Stenbroughzier with ‘shhh, it’s okay, you don’t need to cry’
It had been weeks since the sewers, since they defeated It, and the losers were all adjusting back to normalcy and the new school semester in their own ways. Stan was doing a better job of it than most. At least on the surface, that is.
It was Friday night and Richie and Stan were staying over at Bill’s house. They watched movies, ate way too much junk food, and simply enjoyed the start of their weekend. Everything was okay. It was okay until halfway through the third film of the night when there was a sniffle.
Richie turned to his left to find Stan with wet eyes, tears trailing down his cheeks, still staring at the screen. He was trying so hard not to move or draw attention to himself.
Bill looked over at the two of them, worry striking him when he saw Stan.
“Stan, w-w-what’s wrong?” he asked, turning the volume down. “Richie, wha-what happened?”
Richie shrugged. “Stan, are you okay?”
Stan nodded, still not looking at the other two boys. He sniffed again.
“I’m fine,” he lied. “I’m absolutely, totally fi-.”
He broke on the last word, a sob escaping from his lips.
“Oh, Stan...” Bill stood, walking over to kneel in front of him.
“Sorry.” Stan drew his knees up, hiding his face against them. “I’m sorry.”
Richie and Bill glanced at each other, sharing a look of concern as Stan curled further in on himself. They had suspected he wasn’t handling things post-pennywise as well as he tried to convince them he was, but he had seemed okay. At least more okay than breaking down at a movie night.
Still they should have realised, especially after what had happened to him down there.
Richie moved closer on the couch.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked, putting an arm around Stan’s shoulders. “Tell us what’s wrong?”
“No,” Stan murmured, his voice muffled against his legs.
“I-Is it... is there s-s-something we can do?”
“Can you just stay with me?” he asked, finally looking up. His cheeks were pink and streaked with tears; he looked completely distraught. “Can you, um, can you just sit here with me? I just want to know that you’re here.”
“Yeah.” Bill offered a slight smile, “W-w-we can do that. It’s o-okay.”
Richie nodded, tightening his hold on Stan.
“We’ll always be here for you, Stanley,” he whispered. “Always.”
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