Chapter Text
It happened, like most things do, because Richie Tozier was being stupid.
It wasn’t unusual for them to get bullied, afterall Stan’s jewish and Richie hangs out with him. Also, Richie’s teeth and thick glasses don’t actually help improve his image. But it’s okay because they were used to it. At least Stan thought they were until he finds Richie crying his eyes out after school, by the quarry.
Stan doesn’t know what to do, Richie’s usually the one comforting him, trashmouthing the bullies and coming up with stupid terrible jokes to cheer him up. But today, for whatever reason, Richie has been stupid enough to believe whatever it was those assholes told him. Stan feels hopeless, and so very scared.
The only thing he can do is sit by his best friend’s side and throw an arm around his shoulders, so he does it. He holds him while he cries.“They were right.” Richie says after a couple minutes, when he finally stops sobbing. “No one loves me.”
Stan feels his heart stop at the moment. For a reason he can’t pinpoint, this hurts. It hurts more than everything that happened in the Neibolt house.
“I mean… my parents don’t and they were supposed to love me, you know? If not even my parents can love me, then, what chance do I have with y… With anyone else? I know I’m annoying and I talk too much and I’m… I’m ugly, but I just wanted… God, I’m so stupid.”
Stan is moving before he can even think about what he’s doing. He takes Richie’s head in his hands, bringing him closer and closer until their lips meet. Stan closes his eyes first, and he misses when Richie does the same.
It’s funny that he never allowed himself to think though about kissing Richie before, but now that he is, he can’t think about anything else. It starts slow and gentle, but it grows desperate so fast Stan head’s reeling and his heart is pounding inside his chest. His mind is filled with Richie, Richie kissing him, Richie kissing him back, Richie. Richie. And they’re not only kissing, but full on making out now; Richie’s suddenly on his lap, hands running through Stan’s hair, and Stan’s touching and clinging to him like Richie’s about to disappear any moment now. They’re a mess of hair, saliva, limbs and feelings. It’s a mess. They’re a mess.
“Fuck, Richie.” His voice breaks the moment they stop to breathe. They slowly and reluctantly move away from each other, and Stan’s already missing his warmth. “You are stupid.”
And so is he, because Stan’s always wanted this, he’s always wanted that stupid, stupid boy, and the realization hits him like a punch to the gut. He wants Richie’s mouth on his, he wants Richie’s fingers playing with his curls, he wants this embrace to last forever and, he wants Richie to know he’s loved.
Richie laughs and this time it’s quiet, it’s small and so unlike Richie, Stan has to kiss him again until he understands. “You’re my best friend.” The kiss says. “You’re very important to me.”He kisses him again. “I love you.” And again. “I love you.” And again.”I love you so much.”
Richie smiles between the kisses and it only makes Stan want to kiss him harder. “I love you too, Stan the man.” He’s still crying, but he’s also laughing and, most importantly, he’s kissing Stan back, so it’s okay
They’re going to be okay.