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Frank didn’t know how he hadn’t seen it sooner.
“Eddie! Eddie!!” Frank finally dropped the pleasantries. He didn’t care anymore if people were listening in. Something was very very wrong.
Eddie was sweating. His hands were gripping onto the seat desperately. Frank didn’t think he’d ever seen Eddie like this before. It was scaring him.
“Who… what… where…”
“Eddie please, you need to tell me what’s wrong.” Frank suddenly felt so helpless. He didn’t know what to say to snap Eddie out of whatever was happening.
To Frank’s slight relief, Eddies eyes finally seemed to focus on him. “I think… I need to go home.” He said so quietly, Frank could barely hear him.
Frank looked around. No one was paying attention. Something told Frank that they weren’t supposed to go home yet. The party wasn’t over, he was supposed to help Julie with the gifts. He was supposed to help Poppy pass out the gingerbread men. He was supposed to help….. Oh my god, what did some gifts matter??! Eddie was more important. He needed to get him out of here!
He turned back and gently laid his hands on Eddies. “Okay Eddie. I’m going to take you home okay? Do you think you can get up?”
“I’m.. um.. F-Frank. I dunno….” Eddie pupils grew and shrank. He was trembling so much. He gripped Franks arm so hard it hurt. “help me…it won’t stop…” His voice cracked at the end. He looked like he was going to start crying.
That was it. “Eddie, I’m helping you up now. Try to stand up.” Frank put his arm around Eddies middle and gently started lifting him up. Eddie was heavier than he was and at first he didn’t think he’d be able to do it. But slowly Eddie rose from the chair with Franks help.
“Good good okay, you’re doing great. We’re going to start walking towards the door now.” With Eddie pressed up against him, Frank was shocked to find how cold he was. It was warm and cozy within home, and yet Eddie felt like he’d been standing out in the snow for hours.
Slowly they made their way towards the entrance.
“Frank!! Where are you going???” Julie bounded up in front of Frank just as he was about to make it to the door. She took a closer look at Eddie, how he was slumped against Frank, eyes glazed over. She frowned. “Oh.. Eddie, are you okay?”
”mmhmm” Eddie mumbled.
Julie looked worried now. “Frank, what’s going on? What’s wrong with Eddie?”
Frank was struggling to support Eddies weight. “It’s fine Julie, go back to the party. Eddies just… feeling tired all of a sudden. He says he wants to go home.”
Julie cocked her head. “Well, that doesn’t sound like Eddie at all!” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Oh, I know! Surely a game of stuffing-your-mouth-with-marshmallows-until-you-feel-like-you’re-going-to-throw-up will make him feel better! Eddie loves that one! Come on Eddie, doesn’t that sound fun?” Julie started to take Eddies hand and pull him towards the kitchen.
Frank almost lost his balance. “Julie!” Frank snapped. Julie started and dropped Eddies hand. “He doesn’t want to play a game right now okay? He wants to go home. Please get out of the way”.
Julie looked like a child who had just been scolded. She grabbed her arm. “Oh… okay..”
Frank sighed. “I’m sorry Julie… I didn’t mean to yell. I’m just.. I’m honestly kind of worried. Something is wrong with Eddie, and all I know is that I need to get him out of here right now.”
Julie paused for a moment. Then, “don’t move, I’ll be right back.”
She wasn’t kidding. Before Frank could even protest Julie was back with both their coats in hand, as well as her own. “We can’t go out there without getting all bundled up, now can we?? What if Eddie caught a cold on top of everything else!”
Frank smiled. He loved her so much.
————————
Eddie struggled to get a grasp on himself while he, Julie and Frank began trudging their way through the snow towards the post office. Eddie‘s arms were draped over their shoulders while the smaller puppets struggled to support Eddie’s weight. At least it was easier now that Julie was helping.
“Eddie, please keep talking to me. How are we doing?”
Eddie could faintly hear Frank speaking to him. Walking out into the cold had helped bring Eddie back to his senses, somewhat, but he still felt like he had no control over his own body. He felt so, so heavy, like suddenly all he was was a lifeless mannequin. He felt bad, because he knew Frank and Julie having a hard time carrying him. He wanted to help them. He didn’t want them to be struggling on his behalf.
“I’m.. I’m fine. I just need to go home.”
