Work Text:
° REDSTONE POWDER °
The fields were quiet, the soft sounds of the birds chirping swept through the whistling of the wind. A comfortable breeze laid lightly in the air, it was a warm day. Not too hot. And not too cold. Just perfect enough to be able to roll up your sleeves and get down to proper work.
And that is just what Bdubs chose to do today. Over the last few months he had been making an effort to increase the nature in his base. Going to the little details of the rocks and grass. The gradients of colours being perfect to mirror light. Individually placing the leaves on all the trees he had constructed. Altering continuously between what blocks to create shadows with.
He even went as crazy to hand place pieces of grass all in a field. Most of the people on the server who heard of this thought he was nuts to do this! Well, Bdubs didn’t mind. He liked playing the game. Pushing himself into new things out of his comfort zone.
Today was another one of those days. He had been thinking about making a new redstone contraption for an automated farm. Picking out a clearing for it in his base. Deeming it as large enough and in a good placement to then sketch up a build design. Perching down on a rock nearby quickly and getting his notepad out. Along with his charcoal.
Starting to quickly mock up some ideas for the building that would go around this farm. Making sure it would suit the spread out feel of his base so far this season. He really, really, wanted to try new things. Especially to experiment with new things in his builds. Such as the little detailing.
Bdubs then pushed himself up from his rock, putting his notepad and charcoal away into his inventory. Moving back over to the area he deemed good enough for his redstone contraption.
Taking a deep breath in and out, perching his hands on his hips, having a toothy grin on his face. He then got to work trying to configure the redstone.
Somehow along the way, Etho had tagged along to just stand by and watch as his partner stubbornly perceiver with his work. Etho had just been flying over with his elytra when he saw Bdubs messing around with something new. Wanting to drop by and see how his partner was doing. He decided to stay and watch. Staring as the man had rolled his sleeves up showing his upper arms. The tanned skin slightly rough from multiple hard days of working out in the field.
The silver haired man’s gaze shifted to how Bdubs had tightened his bandana to keep his curly hair out of his eyes. Watching as a couple strands would sometimes fall into his eyes. Which only made his eyes crinkle in a smile underneath his mask.
It was endearing to see the expression on Bdubs face of concentration, his slightly pursed lips and some clicking noises in his mouth as he fiddle between redstone repeaters and pistons, sticky pistons. Continuously going back and forth between to his shulker box and to the contraption.
Etho was known for his high knowledge in redstone contraptions, building, traps and practically anything else involving it. Were Bdubs was seen as, maybe not the most highly knowledgeable with redstone. Even with having Etho right by him to help. With Bdubs stubborn attitude. He refused help from his partner urging Etho to stay put.
The silver haired man didn’t mind this, only letting out a light chuckle and nodding his head to the curly haired man. Speaking a couple light teased to his husband. Which only was responded with some playful glares. Smiling softly once again underneath his mask. He shifted onto one leg, folding his arms in front of him as he kept his eyes on Bdubs and followed as the man moved around.
Bdubs groaned softly as the different combinations of the blocks wouldn’t work. Ignoring the light chuckles from his husband.
“’Dubs. Come on, just let me help you a little bit?~” Etho spoke in a light snicker. Clear amusement in his tone. His eyes crinkling underneath his mask, showing a clear smile.
The curly brunette just huffed lightly and peered up at Etho. Scrunching in his eyebrows slightly as he studied Etho’s face, well the part of it he could see atleast that wasn’t covered by his mask. His own face was covered in light grit and dust from the dry dirt that had spread up onto his hands.
Bdubs truly looked one with nature out here, with his moss cape on his back with the small shrubbery growing from it.
This sight only made Etho smile more fondly at his partner.
“mh fine.” Bdubs mumbled softly to his partner. Clearly frustrated that the contraption he wanted to make wasn’t working. He had already tried so many different placements of blocks and combinations.
Bdubs’ stubborn reply only made the taller silver haired man chuckle lightly under his mask. Adjusting his mask more over his face. Slightly fiddling with it.
This went on for another couple minutes, with some murmuring from Bdubs under his breath and his groaning and frustration from the redstone not working how he wanted it to.
Etho sighed at his husband and moved away from where he perched. Uncrossing his arms. Walking closer to Bdubs and kneeling down beside him. Shifting onto his knees. Bringing his hands forward and gently placing them over Bdubs’s hands.
“Like this, my love.”
The masked man spoke softly. Guiding Bdubs’s rough hands to place the pieces down properly. Helping the brunette make the correct adjustments. Etho’s gloved hands felt cool even through the black fabric. Etho had always had cool skin, even in the heat. It just never subsided.
The touch leaving a slight tingle through Bdubs’s body. Which made his cheeks flush in slight embarrassment. Etho only smiled softly underneath his mask at this.
