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Etho’s always felt a little different from everyone else.
He realized when he was in his early twenties one of the reasons why.
While all his childhood friends were getting into relationships, he was content with just being by himself, never quite feeling what people described as attraction. Along with that and the feeling of just knowing he did not want sex, Etho found a term that he felt describes himself, Aroace.
Now he’s older, content with his life, happy with friendships, never feeling the need for/not having an attraction to anyone.
The fox hybrid stands outside one of his friend's base on Hermitcraft, arms crossed over his chest, laughing as he watches his friends mess around.
His eyes especially follow one person. Someone he’s felt weirdly drawn to since he met him, his charismatic personality an amazing one to be around, someone Etho’s always admired as a friend.
Etho smiles as he watches Grian mess around with Gem, lightly teasing her.
The fox hybrid feels a warm feeling in his chest as he watches Grian, nothing he’s quite felt when around anyone else.
He’s noticed the feeling more and more while around Grian over the past few months but has chosen to ignore it, not quite understanding it.
He does not think too hard about the way the avian takes up his thoughts even when he’s not around, the way he wants to make sure Grian’s happy, make him smile, be the reason he smiles.
Etho smiles fondly under his mask, watching his friends.
Gem says something to Grian and Etho comes out with a playful come back, making the avian’s smile grow as Gem’s face fills with playful anger as she turns on Etho starting to chase the fox hybrid, shouting she would get him for that.
Etho starts to run for her, smiling wide under his mask as he steals a quick glance at Grian who is curled over, laughing at them both.
A weird feeling falls over Etho as his heart flutters in his chest.
He doesn’t know what this feeling is, a feeling that makes his tail want to wag.
So instead he runs away from Gem, laughing, faster then the deer hybrid due to his longer legs as he runs circles around the laughing avian, waiting for Gem to give up her chase.
-⬘♡⬘♡⬘♡⬘-
It’s a few weeks later and Etho’s over Joel’s base, hanging with his friend.
They both are sitting on Joel’s couch, the tanuki hybrid wrapped up in a blanket, and Etho sitting with his back up against Joel, leaning on him as they both watch a movie.
Etho asked Joel if they could hang because he wanted to talk to someone about feeling his chest.
Etho has started to notice it now, and he thinks he knows what the feeling is, but he’s unsure if he’s right, after all, the feeling is all new to him.
The fox hybrid’s heart pounds in his chest, scared for what he’s about to do.
“Joel…can I ask you a question?” Etho asks, taking the jump.
“Yeah mate.” Joel says, grabbing the remote and pausing the tv to give Etho his full attention.
Etho sits up, moving so he’s facing Joel and the tanuki uncovers himself, facing Etho, “What’s up?”
“I uh…” Etho clears his throat, a light blush coming over his face, “What uh…what did you feel like when you started liking Lizzie?”
Joel tilts his head in slight confusion, “I uh…well, I was-still am happy when I see her, and why I first was meeting her, all I could do was smile when I saw her.”
When Joel says this, one particular avian pops into Etho’s head, making him smile under his mask.
“My heart would also feel a bit weird when I was around her, like it would feel like it was swooping or pounding right out of my chest when I talked to her.”
Etho swallows, falling back on memories of one on one interactions, his heart wildly beating out of his chest as he talks to Grian, with no answer as to why.
“And also, I feel this strong urge to be around her, and I miss her when I’m no.” He says, "Especially when I first fell for her.” Joel chuckles, getting a reminiscent look on his face before it clears, looking up at Etho, “Etho…is there a reason you are asking me this?”
“Uh…” Etho asks, rubbing the back of his neck, not quite having the words to explain the feeling. The feeling that the name of feels like it’s on the tip of his tongue, but just out of reach.
“Do you…is there someone you feel like that with?” Joel asks.
Etho’s cheeks flush.
Why is he blushing?
“I don’t know.” Etho says, biting his lip under his mack, “I’ve never felt this way before…ever.”
