Chapter Text
"Oh, god Eddie, I'd be running too, man."
"Did you see him fall through the floor?!? That poor kid! How can he still be alive right now, damn!"
"Kids' bodies are pretty resilient."
"Yeah, but still. Pennywise, you get your arse aWAY from him...!"
Joe winces sympathetically, Gwilym's eyes are bulging, and Ben is clenching his jaw and fists like he wants to reach through the television screen and throttle Pennywise as he gets ahold of Eddie.
Rami speaks up after Eddie's mom yells at the rest of the kids about her son being injured, saying to stay away from and never talk to him again, despite all of their attempts to explain: "...The adults in this town are almost as scary as Pennywise. He may be nightmarish, but they're..." Rami shudders, not having the word to pinpoint exactly what aspect of the adult characters most bothers him.
"... They're representative of everyday evil?" Gwil suggests as he looks down into Rami's eyes. Rami gazes back with gratitude for Gwilym knowing what he was trying to say, along with such sadness because the everyday nature of evil is something not solely confined to movies. Gwil lifts one long hand to cup Rami's face, stroking his cheek. "But we can all work together to combat everyday evils, yes?" He says softly.
Rami closes his eyes, nodding in a sharp, emphatic manner. "Yes, by being kind and doing our best in this life, with what we've got."
Gwil smiles, eyes warm and bright as he keeps holding Rami's face lovingly. "You are long away ahead of the game on perseverance and kindness, Rami," he responds softly, and Rami grows bashful, ducking his chin and flushing a little. "I mean it," adds Gwil. "That's why you're our Freddie."
Rami looks back up at him and wraps his arms around Gwil's neck, giving his friend a lingering kiss on one sharp cheek. "I know you mean it," he says as he withdraws his lips, heart performing a little leap. It's a thrill every time he is compared to Freddie Mercury. And it means so much to him when Gwilym makes such a comparison. "Thank you."
"Of course."
"Are you guys even watching, because aww, your love is so great, and love is gonna save the day here in this movie, I just know it!" Joe waves an arm excitedly as Ben looks at Gwil and Rami with a soft expression on his face. He opens an arm for his mates to snuggle in as Rami gulps and prepares himself to watch the film's climax.
"Oh my god, they're floating."
"I can't believe Bev got taken after she stood up to her dad, that's bullshit!"
"They're all dead, oh god, is SHE dead?"
"No, no, it's like she's in a trance, look at her eyes. C'mon Beverly, snap out of it, you can do it!"
"...or Ben can help with a kiss, aww that's so sweet and romantic. Are you ever gonna write me a poem and kiss me like that, Benny?" Joe bats his eyelashes and winks dramatically.
Ben chuckles and makes a show of pondering. "Dunno, Joe. I think you're gonna have to earn it. Bev earned it by being super nice."
"I'm nice!" Joe pouts.
Ben looks at him and then grins, giving him a side hug along with a lingering glance. "Yeah, you are. Alright, I'll see what I can do."
Joe beams. And then he gets quiet, save for a slight high sound at the back of his throat as Billy talks to Georgie, says he's sorry he didn't protect him, sorry he can't bring him home. All the boys look to Joe after the shot rings out and see the tear tracks sluicing down his face as he sniffs. Instantly Gwil moves in, and Rami, with murmurs and hugs and a handkerchief got from somewhere. Ben wraps his arm around Joe and kisses his forehead. All that, along with Richie saying now he has to kill this fucking clown --"Hell yes, Richie!"-- helps Joe cease crying and smile and thank his mates.
As the friends in the movie all stand together at the end, Stanley saying he hates them all, "What a sass-master, brilliant," the four viewers grow quiet at Bill's words, at the promise he makes and asks them all to make too. Something of that moment seeps into the room, and the four Bohemian Rhapsody boys find themselves holding hands after the picture is over. All nod, squeeze each other in their grips, sniff or smile. Rami pushes back a lock of Ben's hair after they let go, and Gwil ruffles Joe's. It's a true bond they have formed, and this movie is another way to help them see it.
And then, of course, "So this means next Halloween we have to watch Chapter Two!"
"Oh, god, no."