Etho wouldn't deny that he definitely was not a people person. Or that socializing was a skill that he properly lacked with most people.

And because if that, he hadn't really gotten to know their visitor, Impulse.

But Etho's lack of social confidence wasn't the only reason why he hadn't talked with Impulse yet. Something was off about him. From the way he held himself to the odd cadence he talked in, Etho could tell something was different about Impulse.

Maybe it wasn't a bad sort of different. But it was definitely a different.

Impulse had hesitated when asked his species on the first day, before saying he was a human. From conversations Etho had overheard, Impulse was constantly slinking away from personal questions, or answering them vaguely. He wouldn't tell anyone where he was from, who his family was, anything. The newcomer never talked about himself, let alone his past.

Etho did understand that, in a way. Some people have pasts that they don't want to talk about, ones full of trauma and strife. Etho knew a thing or two about past trauma. It can scar a person.

Hopefully, the reason behind Impulse's oddity was a simple explanation like that. But the anxiety in Etho's head made him worry. What if Impulse was purposely keeping secrets so that he could hurt them? What if Impulse was dangerous?

Etho grumbled to himself. By that logic, all of his suspicions of Impulse could also just be a byproduct of anxiety. All just his scared brain misinterpreting signals.

But there had to be something off! His mind couldn't just be playing tricks on him again, not because of his stupid anxiety.

"What are ya thinking about man?"

Etho jumped at the voice behind him, before quickly recognizing the thick German accent as Doc's.

"Just the get together tonight," Etho lied, turning to face the taller man.

"Oh, are you going to go?" Doc asked. Etho didn't go to the get togethers often, due to his general distaste for all of the noise and people. He did make his appearance every so often though. Beef had told him it was good for him to hang out with the others.

"I might." Etho shrugged. "I was planning to, but I'm not super sure... Do you think Impulse is gonna be there?"

He knew that it was likely that Impulse wouldn't be there, as he hadn't even been at the village for a week yet, but he figured he might ask anyways.

"I don't know," Doc paused for a moment, tapping his chin as he thought. "He might be, since Zisuma is hosting it and he has been staying with him."

Etho hummed in response, as he hadn't thought of that. Xisuma hosting it meant that it was almost a guarantee that Impulse would be there, of course he might not participate in the activities, but he'd be there.

"Were you thinking of talking to him finally? You don't have to yet you know." Doc tipped his head to the side with a reassuring look. Etho shrugged again and Doc continued. "Did you know he likes redstone? He said he just dabbles, but some of his ideas sounded pretty cool."

"Oh, nice." Etho sighed, but noted that fact. So Impulse had shared something about himself, opened up in some way. Maybe he wasn't the unnerving mystery man that Etho had made up in his head.

"You alright Etho?" Doc nudged him with an elbow.

"Yeah, just thinking," Etho explained after a second of silence. He fidgeted with the straps of his mask, looking away from Doc. "Impulse weirds me out," Etho found himself blurting out.

Doc seemed taken aback at first until he raised a curious eyebrow. "Why? Because you're good at reading people and I wouldn't doubt you."

"I guess, well, the best way to explain it would be that he seems really secretive," Etho started, talking with his hands a bit. "Like, I haven't heard him tell anyone where he's from, or very much about himself. Just, barely talks in general. Not to mention he acts really shy for a traveler. I think the only time I saw him actually excited and properly talking was when Keralis said he was heavily caffeinated."

Doc nodded along, listening carefully to the points Etho made. "That makes sense, yeah. Though Impulse could just be pretty anxious around strangers like you are..."

"I know, I know, and that's probably just it," Etho fiddled with his sleeve hems, pressing his fingers into them forcefully. "I just can't help but feel like something's off, something's off..."

He wasn't insane, was he? He could tell something was wrong, but what if it wasn't with Impulse, what if it was with him? Etho felt his heart beat a little faster in his chest. Of course it was him, it was always him. But there was still something happening with Impulse, there had to be, because if there wasn't, if there wasn't— then he was crazy, wasn't he?

"Etho— you're spiraling again, I can tell." Doc reached out for his arm, but Etho flinched away. "Just, don't worry about it, okay? Don't worry about Impulse, because I'm sure we'll figure out what's going on with him eventually. Maybe it's nothing."

But that was the problem— if it was nothing, that meant Etho was the one who was messed up. Impulse acted weird, and it scared him. But being scared by things that weren't meant to be frightening is something that normal people don't do.

Etho didn't respond to Doc. He balled his hands into fists and pressed his nails into his palms, trying to swallow down his unnecessary panic. He couldn't be having a mental breakdown now, now could he? He shouldn't be having mental breakdowns at all, because there wasn't supposed to be anything wrong with him.

There wasn't anything wrong with him.

There couldn't be anything wrong with him.

So Etho was going to prove that something was wrong with Impulse instead.

. . .

He went to Xisuma's get together.

It was loud. And cramped. Hermits huddled together, shoulder to shoulder as they showed their care for each other through closeness.

Etho scrunched his nose at that. He didn't understand the appeal of it all. Why Keralis insisted on holding Xisuma's hand— wouldn't you rather not have to touch someone? Why Cleo high-fived people after good jokes— seems pointless, doesn't it?

But Etho quickly remembered that wasn't what he was here to observe. From his spot against the wall he could watch most everyone else, though he was looking for Impulse in particular. Only around half of the hermits had shown up at this one, which was what the typical crowd usually was.

A couple of things stood out. One was that Tango seemed rather alone for some reason, hopping between other people's groups without Zedaph to hang out with him. Another was that Scar and Bdubs were tucked away in their own corner, talking quietly with each other. Scar was visibly upset.

Etho sighed, wondering about Scar but also glad that no one was approaching him in his corner.

And then Etho saw him. Impulse. The man made his way to the gathering from the upstairs area of the lodge, giving a smile and a wave. He skirted around the crowd and hovered close to Xisuma. Etho locked his eyes onto Impulse and didn't stop staring.

Tango noticed Impulse's presence and ran over, giving Impulse a pat on the shoulder. Etho would've recoiled at that touch, and, funnily enough, Impulse looked like he was going to. But he didn't, flashing an awkward smile instead.

Impulse scanned his eyes across the crowd, meeting Etho's for a split second. Etho didn't stop staring. Impulse looked disturbed until Tango nudged him, snapping him it out of it.

Etho continued to observe, continued to watch. He told himself it was curiosity. Deep down he knew that it was paranoia.

It was barely five minutes when Impulse disappeared again, slipping out Xisuma's back doors and onto the patio out there. It was too dark outside for Etho to see that well, but his eyes did their best follow the newcomer's figure.

Nothing of note happened.

Scar and Bdubs went outside as well.

Etho pinched the bridge of his nose.

That was nothing of note.

What was he doing? Trying to complete some secret spy mission?

Etho was an idiot. He stuck his hands inside his vest, pulling at loose bits of the fabric. He clenched his jaw, aggravated because the anxiety had gotten the best of him again.

It always did.

Impulse was a normal, human traveller, and Etho was a drama queen.

And Etho was wrong. And something was wrong with Etho. He flicked his tails behind him and bit back tears.

Wrong.

That's all he ever was.

~ end chapter 9 ~

A/N: kitsune!Etho go brrrrrt hehe. Also I don't watch Doc's videos as often so I hope he's not too ooc.