HELLO

THIS WAS REQUESTED BY Xanthicat

AND Y'ALL

DO NOT REALIZE

HOW LONG THIS TOOK.

YOU KNOW WHEN THIS WAS REQUESTED????

MAY SIXTH.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT TODAY IS???

OCTOBER SIXTEENTH.

I greatly apologize for the wait- I literally spent like a total of four days on this, out of the ridiculously long time it took for me to gather my motivation.

Anywho, without further ado, let's go!

Warnings are blooooood and vooooomiiiit and haaaanaahakiiiii

WC: ~1500

Enjoy!

Etho considered himself to have at least a fraction of a braincell.

Which was saying something, considering the rest of his friends were complete crackheads.

So you would think that when he managed to catch the deadliest disease ever, he'd know what to do.

But instead, Etho merely stared at the pile of yellow petals in front of him (odorata sulphurea, to be specific) in shock.

"I... I can't believe it," he mumbled, scooping up the petals in a hand, his stomach churning with fear.

What now?

I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't just confess.

...Easier said than done.

Etho smiled softly at the petals in his hand.

I'm smart. I can do this.

I won't go up to him and straight-up tell him, but I can certainly drop hints.

It's just about beating the clock.

"Hey, Beefers!" Etho called out. It was about a month since he'd gotten hanahaki. He had put off confronting Beef for a while, but when the petals started coming stained with blood, he'd decided that it was for the better. His best friend turned around with a grin on his face.

"Hey!" the other replied, embracing Etho in a quick hug upon his arrival. Etho's chest tightened, but he forced a smile and kept going.

"I was wondering if you'd like to hang out?" Etho offered. "Just chill for a bit, maybe head to the Shopping District or something? I haven't really seen you around too much lately."

"Yeah!" Beef agreed. "Sounds great to me!"

"Then it's a date," Etho declared, holding a hand out with a grin.

Beef took it, completely unaware of the implications behind the joke.

They shot into the sky with their elytra together, and Etho's throat burned with his first failed attempt.

Attempt One of making a subtle romantic suggestion failed. Onto Attempt Two.

Etho had to bite back a sigh at the thought.

Attempt Two: Blatant Flirting.

Etho and Beef landed in the Shopping District, in front of the Nether Portal. Etho landed gracefully, but Beef stumbled a bit upon landing. Etho, thinking fast, rushed over to catch him.

"Oh, thanks Etho!" Beef laughed, somehow unaware of the furious blush that Etho probably had painted on his face.

"Of course," Etho replied with a grin. "There's no need to be falling for me like that." Beef snickered at the joke and messed up Etho's hair, before moving on.

Internal Etho flipped over a table and smashed a glass vase in frustration.

"Come on," Beef said, grinning and taking Etho's hand. "Now that the war's over, can you show me the resistance headquarters?"

Etho forced a smile and nodded.

As soon as Beef turned away, he swallowed back a storm of petals and kept going.

Attempt Two: Failed.

Attempt Three: I don't have one, so it'll have to be a mix of Attempts One and Two.

"Wow, this almost makes me regret choosing to be part of the Podzol Party," Beef chuckled, glancing around the headquarters.

"I'd think that spending more time with me would be enough of a seller to join the Resistance," Etho made his tone light and airy, teasing. Beef looked over at him and smiled, and god that smile did something to his heart.

"Yeah, I think so," Beef agreed. "It definitely is."

Etho's heart leaped.

"It's always nice to spend some more time with my best friend," Beef said eagerly, taking both of Etho's hands in his own and squeezing them before letting go.

"Y-yeah," Etho said, hoping that his voice sounded happy. "I- erm- gotta go real quick- be right back in a second-"

"Are you okay?" Beef's voice was worried, and it only added to the buildup of petals in Etho's throat.

"Mhm," he said, smiling again. "Just gotta use the- uh- restroom." Beef nodded in understanding, and Etho left, hoping that wasn't too horrible of a display.

Scratch that, it was really bad.

Etho knelt down when he was a good distance away, and he threw up, petals spewing everywhere.

He stared at the bloodstained flower petals for a moment. This time there was liquid blood accompanying them, a sudden progress in the speed of the disease's development.

Maybe it's because I'm spending time with Beef.

Maybe it's because the feeling really is unrequited.

