 'Kay. You can.. just stay here - okay?"

Richie nodded in silence, and longed for more touch as Eddie let go of his hand. He sighed deeply, before lying back on Eddie's bed - his hands clasped against his chest. Tears began to stream down his face once again, covering his still soaked face.

Eddie walked back into his bedroom, in hopes to find a fresh pair of pajamas. Instead he found a silently crying Richie, whom of which he smothered in a hug - almost instinctively.

"C'mon, 'Chee," He whispered gently, taking Richie by the hand once again and dragging him into the en-suite bathroom. He gently set the temperature to a tepid heat, and steam began to fill the room luxuriously.

"W-What're you doing?" Richie sniffed, wiping his nose on his hand in such an unattractive way that Eddie had to hold back his laugh.

"Come on," Eddie urged softly. Richie obliged, and joined Eddie in the shower - both remaining fully clothed. Eddie stood against the tiled wall of the shower, watching as water hit Richie's mop of hair and creased down his face.

"What.. Ed's?" Richie said gently, noticing the small staring boy. He slicked his hair back against his head, so as to keep it from his eyes. Without speaking another word, Eddie had slammed his mouth against Richie's - in a way so passionate they were pressed against the opposite wall, each moving with each other. It was an action of true love, which - at the beginning, Eddie thought he didn't understand. He still didn't understand. But Eddie knew one thing. If he were to love someone, it would be Richie. It would always be Richie.