#ethpulse

Skizz and Tango noticed how clean the place was and the lack of some particular leftovers as soon as they came home, but it took them two months before they found the culprits. Tango and Skizz came home from work early to hear the shower running. Skizz grabbed a bat, Tango grabbed a knife, and they busted into the bathroom to confront whatever dangerous intruders were in their house. What they found instead were two half-starved and terrified guys staring at them waiting for harm. Impulse and Etho both explained they were running from an abusive ex, and they didn't go to a shelter to keep him from finding them. They both promised to leave right away if Tango and Skizz don't hurt them.

Etho knew the shower was risky. He'd told Impulse so, over and over again. Showers had been risky even back when they were with Hels! But, they'd grown too complacent. All that time Tango and Skizz followed the same routine - they weren't prepared for it to suddenly differ. Normally one of them would be keeping watch but they just... They wanted to spend some more time together. It'd been so long since Impulse got to wash Etho's hair.

The pair end up on Tango and Skizz's sofa, nursing a hot drink. They explain that they've been trying to find a job, to get back on their own feet again. But they ended up having to flee without any of their documents, and Hels has connections in so many places. He is a police officer, after all.

Tango and Skizz could never throw them out. They've been here this long without stealing from them, or trying to hurt them in any way. They're more than happy to let the pair stay. They can refurbish the attic to give them their own space, if they'd like. And they're welcome to stay on a pull out bed until then.

Etho tries to argue they couldn't accept something like that, but Impulse gives him a long side-eye. They have to, the other option is going back to the streets. Where Hels surely has people looking for them, under some false story. Is it so bad to accept the kindness of strangers? To try and rebuild a home for themselves? Tango points out that the house has been far tidier since the pair moved in, and that's worth the cost on its own.

So, it's decided. They treat it like a roommates situation, drawing up chores and meal plans. Skizz makes sure to tell them (lots of times) that they're allowed to stay even if they aren't able to complete the chores! They're allowed to stay no matter what. (It didn't stop Impulse's terrified breakdown when he burned their dinner, but... At least they know for next time.)

And, whilst they work on the attic, they find themselves growing closer to each other. It takes a long time for either of the pairs to make a move. There's too much at stake, too many lines that are too easy to cross.

Then I got an idea for another story I don’t have time for.

Most of the time in human society, they take their usual human form, but sometimes they just take a break and turn into little creatures and run around the forest.  Sometimes they stumble into peoples’ yards.

Someone: Are you guys dating, or just friends?

Etho: We’re both!

Chapters: 1/1

Fandom: 3rd Life SMP

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: impulseSV/Ethoslab

Characters: impulseSV, Ethoslab

Additional Tags: Angst, Dialogue, Character Study, Alternate Universe - 3rd Life SMP Setting, Mutual Attraction, Star-crossed, sorta - Freeform, Drabble, and they were roommates (canonically), Not RPF

Summary:

He feels like he's being read through and through under Etho's eyes, and wishes it was in some other world. Here, there's nothing pretty to him, even if he's not covered in blood head to toe, yet.