Chapter Text
Derry sucked, or rather, a part of it did.
A not so small town that was brimming with assholes who took pride in their traditional views on family, relationships and even people. Those who dared to step even a bit out of such notions would have hell to pay.
Robert Gray knew that. Not that he cared.
During his life, following social etiquette was never one of his goals.
So what if he liked horror movies and books, so what if he liked to wear somber attire and so what if he enjoyed walking around aimlessly, especially through the forest, finding it funny if he managed to scare one or two passersby?
Life was short and he intended to take all he could from it.
I
Robert knew, of course, about the Losers. Everyone from Derry High did, be it from good or bad reasons.
He saw them during his years at school, watched as the initially tight group, the kind that could very well be featured in some movie or television show, started to drift away.
Some moved out of town, others started to date and found new friendships. Seemed like the natural course of things, even if pretty sad, especially for their leader, who looked more alone than even real outcasts.
And that was why, maybe, Robert decided to approach him during break.
William Denbrough. Stuttering Bill, redhead, exceptionally good at English, aimed to be a horror novelist and had lost his baby brother years ago in a terrible accident.
Those where things everyone knew. What wasn't of public knowledge was that Bill had been practically abandoned by his parents and had terrible nightmares every other day.
Robert was aware of such information, of course; his psionic powers ought to be more useful than to just lift and drop cans or turn lights on and off for a laugh.
II
“What...” William had noticed Robert’s presence, but took a while before lifting his head, rolling his pen through his fingers, a bit uncomfortable, a bit curious.
Robert smiled and seemed to relax, his smile so completely natural that it seemed like they had been friends for ages.
“Robert Gray, we take a few classes together.” Bill stopped hunching over his notebook, fully facing that guy that had sprouted out of nowhere and was now attempting small talk.
“I know, we take English together, r-right?” Wincing inwardly, Bill wondered when therapy was going to kick in completely. Robert didn’t seem to mind, though, simply agreeing with his head.
“Working on another novel?” Trying to hide his scribbles seemed useless, especially when Robert was tall and huge enough to see past his shoulders, besides, it wasn’t like what Bill had written was some kind of secret, it was more of an outline to his next tale.
”The one you wrote for that contest was really nice, little buddy, loved the werewolves.” The new nickname just wasn’t as surprising as the comment itself, but Bill supposed Robert could call him that, given their huge difference in stature.
“You read t-that?”
“Of course I did. Thought my black shirt and old sneakers would show how much I am into dark stuff.” It was clearly a joke and Bill smiled a bit, suddenly feeling more at ease next to his classmate.
“I don’t like judging a b-book by i-its cover.”
And he didn’t, but already he was beginning to see Robert as someone he could trust.
III
The Denbrough house was more gloomy than anticipated. Not that the place was unkempt or old, but upon setting his foot inside, Robert almost felt like no one even lived there.
The rooms were somewhat dark, the atmosphere melancholic, morose.
He bothered cleaning his shoes before entering, but didn’t try to hide his curiosity by looking all around.
“My parents aren’t h-home.” Bill shrugged, letting his bag hit the floor heavily, kicking his shoes off.
“I can tell.” He could even risk and say they hadn’t been for a while. “You know we could’ve gone to my house to make this assignment, little buddy.” The nickname still took Bill by surprise, especially when his interactions with the other guy had been pretty limited, but he was welcoming that familiar and very much missed sensation of being close to someone.
“I-It’s fine, this way we can finish it qui-quu-ckly.” Certain words made his tongue trip and slip and left his face as red as his hair. Robert, though, only smiled, blue eyes twinkling under the light.
In that moment Bill felt a weird tug in his chest, an odd attraction that lasted until he turned his face aside and started to gather all the materials they’d be needing to write that assignment.
Among research and stupid conversations of “who would win”, “would you rather” and some funny stories about school, they fell into a comfortable silence, laying on Bill’s living room floor after finishing their work.
“I have a part time job.” Robert informed, playing with a pen.
“Yeah? W-What is it about?” The shit eating grin Bill received as a response made his heart flutter once again. Was it good or bad, he didn’t know.
“Three chances, little buddy, get it right and I’ll reward you.” Bill put more effort than he should just for the chance of getting that prize. Was it good or bad, he didn’t want to think about it.
“Attendant?” Bill risked and Robert laughed.
