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Apparently after birthday parties lose their charm and the well of actual "lore" runs dry, the next trend turns into pondering what's really under Etho's mask.
Bdubs wasn't there for the initial discussion (neither was Etho, for the record), but he's heard the theories range from a massive mountain-man beard to the mouth of a warden to an infinite number of other masks to nothing. Like, just actually void.
As far as Bdubs is concerned, as long they aren't bothering Etho too much and the next trend isn't actually trying to figure out what's under his mask, they can knock themselves out. Plus, admittedly, it's giving him a good laugh to think that for some the lower half of Etho's face is something to be mythologized and not just, y'know, a face. A very pretty face, but still.
During all this supposed hubbub, Etho has his storage system to complete and Bdubs has a project to collect for that demands more of his attention. And so, Bdubs only gets his first real taste of the how far the commotion has spread when he goes to Doc's place one day under the promise of dried kelp and finds Beef and Doc already there chatting it up without him. The three of them together, the conversation naturally turns to their missing NHO member.
He guesses it's due to the server-wide gossip, but at some point Doc asks Bdubs if he's ever seen Etho without the mask. It's a simple question with an obvious answer but Bdubs feels more confused than anything.
Has Doc not seen Etho without his mask?
Some of the other hermits wondering about Etho's face? Sure, Etho can be pretty cagey about it, Bdubs remembers those days. But Doc is Etho's oldest friend, a fact they make sure to mention pretty often, how their friendship goes back years and years, before even Mindcrack. Or even Bdubs for that matter (not that Bdubs is jealous that Etho's the person he's known the longest out of everyone on this server but Bdubs isn't his, no, not at all).
He looks back and forth between Beef and Doc and just about lets a, "have you not?" slip before he realizes what he'll be revealing in turn with that. He knows Etho is shy but maybe it's a bigger secret than he thought if even Doc hasn't seen him mask-less and maybe Bdubs shouldn't be completely honest about the fact that these days he sees Etho more often without his mask than with it. Not if he doesn't want Doc running to Etho complaining, or worse yet telling the others that someone has seen the real deal and start some sort of trend where they all try to catch a peek.
No, that's not happening and if he's being completely honest, there's currently a bit of pride blooming in his chest at the idea that he might genuinely be the only person that Etho's trusts that much. And maybe he wants to keep that to himself.
So after rapidly swinging between confusion, disbelief, protectiveness, and pride, Bdubs realizes he should lie and definitely not just be being staring at Doc. Or smiling.
He wipes a hand down the lower half of his face and gets out an, "um…" while trying to come up with a lie that would make sense given his reaction when Doc interrupts with a disbelieving, "you have!"
"He totally has," Beef confirms.
"I cannot believe this!" Doc continues, "best friend of how many years and I get nothing but you-"
"Hey, I'm his best friend too! And I've known him almost as long as you!" Bdubs sees Doc roll his eyes, as if those few months Bdubs wasn't in the picture fifteen years ago make all the difference. "It was an accident anyway," Bdubs decides to include while the adrenaline's still high, hoping that that will stop them from noticing it's a lie. Well, mostly a lie.
The first time he saw Etho's full face it was an accident, walked in on him while he was healing a cut he got along his jaw while fighting something or another in one of those early maps they did together. He waltzed in to this ruinous area they'd already conquered a few days before, looking for resources left behind and figuring Etho was on the other side of their little world with Guude, preparing for their next expedition, only to find him bare faced and bloody behind one of the doors.
They just stared at each other for a long moment, four wide eyes, before Bdubs closed his eyes, apologized profusely, and rushed to leave, hands blindly grappling for the rusty doorknob. He remembers he stopped just outside, preparing to yell something about how he wouldn't tell Guude, desperate to keep that newfound closeness they had just been getting, when he heard, "wait! BdoubleO!"
Bdubs reeled back instinctively, remembering just in time to not poke his head through the door. "Yeah?"
"Can you… can you help me with this?" He sounded horribly anxious or maybe just in pain. Probably both. Bdubs didn't get a good look at the gash, too blindsided by the situation too actually pay much attention to the exposed lower half of his face, but he remembered a lot of red.
