wrote another short for @shepscapades ethubs dbhc au!! highly recommend reading her comic (and looking at her AMAZING art) before reading!
[FIC BELOW READ MORE!]
==========================================================
“Bdubs.”
“Yes, my love?”
Etho smiled.
“I have a theory.”
Bdubs looked up at Etho from his place on the dirt, already pulling off his gardening gloves.
“A theory? What, you a scientist or something?” he snickered. Etho offered him a hand to get to his feet, and he took it.
“If I’m a scientist, I’m not a very good one,” he chuckled. “But I guess I’m just curious. You wanna test it out with me?”
They had been more than a human and his android friend for a while now, so Etho had taken to his own head to do a bit of… personal research. He wanted to show more affection in the way humans did, just to show Bdubs how much he cared, and he’d found some, confusing but interesting results. After looking into it further and diving deep into some sketchy forums, he was pretty sure this would work.
Bdubs rose an eyebrow, frowning.
“With you?” He narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “This isn’t something… weird, is it? Because that’s the vibe I’m getting here!”
Etho rose an eyebrow.
“Weird? How so?”
“Like- Like, I dunno! It seems like you’re propositioning me for somethin’!”
“Is that what you think of me? Wow, Bdubs-”
“No, no no! Don’t you twist my words-” Bdubs huffed, then stamped his foot in the dirt. “Gah! You always do this! Seriously, they make you things way too smart-” He pinched his brows. “Nevermind. You can’t just ask me to test something with you while looking at me like- Like that! It’s weird, and you’re making Bdubs’ mind go to places Bdubs’ mind shouldn’t!”
Etho blinked.
“Looking at you like what?” He wasn’t making a face, was he? Bdubs couldn’t even see half of his face! There was no way he could tell what he was thinking just by looking at his eyes-
“Nevermind! Let’s just-” Bdubs waved a hand and turned, “-go do whatever it is you want me to. Make this quick, though – I’ve got moss to get back to!”
“Your moss will be just fine, don’t worry,” Etho smiled, taking Bdubs’ hand to lead him back to the house.
They got a few feet further before Bdubs grumbled, “I can walk myself, y’know,” but he didn’t let go.
Etho led him inside and shut the door. He let Bdubs set his things down and get comfortable, watching him quietly. Eventually, Bdubs stopped trotting around, absentmindedly mumbling to himself, and stood in front of Etho again with his hands on his hips. He narrowed his eyes again.
"What's this experiment then, huh? You gonna strap me to a table and probe me or something?"
"If that's what you want, then-"
"No! Don't finish that sentence! I don't want that at all!"
Etho laughed, "Really? Are you-"
"Yes I'm sure!" Bdubs poked him in the chest. "Just get on with it!"
Etho stepped closer to Bdubs, studying him for a moment. He noted that his body temperature had risen, his face subtly flushed, but didn't think much of it. He was just outside working all day, after all. It only made sense.
"Close your eyes."
Bdubs frowned.
"What, are you gonna rob me or something? You know I've got nothin' worth robbing!" He crossed his arms over his chest, moss shedding from his sleeves with the movement. Etho made a note to buy a lint roller later.
"I know. I carry your things for you,” he deadpanned, earning some more disgruntled noises from Bdubs.
“Ugh, fine! I guess I’ll do it,” he huffed and turned his nose up. He squeezed his eyes shut, and Etho watched him carefully. He waited, just a few seconds, and Bdubs peeked just one eye open.
“Liar,” he teased, and Bdubs threw his arms up.
“You didn’t do anything! You’re tellin’ me to close my eyes and then not doing anything, how am I not gonna look?! You could be stealing my stuff!”
“What stuff?”
“Oh you-” Bdubs snapped his mouth shut, cutting himself off, then turned. He walked a little circle before planting himself right back in the same spot, reassuming his arms-crossed stance. “Fine, I’ll actually close my eyes this time. Happy?”
Etho watched him shut his eyes a second time and smiled, “Very.”
He waited another moment and, when Bdubs didn’t open his eyes again, he stepped closer.
Careful, he thought. It is a delicate process for humans to get to this step in their relationships. I cannot mess this up.
He brought his hand up to gently grace Bdubs’ cheek, fingers brushing warm skin. He caught the sharp inhale from the other, and he hesitated.
“Is this alright?”
Bdubs just nodded, his jaw taught and shoulders tense. Etho worried he’d overstepped.
“I need verbal confirmation.” He didn’t, but he wanted it.
“Yes- I said make this quick, didn’t I?”
Etho hummed, “Yes, you can’t leave your moss waiting.”
His fingers slid further back, his palm cupping Bdubs’ face. He was warm to the touch, and for a moment Etho worried he was developing a fever when he remembered that this was normal in this situation. He dipped his hand down to trace Bdubs’ jaw, pausing as he felt the pulse pick up beneath his touch.
120 BPM, he measured. Interesting.
He pressed his palm to Bdubs’ skin, cupping his cheek. He felt him shift his weight, eyes catching the way he moved his foot over the floor, his hand slipping from Bdubs’ face as he moved away.
