Work Text:
Joel thinks that if he has to look at his sketchbook for much longer, he will go insane. It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy designing architecture, but with finals coming up that’s all that he’s done lately. Hell, he hasn’t even had time to hang out with Etho and he lives with the guy for goodness’s sake.
Speaking of Etho, Joel hears some rustling coming from their kitchen and decides that he’s had enough of hanging out in the office. The office was originally supposed to be one of their bedrooms, but when you’re a couple you only need one bedroom. So, they put their desks into the second room to create a makeshift office space and usually Joel loves to work in here, but not today.
When he exits the room, Etho is leaning against one of the counters on his phone. Joel sneaks up to him and wraps his arms around him.
“Boo!”
“Holy crap! Warn a guy, would you?” Etho yelps.
“Now why would I do that? That would take all of the fun out!”
“Well, it wouldn’t be fun if you gave your boyfriend a heart attack now, would it?”
Joel pouts up at Etho, who only sighs and hugs him back.
“What’re you even doing?”
“I was trying to decide what we should have for dinner,” Etho pauses and raises an eyebrow at Joel “Weren’t you supposed to be working on your finals?”
“…Anyways! I think that we should order in tonight.”
“What are you feeling? Also, don’t think that we won’t circle back to that.”
“I’m feeling Chinese food. Does that sound good to you?”
Etho, keeping one arm wrapped around Joel’s shoulder, hums in affirmative before pulling the closest Chinese food rest up on his phone.
“Do you want our usual?” Etho asks.
“Yeah, but I also want some crab rangoons as well!”
“Noted.”
With the food ordered, there’s not much to do besides wait. The two migrate towards their couch and decide to play Minecraft to pass the time. They’ve had the same survival world since they started dating in their freshmen year and they’re almost seniors. As you can imagine, this world is quite literally like their firstborn child.
Dinner was a great success. The two always eat like they’re starving, so there’s no leftovers. Unfortunately, this means that Joel needs to get back to his homework. Etho reminds him of this fact when he’s half draped across Etho’s lap.
“Remember how I said we were going to circle back to your finals?”
“No, Etho!” Joel whines “Don’t ruin my immersion of happiness!”
Etho laughs and shakes his head. “Come on, we can work together at the dining table.”
“Fine,” Joel drawls “But you’re getting my sketchbook!”
“Deal. I’ll be right back. Why don’t you go sit at the table.”
Nothing happens for a minute and Etho looks at Joel.
“What?”
“Babe…you need to get off of me so I can get your sketchbook.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
Joel groans loudly before dragging his body up to start walking to the table. Etho disappears into their office and Joel, on his way to the dining room, plugs in their fairy lights that are strung around the room. Instantly, this creates a cozy feeling that’s only made better when Joel turns off the evil big light and puts a Sleeping at Last record on their record player.
Before he gets to the table, he grabs two mugs and makes them their preferred drinks. Joel has a supreme taste and only likes tea whereas Etho has terrible taste and drinks black coffee. When he gets to the table, he puts the drinks down gently and throws himself on the bench that they have at their dining table. Etho comes back in with Joel’s sketch book and his own iPad as well.
“I didn’t want you to feel like you were the only one who was doing work.” Etho’s hand that’s not holding their stuff goes up to rub the back of his neck in embarrassment.
“Aww, Etho! You’re so sweet!” Joel teases him “It’s almost like you love me or something.”
“Shut up Joel.”
He laughs as Etho’s cheeks become bright red. Etho rolls his eyes and sits down on the bench next to Joel who instantly scoots closer to him. Instead of sitting normally at the bench, Joel rests his back against Etho’s side and props his knees up on the bench as well. His knees have become his table rather than the actual table.
“I’m just saying. You seem a little obsessed with me.” He grins cheekily at Etho.
“Me? Obsessed with you?” Etho chuckles “I think you’re projecting your own feelings onto me, and you are the one who’s obsessed with me!”
“You are delusional! I would never be obsessed with you.”
“Sure Joel, whatever you say.”
“You’re a mean cruel boyfriend!”
“Yes, I know,” Etho sighs “You only tell me about a hundred times a day.”
Joel stammers and Etho smiles and shakes his head.
“Relax Babe. I’m just teasing,” He awkwardly hugs Joel, who really isn’t in prime optimal hugging position. “But I am going to be a mean boyfriend as you absolutely need to get back to work on your final.”
“Well, this just proves my point!”
“Uh huh, you can’t continue thinking about the injustices that I’ve committed against you while drawing.”
