Eddie Kaspbrak thinks the universe actually might be trying to fucking kill him.
It's not even been ten months since he got impaled by a clown-space-demon and nearly died, only for his wounds to heal surprisingly quickly after the death of IT. Patty Uris had called Bill, not long after the final showdown, and he answered the phone to an unbelieving voice, a shocked whisper, like she was trying not to believe her own words in case it was all a dream- "Stan's back."
Since then Eddie has gotten a divorce, after realising he married Sonia Kaspbrak 2.0, and moved in with Richie, promising constantly that it was "just for now" and "until I get back on my feet." He was worried about imposing on Richie, but it truly seemed like he didn't mind. They'd fallen into a simultaneously comfortable and awkward daily life together. Comfortable, because eating breakfast with Richie, feeding the dog theyâd adopted to help with trauma and stress relief, bringing coffee home to him after a day at his part-time office job⌠it all came so naturally, instinctively. Awkward, because, and Eddie wasnât entirely sure when, he had fallen head over heels for Richie Tozier. Itâs not something he can control, hell, there are so many reasons he shouldnât love him. Whenever Richie burped at dinner, or whenever Eddie found Richieâs ashtray outside, he always wondered, âHow the hell am I in love with this man?â
Eddie wasnât sure if his love for Richie had always been there, if these feelings came from a lifetime of knowing him, or if it was a case of being close and not knowing many other people in the city, but he had had his fair share of embarrassing exchanges with Richie in the last few months. Notably, when Eddie went to take a shower, unaware Richie was just coming out from the bathroom, and they both had towels, thank God, Eddie thinks, but Eddie had found his gaze lingering on the dark hair that made its way down in a trail on Richieâs stomach, to continue beneath the towel, and when he snapped his eyes back, guiltily, Richie was staring at him, with a look on his face Eddie couldnât place. There were more moments like this, staring at each othersâ lips, before one of them would inevitably pull away and make a joke, or even the time they were slightly buzzed off a shared bottle of wine, and had been joking around, and suddenly Eddie found himself pressed right up against Richie, their eyes widening as they realised how close they were, before Richie quickly excused himself and went to the bathroom. Other times, when Eddie was too in his head, heâd go out to the park and walk for a long time, but when he came back Richie was always waiting there for him, all piercing blue eyes and a gentle, clumsy manner that Eddie had come to love. Or had maybe always loved.
The two have been dancing around each other for months by the time COVID-19 spreads to New York, and pretty much everything shuts down at once. Eddie has always bought in bulk, so theyâre okay, but heâs hesitant to step out of the apartment, even for a careful walk. Enter, the weird tension between Eddie and Richie.
âFuck.â
âWhatâs up?â Eddie turns, pulling himself away from his thoughts, and tonightâs pasta. Richie is frowning down at his phone.
âNothing, just. Bill hasnât picked up, Iâve called 5 times. Do you think heâsâŚâ
âRich, heâs probably just with Mike.â
Richieâs eyebrows shoot up and he grins, worries gone for the moment. âAh, right. Getting plowed by his husband.â
Eddie rolls his eyes. Bill and Mike arenât married yet, but theyâve been engaged for a few months, and have made it clear they prefer to be private about their relationship. Something Richie has picked up on and teased them to death with.
âIf only we were all so lucky as Bill,â Richie drawls, a grin still plastering his face, and Eddie laughs.
âMarriage isnât everything, Rich, trust me. I was married for, what⌠ten years? Twelve-â
âYeah, but you married your mother,â Richie cuts in, blunt as ever. âNot that I donât appreciate how irresistible Mrs Kaspbrak is-â
âCut it out,â Eddie says, half-heartedly,
âBut when itâs your own mother? Weird.â He shudders, and laughs when Eddie just gives him a half-amused look.
Eddie has always had this banter with Richie, where Richie jokes around and often toes the line, and Eddie acts annoyed and tells him he isnât half as funny as he thinks, but the truth is, Eddie could hang out with Richie all day. He has in fact, on his days off when Richie happened to be free as well, usually playing video games while Eddie sat on the other end of the couch.
âWe could try calling Bev and Ben,â Eddie suggests, and Richie nods, absentmindedly. âAlready a step ahead of you, spaghetti man.â
Eddie smiles wryly as the dial tone goes, and goes, and goes, until-
âOh my god, Iâm so sorry I took so long to answer, Benâs out the back with Daisy, and Iâm cooking dinner, so-â
âItâs fine Bev, just say you were dry humping him and go,â Richie cracks.
âBeep beep, Richie. How are you guys doing? Is Eddie okay?â
âYeah, heâs fine,â Richie answers, smiling at Eddie for a second, âItâs just crazy how quickly this is all happening, you know?â
Thereâs a pause.
âBy that you meanâŚâ
âThis virus,â Richie says quickly, turning away from Eddie a little, unbeknownst to him hiding his flushed face.
Eddie turns to continue stirring the pasta, and eventually, Richie passes the phone over.
âHey, Bev, how are you and Ben doing?â
âOh weâre fine! Daisy has been restless, but weâve been taking her out on her daily walk, just staying close of course. How are things with you and Richie?â
The words âYou and Richieâ paralyse Eddie for a moment, before he can respond.
âUh, good. I mean, weird, with the office shutting down, but Rich basically works from home anyway, so heâs good, and, I mean, weâre kind of transitioning to video chats for business meetings, so.â
âThatâs good,â Beverly agrees, âYou guys know you can video chat us any time, right? Just text us and weâll find a time, which could honestly be any time at the moment,â she says with a short laugh.
âOh, have you heard from Mike and Bill?â
âHmm, not today, I was actually thinking of calling them after you. How come?â
âOh, just Richie tried calling them before you, but they didnât pick up.â
âHuh. Alright, Iâll let you know if I reach them, then. Love you, Eddie.â
âLove you, Bev,â Eddie says back, and then Richie quickly swoops in and adds âLove you, and your hot boyfriend too.â
Beverly laughs and hangs up, and Eddie and Richie are left to the silence, apart from the boiling pasta. Eddie notices how close they suddenly are, and Richie smiles ruefully, as he goes to step out of the kitchen.
âIâll just, uh, be right backâŚâ
âYeah,â Eddie breathes, turning his attention back to the pasta after Richie has left his line of sight. This would be a long few weeks of isolation.