A while ago I had this idea for a Reddie AU where Richie got in with the wrong crowd after he left Derry for College and eventually ends up as a wanted criminal in New York, where Eddie has started working as a police officer.
This eventually resolves in a cat-and-mouse chase where they keep seeking each other out, even without their memories.
Until Mike calls them back to Derry and everything comes rushing back.
This has been sitting in my drafts for months and I don't think I'll continue the story but for anyone who's interested in some angst, here's the moment after Eddie gets hurt in the cave:
"Eds, come on. Who am I supposed to play cops and robbers with now, huh? You haven't even caught me yet."
It pulls a weak laugh from Eddie, followed by a bloody cough that wipes Richie's smile straight from his face. Thankfully Eddie doesn't seem to notice.
"Not my fault you tricked your way out of custody the last time."
"That's a shitty excuse, even for a cop, Eddie." Richie tells him and tries to blink against the burning in his eyes.
He just has to keep him talking and if anything, Richie knows he's good at that.
He readjusts his jacket against Eddie's chest but Eddie doesn't even flinch. Instead he slowly blinks at him and for a moment it reminds Richie of his cat at home.
"You gotta meet Alfie."
Another slow blink "Who's Alfie?"
"My cat. Alfredo Howard Tozier the first. I got him from a shelter last year."
Eddie huffs out another weak laugh. "Of course you did." Richie can tell that Eddie's starting to have trouble breathing. It takes a long moment for Eddie to go on with the conversation.
"What does he look like?"
Richie quickly wipes at his eyes with a wet laugh "Oh he's a huge black tabby cat that likes to stand on his backlegs a lot. If Al Capone ever got reincarnated as a cat, that would be Alfie."
Richie startles at the loud screech on the other end of the cave. As he looks up he can't see any of the others. He just hears them shout.


