"Of course," Bdubs responded immediately, again forcing himself to remember he shouldn't just barge in. Again. "Do you want me to…?"
"Yeah, come in." Bdubs opened the door and tripped his way through, his eyes closed and hands outstretched.
Etho let out a weak laugh. "You can- um, you can open your eyes. That's the issue actually, I can't see the cut clearly enough to stitch it up… it's, uh, in a bad spot y'know?" His voice was a bit apprehensive, like he wasn't entirely sure if Bdubs would say, no, why don't you do it yourself. As if Bdubs hadn't needed stitching up on his hand just the day before. As if Bdubs wouldn't do anything he asked, even back then.
"Yeah, yeah, I getcha'." And so Bdubs tentatively opened his eyes, still too worried about invading his privacy to look directly at him, instead keeping his gaze everywhere else. The ceiling, the floor, the healing potions and ripped mask laying on the rubble in front of where Etho sat, and up to the cracked and dirty mirror Bdubs just realized was there, where Etho's full face was reflected. It clicked that that must have been what he was using, or trying to use, before Bdubs showed up.
The angle perfectly showed off his side profile, despite the grime, and Bdubs was suddenly distracted by the wide expanse of his cheek, the line of his jaw, his straight nose, wavy in the old glass, and by the fact that he was biting his lip in as he nervously gazed up at Bdubs.
Bdubs quickly looked away from the mirror and towards him, meeting his gaze and careful to look nowhere else.
"Hi," he said for lack of anything else to say.
"Hello," Etho responded, drawing out the "O" in that sing-songy sort of way of his.
Another long moment of four wide staring at each other before Bdubs remembered why he was here and looked down at the angry red gash splitting his skin from high on the side of his neck to just beside his chin, stopping before his lips. Near where, he could now see, his other scar ended.
Bdubs tsked. "Yeah, that's a rough one, isn't it? Here, look up," he said as he grabbed the supplies and set into the familiar motion of healing that came hand-in-hand with these maps.
In the end, Bdubs healed him up without a hitch (though he did have to force his brain not to dwell on how Etho's skin felt as he held his head up, or the trio of freckles that dotted the base of his neck, or the little hisses Etho let out that could be heard clearly, nothing in their way. Okay, maybe Bdubs dwelled on those details later, that night after they ended their session for example, but he had been trying to be normal about it at the time) and Etho slipped back on a new mask — apparently he kept multiple — and everything was back to normal. Neither one of them told Guude, but what was there to tell? It was just an embarrassing accident that turned into a friend helping a friend.
However, all the times after that were less of an accident (and many more that friendly, but that was even later on). It still took years for Etho to be as comfortable as he is now, but it didn't take Bdubs all that long to notice that Etho would sometimes take off his mask to eat if it was just the two of them but always do his weird eat under the mask thing if anyone else was there. Still, he never really asked about the it, why he wore it or who all he wore or didn't wear it around, always figuring that if it was that important Etho would tell him. And he definitely didn't think he was the only one who saw Etho's face, just maybe one of the people he's most familiar with. But, again, if even Doc hasn't seen Etho without it…
Doc laughs, bringing Bdubs back to the present. "Oh, so you're just a pervert then? Intruding on his privacy?"
Beef laughs too and Bdubs sighs. He just can't win with this guy.
"Goodness sakes, he was fine with it, okay? Let me help with a cut he got on his face, I wasn't spying or anything. It was a long time ago anyway" Stick to the facts, then you technically won't be telling a lie.
"And you haven't seen it since?" Beef asks, like he already knows the answer, seemingly more amused than Doc's annoyed.
"Well…" Bdubs drawls, trying to wrack his brain on how he could lie without lying for that one. Instead, his mind supplies him with Etho's smile, crooked teeth and with that notch in his lips where his scar meets them, and he feels his own lips pull reflexively. Then, an image of those same lips wrapped around his cock and he suddenly has to use all his willpower to keep himself from blushing. Clearly, he's unsuccessful.
"Unbelievable! Have you seen his face?" Doc turns to Beef.
