Chapter Text
"Give it up, Bill, I'm NOT talking to that dick." "C'mon E-E-Eddie, we've been friends with him for like, forever! Can't you try it j-j-... Just this once?" Bill had been trying to convince Eddie to make up with Richie for ten full minutes now, all for Eddie to keep refusing. All Bill needed was one chance to get them to talk, just one. "No! I'm not gonna apologize to him when he fucks up!" "Fine! But this isn't good for you or h-him." Bill snapped his phone shut with excessive force, sighing and brushing hair from his face. "What am I gonna do?" Bill thought to himself. Mike wouldn't know what to do, Richie is obviously out of the question, Ben would take way too long to come up with something, and Stan would... Just doesn't have any good enough ideas. Bill pondered, before coming to his only option. "Beverly."
Beverly picked up on the second ring, huffing a breath before answering, "what's up, Bill?" "I need your h-h-help," Bill responded, "it's Eddie and Richie." Beverly's brow raised and she smirked slightly, "What, did they finally confess their deep and true love for each other?" She joked. Bill huffed a laugh to himself before speaking, "I h-hi-highly doubt Eddie would ever like a dude, nonetheless a dude like Richie." She nodded her head slightly, still smiling, "So, what happened now, another argument?" Bill snorted humorlessly, "Honestly, another argument would be useful right about now." That made Beverly pause. What happened? "Tell me everything."
Beverly sighed deeply after Bill explained everything. "Damn, I knew they had a huge fight but I didn't know they were gonna act like kids about it. I mean, seriously? The silent treatment? That's how middle schoolers deal with issues." Bill signed equally as loudly as she did and responded, "I know, which is why I need your h-h-he-help. I need to get them close enough to where they have to talk or at least i-int-interact." Beverly stayed silent for a long time, thing of some sort of plan. Then it all clicked into place. "A trip," she stated bluntly. Bill, clearly confused, responded with a questioning hum. "A road trip."
Thirty minutes later and the plan was already in motion. Beverly made a separate group chat with everyone except Richie and Eddie and explained their plan, and everyone got to work. Stanley called Richie and talked until it was the perfect moment to bring up "the trip". "Oh yeah, me and the group were planning a road trip to the Appalachian mountains down in Alabama; like a getaway from college 'nd stuff. It'll be so much fun." "Will Eddie be there?" Richie asked bitterly. "Nope, figured he wouldn't wanna go to some cold mountains too far from his mom or something," Stanley answered. Richie paused for a moment, then responded, "Fine, text me the details and stuff soon as you can."
Meanwhile, Mike phoned Eddie and gave him a very similar story, only when Eddie asked if Richie was going to go, Mike told him that Richie would definitely think the whole plan was stupid and boring, so they wouldn't invite him. Eddie huffed and agreed only on the terms that he could bring as much luggage as he needed and no one could complain. Mike approved and the plan was set. January fifth, they would depart Derry, stop at a hotel for the night in Richmond, then drive the rest of the way to three mountains in Alabama. They'd reach the cabin, stay for a week or two, then do the same thing back. A break from college and the best way to get their two friends to solve their issues.
"Okay," Beverly started, "The plan's simple. Pick up Richie, have him sit in the very back, pick up Eddie, put him also in the very back. When one or both of them get mad, we all start blaming each other so they don't suspect anything and can't leave out of awkwardness. Got it?" Today was the day, no time to mess up or give up. The rest of the group stared at her blankly, clearly confused and skeptical. "Uhm, are you sure that's gonna work? I feel like they would leave regardless," Ben asked, being brave enough to question her plan. "Sure it will! If they try and leave, just stay throwing punches so they can't get out." Ben just kept quiet, no point in trying to fight, they didn't really have another plan.
"Hey fags and Jew, y'all ready to hit the road?" Richie asked as he settled into the back of the rented car. It'd been a while since Richie had seen some of the group, but being weird about it wasn't gonna do any good. "Still talking out your ass I see, R-R-Richie," Bill retorted. Richie was quick to respond with, "Still aren't able to complete full sentences without stuttering I see, B-B-Bill." Richie and Bill talked as they began their trip, mostly to distract Richie from noticing them stopping and noticing Eddie dropping his stuff in the trunk. Bill talked Richie's attention away from noticing Eddie rounding the car and opening the door, but the moment he stepped inside, he began to ramble. "I swear, you guys are gonna get me in so much trouble with my roommates. I mean, come on, two weeks just to get away from school?" Eddie kept speaking as he settled in his seat, still not even noticing Richie. "Not to mention my mom's gonna kill me if I don't call her daily. Do they have wifi at the..."
