Fandom: Hermitcraft

Romantic: Yes

Ok I know I haven't published my boo yet, but I'm working on it! Got a good chunk written in a notebook :D also, this one kinda just hit me as I was waking up (hopefully this morning but by the time you guys read this/ I finish  it, it'll probably be yesterday's morning or even later lol). Anyways, enjoy some cute Beetho :3

"Hey, uh, do you guys have any red carnations?" Etho nervously tapped his finger against his thigh. He was at a flower shop in town at 7 pm and the girl running the place seemed slightly annoyed, as if he were delaying her dinner.

"We don't. We have some pink carnations? Sold out of red yesterday, but we'll be getting a big shipment this Tuesday."

This Tuesday is far too late, he thought to himself, for a birthday that's tomorrow.

"Have you got any peonies then? Or orchids?"

"Neither of them. Sorry..."

"No no, it's fine, uh-" He hung his head down. "Not even roses?" 

"All we've got is yellow." The girl smiled apologetically and Etho nodded.

"Alright, can I get a pink carnation, then?"

The girl brightened at the prospect of a sale. "Yes, of course, that'll be $1.65."

He placed a 5 dollar bill on the counter, then took the flower gently. And with that, he left, eyes downcast. If only his own bushes had produced something, anything. The only flower that was ready was a yellow rose on one bush, which he obviously couldn't give to the love of his life. That'd be rather dumb, and even if Etho wasn't a flower expert, he would've known that.

Beef deserved the world anyway, not just a measly little flower. Surely someone nicer and sweeter and more thoughtful than Etho would get Beef something magnificent and that'd be that. The tall boy sighed and hurried back home. 

~

The next morning, Etho stumbled out of bed and checked his lush garden. Most of the bushes had only buds on them, but one flower and bloomed since yesterday. A yellow carnation. That was even worse than a yellow rose! At least yellow roses meant friendship, joy, and caring. Yellow carnations were rejection and disappointment. 

No, definitely not that. He scowled angrily at the flower, debating on ripping it from the bush. But what had the flower done, after all? It had simply grown and been planted by Etho and it didn't deserve his hatred at all. He blew a curl of white, fluffy hair out of his eyes and spun on his heel to go wallow in his sorrows inside the house. 

Etho brushed his teeth and combed the tangles out of his white hair before changing into clothes and putting on a mask. He grabbed his bag and his books and Beef's birthday card and shoved some toast into his mouth before leaving. With a second thought, he quickly snatched the pink carnation too. At least it was something. 

As he speed-walked to campus, Etho thought about the day ahead of him. He had one class in five minutes that would be about an hour, and it was a Friday so that was his only class for the day. And it was art. Ah, the joys of college. And having a house near it. Of course, after his class he could drop off Beef's gift at his "mailbox" in campus, which worked as a sort of small storage box each student got in which students could put gifts or other things for them. As he was thinking about all this, he kept speed-walking. Etho reached his art class just on time, the teacher about to walk up to the front of the room. 

"Good morning class, today we will be practicing drawing silhouettes. Hopefully, you have something in mind, whether it be a plant, friend, or even pet. You may use pictures for reference as needed. It doesn't have to be perfect, but I expect it to be at least sketched by the end of class." 

Now Etho could definitely do that. He whipped out his phone and scrolled through his photos til he found a nice picture of him and Beef talking. Unfortunately, he couldn't draw the facial expressions seeing as it was supposed to be silhouettes. Or maybe that was a blessing, the idea of having to stare at Beef's perfect face as he gently etched his soft smile onto paper... He blushed under the mask and began work on the outline. 

~

Within the hour, Etho had finished the sketch and painted it over with a night sky and two dark figures gazing at each other. He had made them lean towards each other a little bit on accident, but maybe his subconscious wanted it. He was satisfied with how it came out- it looked delicate, like a fragile moment perfectly captured in a painting. He wished it had actually happened.