"Oh, for sure, tons of times," Beef says, jerking Bdubs back to reality. Alright, maybe he isn't the only one… But then Doc throws his hands in the air and turns away, allowing Beef to toss Bdubs a wink and shake his head.
"I cannot believe this! Where is he, I need to have words with him," Doc gripes, opening up his communicator.
"Hey!" Bdubs complains, trying to keep any actual pressure off of Etho, "who's invading privacy now!"
"Doc, I'm kidding! I haven't seen his face, I think that's a Bdubs exclusive," Beef gives in and Bdubs has to tilt his head down in order to hide his smile.
"Ugh, should've known. You two…" Doc shakes his head as he puts his communicator back down, probably waiting for Bdubs to bite back and continue the argument but he doesn't. He and Etho didn't exactly announce their relationship to the server when it began (and weren't about to), but he thinks that most people can put two and two together by this point. And besides, that isn't something he's about to lie about.
"Yeah, yeah…" Bdubs trails of fondly before adding, "do you think anyone else…?"
They share a look between each other.
"Not that I know of" Beef says.
"Yeah, same. His face is just another Etho mystery to rest of us mortals. Rumored but never seen…" He seemed to remember the crux of their conversation mid-sentence because his face pinched again. "Ugh, I can't believe he trusted you before me."
Fair to say, Bdubs may have an extra pep in his step the rest of that day. It's stupid, he's well aware, but it makes something in his chest sing. He doesn't even think it's fully a trust thing with Etho, as he definitely trusts a lot of others beyond Bdubs at this point, just maybe a comfort thing? And maybe it's a tad possessive that Bdubs is this happy about it, maybe not something he should be proud of but… he is.
He knows Etho truly is busy so he keeps himself from going over and bothering him just so he can stare at him or whatever, but he may stay up a little bit past his normal bedtime waiting for that familiar soft knock on his doorframe.
When it finally comes, Bdubs calls down to him from where he sits in bed (benefits of the open window design in this base) and is finally gifted with the sight of Etho climbing up and flopping beside him in bed, mask already abandoned in the time it took him to walk up the staircase.
"You're up late," Etho murmurs against his side, arm thrown over his waist.
Bdubs isn't about to tell him he was waiting up for him — worse yet, staying up just so he could look at him, as if he doesn't see him just about daily — so he just gives a predictable, "look who's talking," and relishes the small smile that curves on the half of Etho's mouth he can see, the scar revealing a sliver of teeth, before blowing out the lantern and laying down with him.
Truly, this is the view of Etho he likes best — well, definitely top ten. When he lets his eyes adjust and gets to see him all soft and tired in the darkness, inches from his own face. The only reason he stayed up is to get this for longer than the ten seconds he usually gets between Etho accidentally waking him up by crawling under the covers and Bdubs drifting back to sleep serenely once he knows he's there.
It's intimate seeing him like this, even besides the whole mask thing. Feels like when a cat finally decides it trusts you and rolls over to shows you its belly or falls asleep on your lap. Always feels special, makes Bdubs feel special, despite the fact that it's basically their nightly routine now.
And after a long day of not seeing him but thinking of him constantly, Bdubs soaks up the sight. His high cheekbones and straight nose, more crooked than the first time he saw it, courtesy of Etho's old fighting days. His soft lips still tilted in fondness as Etho studies him back. The way his hair and eyelashes catch what little light there is, making sections of them almost glow in the darkness. Like the moon, his mind supplies.
Etho squints his eyes suddenly before poking him in the side. His way of saying, you didn't answer my question.
"Just missed you," Bdubs supplies honestly. Screw aloofness.
Etho's eyes soften and he hums, scooting closer and nudging Bdubs' chest so he rolls onto his back. Bdubs complies and Etho's face finds its home pressed between his neck and shoulder. His nose is cold and Bdubs can't see Etho as well like this but it has other advantages, he thinks as he reaches one hand around to card his fingers through his hair and feels a gentle kiss pressed against his neck. And besides, it's clearly what Etho wants as he can already feel him going lax against him.
This is late for Bdubs, but for Etho to be this tired at this time of night? He must have really been working hard.
"Storage system still giving you trouble?" Bdubs murmurs. "Told you, it's those stupid golems."