Eddie finally shut up when him and Richie made wide-eyed eye contact, staying completely silent for a while minute. "Why is he here?" Eddie asked anyone, still staring at Richie. "I could ask you the same thing," Richie added, also not breaking eye contact. Beverly went into character almost instantly, "Dude! I told you guys not to invite him!" Bill snapped out of the tense silence and quickly retorted, "I thought you said n-n-not to invite him!" Mike was next to realize and also jumped in, "I thought we weren't inviting him so I invited him!" "Then who the hell invited him?!" Beverly snapped. Stanley cleared his throat and started in too, "I only invited him 'cause Ben told me he wasn't gonna be there!" "I thought we didn't invite him!" Ben jut in. This was a complete mess.
Richie and Eddie sat in silence, completely lost and utterly confused. No one had specified which "him" was which and which "him" wasn't supposed to be here in the first place. Even though they were all yelling at each other, Beverly sped up the vehicle and began on the road. They continued to argue until Richie spoke up, "Shut the fuck up! Of my God, what the fuck is going on with you guys?! Who's not supposed to be here, why are you all arguing about it, and why the fuck are you driving away from Eddie's house when we could've dropped him off there?!" Eddie felt his blood boil. Why should he be the one getting dropped off?!
"Hey! Who says I have to leave?! Why can't you go home, huh?!" Richie rolled his eyes, "Weren't you just bitching about how your mommy was gonna kill you since you were leaving? Go home and there's no problem." Eddie scoffed disbelievingly, "Nice try, jackass, but I put money into going on this trip, so fuck you if you think I'm leaving. Maybe you should go, you probably barely contributed to the bills 'cause you don't make enough money. Or maybe you're just cheap!" Richie stared daggers into Eddie's eyes, smashing back just as quick, "Sure about that? Last time I checked, you're still having your mom pay for your placebo pills. Doesn't scream disposable income to me." "They're not placebos you---"
"Shut up! You wanna complain about us arguing and sit here talking to each other like that!?" Stanley snapped. "If neither of you are gonna go home, then shut it and suck it up. You don't have to interact, just stop arguing." The car settled into an uncomfortable silence, the tension thick enough to cut. Richie and Eddie stared out opposite windows, remaining quiet but clearly hostile. The plan had worked, but only partially. Then needed them to make up and get over their problems, but blatantly pushing them would blow their cover. So, for now, the silence would have to do. Beverly flipped on the radio, keeping the sound not too loud and not too quiet. The ride was awkward and tense. Three hours in.
"Beverly, I need to pee. Can we stop at the next rest area?" Stanley asked in an almost petulant tone. Richie snorted and shook his head, "You're twenty and still using the word "pee" when talking about going to the bathroom?" Stanley rolled his eyes, though his cheeks dusted in embarrassment, "It's not that big of a deal. I just say "pee", okay?" Richie snickered at the word once more as though it was amusing. "Immature as ever..." Eddie mumbled under his breath. Richie snapped his gaze to the back of Eddie's head, glaring, but remaining silent. "Yeah, we can stop," Beverly answered almost quietly. "Need to get gas anyway."
The gas station was small, rundown, and reeked of dark coffee and something burnt. "Alright, everyone out. Go get food or something to drink or go pee," Beverly smiled as she ushered the group out. "This place looks so unsanitary, absolutely disgusting," Eddie muttered to no one. "Bathrooms are probably covered in shit and piss, better get your inhaler ready," Richie jibed. "Shut it, trash mouth. Eleven years later you still can't stop talking." Eddie snapped. "Yeah, seven years later and you still can't handle the sight of something remotely unclean." Richie retorted. "Both of you haven't changed, now g-g-get inside." Bill butted in as he pushed the two men into the gas station.
