A/N: WARNING: This chapter contains descriptions of past-suicide, alcohol abuse, homophobic slurs, and tiny hints of sexual abuse.
I'm sorry...)
"Richie... Richie! Rich, I need you to wake up."
An almost frantic voice brought Richie out of his deep sleep.
He opened his eyes, his sight a little blurry.
"Hey buddy. I need you to wake up. I let you sleep a little too long. You're getting dehydrated." Eddie continued.
A hand went around the back of his neck, forcing him up into a sitting position.
This immediately had him wide awake.
"I'm sorry! But I need you to sit up." Eddie immediately apologized.
"Here." Eddie said, and handed him a bottle.
"What's this?" Richie managed out.
"Water. You really need some right now." Eddie said.
Richie gave the item a curious glance, before slowly lifting it to his lips.
Cold liquid hit his tongue and he instantly wanted more.
He chugged nearly half of the bottle before drawing back, taking in a deep breath.
"Thirsty?" Eddie asked, a small smile on his face.
Richie glanced at him, suddenly feeling tired again.
"Since you're sitting up, maybe I should take a look at your back now. I know it received most of the damage."
Richie gave him a weak glare.
Eddie scoffed, "I know you don't want people touching your wings, and I'll try not to, but... You'll just have to trust me... Do you trust me?"
Richie hesitated for a long couple minutes.
Did he?
He sighed, "Yes..."
A small smile formed on Eddie's face, "Alright."
He carefully moved behind Richie, and he could feel eyes piercing into his back.
"Shit." Eddie managed in a whisper.
"What? How bad is it?" Richie asked.
Eddie was silent for a few seconds, "It's uh... Not gonna be easy."
Richie sighed, "I can take it. I'd like to get back on my feet as soon as possible."
Eddie took a shaky breath, "O-okay then. Don't say I didn't warn you. First, I'm gonna have to clean off your wounds."
He moved away and there was a sound of clattering before he returned.
"This is gonna sting." Eddie commented.
Richie didn't get to process the words before his entire back felt like it was being lit on fire.
He nearly cried out, flinching at the never ending pain.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Eddie chanted behind him.
It took a few seconds for Richie to recover.
He was panting already, "I'm okay. What's next?"
"Uh... maybe we should take a bre-"
"No! I've ignored my wounds for long enough. This pain will never go away until I'm able to heal." Richie protested.
Eddie was silent for a few seconds, "Okay then... If you say so."
"I do say so." Richie said.
Eddie knelt before him again, gently running a cloth down his back, making him shiver.
"Most of the bullets grazed you and fell out on their own, but there are a few stuck in there. If I pull them out, it might be easier for you to heal. Are you ready?"
Richie processed the information.
He winced at the pain he knew was to come, "Yes. Do what you have to do."
Eddie nodded, pulling out a pair of tweezers. "Going in."
That was his only warning before a sharp pain pierced into his back.
Richie hissed, trying to contain any sign of pain.
Over time, he began to grow accustomed to it. It still hurt like hell, but he learned to adjust.
Eddie had probably pulled out maybe 5 bullets by now.
"One more." Eddie said.
He'd saved this one for last.
It was wedged into his shoulder blade, right where his wing connected.
Richie tensed when he felt the sharp object intrude his shoulder, sending a sharp pain down through his wing.
This demon was dead! He told him not to touch his wings.
"Got it." The sharp object withdrew.
"I said not to touch my wings." Richie said lowly.
"And I said to trust me. Look, it was right above where your wing was connected. If it stayed, you very well may have lost your wing you seem so very proud of." Eddie said, voice snarky.
Richie remained quiet. He was right.
Why was he always right?
"Now, I'm going to patch up your back. Yes, I'll try to steer clear of the wings." Eddie explained.
Richie stayed quiet as Eddie left once again, and returned with more of the white substance that was around his arms and stomach.
Eddie had kept to his word, gently laying a path of soft padding down the middle of his back, and carefully securing them with tape.
"Finished." Eddie said, moving to stand in front of him.