A huff of air. "Leave them alone. And no, not anymore. I just got it all working before coming over." He sounds very happy about that fact and Bdubs presses a kiss into his hair without thinking. Bdubs is happy too, not only to see him happy and to see his projects pan out, but also…
"Great, your schedule's clear. You can spend tomorrow here helping wrangle my idiots into doing their job"
Etho laughs. "Oh, boy. I can't wait." He means it sarcastically but you'd never know from his voice alone, smile obvious and tone fond.
They drift off like that, smiles lingering, legs intertwined, and looking forward to tomorrow.
Bdubs wakes early with the sunrise (the downside of this window design), which would normally be no issue if he hadn't stayed up waiting for the guy currently wrapped around him like an octopus. The guy who Bdubs is pretty sure could sleep on the sun itself for how little the mornings affect him.
There's no going back to sleep, Bdubs isn't about to mess his perfect sleeping schedule up more than he already has, but he supposes he could afford to lay in bed a little longer than normal, especially when he pushes some of the hair out of Etho's face from where it rests on the pillow next to his and feels his heart go soft and his mind remember the information from yesterday.
Man, is he lucky.
Etho is beautiful like this. Bdubs has only had this for a few years really, a little over a year of getting it this consistently, but he can't imagine not being able to wake up to this sight every morning anymore. How do the others do it? Don't know what they were missing, he guesses. Think there's something mystical or logic defying under Etho's mask but never knowing the real kicker is how simple the real answer is:
Just a mouth. Soft, pale lips with a strong cupid's bow. A scar that splits them on his left side, carving a notch out of his smile. It isn't obvious when he's like this and his lips are all relaxed but when he smiles and his lips stretch it turns obvious. It's also, in Bdubs' opinion, the cutest, most attractive thing in the entire world. If he smiles really big, it even reveals the upper part of his gums, which of course makes making that happen as often as possible Bdubs' goal most of the time he opens his mouth or really does anything.
He also has a tiny bit of stubble growing in currently. Etho usually keeps himself pretty clean shaven, doesn't like how anything longer feels against his mask, but he must have skipped a day or two because he can see it shining in the sunlight. It's just enough to probably feel rough against his lips if he were to lean in and kiss him on the cheek.
He realizes he didn't get to kiss him last night, both too tired, and with Etho's project it's now been a few days since their last. But he doesn't want to wake him, is enjoying just watching him rest, how his eyelashes flutter every once in a while, how his fingers occasionally twitch where they rest against Bdubs.
And isn't he lucky just to know how it feels to kiss him from memory? To have felt those lips against his own so many times that he knows exactly how it'd feel. How he'd probably kiss back even in his sleep, or at least lean in, sigh, murmur his name. Just the memory makes his heart ache.
How lucky is he to know how those lips look when they form the words I love you, to know how those words sound whispered in his ear or how it feels when Etho murmurs them into his skin? To know how the inside of his mouth tastes or how soft his tongue feels when it traces his lips. How it feels when Etho bites bruises into his skin and kisses them better. To know how easily his own skin bruises under Bdubs' mouth, to see them bloom on his neck. To see that beautiful neck on display when Etho throws his head back in pleasure, to see it shining with sweat. To know by heart all the sounds he makes when he's close, how his face flushes and his eyebrows pinch and his eyes go all hazy when it's really good, when Bdubs has the spot just right…
Fuck, okay, maybe he does need to get up. He actually probably could wake Etho and do something about his now interested dick — maybe even have fun waking him up and isn't that the most tempting idea imaginable right now — but no, something about the last day makes him want to be sweet, appreciative. And maybe not wake up his sleeping boyfriend at dawn just because Bdubs can't keep his mind pure during his ten whole minutes of being awake.
So he sets out on the arduous task of unwinding himself from Etho's limbs and getting up, vowing to ignore his dick (at least until Etho's actually awake) and instead make them breakfast. He even makes sure to leave the gate closed to the top floor so his pack of golems won't wake him despite part of him wanting it to happen. Since Etho loves them so much now.
