Gonna stop numbering stories, mostly because I couldn't give two fucks anymore. 

Also I'm going to do this different, I'm gonna put what ship I have in this, if any at all with an emoji because it's cuter that way 😃

💛Echoshine🩵 (Someone on TikTok came up with the ship name for Echo x Shino) 

—~Shino POV~—

Not gonna lie, I was skeptical when Echo asked me to go get beer with him. And hour or so of being hit on? Can't tell if it's flattering or creepy.

But hey, what's the worst that could happen?

We just changed out of our hero costumes before heading out in Echo's car. I think he said he preferred being called Echo? Eh, I'll ask again later. My memory is honestly shit.

His sense of style is exactly what I expected. Button downs and blazers, jeans with smart shoes. He clearly thinks it's the pinnacle of fashion. 

We climb into his car and he starts driving. 

"You're going to love this place, it truly is encantador. They have snacks as well, but the alcohol is muy bonito." Echo says after a few moment of awkward silence. 

"You know I have no clue what you just said," I respond. He knows my Spanish is rusty..

"Oh to hell with it, you really are estúpido. You'll see what I mean when we get there. It's not too far now." Echo says taking one hand off the wheel and holding his nose bridge. 

"Hey! I know what that means, I'm not stupid." I say, crossing my arms. Echo simply rolls his eyes.

—~+~—

When we finally get to the bar, it's actually beautiful. It has a cozy feeling. Round booths, lots of plants, warm lighting; not the mention that the bar looks expensive. 

Echo grabs my arms quickly when we walk in, dragging me to a booth farther from the entrance. 

"These are the best spots, please, take a seat." Echo says after excusing himself for being so pushy. This guy is really formal I'm learning.

I do as he asks and sit down, glancing at the menu. 

"Ever had... Barleywine Imperial? Sounds good." I say after staring down the menu for a while.

"Pretty strong, hope you're not un ligero." Echo says while raising an eyebrow. "Is it strange I forgot to ask how old you are before taking you to a bar?" Echo says after clearing his throat. 

I smirk before responding. "Yeah, how do you know I'm not 19 or something?" Echo gives me an expression of boredom. I laugh as he lifts his menu to cover his face. "Chill dude I'm 22. Getting old sucks." 

"Old? You're still a baby." Echo says with a smug expression. 

"Should I ask how old you are to be calling me a baby?" 

"24. Almost 25,"

"So 2, 3 years older than me and you're calling me a baby? Strange."

Echo just chuckles before setting his menu to the side. "So, pibe, you do anything other than be effortlessly adorable?" Echo says, now leaning on his hand.

"I'm just gonna ignore that. I play video games a lot, listen to music, read, go on walks?" I shrug. 

"I meant anything interesting." 

"Rude.. Well I do... I sing a bit?" I quiet down a bit. 

"Oh? Willing to serenade me anytime soon?" Echo smiles, continuing his shameless flirting. 

I can't say anything more since the waitress arrives. I order my Barleywine Imperial with a side eye from Echo, who orders some fancy sounding drink with a shot of tequila. 

"And you want to call me an alcoholic... Mr. shot of tequila." I roll my eyes as the waitress walks away awkwardly. 

"I never said you were an alcoholic, that would be hypocritical. I simply asked if you were a lightweight." Echo shrugs and adjusts his hair to a bun. 

"Admitting to be an alcoholic now? What else am I'm going to learn about you tonight?" I smirk, watching his hand movements. Damn he has some attractive hands. What? 

"Whatever you want, I'm an open book." Echo smiles welcomingly. 

As we wait for our drinks, I learn that Echo owns 25 mirrors, also likes to read, and has a strange obsession with monopoly. He had me playing a mobile version on his phone with him. It was unfortunately fun. 

Our drink's arrive after he charges my $1300 for landing on a hotel... for the 5th time... 

Mine looks pretty basic, the cup is nice though. Echo's has some interesting foam on top which he lets me taste. Of course I was met with an inappropriate joke after he watched me lick the white foam from my spoon. 

