Chapter Text
Etho knew Joel was awake when he heard the signature nonsensical grunts and sounds of dismay. He also knew that Joel waking up was not synonymous with Joel being able to hold an intelligent conversation.
“You’re awake?” Etho asked, running his hand through Joel’s hair.
“Ngngm,” said Joel.
Etho pressed a kiss to Joel’s forehead, reveling in the fact that he was allowed to do that now, and chuckled. “Do you want to get up?”
“ Gnhng.” Joel wrapped his arms tighter around Etho.
“Oh come on. I thought we were gonna do something today.”
“ ‘r warm,” said Joel. “Soft.”
Etho laughed softly. “Alright.”
---
Etho and Joel didn’t talk about the night before. Etho thought that maybe if they talked about it, it would feel like something that could break. If it was something whispered at night in the dark, maybe talking about it in the daylight would destroy it entirely. Whatever it was.
Despite that, something had changed, and both of them knew it.
Etho had to admit, once the two of them agreed that whatever they had was no longer fake, it was much easier to use it for evil.
For example, Etho was going to throw a tantrum in Joel’s kitchen.
“So we start off by whispering to each other once we know Grian’s in the room,” said Etho. “Then we start talking louder, and I get annoyed at you, and shove you. You shove me back, and I get more upset and we start both screaming. I grab something of Grian’s and throw it. Right?”
“Yup,” said Joel, kicking his feet.
“What am I supposed to get mad at you about?”
“What?”
“That was my question. What do I start screaming at you about?”
“I don’t know,” said Joel. “Whatever you’re upset with me about, I guess?”
“But I’m not upset with you.”
“Oh.”
Etho paused. “You forgot to get me something for my birthday?” he said, at the same time Joel said,
“I spray painted your bathroom.”
“I like that one a lot, actually. You would do that.”
“I would,” Joel agreed.
---
“You spray painted my bathroom,” Etho deadpanned. Joel shot him a glare. “I mean- Oh no! I can’t believe you would betray me like this!”
Grian looked up, but didn’t otherwise engage.
Joel screamed as high pitched as he could possibly go, and pointed at Etho. “I never loved you anyway! Um- That’s for what you did with Bdubs!”
“I would cry if I could.”
“ Etho.”
Etho glanced at Grian. Grian had his headphones on. “I mean- I’m so sorry! Please don’t leave me!”
“Too late!” Joel stared at Etho. He stared at Etho harder, and Etho couldn’t understand what he was supposed to be doing.
Joel flipped Grian’s salad all over the rug. Grian gaped for a minute, then picked up the bowl, and threw it at Joel. Etho caught it. “Um,” he said.
“You ruined my dinner!”
“I was too caught up in the moment, Grian!” said Joel. “You know how it is!”
“Are we starting a fight, Joel?” asked Etho.
“I thought you guys were breaking up!”
“We’re starting a fight,” said Joel. “You ruined my stuff, Grian?”
“I did what? When?”
“When you set off the sprinklers!”
“Listen listen listen listen fellas, we can come to an arrangement here, I’m sure of it-”
“Yeah, we can,” said Joel.
“Really?” Grian perked up. “What do I have to do?”
“Um.” Joel glanced at Etho.
“Um,” said Etho.
“Do his cleaning?” asked Etho.
“Yeah!” said Joel. “That! And also be less annoying with your fights with Scar.”
Etho put a hand on Joel’s shoulder and laughed.
Grian glanced between the two of them. “So…” he trailed off.
“Oh yeah,’ said Joel. “I wanted Etho to intimidate you.”
“Dirty cheater,” said Grian.
“There were never rules, Grian!” Joel shrieked, and Etho winced again. “It’s every man for himself!”
“Etho, control your boyfriend!”
“We’re not dating,” said Etho.
“... What?”
“But we also are dating,” said Joel. “Hope this helps.”
“Exactly,” said Etho. “We’re not dating but we also are dating, and he’s not my boyfriend but he’s also not not my boyfriend, and-”
“Please get out of the kitchen.”
Fin?