Angel's End / reddie ghost au

Twelve - Intruders

Time had continued to pass on. The further it passed the stronger the boys bond had become.

Never could Eddie have imagined becoming so close to anyone.
And he couldn't get it off his mind. Richie coming out to him played on a loop at the back of his mind and he didn't understand why.
He was completely fine with Richie liking boys, he wasn't homophobic in anyway, so why couldn't he get the concept out of his head? Why did it feel like every time he spoke to Richie there was this new light to him that haven't been their before.
It was all so confusing?

Richie was standing at an awkward angle with his body against the wall, peaking through the small slit in the curtains they were not able to open.

Eddie watched him thoughtfully from the other side of the room, the silence was a comfortable one.

"This- this is good," Richie murmured aloud.
He had a habit of talking to himself, before he had Eddie there was no one who could here him speak, so he used to talk to himself, cuss and sing (screech) songs at the top of his lungs without the fear of anyone hearing.

"What's good?" Eddie asked, twiddling his fingers.

Richie looked away from the window a hopeful glisten in his eye.

"The leaves look like they're starting to turn brown."

Eddie raised an eyebrow in confusion, "And what's good about that?"

Richie's grin widened as he darted across the room towards Eddie. Crouching down beside him.
"That means autumn is starting!"

"And?" Eddie asked unimpressed.

"It means it's almost Halloween,"

Eddie looked at Richie confused. He couldn't understand the excitement of the lanky boy who seemed to jitter with hyperactivity. "What's so good about it? It's not like we can celebrate it Chee,"

Richie's excitement paused for a millisecond as his cheeks blushed red at the nickname. He didn't think he'd ever get used to Eddie calling him that. He shook his head slightly to get back on point, "Halloween is the one night spirits are allowed to roam free. We will be able to leave this room and it's the one night of the year I have the chance to get my revenge on Connor and... you know... pass on!"

Eddie gave Richie an annoyed look, "And you didn't think to tell me this earlier?"

Richie shrugged not seeing the issue.

Eddie sighed, "That seems like quite a critical piece of information dipshit."

"Sorrrryyy," Richie laughed, holding up his hands in surrender, "Well now you do know,"

Eddie rolled his eyes, "Thanks, my hero."

Richie crossed his arms, a smirk on his chiseled face, "Don't be so salty Eddie Spaghetti, I cant help it if I have a brain the size of a tennis ball,"

Eddie raised an eyebrow, smirking back, "I think your being a bit to generous with yourself there Rich.. it's the size of a walnut at best."

"Well I may not have the brains but I definitely have the looks," Richie laughed, sucking in his cheekbones and trying to look thoughtfully into the distance. Trying his best to copy the poses models do.

Eddie's cheeks suddenly felt very hot again. Come on Eddie what is going on!?
Flustered he shot back, "I think your being a bit generous to yourself again."

Richie laughed slightly, moving in close to Eddie's face.
Shit why did Eddie keep getting this burning panicked feeling at these moments?
"I think your mum would disagree,"

Eddie cringed and pulled a disgusted face. When they had first met he didn't get like this when they used to joke around, but now it was like anytime he caught Richie looking at him or challenging him he felt so flustered.

"Stop talking about you and my mum like your a couple. It's fucking nasty Chee," Eddie said lamely, still caught off guard by his confusing feelings.

"Why? You jealous of your mum and mine's relationship?" Richie laughed winking.

For some reason this comment made Eddie's stomach do backflips and he became even more vulnerable to his enigmatic emotions.

Seeing Eddie's flustered, blushed face made Richie want to reach out and hug him. He just seemed so tiny and fragile. But it was also hilarious at the same time.

To push Eddie even further over the edge Richie reached out and gently grabbed Eddie's cheek, just like how old relatives do.
"Awe Ed's, you getting flustered? It's okay, it's cute cute cute!"

Embarrassed Eddie batted Richie's hand away, "Shut up Rich!"

Richie burst out laughing. Eddie stared at him, trying his best to look annoyed and deadpan.

"Oh come on Ed's, that was chuckalicious!" Richie grinned.

"Chuckalicious?" Eddie asked unamused.

"It means something's funny," Richie smirked simply,

"Well I'm not laughing."

"Well I know how to make you..." Richie reached his arms forwards, preparing to tickle Eddie when a loud BANG caught him off guard.

Both boys looked at each other with wide eyes.

Suddenly the inharmonic sound of footsteps and muffled voices could be heard downstairs.

"Holy shit." Eddie whispered under his breath. It had been him and Richie for so long in their little bubble he had forgotten other people actually exist.

Richie crouched down and lay down on the floor, pressing his left ear to the cold wooden planks to see if he could make out the inaudible voices.

"Who- who is it?" Eddie asked, suddenly very anxious.

Richie raised his head from the ground and gave Eddie a serious look, "It's the police... and they've come to arrest you for crimes against comedy."

Eddie gave Richie a frustrated look, this time a real one, "Very funny."

Outside the door, footsteps could be heard getting louder.

Eddie felt anxiety creeping through him. Dreading whoever might be on the other side of the door.

The footsteps were on the landing now. Eddie recognised the sound of the squeaking floorboards that used to get him caught when trying to leave his room.

They were right outside the door.

The door handle began to rattle.

Panicked, Eddie rushed to Richie's slide standing slightly behind him, his hand on Richie's lower back.

The door opened. Creaking unpleasantly as it went.

There stood a boy.
A boy their age with sandy hair that fell in front of his eyes in tight curls. A boy wearing a baby blue shirt with all the creases ironed out. A boy clutching a birdwatching book under his left arm.

Richie looked at him confused, "Who the fuc-..."