Joel nods his head, humming, “Well, do you want to be around them?”
“Yeah.” Etho says, “But where friends." he says, “so I don’t know.”
“Mmmnn.” Joel hums, “if you could, would you kiss them? Or maybe just snuggle with them?”
Etho thinks about it.
Thinks about kissing Grian.
He’s not disgusted by the thought, he actually thinks he wouldn’t mind it.
“I think yeah.” Etho says, a fond smile settling on his face.
Joel clears his throat, “Well uh…Jim’s been teaching me a little more about the Aromantic spectrum.” Joel says, “Do you think you might be Demi-romantic?”
“What?”
“It’s a kind of Aromantic where you don’t get romantic feeling for someone until you establish a friendly bond with them.” Joel says, “And from what you’ve said, that’s what it sounds like.”
Etho thinks about it.
He’s been friends with Grian for years now, but the feeling he feels when around him has only started to appear within the last few months to…to the better half of a year.
That’s when it hits him, all the words, all the thoughts, coming together, the name of the feeling leaves his mouth, “I like someone…” he says, “that’s what I've been feeling…”
Joel smiles, “How do you feel about that?”
“I-uh…I like it.” He says, “It's a nice feeling.”
“It is.” Joel chuckles, “Do you want to talk about it more, or with who it is?”
Etho’s tail flicks as he smiles, blushing a deep red, a love-stricken smile on his face, eyes soft and fond, “Yeah…”
-⬘♡⬘♡⬘♡⬘-
With much encouragement from Joel, Etho is off to find Grian in the hopes and plans to tell the avian of his feelings for him.
When Etho brought up worries of Grian not liking him back, or hating him, Joel told him to go with it, and that he had a feeling it would be fine.
So now, the fox hybrid walks towards Grian’s base where the avian had said he was when Etho messaged him, asking where he was and if they could talk.
To say Etho’s nervous would be an understatement.
His heart races as he gets closer.
Closer, and closer.
Closer.
Closer.
“Etho!” Grian’s voice carries through the air.
Etho’s eyes move up, landing on the avian he’s walking fast, trying to get to him, having left his ase.
Etho’s heart melts at the warm look on Grian’s face, his nerves melting away with it.
Grian slows down as he nears Etho, stopping a few feet from him, smiling wide, his posture relaxed, “What’s you want to talk about?” he asks, cocking his head to the side a bit in a bird-like way.
Etho then remembers why he’s talking to his friend.
The fox hybrid puts his hands in his pockets, playing with the ring on his right hand, trying to his her nervous fidgeting from Grian, “About that…I uh…” his cheeks redden under his mask, how is he supposed to do this!? “I don’t know how to do this…I uh…Grian, I-I like you…”
He feels like he’s going to be sick.
He’s standing here, heart open, scared for how Grian will react, scared for what’s next.
Etho’s eyes are down at his feet, cheeks burning, ears red.
He feels like a teenager in high school, or at least how he’s read, and see on tv, how they feel when they confess a crush.
“Etho,” Grian says, “Would it be okay if I kissed you?”
Etho’s heart races, his brain short circuiting.
Of course it’s okay. He’s only been thinking about kissing him ever since he talked with Joel.
He does not think his voice will work so he instead simply nods his head.
Etho closes his eyes as Grian reaches up, pulling his mask down, a warm hand cupping his hot cheek.
The fox hybrid takes in a slow breath, waiting, wanting.
After what feels like a lifetime, he feels something soft against his lips.
Etho leans into it, reveling in the feeling, his heart fluttering in his chest as he has his first kiss.
He feels like it will never end, wishes it never will, but alas.
The soft lips on his pull away, a warm breeze on his face as the avian exhales.
Etho stands there, lost in the feeling, unable to open his eyes.
“Are you okay?” Grian asks him softly.
Etho slowly opens his heterocromatic eyes, seeing red, yellow, and blue feathers and a warm face.
“I’m perfectly fine.” he says breathlessly, “Can we do that again?”