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This ravine is so cold. Etho wouldn't mind, normally; he lives – lived – in a snow fort, after all. But then, he didn't live there alone.
The others are chatting quietly. None of them try to talk to him, which he appreciates. He really does not feel like talking. He rotates his last conversation with Bdubs in his mind. A life for a life. It made sense, right? He thought so. The green and yellow lives thought so. Even Bdubs thought so.
But now he's here, with two lives left, while Bdubs is on his red life again.
Etho abruptly stands up. The others ask him where he’s going. He doesn't respond. He makes it almost to the entrance to the ravine before he feels a hand on his shoulder.
“Etho. Where are you going?” Scott says.
Etho shrugs. “Just getting some ender pearls. I'm running kinda low.” It’s a terrible lie. He doesn't like how Scott’s looking at him, all scrutinizing and far, far too observant. He's not sure what he’ll say if Scott calls him out.
Scott doesn't say anything, he just keeps searching Etho’s face, and Etho wonders if he’ll have to fight. But then, Scott just sighs, and he drops his hand. He opens his eyes again, and. Well. Etho’s memories of the last game are fuzzy and vague. But, he remembers a small valley filled with flowers, and he thinks Scott understands.
“Go on, then,” Scott says, and he’s not smiling exactly, but he tries.
Etho’s throat is tight. “Thanks,” he croaks, and he turns and leaves. He resolves to remember this, later. He keeps his debts.
The half-melted walls of the snow fort come into view. There’s a thin column of smoke rising from behind the walls. He doesn't go into the main area, not yet. He stops by his and Bdubs’ room first, laying a hand on his bed until he feels the respawn magic take hold. He pokes his head through the destroyed doorway and sees a figure sitting by a small campfire. Their back is turned to him, and he grins, despite everything.
He steps onto the wooden stairs and walks forward, careful to keep his steps quiet. Once he's a few blocks away from the figure, he waves and says in a cheery voice, “Hey Bdubs! Fancy seeing you here!”
Bdubs jumps in the air with a loud yelp. He spins and pulls his sword out, and his red eyes land on Etho. For a heartbeat, Etho thinks he’s going to die right there. But Bdubs’ eyes widen with recognition, and he pauses, and he scowls.
“Oh yeah, you're hilarious, aren't you,” he grumbles, sheathing his sword.
Etho giggles. “Yep.”
Bdubs continues to make what Etho affectionately calls “Bdubs noises” as he sits back down, gesturing to the spot next to him. Etho accepts, still snickering. Bdubs swats his shoulder.
“So what's going on, huh? Thought you had all those green names with ya,” Bdubs says.
“I missed my Bdubs,” Etho replies, batting his eyes at Bdubs.
Bdubs snorts. “I missed you too, honey .” They laugh, but something hangs over them. Both of them were just a little too sincere to be joking. They look into the campfire, and Etho tries to ignore his instincts telling him to scoot away from Bdubs, or at least have a bucket of water ready in case Bdubs tries to shove him into the campfire.
“Why are you really here,” Bdubs mumbles. “You held up your end of the bargain.”
Etho shifts, and looks up at the stars. “I was thinkin’, yknow. About that offer you made, first time you went red.” Bdubs stiffens. “This deal, it didn't go so well. So…”
“...so?”
Etho looks at bdubs. It hurts, a bit. A few new gray streaks in his hair, another tooth missing, the red eyes, of course. He wonders what he’ll look like. “I thought, why don't we try your idea?”
Bdubs inhales sharply. “I– you're sure?”
“Think so.”
Bdubs breathes out, long and sharp. There’s something like hope in his eyes, but there's doubt, too. “You're really sure? I mean, you gave me a life, it's not your fault I messed it up.”
Etho meant what he said earlier. He did miss his Bdubs, and he’s seen him drop down to his last life four times now, and each time it felt like a piece of him died, too. He tries not to think about what would've happened if he'd been slower giving his life to Bdubs.
“I missed you,” he says.
Bdubs purses his lips and looks away. “You're such a sap,” he says. Etho pretends not to notice him brush a hand up by his eyes.
“So, do you wanna do it, or do I just jump?” he asks conversationally.
Bdubs sputters. “Wh–? What kind of a question is that? ”
Etho shrugs. “I mean I’m here now. Why wait?”
“You're so–” Bdubs slaps a hand over his face. “Gah. I'll do it.”
“Alright. Gimme a second.” Etho takes off his chestplate, and out of the corner of his eye he sees Bdubs’ hand twitch towards his sword before stopping. Etho takes a second to steady himself. It’s not often he willingly lets himself die. He turns to Bdubs. “Ready?” He asks. He sure isn't.
Bdubs doesn't look any more ready than he does, but he unsheathes his sword. “Yeah.” His voice sounds dry. He walks forward. “See you in a bit, Etho.”
“See you in a bit.” He squeezes his eyes shut.
<Etho was slain by BdoubleO100>
…
He wakes up in his old bed with a gasp. He feels wrong. It's like the boogeyman curse, but stronger, more hungry. There’s fire in his veins. He can't tell if it’s painful or exhilarating.
He hears the loud thump of footsteps on wood. “Etho!” someone says. “Etho!”
Oh. oh, that's Bdubs, he thinks before Bdubs crashes into him, driving the air out of his lungs. They fall back onto the bed, and Etho’s not sure if Bdubs is laughing or crying. Probably both. Etho certainly feels like doing both. He doesn't feel human anymore, and Bdubs smells like his blood.
But that doesn't matter right now, he supposes. He curls an arm around Bdubs back and closes his eyes. At least they're not alone.