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Etho groaned as feeling came back into their limbs, body sore and aching and a burning sensation in their throat. Their eyes cracked open slowly, normal one now glowing yellow, and they attempted to sit up. The room was dimly lit, and the cracked door let in a little light. They tried to bite back a whine of pain but it didn’t work, and quickly the door was pushed open and a small familiar shape rushed inside.
“Hey hey, welcome back,” his voice was unusually soft and he looked oddly tired, worry tight around his eyes. Bdubs gently put a hand on their upper arm, studying their body for a moment. It wasn’t like he could see much, they had even respawned with their mask on, but he looked nonetheless. “How are you feeling?”
“I-“ the words died in their throat instantly as they fell into a fit of painful coughs, sending waves of heat through their neck and chest, phantom pains from the now faint scar on their throat. Bdubs rubbed gently at their back while they coughed, and when it subsided he held a container of water up to them, which they took and quickly drank from. They winced from the sharp cold, but it was also soothing. “Tired,” they mumbled out after a couple more moments, voice rough and scratchy, but not too painful on their throat.
“Yeah I’m sure, first respawn of the game always hits the hardest.” He sat down on the edge of the bed next to them, pressing their thighs together from the position. He was warm, they could feel it though both layers of fabric separating them, the contact was very grounding. “Sessions almost over, I wasn’t sure you’d wake up before.”
They knew they would, they had another life to lose after all. At the moment they had to focus to even notice the hazy bloodlust lurking in the back of their mind. It had been shoved so far down through the whole session, and now with their exhaustion it was nearly non-existent. They were so thankful for it, they could finally breathe around Bdubs.
“Can we sit outside?” They wanted some fresh air, and didn't want to be stuck in this stuffy bedroom when the clock ticks done. They swallowed hard around the soreness in their throat, but now that they were a bit more awake they didn’t want to remove their mask to drink some more.
Bdubs watched them for a moment, and then his hands were cradling their face, thumbs slipped gently under their mask. He didn’t pull it off yet, although Bdubs had always been the only person allowed to remove their mask. “Take this off first?” He almost whispered, “promise no one else will come by.” Even though they couldn’t be sure about the promise, Bdubs’ touch made them feel incredibly safe, so they nodded lightly and allowed him to pull their mask down. He gave them a smile, and they smiled back.
“Better?” They asked shyly, hoping their pale complexion didn’t show any coloration rising to their cheeks. Bdubs grinned at them, thumb brushing over the bottom of their scar that is usually covered by fabric. They shivered involuntarily.
“Much better handsome,” he flirted playfully, standing from the edge of the bed and offering a hand out to them for support. They took it, standing and ending up leaning heavily on him. Together they shuffled slowly out of the house, bathed in the low light of the sunset as they exited the house. Etho looked down at Bdubs and couldn’t help but admire him in the sunlight. Bdubs caught their gaze and smiled, warming them from the inside out.
As they reached the campfire, Bdubs helped Etho sit down on one of the logs. They straddled it, facing him as he sat the same way. They stared at each other for a quiet moment, Etho lost in the warmth of their partner’s deep green eyes. Bdubs’ hand twitched where it laid on his knee, brushing against Etho’s pants like he was debating resting it on their leg. They almost told him to, they wanted the contact.
“You never killed your target, did you?” Bdubs asked after a moment. Etho bit at their lip nervously, tail tapping against the log behind them. They fidgeted with the red ribbon tied around their left wrist, a scrap from Bdubs’ headband that he had insisted they wore. After a moment they shook their head and then glanced at the sinking sun behind Bdubs. It was far too late now. Bdubs seemed to notice the same thing, as his eyebrows creased with concern and he finally moved his hand to rest on their knee. Their tail moved, curling around his wrist. They could feel him comb his fingers through the tuft of fur at the tip, it made them shiver in the warmth of the night.
“I couldn’t,” they said finally, voice soft. Bdubs didn’t even get a chance to ask who it was before they felt the life being ripped from their chest. They cried out, eyes squeezing shut as they slumped forward. Hands rested on their cheeks and Bdubs’ forehead pressed against theirs, while their hands rested on his thighs, a meek attempt to hold themself up. They sat like that for a while, Etho catching their breath while Bdubs held them like something oh so precious. “It was you, b.” They admitted once they could breathe again.
“I wouldn’t have been upset.” Bdubs replied, voice louder than theirs, but it always was. They shook out a watery laugh, an ache spreading through their sore body. Slowly, newly red eyes opened to face the ever familiar green. Bdubs didn’t shrink at the color, he didn’t even hesitate, he just looked right back.
“I know, but I couldn’t do that to you.” A finger brushed over their scar again, Bdubs’ gentle hands warming the skin of their face, or maybe that was some other kind of heat. They leaned into it, into the comfort of their partner. Bdubs lifted his head, but didn’t remove his hands, which left Etho being held up by them, limp in his arms. This was the most quiet they had seen Bdubs recently, the way he quietly studied their face with a hidden, burning emotion in his eyes.
“You have to be careful, I can’t lose you so soon e.” Bdubs’ eyebrows furrowed and Etho frowned softly, concerned. They didn’t want to do that, they had already died before him in so many other games. With all the strength they could muster, they leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead, ending up with their head pressed into his shoulder and the two of them sitting even closer before.
“We’ll be okay,” they promised. They could feel the heat of Bdubs’ cheeks as he rested his face against their neck. For now it was just the two of them, in each other's embrace. Etho didn’t have to worry about being a red life here, they were the safest they ever possibly could be.