Requested by 0-Zero-00
Tags: Hurt/Comfort.
Trigger Warning: Anxiety.
Word Count: 2,620 words.
Background: Set in Season 7.

»»———✧✦———««

Loneliness... Who would think that such a simple word could, at times, make life so desperate? But then again, life can often feel very long and tiresome when one is lonely.

Lately, xB has been feeling... well lonely and since he lived so far away, he supposed that didn't help. That was one of the negative points of living where he currently was, he lived too far away for anyone to visit him.

Though it wasn't as if many people visited him in the first place... the only one visiting him somewhat more frequently was Etho. But even so, he didn't exactly stay long. There were times when he would stay longer but for the majority of the visits he didn't stay long. Which xB supposed was good by parts, because at least they wouldn't waste their time on him.

And it wasn't as if the Hermits did that on purpose, but he'd forgotten how quiet it could be when it was the busy part of the season - when everyone was preoccupied with their bases and tasks. Plus, did he mention that he lived very far away?

By now xB was used to loneliness or at least he tried to. It wasn't that he hated the biome he lived in or regretted his decision - he didn't. However, there were times when loneliness would get the best of him, and xB would get very desperate for company.

Unfortunately for him, this was one of those times. There was only so much one could take...

One part of him was tempted to send a message to one of the hermits... perhaps Etho, asking if they wanted to hang out - which would mean company and less loneliness. But the other part? The other part told him that he would be bothering them and that they would be wasting their time on him, so naturally, xB felt conflicted.

Letting out a sigh, xB shook his head. "No, that'll just be bothering them. I can't do that," He mumbled. "Besides I wouldn't want to be a burden and waste their time."

As multiple negative thoughts wandered around xB's mind, a small tear unconsciously made its way down his face. Feeling something wet, xB moved his hand and gently brushed away the tear. Staring at his hand, he let out another sigh. "Great, now I'm just sensitive. Useless." He frowned, as another tear slipped away from his eye. It was sometimes the smallest things that bothered him and made him upset. xB had realised by now that regardless of how small a thought was, it could have a large impact.

xB was far too distraught to notice the sound of footsteps slowly approaching—having been stuck in that endless bubble for some time now, despite not realising it. "xB?" Someone quietly spoke, they kneeled down and gently placed a hand on his back. They immediately removed it, feeling xB flinch. "Hey, it's okay. It's just me."

A few moments passed by before xB acknowledged that someone had spoken; his head feeling rather clouded. He quickly looked towards them and he froze, his eyes widening, realising who it was. "E-Etho...?" He stuttered out.

"The one and only," Etho let out a soft chuckle. Looking at him properly, Etho frowned and tilted his head slightly at the look of upsetment on xB's face. xB's cheeks glistened faintly with some stains of tear marks. "Can I touch you?" He asked, not unkindly. "It's okay if the answer is no."

xB nodded. "You can," He whispered.

"Thank you," Etho gave a small smile and wiped away the tear marks from xB's cheeks. He gently rubbed small circles on xB's back. "Try and follow my breathing."

And so xB did, and slowly by slowly Etho managed to calm him down... or at least into a calmer state. When he was finally calmed down or calmed down enough for Etho's liking, xB glanced at Etho and murmured, "Thank you."

Etho smiled, "Of course. I'm here for you."

Warmth filled xB hearing Etho's words. Though it quickly dived down, his thoughts overwhelmed him. As much as xB appreciated Etho's recent presence - since that would mean he would give him a little company and slightly less loneliness, he didn't want him to waste his time on him.

No, that was bad. He didn't want time to be wasted. The dread that had started to form inside him was now battling his two feelings.

"Why'd you come today? You usually give a warning beforehand," xB weakly asked. "I honestly appreciate it, though I wouldn't want to waste your time. I'm sure you're very busy." He let out a nervous laugh and fiddled a bit with his hands.

Etho frowned at hearing those words and shook his head. "And who told you that? No moment's a waste when it's with you." He was going to ahem murder, no wait, have a long conversation with whoever (or in this case whatever part of xB's brain) told xB that; and then he would give xB plenty of comfort and love because yes.

More warmth filled xB, but this time the warmth stayed. It felt nice to have some company after so much thought. "And besides, I thought I might give you a surprise visit!" Etho continued, sitting down beside him. "I brought you a present!"

xB glanced at him curiously, "What did you rob?" While his tone was laced with playful notes, he was also quite serious.

