Ugh this one is really janky, not proud of this one :/
Tw for nightmares and fear and stuff.
Idk.
Just some Betho fluff.
Etho has a hard time, well, talking, beef helps.
---
Etho was never very forward with his feelings.
He always got embarrassed or uncomfortable with the slightest hint of PDA, and even in private he was quite reserved.
Beef had long suspected that Etho's shyness stemmed from some sort of developmental issue, Autism being the main suspect.
Whatever the case was, the butcher wasn't going to pry.
They had been dating quietly since the start of season seven, and since then had started sleeping in the same bed- per Beef's suggestion.
That's when Beef noticed some of Etho's more worrying behavior.
Sometimes, Etho would stutter awake at odd hours of the night, tears collected on his lashes. He was quite.. well.. quiet, and the first few times, he was able to fall back asleep without waking Beef.
One time, however, Etho had a particularly nasty nightmare, and unable to contain his sobs, woke Beef.
Luckily, the other man was very understanding.
He didn't touch Etho, knowing that triggered the other, just talked it out with the masked man, and gradually they got closer.
Ever sense, Etho would wake Beef whenever he had a nightmare, and no matter how many times he did, Beef never got upset or angry.
In fact, no matter what happened, Beef was always incredibly patient with Etho.
They even came up with a little code:
One tap, yes
Two taps, no
Three taps, don't want to say/don't know.
The redstoner couldn't have asked for more.
Even if sometimes he felt like a burden, Beef was always quick to reassure him.
It felt good having someone to lean on, though you'd be hard pressed to find them being any level of affectionate.
Beef would constantly reassure Etho that he didn't mind, that no amount of affection could make up for Etho's discomfort.
It gave Etho a warm, fuzzy feeling- knowing he was appreciated.
He wouldn't trade Beef for the world.
---
"N- N.. St- Sto.."
Fear rushed through his veins, inky black pooling around him.
It was just Etho and a blank slate, a white blob with a needle.
Etho could still feel the searing pain as the metal point reached forward, squelching against his eye as he was powerless to stop it.
And then he woke up.
He hadn't had that nightmare in..
He was exhausted- not only because of how late it was, but because he'd been having nightmares for the past three weeks now.
He just wanted it to stop.
He felt weak, alone..
He was so alone, just a shapeless blob with a needle, unimaginable pain-
Etho's breath came up short, in and out faster and faster as his heart beat out of control, tears pooling in his good eye.
Beef! Oh.. wait.. you woke him last night as well-
But didn't he say..
Oh fuck it.
Etho looked to his left, relieved to find the bearded man by his side.
He grabbed Beef's arms, shaking it slightly in an attempt to wake the older up.
Luckily, it worked, and Beef woke up without incident.
"Hm? What's up?" Beef asked, as he sat up.
Without warning, Etho threw himself against Beef, shocking the bigger man. He swiftly regained his composer, however, enveloping the smaller into his arms, touched at the gesture, even if it was because of fear.
"Are you ok?" Beef asked gently, tracing circles into Etho's back.
The smaller let out a few, quiet stuttering hiccups, even his sobs were near silent. The cosplayer tapped twice on Beef's shoulder, his whole body shaking.
His eyes were squeezed shut, breaths short and uneven as he tried to calm himself down, to no avail. Even as Beef held him, he found himself spiraling down the rabbit hole of bad memories, stomach swirling with thousands of emotions he didn't know how to deal with.
He felt so alone.
So powerless.
So scared.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Beef murmured gently, his voice soothing as he kept tracing shapes into Etho's back.
The masked man hesitated, fingers shaking as he tapped Beef's shoulder once.
"It.. was.. ab.. about h.. how I.." Etho's voice stuttered and staled, he struggled to work out a sentence normally, and in his current state it was a miracle he even knew what words were. "M.. My.. eye.." he managed out burying himself further in to Beef's arms.
The bearded man let out a quiet hum, being patient as he held Etho. The last thing he wanted to do was make the redstoner more uncomfortable.
"..'m I a burden?" Etho asked quite suddenly, finding his words after a series of short breaths.
The butcher's eyes widened, sucking in a breath through his teeth.
"Where'd you get that from? No, no, no, no, no.. never, sunshine." Beef's voice cracked slightly, heartbroken that Etho could have ever thought that.
A blush grew under Etho's mask at the nickname, butterflies swimming in his stomach at the sincerity in Beef's- no- his boyfriend's voice.
Even if a little part of the redstoner told him Beef was lying, Beef would have been lying for his sake, and that had to have been worth something.
"Do you feel better?" Beef murmured, prompting Etho.
One tap, good.
"Are you good to go back to sleep?"
Four taps? What did that mean.
"Hm? Four taps? That's a new one. What is it?" Beef was kind as ever, looking down at Etho with a patient and understanding smile.
The redstoner's movements stalled slightly, hesitant as his fingers grazed over his mask.
Mm, probably better to be safe.
Etho put his hands over his eyes, hoping Beef would understand what he meant.
"You want me to close my eyes?"
One tap, yes.
Beef let out a small hum, eyelids sliding shut per instructions.
He heard a slight rustling sound, followed by Etho shifting in his arms, and then-
Oh.
Beef couldn't help the tears that picked at his eyes, nor the butterflies that floated through his stomach.
But they were good butterflies.
In fact, Beef was so elated, he could practically feel himself touching down on the moon.
"E-Etho.." his voice cracked slightly, unable to contain his emotions.
It seemed so small, but coming from Etho?
Just a simple kiss on the cheek was so much more than he could have ever hoped for.
One of Beef's hands flew over his mouth, a couple of sniffles passing through his nose.
Four more taps.
And this time, Beef didn't need a translation.
I love you.
---
So, uh, new head canon-
Ugh my heart.
This one kind of sucks writing wise but shhhh I'm allowed to be lazy
-yours, hardcore Etho simp