Work Text:
Joel and Etho are sitting under a tree near Joel’s base, just hanging out.
The shorter hermit’s hat is sitting in the grass, and he’s laying on his back, his leg sticking up in the air, leaning against the tree where Etho’s sitting, listening to him talk about his base.
Etho was definitely staring at Joel, but Joel was speaking, it’s normal to look at someone as they talk. Yeah…
Etho gets distracted as he sees a flash of red gliding closer.
Grian glides down, landing in the grass and a huge grin on his face.
Joel stops talking, looking over at his fellow Brit, “What are you doing?”
Grian cocks an eyebrow up, smirking before starting to sing, “Etho and Joel, sitting in a tre-”
Joel swings his legs down on the other side, so as to not hit Etho, standing up as Grian sings, cheek deep red, screaming at Grian as he stands up to run after the avian, “I swear to the gods!”
Grian starts laughing, flapping his wings, flying off, laughing at Joel.
Etho sits there, cheeks a dark crimson, hiding under his mask.
Joel scoffs in Grian’s direction, turning around, sitting back down next to Etho with a huff, "Annoying bird.” he mutters, rolling his eyes.
Etho stares a head of himself, ‘am I breathing right?!’ ‘Can he hear my heart racing?!’
“Efho?” Joel asks, looking at Etho.
The fox hybrid turns, locking eyes with Joel, mere inches apart.
Etho feels his breath hitch in his throat, ‘gods’ he thinks, ‘he’s handsome’.
Joel sticks his tongue out, wetting his lips, and Etho’s eyes catch on the moment, looking down at the Tanuki’s lips before locking eyes with him again.
Joel slowly reaches up, gently tugging down Etho’s mask and Etho lets him do so.
The brunet reaches up, gently cupping Etho’s cheek as they slowly lean closer together, breaths mixing in the minuscule amount of air between them.
Finally, one of them breaks, leaning in fully and their lips meat.
It’s both fast and slow, trying to find something in between, new and loving.
Etho closes his eyes, savoring the feeling of Joel’s mouth on his, his hand on the fox hybrid’ cheek, other on on his hip.
The white haired man grabs two fistfuls of Joel’s shirt, trying to pull them impossibly closer.
Eventually they part for air, chest heaving almost in sink as they stare at each other, processing what that kiss means for their relationship.