It was late afternoon when Eddie had found another decent hotel to settle in a few towns over.
Richie gratefully made his way to the bed, groaning as he sat down.
Eddie sighed, giving him a look of sympathy.
This angel really did overdo himself this time.
"Well. If you're going to look at my injuries. I'd like if you would do so, I'd like to sleep." Richie muttered.
Eddie shook his head out of his thoughts.
Right.
He moved until he stood before Richie. "So, where do you hurt?"
Richie looked at him for a long few minutes and Eddie knew he was trying to hold any of those signs in.
Finally, he sighed, "Just my back."
"Where your wings are?" Eddie asked.
Richie hesitated for a few more seconds before nodding.
Eddie felt a rush of nerves run through his body, a quick flash of what happened the other night when he mentioned that area.
He sighed, "Alright, let's take a look, as long as you promise not to try and kill me again."
Their stare lingered in silence for a long time.
Richie finally nodded before pulling his shirt over his body.
Eddie was relieved to see that all the past scars had healed completely.
Slowly, Richie turned to the side, giving Eddie access to his back.
His breath caught in his throat.
What was once two slit lines on his shoulder blades, was slightly wider, and blood had been trailing down his back, most of it dried now.
"Holy fuck, Rich." His voice came out as a croak.
"What?" Richie asked, looking over his shoulder as much as he could.
"Your... shoulders, where your wings are... You've torn your scars open and then some. Did you not feel the blood down your back?" Eddie breathed out, his fingers ghosting down his back, just barely making contact.
"Maybe, but I didn't really think much of it." Richie said.
A mix of emotions ran through Eddie, finally landing on anger.
"Fuck." He growled before heading into the bathroom.
Richie had remained quiet behind him.
He wet a few rags with warm water and grabbed a couple left over gauze patches.
He felt his stomach churn at the image of where he'd be putting those patches.
Shaking away the thought he marched back out, returning to a confused Richie's side.
He sat down next to him, still having access to his back.
Eddie sighed, "Okay. I'm going to clean off the blood, then I need to put these patches on over the scars. I know you don't like to be touched there, but... Can you trust me?"
Richie was silent for a long time.
Eddie was prepared for Richie to refuse, he wouldn't be happy, but he didn't want to put his own life on the line again.
"Yes." His voice broke through his thoughts.
Eddies breath caught in his throat.
Yes?
"Just do what you need to do." Richie continued.
Eddie was frozen in place for a while, and before he knew it, a small smile broke across his face.
He took a deep breath, picking up one of the rags, "Okay. First I'm just going to clean off the blood on your back. I won't touch the scars."
Even though he had Richie's permission, he still felt the need to make sure Richie knew what he was going to do at all times, in case he wanted to back out.
A short nod.
Eddie carefully applied the rag on the middle of his back.
He tensed, but didn't complain.
Eddie let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, as he cautiously wiped away the blood down his back.
Once again, he had to try not to get too distracted.
The tan skin that was revealed as the blood was cleared. Smooth but bulky.
After a few minutes of making sure he'd cleaned all the blood off, he focused onto the patches, tearing the covers off.
He hesitated.
"I'm going to put this patch on your left shoulder, directly over the scar. I'll need to put slight pressure on it to make sure it's secure..." Eddie explained again. "Is that okay?"
Richie inhaled deeply, before nodding.
Eddie let out a shaky breath, "Okay. If it hurts, let me know-"
"Just do it." Richie spoke up.
Eddie nodded, before carefully placing the patch over the left scar, he made sure to have it in the correct place first try before carefully applying pressure to make sure it was secure.
Richie let out a hiss when Eddie's hand got a little too close to the scar.
"I'm sorry!" Eddie immediately drew back, nearly flinching, expecting him to lash out again.
"It's fine. Keep going." Richie ground out.
Eddie hesitated for a few seconds before cautiously closing the distance again, carefully running his fingers around the edge of the patch, making sure it was attached.
He took a deep breath as he drew back.
"One down. One to go."
Richie copied his sigh, nodding.
"You Okay?" Eddie asked.
"I'll manage. Just, get the last one on so I can rest." Richie said.
Eddie nodded, before going to work at opening the second patch.
He made quick work of the second one, before standing, grabbing the wrapping and rags. "All done."
Richie looking over his shoulder as if he was trying to see the patches on his back.
"Thank you." Richie sighed.
"You're welcome." Eddie smiled, "Now you get your rest. We both need it."
"Richie. Richie. Richie. Wake up!" A persistent voice broke Richie from his deep sleep.
"Hmm." Was the only smart thing his blurry brain could manage.
"Come on. You've been asleep for 10 hours. Gotta save some sleep for later tonight or you'll be a zombie tomorrow." Eddie said.
"Hmm." Richie replied simply.
"Come. On. Wake. Up. I wanna take you somewhere." Eddie continued and Richie could feel his bed moving up and down as Eddie jumped against it next to him.
"Where?" Richie mumbled, still half-asleep.
"Get up and get dressed and I'll show you." Eddie said.
Richie cracked an eye open, vision blurry but he could see Eddie standing above him.
He sighed, closing it again, "I am dressed."
