#dbhc etho(s arm)

[shepscapades]

[dbhc flavored] Hermit a Day May: Day 24 — Cleo!

[saphushia]

ok. ok. i KNOW i said the previous comic would be the last for a while. but. BUT. i thought a little too long about the sentimentality of scars, and the choice, the ability to prioritize feelings over function 🥺

once again, @shepscapades 's DBHC au, and in large part inspired by this specific drawing/info. while it's really no effort at all for etho to carry all that stuff in one arm, it's about. it's about him not having to, because they're equals, because they're friends, because his friend wants to help, even if he doesn't necessarily need it.

timelapse below the cut (flashing colors warning)

forgot to start the recording until i'd already sketched the first 2 panels but you get what you get lmao

[set-in-stardust]

ANOTHER SHORT FOR @shepscapades DBHC AU!! (go read her comics first and then this!) this is entirely self indulgent and could happen chronologically after the last one i posted btw!

also all of these r on ao3 btw!

[fic below read more so i dont clog feed :)]

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The whole concept of kissing was new for Etho, but he quickly learned that Bdubs enjoyed it. 

And he meant, really enjoyed it. 

Every chance he got, Bdubs was up on his toes, pressing a kiss to Etho’s cheek, hand, forehead, lips. He had always been touchy, but ever since he learned the places where Etho could feel his touches, it’d gotten ten times worse. 

Well, not really worse. Etho liked it; he liked it a lot more than he cared to admit. 

Sure, androids could make connections and share messages through small touches, but this was something completely different. It was almost like learning another language, even though Etho already knew over six-thousand of them. 

Etho learned that kissing meant a lot more than just, "I love you." When he carried Bdubs' shulkers for him, the kiss on his cheek meant, "Thank you." When he tucked Bdubs into bed for the night, the kiss on his lips meant, "Goodnight. I can't wait to see you tomorrow." When he figured out what was wrong with the machine Bdubs had spent days on in just a few seconds, the kisses peppered all over his face meant, "I'd never say this out loud, but I'm so grateful for you." 

He took some time to learn all of these kisses, their meanings, their situations, and how he could do the same for Bdubs. But there was still one kiss he couldn't figure out. 

"Bdubs?" 

"Mm?" Bdubs hummed, looking up at Etho from his place on his shoulder. 

"You're falling asleep," Etho chuckled, adjusting his hold as he walked. 

"You're carrying me, why‘s it matter?" he mumbled. 

Etho sighed, then laughed lowly, “No, I guess not.” 

Bdubs laid his head back down and wrapped his arms tighter around Etho’s shoulders, his face buried in the fluff of his coat the whole way back to the base. Etho carefully opened the door and nudged it shut behind him with his foot, using his free hand to turn on the gas lantern in the foyer. 

He kicked off his shoes, then set a presumably sleepy Bdubs down on the chair at the entrance so he could do the same for him. He crouched down, glancing up to see the other yawning. He smiled and began to untie his shoes for him. 

“You shouldn’t work so late, you know. You have a very specific sleep schedule,” he teased, humming softly. Bdubs closed his mouth and waved a slow hand, giving his head a slight shake. 

“I’m as bright as a daisy right now. Who needs sleep? I don’t need-” He yawned again. “-sleep!” 

Etho slipped off his shoe, going to untie the other. 

“Yeah, right,” he chuckled. “And I’m human.” 

Bdubs scoffed. 

“Come on, man! You gotta give me some leeway here, please?” He gave Etho his patented “you-have-to feel-sorry-for-me” puppy-dog eyes. Etho just turned away, knowing he’d fold if he met that look for too long. He slid off the second shoe. 

“You’re going to bed, and that’s final.” 

Bdubs groaned. 

“Ethooooo,” he pleaded. 

“Bdubssss,” Etho mocked. He sat back on his heels, setting the shoes aside. “I don’t see why you wanna stay up, anyway. You’re the one who’s always in bed first.” He watched the other seem to think for a moment, subtly zoning out for a second before he snapped out of it and spoke again. 

“Ugh! Fine. I’ll tell you.” He sat up in his chair, feet brushing Etho’s knees instead of the floor. He lowered his voice, “I’m just a little upset because I didn’t get to see you all day. You were so busy helping everyone else with their stuff, that I finished all of mine before you even got to me!” He huffed and turned his nose up. “It’s not fair.”