"...Why? Just why?" Etho let out a dramatic sigh. "I haven't robbed anything for your information."

"If you say so."

"I do." Stretching his hand, Etho grabbed a small basket from behind his back and placed it in front of xB. He stood quietly, waiting to see xB's reaction.

xB tilted his head and looked at it with curiosity. Catching the smell of something very aromatic, he opened it. "Are those cookies?" He mused.

"They are!"

"I'm guessing Stress baked these." They were nicely baked with a few decorated with icing but for the most part, they were left just as they were baked - plain and simple.

"Unfortunately, I will have to say yes to that statement."

"Naturally, I'm sure you would've burned down the whole kitchen..." xB teased. Etho didn't reply, only letting another dramatic sigh. A small smile came to xB's face. He handed Etho a cookie and then grabbed one for himself.

While they ate some cookies, a silent moment came to them. Only the sounds of the cookies being broken and the occasional sounds of nature outside were heard. Sometimes hearing nothing would bother xB, but today it was different: he supposed it was because he had some company after so much thought - just the simple presence of someone around him was helping.

"Wanna go horse riding?" Etho randomly asked as he reached for another cookie. To xB, the sentence might have seemed completely random, but to Etho it wasn't: he could tell that xB was calming down a little—he was still doubting but at least he wasn't panicking anymore. Now he just had to help get rid of that final doubt, or at least for the moment.

xB glanced at the basket, he couldn't help but notice that it was becoming more and more empty. If there was one thing about cookies it was that they disappeared fast! They were usually tasty as well. "Horse riding... wait, right now?" xB questioned, once he had processed those words.

"Well of course. I'm here to spend some time with you!"

"I'm sure you're, like, busy or something though?"

"That can wait, it's not much anyway. Besides, it's you I'm spending it on, that's worth everything," Etho reassured.

"Hmm..." As much as he would love to go horse riding with him, hesitation stopped him. xB still felt like he was going to waste Etho's time. All of these doubts were conflicting with each other, tumbling into each other like wild waves...

A quiet moment came on them as xB was thinking. "I wonder if I can drag you onto a horse?" Etho wondered out loud after a few minutes had passed.

"What? Why- And why are you going to do that- No!" xB gave him a quizzed look.

"Cause I don't want to see you lonely."

xB sighed and moved so he was closer to Etho. Confused, Etho watched him for a moment before it clicked into him. Etho wrapped his arm around him and pulled xB into a hug, holding him close. xB leaned contentedly into the embrace. "You won't waste my time, y'know," Etho murmured, knowingly.

"Hmm..." Was all xB replied.

"I'm serious. You won't."

"I know... but still." There were unspoken words in xB's tongue, words that he wanted to say but felt like he couldn't - they were simply stuck there.

"I'm sorry I haven't visited you more often lately," Etho murmured apologetically with a kiss on his forehead. "Alright, I'm dragging you on a horse then," He declared a few minutes later.

xB narrowed his eyes, "Don't you even dare." He could tell that Etho was contemplating it and was not quite joking.

Etho huffed and let out a dramatic sigh, "No one lets me have any fun here." His tone was laced with teasing notes.

"Hmm," xB shook his head. "Unbelievable."

"I haven't done anything yet!"

"Yet-? Etho!"

Etho let out a light laugh.

"But fine... I'll go horse riding with you." Even though there was still a strong part of him hesitating, xB supposed he had to go out at some point. Besides, he was quite comfortable in the embrace so he could have probably fallen asleep in that position if he had been allowed to.

"Yes!" Etho cheered, giving him another kiss. "A shame though... I was starting to look forward to dragging you onto a horse y'know."

"No! Don't you dare even attempt to do that-"

"We'll see!" A mischievous smile rested on Etho's face. He quickly continued before xB could say anything. "Let's go then! I see the cookies are all gone."

"And I wonder why? It's not like anybody has just gobbled them up."

"Obviously."

They both giggled at that, which slowly turned into full laughter. Etho's eyes sparkled with satisfaction—he'd made xB laugh! That was a start to cheering him up. It was the small steps that led to great victory. Once they calmed down, Etho got up first and then offered a hand to xB.

"Such a gentleman," xB teased, accepting it.