"Uh-Uh. I bought us some new clothes. We gotta look fashionable for this occasion." Eddie said.
"What occasion?" Richie asked.
"Will you just get up already? You're like a child. Geez." Eddie scoffed.
"Look who's talking." Richie said, eyes still closed.
Silence.
Thud!
"Ow! What the fuck?!" Richie jumped up when he felt a soft object make a harsh impact on his head.
He quickly sat up, grabbing the object that hit him.
It was another pillow.
He glared at Eddie, who had a proud grin on his face. "Oh good, you're awake!"
"Asshole." Richie growled, throwing the pillow back at him.
Eddie laughed, barely dodging the item, which fell silently to the floor.
"Well, now that you're up, get cleaned up and put on the new clothes I bought. I'll be waiting outside the hotel." Eddie said before leaving the room.
Richie's eyes followed him until he had disappeared behind the door.
When he was alone, he took a deep breath.
This demon.
They were wasting time.
Although he would only admit to himself that he kind of liked the company and views.
After about twenty minutes, Richie had washed up, avoiding the patch, of course, and had put on the new pair of clothes.
The new clothing felt strange to him, but he figured he'd deal with it.
"Ready?" Eddie asked as Richie made his way to him.
"As I'll ever be. Where are we going?" Richie said.
"Just come on. I want you to meet someone." Eddie said, giving Richie's arm a gentle tug.
Richie's eyes narrowed, "Meet who? Unless you've found this, Robert person, I'm not interested."
Eddie pouted, "Come on. It'll be fun. You won't regret it. I promise."
Richie stared at him in silence for a long, long time.
Finally, he let out a groan of defeat, "Fiiine."
"Yay! Okay let's go. He's just a couple blocks away from here."
"What is so important that I should know of this character?" Richie asked.
"I don't know, really. I haven't seen him in years, I forgot he lived here." Eddie said as they walked down the darkening street.
Richie scoffed, but didn't ask anymore questions.
After another twenty minutes, they were approaching a building with a bright colorful sign lighting up the place
BAR.
"Bar?" Richie questioner, "You took me all this way, just to see a shining light?"
Eddie snorted, trying his best to contain the laughter.
"Just wait till you see the inside."
With that, he led him inside.
They were soon surrounded by flashing lights, music, and people. Lots and lots of people.
Eddie could sense Richie tense beside him.
"Why is there so much noise?"
"What?!" Eddie tried to call over the music. "Follow me. Get away from the music!"
Eddie guided him through the flood of humans.
He led him to the back, where a bar table was coming into view.
Richie stopped abruptly.
Eddie turned to him when he noticed he wasn't being followed, "What?"
Richie was silent for a few seconds, a glare setting in. "He's... a demon?"
Eddies eyes narrowed in confusion, switching his focus back onto the bar where a man was tending the tables.
Oh.
"Uh... yeah. But don't worry! He's good!" Eddie said quickly.
Richie narrowed his eyes at him, jaw clenching, "I don't know if you realize, but I don't take a liking to demons."
Eddie felt a small sharp pain run through him, but shook it off.
"Ouch." He managed with a grin.
"This was a waste of-"
"Eddie?" Another voice stopped Richie's words.
They both turned to the voice.
The man at the bar table was looking at them.
"'Sup Stanley!" Eddie called back, before grabbing Richie's arm and practically dragging him along with him.
"Wow. It's been forever. Where you been?" Stanley said, closing the distance, giving him a hug.
After a few seconds, he pulled back, a nervous look crossing his face, "Uh. Who's your friend?"
"Oh. This is Richie. We're, Uh... Travel partners." Eddie said.
He clearly noticed that Richie hadn't relaxed in the bit.
"Well. You're travel buddy looks pretty tense." Stan said, his voice clearly wary.
Eddie turned to Richie, lightly jabbing at his ribs with his elbow.
That somewhat made him relax, focusing on him.
Eddie silently urged him to say something. Anything.
"Uhm... it's... nicetomeetyou." Richie forced the words out.
"Nice to meet you too, my name's Stanley. But you can call me Stan. Any friend of Eddie's is a friend of mine." Stanley said, extending his arm that was slightly shaking.
Eddie was sure that he knew Richie was an angel.
Richie glared down at the hand, but reached out to take it.
Stanley nearly hissed, fingers practically snapping.
Finally, they broke apart.
"Wow. You got quite the grip. Damn." Stanley said, shaking his hand to soothe it. "That's some angel you got there. Wherever did you find him?"
Eddie laughed nervously, "More like he found me. It's a long story. I think it calls for a seat and a drink."
"Right this way." Stanley said, before turning and leading them back to the bar.
Eddie started to follow before a hand pulled him back.
He turned to the angel, confused.
"I may accept your company, but that doesn't mean I trust all demons."
Eddie was silent for a long time, before replying with the first thing that came in mind, "... Aww. You're jealous."
"I am not!" Richie rose his voice defensively.
Eddie laughed, even though it took every fiber in his being not to blush.
He definitely hadn't expected himself to say that.
"Ah. Come on. Time to get you to loosen up." Eddie sighed, wrapping his arm around Richie's shoulder before guiding him to the bar stools.