“You most certainly are NOT fine Mr Dear!!” Frank said exasperatedly. “You would not respond to me for two whole minutes while in the living room, you are sweating and trembling horribly, And it seems to me that you’re not even able to walk right now!!”
“Sorry.” Eddie said quietly.
Frank dragged his free hand across his face. “Gah, no, I’m sorry for yelling. Again. I’m just really stressed out right now because I’m worried about you. I don’t know how to help you.”
“Sorry.” Eddie said again.
Eddie could feel Julie bump her hip slightly against his. “Eddie, you don’t have to apologise. You’re doing nothing wrong! Friends help their friends when they aren’t feeling good. We’d be pretty terrible friends otherwise! Like, the other day, my head felt like it was going to explode so I asked Sally to come over to help. She said we obviously couldn’t let my head explode!! So she started wrapping my head in some old curtains she had laying around to hopefully keep all my head pieces together. But then she decided curtains wouldn’t be strong enough so…”
As Julie rambled on, Eddie tried to use her voice to tether himself back into his own body. Slowly, slowly, he was able to start moving his legs. One foot after the other.
“Oh, we’re here!” Julie abruptly stopped talking as the three of them came to a halt.
Eddie looked up to see… not his post office. Somewhere along the way they must have changed directions towards Frank’s house.
“Frank, why aren’t we at the post office?”
Frank looked down, rubbing his neck. “Well, Mr Dear, considering you are having problems with your…. mobility… I thought it might be best if you stayed over at my house. So I could look after you.” Frank punctuated the end of his sentence with a succinct nod of his head.
Eddie truthfully didn’t want to be alone right now, but he didn’t want to be a burden either. “Frank, are ya sure? I reckon I’ll be just fine on my own if you want to scurry on back to the party.”
Frank waved his hand dismissively. “Nonsense. Your well-being is far more important to me than any party.”
“Well, alright then” Eddie conceded.
Frank and Julie helped Eddie through the door and gently lowered him onto the couch. Once he was settled, Frank clapped his hands together.
“Right! I do hope the worst of this night is over. Eddie, I’m going to make you some hot chocolate. Julie, I greatly appreciate your help. I believe I can take care of Eddie from here on out.”
Julie looked skeptical. “Are you sure Frank? I really wouldn’t mind staying!”
Frank shook his head. “No, no, it’s quite alright. I know how much you love parties. Please, go back and enjoy yourself. You deserve it.”
Julie smiled. “Alright Frank, if you’re sure! Good luck with everything!” She planted a small kiss on the side of Franks face. She turned towards Eddie. “And Eddie, feel better! I know Frank will take good care of you.” She winked, making Eddie blush slightly.
As soon as she left Frank went to go make Eddie his hot cocoa, as promised. It allowed Eddie a few moments to collect himself.
He looked up at the ceiling. What HAD happened? Everything was fine, and then suddenly… it wasn’t.
It felt… like he was being ripped out of his own body. It had hurt. A lot. He’d wanted to move, to scream, to do anything to alleviate the pain, to be heard, but he was paralysed. Eddie realised with a start that, for a moment, he had been sure he was going to die. It was so much, it would have been so easy to just let go.
But then, he’d heard Frank. Frank was worried. Worried about him. Suddenly the static had lifted a little. He needed to answer Frank. He needed to tell him he was okay. But his thoughts were jumping all over the place, and he could hardly move his mouth. In the end he must’ve said something right, because the next thing he knew he was out in the cold, with Julie and Frank supporting his limp body.
Frank returned with the cup of hot cocoa. Eddie managed a weak smile and accepted it from him, sipping the pleasingly warm drink.
They sat in silence for a while. Eddie was calming down more and more by the second. He was safe here.
“So….” Frank said.
“So.” Eddie said.
Frank turned towards Eddie. “Eddie, what happened?”
Eddie continued to stare at the ceiling. “Frank….” He paused “what if I were to disappear?”
Frank looked startled. “What? What do you mean??”
“I mean, would anyone really care?” Eddie knew that he was spiralling, but he couldn’t stop it. “I’m not…special, like the rest of y’all. I’m not an actor, I can’t make up games, I’m not really all that smart, like you. I dunno. I’m just… Eddie”.
