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Somehow, Etho convinces Bdubs to go fishing.
Fishing at 6 in the freaking morning in a cold lake in the cold mountains, meaning that Etho had to drag him out of his comfy warm fluffy bed at 4 am just to drive up to the stupid mountains. Conditions are NOT ideal.
He's not sure Etho got any sleep last night, too excited about finally convincing Bdubs and keeping him up with (WELL DESERVED) kisses and cuddles and the like. How the heck does this freak do it?
Bdubs definitely is trying to give Etho a better time then he thinks he himself will have, but not good enough of a time that Etho will want to do it again. If Bdubs is lucky, Etho will realize how much he hates fishing and give it all up and he'll admit that Bdubs is beautiful and amazing and right as always and Bdubs was right about fishing being stupid all along and everything will be sunshines and rainbows. But for now, Bdubs guesses it'll just be cold dew and furcoats.
At least Etho is having a good time so far.
Bdubs doesnt know how Etho deals with the bait. He assumed he avoided the smell with his mask, but Etho's not wearing his mask and the bait absolutely stinks. Heavens only knows why the fish like it so much.
Bdubs cant get passed the fact that his boyfriend is so weird. He has different types of gloves for everything, Bdubs learned just this week. Apperently Bdubs has never seen Etho's full fingered gloves or anything because he just thought Etho only had fingerless gloves and either froze his fingers off or had fingers of steel during winter. And Etho has seperate fishing gloves that look exactly the same as the ones he normally wears. What makes Etho even more of a freak, is that he has “at home gloves” and “redstoning gloves” and even freaking “going out gloves”. Bdubs figures he must own at least 10 pairs.
Nestled in between Ethos legs, Bdubs can say he is at least comfy. And while Etho is as skinny as a twig and if you sit in the wrong place get a leg of bone jammed up your thigh, he still is a pretty good spoon.
Arms under his armpits, and fingers entwined over Bdubs's chest. Its very quite comfortable, indeed.
Bdubs shuffles so that hes facing Etho and steals a quick peck. Its so nice seeing Etho without his mask (even though he can see his beautiful maskless face back at home, Bdubs thinks bitterly) but Bdubs does find himselt a bit concerned. Etho wears the mask for a reason- because his scar makes his face sensitive, and the mask helps a little bit with cold weather. Its definitely cold, and Etho definitely should put his mask back on but kissing Etho like this is nice, too. Etho smiles and brings Bdubs closer for another, longer kiss.
When they pull away Etho sucks in a breath, wincing at the cold rush of air.
“You okay, sweetheart?”
“Yeah- i's just my teeth. Being annoying. You know how it is.”
Bdubs hums and nods, he does in fact know. It isn't as bad as Etho, but sometimes Bdubs gets sensitive teeth. Usually when seasons are changing and only on his molars that have had work done on them in the past. So, he understands to an extent.
“You can put up your mask, ya know, if its bothering you. I can always kiss ya later.”
“Hm, I’m okay, I’ve got my coffee.”
Bdubs huffs, not quite believing him. “A’right, Etho, but if you start gettin’ those burnin’ sensations again you are putting on that mask and I'm giving you my scarves and there's nothin’ you can say to stop me!”
Etho buries his cold nose right into Bdubs's warm neck, and Bdubs shivers, smacking Etho's thigh.
“You- you son of a freakin-”
“I won't need any of that, Bdubs, you're a living furnace.”
Bdubs bites his tongue, trying not to say anything he'll regret (it’s just easy as one push to get Bdubs in the freezing water if Etho wants), shimmying further onto Etho's lap. “Damn right I am.” Etho offers his own bit of heat and Bdubs feels his chest swell a tiny bit with pride. He’s Etho's oven, and Etho is his. They work so well.
Bdubs stares at Etho for a minute, not really meaning to furrow his eyebrows, smoothing his tongue across his teeth under chapped lips.
Etho's face is all soft and plush and Bdubs just wants to be home and cuddled up in his arms and on their bed, but instead Etho had to drag him along on this stupid trip.
After a long moment, Etho decides to shift, and also decides that that means Bdubs also needs to move.
“I brought us here to fish, not so you could purely cuddle.” To which Bdubs grumbles. Etho continues, “C'mon, buddy, other way.”
Bdubs is horribly forced to sit the way he was sitting before. Etho is so rude, he cannot believe it! Fishing is the worst hobby in the world!
Etho goes back to hooking his arms under Bdubs's armpits, but instead is more versatile and is actually doing stuff. The worst part about it all is that Etho then does the- things..?- in front of Bdubs's face.
