Chapter Text
A lot of things ran through Stan’s mind when he woke up that morning. But he couldn’t focus on them. He didn’t want to focus on them either. The reason he kept dismissing all his worries and why he didn’t care about anything else was sleeping next to him. As if hearing his thoughts, Eddie rolled closer, his arm tightening around Stan.
The minute Eddie said he still loved him; Stan broke. He’s not sure how he was able to let Eddie continue talking as long as he had. All of his worries went out the window when he said that. Eddie still loved him. He wasn’t going to give up. Unlike Richie, Stan wasn’t good at saying what he thought. He knew that in the moment he had to kiss Eddie.
He remembered the confused what? Eddie had said after he broke the kiss. How he’d muttered, this is a bad idea when Stan moved to his neck. The look of relief in his eyes when Stan pulled away to tell him he’d broken up with Calvin, that he’d never stopped loving Eddie. He remembered pushing away every worry because if this were the last night he’d spend with Eddie, he’d make it worth it.
Stan looked down at Eddie. Why he ever thought his life would be better without him was idiotic. Stan fought the urge to run his hand through Eddie’s hair, he didn’t want to wake him up. If he could freeze time, he would have done it in that moment.
“It’s hard to sleep when someone is staring at you,” Eddie mumbled against Stain’s chest.
“If you weren’t so gorgeous, I wouldn’t stare.” Eddie rolled his eyes, but Stan still saw him trying to hide his smile.
“We should talk about last night.”
Stan’s heart sunk. What if Eddie said it wasn’t worth it? Stan had caused nothing but problems. He shook the thought away. Stop telling yourself it’s not going to work out. It would be fine. Eddie wasn’t looking for a chance to run.
“You just broke up with Calvin.”
Eddie didn’t need to continue. “This wasn’t just some rebound thing. I meant what I said.” Stan’s comment was met with silence. Stan sat up, causing Eddie to shift and do the same. “I love you. I love you so much it scares me sometimes.”
“Then why were you with him.” Eddie stood up. “Why’d you leave? I can’t just be part of your life when it’s convenient for you Stan. Or for when you need someone to fuck.”
Stan followed suit. “Is that what you think last night was? That I lied to you to get you into bed?” Eddie didn’t answer, just crossed his arms. “Is this all we’re ever going to be? Every fucking time things start to go right.”
“Maybe. I mean you broke up with Calvin and not even three hours later you tell me you love me.”
“And the next morning you look for a reason to run.” Eddie refused to look at Stan. But Stan wasn’t giving up again. “I remember you and Richie from that party. I know you don’t. I mean I didn’t at first either, but I never forgot how I felt when I met you. I broke up Calvin him because I love you and Richie. I realized that wasn’t something I could wish away. No matter how much I tried. I wanted that so much. It would have made things so easy. Just move on, all of us. But I can’t.”
Eddie watched Stan with glassy eyes. Stan crossed the room over to him, reaching out. His hand fell before he grabbed Eddie’s arm. Don’t run, please, don’t run. Stan waited, not sure what to say or how to convince Eddie of how he felt.
“I’m not looking for a reason to run,” he finally breathed. “I just, I don’t know how you can forgive me. I don’t deserve it.”
This time Stan didn’t stop himself. He wrapped his arms around Eddie. "And I don't deserve forgiveness either.”
“Can we just hit the reset button?” Eddie whispered.
“How about we just stop forcing ourselves to be miserable and actually talk to each other.”
Eddie laughed and nodded, but before he could answer someone was banging on Stan’s door. He groaned, dropping his arms to go see who it was. He should have known it was Richie before checking because nobody else would be that loud.
“I did it,” Richie beamed the minute Stan answered the door. “I got the tour!” He gave picked up Stan and spun him before setting him down and rushing to Eddie.
“You’re kidding! Rich that’s amazing.” Eddie met Richie halfway, jumping into his outstretched arms. “I knew you could do it. They’d be idiots not to book you.”
Stan watched as Richie blurted out a bunch of details to Eddie who enthusiastically nodded. Stan had no idea what Richie was talking about, and he was starting to feel like he was intruding. He tried inching around Richie to give them some privacy when he felt someone grabbed his wrist.
“I want to celebrate with the people that mean the most to me. That includes you idiot. I’ve been working with my agent and I’m getting a Netflix special and going on a tour around the Midwest. I fucking did it,” Richie whispered the last sentence, resting his forehead against Eddie’s. He pulled Stan closer so he could wrap his arm around his waist.
- - -
Eddie was sitting cross legged on the floor, a Chinese take out container in one hand as he pointed his chopsticks at Stan. “Why didn’t you tell us you were at that party?”
