Aerial Silks, and Other Ways to Fall in Love

Chapter 6

hey! next chapter is an epilogue, not a final chapter! this is it, ya'll! :')

Richie wakes up next to Eddie for the first time of many.

It's nice, too- much nicer than Richie thought waking up could ever be. Instead of dreading his alarm clock and the bullcrap that entails, he gets to slow down. He can focus on the important stuff. Like Eddie.

His boyfriend is still asleep, which gives Richie the opportunity to appreciate just how peaceful he looks when he sleeps. He felt kind of creepy, but when his eyes catch on the brown bandaid on his neck, he feels thankful that Eddie is even here for him to look at.

He doesn't stay asleep for much longer after Richie. "What are you doing awake?" He says, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms. "You never get up this early."

Richie tries to shrug, but his efforts are partially ruined by the pillow underneath him. "It's easier to wake up with a reason right in front of me."

Eddie's cheeks are already flushed with sleep (something Richie doesn't even knowcould happen, but already loves), but his comment doesn't help. "Shut up, 'Chee," He yawns to hide a smile.

Richie digs his nose behind Eddie's jawline, his hands scooting him in at the waist. "I love you." He says into his neck, and Eddie's skin tickles with pleasure.

"I love you, too," Eddie could feel his lips pull into a smile. "But I've gotta get up. Check on the others, get dressed."

"No," Richie exaggerates the 'o', his whine muffled by pillows. "I don't want to let you go again." He says, sounding quite like a child. Eddie's heart softens just a bit regardless.

"I have to, Rich. I literally have no other options."

Richie pulls his head out and props himself up on his elbow. "You could run away with me, Eds. We could join a traveling circus and live a life of adventure and freedom."

Eddie rolls his eyes and shoves his arm off. "Ha, ha, very funny, dickwad," He stands up and walks over to his dresser. He pulls out his clothes for the day, and tosses a fresh shirt to Richie. It was always a size too big for him, so he figured it would fit. "You can rewear your jeans, but I don't even want to think about how awful you'd smell if you wore the same shirt twice."

"Jokes on you, Eds, yesterday was the fourth day I'd worn that shirt." Richie challenges, leaning to Eddie's nightstand for his glasses.

"You're kidding, right?" Eddie says, resisting the urge to gag. He throws his old shirt into a laundry basket across the room.

Richie thinks for a moment. "Probably. I think."

"You're disgusting, Tozier." Eddie says as he changes into a new pair of jeans.

"Just the way Mrs. Kaspbrak likes it." He winks, and Eddie rolls his eyes as he walks out.

Richie puts on his glasses and looks at the shirt in front of him. It was a pale yellow shirt made of cotton, with the circus' logo printed on the front. Richie hadn't seen those for sale at any performances, so he figured that it was either a staff-only thing, or that they had been on sale long before Richie had even heard of them. He stands up and stretches for a moment before Eddie walks back in.