It's Stranger

So, I don't own IT or Stranger Things...Damn.

Summary: Mike Wheeler couldn't believe what he was hearing. He has a twin brother, an identical twin brother who's...who's the exact opposite of him. Loud and foulmouthed, Richie Tozier has a side to him that Mike doesn't understand, and a part of him doesn't want to know.

Note: Set after season two of Stranger Things and after the 2017 version of IT. For the purpose of this story, everything takes place in 1989. Oh, and this rated M due to language.

1989

For once, everything was perfect. At least, for 13-year-old Mike Wheeler, it was. He had gotten his dance with El at the Snow Ball last school years, and his friends were all safe after El closed the gate to the Upside Down, trapping the Mind Flayer inside.

The only downside to everything was that summer was ending. and school was going to be starting soon.

"At least El will be there this year," Mike thought to himself as he tied his shoes. He was in the basement. El's pillow fort was still up, and the campaign from last night's Dungeons & Dragons was still up.

Mike smiled as he looked at El's Mage.

"Mike!"

Mike looked up towards the wooden staircase. "Yeah, Mom?"

"Can you come upstairs please?" Karen Wheeler's called out. "I...I have something to tell you."

Mike groaned but came out without much complaint. He walked up to the stairs and all but dragged himself towards the living room.

His father was nowhere in sight. Mike figured that he must have already left for work. Holly was on the ground by the window, playing with her a doll she had received for Christmas. Nancy was sitting on the couch, her brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, though somehow managing to fall into her face. Her chin was resting on her clasped hands, her elbows on her knees as she leaned forward.

His mother was standing by the television. She wore makeup, but Mike only knew this because his mother had dark tear stains trailing down her face. Still, she forced a smile on her face when Mike entered.

"Sit down dear," Mrs. Wheeler said to her middle child.

Mike glanced at Nancy as he sat down next to her. She shrugged in response as she sat straighter.

"What's going on, Mom?" Nancy asked after removing her chin from her hands.

Mrs. Wheeler's smile fell and she looked at Mike. He could see that she wasn't trying to cry but failed as a new set of mascara-stained tears rolled down her face.

"You...We..." Mrs. Wheeler took a deep, shaky breath as she attempted to compose herself. "You have a twin brother, Mike."

"What?" Mike said before he could think. "What do you mean-I have a what?"

"A twin brother," Mrs. Wheeler said, her lips twitching as though it didn't know whether to go upwards or downwards. "When...When you both were born, I had a friend named Maggie. She couldn't have children, you see. She and her husband tried for years, but nothing came out of it." Mrs. Wheeler paused as she wiped the tear stains off her face with a white handkerchief. She only managed to smear it across her face even more.

"When I found out that I was having twins," Mrs. Wheeler continued. "I gave Maggie a call. Told her I would be willing to give her one of my babies."

"Why?" Nancy demanded, staring at her mother. "Why would you give away one of your own kids?"

"I didn't think I could do it," Mrs. Wheeler admitted as she looked away from her two eldest children. "Your father, he's never been much help when it came to you kids, and I didn't think I could take care of three kids who would all need me. You were barely in preschool, Nancy, and still demanded a lot of my attention. I knew that when I gave birth, I'd run myself dead having to make sure you and two infant boys were taken care of properly.

"I knew that Maggie would take good care of your brother," Mrs. Wheerler continued. "She was always good with kids," she lightly laughed. "She loved babysitting you, Nancy. She was a good person." Her smile faltered. "We fell out of contact after she and her husband moved to Maine. It wasn't until last night did I know anything about what had happened to them."

Mike frowned as he found his voice. "What do you mean? What happened?"

Mrs. Wheeler looked at her son, tears continuing. "Maggie and her husband died last week in a car crash. Your father, he left this morning to go get your brother."

The scar's still as red as it was the day fucking Bill Denbrough slashed the shard of glass across his right palm. Sometimes, Richie could swear that it still was bleeding, the sting never left.

He looked away from his hand and quietly found his suitcase resting against the wooden bench in the park. It had been his father's, but now it was his because he was dead. Him and his mother, they were as dead as dead can fucking be.

Or, at least his adoptive parents were fucking dead. Learning that he was adopted was more shocking to Richie Tozier then his parent's deaths.

"Hey, Richie," the thick coke-bottle bespectacled boy heard. He looked up and saw Eddie Kaspbrak walking towards him. He sat down next to Richie. "You're leaving?" He briefly wondered where the rest of the Losers Club was at, before remembering that he had specifically told them to not come or else he'd fucking cut them all out of his will. Still, they all said their goodbyes, all but Eddie though, and now he knew why.

Richie nodded, grimacing at the upset tone his friend revealed as he spoke. "They tracked down the fuckers who gave me away. I guess they're feeling guilty or some sort of shit. I mean, why else would they come and get me?" His lips twitched and half-heartedly let out a terrible impression of a chipper, high-pitched woman. "Oh look, a new charity case! Quick, let's take him back before we're seen as cold-hearted bastards!"

"Beep-beep, Richie," Eddie quietly said as he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"It's not like they were the best parents in the world," Richie said as he looked down, clenching his scared hand. "But at least they wanted me."

Neither boy said anything until they both heard a honking noise. They turned and saw a man with brown hair and large glasses.

"So that's where I fucking get it from," Richie commented before looking at Eddie.

"Beep-beep, Richie."

Richie snorted. "Sure thing, Eds."

"Don't call me Eds."

The two boys hugged. It wasn't a long hug, but it also wasn't a short one either.

"You better keep in touch," Eddie said once the two boys let go.

"Of course," Richie said as he pulled his backpack up against his back. "Who else is going to give you the talk when your mother-

"Richie!"

Richie snickered at this and hugged his friend again before grabbing his suitcase. "Get my bike for me, will ya?"

Eddie nodded and walked towards where Richie had left his bike. When they got to the car, the man got out and awkwardly offered his hand out to Richie.

"You the sperm donor?" Richie asked as he shook the man's hand.

The man frowned but nodded. "Call me Ted." He looked at the boy's things. "Is this everything?"

"Yep," Richie said, popping out the "p."

The man nodded stiffly and helped the two boys put everything into the car. They had to strap the bike to the top of the car, while everything else was in the trunk.

Mr. Wheeler eyed the two boys. "I'll give you both a minute." He left without waiting for either boy's response.

Richie clapped Eddie on the shoulder, grinning as another terrible impression escaped. "Until next time, my dear Watson."

Eddie rolled his eyes as he took the boy's hand off his shoulder. "See you later, Richie."

Richie got into the passenger's seat and closed the door, though his eyes never left Eddie, not until he could no longer see him.

It wasn't until they were close to leaving town did Richie hear anything that actually interested him.

"Hey, Trashmouth!"

"Tozier!"

Richie unrolled the window and stuck his head out. The Losers' Club was behind the car, chasing after them on their bikes.

Richie laughed. "Didn't I tell you all I'd write you out of my god damn will if any of you showed up?"

Richie ignored the scowl Mr. Wheeler was giving him as the boy watched his friends chase after them.

"B-beep-beep, Richhhie!"

Richie smiled, even after his friends stopped chasing after the car. He kept looking back, even as they passed the town's sign, though by then his smile was gone. It left the moment he saw the entrance sign to Derry, Maine.

A single red balloon was tied to the sign.

Oh, fuck.

So, what do you think? Should I continue?

I know there might be some mistakes, so I apologize.

Please, review, like, and/or follow. That would great.

Until next time...