| It's Always Been You | Reddie Fanfic |

10

TW - HOMOPHOBIC SLURS/GORE

Morning drew upon Derry faster than any of the children wanted. When the sun rose, their fears and pain washed into their minds, reminding them of who they had to deal with once again. Names flashed through each mind, like they were drowning in white water rapids.

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Eddie awoke in a cold sweat. His dreams about this day triggered memories from Henry and his gang.

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"Useless fucking piece of shit." Connor threw Eddie back down, just as he was trying to get back up. "I didn't fucking give you permission to move fag!" The small boy cowered between his knees, alone in the cold yard.

The early spring had come with a cold breeze. Flower buds were forming, and leaves were growing onto the bright green, only to flutter and crumble back down in the fall. Every citizen was spraying pesticides back onto their lawns to destroy the dead grass left over. Snow shifted lower and lower to the ground, flooding the perennials with dirty water. The dirt was soft, and pants were soaked with every seat taken. Kids pointed and laughed when they sat up after the lunch breaks.

Henry spat a fat loogie onto the shaking boy, whilst grabbing his 3 inch dick, slowly grinding on his hand. "Look at it you fucking bitch!" Eddie flashed his eyes up, cringing at the view, and throwing his head back down. Henry was flushed with anger, throwing his hands onto Eddie's head and crashing it backwards, looking straight to the sky. "LOOK AT ME YOU COWARD!" Again, Henry grabbed his genitals, thrusting in Eddie's face. "Bet you like that? Don't you?" The tall boy let go, brushed his hand into the air and stormed away.

Nobody had seen the event, nor had anyone stopped it. Eddie had soaked pants for the rest of the day. I didn't like that. I am not gay. Eddie let his thoughts wander to his sexuality, slowly brushing it off, thinking about his mother, and her crushing disappointment had he really been gay.

Richie stumbled around the corner, practically running into the stone building. He noticed the shaking boy, and trotted over. "Eds, what are you doing? The ground is wet remember?" The tall boy loomed over the smaller one, chucking a bit "almost as wet as your mom."

Eddie let in a harsh breath, cold air filling his delicate lungs. Even now, Richie couldn't help him, he wasn't there, nobody was. A small tear sliced down the middle of his face, freezing on his chin. One after another, he let more fall, whimpering on the ground.

"Eds?" Richie dropped to his knees, wrapping his left arm around his best friend, slowly rubbing his right hand over Eddie's knee and shin. "It'll be okay, I'm here." See, Richie wasn't usually someone to care much about anything, except when he was with Eddie. No other loser saw what he did for Eddie, or the ways he spoke when they were alone together. The seemingly angsty boy was anything but. He was one who had cried into Beverly's arms several times while taking hits on the river's edge. His feet would dangle and so did the tears holding on for dear life on his chin. Beverly would run her pale fingers through the boy's silky hair, untying small knots, and speaking solemn words. Richie never told her he loved Eddie, not until far later, but she had known; from the ways he spoke and cried about his treatment from others, and the way he protected the small boy. She knew it all, how he didn't know, or even realize his love for the small boy until months after the first time he cried.

Eddie took hold of Richie's outstretched hand, pulling himself up, still gasping in breaths. "Thanks rich," the taller boy smiled, he loved hearing Eddie say his name.

And then the boys walked back to Eddie's home, knowing all too well that they were still holding hands.

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