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It had been a full year since Will moved out of Hawkins. He had a good life now, he'd made new friends – none of them would ever replace the party, who he still saw occasionally, just not very often anymore, but it was nice to have people to hang out with.
Which is exactly what he was getting ready for right now.
One of his friends, Carlton, had invited him to a comedy show, and while that wasn't really Will's usual scene, he loved spending time with his friends. He'd always loved being around people – the people he cared about, more specifically – ever since he was a kid. When Carlton asked him to go somewhere with him, it made Will's entire day. Being invited anywhere always made Will's day.
But that wasn't the real reason he was going.
He recognized the name. Richie Tozier. Mike’s cousin Richie Tozier.
Richie used to visit his family in Hawkins during the holidays, and sometimes for summer break. He'd stay for two weeks and then go back home to Derry. The first time they met, Richie attached himself to Will immediately, dragging him to the arcade almost every day to play games together. They played Street Fighter, mainly, but there were a few times Will was able to convince Richie to play something else.
Richie took him to get ice cream a few times. Will always felt guilty thinking of these outings as ‘dates’, but, looking back, he's sure Richie would agree.
Sometimes, Richie would sneak out of the Wheelers' basement to spend the night at Will's house.
Will remembers being woken up by the sound of knocking on his bedroom window. It scared the hell out of him the first time, he clutched his blanket to his chest and tried to quell his shaking. Seeing a dark figure outside his window didn't help his fears in the slightest. It took his eyes forever to adjust enough for him to realize it was Richie outside his window with a big grin on his face.
He'd opened his window hesitantly, “What are you doing here?” he'd whispered. Richie had just crawled through the opened window and threw himself onto Will's bed.
“Wanted to hang out!” He had already tucked himself under the blanket, but he held it up, motioning for Will to join him. Will did join him, of course he did, it was his bed. It was awkward at first, at least it was for Will. Richie didn't seem very uncomfortable at all, but Richie never seemed uncomfortable with anything.
Richie was so not-uncomfortable, in fact, that he ended up wrapping an arm around Will's waist midway through a conversation – Will doesn't remember what it was about anymore, he probably wouldn't even have remembered if someone asked him about it 10 minutes later.
They fell asleep that night in each other's arms, but they didn't talk about it the next day. It didn't feel like they had to. It was just something that happened, and kept happening. They cuddled sometimes, it was normal.
Things like that would happen every time Richie was in Hawkins, until, eventually, they kissed.
He remembered the way his heart was pounding, the way Richie’s hands felt amazing cradling his face, the way his own hands stayed tense at his side, the way Richie’s lips tasted like sweet chapstick – definitely recently applied, but the flavor was one he couldn't quite place.
He remembers the way he wished he would've kissed back before Richie pulled away.
They didn't speak about the kiss either, but Will certainly thought about it. He thought about it constantly.
He was still thinking about it.
Will shook his head to clear his thoughts, focusing instead on picking out a good outfit.
Carlton said he got seats close to the stage, so maybe, deep down, he was doing this in hopes that Richie would see him. But he wasn't ready to admit that. Dressing up for someone he only saw for two weeks every year when he was a teenager? That would be embarrassing.
Richie was some semi-famous comedian now, anyways, it was stupid to think he'd go for someone like Will.
Carlton would be here to pick Will up any minute now, so Will grabbed his bag and went outside to wait for him.
Richie was always touchy when they were kids. An arm around the shoulders or holding hands in the privacy of the Wheeler basement or Will's room wasn't inordinary for him. Even when the whole party would be down in the basement, watching a movie more often than not – they'd stopped playing DnD as much by this point, much to Will's dismay – Richie would always linger around Will, his arms wrapped around Will's waist and his chin resting on Will's shoulder. He'd hardly ever be actually watching the movie, much more interested in whatever Will was doing.
It made Will feel special.
The only other person who made Will feel that special was Mike.
Richie was similar to Mike in a lot of ways. Appearance, mainly, but also in the way they both Will feel so loved. Like his existence wasn't inherently wrong, like he wasn't a mistake.
Will was snapped out of his thoughts by the loud sound of a horn. He flinched, looking around for the source. Carlton’s car was parked right in front of him. He scrambled inside, mumbling a “Shit! Sorry..”, but Carlton just shrugged.
“Got something on your mind?” Carlton looked at Will through the corner of his eye. Will smiled and shook his head.
“Nothing, really. Just reminiscing.” Will shrugged.
“Reminiscing?”
“I used to know him. Richie.”
Carlton squinted in thought for a moment before his face lit up.
“What- Seriously?! You know Richie Tozier?!” Carlton's hand reached to grab Will's shoulder, playfully shaking him. “Why didn't you tell me you were mingling with celebrities?”
“I knew him when I was, like, 14, Carl! He would come to Hawkins for the holidays to visit his family. His cousin was my best friend.” Will was unable to keep himself from giggling.
