[~] east's oneshots ~ hc/mcyt

pretty boy

(Beetho fluff, 767w)

"Hiya Beefers!" Etho greeted, startling Beef out of his peacefulness. Beef smiled at the sight of his best friend and closed his book, admiring how gracefully Etho hopped over the backrest of their couch. 

It was just the two of them in their dorm today, as their roommates Doc and Bdubs were out on a date. Neither Etho nor Beef had any classes, and no one else in the dormitory building seemed to be texting them or showing up at their door, yelling about flaming avocado toast. (Long story)

"Hey," Beef replied, after Etho had gotten himself comfortable with his legs pulled to his chest, and his chin resting on his knees. "You need something?"

"Nah." Etho shook his head, snatching Beef's book and absently scanning the cover while he said, "Just wanted to talk to you, unwind a bit."

The younger boy put down the book and brushed a lock of hair from his mismatched eyes. "I've been doing homework all morning."

Beef hummed in response, tearing his eyes from Etho's hair-- which he swears he wasn't staring at. He took his book back and placed it gently on the side table. "What do you wanna talk about?"

Etho shrugged. "Anything."

"Alright…" The brunet tapped his knee with his index and middle finger as he thought, then grinned suddenly and nudged Etho gently. "Wanna play love-sadKID songs and I'll listen to you rant about anime for an hour?" 

Etho's eyes crinkled with a smile under his mask. Beef found himself wishing Etho wouldn't always wear that mask, wishing he could genuinely see Etho's smile. 

"You know me so well, Beefers."

"I am your best-friend, aren't I?"

Etho just smiled again in response.

~~~

"And then I saw this like… thirty-two year old man dressed as this anime character and I was like 'Kisuke!!' and the guy was like 'Kikashi!!' and it was weirdly wholesome…" Etho reminisced about the last time he went to an anime convention as Beef listened. 

Well.. he wasn't listening that well. He was focusing more on how the light shone through the window so nicely and it washed Etho in a gorgeous golden light and made his eyes shine like gemstones--

"Beef?"

"Huh-" Beef blinked. When did Etho stop talking?

"Are you even listening?" Etho asked with a laugh, "...If you want me to shut up just tell me."

"No!!" Beef exclaimed, perhaps a bit too quickly, "I mean- er- sorry.."

"It's alright," Etho said, "I've been talking a lot more than I usually do today."

"Oh yeah?" Beef tilted his head, "Why is that?"

"'Cause it's just you, I think." Etho shrugged. The silver-haired boy seemed to think for a moment, then he unhooked his mask and smiled slightly as he let it rest hanging from his left ear. "Less people to talk over."

Beef's jaw dropped.

Etho had never taken his mask off in front of… well.. anyone before. He always slipped food and drink under it and told professors that it was a health choice that made him feel more comfortable.

(Everyone knew it was actually just because Etho enjoyed being mysterious and was ever so slightly insecure, though.)

At any rate, Beef had never seen Etho maskless, and though he was elated that Etho felt comfortable enough with him to ditch the mask, he wished his friend hadn't taken it off while it was just the two of them.

Beef's eyes immediately wandered to Etho's lips. After a second his gaze snapped back to meet the shorter's, and a feeling of dread pooled in the bottom of Beef's stomach. 

Oops

Did Etho catch that?

It seemed like he didn't, so Beef just put on a quick smile and said, "Pretty Boy."

Etho rolled his eyes, turning away and scoffing, "Shut up."

"Nope!" Beef sang, "I have seen all t1he proof I need, you're a Pretty Boy."

"Well of course you'd say that, you're biassed!" 

"I'm just not freaking blind, Etho."

"You-"

The door handle shifted, and the front door to their dormitory began swinging open with a creak and Etho and Beef's two roommates.

Etho froze and scrambled to put his mask back on. Beef raised an eyebrow. "It's just Bdubs and Doc, E..."

Etho shook his head. He whispered, "Not them, yet. Just you."

"Just me?"

"Just you."

Beef shrugged then finally turned to greet his friends. While he didn't completely understand Etho's motives, he felt a strange pride in being the only person allowed to see his face at the moment. 

Etho was like a beautiful piece of art only Beef could see.

Beef's Pretty Boy.