Work Text:
bdubs was draped across etho’s lap as they sat on a couch they’d put by the fireplace in the basement. it was pretty late at night. etho had taken off his mask, being in the comfort of his partner. he absentmindedly ran fingers through bdubs’ hair as the other rambled on about his new projects. they’d been seeing each other much more often lately, and both were thankful for it. things could be the same for them again.
as bdubs went on, etho hummed softly in acknowledgement. he’d been looking at his partner for most of the conversation, but within the last few minutes, etho had started staring off into space. it wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy hearing the other talk, but sometimes his mind just went to other places.
bdubs suddenly stopped in the middle of his ramblings. “sweetheart?” bdubs started.
“hm?’
“i’m not boring you, am i? you look like you’re off somewhere else.” bdubs’ wide eyes stared up at the other.
“no, no, not at all, i’m just… i like hearing you talk. it’s soothing.” etho replied with a soft smile.
bdubs found that response very endearing. “aww, you like me that much, huh?” he teased.
etho laughed at that. “yeah, i guess i do.” he really, truly, did love everything about the other man. the way bdubs worked amazed him. the glimmer in his eyes whenever he had something new to tell him, how he was so accepting of how etho sometimes had trouble showing his affections, his over-the-top reactions, the way he always seemed to light up the room he was in. gods, was he soft for this man.
“sooo, whatcha thinkin’ about?” bdubs questioned. he was always curious about what was going on in etho’s head. it amazed him, too, how etho worked. he’d always found etho to be so amazing in everything he did, with his redstone knowledge and his strange but endearing sense of humor. bdubs always felt like etho was the smartest person in the room (even if he was too busy thinking about silly ways he could mess with the other at the time). no matter what happened, this was who he’s always want to stay with.
this was one of those aforementioned moments where etho had trouble expressing his affections. sometimes it was just hard to get the words out. “mm, its- i don’t wanna ramble,,” he furrowed his brows in frustration at himself.
“go ahead, sweetheart, i don’t mind.” bdubs’ eyes softened seeing the other man’s expression. “no pressure, of course. “ he always wanted to make the other comfortable as he could be.
etho played with bdubs’ hair nervously. “i just,” he averted his eyes from the other’s gaze. “i’ve missed you lots, bdubs. i really do love you.”
“aw hell,” bdubs grinned. “now you’ve got me flustered!”
etho’s eyes crinkled as he smiled, looking back at the other lovingly. “good,” he began. “you get away with doing that to me way too often.” he taunted.
bdubs giggled, sitting up off the other’s lap. “uh huh,” he turned to face the other. “i’m sure you hate it sooo much, mr. ‘i really do love you.’” bdubs said, pressing a gentle kiss to etho’s lips. the two melted into each other, each pressing soft kisses into each other’s skin, content to stay like this forever.
“yep, definitely.” etho teased, melting right back into his lover.