Work Text:
Richie Tozier came home from work, a frown plastered on his face. Richie smelt like whiskey and sadness. He failed to get a promotion because of one simple reason: He didn't fit the companies "look." It infuriated Richie to no end. He was one bad day away from quitting and restarting his whole career at a different job. Richie felt like a tower that would fall apart in an instant. The workplace culture was very harmful to Richie's self esteem. Most people at his job avoided him completely, others made fun of him, and some even made rumors about him. All because he liked the same gender. All because he had a husband at home. A husband who loved him more than anything. That husband was Eddie Kaspbrak. Eddie was a Junior Risk Analyst, which didn't make him much money. But Richie had wanted to be the main breadwinner anyways, promising Eddie they wouldn't have to worry about money. The promise was kept, but it was causing Richie to lose the same enthusiasm that Eddie fell in love with. Eddie had noticed the drag on Richie's attitude as of lately. He went from joking constantly to coming home cold and detached. It was weighing on their relationship, so Eddie decided to confront him on it.
"Rich, we need to talk." Eddie said in a calm tone, not trying to raise Richie's blood pressure. Richie sighed and replied with a detached "Okay Eds." This only worried Eddie more. Trying to get to the root of the problem, Eddie grasped Richie's wrist, calmly leading him to their shared bedroom. The bedroom was like a timeline of their budding connection. It had trinkets, charms, and photos of the two spanning from their start in Derry, to their current situation in Oregon. "You know you can tell me anything, right? I want to know what's bothering you. Let me inside your heart, Rich." Eddie spoke as he held Richie's hand. "This job is killing me Eds. It's killing me in a way I can't describe. I know I asked to be the provider, but... it's hard. I feel like i'll kill myself if I stay another day." Richie said as he opened up his emotional walls. They hadn't had an emotionally intimate moment like the present in a while. So Eddie, being the great husband he was spoke up. "I don't pretend to know the challenges you're facing. I know you hate talking about it. I know you hate admitting that you want help. I know you hate how they make fun of you. But I know who I married. The man I married wouldn't take this. He'd go in there tomorrow, and flip those guys off." Eddie said, trying to pry a smile out of Richie.
Luckily enough, it worked. Richie still had some concerns, though. "But if I quit, our lifestyle would be change drastically." Richie said, looking Eddie in the eyes for the first time since this began. Richie's dark brown eyes swelled with tears as he looked at his husband. "Will you be okay with being a poor man's husband, Unable to provide for your life?" Richie asked, as the tears began to pour. " I would be grateful to remain your husband. But I'm not afraid of our life changing a little. I know who I married. So long as you come home at the end of the day, that would be enough for me." Eddie said, as tears came from his eyes as well. "Listen Rich. Look around at how lucky we are to alive right now. Progress happens all around us, and if that work place doesn't progress with us, then fuck them." Eddie said, trying to ignite Richie's passion.
This worked too. "Yeah Eds, fuck em'." Richie said with a passionate smile. This only melted Eddie's heart further. "Just... stay with me for now. I want to make sure you have peace of mind before we sleep tonight. Let today be the day where you decide to leave that job. And we could be enough.That would be enough for me. Just come home alive and happy and say you love me. That would be enough." Eddie whispered as he melted into Richie's arms. Although they were bony and lanky, it was his comfort. They were each other's comfort. "Look at where we are, and look at where we started. The fact that we survived all of that is enough. Is it enough for you?" Eddie whispered into Richie's ear, making Richie melt inside. He wouldn't admit it in words, but he loved being with Eddie. Eddie was his safe place, where Richie felt like he couldn't be harmed by anything. "Yeah Eds, it's enough." Richie said in a shaky, quiet voice.
"Love you Eds." Richie whispered as he trailed his fingers on Eddie's back, almost drawing circles on his husband's back.
"Love you too, Rich." Eddie replied as he played in Richie's hair.