Frank took Eddies hand and gripped it. “You’re not JUST Eddie, how many times do I have to tell you that? You’re kind, and loving, and always willing to help someone in need.” He stopped for a moment, thinking. “AND, you not being intelligent is absolute nonsense. You know about all kinds of things! Just the other day you explained to me how glass is made. Sand?? Who would have thought!” Frank smiled and shook his head, “And, of course, how would the mail get delivered without the mailman?”
Eddie looked down. His eyebrows knitted together in frustration as he gripped the fabric of his pants. “But… does the mail really even matter? I mean, we live right next to each other for gosh sake!” Eddie threw up his hands in exasperation “I don’t need to be deliverin’ letters. If ya want something, ya could just go shoutin’ out the window. Y’all don’t need me. Ya don’t”.
Eddie put his head in his hands. Frank had never seen him so distraught.
Frank took Eddies hand again. “Eddie, I would care if you were gone.”
Eddie looked up, tears rolling down his cheeks. “…ya would?”
Frank chuckled lightly. “What a silly question. Of course I would. I love you.” Frank put his hand on Eddies cheek, which Eddie slowly leaned into.
“Eddie. I’d… I’d be lost without you. Some days, I feel so alone. Like no one really gets me. I ramble on about butterfly mating patterns and the right type of soil to plant your hydrangeas in. I know most of the others find it annoying. But not you. You always listen to everything I have to say, like it’s the most interesting thing in the world. You make me feel special.”
Eddie sniffled. “I do?”
“Yes. And, also, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the people here are CRAZY!” He flapped his hands around while Eddie giggled at his theatrics. “Seriously, I sometimes worry if we weren’t around they’d end up killing themselves. I mean, just today, Julie was dancing. On the ROOF. On a ROOF during WINTER when it’s completely covered in ICE, and not to mention a good 20 feet off the ground!!”
Eddie smiled as he wiped some tears away. “Haha. Yeah. That was… pretty scary”.
“EXACTLY. And yet, somehow, you are the only other person aside from me that thought that might be slightly hazardous. See? If I didn’t have you around, I think I’d go insane”.
“Heh. I guess so.”
“Also..” Frank leaned in close, a hair’s breadth away from Eddies face. Eddie’s cheeks immediately warmed. Frank playfully poked Eddie on the nose. “You are unreasonably scared of bugs. It’s adorable.”
“Hey.” Eddie said defensively, but he laughed quietly.
Frank knocked his forehead against Eddie’s and cradled his face in his hands. “I would also miss your laugh. Every time I hear it, I can’t help but smile.”
“Hmm” Eddie hummed as he gently held onto Frank’s arms.
“You’re also not a bad kisser.”
“Frank!” Eddie blushed at the sudden compliment. He quickly ducked his head in embarrassment.
“What?? It’s true! You can do this thing with your tongue that - “
“FRANK!!” Eddie laughed louder and tried to shove Frank away. Frank giggled and held Eddies arms in place. Eddie probably could have shoved him away if he wanted, but he let Frank hold him.
Frank leaned forward again “But, in case you missed it the first time, more than anything, I would miss you because I love you.”
Eddie sighed and melted into Frank’s embrace. “I know. I love ya too.”
Frank leaned forward and kissed him gently. Eddie sighed, comforted by Frank’s soft lips as he kissed him back. Frank ran his hands through Eddie’s hair as he deepened the kiss, gently pushing Eddie back onto the arm of the couch.
This felt good. He’d felt like a stranger in his own body, but Frank was making him feel alive again. He liked the weight of Frank on top of him, liked the way he tasted like lavender tea. Eddie ran his hands underneath the front of Frank’s shirt, gently feeling the exposed skin right above his hip.
Frank seemed to like that, because he grinded his hips down.
Eddie cried out, surprised by the sudden rush of pleasure. He broke the kiss and gripped onto Franks shoulders. “Ah, Frank, what….”
Frank leaned down and began kissing down Eddies neck, still grinding against his hips. “Hmmm. Eddie, you’re lovely. You’re beautiful. I’d be lost without you.” Frank mumbled. He trailed up to the bottom of Eddies ear, where he knew he was sensitive, and bit down.
