Hiii

hiii <3 beloved mutual here to bother you for ask game: 16 for ethubs?

have you ever / you wouldn’t dare (x) (1277 words)

cw // suggestive (they make out lol)

------

The stars hang in the pitch colored sky outside, visible only through the small window in the cobblestone wall. Soft lantern light flickers across the room, illuminating the faces of the two men who rest there. Etho leans against the wall, one leg pulled up to his chest while the other splays into the room. His mask still covers the lower half of his face, but his mis-matched eyes reflect the small flames.

“So, Etho,” Bdubs breaks the silence. “How’re you likin’ Mindcrack so far?”

Etho’s gaze flickers over to the other man sitting across from him. Bdubs lounges against an ottoman, arm slung atop it as he smiles at the server newbie.

Technically, it's been a few weeks since Etho first showed up, but he’s definitely still settling in. Luckily for him, Bdubs has been more than happy to show him the ropes.

“It’s good,” Etho responds, his voice quiet.

This is the first time he and Bdubs have spent any downtime together, and Etho isn’t entirely sure what to do here. Bdubs had invited him over after a mining session ran late. Something about not really being ready to sleep-- which, after having almost been blown up by a creeper more than once, Etho was all too quick to agree with.

So here they are in Bdubs’ base, sitting on the floor because it was far easier than clearing off any proper seating.

“Good, good.” Etho can feel the prying nature of Bdubs’ eyes as he speaks. “Y’know, I don’t think I know much about you. You’re pretty quiet ‘n’ all.”

There it is.

Etho shrugs, folding his leg closer. “Not much to know, I guess,” he answers.

“Aww, now that’s just not true!” Bdubs tosses a hand in Etho’s direction. “There’s lots to you, I’m sure!”

A bit of heat crawls along the back of Etho’s neck at being put on the spot so directly.

“I’m… not sure I’d know where to start,” he laughs awkwardly.

Bdubs hums in thought for a moment before shifting, pulling his legs in so he can lean forward. “Well, how about this? We can play a game. I’ll ask questions, and you answer them.” The way his eyes catch the low light almost entrances Etho as Bdubs waits eagerly for his answer.

“Um… yeah, I guess. Sounds good.”

“Great!” Bdubs cheers, clapping his hands together.

. . .

The first string of questions are fairly easy to answer. Things about what he did before this, where he learned his redstone, how he knows some of the other server members. It’s after Bdubs declares that he’s done with the baby questions that things get a bit more revealing.

“You got a girlfriend? Boyfriend?”

Bdubs says it so casually that Etho almost misses it. Once it settles in his mind, however, he can feel the flush blossom across his face and he is endlessly grateful that he chose to keep the mask on.

“Uh. N-Nope.” He tears his gaze away to look at the carpet, idly plucking at a loose tuft of wool.

“Really? Someone as handsome as you?”

Etho’s blush intensifies-- he’s certain that in better lighting his ears would be visibly pink.

“Uhh… I mean. I’ve never-- erm. I’ve never had…” It’s stuttered and mumbled out, but the admission spills into the room.

“Wait.” Etho can feel Bdubs staring at him. “You’re tellin’ me you’ve never dated someone?”

Etho nods.

“Have you ever been on a date?”

Etho hesitates a moment before shaking his head. “Nope.”

Bdubs is quiet for a moment. Etho assumes he’s deciding what to ask next, though he’s definitely not expecting what does come out of Bdubs’ mouth.

“Have you ever been kissed?”

If spontaneous combustion could happen from embarrassment alone, Etho would be ashes on the rug. He stills entirely, frozen at the question, entirely unsure of how to answer. In fact, he’s unsure on why Bdubs would even want to know in the first place. Evidently Etho’s reaction alone is enough to answer for him, Bdubs’ wide smile catching in Etho’s periphery.

“You haven’t!”

Etho shakes his head again. “No. I haven’t.”

There’s more silence, Etho still refusing to look back at Bdubs. That is, until Bdubs is suddenly moving from his spot, crossing the room to kneel in front of where Etho sits. Etho looks at him, eyes wide in confusion.

“Uh… Bdubs? What are you doing?”

“You’ve never been kissed,” Bdubs states, as if that answers anything.

“R-Right…”

Etho stares up at the other man, watching the way Bdubs eyes flicker between Etho’s eyes and where his mouth is hidden by the mask.

“I’m fixing that.” Bdubs reaches a hand out to rest against Etho’s cheek, thumb waiting at the edge of Etho’s mask. “If that’s alright with you, sweetheart?”

The nickname sends a chill down Etho’s spine the way it does every time Bdubs says it. The shaky breath he takes keeps him from saying anything, so he nods instead. It’s all Bdubs needs to gently pull Etho’s mask down from his face, revealing it to the cool air. Bdubs’ eyes flit around Etho’s face-- taking in every detail they can. Etho’s sharp jawline. His soft lips. The scar that travels across his mouth like lightning.

“God, you’re gorgeous,” Bdubs breathes. His thumb finds Etho’s lower lip, tracing the scar down to his jaw with a touch so gentle it makes Etho want to melt.

It’s surprising to Etho the way he leans forward, seeking more of those tender brushes against his skin. It’s surprising to Etho the way Bdubs so easily guides his face closer with just his knuckle beneath Etho’s chin.

Bdubs leans closer, fully invading Etho’s space now, his free arm reaching to the side of Etho to balance Bdubs. And then… then…

Their lips meet, Bdubs’ on Etho’s, pressing gently together at first as though allowing Etho to test the waters. Etho’s breath hitches in his throat, and he can’t help how he presses himself further into the kiss. Bdubs’ lips are far softer than Etho had ever imagined-- not that he’d imagined them before, of course. It’s not like he’d lay awake at night trying desperately to push the thought of Bdubs’ mouth on his out of his mind.

The kiss breaks apart after another moment, though Bdubs doesn’t pull away. Neither does Etho. Their lips still brush against the other’s as Etho’s eyes flutter open to meet Bdubs’ gaze. There’s only a heartbeat where they seem to speak with only their eyes before Bdubs is sliding his hand to the back of Etho’s neck and pulling him back in, this time the kiss deeper. Hungrier.

Etho’s brows furrow as he lifts his hands to grasp desperately at Bdubs’ shirt, pulling him closer as he presses himself into the kiss.

It’s not long before Bdubs is straddling Etho’s lap as he kisses him with fervor. Etho gasps softly as Bdubs drags his teeth over Etho’s bottom lip before darting his tongue between Etho’s lips. Etho’s mouth opens just enough for Bdubs to trace the inside of Etho’s mouth with his tongue, prompting a soft whimper from the man below him.

The next few minutes are spent lost in the bliss of one another, until the pair is breathless and forced to come up for air. Etho’s lips tingle with the electricity of Bdubs’ affections, his eyes hooded as he looks up at the man still straddling him.

Bdubs laughs softly, leaning forward to plant a quick kiss to Etho’s forehead.

“I think you can say you’ve been kissed now, ay, Etho?”

Etho smiles back, a quiet chuckle bubbling in his chest.

“Yeah. I’d say I have.”