“One of the most common jobs to have, hm?” He lifted a single eyebrow, amused. “Don’t play so safe, little one.”
Another nickname, one that seemed more intimate, even. Bill would be filled with shame if he had the time and courage to admit he had liked it, but as things were, he already had his plate full with how much he wanted to get Robert’s secret award.
“F-Fine. You work terrorizing citizens in your f-free time.” He knew he was giving up on one of his chances, but the way Robert laughed made it worth it.
“How did you know?” Before Bill could really take his word seriously, Robert sat up, still smiling. “Almost got it right, little buddy, but it’s quite the contrary.”
Bill also sat when he noticed the guy picking two erasers and a sharpener before throwing them in the air, juggling and singing a horribly off tune song that was characteristic of a circus.
It was Bill’s turn to laugh.
“Y-you kidding!” But Robert didn’t stop and Bill noticed that not only he was serious, he was also very talented. “There aren’t any c-circus around!”
“No, but I don’t need one to play a clown.” Not for the first time, Bill wondered what was Robert Gray. “Admit it, you never imagined me as Pennywise, the dancing clown~” He singsonged, forcing his voice to be high pitched, letting all the objects he had been handling fall messily on his lap.
“Y-you were right, I w-was playing safe, w-would never get it r-right.”
“That’s fine, I cheated too, didn’t give you your last chance.” Bill watched Robert throw a hand against his own hair, driving short locks out of his eyes. “Suppose this means I owe you, little one.” His smile slid to something less amused and more serious.
If Bill had been any good with romance, he could’ve translated it as seductive, but his area of expertise lay with monsters and ways of assassinating a human being convincingly using only words.
“Here.” Robert picked a piece of paper from his backpack, making sure to brush their fingers when Bill leaned in to take it. “Your prize. VIP place to watch my glorious performance.” More giggles and Bill found it cute how the ticket seemed to be straight from the 70’s.
The show would be held in about a week. They had time.
“Glad to see the o-old ways are still a-alive.”
“Nothing really dies in Derry.”
IV
End of term was knocking at the door and with that, (un)fortunately, also was prom.
A very common scene was seeing boys asking girls out, or hearing whispers of who would take who out, even though they all still had more than one week until the event.
Ever since disbanding and losing contact with his old friends, who were the only ones who made such occasions bearable enough, Bill hadn’t thrown many thoughts in attending it.
Robert, however, had, and he was making it pretty clear while they both walked from the school building to where Bill’s bicycle was parked.
“It can’t be that bad.” His words had a soft meaning, but his tone ringed a bit condescending. Robert wasn’t the best one when trying to win over arguments. He lost his temper and shook with anger, Bill had seen it during debates.
Robert held some explosive energy in his blood and being at the receiving ending couldn’t be a pleasant experience.
“M-Maybe, but why c-care so much?”
Bill got up on Silver and waited to see if his friend would accept the ride. Sometimes he did, others he prefered walking.
Bill pressed both feet firmly on the ground while Robert tried to find a comfortable position on the bicycle that was too small for him and too big for Bill.
“Why not? It’ll be break after it, will you really miss the opportunity of seeing all your classmates before being separated from them?” There was a smile in his voice, but the teasing came when Robert tried to slow down Bill’s pedalling by stomping his feet at the ground from time to time.
“A-Asshole.”
“Wow, are you dirty talking me now, little one?” What a teasing asshole.
“I’ll t-throw you in the next g-gutter.” Bill stopped altogether, stubbornly not trying to look at his friend’s face.
“You serious?” Once again he could hear laughter in Robert’s voice, which made his own lips split into a grin.
“D-Dead serious.” And the next thing he could feel was Robert’s arms snaking around his middle.
Robert embraced him whole, putting his shin on top of Bill’s head and for the first time it was clear that their bodies fit almost perfectly.
It was a warm hug, comfortable and safe.
Bill had forgotten how much he longed for human contact, for he leaned in, unashamed, but he also had forgotten how sensitive his body had become, for when Robert moved until he could whisper directly against the shell of his ear, Bill shivered and felt his stomach warm up with butterflies.
“Are you really not going?”
People walked around the peaceful street, mostly students that also took that route to go home. All of them eyed the scene, but none dared to interrupt.
“Y-You have a w-week to convince m-me.” A dare, although empty, since Bill already knew he’d accompany Robert, but his friend liked being challenged and Bill liked to be stubborn.