Heyyyyyy it's me again with more beetho because I have an addiction with this ship!

Also I was being stupid the other day and got myself a mild concussion, so I got to spend the entire day in bed watching Hermitcraft since my head hurt really badly and I had trouble remembering short term stuff.

But I'm better now so BEETHO!

While in bed, I came up with an AU idea so here's that! (If anyone else wants to use this AU, feel free!)

AU Idea: When you die, you are allowed to have five minutes with one person of your choice before going to the afterlife. After you are done, however, the living person will forget of the interaction while the deceased will still remember it in the afterlife.

Trigger Warnings: Blood and truck go smash into Beef :)
Word count: About 1200
(Also the Reaper may or may not be based after me)

-POV: Beef-
It was a terrible accident. Beef never wanted this day to come, and even though he knew it would eventually happen, he didn't expect it to happen so soon.

How did a day so incredible end so horribly?

Beef had just confessed his love to Etho the previous night, which to his surprise, had been mutual.

The two spent the night together in Etho's apartment, cuddling and enjoying each other's presence.

Beef left early in the morning to get to the butcher shop where he worked early hours.

He left a note for Etho.

"Hi! I left to go to work, but I'll be back before you know it! I love you! -Your Beefers"

I'll be back soon.

Empty promises. Stupid, fake promises.

Beef lied.

He lied to Etho.

He didn't come back.

He didn't get the chance.

Beef had walked back home at 3 PM, excited to see Etho again once he got back to the apartment.

He had bought a cookie from the neighboring store just for Etho.

Snickerdoodle.

Etho's favorite.

But something happened.

As he walked across the street, a truck came by.

It hit him.

And before Beef knew what was happening...

He was dead.

He opened his eyes and saw the scene.

Beef looked at his arms.

They were translucent, as were the rest of his body.

He floated, hovering in the air.

Beef saw himself; his own body, laying dead on the streets.

Blood sprayed everywhere, pouring out into the streets, staining the floor.

It was disgusting.

Police cars and ambulances were there, but it was too late.

People were screaming, children were crying...

"Are you ready?"

Beef turned around and saw a person.

Their face was covered with a black robe, though their mouth was slightly visible.

They held a scythe and a neutral face. She didn't look happy, but not sad, either.

A Reaper. That's what they was.

Beef asked, "What do you mean?"

The Reaper replied calmly, "Vintage Beef, you have died. However, before I bring you to the afterlife, you are allowed to visit one person for five minutes. They will not remember seeing you after the experience, but it will allow you to feel better if you would like to."

Beef said without a second thought, "Etho Slab." He paused, and added, "Please."

"As you wish."

-POV: Etho-
Etho hummed happily to a song in his head.

Things were going well.

He was happy because Beef was about to come home any minute!

Etho couldn't wait to shower his new boyfriend in kisses and hugs and cuddles.

The thought of seeing him again made him smile.

He had even baked a batch of sugar cookies, Beef's favorite kind.

Etho heard the door open, and he beamed.

He turned around, cookie in hand to greet his boyfriend, when-

Wait.

This wasn't right.

Beef looked see-through, glowing a soft hue. He wore a sad expression despite his smile, tears glazing his eyes.

"Beefers?" Etho croaked.

He stepped forward and was relieved to find that he could still touch him.

Beef looked at Etho with a sad smile.

"Hi, Etho." Beef whispered as Etho wrapped his arms around him, squeezing him tightly.

"What happened?" Etho cried softly.

Beef bit his lip. "I died." he said quietly.

Tears started falling from Etho's eyes. "W-what? N-no, you're here, I see you, you're still here-"

"Etho, I'm so sorry." Beef said gently. "I don't have a lot of time. I was hit by a truck. After this, you're going to forget that this happened. But I need to tell you that I love you. I love you so much."

"No! Please, Beefers, you can't be dead!" Etho sobbed, clutching Beef's shirt.

Beef hugged him, tears rolling down his cheeks too.

"I'm so sorry."

Beef kissed Etho.

The only word to describe the kiss was bittersweet.

It was so sad, that this kiss would be their very last embrace ever again until Etho's demise.

Yet knowing that they would, eventually, one day see each other again, made the kiss sweet.

Tears were salty, kisses were sweet.

Salt and sugar.

Dead and alive.

They didn't belong.

But they were okay right now.

Beef suddenly whispered through the kiss, "I have to go."

Etho choked on his tears and sobbed, "No. No, please, Beef, don't leave me! You can't leave me here! I love you, I love you, I love you!"

"I love you too, Etho." Beef said so quietly, it was hardly even spoken.

And Etho cried, kissing Beef.

Beef began to fade, but before he did, Beef placed something in Etho's hands.

A snickerdoodle cookie.

His favorite.

Beef knew.

Etho's eyes widened. He had to give Beef his cookie.

Etho cried, "Wait!"

But it was too late.

An empty exchange.

Forgotten gifts.

Never given.

Etho cried, for he knew he would soon forget or this encounter.

-POV: Beef-
Beef felt the tears stream down his face as he watched Etho break down without him.

But the Reaper was back, and they put a hand on Beef's shoulder, and gave him a look as if to say, "I know it's hard. But it's okay. You'll see him again."

"Are you ready to go?" the Reaper asked gently.

Beef nodded without a sound.

The Reaper swiped their scythe and poof.

Beef was gone.

Gone to the afterlife.

-POV: Reaper-
The Reaper hated her job so much.

Watching family, friends, lovers cry as they were separated, torn apart by death.

They've been doing this for centuries, and it still killed her to see the pain in the people's hearts.

The Reaper sighed.

They waved a hand over Etho, who in turn, was reset to five minutes earlier, completely wiped of the interaction with Beef.

She watched Etho smiling and humming, putting cookies onto a plate, waiting for Beef to come home.

The Reaper watched as an hour passed by, and Etho received a phone call from Beef's sibling, telling the horrid news of Beef's death.

The Reaper watched the horror unfold as Etho started breaking down into a shuddering ball of sadness, sobbing empty cries.

They heard Etho utter out a simple sentence that bore so much weight.

"I love you, Beefers."

The Reaper took off her hood.

They stared at themself in the reflection of their scythe.

Monochrome colors.

That's all they were.

They remembered when they were alive, so long ago.

She had short brown hair.

Pale skin.

Brown eyes.

And a love.

Oh, how much they loved.

She loved their friend and yearned for her.

She planned on telling her, despite it most likely being unrequited.

But death comes quickly sometimes.

And from then on, they were the Reaper.

It was a choice.

A bad one.

And life was just that.

Bad choices.

Good choices.

Bittersweet.

I wasn't lying when I said I was the Almighty Angster.

It hurt me to write this ngl

Please don't steal my kneecaps.

ALSO WE'RE AT 700 VIEWS HOLY AJFBFBCKDKFNNG HOW?!!?! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!

Ily guys! <3

-Veggie