Etho bit back tears, instead covered up the spot, drank some water, and headed back to Beef.

Attempt Three: Failed.

Attempt Four: No need for one, because there's no point.

Etho, after finishing up with Beef, had left, and refused to meet with anyone since. It had been almost two months, and the disease was only getting worse.

It was making Etho start feeling like he really had no chance, that Beef certainly didn't feel the same.

<VintageBeef> hey etho, mind if I stop by?

Etho's heart froze at the message, petals building up in his throat.

He cares he cares he might've noticed I haven't been around crap abort abort abort nope none of that-

Etho coughed, a petal coming out with it. He grabbed the petal midair and stared at it, before typing in.

<Ethoslab> Sure!

Etho sighed softly, closing his communicator.

Attempt Four: Failed.

Attempt Five: Just Confess.

Beef waved as he landed in the Monstrosity, grinning. Etho smiled back, offering a small wave of his own.

"Hey, it's been a while since I've seen you around!" Beef said, reaching over to fix Etho's bandana, which was lopsided.

"Yeah, I guess it has been," Etho replied, trying not to tense up at the pain that sprouted from the simple touch.

"Is everything alright?" Beef's voice grew softer, more gentle. "You've been spending a lot time here, and you look really sick. Have you been taking care of yourself?"

Crap crap crap crap Beef why are you doing this to me-

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," Etho swallowed back a flurry of petals. "Thanks for checking in." Beef's blue eyes narrowed, he wasn't convinced.

"You sure?" the words made Etho feel like his throat was being cut up, his chest twisting painfully.

"Mhm," Etho said, his voice strained. "Uh. Give me a second?"

Before Beef could reply, he quickly darted away, slipping through the base.

As soon as he was clear, Etho threw up, blood staining the jungle soil red. Tears mingled with the blood, and Etho swiped them out of his eyes almost instantly.

He numbly stared at the blood, his heart pounding in his ears. He couldn't do this, how could he just go up to Beef and try and explain how he felt?

More vomit built up in Etho's throat at the thought, and he didn't bother trying to stop it.

"ETHO!!!"

No.

Please, Beef. Not like this.

He felt warm arms wrap around him, bringing him close to someone's chest, and a hand ran through his hair.

Beef had always given good hugs.

"Oh, Etho..." Beef whispered, having seen the petals and blood, and having probably put it together.

Etho stayed silent, and he felt a flower blossom on his upper arm.

"Who is it?" Beef asked.

"I..." Etho trailed off, coughing out some petals.

"Please, Etho," Beef sounded like he was on the verge of tears. "I can't lose you."

"You already have," Etho felt himself spitting. "Too late, Beefers. Because I know that you don't like me the way that I like you. And it's not your fault, you can't control how you feel. And believe me, I've tried. And-"

"Oh my- Etho, stop," Beef breathed. "I- I'm the cause of this? But... hanahaki is for unrequited love... isn't it?" Etho froze, his eyes going wide.

Distantly, he could feel the flower that had grown from his skin recceed, crumbling into nothing.

"It... it is," Etho said slowly.

"But I've liked you since Mindcrack!!" Beef cried, throwing his hands up in the air. "Your disease has got the facts wrong!!"

Etho was silent for a second, then shaky, breathless laughter started escaping him, and soon his hands were clenched onto Beef's clothes for support.

"W-what?" he sputtered. "It's a disease, it can't get things wrong!"

"Yeah, it can," Beef replied, smiling before pressing his lips to Etho's forehead.

The pain disintegrated, and Etho breathed out a small sigh of relief.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Beef asked. "You could've at least dropped a hint or something!"

Etho stared at him, then buried his face in his hands, shaking with laughter.

"Are you joking??" he cried. "I've been trying to 'drop a hint' for the past couple of months!"

"Oh," Beef sounded surprised, and Etho silently questioned how anyone could manage to be so hilariously dense at points.

"You're an idiot," Etho said, pulling his mask down to connect their lips. Beef made a small, flustered noise, then kissed Etho back.

Etho smiled as he broke away.

"Attempt Five," he whispered. "Success."

Honestly, I really like how I did the sort of trial and error process for Etho's thoughts. I feel like it fits him!

Thank you so much, Xan, for requesting this, and I greatly apologize for the wait!

-Storm