So, after an over an hour of wading through the morning mist to collect fresh eggs and milk from his minuscule farms, floundering in the kitchen to make Etho's stupid quiche thing that is his favorite but he never makes because its too much work, and trying to not become too side tracked by the golems getting in his way and trying to put the wrong thing in the wrong chest for the millionth time, Bdubs is finally walking upstairs to present Etho with breakfast in bed.
Etho has his head propped up on his elbow and a raised eyebrow as he watches Bdubs approach. His eyes are still lidded and his hair's all mussed, meaning he probably just woke up. Perfect timing, Bdubs thinks (and definitely nothing to do with Bdubs cussing out Idi for almost making him trip on the floor below).
"Breakfast in bed?" Etho questions, tone delighted.
"Shut up. Scoot over."
Etho's grinning as he sits up, allowing Bdubs to take the opposite end of the bed, back against the barrel that acts as a footboard, and place the tray of food before them.
Etho's eyebrows skyrocket. "You made quiche?"
Bdubs shrugs and avoids his eyes, fussing with the plates and silverware.
"You hate quiche," Etho continues.
"I hate making quiche," Bdubs corrects.
"Again, you made quiche."
Bdubs meets his eyes. "Would you just eat the stupid thing?"
Etho has this funny look on his face, amused and fond and suspicious all at once, before squinting his eyes and saying, "is this about me taking Scar's moss? Am I about to be poisoned?"
"I am still mad about that, but no. If I wanted to poison you I'd save myself the effort and poison your mini wheats. Now…" he says as he offers him a slice.
Etho takes it hesitantly and Bdubs pours them both a cup of coffee, making sure to put the correct amount of cream in Etho's so that it takes the exact right pale color. When he hands it to Etho he sees the love-struck expression on his face and feels his hand shake where it holds the mug but Etho just takes it without a word, bringing it to his lips to sip, eyes closing in satisfaction.
Etho's first bite of the quiche makes him let out a pleased moan and really, Bdubs agrees. It is, in fact, really good. Not worth the effort to make it regularly, but still really good.
They eat their quiche with sweet berries and sip their coffee mostly in silence, ankles brushing and listening to the morning birdsong. It's nice, peaceful. Plus, Bdubs gets to do what he wanted to do all day yesterday and stare at Etho. Gets to see the morning breeze card through his hair. Occasionally Etho meets his eyes and smiles and sometimes Bdubs ducks down to take another bite and looks up to Etho watching him back.
Bdubs is clearing the tray and assessing the crumb related damage to the sheets when Etho finishes his second piece and says, "that was perfect, Bdubs, thank you."
Bdubs hums. "I would say anytime but it really is a pain to make. You're lucky I had pie dough left in the freezer."
"Mhm, I'm lucky alright." He gently kicks Bdubs leg and says, "you didn't have to though. There's a reason why I never make it. I would've been perfectly happy with regular old un-poisoned mini wheats."
Bdubs grins, grabbing his ankle and running his thumb over the soft hair. "Can't a man just do something nice for his boyfriend?"
Etho tilts his head. "What happened to be mean more often?"
"That applies to the others, not you," Bdubs dismisses with the wave of a hand. "And to the idiots messing up my chests downstairs." He takes a sip of coffee. "Consider it a celebration for finishing your storage room."
"Sap," Etho pokes, "you haven't even seen it finished yet. Maybe I lied"
Bdubs shrugs. "Whatever. I still get egg pie in bed with my beautiful, sexy boyfriend so it's not like I'm acting totally out if the kindness of my heart."
"Uh huh." Etho downs the rest of his coffee and Bdubs watches his throat work. He's awake now…
"Has anyone else seen you without your mask?"
Well… he had been planning to approach the subject with a bit more grace, unsure if it's a sensitive topic or not, but he guesses that'll do. Sometimes he gets too happy to overthink around Etho, ends up spitting out whatever's on his mind.
Etho looks surprised at the conversation change but has no other reaction, so that's good. "Well I wasn't born with it on, so…"
Bdubs gives a quick pull to one of the hairs on his ankle. "I mean like the hermits. Or even mindcrackers, I guess."
Etho seems to think about it for a moment, toying with a berry between his lips (distracting, by the way) as he gazes out the window.
