Reddie Oneshots

safeword use 🥺

on tumblr by reddieforlove
its really short, ik but idc cos its cute

-

As soon as the word passed his bitten red lips, everything grew still.

It felt like the world suddenly moved in slow motion. What was likely just a few seconds passed like hours as Richie's hands disappeared. Eddie let out a shaky breath, his stomach twisting and his heart beating wildly in his chest. It didn't take long for the silk ropes binding him to the bed to be plucked free. Eddie started to curl in on himself, tears stinging at his eyes, but Richie's hands gently closed around his shoulders and urged him up to sit.

Eddie tried to say something but Richie hushed his stammering efforts and wrapped a soft blanket around him. Then the sound of his footsteps padding away filled Eddie with even more crushing guilt and a sense of failure. He didn't even know why he said it. The scene wasn't different from ones they'd done before. And he was the one to initiate it, which made him feel even worse. All Eddie wanted to do was forget everything after a hard day at work.

But it was too much.

And now Richie was gone and all that Eddie could imagine was the worst coming true. His lover was probably angry with him for giving into his panic. Eddie wouldn't blame him for it. His breaths were labored as he clutched at the blanket, squeezing his eyes shut while tears slipped from beneath his closed eyelids. He was trembling uncontrollably, his body crashing from the endorphins and adrenaline that still flooded every inch of him.

"Drink this, sweetheart."

Richie's voice, along with the feeling of his warm hand pressing over his back, made Eddie jerk with surprise. He didn't hear him come back. Eddie didn't take the cup of water from him. He couldn't even bring himself look up. The last thing that he wanted to see was disappointment in Richie's eyes.

"Eds, come on," Richie urged, the bed dipping with his weight as he sat down. "Drink it for me. It'll make you feel better."

Eddie relented at his words, keeping his head ducked shamefully as he reached up with shaking hands to take the cup. He sipped at the cool water as hot tears still streaked down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry," he managed to gasp out after a few drinks. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry."

It was all that Eddie could say. He needed Richie to understand. He had to make him see that he didn't want to disappoint him. It was just too much and too far for his state of mind. But he couldn't make his mind work with his mouth to say the words. All he could do was apologize again and again, his words becoming choked with sobs.

"Shh, it's alright. I promise," Richie assured him, rubbing soothing circles over his back.

Eddie lifted his head, finally meeting his eyes. They were filled with concern and fear. Not disappointment. Not anger.

"You with me?" Richie asked, reaching up to brush his tears away with a gentle thumb.

Eddie nodded slowly, fighting to catch his breath as he clung to Richie's words.

"Good," Richie said, nodding his head before giving him a small smile. "I'm so proud of you, baby. I know it wasn't easy."

The words warmed something deep in his chest, chasing away most of the guilt and fear. Richie pressed a soft kiss to his forehead and Eddie leaned into the touch with a quiet sigh, letting it soothe him.

"You wanna take a bath?" Richie asked quietly.

Eddie hesitated before answering with a whispered "yeah" that was filled with uncertainty. Richie caught on easily.

"You sure?"

He looked into Richie's eyes and nodded slowly.

"Will you hold me first?" Eddie asked, voicing what he needed the most.

"Of course," Richie said, taking the water from his hands.

Eddie sank into his embrace as soon as he was wrapped in Richie's arms, letting his warmth and his scent calm his residual panic. His hand lifted, twisting into the wrinkled, inside-out t-shirt that Richie hastily put on before hurrying from the room to get the cup of water. As they sat there, Richie whispering soothing words in his ear as he held him close, Eddie knew that it would be okay.