The terror that ran through Eddie was felt by Stan as well. Not just because of their close bond, but because he knew what this could mean. There was no way that Eddie wasn’t absolutely in need, distressed beyond compare. It was possible that one or two of their worst childhood bullies might be on their way to torment Eddie in person. Stan nearly ran, finding himself nearly breathless when he opened Eddie’s door. He knew that his love was alone, his roommate having moved out for a claim, so he knew there would be nobody to be upset by his interruption. Seeing Eddie on the floor, he knelt down in front of him and scooped him up and pulled him against his chest. “I love you, my brave boy. I’m here, you’re not alone. I’ll take care of you. I need you to close your eyes for me and listen to my heart beating, okay? Breathe with me. Hold onto me.”
Hearing Stanley’s voice brought with it a good amount of relief, though still not enough to completely calm Eddie. Everything in him warred, torn between his own spiraling panic and wanting more than anything to give himself over to his Dominant. Tears fell from his eyes as he was shifted into Stanley’s lap. His body relaxed a bit, however he still remained as folded in on himself as possible. Open, shaking palms covered his eyes, as if shielding them would somehow make the situation less real. While some may have considered his reaction disproportionate, anyone who knew his and Stanley’s history with Patrick Hockstetter and Reginald Huggins would know that it wasn’t. The torment the two, along with Henry Bowers and Victor Criss, had put them and their friends through was unmatched in any childhood bullying story he’d ever heard. The members of the Bowers Gang were cruel, vile, and ruthless, and more times than not, Eddie had found himself asking if they even had souls. Henry Bowers, who poisoned and killed one of their best friends’ dogs. Victor Criss, his loyal second-in-command. Patrick Hockstetter, who collected dead flies, and had a penchant for hurting people without empathy, care, or remorse, starting with pulling the pigtails of girls in his Kindergarten class. Reginald Huggins, who’d earned his nickname Belch, the co-signer on every vile action, the driver of the getaway car, and the puller of rank and status any time anyone dared breathe wrong in their space. Hearing Stanley’s voice brought Eddie back from his thoughts. At the Dominant’s words, he shifted to rest his ear directly over Stan’s heart before wrapping both arms around Stan’s waist. Closing his eyes Eddie did his best to steady his breathing, focusing only on Stanley’s. After several moments, he nodded. “I-I think I’m okay to walk. I love you, Stanley. Thank you. Thank you. I want to go, I want to get out of here. At least your door at Dalton has a lock.” Pushing himself up and using the edge of his bed as a guide, Eddie stood, swaying for a moment but managing to steady himself before collapse. “I’m okay. I’m good. I just need to get my medicine, and my inhaler, and then we can go.” Tears still fell from his eyes as he attempted to move around his room.