"I mean, I can't know for sure, obviously. I have to take it off sometimes. Like maybe Beef or Pause has seen it at some point, you know, CTM maps and all."
"Beef already told me he hasn't," Bdubs says, again mostly without thinking and realizing where he went wrong a second too late.
Etho drops the berry as his smile grows and Bdubs knows he been caught.
"What is this? You going around asking about what's under my mask too?" He sounds incredibly amused.
"No, I think I've got that one covered at this point." He throws one of his own berries at Etho who catches it and pops it in his mouth happily. "I was just chatting with Beef and Doc yesterday and it came up. They both said they've never seen you without the mask."
"Really? Hm… guess that makes you the only one then."
Bdubs feels pride bloom in his chest and a smile pull at his lips, which in turn makes heat rush to his face for feeling so satisfied at that fact, at Etho saying it himself. He looks up to see if Etho caught whatever surely just played out on his face only to see him staring at Bdubs with a wild grin. Damn it.
"You like that!"
There was no use lying so instead Bdubs gets up on his knees to start swatting at him.
"Oh, of course you do, you territorial freak," Etho laughs, falling back against the bed, not even fighting back, just grabbing onto Bdubs' wrists.
"Oh, please, look who's talking!"
Etho ignores him. "So what, you like the fact that only you get to see my full face?"
Bdubs cringes. That makes him sound bad. "It's not like that," he tries to explain despite the fact that it is kind of like that.
"What it's like then?" Etho looks amused but not unkind, like he genuinely wants to know.
Bdubs plops down beside him, leaning against the wall while Etho rests his cheek against his thigh, looking up at him openly while toying with a string on his pants.
"I don't know… just feels like a compliment, I guess. Like you've let me in on a secret without even meaning to. And it's not just something psychological or whatever, it's really a secret worth knowing. I like looking at you so knowing I'm the only one who fully gets to…
"It turns you on," Etho guesses.
Bdubs fights a smile. "It also just makes me feel good," he argues. "Flattered. Lucky."
"And turned on," Etho laughs.
"Yeah, yeah, and it's ridiculously hot, fine! You caught me!" Bdubs concedes, throwing a hand into the air.
Etho smiles, looking pleased that he got Bdubs to admit that it's at least kind of a sex thing, and starts to toy with the knot on Bdubs' pajama pants.
"You like that you're the only one who gets to see my mouth," he says, slowly pulling on one of the strings. "You like that you're the only one who gets my mouth." The knot falls apart and he trails cold fingers along the skin above his waistband.
Brain suddenly cloudy, Bdubs parts his legs and hums in confirmation, watching the way Etho mindlessly wets his lips.
Etho works one hand higher under his shirt — probably his way of saying he wants it off — tracing patterns as his other hand works its way up the inside of his thigh. "Do you want my mouth now?" he asks, looking up at him with wide eyes.
Bdubs shudders. When doesn't he. He nods, mouth dry.
Etho presses a slow kiss to his clothed thigh before dragging his pants down, using nothing but a guiding hand to situate Bdubs exactly where he wants him, before ducking down to place a kiss against the same spot, skin now bare.
He kisses reach higher and higher and if Bdubs wasn't hard before, the sight of Etho's mess of white hair between his tanned thighs has what seems to be all the blood in his body rushing straight to his dick. Screw whatever he said before, this is his favorite view of Etho.
He keeps his mouth gentle, biting and licking and sucking and kissing just about everywhere down there except where Bdubs' needs it. At one point, after what feels like hours have gone by, his cheek grazes his dick and Bdubs does not whine, but whatever noise he lets out seems to be what Etho was looking for as he finally opens his mouth, lolling out his tongue and bringing it so that the tip of Bdubs cock rests gently against it, before twining Bdubs hand into his hair and looking up at him expectantly.
Bdubs' cock twitches against Etho's tongue at the display, watching as a bead of precum pools against that soft, pink pillow. He takes in the sight, wondering what he did to deserve this and thanking the stars above for letting him have it anyway, before slowly pulling Etho's head in, watching his dick disappear between those lips. Twin moans echo out, Etho's reverberating up through Bdubs' core.