“I honestly didn’t think about it and forgot about it until we were talking about it.”
“Too bad you left before the show!” Richie laughed, mouth full of food.
“Swallow before you talk,” Eddie snapped whipping a dumping at Richie’s face. It bounced off and landed on the floor. He picked it up ate it. “You’re disgusting.”
“Disgusting, but yours.” Richie planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek. “So, Stanley, want to tell us what happened at the party since we don’t remember?”
“Well, I met Calvin and got away from him as fast as possible.” Stan ignored Richie when he mumbled wise and continued. “I went looking for Patty and ran into Eddie who was about to fall down the stairs. Then Richie bumped into me and we literally fell down the stairs. Which you used the opportunities to say two of the worst pick up lines I’ve ever heard. Which you should probably stop calling strangers angel. Especially when you’re dating someone.”
“Hey, I call it like I see it.”
Eddie couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this happy. For the first time everything seemed to be going in the right direction. Stan was back and they were moving forward. His job was stressful, but he was up for a promotion soon. Richie had finally gotten his special. Plus, there weren’t a lot of times that the three of them were together just enjoying their company.
“When are you going on tour?”
“I leave in a month. Luckily, I’ll be able to come home between most of the shows, so you won’t miss me too much.”
“Somehow I’d manage,” Stan rolled his eyes. “Besides, I have Eddie, so I don’t really need you to annoy me.”
“Well, you might be annoyed by Eddie by the end. Lord knows he hates sleeping alone.”
“I don’t like sleeping in an empty apartment. I don't mind not having your octopus limbs clinging to me. You’re lucky I don’t make you sleep on the couch more often.”
Stan laughed and Eddie watched his eyes drift back to the TV. It was some cooking show Richie had flipped on when they got back to the apartment. This could have been them months ago if it hadn’t been for him and his inability to stand up to his mother. He jabbed at the takeout container with the chopsticks a few times before setting it on the table.
Next time. Next time his mom came he wasn’t going to put up with her disrespecting Richie and Stan. He shouldn’t have to lie about his life or just appease her. Richie had told him over the years he needed to start standing up to her. It was time he did.
“I should probably get going,” Stan said, standing awkwardly.
“Don’t be stupid, you can stay here,” Richie said.
- -
“Unless you’re not ready,” Eddie rushed to say. “We can still do the Stan and Eddie and Stan and Richie thing if that’s what you’re comfortable with.”
“I, I don’t know what I’m comfortable with.”
Richie understood that. Especially after what happened when Eddie’s mom came. He didn’t want to push Stan, but this afternoon had been amazing. Everything seemed to be going like it was supposed to, like there wasn’t something missing. He didn’t want to give that up.
Stan slowly sat back down on the floor. He looked at both of them before continuing“But I want to be?”
“Anything I can do to relieve the tension?” Richie smirked leaning until he was only inches away from Stan’s face.
Stan tensed, waiting for whatever Richie was going to do. Richie had his knees on either side of Stan but was also waiting. One difference he’d noticed between Stan and Eddie was that Eddie didn’t have much self-control in these situations. He’d have kissed Richie before his second knee hit the ground. Stan seemed to sense Richie’s challenge, relaxing slightly, but doing nothing else.
“Not a mind reader Stanley,” Richie murmured, moving even closer.
“Just feel like you need to learn some restraint. You tend to act without thinking.”
“Don’t worry, I’m definitely thinking about a lot of things we could do.”
“Maybe I should be the one to get going,” Eddie scoffed, pulling Stan’s eyes away from Richie.
Richie could tell Eddie was picking up the Chinese and that Stan was considering moving to help but didn’t want to back down. Richie loved how stubborn he was being. Stan bit his lip, eyes flicking back to Richie.
“Want to show him why he shouldn’t leave?”
Stan’s hand landed in Richie hair and pulled sharply, pulling a surprised hiss from Richie. He barely caught Stan’s smirk before Stan was kissing him. He pushed up Stan’s shirt as his hand went to grip his hip. Apparently, Stan was full of surprises because he easily flipped Richie over.
“Never heard you so quiet,” Eddie laughed. He turned on the faucet, washing the dishes like nothing was happening a few feet from him.
“And I’ve never seen you so disengaged,” Richie bit out as he unbuttoned Stan’s shirt.
“Well one of us has to do the dishes.”
“Leave the fucking dishes.” Richie stood up, picking Stan up as he did. Stan gasped, legs wrapping around him as if on instinct. “There’s something a bit more entertaining going on.”