Carlton begged Will to tell him stories for the rest of the ride there, and Will obliged. Recalling in detail everything he could about his times with Richie – he omitted the story about their kiss, however. By the time they'd arrived at the comedy club, Carlton was giving Will a knowing look that made Will shudder. Carlton always saw right through him.
They found their seats, which were quite literally directly in front of the stage, and waited for the show to start. Will's hands rested on his knees, his knuckles tapping a steady, nervous, beat. He cursed himself for feeling nervous at all in this moment. What was he expecting, for Richie to be actively seeking him out? If anything, Richie was probably seeing someone by now.
Richie came out on stage, and Will forgot how to breathe for a few seconds.
He was beautiful.
He still looked a lot like Mike, he still wore those big glasses, and he still dressed pretty much the same. But he had a bit of stubble dusting his chin and upper lip. His arms were hairier, too.
Richie was saying something, opening for his show, but Will wasn't paying attention enough to his words. He was too busy admiring the beautiful man on stage in front of him to register what he was saying.
That was until he heard his name being shouted. From the stage, no less.
“Will Byers, is that you?!” Richie practically screamed into his microphone, the feedback from it making him wince. He was pointing a finger at Will. Everyone's attention was directed towards Will, and he froze. Richie had a massive grin on his face, like this was the best thing he'd seen in his life.
Will's face was surely completely red, if the burning heat he felt in his cheeks was anything to go by.
The rest of the show passed by in a blur. Richie was able to change the subject quickly and get everyone's attention back on himself again, Richie was always good at commanding others’ attention, but Will probably couldn't recite a single joke from the show if asked.
He couldn't really focus on the jokes when Richie Tozier would occasionally glance over at him and he'd blush and stumble over his words for a second.
He made Richie flustered.
That did wonders for his ego, which he definitely needed.
The show ended too soon, and Will was being dragged back to the car by his friend, who was gleefully ranting about how good the show was.
“Did you see the way he was looking at you?! Dude, Will, you might have a shot with Richie fucking Tozier!” Carlton was practically shaking with excitement. They laughed about it together for a while outside of Carlton's car, before Will felt a tap on his shoulder.
“Speak of the devil and he may appear!”
Will spun around so fast he's surprised he didn't get whiplash. Richie Tozier. Standing in front of him.
Richie was actively seeking him out, after all.
“Um..Hi, Richie.” Will's throat was completely dry, his hands fiddled with the hem of his shirt. Richie just put an arm around his shoulder, just like he used to when they were kids, and pulled him closer.
He nodded towards Carlton, who nearly fainted, “Is this a boyfriend?”
Will shook his head, “No, no, he's just a friend!”
“Awesome.” Richie grinned and began walking, pulling Will along with him. “Let me take you out somewhere, yeah? It'll be fun.”
Will was the one who felt like he was going to faint this time. Maybe he shouldn't be letting someone he hasn't spoken to in several years take him somewhere he doesn't know, but he really, really wanted to.
He glanced back at Carlton, who was giving him two thumbs up, and waved.
He was going on a date with Richie Tozier.
He walked with Richie until they got to his car. It was obnoxious, a red convertible, just the type of car Will imagined Richie would drive. The sight drew a chuckle out of him.
“That's more than you laughed at my whole show!” Richie poked Will's chest.
“Sorry- I was focused on something else.”
“Yeah, me! I could feel you staring at me the whole time, it was making me nervous!” he opened the passenger door and motioned for Will to get in.
“Oh, you're such a gentleman now.” Will rested his hands in his lap when he sat down, watching Richie walk to the other side of the car.
“I've always been a gentleman, ‘aven’t I?” Richie still did ‘The British Guy’, apparently. It got another laugh from Will.
“You haven't changed at all.”
“I'm glad you think so!” Richie started the car, “I was fuckin’ awesome back then.”
Richie’s hand rested on Will's thigh for the entire trip, his thumb caressing him softly – Will felt like he was going to explode, he'd never been so nervous and excited in his life.
Will had a date.
With Richie Tozier.
Whose hand was on his thigh right now.
Will was going to die.
Maybe he already was dead, he was dead and this was heaven. There was actually no way this could be real, no way he'd actually found someone, no way that someone was Richie Tozier.
Richie drove around aimlessly for almost 20 minutes before he stopped the car in a random parking lot. He turned to Will and sighed, “Listen, I'm gonna be honest, I have, like, nowhere to take you.”
“You can take me home,” Will blurted it out without thinking. He slapped a hand over his mouth and his face went beet red, Richie was looking at him with genuine shock. “Sorry-! I didn't mean-”
“Jeez, you're sure in a hurry!” Richie was beaming. “I mean, I can't refuse an offer like that! You have such a way with words, keep talking like that and I might cream my pants right here!”
“I didn't mean like that! Just to hang out, like we used to!” Will's hands balled up as he tried to defend himself. He didn't want to look like a pervert on the first date!