Bdubs watches him like he was the only thing in the world, like he couldn't look away if he tried. And why would he ever try? As his lips stretch, the notch in them appears, the same way it does when he smiles. The same way it does every time he blow Bdubs. Lucky, lucky, lucky.
After the initial push, Bdubs stops the pressure, keeping his hand there but letting Etho take the reins. In truth, that's really what's so hot about all of this to Bdubs, that he isn't making Etho do anything, that Etho just wants this, wants him, wants only him. Etho doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do so anytime Etho does something for Bdubs, especially without being asked, it feels like the grandest confession.
And Etho's a smart guy and can pick up what Bdubs is putting down pretty quickly. He looks up at Bdubs with mischief in his eyes as he sucks on the tip, making Bdubs' hips twitch before he can stop himself. He grips Bdubs' hip as he gradually takes him deeper and deeper and Bdubs entire world narrows to the mouth dragging along his cock, to Etho's soft hair and wild eyes.
Etho takes him to the root and stays there, meeting Bdubs' gaze purposefully even as tears well and his throat works. It's his way of offering himself up, even if he has all the power here, of saying, you have me. Of saying, only you get this. His way of pointing out that where the others have to speculate on what's under Etho's mask, Bdubs is intimately familiar with the back of his throat. He swallows.
"Fuck, Etho…" His left hand clenches the bedsheets and his right hand runs gentle fingers through his hair as Etho starts bobbing his head, forcing a groan out of Bdubs' chest.
He doesn't take it fast but it isn't exactly slow either, just the speed to have the air leave Bdubs' lungs with each pass. Just enough for Bdubs to struggle to keep his hips still as that perfect, perfect heat takes him down again and again and again. He makes sure to keep his eyes on Etho, to appreciate the view. How his nose nudges his groin when he takes him all the way, the flash of tongue when he focuses on his tip, how his eyelashes flutter with every pass, white against his pale cheeks. He's keeping his eyes on Bdubs in turn, watching his reactions to respond accordingly, to have Bdubs gasping and digging his heels into the bed as he does that thing with his tongue until Bdubs brain is mush and he's letting out nothing but a string of, Etho, yes, just like that, sweetheart.
Bdubs would never tell him, at least not outside the heat of sex, but Etho is really fucking good at this. Like, mind-blowingly good. Practice makes perfect, he guesses, and Etho's had a lot of practice at unraveling Bdubs over the years. And at this point? In the blowjob happening in the here and now? He's just showing off. Not playing that game where he makes Bdubs come in seconds but playing him like a fiddle regardless, like he knows exactly what Bdubs wants, exactly how to make him lose his mind. Rolling Bdubs' balls in one hand as he grips his hip with the other, swallowing him down like it's his job and he's dead set on a raise. Like it's his favorite thing in the world.
So it really doesn't take all that long for Bdubs to start gripping his hair a bit harder, to warn with a shaky and urgent voice "Etho- Please, I'm- I… Oh, Etho!"
Etho turns his attention to the tip and pulls off right as Bdubs' vision explodes. He rides it out for long moment, feeling his leg tremble as Etho strokes him through through it. When he remembers how to breathe he looks down and meets Etho's eyes. To say he looks gorgeous would be an understatement. The sight of him like that takes away what little breath Bdubs just got back. All puffy, spit-soaked lips, a dab of cum in that perfect cupid's bow, disheveled hair, and so much adoration in his eyes that it makes Bdubs' heart skip a beat. Only for me…
Etho keeps his gaze as he lowers his head back down. Bdubs about warns him that he's gonna need a long breather after that one when he realizes Etho's actual target. He bows his head and places an open mouthed kiss to the puddle of cum on Bdubs' stomach. Bdubs watches entranced, sees it coat his lips before a tongue emerges to start lapping up the mess.
"Fuck." Bdubs tosses his head back, the sight too erotic to look at directly right now. Too much like overstimulation despite the fact that Etho isn't even touching his dick. "Show off."
He feels Etho smile against his skin and then his tongue start to drag along his abdomen, first with slow and short licks, occasional sucks, then long swipes over the whole area, like he doesn't want to miss a drop. When Bdubs looks back down he sees Etho has a hand between his legs to palm himself as he cleans up the last of the mess. When he's done he once again wraps his lips around the tip of Bdubs softening dick, causing him to hiss, but Etho just pushes his tongue against his slit and quickly pulls off, content after getting that final drop.