“Hold still for me,” Etho instructed. He couldn’t do this properly if Bdubs continued to squirm.
“I am!”
“You’re not, though.”
Bdubs huffed through his nose, then promptly stopped his fidgeting.
“Thank you,” Etho hummed softly. He swiped his thumb over Bdubs’ skin, and realized he was just stalling. He knew why; Bdubs was human, and he wasn’t. As much research as he’d done couldn’t equal natural ability – instinct. No matter how hard he tried, he could never quite understand fully.
But this could be the first step to trying, and he knew trying was better than nothing. He couldn’t mess this up; he had to take it slow.
Unluckily for him, Bdubs happened to be one of the most impatient people on earth.
“Is this the theory? Are you reading my mind or something? I didn’t give you permission to read my mind – you don’t wanna know what goes on in there!” he rambled. “Not that it’s anything bad, I just don’t think you could handle it. Bdubs’ mind is powerful, you know.”
Etho laughed.
“Shhh. I’m sure it is, but you know I can’t read minds. We’ve been over this before.”
“I know, but you could be lyin’ to me! You’ve done it before-”
“Not on purpose.”
“-and you wouldn’t hesitate to do it again!”
Etho was quickly realizing that if he wanted Bdubs to be quiet, he’d have to make him. He leaned in closer, their faces inches apart. He used his free hand to pull down his mask.
“Bdubs.”
He watched the other’s mouth stop before he said another word, shutting for a moment before he spoke.
“What? What is it? Do I have something on my face?”
Etho was quiet for a moment, then remembered something he’d found in his research. Perfect. He smirked.
“You don’t, and that’s the problem.”
He closed the distance between their lips finally, ignoring the warning flashing at the edge of his vision. He could hear the thirium rushing through his body; he could almost feel Bdubs’ lips against his. Almost.
Their kiss was short, though, because Bdubs quickly shoved him away to an arm’s length, hands grabbing Etho’s shoulders in what could only be bewilderment. His eyes were wide, his mouth was open, and his face was flushed bright red.
“What the hell are you doing?! Why- What-” he stumbled over his words, barely able to form a sentence. “You’re- You just kissed me! Why?! Why would you do that?!”
Etho blinked. He drew his hand back.
“Is that… Is kissing not, okay? I thought-”
“I don’t care what you thought! Why would you do that?! You’re- You’re-” Bdubs stuttered, hands not leaving Etho’s shoulders. Etho dreaded the words he was stuck on, his chest aching already. He wished it was just his thirium pump acting up.
“I’m… not human. I know.” He finished the sentence for him, eyes cast to the ground. “I read that it’s something you do when you want to show affection for someone. I can’t really, you know, do that in the way I would, uh, as an android, with you.” He looked up again, putting a hand over Bdubs’ as he met his eyes. “I overstepped, I’m sorry.”
Bdubs just stared at him, blank-faced. Etho searched his features, trying to find any hint that his apology had been accepted, but Bdubs only blinked.
Then, he laughed.
“Whaat? What are you talking about?” He dropped his hands from Etho’s shoulders. “I’m not mad! I just- I don’t get where all this is comin’ from! I mean, first off, it’s weird kissin’ you- Not in a bad way! Just- I don’t think you were made for that. Your lips are all weird and rubbery and-”
Etho sighed in relief, hanging his head. He put a hand on Bdubs’ shoulder, balancing himself as he laughed loud. Bdubs stopped rambling and frowned.
“What? What’s so funny? Why are you laughing?”
Etho just shook his head, chuckling.
“I’m just so relieved!" he gasped, though he didn't even need the air. "I thought you hated me for a second!"
"I couldn't hate you! If I hated you, you would'a been gone a long time ago, I'll tell you that much." He turned his nose up, then gave Etho a quizzical look. "I just don't get it. You can't even feel any of- well, that! Why kiss me if you're gettin' nothing outta it? It doesn't make any sense!"
Etho's laughter died off, but he let his hand linger on Bdubs' shoulder. He processed the question for a moment, then looked the other in his eyes again.
"I do feel it, though. I'm not supposed to, but I do."
Bdubs rose an eyebrow. He stepped just a pace closer.
"Really? How?" He tilted his head just a few degrees to the right, the action catching Etho's eyes easily. He stared for a moment, fondness warming a smile on his face, before he answered.
"This." He pointed to the damage on the left of his face, touching the part closest to his lips. "It's not a lot, but since I never got it repaired, I have touch sensations here."
Bdubs nodded, hand on his chin as he hummed and thought for a moment. Etho dropped his hand from his shoulder.
"Really? So…" He stepped closer. Etho took the cue, leaning down so they were eye level. "So if I kissed you here, you'd feel it more?"
He put a hand up, just brushing the damaged area. Etho felt it, the warmth of Bdubs' skin flooding his face.
It was… different. Not weird. Just different.
"Yes," he breathed, afraid to move too much.
A warning flashed, "Thirium Pump Irregularity Detected."
Shut up.
Bdubs grinned. His hand pulled Etho's face in closer. Their lips brushed.
"I don't need 'verbal confirmation' for this, do I?"
Etho smiled, "No, you don't."
1K notes
·
View notes