Chapter Text
Epilogue
Mike Wheeler was nervous to become the King of Valora Kingdom. He wasn’t sure he was ready for it, but Richie knew Mike was the best possible choice for King. The people greeted him warmly, even opening their hearts to Jane whom he had married exactly a month after the battle of Valora was over in a rather large ceremony. Richie soon learned this had much to do with the pregnancy Mike and Jane were hiding from everyone, but most of all it was because neither Mike nor Jane had ever felt closer to anyone in their lives than to each other. It was true love, Richie knew that much to be certain.
Within a month of Richie getting Mike Wheeler ready to become the King of Valora Kingdom, Jane his Queen, Richie had taken the recently engaged Beverly and Ben to Grenada Kingdom, removing the Keene family from the castle, and stripping them of their status. Greta Keene spent much of the eviction screaming about how much Richie was going to pay for what he was doing, but the moment they were put on the ship for Mikos Island, Richie was relieved to crown Ben the new King of Grenada Kingdom. Beverly and Ben married within the month, Beverly becoming one of the most influential Queens in all of Grenada’s history.
Eventually, Steve brought Dustin, Lucas and Max with him to Tormund Kingdom where a large clean up had been done on the castle. Nancy Wheeler and Steve Harrington married in a small ceremony a day before the coronation to become King and Queen of Tormund Kingdom. Steve was shocked to find himself promoted from street urchin to King of a country. He agreed that Nancy should make many of the rules as she knew more about being royalty than he did.
Dustin and Lucas parted ways as Lucas insisted on staying at sea for a little while longer, Dustin wishing to settle down on land for a bit. Things began looking up in Tormund Kingdom, especially for Dustin who found himself lucky enough to meet a rather beautiful girl in the kingdom who found him both adorable, and funny. Steve was proud, to say the least.
Once everything seemed to be in order, Richie got his remaining crew back together, arranging for a sail back to Pavlovia to deliver the message that the war had been won. Georgie and Holly remained the devoted kitchen staff while Stan took a shot at steering the boat while Mike Hanlon took over the role of back up rigger with Lucas, Bill Denbrough, of course, taking the lead. Max remained a gunner, helping with the rigging when necessary. A few new faces from his old army were aboard the ship, filling in the roles that were in need of being taken such as carpenter.
As for Will Byers, his memory didn’t seem to get better after the last potion Mr. Clarke had made for him was taken. Nothing had changed it seemed, but Richie was holding onto hope, not willing to give up on Will despite the memory loss.
Richie managed to convince everyone he knew to address Will as if he were the emperor. Everyone agreed, preferring to keep the sweet lie going for him. Will had taken over the captain’s quarters for the most part. Richie still slept beside him, but he refrained from cuddling or holding Will despite his urges for intimacy. Richie woke up before Will every morning, heading below deck to give Will some time to himself before facing each day.
The idea of meeting his mother intrigued Will, he wondered what she would be like. They were nearly a day away when Will woke up alone, his eyes spotting a gold rope lying on the ground next to the bed. Reaching down curiously, Will picked up the object, realizing it was a bundle of blonde hair. That was when everything hit him like a ton of bricks.
“My hair… from… the haircut… Beverly… she… oh my God… I remember…” Will gripped his head as every memory from the day he was saved on the slave ship to the moment he jumped in front of the yellow potion invaded his brain. “Ah!” He cried out as a sharp pain struck him through the temple.
Richie was in the cabin in moments, “Will? Are you ok?” Richie asked, eyes widened as he spotted Will holding his old ponytail.
“Oh… you found your hair?” Richie asked.
Will smiled, “Yeah… I did…” He couldn’t help but think the lie Richie told him was sweet.
“Are you ok?” Richie asked, “You sounded hurt…”
“No… I’m ok. I just had some head pain.” Will said standing up, approaching Richie with a smile that seemed to confuse Richie.
“What’s going on?” Richie asked as Will stood before him.
“I just had the most amazing dream.” Will smiled sweetly, “I was on this slaver ship locked up in this tiny little cage… and a handsome pirate saved my life.” Will wrapped his arms around Richie’s shoulders, watching the raven haired captain go wide eyed, emotions filling his eyes, “But… that must just be a dream… because I’m an emperor, not a slave boy from Pavlovia…” Will leaned up pressing his lips to Richie’s gently.
Richie wrapped his arms around Will’s middle, kissing him deeply as his hands trailed up Will’s back slowly, “Mmm…” Richie cupped Will’s face, a big smile on his face, “You remember? You remember everything?” Richie asked hopeful.
“I remember from the day you saved me, up until the day I saved you from getting hit with that potion. I don’t really remember anything before the day we met.” Will said honestly, “Something tells me it’s for the best.”
Richie smiled, looking at him softly, “Oh thank fuck… I thought I had lost you forever… the real you.”
