Work Text:
Eddie stares at his reflection, twisting this way and that, certain that the new binder Wayne gave him is defective. Or maybe it’s his brain that’s defective; too worried that his chest is still obvious and the binder doesn’t work as well as the ace bandages.
But Wayne’s worried too. He had a childhood friend like Eddie, who cracked a rib when they were younger binding his chest with ace bandages. His uncle doesn’t want him to go through the same pain or worse the same humiliation of it happening in public.
So, for weeks, Eddie’s been wearing the binder around the trailer, constantly fiddling with it and psyching himself out, sure that the barely noticeable curve would be seen through his shirt. Huffing, Eddie turns away from the mirror and stomps toward his desk.
So fed up with his own anxiety, Eddie decides to roll for it. If he fails, he’ll let the fear win and throw the binder away. If he succeeds, he’ll wear it to meet Robin and Nancy at the mall tomorrow.
With a deep breath, Eddie grabs the nearest D 20. Wisdom saving throw: DC 15. The die rolls the length of his desk and stops just at the edge.
Nat 20.
Nerves twist Eddie’s stomach, as he walks through the mall entrance as confidently as he can. He’s sure everyone can see the binder under his shirt and what it’s concealing; but so far, no one spares him a second glance.
Shoulders back, long strides, stiff gait; just like every other guy his age. It’s a little difficult to maintain, so different from his usual walk, but there’s no need to hunch his shoulders and make himself smaller. The binder pinches near his rib cage a little, chaffs his skin where he sweats, and he can feel the way his nipples scrape against the weird material.
Still, Eddie feels amazing. He can’t believe he was so scared to do this.
He spots Robin and Nancy at the pretzel stand and heads in their direction. Laser focused on getting across the lobby, Eddie doesn’t hear a mom yelling at her little boy. He does however, feel the small body bash into the side of his leg.
Thankfully, the kid isn’t that big, so while he tumbles to the ground, Eddie only shuffles a few steps.
“Watch where you’re going!” The boy’s mother scolds him, even as she helps him up. She turns to Eddie with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, sir. He didn’t hurt you did he?” She asks.
Sir?
For a second, Eddie only blinks at the woman. It’s the first time someone’s called Eddie that without his coming out first. Warmth spreads through him as the implications of that hit him. Shaking his head, he returns her smile.
“No, ma’am. I’m not hurt,” Eddie reassures.
“Thank goodness,” she sighs, then turns back to her son. “Justin, you apologize to this nice young man.”
“Sorry mister,” Justin mumbles. “Mama says I’m ran-uncious.”
“No harm done. I was a pretty rambunctious kid myself,” he laughs, almost giddy.
They go their separate ways, and it’s like he floats the rest of the way to the girls. By the time he gets there, Eddie’s about to burst.
“You okay?” Nancy asks when they catch sight of him.
“Never better, Nance,” Eddie sighs. “Never better.”