"I'm so hungry, thank God for the snacks here," Mike said as he grabbed a bag of chips from an isle rack. "Me too, dude. I haven't eaten since, like, breakfast," Richie added, grabbing a few snacks of his own. Stanley, who was walking with them, noticed Eddie wasn't close by and spoke up, "Where's Eddie?" "Probably at the fountain drink station," Richie answered without missing a beat. Stan eyed Richie suspiciously and continued, "Why?" "Why do you think? To get the drink combo he swears by. Seven Up, Fanta, and creamer from the coffee bar." Richie went up to pay for his food, leaving Stanley stunned. "How did he know that?"
The car was filled with gas, everyone who wanted food or drinks got what they wanted, and everyone was back in the car. "Are we all good?" Beverly asked. She was met with a few murmurs and nods, so she started up the car and got right back onto the road. They played music, chatted a bit, even got both Eddie and Richie to laugh. Beverly filtered through the radio stations until she hit a news station that piqued her interest.
"BREAKING NEWS: A group of schoolboys in Burlington Vermont mysteriously disappear and haven't been seen since January 1st declared missing---"
Bill switched the radio off the moment "missing" left the speaker. Too late, for the damage was done. Richie jerked to face the window, Mike's head drooped, Bill feigned calmness, but his breath quickened. Stanley flinched, Eddie stared intently at his shoes, and Ben seemed somewhat okay. The tension was back, thicker and even heavier than before. "Shit, I'm sorry guys---" Beverly started before Ben cut her off. "It's okay, Beverly, you didn't mean to." She sighed heavily. The silence stretched out for far too long. Six hours in.
The sun began to set by the time they needed another break, the air cool enough for Eddie to pull out his jacket. "If I get sick, my mom'll never let me leave the house again," he stated as he slipped into the unnecessarily large coat. Richie mumbled something inaudible about the jacket, to which Eddie snapped back, "Got something to say, trash mouth?" "Just that your coat's the same size as your mom," Richie retorted. "Are you seriously calling my mom fat?" "If the shoe fits. Though I doubt it will with the amount of growths she has on her feet."
"Talk about my mom like that one more time and see what happens," Eddie warned. Richie stared at him refusing to back down. "What, you gonna call her up and have her sit on me? Spoiler alert, I'd probably like that." "Like hell you would, you're too faggoted for that to excite you!" Richie visibly flinched at his words, straightening up and pushing past him to enter the building. "Whatever, go ahead and believe what your mom thinks. But you look gay as shit in that puffer coat." Eddie knew he hit a nerve, but he wouldn't apologize. Richie started it, Eddie just finished it.
Bill could tell something happened between Eddie and Richie the moment they stepped into the car. The air around them thicker and filled with anger. "Bill, can we switch seats? I don't wanna sit back here," Eddie said, his implication as to why clear as day. "I don't wanna sit back here with Richie," was his unspoken reasoning. Richie was tired, full of pent up anger, and suck of Eddie's shit to the point where he just exploded. "Oh, please do, Bill. Then, little "mommy's boy" can finally get away from the only person he can't stand just because his mama keeps talking shit about people and he can't---"
"You shut you big fucking mouth, jackass! You're just mad 'cause my mom was right! You have so much shit to say, but when people say something about you it's the end of the fucking world, isn't it?!" Eddie cut him off with a snap. "Oh, you wanna go there, huh?" Richie's voice was low and challenging. "You think you're safe from getting sick? Well guess what?! Disease is everywhere and you can't get away from it, just like---" "Enough!" Bill shouted. "Both of you sh-sh-shut it! No one is switching seats a-and that's final." The car went silent yet again, this was getting old fast. Eight hours in.
They only stopped one more time before they reached the hotel parking lot. It was nine fifteenth when they unloaded the car, nine seventeen when they got inside, nine twenty-three when they checked in, and nine twenty-five when they got to their separate rooms. They got three hotel rooms for all of them to share. The largest one was for Bill, Beverly, and Stanley. The other two were the same size, one for Mike and Ben, one for Eddie and Richie. This was certainly going to cause problems, but they needed to fix their issues one way or another.
