A Flutter in Time

Chapter 8 - Unanswered Questions

Bdubs believed that it took a long time to learn to love someone. Is that why E had come back in time? To make sure Etho and Bdubs got to know each other well so they could learn to love each other? But it seemed E knew the timeline of when things were happening, so he couldn't really be changing anything like that. Etho and Bdubs still had three years until they were in E's timeline. They had all the time in the world to learn to love each other. So what was Etho's goal?

And then there was another realization in his brain. Bdubs didn't believe in soulmates, but Etho knew that his future self definitely did. So why then wouldn't he admit that he thought Bdubs was his soulmate? Did he think that Bdubs was his soulmate? If they weren't meant to be together, why would Etho waste the effort of coming back in time to set his past self up with Bdubs?

Etho was startled out of his thoughts when there was a knock at his door. He walked over and opened it, revealing a smiling avian.

"Grian? What are you doing here?"

"Just dropping by to say thank you."

"Thank you? For what?"

"For asking E that question. It's gonna make my job a whole lot easier." Etho's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Wait- how did you know I asked him? And what job?" Grian just smiled wider at the question.

"I know a lot of things Etho. A lot of things that you don't need to know." Etho blinked in disbelief at the man in front of him. Grian just smiled and puffed up his wings.

"That's all! Enjoy your date tomorrow!" Grian pulled the door back shut, leaving Etho standing in his entry way in bewilderment.

After shutting the door on Etho, Grian flew off to track down E. He was probably already back at Doc's lab, so Grian booked it there. He didn't bother knocking on the door in the alleyway, instead just letting himself in. He'd been there plenty of times to know that Doc wouldn't mind him barging in.

He looked around the space and spotted Doc working on some sort of flying machine and Etho curled up on the lab couch, surrounded by various buckets of flower petals. Doc paused his work and looked up at the avian.

"Gri? What are you doing here this late?"

"Hey Doc! I need to talk to your temporary lab partner if that's ok." Grian pointed at E. Doc nodded and returned to his work. E looked worried.

"Hey Etho! How's the past treating ya?" Etho's eyes widened in shock. Grian laughed.

"Yeah I know. Crazy bird man knows about the time travel thing. And the hanahaki! You always were a good gardener, shame the flowerbed is in your lungs this time." Etho's face warped in confusion.

"What do you mean I was a good gardener? I've never planted anything in my life..."

"Anyway! Now that you've had time to think about it, I want the answer." Etho coughed up a few rose petals before replying.

"To what question?"

"If you think Bdubs is your soulmate?" Etho coughed up a few more petals, his voice coming out strained.

"How do you know I was asked that?"

"I know a lot of things Etho. I also know the answer you're going to give. And I know the answer that you can't bring yourself to give." Etho's panicked eyes met Grian's calm ones.

"What, are you from the future to?" Grian laughed.

"Nope!" He popped the p when he said it, making himself sound even more cheery. "Now tell me Etho, is Bdubs your soulmate?"