Chapter Text
The morning light streams through the open window and washes over the bed in golden waves, stripes through the narrow slats of the blinds. Richie, just inches away from the boy’s face, takes in every part of him— His long lashes, tiny freckles that are only visible from this close, the golden shine of his eyes as they catch the sunlight. Richie is wearing only a pair of sweatpants, and the boy an oversized shirt, probably one of his own, and boxers. His fingertips graze over Richie’s bare chest and it feels like sparks jumping beneath his skin.
As they stare into each other, the sounds of birds and early risers outside sound faded, as if underwater. There’s a vague feeling in the air that they have somewhere to be soon, and they’re dragging this moment out as long as they can. The boy quirks an eyebrow and says something about toothpaste, but it comes out sounding distant and distorted. Richie blows morning breath in the boy’s face and he gags dramatically. The bedsheets are growing cold and wet.
The temperature shock from the warm blanket of sun jolts Richie up, and he realizes the room is quickly filling with murky water. His now soaking sweats feeling heavier than they should, Richie stands on top of the bed and tries to pull the still reclining boy up, who remains lying on his side and simply looks at him strangely as his body is overtaken by the flood.
Richie Tozier wakes alone and sits up with a start that he quickly shakes off. He brushes his teeth, asks himself if he has time to shower (he doesn’t), grabs a spoonful of peanut butter for breakfast, waves good morning to his roommate, and hurries to his appointment.