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[Eddie shakes his head.]

Not Derry. Here but not here.

[He realizes that makes no sense.]

Another world. Universe, whatever the shit. A place that was a lot like this one, but not this one. I was using my powers and I knew there was a way to get back here.

[He stops pacing and looks at Richie. More memories of the dream coming back as he talks.]

They had porters too, porters that could send me back. I was trying so hard to get to them. I just..I couldn't get to them because of the guys chasing me.

[Okay. So not Derry, then, but a different place, one that's got Porters too. And people who'd chase down kids like Eddie for—what, exactly? Richie's not sure, but he's got a very bad feeling about this, and he rocks back on his heels, restless.]

D'you remember anything else about it? [And then an idea occurs to him:] What if I slept over? If something happens to you, if some portal opens up out of nowhere, I can get you out.

[Spoken like he really, truly believes he can at least try to change the future.]

I remember big noises, bangs, like fireworks. I remember being scared and I remember that it hurt. I didn't have my inhaler. [He looks down at his arms and begins rubbing his wrists.] My wrists were bruised. Like...like I'd been tied up..or handcuffs. [He looks back up at Richie, on the verge of tears.] Maybe cops were after me. I don't know. I wouldn't do anything that bad.

If you slept over, something might happen to you. [He's not saying no, just wants to make sure Richie knows.] I think other people might end up in the other place too.

[Richie leans forward, hands gripping onto Eddie's shoulders.]

I know you wouldn't, hey. Look at me.

[His voice is soft, but firm. Stubbornly so, even.]

I'd rather be there with you than here not knowing where the fuck you went. [There's a stubborn expression on Richie's face that's almost like the look on his face when the clown had made its offer.] And if we get split up I'm gonna do all I can to get you out of there. We're Losers, we stick together.

[Eddie looks up into Richie's eyes and nods. He blinks away the tears, tries to be brave and match Richie's resolve. Losers always stuck together. IT couldn't keep them from getting to Bev. Nothing would stop them from getting to each other.]

I'll do all I can to get back to you too. I promise.

[Richie lets his hands linger for just a moment longer than necessary. In this much, he'll be selfish enough to indulge himself, but no further. He's pushing it already.

Then his hands drop.]

I can sleep on the floor, keep an eye out for weird shit. Just spare me a pillow and a blanket and I'll be peachy.

Edited 2020-01-23 15:01 (UTC)

[Eddie pulls him into a quick hug, missing the comfort of the physical contact then lets go.]

Thanks Richie. I'm not gonna make you sleep on the floor. I keep it clean, but who knows what the last guy that had my room did? The bed's big enough for both of us.

[be still tiny gay heart be still

Richie hugs him back, lets it linger for a moment before he lets go and sticks his hands into his pants.]

Well, whaddaya think he used the bed for? I betcha he wasn't just sleeping in it. Maybe he brought girls home. [He shrugs.] You're sure? I snore pretty loud, my mom used to say she could hear me through the walls. [And he has nightmares about the fucking clown too, but let's not mention that part.]

You're saying that like I didn't deep clean the mattress, the bed and get all new sheets.

[He nods.] Yeah, if we're in the same bed, I can kick you when you snore. [Not really kick - just tap him with his foot or push him onto his side.] Have you seen a doctor? Snoring means you could have a narrow throat or a problem with your nose. You could stop breathing in your sleep.

...I stand corrected. Jesus, Eds.

[Richie shakes his head. Oh god they're gonna sleep in the same bed Richie is going to die probably.]

My dad's snored for years and it hasn't killed him yet. Anyway, you'll be there, if anything happens to me in my sleep, I know you'll slap me awake.

Maybe it's genetic. You can get all kinds of stuff from your parents. My mom said I'll probably [He stops himself from saying probably get cancer. It feels too heavy with his dreams.] probably have a growth spurt soon and be average height like him. [A lie. His mom actually told him he'll always be small and delicate.] C'mon, let's go to my room.

[Richie doesn't think she said that, but he's not going to call Eddie out about it.]