Etho blinked, then got up from his place on the floor. He brushed himself off, then put his hands on either arm of Bdubs’ chair. He leaned over him, eyeing the way he shrunk back into the seat before he spoke. 

“So you’re jealous?” he smirked. 

Bdubs’ eyes widened, and he definitely wasn’t sleepy anymore. He quickly looked away. 

“No- No! I don’t get- I’m-” He cleared his throat. “I’m not jealous.”

Etho leaned in closer. Even in the low light, he could see the flush of Bdubs’ cheeks. 

“I think you are,” he spoke lowly, voice just below a hum. He knew his own face was flushed too, but his mask covered the color in his cheeks. He reached up, watching Bdubs eyes follow his movements, and pulled it down. “Am I right?” 

Bdubs swallowed. Etho heard the chair creak as he squirmed. 

“No,” he managed, voice barely a squeak. 

Etho heard him, but he still asked, “Hm? What was that?” 

Bdubs’ eyes flickered over his face – the smirk on his lips, the challenging look in his eyes – for just a second before they stopped again. He reached up and took a fistful of Etho’s shirt in his hand, pulling him forward just enough for their foreheads to touch. 

“If you’re tryin’ to get me to kiss you,” he mumbled, “you should just do it already.” 

Etho chuckled, the sound low and sweet in the nighttime air. 

“Whoops,” he said simply before closing the distance between their lips. He felt Bdubs’ hand come up to cup his cheek, the touch skittering through his circuits and straight to his head. He moved a hand to cup Bdubs’ cheek, tilting his head up just enough to kiss him better. He knew what the other liked; he had it down to an exact science, a rhythm, at this point. He let himself fall into habit, fingers pressing at familiar points as Bdubs’ touch lit sparks across his skin.

Then came the part he still couldn’t figure out. 

Bdubs parted his lips just a bit more, and Etho took that as a sign he wanted to stop. He began to pull away, but Bdubs held his face and kept him close. He didn't complain, enjoying the pressure at the cracks on his cheek and how happy Bdubs seemed

Then, Bdubs bit him.

He didn't even notice until he felt his tongue brush Bdubs' teeth, his programs already automatically analyzing his saliva. He ignored their findings, because his lip exploded into sensations he could only describe as mind-blowing as Bdubs applied pressure. He shivered, then attempted to pull away only to drag his lip between Bdubs’ teeth, hard. 

For just a moment, Etho swore he was really alive. 

He gasped loud and pulled away, hand flying to his mouth. His whole body felt hot, like he’d fry his circuits at any second, and a warning or two flashed in the corner of his vision. He ignored it, squeezing his eyes shut tight. 

That was weird. Really weird. But he wanted it to happen again and again until his processors fizzled out and all he could focus on was how good that felt and how close to being really and truly human he felt-

“Etho? You okay?” 

He opened his eyes. 

Bdubs stared up at him, concern knitted in his brows, and reached up to brush his hair back. Etho slowly lowered his hand, then cleared his throat. 

“I-” He paused, standing up a bit straighter as he attempted to regain his composure. “Yeah. All good. Mhm. Yup.” 

Bdubs cracked a smile, and his hand trailed down to graze the cracks on his cheek. 

“You look like a smurf.” 

Etho snorted, “What?!” He looked away and covered his face with his hands, noting how hot his skin was. Bdubs just laughed again. 

“It’s true! I’ve never seen you so- so, vibrant before!” He nudged Etho’s hand out of the way, subtly pulling his face closer again, then pressed a finger to the crack beside his lip. “Did you really like that that much?” he teased, snickering. Etho rolled his eyes, feeling his ears heat up as well. 

“Oh my god, shut up right now-” 

“Hah! You didn’t deny it!” 

Etho breathed a laugh and took Bdubs’ chin in his hand, pulling him up so their lips just barely brushed. Etho felt his grin. 

“At least you’re a cute smurf.” 

Etho pushed him away, then turned and began to head to the stairs. 

“That’s it! Tuck yourself in!” 

“What?! No-! Come on, that’s unfair!” He heard Bdubs scramble up from his seat, his hurried footsteps pounding against the wooden floor behind him. 

“You can read yourself your own bedtime story while you’re at it, too!”

[shepscapades]

No Cleo!! It's very important, his partne- I mean research partner needs a new arm!! (and a therapy, they both need therapy ngl)

(also yes you are in trouble Shep/j)

I realize I didn’t make it clear enough that X is working on Etho’s arm, so here’s a bit more dialogue :]