"That's not fair! I'd rather saw my head off than share a room with him! One of you guys please switch with me this one time!" Eddie pleaded to the group. "No," Ben answered, "You need to make up with Richie or this whole trip'll be ruined." "W-well... You..." Eddie rumbled in frustration, "You're just mad you don't get to share a room with Beverly!" He snapped, before storming off. Whatever, screw them anyway. He wasn't going to apologize, wasn't going to "make up" with Richie, and wasn't going to kiss their feet just to get away from him. "It's not that big of a deal," Eddie told himself, "one night isn't that big of a deal."
"Wait wait wait," Richie heard Eddie say as he emerged from the bathroom in his pj's, "Why're you on the bed? You're sleeping on the couch." Both of them found out the hard way that the reason no one would switch rooms with them wasn't just for them to "settle their problems", it was because there was only one bed... "Huh? I thought you were sleeping there." Richie responded, confused and mildly annoyed. Eddie scoffed and crossed his arms, "And why would I do that?" "'Cause I'm not gonna," Richie spat. "I'm not sharing a bed with you," Eddie shot back. "Then you better get settled on the couch, 'cause I'm not moving." He retorted.
There they were, backs to each other, sharing a hotel bed even though they swore they wouldn't. They couldn't agree on who would sleep on the fold-out couch bed, so they ended up sleeping together on the queen-sized bed. It was big enough for them to sleep without touching, but Eddie still put up a barrier of pillows and blankets between them. "Cross the line and I'll gouge your eyes out," Eddie threatened. Richie chortled humorlessly, "Do that and I'll spit in your coffee tomorrow morning." "Not if you can't see where the damn cup is," he snapped. "Then I'll shit in your puffer jacket." Eddie held back a gag and Richie snorted mockingly. "Still so sensitive to stupid little insults I see, 'Eddie-bear'."
One moment, Richie was antagonizing Eddie from behind a mound of pillows, the next, Eddie had his hands clasped tightly around his throat, legs on either side of his torso. "Don't call me that you fucking asshole!" He yelled at the choking man. "You have no fucking business calling me that! We aren't friends and no amount of time spent near you will change that!" Richie was confused and shocked into a brief paralysis. The moment he realized what was happening, his hands clamped down on Eddie's wrists, attempting to pry his grip. "W- what... The f-f-fuck..." Richie gasped out as he desperately clawed at Eddie's hold on his neck.
Eddie didn't remember why exactly he started choking Richie, nor for how long, but he snapped out of his trance when he saw a tear trickle down the side of Richie's face, seeping into the pillow under his head. His grip loosened for only a moment, but it was enough time for Richie to pull his hands away and shove him back. Richie took in gulps of air, running at his neck before speaking, "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" He accused. Eddie glared at Richie, "I told you not to fucking call me that," he muttered.
This time, Richie was first to lunge at Eddie, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and flipping him over to pin him against the mattress. "I called you a pet name and that makes it okay for you to strangle me?!" Eddie felt some of the air in his lungs get forced out as his back hit the spring bed. He coughed slightly before snapping, "Let go of me, crazy freak!" "Says the guy who choked me! You started this!" Richie yelled. "I started this?! You're the one who wouldn't shut up!" Eddie shouted back. "You never shut up either so don't even try it!" Eddie scoffed, "I do to! I just don't shut up when you tell me to shut up!" Richie rolled his eyes, "Right, and why is that? 'Cause you're a liar and need a convenient alibi?!" "'Cause you couldn't get me to shut up even if you tried," Eddie taunted. "You don't scare me, Richie." Richie's grip on his collar tightened, "You sure about that?"
Richie felt a surge of anger and challenge rise in his chest as Eddie answered with, "Y'know what? Yeah, I am." And that was all he could say before their lips crashed together. It wasn't soft or sweet or filled with love, it was rough and demanding and full of pent up rage. Eddie was stunned, but he didn't pull away. Didn't push back, more so leaned into it. Their mouths moved against each others, a mess of teeth and tongues tangling in a release of frustration built up, parting only for a few gulps of air before delving right back in. Eddie's teeth scraped Richie's lips, Richie's teeth pinched Eddie's tongue, but neither of them backed down. Because this was a challenge, a test to see who would pull away first. And nether of them was going to give up.
