― open post.

[respirations]

EDDIE KASPBRAK it: chapter 2 voice strength: ★★★★★ shipping: i'm reddie trash but i'm also all about that platonic love with the other losers preferences: gen, smut, shippy, angst, au, cross-canon, slice of life. notes: for some fun starting points: some random assortment of memes and aus for days; feel free to go the other worldly route; also throw pics or random sentences at me and a kink generator because why not. hit me up for starters if you'd like. there's no crying in baseball but there is crying in my rp but let's have fun, ok. picture prompts • quote prompts • music prompts • etc

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[respirations]

( The aftermath of their second battle with Pennywise has been rough. Although Eddie survived (a miracle, the doctors had said) it did not come without its own sets of problems. He was in the hospital for quite sometime and, afterwards, the doctors wanted him close so they could begin physical therapy. It would be too dangerous, they said, for a patient who literally had a giant hole in their chest to travel long distances right now especially with all the medicine he has being prescribed to help keep him together.

Physical therapy has been rough though and it shows. He has breathing exercises to help retrain his lungs, strength training and even exercises to help him get back on his feet without pushing himself too far. It was hard, harder than Eddie ever expected to learn his limits and know just when to stop. He's getting better, he thinks but it's clear how exhausted it gets him these days.

He does have Richie, thankfully. Eddie doesn't know what he'd do without the other man in his life right now. The other Losers had returned to their homes and families because, yeah, of course but Richie had stuck around. He kept close, lingered and Eddie had attached himself to it without a second thought. In the aftermath of everything perhaps it isn't a surprise but more importantly: he did love the big, lanky bastard. It was a slow realization but one day, sitting in his hospital bed it had hit him like a ton of bricks and things had just gone from there―

It's been close to two months now since their reunion in Derry but the two of them are still lingering in Maine because of his treatments and until the doctors give him the okay to get the fuck out of her. They're not staying in Derry, of course, they're more closer to Portland and the Maine Medical Center. The home they rent is small but it's nice with enough space for Eddie to do his at-home therapy without worry and space for Richie to work with his manager back in Los Angeles. Although he still has bad moments there is comfort to be bound in sharing a space with someone he has come to truly love.

Still he can't help sighing as they pull into the driveway. The sun has almost completely set and Eddie has been hard at work for most of the day with therapy. It probably shows on his face as he leans back in the passenger seat, blinking tiredly but happy to be home. )

I could honestly just go inside and just pass out. ( It's said lightly with a yawn but he smiles just a moment as he glances to Richie. ) Or just pass out here in the car. Just wake me up in the morning, okay?

[beep_beep]

I am not carrying you inside.

[ He parks the car and heads around to the other side to help the other man get out anyway; if he had to carry him he absolutely would, if nothing else this shit has gotten him in a little better shape just from having to help Eddie get around throughout the process, not that he has any regrets. Eddie didn't die, and for that Richie is forever grateful. Oh, he'd absolutely been terrified he was going to, but he hadn't, and Richie had stuck by him every damn day. Even when he should have gone home, because he knew damn well it was a particular brand of fucked that had you sticking by the bedside of a guy you'd been in love with since you were twelve when you knew damn well he probably didn't feel the same, and might actually just laugh in your face if you said anything.

Except...he didn't. No, it was Eddie with the cliché bedside confession, like the universe had caught on that it had gone a little too heavy with the shitty jokes, and here they were. ]

Come on, Kaspbrak. Up and at 'em, I'll get you settled and find us something to eat, and then you can sleep all you want.

[respirations]

Please never carry me anywhere.

( It's said with a touch of annoyance but it's more at himself than toward Richie. Rich already helped him with so much that he couldn't stand the thought of him having to do anymore and honestly? He imagines a lot of it has to do with his self esteem and his current feelings of feeling so very small throughout his recovery. Still he glances to Rich as he appears at his door, opening it and breathing out a slow breath of air as he manages a smile.

More than anything he just hopes that he isn't holding Rich back from something more out there. Eddie already knows what Rich would say if he admitted this so he doesn't and instead just reaches out for support as he pulls himself up from the seat. There's a grimace as he stands, grip tightening slightly on Richie's bicep as the pain washes over him before it just settles into a dull throb and it eases off into something manageable. )

I'm not really hungry, honestly. I think I'm just going to get washed up and go to bed. ( He says smiling as he leans in to press a tired kiss to the corner of Richie's lip. ) You get yourself something though, okay? I'll be fine.

[beep_beep]

[ He just grins at him, like everything's fine, like it doesn't tear him up inside seeing Eddie hurting so badly. He's thankful every day he's still breathing, but that doesn't make him regret that he didn't move faster to stop it to begin with every damn day. ]

Sure thing. I can eat later, I'll save it for when you get up.

[ He helps the other to the door, letting him handle what he can manage and quickly moving in to pick up the slack when Eddie needs it, trying to manage the balance that will keep the bitching to a minimum. Not that he couldn't listen to Eddie bitch all day, but in this particular case it's more about keeping him from overdoing it. It's the work of a moment to unlock the door, and then he guides them inside, pausing only for a moment to lock the door again before heading for the bathroom with him, careful to stop for breaks when it looks like Eddie needs one. ]

[respirations]

( Eddie just watches Richie with a quiet look as if he's trying to read something that he can't quite see clearly. He loves Richie's smile, his grin but there's something there that he doesn't quite understand but they're still learning about one another, right? He imagines it'll all come together, eventually but he knows (understands) things are also still fragile around the edges. )

Or you could eat now, you dork. Seriously, I mean it. You didn't leave the entire time I was at therapy and I know none of that shit in the vending machines at the hospital are worth anything.

( Yet despite how much he wants to prove himself to Richie, he allows himself to be helped along to the door as he keeps close once Richie opens the door and then locks the door behind them. The house they're renting is nice compared to some of the shit around Maine, it's nothing like his home in New York and definitely nothing like the pictures of Richie's house back in L.A. that he's seen but it works. If anything there is just something to be said about how calm things are when they are just in this house, together.

He follows along, taking it easy as they go to the bathroom and he finally removes his grip from Richie's bicep to move over to the tub. Once he gets the water running, not to hot but comfortable does he stand back upright to start getting undressed. He's had to survive on button downs since getting out of the hospital but its better than struggling to get shirts over his head. )

If your serious about not eating then you should join me. ( He says carefully, unsure but glancing back as he shrugs off his shirt. ) If you want. It'll be a nice chance to relax together since this week has been so busy.