That's true. I got something from your mom, after all. [Nudgenudge winkwink.] Hey, did Bev ever tell you what you'd look like in the future? All she told me was I'd grow into my looks, and, [here he snorts out a laugh,] that was some bullshit.

[Forty-year-old Richie Tozier looks sketchy as fuck with his fivehead, in thirteen-year-old Richie's humble opinion.]

Bev never did tell us what the fuck that meant.

[He shook his head.] Nah. She didn't tell me and I didn't ask

[He was just glad to know he was still around as an adult, meaning none of his worst health fears came true. He glances over at Richie.]

Bev's vision means we'll be okay right now, right? She saw us all old and together. So we'll be okay and get home, even if bad stuff happens.

I bet you'd still look cute even at forty. People're gonna look at you and they're not gonna be able to stop themselves from pinching your cheeks, you'd be just that adorable.

[And he mimes pinching Eddie's cheek.]

Yeah. We can make fun of Stan for finally looking like the eighty-year-old we always knew he was, deep down. [And Stan will make fun of Richie for a number of things, like his balding hair and his ridiculous forehead.] Still, it's not a sure thing, y'know?

[Eddie rolls his eyes.] Stop it. I won't be small and cute to old ladies anymore. I'll be taller and probably have grey hair and wrinkles from worrying about you losers not taking care of all your old guy health problems.

[Because in mind, they'd still be friends]

Bev just said he'd be taller. He'll be the oldest acting one of us and look the youngest. [He walked up the stairs and into his bedroom.] Do you think the deadlights were fucking with her?

You'd have old guy health problems too. Everybody gets them. I never got why my dad hated climbing ladders until I could shift into his age and threw my back out just bending down.

[Ugh. Old guy bodies are terrible and awful, especially if your posture has been shit for years.]

You're right. He'll look twenty and act eighty, with our luck. Asshole. [There's a pause, during which Richie mulls this over. Then he shrugs.] Maybe. It was trying to scare her. But if it was just It trying to fuck with her, you'd think she got worse shit than older versions of us.

[Little does he know.]

Yeah, I'd probably have the most problems. [Why would the future be different? But I'd take care of my problems. You guys aren't used to being sick. You'd need me to remind you about pills and doctors and all that shit. I bet you didn't even get an x-ray of your back.

Stan's luck will suck too. He'll need us to buy him booze. Maybe even to sneak him into the good movies. We should try that, next time you want to look old.

[He looks away for a moment.] Do you think she would have told us if she saw something bad? Like really bad?

No, why would I? I can just shift back, problem solved, everybody’s happy especially me.

[He snorts out a laugh.] Poor fucking Stanley the Manly, he probably gets carded in the future just because he looks so young. [Richie hms in answer.] Sure! I’ll be your Uncle Rich, treating my adorable little nephew [and he reaches out to ruffle Eddie’s hair] to a little birthday surprise. If they don’t call the cops on me.

[It would be so awkward if they did.]

I don’t know. I hope so, but she was lying through her teeth when she told me I grew into my looks, so. Maybe she’s keeping some shit back, but if it was serious, I think she would’ve said something.

Maybe it's something they can fix now so it won't hurt when you're forty for real. You should get your old body checked for lots of stuff. If I could get old, I'd get checked for cancer, heart disease, all kinds of old people shit.

[Eddie runs his hands through his hair when Richie's done, fixing it.] So what if they call the cops? All you gotta do is go around the nearest corner and turn back to a kid. The cops will be looking for an old dude; they'll never find you.

[He shrugs.] Maybe she meant it literally. Your grew and that made you look however you look. [He thinks for a minute.] Yeah, she would have warned us.

I don't try to stay old that long, why would I get checked for all that shit?

[He makes a face.] Ugh, yeah, she would, wouldn't she. [Then he sighs.] How long do you think it'll be till whatever she saw comes true? Twenty-seven years, maybe less?

Cause you're gonna be forty for real some day. If you get checked for everything, you can prevent it and be like the healthiest guy in the world.

Twenty-seven years, probably. The deadlights were a part of It and twenty-seven was like his magic number. So we'll all be friends for twenty-seven years. And that means we'll be friends forever, 'cause old people don't make new friends. [Or his mother didn't.]

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