Richie's hand started to roam, tracing a path up and under Eddie's shirt. The other man shivered at the touch, shifting closer subconsciously. Richie let his other hand slip under the hem of Eddie's sweater, dragging him closer as his hands drew a path to his back. Eddie pushed closer and shoved his hands roughly under Richie's shirt, lightly scratching at the skin to ground himself. Richie sucked in a breath at the feeling of nails dragging up his spine, but returned the favor with equal ferocity. Eventually, Richie pulled back, only to pull Eddie's sweater up and off of his body, then removed his own. The other man shuddered at the cool air against his skin, but the cold was forgotten the moment their warm bodies met and their mouths tangled together.
Eddie slipped his fingers into Richie's hair, earning a soft groan that was swallowed in a kiss, and Richie's hands trailed up and down Eddie's sides, causing the man beneath him to squirm. Their hips rubbed on each others; grinding their pelvis' as they growled and rasped lowly. Between each sloppy kiss, they whispered insults. "Trash mouth", "psycho", "freak", "loser", "jackass", "fag". Eddie shifted his hips against Richie's thigh, grunting and groaning into Richie's mouth. Richie's hands found their way to the band of Eddie's jeans, slowly slipping them down past his hips. Eddie let his own hands leave Richie's hair, following the other man's lead and pulling his own pants down.
"Dick, absolute dick," Eddie murmured as Richie plunged two fingers deep inside him, curling and scissoring his digits to stretch him wide. The latter man let out a deep groan as he clenched the crumpled sheets. "Funny you mention dicks," Richie rasped and slipped another finger in. He was anything but gentle, pulling in and out, ensuring everything was prepped and ready. Richie wasted no more time, pulling off his briefs and pushing straight into Eddie.
All he could do was gasp and grab a nearby pillow to cover his face as a particularly loud growl tore from his throat. Eddie had barely any time to recover from that before Richie rocked his hips in and out of his ass. The pace was pathetic and brutal, erratic, not at all even, and felt more like he was being humped than anything. I guess his excuse is that he's inexperienced. They groaned and panted as their climaxes both neared, Richie's thrusts growing even more unsteady and rushed. His dick reached deeper, hitting whatever that sweet spot in your ass is called, causing Eddie to grunt in almost frustration. Eddie was first with his orgasm, cumming with a shaky breath, Richie quick to follow. He pulled out without a second thought, standing back on trembling legs.
"I'm gonna go shower," Richie mumbled, feeling a bit awkward as the weight of their actions dawned on him. "No, I'm going first," Eddie snapped. "That's not..." Richie's protest died on his tongue as he realized that Eddie should in fact shower first. He clicked his tongue and turned away. "Whatever, be quick," he responded with an annoyed and defeated tone. Eddie walked into the bathroom with his clothes and a towel in hand, leaving Richie with his thoughts and the smell of sweat and sex.
Eddie turned the shower to the hottest temperature he could manage, stepping in and letting the steaming water run down his body. He washed himself thoroughly, using most of the complimentary body wash the hotel provided. The nights events were fresh in his mind, replaying like a broken record. This wasn't right, he wasn't gay, especially not for Richie Tozier. But everything that just happened contradicted that. It wasn't gentle, didn't feel very loving, and if was clear that Richie was just as troubled. Eddie sighed, toweling off as he decided to sweep the whole thing under the rug and forget about it. "This won't make me forgive him, I don't forgive him."
When Eddie finally stepped out of the bathroom, Richie muttered a quiet "finally" and scooped up his belongings needed to shower. His routine was unknowingly similar to Eddie's, as he turned the water heat up high and let it scald his skin as it ran down his body. He grabbed the remaining body wash, noticed there wasn't enough with a grunt, and pulled out his own. Richie scrubbed hard at every place Eddie touched, his hair and scalp, his sides, his thigh, his neck. He scrubbed until the skin was raw and red, turning off the shower and toweling off quickly. When he stepped out of the bathroom, Eddie was already asleep, the barrier a mess of what it once was. "Whatever", Richie thought with a roll of his eyes. He settled under the blanket, but his thoughts wouldn't quiet. Tonight had gone too far, but nothing about it felt like love. "Just forget about it. Eddie probably will too."
It took far too long for them both to fall asleep, the memories of their lewd actions still doing laps in their minds. Richie's sleep was troubled, and Eddie's was consistently short lived, the only hope on their minds that the latter would let this be a one time thing. Today was just one big mess of a long drive, pointless arguments, and dumb decisions.