Bdubs nodded slowly as Etho finished guiding his hands. The brunette then stayed there in silence for a bit thinking the redstone over. Etho hadn’t fully completed it for him, but just helped him along to let him continue his flow.
The silver haired man gently let go of Bdubs’s much larger hands. Turning his head to look into his husband’s eyes.
“Your cogs turning more now are they ‘Dubs?”
Etho teased his partner slightly. Which was responded with a light huff from Bdubs. Then the small quiet words of-
“..thank you Etho..”
The silver haired man knew that his partner always got flushed at the small intimacy they had, even when Bdubs was the one who mostly initiated it and craved for Etho’s touch. Even the small brush of their hands when they walked side by side. A hand on the brunette’s lower back or shoulder would also suffice.
Etho’s thinking was correct, yes. Bdubs was frozen on his knees, trying to play it off cool that he wasn’t flustered. Acting as if he was thinking while looking at the redstone pieces Etho had just fixed for him. The brunette-haired man could feel his skin heat up even more in this weather underneath the sun. Swallowing thickly, he slightly shook his head to get himself out of his daze.
Etho stood up from being on his knees, patting down his trousers softly. Moving back to give his husband the space he needed for his redstone contraption. Endearingly watching as his husband continued to tinker away. A couple times having redstone powder poof up onto his clothes. Which only made the silver haired man chuckle even more. Trying his best to cover them up with his coughs.
So he wouldn’t have the brunette eyeing him with an eyebrow raised.
With Bdubs continuous stubbornness, Etho sighed once again. Swallowing thickly. It was a warm day, and it seemed like the sun would be setting soon.
“Hey ‘Dubs. How much let of the contraption?”
He spoke softly to his partner. Using the nickname for Bdubs that he had picked up randomly. He knew that Bdubs loved this nickname, Bdubs was all one for petnames, but to still be called a nickname, it was cute to him. Etho tilted his head slightly at the man before him when he spoke, Bdubs still tinkering away with his back faced to him.
The brunette man sighed softly and stretched his arms up above his head.
“mm... A little more! Maybe just a few bits and bobby’s and whonots!- ack- darn it-“
Bdubs mumbled under his breath. Etho stepped up closer to his husband and then leaned forward slightly looking at the redstone. Flicking his finger at one of the pieces softly. Eyeing it. He wasn’t too sure about how Bdubs had made this redstone up.
“Hey ‘Dubs?- you sure this is done properly-“
“WHAT?! Ofcourse it is Etho! What do you take me for? A noob-“
The silver haired man chuckled at his husband’s playful outburst. Used to their light hearted teasing. Etho turned his gaze back to the contraption then flicked something else.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
“oh fuck-“
Etho swore quietly. Stepping back from the contraption. Bdubs had already turned away and allowed the silver haired man to look over his contraption, opening up his shulker box to get more materials.
The silver haired man in question took a step back. Reaching a hand out to Bdubs’s shoulder.
“’Dubs- ‘Dubs- urh- BDUBS!-“
Etho stammered. A slight playful tone underlying his words. He quickly placed a hand on his husband’s shoulder then pushed the man back away from the contraption further.
Taking the brunette’s hand and tugging him away. Before-
BOOM
A loud bang erupted out from the contraption. A bunch of redstone powder spouting out of the lines and comparators. The red dust floating up into the air, some of it falling down onto the grass and moss-covered ground. Starting to stain some of the grass and flowers red with redstone.
Etho himself knew the dangers of getting redstone dust in the wrong places. His one singular scared and red eye explains for that.
During this hassle Bdubs had fell down onto the grass. Etho stumbling over him. Etho rushed to cover Bdubs’s head completely, wanting for his ears not to pop. Etho’s head rang a little, but not painfully. He had this happen a couple times before, he was using to the ringing playing in his head for some time.
The silver haired man groaned softly. Propping himself up on his elbows. Fluttering his eyes open to, stare down at his husband underneath him. Who just had the widest grin on his face and looked like he was going to burst out laughing, but was trying his best not to.
Which in fact the brunette broke straight away when his partner looked at him. Bdubs started to laugh, cackling, wheezing. Everything. His eyes even watering from it. Bdubs’s brought one of his hands up to his eyes to wipe at the tears.
“HA HA HA- E-tho!- The great redstoner- pfft- HAHAJA- managed to explode redstone powder- ack!- HEY!”
Bdubs let out his smark remark. Which was only met with a light flick from Etho onto his nose. A light chuckle being released from the silver haired man’s chest also. His eyes crinkling up like usual, indicating his grin underneath his mask.
Etho leaned forwards and pressed his forehead against Bdubs’s forehead. Their noses almost touching. Keeping the contact light, just showing his husband he is there.
The two just laid there like that on the grass. Continuing to laugh together as the redstone powder subsided. The rain would come and wash it away.
For today, they decided that was enough redstone.
~|°