“What, in your bed?” Richie had buried his face in Will's shoulder, his hands grasping at Will's sleeves. He was trying his best not to burst into laughter, his body shaking with the force of it. “Jesus, Will, I never took you for someone so forward!” the feeling of Richie's lips moving on the bare skin of his neck was killing him.
“No! Richie, c'mon!” Will snorted, and Richie lifted his head to stare at him in awe.
“Sure, sure, I'll take you home,” Richie kissed him on the cheek – which didn't help how red Will was, by the way – and straightened himself back up in his seat. “Only if I can stay for a while. Maybe the whole night?” He clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth.
Will just nodded.
He gave Richie the address and the rest of the ride there was mostly silent, the silence only broken by the radio. Richie’s hand was no longer perched on Will's thigh, and Will found himself missing the contact. He stared at Richie out of the corner of his eye, admiring the man next to him. Richie was so pretty.
Will can't believe he bagged a celebrity.
A gorgeous, funny celebrity.
Who was going to be at his house.
All night.
Will was going to have a heart attack, he was sure of it.
The car stopped, and Will knew it was because they were at his apartment complex. He swallowed nervously, glancing at Richie, who was looking back at him, equally nervous.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
…
“Do you wanna.. get inside, or..?” Will motioned towards the building.
“No protection? Are you sure?” Richie was grinning, but already moving to open his door.
“God- do you ever shut up?” Will covered his face with his hands. He was certain Richie would be the death of him.
“Not unless you make me!” The voice came from the opposite side of him, he must not have noticed that Richie got out. “I have a gift, Will, my talking is a gift.”
“Sure it is.” Will rolled his eyes, but the giddy smile on his face was undeniable.
Richie was holding the car door open for him and extending a hand for him to take. Will took it, pulling himself up. He led Richie up to his apartment, praying that no one saw them, two grown men, holding hands. New York was definitely more accepting than Indiana, but he still didn't want to test just how accepting it was. And he definitely didn't want to potentially out Richie, that could ruin his career.
Richie only let go of his hand when they got to the door, letting Will fish around in his pockets for his key.
Once they were inside, Richie threw himself down onto the couch with a relieved sigh. His arms were stretched over the backrest, which his hand softly patted, as if offering for Will to come sit. Will took that offer, sliding right next to Richie and leaning against his side.
“Shit, I missed this,” Richie mumbled. “being around you every year. You were, like, my favorite part of Christmas, seriously.”
Will chuckled, “Yeah, you were mine, too.” It wasn't an exaggeration. He looked forward to Richie’s visits every year. He always felt selfish for it, Richie was visiting family, not Will. But now he couldn't feel selfish. He felt amazing, soaking up the attention being given to him like a sponge. He was allowed to have moments like this, to feel loved.
An arm wrapped around his waist, and lips pressed kisses to his cheek and jawbone. “Missed you so fuckin’ much.” The kisses moved down to his neck, then collarbone. “You're so pretty. When I saw you I seriously thought I was gonna forget my whole act. You were so distracting.”
“Yeah, you messed up a few times, I remember.” Will's hand rested in Richie’s hair, mindlessly scratching at his scalp.
“I know. You're so beautiful- fuckin’ breathtaking, Will, it's insane.” He kissed back up Will's neck and peppered his face once more – occasionally making overexaggerated ‘Mwah!’ sounds, which made Will giggle.
Will just wanted Richie to kiss him for real. Just once, at least.
“Richie.” The hand in Richie's hair settled at the nape of his neck, tilting his head to look him in the eye. Richie’s breath hitched, and he instinctively leaned closer. Will met him halfway, his freehand coming to rest on Richie's cheek.
Richie’s lips didn't have the same chapstick taste as before, but that was to be expected. He was definitely more experienced than Will was too, which was also to be expected. What Will didn't expect, however, was the nervousness he could feel. Richie’s hands gripped Will's shirt at the waist tight, as if letting go would mean certain death. After breaking the kiss, he stayed near Will, their foreheads pressed together. He stared at Will for a few seconds, no sounds filled the air except their heavy breathing.
“Bedroom?” Will breathed out.
“Fuck- are you sure?”
“We don't have to do anything.” Will's thumb brushed against Richie's cheek, then his bottom lip.
Truth be told, Will definitely wasn't ready to go that far yet. It was their first date – first real date – after all. Richie nodded in agreement, and Will pushed him towards the door to his bedroom.
Richie held onto him, just like he would years ago, his head buried in Will's neck, his arm around Will's waist. He mumbled sweet nothings into Will's skin, the feeling was enough to make Will shiver.
Will rolled over, wrapping his arm around Richie and pressing his nose into Richie's hair.
“Good night, Rich.”
“G’night, Will.” Richie pressed a soft kiss to Will's neck, and after a few minutes, when he was sure Will had gone to sleep, he mumbled, “Love ya.”
Love.
Richie Tozier loved him.