Chapter Text
“You can’t buy that.”
“Why not?! I like it!”
“Eds, it is so gay.”
“Oh fuck you!” Eddie threw the sweater back on the rack almost knocking over the whole display. They kept walking around the store, dodging through shoppers, and stepping over discounted clothing strewn everywhere.
“I need a new sweater and you keep saying everything I pick is gay!” Eddie said in frustration. “Can you just let me live, Richie?”
Richie laughed and slung his arm around Eddie’s shoulders. Eddie thought about elbowing him in the guts but decided since they were in public, he would be the bigger person. Ironic. Eddie thought as the smaller between them. Richie kissed the side of his head and he softened a little bit.
They got to another rack and Eddie went to grab a sweater. When he tried to pull it out, there was resistance. Another hand was trying to grab it. He recognized the rings on the fingers.
“Bev?” Richie said before Eddie could speak.
“Hey there!” She gave them both hugs still holding onto the sweater. “Did you want this Eddie? I was just looking for a Christmas gift for you and thought this sweater would look great.”
Eddie smiled at her fondly. “I would love it as a gift!”
“Takes away the surprise.” She argued.
Eddie chucked. “Yeah, but you always tell me what my gift is going to be because you cannot keep a secret to save your life.”
“It’s true. She’s the one who yapped that I had a crush on you.” Richie pushed her lightly.
Eddie grinned wider, “But that was a good secret to tell. It gave me the courage to ask you out.”
“That’s true.” Richie shrugged. “Alright, I need to get some blue jeans. See you later, secret revealer.” Beverly smirked at him and headed to the cash register to check out.
Eddie and Richie went into a dressing room to try on clothing. Everything Richie tried on fit him perfectly. It made Eddie so mad. He put on a pair of pants that were perfect in the waist but fell far past his feet. Then a shirt that was too small and a jacket that was too big. Richie had finished trying on clothes and was cracking jokes about Eddie’s unluckiness with clothing. After the fourth shirt, he threw it on the ground in frustration, grabbed his own shirt and threw it over his head.
“Let’s just fucking go.” Eddie huffed out. He sat on the small chair in the dressing room to tie his shoes. Richie stood in front of him but Eddie refused to look up. He kept tying and retying his shoes in rage trying to keep angry tears from falling. Richie sunk to the ground and smacked Eddie’s hands away to tie his shoes for him.
Eddie leaned his back against the mirror taking calming breaths. “I’m just infuriated that nothing ever fits me right. Everything fits you great. You get to be this tall stud and I am here as the jelly bean sized boyfriend.”
Richie rubbed his palms soothingly on Eddie’s thighs. “Eds, look at me.” Eddie shifted his eyes reluctantly to meet Richie’s. “You are not jelly bean sized, you are beautiful and perfect the way you are. Stop being so hard on yourself. The clothing industry fails most people.”
Eddie tried to keep sulking but ended up moving his face forward to kiss Richie. He lightly bit Richie’s bottom lip and deepened the kiss awakening the usual swarm of butterflies. Eddie slowly relaxed and put his hands in Richie’s hair to bring them closer together. Richie opened his mouth further, pushing his tongue along Eddie’s. They eventually had to break away to breathe.
“Thanks Rich. You always know just what to say.” Eddie whispered.
“Of course, I love you. Let’s go to a place where the clothing will actually fit. Maybe a baby store?” Eddie hit him viciously but let out a laugh. Richie stood helping Eddie to his feet. “And leave all the clothes on the ground as punishment,” Richie added.
Eddie frowned, “No, let’s not punish the poor department store workers. Black Friday is already hell for these people.”
“Goodie goodie.”