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Etho woke up, shifting in his bed ever so slightly, perfectly content to stay right here, warm in his admittedly very messy bed. Messy by other people’s standards, of course, Etho didn’t like disorganised anything. It was just very… nest-like? Den-like? Something like that. Very warm and safe and dark, perfectly fluffy blankets with just the right texture surrounding him.
It was the perfect weather as well, from what he’d read last night. A chilly, slightly dreary, mid-February day, but no forecasted snow or rain. The ideal weather for a Canadian. (And an arctic kitsune, but mostly Canadian. Etho was very seasoned in cold weather.)
“Good morning, Etho!” Joel called, dragging out the O in ‘good’ as he slammed the door open excitedly. Ugh, why (and how) was he so energetic this early in the morning? It wasn’t even a particularly interesting day, either. Or was this another one of those surprise ‘birthday’ parties the hermits had been throwing, trying to guess his birthday? Either way, this was very unnecessary as it was both unfortunately early and not his birthday.
Etho let out a quiet, breathy chuckle. “Hey, Joel,” he greeted, not moving from where his face was hidden. It was a bit childish, he would admit, considering they had literally been soulmates and Joel had very much seen his face. And also felt his heartbeat and every tick of damage he’d taken. It wasn’t exactly like there was much to hide.
“Good morning,” Joel repeated. “You should wake up, Etho. Wake up and hang out with me please.”
Etho groaned, and whether that was just internal or if he had done it aloud too, he wasn’t quite sure. “Why? It’s so early, Joel. You can’t expect me to even want to move yet, man.”
Joel made some sort of pathetic sound, and Etho could feel him come closer. It was like a sixth sense for knowing when he was around. “Seriously? Not even on Valentine’s? Please?” Oh… That made a lot more sense now. Etho had honestly forgotten Valentine’s existed. “My wife isn’t here, you’re the best that I got.”
“Oh, so I’m just the rebound is what I’m hearing,” Etho bantered, grinning. He tried his very best to sound very sad, though. “You don’t even want me, you just want Lizzie. You wound me, Joel.”
“Psh,” Joel chuffed, probably flicking his hand in that adorable way he did when he was trying to seem all nonchalant. “Nah, you could never be my rebound, Etho, I simply love you too much.”
“Aw,” Etho muttered, chuckling slightly. “So sweet of you, Joel, so good to me.” It was very hard to keep the smile from his voice. Banter with Joel (and just being around him, really) always brought up Etho’s mood.
“Alright, c’mon, Etho, get movin’,” Joel said, suddenly deadpan. Etho could feel as he shook him a bit, too. It wasn’t rough or anything; the best way to describe it would be firm or stubborn.
Etho just rolled over, curling slightly closer into himself. “Noooo, I don’t wanna,” he whined.
“Seriously, Etho?” Joel sounded very unimpressed with Etho’s resistance.
“Nope, no Ethos here. He’s somewhere else, I think,” Etho replied. “Try again later.”
Joel sighed like a disappointed parent. He was probably glaring at him with his arms crossed as well, not that Etho could see it. He hadn’t even opened his eyes yet this morning, that’s how early it was.
“So stubborn, Etho, gah,” he complained. “I think you just don’t want me here, gone. Even though I’m so amazing, and handsome, and very funny, you want me to go. Fine.” As he said it, Etho could tell he was walking to the door.
Despite himself, Etho did feel a bit bad to have him leave. He was both a horrible people pleaser and Joel specifically had a hold on him. They weren’t even soul bound anymore, but it felt a bit wrong to let his soulmate just walk off like that, especially on Valentine’s Day. “N- no, Joel, I could never. I’m not getting out of bed though. Too cozy.”
Joel snorted. “Fine, sure,” he replied. “Wouldn’t expect you to be the lazy one, Etho, I will admit.” Etho just grumbled, moving into an ever-so-slightly less uncomfy position. “Hmmm, let’s see. Maybe this is all just a clever ploy.” It wasn’t, honestly, but Etho was slightly curious to see where the heck Joel was going, so he didn’t dare interrupt.
“Maybe Etho wants cuddles. Do you want cuddles, Etho?” As he said it, the moth hybrid poked Etho’s shoulderblade, making him squirm slightly and let out a little sound. Not what he had been expecting at all, but Etho wouldn’t complain. It was definitely a very slow day today, so some Joel cuddles might be nice, although the thought made him blush slightly. It was a bit reminiscent of a time when the two of them had literally been one soul. When they had slept in the same bed.
Joel chuckled. “Oh wow, Etho, I can practically feel you blushing and I can’t even see your face.” Etho hummed (it wasn’t a whine, thank you very much), trying to bury his face even deeper. Joel just sighed, and Etho felt as the bed dipped when he joined him. “C’mon, boat boy,” he said, much quieter this time as he tried to worm his way into Etho’s arms.
Etho let him with almost no resistance, practically pulling him closer. He held around Joel’s middle, his back and wings pressing into the kitsune’s chest and his hands gripping the arms that held him. “Mh,” Etho hummed, nuzzling into Joel’s shoulder. “Cuddles.”
Joel melted into his arms, letting out a sigh. Etho could literally feel as his muscles relaxed, wings unfurling a bit and his grip on his arms softening. “Hn,” he agreed. “‘S warm. Can see why you didn’t wanna leave now, boat boy.”
Etho grinned, tail wagging. “It’s comfy,” he said again, pressing a light kiss to Joel’s neck.
Joel just gasped, and Etho felt his heart speed up slightly. “Yeah, ‘s nice, innit?” His voice was breathy, flustered in the most perfect way. Etho kissed him again, revelling in the way he gasped.
“You’re cute when you’re flustered,” Etho teased.
Joel spluttered, but only for a moment before he muttered a defiant, “so obsessed with me, Etho. Gah.”
Etho just chuckled. “I dunno, you’re the one who asked to cuddle on Valentine’s Day. Sounds a bit obsessive to me.”
“You’re the one kissing my neck, Etho! Of your own accord, mind you!”
“Yeah, yeah,” he teased, pressing another soft kiss to his shoulder. “You approached me. I’m just giving you what you so clearly want. You were begging for it, really.”
“I hate you, Etho. You suck.”
Still, Joel didn’t leave, and Etho didn’t even really want him too. Joel saying that was probably closer to an ‘I love you’ than the times he actually said he loved him. Plus, Joel started this whole thing with the neck kisses. He literally signed off his note to him with just ‘neck kisses’. It was all him, at this point.