Richie glanced behind him, before focusing on Eddie again. "Thank you."
Eddie smiled, "You're welcome. Now, how about we get you off those hard floors?"
Richie gave him a curious look, "Come on, put your arm around me." Eddie instructed, leaning down to meet his height.
Richie wrapped his arm around Eddie's shoulder, and he was pulled into a standing position.
Pain shot through his body, but he concealed showing it.
He should be used to this by now.
"There we go... Woah, not so fast." Eddie moved to steady Richie when he attempted to take his first step, barely prepared to collapse again.
Eddie guided him over to a cloth that was lifted in the air, stabilized by two posts.
"Here you go." Eddie helped him sit on the strange item.
It held.
Richie observed the object, "What is this?"
"Well. We call it hammocks. It's not exactly a bed, but it'll beat the floor." Eddie explained.
Richie nodded, still looking over the fabric.
"Now come on. Lay down." Eddie urged, wrapping his arm around Richie's shoulders, urging him down into the nest-like bed.
He hissed as he positioned his wings into a more comfortable shape. They were still in bad condition.
"There. Anything else you need your majesty?" Eddie smiled.
Richie scoffed, "Shut up asshole. Stop worrying about me so much."
Eddie let out a light laugh before moving over to the other hammock just beside him.
"Well. I think I'm finally gonna get some shut eye, good night angel." He sighed, before rolling onto his side, back facing him.
A small smile formed on Richie's face.
This demon... Had done so much.
He took a deep breath before turning his focus up to the ceiling.
It was nearing night again.
Two days had passed... maybe three, and he was losing time tracking the demon. He'd lost his one and only chance, and now... who knew what he was up to.
The more he thought about it, the more tired he became.
His eyes drifted shut before he could stop them.
Richie was awoken by quiet whines.
It sounded like a wounded animal.
It also sounded awfully close to him.
Finally, he turned his head towards the sound.
He was met with the figure that lay in the other hammock beside him.
He was squirming, continuing his whimpers and pleas.
Richie's eyes narrowed in confusion and concern.
"Eddie?" He whispered to him.
He didn't answer.
Alright. Here went nothing.
He gathered all the strength in his body to force himself into a sitting position.
His eyes squeezed shut at the awakening pain. Although he had to admit, it wasn't as bad as it was before.
He quickly pushed the pain aside when he noticed Eddie's cries growing louder.
Richie forced himself onto his feet, slightly shaky, but closed the distance between them.
"Eddie? Hey, wake up, you're dreaming." Richie gently rested his hand on the demons' shoulder.
He was hot to the touch.
"I'm sorry!" Eddie called out.
Richie's brows lowered, sorry for what?
He winced as he knelt down on his knees, meeting the figure's height.
"Eddie. Hey, come on, wake up buddy. It's okay, you're safe." Richie continued to chant words of comfort.
He never thought he'd see the day when he'd be on his knees, comforting a demon.
Eventually, the figure began to calm down, before finally going still.
His eyes opened, the moon seeming to light up his chocolate brown eyes.
He was on his back now, eyes meeting with his.
"Are you okay?" Richie asked.
Eddie was quiet, seeming to be in a sort of trance.
It didn't last long.
"Oh god. Go away, I don't want you seeing me like this." Tears broke free as Eddie buried his face into the sheet.
A sharp pain shot through Richie's chest, and he knew it wasn't from the injuries.
He gently reached out, resting his hand on Eddie's shoulder.
"Don't." He snapped, tensing at the touch.
"No. I'm not going to leave you." Richie said sternly, wrapping his other arm around him.
Next came one of his wings.
This was the first time he'd moved his wings since yesterday, and somehow, it felt more painless than he thought.
Now, his wing was draped over them, providing a large shield from the outside world.
It was a long moment of silence.
Eddie slowly moved onto his side to focus on him.
"I- I thought you didn't want people to touch your wings..." He sniffed.
"Well. I'll make an exception, just this once." A small smile spread across Richie's face.
Eddie slowly followed suite, "Can you... can you lay with me?"
Richie was brought aback by the request.