“Damn you.” Joel pouts before finally starting on his work again.
Despite Joel’s reluctance, he’s actually managed to get some great progress on his fake city design. Unfortunately, Etho does in fact know him and knows that he works best with someone else around. Oh, the horrors of being known.
With the music playing softly and the record player crackling, Joel is getting sleepier and sleepier. He’s fully leaning against Etho at this point while drawing in his sketchbook. Etho doesn’t seem to be sleepy at all and rather seems like he’s in the hyper focused zone. But he is staring at a bright iPad screen and has been for at least a couple of hours now.
Etho in general has it a lot easier because all he needs to design is his stylus pen. Whereas Joel needs all of his oil pastels to even remotely be able to create what’s in his chaotic mind. But Joel doesn’t mind mixing the colors by hand and honestly prefers it. It’s messy and colorful, but that’s Joel to a T.
Joel can’t help but be distracted by Etho. He turns his head up to look at his boyfriend in all of his glory. Watching him in the zone just reminds Joel how lucky he truly is to even be in the presence of Etho. His white hair is like snow and his matching eyelashes frame his dark brown and red eyes perfectly. The furrow in his brow only enhances how pretty he is, but Joel likes a partner who’s determined.
In case you couldn’t tell, Joel is a little obsessed with Etho. But he’d never admit it to Etho’s face. There’s a warm feeling that tingles in Joel’s chest every time he sees Etho’s bare face. The fact that Etho feels safe and trusts Joel enough to not wear his mask is something that Joel holds near and dear to his heart.
Joel could truly stare at Etho all day and never get bored. His eyes are disagreeing with him and are getting heavier and heavier. He begins to nod off, and his head is fully into the crook of Etho’s neck. His grip on his sketchbook falters and eventually falls back onto his knees. Etho doesn’t notice the added weight of Joel’s body.
Etho continues to work on his own project until he feels satisfied with his progress. Of course, knowing Etho, he will most likely change the entire project at least three more times before he’s truly satisfied, but for now he was done. He saves his project and goes to ask how Joel’s is doing when he notices his sleepy boyfriend.
Etho truly is in love with Joel. He’s perfect and oh so cute, but Etho values his life far too much to say that Joel’s face. But his boyfriend truly is something special. His brown curls and the perfect pink streak that goes through his hair is just so Joel. How Etho not love this man in all of his glory.
Joel is the literal fireworks that explode in Etho’s heart every time that he looks at him. He’s just so bright and full of passion, it makes Etho want to fall to his knees and pray. Because the only answer to how one human can be so perfect is that they’re not human, but rather a god. And Etho would gladly worship this god until the day he dies, and he would die as the world’s happiest man.
Etho loves that Joel feels so safe with him that he’s willing to fall asleep on him. He looks so peaceful and content, Etho loathes to wake him. It’s much like cat rules, when one falls asleep you don’t move because you are the chosen.
But thankfully for Etho’s back, which has begun to ache from being in the same position too long, Joel’s eyes begin to flutter. When they open, he jumps a little in shock, not expecting to meet Etho’s eyes head on. Joel blushes immediately, which causes Etho to let out a coo.
“Hi, Sweetheart.”
“…What are you looking at?” Joel mumbles and raises a hand to rub at his eyes.
“Only the prettiest boy in the whole world.”
Joel’s blush only worsens and, before he can bring his hands up to hide his face, Etho cups his face with both of his hands. He kisses his forehead so softly; Joel feels like crying.
“Shut up, you sap,” Joel yawns “You’re really not helping the obsessed rumors acting like this.”
“That’s okay,” Etho lovingly smiles down at Joel like he’s his whole world “It’s worth it if I get to date you.”
Joel really does bury his head in his hands, groaning in embarrassment before another yawn interrupts him.
“Come on then sleepyhead,” Etho gets up and removes Joel’s sketchbook from his knees and holds out his hand “Let’s go to bed.”
Joel grabs his hand and makes Etho pull his weight completely up from the bench. He cuddles into him as they begin to walk to their room to do their nighttime routine.
“Lame.” Joel makes sure to draw out the word as long as possible.
“Says the man who can barely keep his eyes open.”
“Shut up before I make you carry me.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“Etho.”
“…”
“Babe…?”
“…”
“Oh, for fucks sake, I didn’t mean you had to shut up forever!”
“Phew, that’s good! I was worried that I’d never be able to tell you that I love you again!”
“…I love you too…,” Joel mutters “You giant sap.”