iridescent [one shots]

losers club - IT

this isn't so much a ship one-shot as a friendship one

I sit in the circle. 'Heyo losers.'

'Hi, Eds,' Richie says, smiling at me. The rest of the gang say hi and I stare at them all in turn. 

'What's wrong, guys? You're all so quiet.'

Bev wraps her arms around me. 'We were talking.'

'What were y'all talking about?' I ask.

'Before we met each other, we weren't all too happy with our lives,' Ben says. 'People made fun of me because of my weight.'

'Yeah, and I've got the whole Bower's gang on my tail, only because I can't ever shut my trap,' Richie adds.

'So what?' I ask.

'We were talking about how suicidal we were, Ed,' Ben says.

I cover my mouth. 'Suicidal? You guys? Why?'

'Well, we all had our reasons,' Bill says.

'Yeah, Bill had Georgie, obviously. Ben and I had bullies. People thought Bev wanted to be a boy. People whisper bad things about Mike's skin. Stan's a bit of a goody two-shoes, so that didn't do him any good with bullies either. What we're saying is, we were all in rough times,' Richie says.

'Before we met each other, that is,' Bev says.

I look at them all in turn. 'Guys, I love you. I can't imagine what life'd be like without y'all. I feel like that sometimes but I'm so happy you are all sittin' here right in front of me. Heck, I'd really be in a bad place if I didn't have you.'

'Thanks, Eddie Spaghetti. That means a lot, kid,' Richie says, tears filling up his eyes.

'Right back at all of you, guys. Thanks for everything, losers,' Mike says, grinning. He stands up and opens his arms. 'Bring it in.'

I stand up and cling onto Mike. Everyone crowds around us and soon enough I'm swarmed in people. Everyone's familiar smells make me feel safe and warm. I close my eyes and my heart rate slows. 

I feel calmer.

I feel at home.