Etho winked, "Naturally." He glanced at the basket. "I'll come back for that. Now horse riding! And no dragging xB onto a horse."

xB glared at him, "I- Yes, especially to that last part."

"I've got two horses outside! We can use those," Etho suggested.

xB raised an eyebrow. "Someone came prepared," He quipped. 

Etho shrugged sheepishly, "Eh, just a little."

Etho had already been planning to take xB horse riding for quite a while now, except that every time he'd thought or declared to himself 'Today's the day!' something had come up. Until, of course, he had gotten bored of waiting for the right moment and decided to just go and do it.

xB felt his chest blossom with warmth... It was always nice to know that, somewhere out there, there was a chance that someone was thinking of you. It was nice.

Going outside, xB found himself staring at the horses with excitement and fondness. They were munching on the grass; they had already been tidied up and were ready to go.

xB felt Etho huff beside him. "What's wrong?" He half-attentively asked. His attention was still on the horses.

"The way you look at those horses..." Etho mumbled, rolling his eyes fondly. The tone was all whispery, almost like it was something he was thinking but wasn't meant to be said out loud.

"Huh-?" xB tilted his head slightly. He felt a blush creeping up on him.

Etho softly sighed. "Y'know I'd prefer it if you look at me like that instead," He teased.

"I wasn't doing anything!" xB protested.

"Of course, you weren't, sweetheart."

Hearing the term of the endearment did nothing to help the colour that was forming on xB's cheeks - instead, his cheeks only increased in colour.

"ANYWAY-" xB stuttered, not knowing what else to know. Now don't get him wrong, it wasn't as if he disliked/or hated endearments it was rather the opposite, but he still didn't quite know how to react to them without getting so flustered. He decided to change the topic... at least momentarily since, knowing Etho, it was going to circle back. "Let's go horseback riding, shall we?"

Etho lightly laughed, "As you wish, darling."

"...Etho!" xB half-shrieked and groaned, burying his face in his hands.

A slight smirk formed on Etho's face. Mounting himself onto a brown-spotted horse, Etho clicked his tongue remembering what he originally wanted to ask. "By the way, you do remember how to mount a horse right? I said I would drag you onto one, not have you thrown off one."

"Of course, I remember!" xB chided. Even so, he threw a look of doubt at it. "Hopefully-" He mumbled under his breath.

He mounted himself onto the horse in a bit of a rusty manner, but either way, he was now sitting on top of the horse. We don't talk about how, technically, both of them were a bit clumsy - that's just one detail. "You see!" He exclaimed.

"Good job," Etho's eyes sparkled with fondness. "It was clearly all thanks to me."

xB rolled his eyes, "Naturally." His lips were forming a smile against his own will.

"Come on, I've got a path laid out," Etho said.

xB gave a nod, "With only a few bumps, right-?"

"Well... xB, sweetheart, have you ever noticed the area you live in?!" xB purposefully ignored the way the endearment made his heart soar a little. After all, he did not just leave the house to become a flustered mess...

"Uh," xB glanced around him. "What about it? It's a perfectly fine area!"

Etho chuckled, "That's true, but it still has plenty of hills and bumps."

"Ehh, it's just a little shattered."

"Just a little," Etho echoed. "You sure," He raised an eyebrow.

"Absolutely!" xB nodded. "It's not like I live in a shattered savanna clearly-"

Etho shook his head, his eyes dancing with mirth. "Well, not to worry," He smoothly reassured. "I don't want to have you bruised with those bumps."

"Mm, I'm sure you don't."

Etho let out a light laugh, "Anyway, onwards! We've got some horse riding to do."

They started the trail off with a slight trot - a nice, pleasant pace.

However, one way or another, the conversation turned upside down and in the midst of both of them discussing which horse was better plus faster, it ended up turning into a type of competition between the two. The result had no clear answer, except for xB declaring that his horse was better. And if, afterwards, he hurriedly mumbled out an apology to Etho's horse then that was just one detail.

The day ended with both of them heading back to xB's base and watching the sunset, with Etho managing to convince xB to let him stay for the night (and perhaps the next few days as well).

So all in all, what had started as a terrible start had blossomed into something more hopeful. After all, life had its ups and downs. xB had realised that very quickly, but sometimes having company made things a little less desperate and a bit more liveable. After all, you don't always have to be alone—but sometimes you just need a little reminder (and the right person).

-♡