“Ah! Frank.” Eddie groaned and tightened his grip on Frank’s shoulders. “Ya haven’t.. ah…. You’re being… a lot touchier than usual?”
Frank continued kissing his neck while his hand started to travel south. “I know. I want to make you feel good. Do you feel good?”
Eddie thought he was losing his mind. He couldn’t think. The surprise of what was happening was melting away, as the only thing he could think about was the way Frank was moving against him.
“Yes,” he panted.
“Good.” Frank suddenly pushed the heel of his hand down hard onto Eddies groin.
“Ah! Frank!” Eddie cried, his hips jumped involuntarily to meet Franks hand as the back of his head hit the arm of the couch. “Gah! W-Wait! wait… you’ve never -Ah…n-Never.. ya don’t -ah- don’t have to do this jus’ta make me feel better.” Eddie was desperately trying to string coherent sentences together as all the blood in his body was rushing down.
They had never gone this far before. Frank wasn’t too much of a touchy feely guy, only really being able to handle kissing before getting overstimulated. He apparently had different plans in mind today.
“It’s okay” Frank whispered in Eddies ear as Eddie writhed desperately underneath him. “I’m finding out that… I don’t mind it as much if I’m doing it to you. I like hearing your sounds… seeing your face…you have such a pretty face Eddie…”
Oh gosh. Eddie found that he could not handle Frank touching him like this and talking to him like that. He buried his head into Franks shoulder as his body whited out in pleasure, trembling from the shear force of it.
It took a couple moments for Eddie to come down from his high. He could faintly register Frank placing gentle kisses on the side of his face. Eddie slowly released the vice grip he’d had on Franks shoulders. He was still panting hard.
Frank rubbed circles into Eddies back. “Hey, that’s it. Breathe” He said in a soothing voice. “You did so good, Eddie.”
“I didn’t know…. You’re real good at that, bug,” Eddie panted, “I’ve gotta ask, have ya done this before?”
“Oh heavens, no!” Frank waved his free hand in the air, “Frankly, the thought of it has always disgusted me. Except with you, of course.”
Eddie huffed a laugh. “Well, that was a helluva first try.”
Frank slightly puffed out his chest. “Why thank you. I feel quite proud of myself, to be honest with you. I never really thought I could make someone.. well, completely lose it! You should’ve seen the faces you were making Eddie. You looked like you were dying.”
“Hey.” Eddie said half-heartedly, smiling against Frank’s shoulder.
After a couple more moments Eddie finally lifted his head away from Frank. Feeling more confident in his slightly hazy state, he cupped Franks head in his hands, lightly thumbing over his ears.
“Hey.”
Frank brought his hand up to meet Eddie’s. “Hey.”
“Would you… let me return the favor?”
Frank eyes widened as a slight blush brushed against his cheeks. He frowned and sheepishly looked down. “Um, well, the thing about that is… I’ve kind of already…” Frank trailed off.
Eddie stared at him for a moment before looking down.
“Don’t look!!” Frank said with a mix of annoyance and embarrassment as he covered Eddie’s face with his hands.
Eddie was still dumbfounded. “You.fe alrwreafy…?” He tried to speak through Franks hands.
Frank blushed deeper. “Yes. Um.” He cleared his throat. “It seems that seeing you in … the state you were in…. Was enough.”
Eddie continued to stare at him.
“What?? Stop looking at me like that!!”
“Wow…” Eddie brought his hands up to frame Franks face. “You’re amazing”.
Frank rolled his eyes, still blushing “Come now, Eddie.. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’d hardly call orgasming from looking at you during sex ‘amazing’. If anything, it’s your fault for being so attractive.”
A burst of laughter surprised its way out of Eddie. The sudden compliment was nice, but It was also jarring to hear Frank suddenly speak so frankly about what they had just done. But, Eddie supposed, Frank speaking frankly shouldn’t be a surprise.
Eddie sighed as his arms wrapped around Frank, pulling him close. “You ARE amazing. Thank you for helping me today. And for… everything after.” He blushed again. “I feel a lot better now”.
Frank hugged him back. “I’m glad”. He paused for a moment. Then,
“Eddie, I meant what I said. You are needed, and you add so much to this little town of ours. And, even if you didn’t, I’d still love you. I’d care if you were gone.”
Eddie smiled and closed his eyes. “I know.”