| It's Always Been You | Reddie Fanfic |

6

TW - HARASSMENT/GORE/HOMOPHOBIC SLURS

Three knocks, in his chest and on the door. Breathe.

Creaking on the scratched up door, which Eddie tried so miserably to escape out of, showed the same small boy.

Thump

Thump

Thump

God Richie, this is not the tell-tale heart. Just bring the boy with you.

"H-hey Eds!" A hard stone passed down his throat, but left a lump throbbing.

"Don't go all Bill on me, dickwad, what do you want?" Eddie stood behind a dark, shadowing screen.

Just. Ask. You two hang out all the time. "Sorry, uhm... Do you wanna... go, uh, for a walk?" Richie wiped a drop of sweat that was sliding down his forehead.

"Sure. But did you really have to make it that extra... weird?" The screen door hit the stop with a slap.

The two began down the road, off towards the flowery plain.

-

Stanley was met with a tap on his window.

What the hell? He walked over to the sliding glass, and noticed another curly-haired boy. Connor. Stanley jumped back, holding his arms, throbbing at the sight of the cause. No. Nonono. Fuck no. What the hell does he want?! A tear let loose, and he felt the wall, partially numbed by the sight.

"Stanley, open up!" A muffled laugh let out. Stanley shook his head slowly, still in slight shock. "Come on, I want to talk to you."

"N-n-no." The boy's back began sliding downwards on the cold, blue wall. His hands ran through his hair, pulling strands out, slowly, painfully. His head shook, mind ran, memories flashed back second on second.

"I'll just let myself in then." Connor punched the window several times, before trying to slide it up. "What the FUCK Stanley, let me in, dammit!" The window was shaking, he was slapping it, and yelling.

Stanley shook, every slap felt like one in the face and another cut on his arm. He just sat there, tears falling down to his chest. His knees grew to his forehead and he rocked, trying to block out the yelling, and the thoughts, the fuck you's, and the need to grab a knife and sink it into his skin in every spot possible.

-

Richie picked up a soft petaled rose, setting it into Eddie's soft hair. Another daisy this time, then a tulip, and the process repeats, a dandelion here and there.

Eddie smiled softly, he loved when Richie played with his hair, or held him when he slept. "Why'd you bring me here, Rich?" He looked up slightly.

Just say it Rich, it'll be okay. "I have something I want to tell you." Richie grabbed Eddie's hand and led him to the center of the field, sitting down. "I don't know how to say it."

"Well, if I'm being honest, I have something I should say too..." Fuck, does he know? Is he going to tell me he knows?! Eddie began panicking, trying not to use his inhaler. "B-but you first..."

"Eddie... I've been trying to tell you this for a long time... I-"

A cracking sound from the forest cut him off. A shadow figure emerged, and the boys began running. Panic settled, as the chase began. Knives went behind their sneakers with every step they took forward.

"COME BACK HERE YOU FAGGOTS!" Henry Bowers screamed, tracking close behind. "YOU CAN'T RUN"

-time skip to the day of Pennywise's defeat-