dogfight : reddie

give way

sparrow, too proud to try, and he's oh so far from home

"i could play you some of my records. we gotta be real quiet though, 'cause mama's gonna be sleeping," eddie walked richie back to the diner, eddie's arm looped through richie's. richie felt warmer by the second.

richie could feel both of their nervousness. he heard a bird chirp near them.

"okay." richie smiled simply.

"okay." eddie repeated.

the two made their way up to eddie's bedroom and eddie kicked aside some clothes as they made their way to eddie's record collection. 

"so what are you in the mood for? we could try the kingston trio–or, you've never even heard odetta. oh look, jim swain." eddie teased, eliciting a laugh from both of them. eddie turned to face richie, "and there's always woody. you know why he came up with "this land is your land?""

richie shook his head, "didn't even know the guy wrote it 'til today. why?" richie sat down on his bed, looking over at the guitar in the stand.

"'cause he was sick of hearing 'god bless america'. he thought it was a lie. woody's song is about people. and now you hear it all the time. everybody knows it, all over the whole country." eddie said, sitting next to richie on the bed. their thighs touched, and eddie felt himself  blush a little. he took richie's jacket off and folded in, placing it on the back of the bed.

"so what are you doing making music all alone in your room?" richie reached over and picked up the guitar, holding it up like it was a rifle. eddie rolled his eyes.

"careful with that, rich." eddie warned, richie lowering it as he heard the nickname. 

"i don't know why you're so afraid to play this for people." richie mused, eddie biting his bottom lip nervously.

"i'm not, i just... i'm waiting for my skin to get better... i need time to work on my songs." he stared down at the ground, until the guitar came into his vision.

richie was offering him the guitar. "sing something. anything. like that song you were playing before at the diner." he spoke softly. eddie shook his head quickly.

"that song's not really finished." he said, "i don't wanna wake mama."

richie put the guitar in eddie's lap. "one song, that's all i'm asking. it's my last night, eds. please, it's just me." he slid an arm around eddie's waist. 

slowly, eddie picked up the guitar. he took a deep breath, and sang, quietly, tentatively. his voice grew stronger as he continued, richie listening in silence. 

when he finished, he set the guitar aside, on the floor. richie was impressed. awed, he spoke quietly, "eds–oh man, you're–that was really–"

"the song doesn't have a bridge yet–" eddie started,

richie kissed him. it was short, closing his eyes only briefly, leaning forward enough to connect their lips for a moment. 

"–and the last verse is rotten–" eddie continued when richie backed away, and a smile grew on richie's lips. he kissed him again, interrupting him. 

this time, richie's hand found its way to eddie's neck. he pulled away gently.

"–i think if i keep working on it–" eddie said, looking to richie awkwardly. richie kissed him a third time. 

this time, when he pulled away, eddie was quiet. he looked to richie tenderly. "maybe i should change. or, um–yeah." he said softly.

"yeah?" richie let go of eddie, eddie standing up. 

"maybe you could... why don't you turn the other way." eddie suggested, richie nodding and turning around. 

richie began to undo his shirt button, pausing a moment, "hey, eds?" he made a twirling motion with  his fingers. "it's only fair."

eddie nodded, "oh, okay." and turned around. the two of them undressed with their backs to each other. richie undid his shirt quickly and reached out to his wallet, retrieving a condom. he looked around for a place to stash it. "richie?" 

"one sec," richie replied, stashing it under eddie's pillow quickly. 

"okay, i'm done over here." eddie said sweetly. he stood in only an undershirt and boxers. he didn't look down, knowing he wouldn't like what he saw.

"okay, me too." richie hadn't had an undershirt on, so he was now only wearing boxers. the two of them turn around slowly, and richie takes in eddie. all of eddie. "you're, um, you're real pretty." he said, smiling.

"thanks." eddie smiled nervously. he sat down on the bed next to them, taking a deep breath. there was a silence.

richie kissed him, and he could feel eddie's nervous gasp against his lips. richie hid his nerves, reaching his hands to eddie's neck once more. the kiss deepened, and richie's hands moved towards his waist. eddie pulled away for a moment.

"is that–everything okay?" richie took his hands away. eddie nodded.

"okay." eddie said.

"you sure?" richie finally combed his hand through eddie's hair. eddie looked up to richie gently.

"it's so bright in here, i'm just gonna..." eddie felt his insecurity and shame take over as he stood up, turning off each lamp in his room. as he reached for the last one, richie grasped eddie by the wrist. 

"i wanna see you." richie pulled eddie softly onto the bed and into a deep kiss. eddie gave way.