Etho closed the door to his apartment behind him and looked around. Everything was quiet. The glow of the streets and buildings outside gently illuminated the room, but it wasn't  enough to actually see much. Not that there was much to see anyways, a few white walls, one wall made out of windows, framed by two beige curtains and futuristic furniture. In general a very open and white apartment.

(here are some basic ideas what their apartment looks like in case you want it:

Kinda like that just more white and less colour! More open with loads of window walls too!!)

Etho hung his coat up on the coat hangers and sighed. Either Doc was already asleep or he never came home today in the first place.

He kicked off his shoes and looked around. "... Doc?" he called out, Etho didn't see him when he left the job and although he wasn't worried, he was curious of where he was.

No one answered, and Etho sighed. He turned on the light, it flickered and took a few seconds before it ultimately turned on and then bathed the room in warm, yellow glow. He sighed and walked over to the windows. They didn't have a balcony, but the windows were large enough to observe the entire area anyways.

Etho pulled out his phone and scrolled through his many messages. After putting it out of silent mode, he spotted a message from Grian in-between notifications from various apps and work related stuff.

Grian
Hey Etho, sorry but I have to pass on tomorrow, completely forgot to study for exam I have on monday sorry. scar and bdubs should still come without me tho I think! Sorry again dude.

Etho smiled slightly and quickly replied.

Etho
No problem, Grian. See you on Tuesday then!

Before putting his phone away, he thought about asking his friend if he knew where Doc was, and came to the conclusion that it was worth a shot.

Etho
You don't happen to know where Doc is btw?

He looked up from his phone and observed the scenery outside. Many people hurried along the brightly lit streets and every few seconds ambulances pass by and quick travel trains (simply Q for short) roll up to stations and leave in an almost soporific way.

Etho was in a trance, so to say. He stared out of the window and let his thoughts get drowned out by the constant sirens and quiet chattering of the people walking by.

He jumped as his phone beeped. Seems like Grian wrote back.

Grian
Yeah, he's here with me. We're out discussing the stuff I asked you about in more detail. The metal hand stuff, I mean. He said he'll come home after finishing this cig. Dw.

Etho
Mkay. Tell him I didn't worry and that I thought he was on making dinner duty :(

Grian
He says oh shit

Etho
Hahaha

Etho put his phone away, a tiny smile forcing its way onto his face as he strolled over to their kitchen. He opened the fridge, shivering as the cold air surrounded him and he suppressed the urge to do a winning dance type thing. They still had instant noodles left. Etho smirked. Doc was normally the one to do actually cooking, his thing was warming up noodles.

He grabbed the instant noodles and swiftly turned around to face the microwave. Etho froze. He put the instant noodles back down as he frowned. Their microwave broke a few days ago. They haven't fixed it yet.

Etho breathed out and leaned on the kitchen island. It was eerie, alone in this cold, white apartment. He looked around, studying the atmosphere and waiting for Doc to come home. What else was he supposed to do?

–––

The door to their apartment opened and someone stepped inside. Etho squinted.

"Hi Etho!" Doc (who else was it supposed to be?)  exclaimed and it sounded like he took off his shoes.

"Hey Doc." Etho replied and tapped his fingers on the surface of the kitchen island. "Microwave's still broken." he said, the words leaving his mouth before he could stop himself and think about repairing it alone.

"Awh shit." Doc mumbled and walked around the corner. "Completely forgot." he spoke as he stood opposite of Etho and he eyed the broken machine.

"Yeah." Etho muttered, "I'm tired though, let's fix it tomorrow." he took the instant noodles and turned back around, putting them into the fridge that he forgot to close.

Doc nodded and sighed. "I'm going to sleep." he slowly put one foot one step closer to their bedrooms. "See you at work, Etho." his friend forced a smile and he slowly but surely made his way across the living room and into the hallway that the doors to their bedrooms are in.

Etho was focused on looking after Doc, so he jumped as something made a loud thud sound. He turned around and eyed the windows.

"The fuck was that?" Doc laughed lightly and turned back around.

"The cats again I'm guessing?" Etho walked closer to the windows and squinted so he could see the outside and not just the reflection of their living room.

A gray cat gazed up at him and tilted its head.

"Aww, hello guy." Etho smiled gently and tapped on the glass. The cat mewed. "Yes hello!" He cooed and looked back at Doc, who lightly shook his head.

His friend blinked a few times and eyed Etho, who was crouching next to the windows, blowing kisses at the cat. "mmmh okay, let him in, we have some cat food left anyways." Doc said, ultimately giving in and smiling gently.

Etho grinned and opened the window, the cat being shoved inside by the gust of wind. The little guy looked around and slowly moved one paw in front of the other, its tail twitching around.

"Don't." doc started as Etho opened his mouth to say something, "Don't give it a name."

Etho stood up and frowned, "But I-"

"No buts. You know how it ended last time." Doc cut him off, crossing his arms.

Etho's eyes widened and he gasped defensively. "Banter was an exception! She wanted to go and I cried over work and not over her leaving!"

Doc rolled his eyes and suppressed a smile. "Sure, man." he taunted, "You go get the cat food cause I'm off to bed. I have day and I guess night too-if I don't sneak off first- tomorrow."

Etho nodded and smiled brightly, "Bdubs will be ecstatic if he gets to see little guy tomorrow!"