"Of course." He answered almost instantly.
It took a couple minutes, but soon Richie was laying on the hammock, Eddie nuzzled against him, and wings covered them both.
"I'm not hurting you, am I?" Eddie asked.
"No. I'm fine." He said.
Yes, he was in pain, but at the moment, he didn't care.
"But you seem to be hurting. Why were you crying?" He asked.
Eddie didn't answer for a long time.
He took a deep shaky breath, "You once asked me... how I got into hell..."
Richie felt his chest tighten at the memory.
Eddie. Demon. Hell. Sin. Evil.
"Yes?" Richie said, "What happened? I mean, I've learned so much about you, you... you're too kind to go to hell. You're not evil."
Eddie chuckled, "I'll take that as a compliment."
"Sorry. Um... So, what happened? I won't judge." Richie said.
"Or hate me?" Eddie added curiously.
Richie felt his stomach drop, 'That bad, huh.'
"No. I promise." He swore.
Eddie looked up at him, clearly searching for signs of a joke or lie.
After a few seconds, he lowered his head, taking a deep breath, "I... I took my own life."
Richie felt every inch of his body stiffen and grow cold, heart failing for a few seconds.
For a few long minutes, he couldn't hear nor feel anything around him. He could only hear the demon's words echo in his head.
"Richie? Richie? Richie! Please say something? I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything, I-" He was crying again.
The feeling of tears falling onto his shirt seemed to pull him out of his shocked state.
Richie looked down at the demon, who was preparing to leave the hammock.
He quickly grabbed his arm, pulling him back down, wrapping his arms and wings around him tighter, almost as if to restrain him.
"Wh-why? Why? After what I said? What I did..."
"Doesn't make me think any less of you." Richie managed.
They lay in this position for a few more minutes.
Finally, Eddie lifted his head after Richie loosened his hold on him.
He sniffled a couple times before resting his head down on his shoulder, breath hitting his neck.
"Thank you." He managed.
Another few moments of silence.
"Wh-why did you do it?" Richie risked asking.
Silence.
"I... back then, like maybe 20 years ago, that age wasn't the best generation. I... I was gay... Hell, I still am, but... Back then, it wasn't really... allowed."
"Allowed? You needed permission to be..." Richie trailed off, still processing the term.
"Pretty much." Eddie said humorlessly, "I was an outsider to the town. I kept to myself, but of course they found me wherever I went. They... they did... horrible things. It was never-ending... Over the years, it only got worse. They call me a faggot, a mistake, an abomination, I... I just couldn't take it."
Tears were in his eyes again.
Richie was too drawn in to comment, his chest tightening at the upcoming events.
"On the night I deemed to call my last..." Eddie continued, "I came to realize the best way to black out the hatred, was alcohol. So, I got wasted. The more I drank, the less I heard the voices. I must have lost count of how many bottles I had emptied. But it never felt like it was enough."
He went silent again.
Richie didn't need to hear anymore.
He knew what came next.
"And how long have you been roaming the earth?" Richie asked, trying to change the subject to a somewhat lighter theme.
"Umm. A few years, maybe 5? This generation is... interesting. It's nice to learn all the new additions they've made over time. Plus, most people I've made contact with are pretty nice. I still keep to myself though." Eddie said.
Richie nodded.
This sounded like an interesting life.
He wondered if angels ever did this.
"Anyway." Eddie spoke up, taking a deep breath, slightly squirmy. "Thanks... for listening. I never really... open up to anyone... before... thank you."
He nuzzled his nose into his chest, which made Richie tense.
"Can we just stay like this? Just for tonight?" Eddie whispered, already seeming half asleep.
Richie was silent for a few minutes, which seemed to be the answer he needed.
The demon went limp against him, arm slightly wrapped around him.
Minutes passed and Richie slowly began to relax.
He'd seen the worse in this demon, he'd seen him at his absolute vulnerable state.
And damn if it didn't make him protective over him.
Angel and Demon, friends, allies.
Who would have thought.
Richie sighed, tilting his head until it rested on Eddie's.
With that, he found sleep again.