He drops his head heavily against Bdubs thigh, hand still moving slowly between his own, and stares up at Bdubs, eyes almost begging.
"Etho, if you don't get up here…" He drags him up and they collide, mouths desperate and messy against each other, hands roaming. It's their first kiss in days and it tastes terrible, all egg and jizz and morning breath, but Bdubs couldn't care less, licks into his mouth and moans at the taste of himself. At the familiar taste of Etho flooding his senses for the countless time. At the feeling of those lips finally against his again.
Etho is too keyed up to stay like that for long, bringing Bdubs hands to his crotch to release his straining dick.
"Bdubs…" he moans against his lips in a shaky, wrecked voice that has Bdubs' own cock giving a valiant effort to join his.
"Yeah, okay, sweetheart, I got you," he says as he takes him out from his pants. He's desperately hard, leaking against Bdubs' palm almost immediately, and can't be far from coming so Bdubs starts stroking him fast in that way he knows he likes, paying special attention to that spot on the underside that makes his breath hitch.
Etho gasps and whines against the side of his face, breath hitting his ear. His hips jerk forward erratically, fucking Bdubs fist, and Bdubs once again thinks that he must be the luckiest man in the entire world as he licks the sweat off Etho's neck and hears those telltale sounds that mean he's moments away.
He pulls his head back just in time to see Etho's eyebrows pinch and his mouth fall open as warmth floods his palm. Bdubs presses kisses against his those freckles on his throat, against his jaw — right where Bdubs stitched him up all those years ago — against his lax lips, his cupids bow, his cheek — feeling the scratch of stubble he knew would be there — his scar, his nose, his eyelashes. Etho lets out a breathless laugh.
He slots his nose beside Bdubs', without even opening his eyes, and they use muscle memory to bring their lips together. It's slow and sweet and everything Bdubs has ever wanted.
Etho pulls back with a grimace and a smile."You taste disgusting."
Bdubs gapes at him, making Etho laugh and fall into his side before he can even say a word. "I taste disgusting? All you've had this morning is jizz and your cream with a splash of coffee and your stupid quiche."
He feels Etho shaking with laughter against his side, sees his upper gum peeking through his smile. "It was a good quiche," Etho says defensively.
Bdubs sighs in fake exasperation. "Fine, it was a good quiche."
"It's like the scrambled egg equivalent of cheesecake, how could you not like it?"
Bdubs' cheeks ache with how hard he's smiling. "Sure, of course. Egg cheesecake."
Etho looks up at him and Bdubs can't resist diving in for another kiss. And another. And another and another until they're a mess of sweaty tangled limbs and Bdubs, trying to catch his breath, has to face the facts that they really should shower and brush their teeth. And wash the sheets.
He's about to break the unfortunate news that they probably shouldn't stay in bed all day to Etho when he starts talking.
"Honestly…" He's staring up at the ceiling, deep in thought. "I think it's more of a habit than anything for me now, feels weird to have it off most of the time. But with you, I think it just feels even weirder to wear it. Feels stupid when it's just us, y'know?"
It takes him a second to remember what they had been talking about before he got his brain sucked out of his dick but… yeah. Yeah, he does know. Why have any barrier when it's just the two of them? Just us.
Bdubs nods, "Yeah… yeah, I get it."
"Plus," Etho rolls over, "makes it easier to do this," he says as he presses a lingering kiss to Bdubs' lips.
Bdubs melts into him and trails his thumb over his cheek when he pulls away. "And you call me the sap."
"Mhm." Their eyes stay locked for a moment longer before Etho gets up. "Alright, lets go work on your golem situation. I can hear them prattling around down there and I feel obligated to step in for their own safety."
Bdubs was kidding before, about making Etho fix his own storage disaster just after working on his own for days straight. Not to mention the fact that the golems really are annoying. But now, if Etho's offering and it means he's here and Bdubs has more opportunities to kiss him and to see that notch in his smile… well, the idea doesn't seem so bad.