We do a toast before sipping our drinks. Echo has a content look after taking his first sip. I however get a buzz from the alcohol. 

"You're definitely a lightweight." Echo chuckles before drinking more.

"Am not, just haven't had such strong drinks in a while.." I continue to drink as well.

We talk some more, he tells me about his experiences, he's actually pretty interesting. I also had to listen to a tangent about his past flames in Argentina. 

He's surprisingly easy to talk to, I find myself opening up to him more than I have to most people. Can't tell if it's the alcohol or not. 

By now I've had something like 2 glasses of this Barleywine Imperial and  few shots, my brain buzzing and my vision slightly blurry. Echo on the other hand has had 4 glasses of different beers and wines, a respectable amount of shots. He's also in the process of ordering another glass. Yet he seems just as sober as he did when we got here. 

"So, I've told you about my childhood, let me know a bit about you." Echo offers after the waitress has gone.

"Well.. Been an orphan since 7, so that's nice." I say, rubbing the edge of an empty glass. Echo gives me a remorseful expression. 

"I'm sorry to hear that." 

"Yeah... Had someone I'd consider the closest thing I'd had to a father, Database if you've heard of him. Now he's dead too." I sigh, seeing my reflection in my cup. Am I always this flushed? 

"Yes, I've heard of him... His passing was a sad day for everyone. He was a great hero, and seeing as you speak so highly of him, I'd assume he was a good person as well." Echo says as his drink arrives, taking a sip.

"Yeah you could say I don't have the best luck... My best friend from Monarch is dead too. He turned out to be more of a dick than I had thought, but he was still one of the people I was closest to.." I drink the last bit of my beer before resting my head on the table and closing my eyes. God why am I tearing up?

"Oh Shino..." Echo says, I can feel his hand on my head.

"Then the closet person I had decided to just leave me. My boyfriend I had told you about. Haven't heard from him in a while." Why is my voice breaking now? Echo probably finds this pathetic.. "I honestly don't even know if we're still together, I doubt it though. He ghosted me a while back." I'm now covering my face with my arms, still head down on the table. Now I'm sure he can see that I'm crying.

"Shh, sh, it's alright. Take some deep breathes." Echo rubs my hair gently, his voice soft. I barely noticed I was being loud. 

"I'm sorry Shino. I didn't mean to bring up such painful memories. How about we get out here? I'll pay." Echo says, I can hear him down his drink.

"You don't have to do that, I can pay for what I got," I say, wiping my eyes as I sit up to reach for my wallet. Echo stops me, pushing my hand back gently. 

"Like I said, I'll pay. Don't worry, it's all on me, besides I'm the one who asked you out here." Echo says, placing some cash on the table. 

I sit there, staring at his stupidly for a minute before he chuckles and stands, offering his hand. I take after staring at his attractive hands for another minute. He leads me out the door and to his car. 

"Driving drunk is irresponsible, even if I can barely feel it. You good with staying here for a nap or something? Sleep off some of that alcohol?" Echo says while checking some things on the dashboard.

"Don't worry about me, I could probably walk to my apartment or something." I say groggily, grabbing my jacket off the seat. 

"Not an option, thinking about what could happen to you drunk and alone makes me sick." Echo pulls down the face shield from the front seats, pulling down small curtains on the side windows. 

"Damn, you sleep in here often?" I say, glancing at him now taking out a blanket from who knows where. 

"You could say that, yeah. Take this, get some rest ok? You seem to need it." Echo hands me the unfolded blanket.

"Thank you Echo... can't say I'm used to this much kindness on a daily basis.." I take the blanket slowly. 

Echo pushes me down gently in the back seat. "Well get used to it pibe; and please, call me Remy." 

"Alright... Remy..." I lie back, my eyes getting heavy. 

"Love you." I close my eyes fully, curling into the blanket. 

I hear a soft gasp from Remy before he speaks. 

"...Love you too."