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Etho wakes up slowly. His body feels sore, and when he tries to bring his hands up to his face to rub his eyes, he finds he can't.
He pulls on his hands and finds them tied to the back legs of the wooden chair he is sitting on.
Actually so are his legs and chest/upper arms.
“You're finally awake!” Someone says cheerfully from the shadows across the room.
The fox hybrid recognizes that voice instantly, “Joel!” he says, “what’s going on?”
“You know how you said I’m obsessed with you?” Joel asks, stepping out of the shadows, his kimono swishing around his legs as the tanuki walks.
He stops in front of the fox hybrid, and leans forward, whispering in Etho’s right ear, “you were right.”
Etho swallows the lump forming in his throat as Joel stands back up straight before spinning on, “I am, and now your mine .” he says, a crazy smile on his face.
“Please tell me you're joking.” Etho says, struggling against his restraints.
“Now, why would I be?” Joel asks, leaning forwards so he and Etho are face to face. He pulls Etho’s mask down to rest around his neck, “now I don’t have to share you with anyone .” he says as he caresses a finger slowly along the left side of Etho’s face, along his jawline.
“What about your wife?” Etho asks, trying to move away from the touch, “I don’t think Lizzie would approve of you, what? Fucking me?” he asks hoping the fear does not show in his voice.
“fu-I’m not going to rape you.” Joel says, pulling away, “anyway, she doesn't care if I date anyone else.” he says, “we have an open relationship, so i can love you all I want.” he says, sending a fond smile Etho’s way.
“You know this is the first time I have seen your face since double life ended.” Joel says, stepping forward, and getting into Etho’s lap. He straddles the fox hybrid’s lap, making him even more uncomfortable than he was earlier, “you have such a pretty face Efoh.” he says, turning Etho’s head so he is facing the brunet, “I loved seeing your beautiful face every day on the Relason-Ship.” Joel says, looking Etho directly in his mismatched eyes, “I still love seeing it.”
Normally if Joel called Etho’s face beautiful, Etho would mutter a small “thanks.” turning so the could not see his flustered face at the complement, but it felt all wrong .
Joel leans in and presses an unwanted kiss to Etho’s lips.
The fox hybrid does not reciprocate the kiss. He just wants to leave.
It feels wrong, wrong, wrong . The only person he has ever kissed on the lips is his boyfriend, Bdubs.
Thankfully Joel pulls away before trying to deepen the kiss.
“Such a good boy.” Joel says, scratching behind Etho’s fluffy fox ear, just where the tanuki knows he loves, but the touch feels wrong , like a complete stranger touching your hair without your consent.
Joel presses a quick kiss to Etho’s forehead after standing up, “I’ll be back.” he says, “you look famished my love.”
It feels so wrong
-⬘♡⬘-
“Hey Joel, have you seen Etho?” Bdubs asks, “I can’t seem to find him.”
“Oh, he left the server for a bit.” Joel says, “I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”
“Wired.” The glare hybrid says, “usually he at least leaves me a note when he goes.”
“I think he said it was a family emergency, and not to expect him back for at least a month.” Joel says “anyway, I’ll be off now.” Joel says, opening his elytra, “see you around.” He says, as he flies off, shulker full of food for Etho.
-⬘♡⬘-
Etho hears the sound of a door opening, and Joel comes walking down the stairs. He holds a purples shulker in his hands, “Efho, I’m back with something for you.”
“Can you untie me?” Etho asks, “I need the bathroom.” he lies, “ I have had to go for a while.”
“I’ll untie you, but don’t try anything.” Joel says, placing the shulker down, going behind Etho, and starting to untie him, “the bathroom is through that door by the bed. There and back, and maybe I’ll give you a treat.”
‘Screw that’ Etho thinks.
As soon as his binds are loose enough, he jumps up, and makes a break from the basement stairs.
The arctic fox hybrid hears a glass shatter at his feet, and a wave of exhaustion comes over him.
“No.” Etho plays as his knees buckle under himself from the weakness potion Joel threw at him.
Joel grabs the back of Etho’s jacket as the white haired man cries.
The tanuki slams Etho face first into the small bed in the corner of the room.
Etho’s communicator dings in his back pocket, telling him his spawn point has been reset.
Joel takes his comm, “almost forgot that.” Joel says, “don’t need you telling anyone where you truly are.”
The clanking of chains join Etho’s sobs as Joel clamps a cold metal cuff around the fox hybrid’s left ankle.
Joel removes himself from where he was pinning Etho down, “that is long enough to reach the bathroom.” Joel says, walking over to the shulker box.
He picks it up, and places it next to the bed, before taking something out, “to think you tried to run away.” Joel says, “all I want to do is shower you with my love.” he says, “I even had gotten you your favorite chocolates. Now you’ll have to earn them back.”
Etho’s body shakes from the effects of the potions.
Joel stops halfway to the stairs, “oh just so you know.” he says, “the only door out was locked.”
-⬘♡⬘-
Joel comes down the next day, and places a clock on the wall so Etho can tell the time, but all it does is make Etho miss Bdubs more.
Joel is going through the shulker, “you ate nothing in here.” he closes the lid, “either you eat something now, in front of me, and I give you a gift.” he says, “or I strap you down on that bed, and stick an IV in your arm so you don’t die.
Etho swallows the lump in his throat reaching down, and opening the shulker.
Honestly Joel got plenty of different foods. All one he knows Etho loves , but if all just feels so wrong .
He grabs a few golden carrots, slowly eating them in front of Joel.
When he is done Joel talks, “if you won’t take care of yourself, I’ll have to, and you wont like me doing that.” he says, “now here is your gift.”
Joel pulls a notebook, a box of fresh pencils, and a few books from Etho’s collection from his inventory, placing them on Etho’s bed next to where he is sitting cross legged.
“Is there anything specific you want me to get from your base Dear?” Joel asks.
“Can I get some other clothes?” Etho asks.
“Of course.” Joel says, “I’ll grab your soap and personal hygiene stuff well I’m at it.” He says, “Though I might be a little late coming back tonight, we have a server meeting.”
He walks forward, pulling Etho’s mask down, and kissing him.
“If you're a good boy, well I’m gone, you can have the chocolates I got you yesterday.” Joel says, as he walks away, leaving Etho alone again.
Etho goes through the books Joel left him and pics one up, starting to read it.
-⬘♡⬘-
“Here let me brush your hair.” Joel says, moving to sit on the bed behind Etho.
He unties Etho’s hair as the fox hybrid stares blankly at the wall. It’s been almost a month, and nobody has come for him.
Joel caringly brushes his hair, slowly and lovingly, careful of his ears, before braiding it into a small braid at the back of Etho's neck.
Joel yawns, “how about we get to sleep Efho.” he says quietly.
Etho lays down on his side, a pillow clutched in his arms, as he stares at the wall.
Joel lays down behind him, pulling the taller man to his chest.
“Goodnight.” Joel says, falling asleep.
Etho lays there praying somebody will find him.
-⬘♡⬘-
The basement door opens, and Etho ignores it, knowing it is Joel coming down.
“Etho?” somebody says.
Somebody.
Not Joel.
Etho turns and sees Bdubs, tears in his eyes.
The glare hybrid runs up to Etho, pulling him into a hug.
“I-I missed you s-so much!” he sobs, "it's been tw-two months."
“Where's Joel?” Etho asks, voice scratch from not being used.
“Gone.” Bdubs says, “you safe.” he says, “we’re getting him help, off server.”