The paint wasn't entirely dry, but it was good enough when class ended, and he carefully brought it over to the teacher to check. She looked over it and smiled warmly at Etho.

"Beautiful as always, Etho."

"T-thank you," he said shyly with his cheeks heating up from the praise. He didn't take compliments very well.

"Of course. You may take it home if you'd like, the paint is almost dry." He nodded at that and lifted up the painting gently. 

He started to leave and heard a, "Have a good weekend!", before the door closed and he smiled. Art was definitely his favorite after botany.

The day was off to a good start besides the flowers, and Etho had a bounce in his step. He reached Beef's "mailbox" quickly and he debated whether he should give the carnation or not. Pink carnations mostly meant mother's love, but they also meant gratitude. Beef wasn't exactly a mother, but Etho was definitely grateful for him. And so he decided to put the flower in after all. But then, the next question arose, the question of whether he should give the painting he just made. His gut said no, but his heart said yes, and his brain said Beef wouldn't care either way, but he still stood there, emotions swirling around and thoughts arguing in his head. It was just a painting, but to Etho it was his love, his desires, his confessions, even though Beef would think it's just a lovely painting and nothing more. He must've stood there for at least ten minutes with this internal debate before he heard someone behind him clear their throat. 

He whirled around, eyes wide. He was met with the sight of blue eyes and dark brown hair and tan skin and he practically melted. Beef looked even prettier than usual with his eyes sparkling like crystals and his hair curling a bit at the edges. 

"Hiya Etho! Didn't expect you here." His lips curled into a grin and Etho smiled back even though Beef couldn't see it.

"Hello Beef." Etho was proud of how his voice didn't squeak or shake. "Happy birthday."

"Thanks! Is that for me?" He pointed at the card and the flower in his hand and Etho nodded silently. Beef took them both from him and smiled at the dainty flower. "It's very pretty."

Etho bit back the impulsive, "So are you," that threatened to spill out of his mouth, and instead looked down. "Sorry I couldn't get you something better."

"It's perfect." Beef sniffed the flower and his brows furrowed a tiny bit. "Sorry if it's, uh, weird but it doesn't smell like how your flowers usually do."

"That's because it's store bought, not from my garden. I... haven't got many good blooms the past couple of days." 

"Oh." Beef awkwardly looked away, then brightened and looked back at Etho. "Say, if you really want to give me a nice gift, could you take me to your garden? I've never been and you're always talking about it." 

Etho felt his face flush. He'd never shown anyone his garden. "A-alright, if you really want to I could take you. I can take you now or- have you got any classes today?"

"No, we could go now! Let me just empty my box and," he noticed the painting in Etho's other hand. "what's that?" 

Etho looked down and nervously showed him the painting. "I just painted it in class."

Beef's eyes widened. "Is that- is that us?" He traced his finger along the outline and Etho cursed internally. 

"Yes I just used an old picture of us."

Beef seemed to think it was a magical thing, his hand hovering reverently over the piece of art

"You can have it if you want." Etho blurted out. Beef looked at him with shock.

"Really? You'd let me..?" He stared as Etho slipped the paper into his hands with a smile. After all, what was he supposed to do with it? And Beef looked so sweet with his face caught in an expression of awe and his fingers holding it oh so carefully, as if the painting could crumble away if he pressed his hand against it too hard.

Beef cleared his throat and tore his gaze away as he balanced Etho's gifts in one hand and opened his mailbox with the other. It was full of gifts and Etho decided to hold a few of them so Beef wouldn't have to struggle. 

"I'll just take these to my car and we can get to your house. Is it walking distance?" Etho nodded at that and Beef started on his way. It was a bit of an ordeal to get to the car with their arms full, but they managed to unlock the door and put all the presents inside.  Etho didn't notice the other's gaze on him as he emptied his hands. 

Once they were done, Beef gently took Etho's hand. "So I don't get lost," he explained. And Beef got lost very easily. Etho's face flushed red, though Beef could only see the edges of the blush, and he tugged Beef along. 

"This way, then."