Will nipped Richie’s lower lip, “How dare you make everyone address me as ‘emperor’ when you knew damn well I wasn’t an emperor.” Will scolded.
“Well, if you want to spank me, emperor, I wouldn’t stop you.” Richie grinned.
Will giggled cutely, “I love you, Richie. Thank you for taking care of me while I was lost… it means a lot to me.”
Richie kissed his lips gently, “I love you too, Will. So, so much.”
They embraced, just holding each other for a few moments before Will broke the silence, “When we get to Pavlovia… can we finally get married?”
Richie smiled, “Of course. The honeymoon starts immediately after that right? I can just fuck you all over every surface on Pavlovia?” Richie winked.
Will smiled, “You can try…”
“An invitation I’ll gladly accept.” Richie picked Will up, “Let’s go darling, the crew needs to know you’re back!”
Will wrapped both arms around Richie’s shoulders as Richie carried him bridal style up to the deck of the ship. “Everyone! Listen up!” Richie called out loudly.
Will pressed his face into Richie’s neck, a little embarrassed to have so many eyes on him in the early morning. “What is it?” Stanley asked curiously, worried something was wrong with Will.
“Your emperor has now regained much of his memory! He’s back to his old self, and requests everyone still refer to him as the emperor!” Richie announced.
“No! No one has to call me that!” Will shouted shaking his head at them all.
“What ever you say, emperor.” Bill Denbrough smirked as he wrapped an arm around Eddie’s shoulders with amusement.
Eddie smiled brightly at Will, happy to see him back to normal, “Welcome back, Emperor!”
Will blushed darkly, “Richie, you’re an asshole for getting this started.”
Richie chuckled, “Speaking of that… we should go back down to the cabin to get reacquainted…”
Will giggled, “You would say that.”
“Everyone! Plug your ears! It’s about to get loud downstairs.” Richie winked, carrying Will off to the lower part of the ship.
Will smacked his arm lightly as the crew rolled their eyes at him. “You know… you shouldn’t have jumped in front of that flask… you didn’t know what was in it.” Richie said to him as the entered the cabin, Richie kicking the door closed behind him.
Cupping Richie’s face, Will kissed him, “I love you too much to let anything happen to you.”
Richie kissed him, “Well, you gave me quite a scare, so as punishment, you’re getting another spanking.”
Will was leaned over the side of the bed as Richie undid his pants, pulling them off before a light slap to his ass sounded loudly in the room. “Richie!” Will gasped, smiling back at him, “That was nothing… try harder…” Will bent over further, receiving another three smacks before Richie couldn’t contain himself any longer, grabbing the oil from the nightstand.
Feeling oil slicked fingers at his back entrance, Will bit his lower lip, his body slowly accepting the invaders as they pressed deeply inside. “Oh!” Will moaned out as Richie pressed into his prostate.
“Fuck… you’re so much tighter after weeks of no sex…” Richie said scissoring his fingers.
Will moaned softly, “Put it in… I want it in me.” Will brought his knees onto the bed, still hunching over so Richie could fuck him rather easily.
Sliding carefully into Will, the blonde groaned softly before Richie grabbed both of Will’s shoulders, his hips rocking fluidly, “Mm…. I’m the luckiest man on Earth.” Richie smiled, pressing kisses to Will’s back.
“I beg to differ…” Will spoke softly before his back arched more, “Oh yes… Richie!”
Richie thrust hard in and out of him, “Will… I love you so fucking much…” Richie moaned, his teeth biting gently into Will’s shoulder, sending tingles through him.
Will panted heavily, his body working up rather quickly, “Oh God! I love you, Richie!”
The rutting of their hips was rather loud, echoing off the cabin walls. Richie took the opportunity to tug on Will’s hair, enjoying the whimpering moans that came from Will over it. “Oh my God! I’m going to come soon!” Will cried out, his fingers digging into the blankets below him.
Richie leaned back a bit, gripping Will’s hips as he began moving much faster, encouraging them both to come. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” Richie cried out before coming hard into Will as Will released simultaneously with a moan.
Richie groaned, sliding out before he moved Will so he was on his side on the bed. Spooning into Will, Richie kissed his shoulder and neck. “Welcome back, baby…”
Will smiled, closing his eyes as he held Richie’s arms around him, “It’s good to be the emperor…”
Richie couldn’t help but chuckle, “You know… that’s technically me right now… you’re just my beautiful co-emperor…” Richie informed Will with a grin.
Will kissed his arms with his soft lips, “I can take that… just promise me one thing…” Will rolled over facing him.
“What’s that?” Richie asked curiously.
Will kissed his lips, “We’ll make the world as beautiful as we can together.”
Richie smiled warmly at him, “I promise. We’ll make it paradise… just you and me.” Richie smiled kissing his forehead.
Paradise. Will believed him. Richie always meant what he said. Closing his eyes again, he pressed his forehead to Richie’s, eager to see what their future together would hold.