Work Text:
Richie’s parents loved him- at least, he thought they did; Only a part of him, that little girl that played with dolls and wore dresses and ran through the streets of Derry pretending to be a princess. They certainly didn’t love the Richie that was named Richie, the Richie that smoked ciggs’ and hung out with the losers club.
Richie was 14 when he cut his hair after his mother yelled at him for suggesting a shorter cut. He was 15 when his closet ended up being filled with oversized, saggy clothes to hide his body. And he was 16, when he fell in love with William Denbrough.
Richie thought he had dealt with enough. Yea, sure, it wasn’t too bad. He got bullied shitless not only for his trashmouth but also for being a girl but being a boy. His mother had yelled at him multiple times for suggesting he shop in the men’s. But his dad seemed okay with it. Richie always knew his dad wanted a boy anyways, while his mother was disappointed that she couldn’t understand him anymore.
“Rachel, what has happened to you?” She walked into his room, and sat on his bed. “Where did you go?”
That immediately prompted a fight, that felt like it lasted an eternity.
What were talking about? Oh yes, being the worst thing you possibly could be in Derry, Maine. A trans guy and a queer.
Richie would’ve loved to have just been normal. For once. But no, that night he got into a fight with his mother he ran, just for the night. But not to Eddie’s. But to Bill’s.
Richie Climbed up the side of Stuttering Bill’s house and knocked on the window. Over the years, Bill had grown his hair out and gained some more freckles. He was wearing a tank top and pj pants the night he dragged a hysterical Richie “Trashmouth” Tozier into his room, and comforted him. And made Richie feel something he thought he would never feel again.
“Ruh-ruh-Richie, what h-happened?” Bill said. After a while of Richie sobbing without any response, Bill added: “You d-don’t ha-have to talk a-a-a-about it.” After a long while of holding Richie, Bill started to stroke his fingers through Richie’s hair. “I-I don’t kn-kn-know wuh-what happened, b-b-but I’m h-hear for y-you and it- it’ll b-be okay.” And finally, Richie spoke.
“I love you, Bill.”