-
Bdubs would never admit, but their is something tranquil about the way the pole loops up, dips and draws tight as the line is being cast. His excuse is that Etho is graceful at everything he does.
But as he sits and waits, he finds himself getting easily bored.
“Ethoooooooo,” Bdubs groans, throwing his head back against Ethos chest.
“Bduuuuubs. What?”
“Im bored.”
“Uh, look at the birds or something.”
Bdubs tries for a minute, but watching big geese pick on poor mallards isn't a very entertaining fight.
“Im still bored,” Bdubs whines, thinking of everything else they could possibly be doing besides freakin' fishing.
“I dont know how to help you, that's for you to figure out.” Etho lets out a breathy chuckle, nuzzling further into Bdubs's neck. “You could have brought like- a coloring book or something,” he teases, getting the desired effect of a slightly pissed slightly embaressed Bdubs.
“I dont know what you have against my coloring books, I'll have you know I'm less likely to get dementia because of them.”
Etho hums, “And I, an engineer who solves problems and does math everyday, am more likely to get it, got it.”
Bdubs just huffs, and puffs out his cheeks. He doubles down, “Yeah, exactly, you get it.”
Etho just makes his stupid little cute laugh. He kisses warm skin, and smiles against it. Bdubs can't help but melt against him, and want more more more of his touch, of his gentle sighs. They bleed into a soft quiet, filled with even breathing and churping wildlife around them.
Etho did in fact bring two rods, but Bdubs isn't really in the mood (he doesn't really know what he is doing, either) to do it himself. Besides, Bdubs is making himself useful getting Etho things like pliers and the little fishing net when his hands are full.
“Ohp- I feel a tug. You want to catch this one? Im giving this one to you.” Etho hands the rod to Bdubs and Bdubs blinks.
“Oh- oh- uhm- Etho-?”
“You've got this, you're doing great- reel it in until you feel a tug, yeah?”
Bdubs bites his lip, reeling the wrong way for a second before quickly correcting himself.
“Okay. Okay, stop. Pull up- do you feel him?”
Bdubs obeys, stops reeling, and tugs on the line. He can definitely feel the fish pulling. “He's a- He's a fighter, that's for sure.” Somehow Bdubs is already breathless.
“Okay you can keep reeling now-.”
It's like that for a couple minutes- tug up, reel, wait a couple seconds, reel. When they can see the fish, and it starts flapping a bit above water, Etho moves to get the net. Bdubs gets out of Etho's way, still sitting on the wood.
“He's a handsome one, for sure. Rainbow trout. They're feisty little guys.” Etho hands Bdubs the net, and thank-freaking-ly takes the rod out of his hands. Bdubs realizes that he is shaking.
He tries not to get the nasty lake water on his sleeves, but the fish is more scared of them both than he is of it and is still struggling, even in the net. Bdubs almost feels bad for the little guy- having the scare of its life. Probably thinking that this is the end and he's going to die and get eaten. Maybe it doesnt have any thoughts at all and is just reacting on instinct.
Etho peaks at the fish, and sighs, “Oh thank goodness, the hook's on his lip.” Etho places the fishing rod on the doc, and grabs pliers. “That's why I use circle hooks- trout are notorious for swallowing hooks. These are meant to catch the corner of their mouths.”
Bdubs feels a strange amount of relief as he watches Etho struggle to get the hook out of the thrashing fishes mouth.
“Ah, got it.” Etho finally says, offering Bdubs the handle to the net. “See? Isn't he pretty?”
Bdubs nods, it really is pretty. With a pink stripe along its sides and translucent pink fins. Otherwise, brown with many dots. Pretty.
“Yeah, he is.”
Etho grins with his tongue between his teeth. Bdubs finds he's smiling too- Etho, so giddy about helping Bdubs catch a fish.“You can let him go.” Etho nods to the net and Bdubs dunks it fully under water. The fish scurries off into the dark green. “See, that wasn’t so bad! You had fun, right?”
Bdubs scoffs, folding his arms, “Yeah, right.” He snaps, still smiling, “so much fun.”
“I got three, you got one, I think that makes it a perfect day. What about we start heading out now, and on the way back we can get something to eat for breakfast?”
Bdubs is very pleased with that offer.
Etho starts packing up his gear, giving Bdubs a box to carry, and taking the rest himself. Bdubs looks up at the sky, and the sun has been over the mountains for maybe an hour or so. Bdubs guesses its about 8 o'clock, still a little chilly but not as horribly cold as was earlier that morning.
“When we go home, I'm taking a nap and you're snugglin’ with me.” Bdubs demands, on the walk to Etho's car.
Etho just laughs and yawns, bumping hips with Bdubs. “Okay, I'm fine with that. I'm very fine that.”