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“I know you were lying.”
Now this isn’t what Richie was expecting when Eddie came down the decrepit ladder into the losers unofficial base. He could be referring to a plethora of things, for example Richie did in fact take the last Twinkie even though Bill called dibs, and yeah he did say he wasn’t afraid of spiders but if he sees one of those eight legged fuckers anywhere near him he will be bolting out thank you very much. The look in Eddies eyes however was genuinely intimidating, and that was saying something considering he’s about half his size.
“Hello to you too Edward Spaghetward, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Richie asks in a posh accent, one he’s been workshopping for a few days. Eddie starts walking to him sat in the hammock, his stare hasn’t faded despite Richie trying to break whatever stick was up his ass.
“Richie I’m not here to joke around, I’m here because this could be the difference between life and death.” Eddie is now entirely too close and entirely too serious for his taste. “I have known you for almost ten years Rich, not once have you ever told me you were afraid of clowns.” Richie stares back in confusion, shifting uncomfortably in the hammock as Eddie’s stare never faulters.
Now obviously Richie Tozier isn’t scared of some stupid clowns, but why the fuck does it matter so much to him? Just because Richie tells Eddie everything doesn’t mean he has to know…everything. Richie starts picking at his nails, avoiding eye contact in hopes that Eddie will just drop it (and maybe join him in the hammock if he’s lucky). Clearly Eddies mind was made up because all he does is flick him on the forehead forcing him to meet his eyes again. He’s never seen Eddie so genuinely concerned, and because of what, a single white lie? Richie is protecting him, he’s always protecting him.
“Eds I don’t need to tell you every little thing in my life, why are you so fucking…Intense?” Eddie doesn’t say anything, just continuing to stare at him with a furrowed brow and fists clenched. Richie is beginning to get genuinely worried, maybe he found out and is just waiting for him to spill the beans so he can leave once and for all. Maybe his mom was secretly a world famous clown and Eddie has to break off their friendship out of solidarity. “Hey, are you okay dude?” Richie finally asks timidly.
Eddie wordlessly budges Richies legs over and climbs in haphazardly. Richie can only stare as Eddie brings his legs to his chest and rests his head on his knees facing him. “I don’t want you to die.” Eddie says in a quiet voice. “I know you haven’t seen It yet, but I have. It’s fucking dangerous, it’s fucking…deadly. It knows what you fear the most and it uses it against you.” Eddie grabs Richies leg, shaking him with each word, “If you aren’t prepared you are going to die.”
Speechless is something Richie rarely is, but right now he can’t quite find the words to articulate the internal battle he is currently in the middle of. For one thing, how the hell is “It” going to kill him anymore than the rest of the town will, it’s not like his true fear is irrational. On the other hand, Eddie is holding his leg and he is praying to whatever there is out there that his ears aren’t red because he will never be ready for Eddie to notice the way he acts around him. It’s oddly sweet how concerned Eddie is for him, but that just makes him all the more worried. In all the years Richie has known him, Eddie has never gone out of his way to lecture him like this and he doesn’t know what to do with a confrontational Eddie Kaspbrak. With Eddies hands still on his legs, Richie slowly lowers his hands onto Eddies, giving them a quick squeeze. His ears are one hundred percent bright red, but he doesn’t find himself caring anymore.
“Eddie, I’m gonna be okay dude,” Richie can feel Eddies hands shift under his but he doesn’t budge. “Besides, all that matters is that I know what I’m afraid of, I can deal with this, trust me ol’ chap.” Richie slips back into his British guy accent to add levity to this shit. Eddie begins to protest but Richie is no longer having it.
Richie scrambles out of the hammock, breaking contact with Eddie and scrambling up the ladder throwing a half assed excuse over his shoulder. He throws his leg over his bike and pedals off leaving a confused Eddie behind.