Chapter Text
Etho’s rut is absorbing him.
He locked himself in his separate base from Bdubs. Joel is outside the door, making sure Etho stays put in the house.
He snarls into his pillow, grasping onto anything he can, attempting to ground himself.
"We aren’t mated, Bdubs isn’t ready, and I need to stay away."
Etho repeats out loud until he can’t process any other thought.
His breathing is ragged, he is sweating bullets, and biting back growling between each word.
He desperately needs his partner; no one else will do, just his boyfriend.
Etho shakenly stands up, adrenaline pumped through his veins. He slams on the door with every ounce of strength that he has, letting out a groan of pain when it doesn’t budge.
“Nice try, it’s triple blocked,” Joel declares. Current Etho snarls in reply, even if he knows it’s the right thing.
A few days go by and Etho finally is able to return home.
Yearning and exhausted, he opens the front door, expecting to see Bdubs. Except he is nowhere to be found, causing Etho to get a flicker of concern filling his stomach.
He walks upstairs into their bedroom and sees his partner curled into their shared bed.
He bites back a whimper; just seeing his boyfriend relaxed and safe makes his body melt.
“Hey flower,” Etho whispers. He restrains every bit of energy that he has to just collapse into bed with Bdubs. Instead, he tentatively changes into his loungewear, removing his mask and clothes.
In the process, he is hit with a pungent smell of sour berries filling his nose. He immediately whips his body around to his partner.
Etho sees Bdubs in the same position as a few minutes ago: curled and quiet in bed.
His senses perked at the idea of his partner in any sort of pain.
Etho bites back a whimper of displeasure as he approaches Bdubs, pulling him into his arms.
“What’s wrong?” Etho asks breathlessly, his voice worried.
Etho rubs one hand up and down Bdubs’ back and the other in his hair. He releases calming pheromones into the room, pressing his partner into his neck.
Etho starts to worry as he goes through countless scenarios of unknown reasons for Bdubs' stress.
He doesn’t know what he could have done wrong, considering he wasn’t here for the past few days.
His mind wanders back to the other day when he ran into Joel, prior to his heat.
The roads of the shopping center were completely empty, due to the hot temperature. There wasn’t a breeze in the air.
“Hey, I have to ask you a favor,” Etho approaches Joel.
“Hi, Etho! How are you?” Joel teases, pushing his arm playfully. Etho groans but bites back a chuckle.
“Yeah, yeah, I thought we were past small talk?” Etho jokes. He moves off of the main road, providing them with slightly more shade.
Joel rolls his eyes, letting out a small snicker. He stretches his arms around his back and leans onto the tree they are standing under, relaxing his shoulders.
“What’s up?” Joel ponders, a curious expression overtaking his features.
“Will you keep me separated from Bdubs for my heat this week?” Etho asks, his expression halted by Joel’s eye twitching in annoyance.
“What?”
“What, you!” Joel snarls. He goes to speak but bites back whatever words were in his throat.
Etho looks at him confused, defense starting to take over his features.
“If you didn’t want to help, you could have just said that,” Etho states, attempting to not provoke Joel’s exasperation.
Etho watches as Joel takes a few breaths, relaxing his tense posture. Joel mutters something about keeping his mouth shut, but, apparently, Joel isn’t able to help himself.
“It’s not that I don’t want to help you, man. Why are you trying to stay away from Bdubs?” Joel asks, his tone flat and probing.
Etho, on instinct, growls. The idea of his partner being mentioned by another Alpha makes his blood boil. He steps back, attempting to acknowledge the question without blindly initiating a fight.
“I don’t want to force him into something so serious if he isn’t ready for it. No matter how much I want it,” Etho forces out, his voice barely controlled.
Joel looks at Etho in disbelief. Bdubs has been complaining to everyone about their lack of bondment. Etho and Bdubs have been together over a year, unapologetically and filled with hunger. Joel begins to contemplate if Etho is joking.
“I can’t tell if you are kidding. Bdubs is desperate for you to be–” Joel is quickly cut off by a loud, recognizable snarl filled with aggression.
Joel puts his hands up in surrender, sighing in defeat in this conversation.
“Okay, okay, I will watch you. I won’t let you leave your separate base,” he concedes. Etho slowly relaxes. Once his body becomes regulated again, he nods. Letting out a polite “thank you” before heading home.
Currently, Etho is holding his partner protectively, attempting to calm his nervous system.
Etho couldn't care less about the sour scent; he just wants to fix Bdubs’ obstacle.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” Etho murmurs, pressing his boyfriend closer into his scent gland.
He feels Bdubs' body slowly weaken in his embrace, knowing he is safe and loved in his partner's hold.
Etho feels Bdubs pull back, causing him to almost whimper at the lack of contact. He watches as Bdubs props himself up, sitting slightly in front of him.
“Why don’t you want to bond with me?” Bdubs asks, clearly. His shoulders are tense as he turns to Etho, and desperation is placed under his tongue.
Etho sputters. His brain halts to a complete stop as his heart is pounding in his ears. Suddenly, he is aware of every pressure point in his body. He hasn’t acknowledged breathing; he will put that on hold for his other worries.
He questions if Bdubs wanted that all along. Had he been overthinking waiting so long?
“Do… you want that?” Etho inquires. He instantly regrets his answer when Bdubs snarls.
“No, Etho, I don’t. I just want to be boyfriends forever,” Bdubs growls out, sarcasm laced in every word.
Etho automatically cringes at displeasing his partner. Both of their scents are completely off, which brings Etho to realize he needs to come to his senses.
Etho slowly guides himself back, finally intaking oxygen that he didn’t notice he was withholding.
He stands up, attempting to hide the wobble in his steps. He plants his knees directly in front of Bdubs’ side of the bed. Etho delicately grabs onto Bdubs’ fingers, releasing his comforting scent into the room.
Once he sees his boyfriend relax, he begins, even if his own hands are trembling.
“I’m sorry. I just… I didn’t want to pressure you into doing something that you didn’t want to,” Etho explains, silently praying Bdubs understands. “I just don’t want to hurt you,” he confirms.
Etho feels his heart rate throughout his entire body. He is attempting to keep his exterior expression calm, which is the opposite of his mental one. He hears Bdubs whimper quietly, causing him to almost collapse.
Fix. Fix.
The word pounds through his skull. His body automatically begging to heal his partner's wound. They don’t need to be mated for Etho to want to mend his stress.
“I thought you didn’t want me anymore–” Etho immediately cuts off Bdubs by shaking his head. He pulls Bdubs into his arms; the comforting scent of his sweet berries is starting to return.
“I always want you,” Etho confirms. He doesn’t need to say more; the conviction in his whispered voice is enough.
Once Etho feels Bdubs hide into his neck, he is completely balanced. The mixture of calming scents absorbs the room, and combined with the silence between them provides a safe feeling for not only Bdubs but Etho as well.
“I’m sorry I took so long,” Etho whispers. His fingers laced with withholding as he traces Bdubs’ back. His restraint barely hangs on.
“I’ve never wanted anything more than to be your mate,” Etho growls, soft and reassuringly. He doesn’t need to look up to feel the heat on Bdubs’ face.
He slowly, teasingly, traces his teeth on Bdubs’ scent gland, causing him to sputter.
Bdubs’ scent soars throughout the room, causing Etho to sigh in relief. His partner feels better; that’s all he wants.
“Not now!” Bdubs blushes. Even if he is embarrassed, his body is completely relaxed in Etho’s hold. Etho quietly chuckles to himself.
“Okay, whenever you are ready,” Etho whispers before nudging his nose gently into Bdubs’ jaw.