Etho is a... vigilante..? Villain on a technicality? Plain ol' criminal? Nobody really knows, least of all Etho, but the fact of the matter is that he isn't liked by the law. He's never killed anyone- well. Never gone out of his way to kill someone. He just likes to make fireworks. Even if those fireworks are more....bomb..like than the normal celebratory ones.
This is what Etho does. He makes explosives, and he'll sell them to anyone who pays.
Cleo, a villain, and Bdubs, a hero, both seem to have it out for him. Bdubs because he's making bombs and selling them to villains and civilians alike, and Cleo because for whatever reason etho screwed her over once with a deal.
They both have been staking out Etho's apartment for about a month now, waiting for an opening to swoop down and get him. They've seen each other too, making eye contact from different rooftops and silently making a deal to not rat each other out so long as Etho is dealt with. They've actually been sitting next to each other nowadays since nights are cold and Bdubs' sick ass moss cloak can fit two.
Bdubs is drifting off, as he's ought to do, when an explosion sounds from a street over. They're both up in a second, watching as Gemini, hero of justice and completely ruthless, gets blown back in the shockwave. Out of the smoke and rubble comes none other than Etho, covered in soot and blood, clutching something close to his chest, and making a dead sprint for his door. He's only just made it into the building when Gemini recovers and swoops over, scanning the street, looking for him. She doesn't spot him or Cleo and Bdubs, so she flies forwards to continue the search elsewhere.
As for the rooftop duo, they're in a bit of shock. Why was Gemini so dead set on getting Etho? Is he involved in more than they thought?? Should they check on the guy???
They do end up checking on him, following the blood trail through the apartment building and coming to his door which is still slightly ajar.
They don't find Etho, or they do but not in the form they were expecting. Curled up on the ground, panting and bleeding from a gash on its side, is an Arctic fox. Now, if Etho was just making and selling bombs, he'd be punished, sent to jail, fined a bit, the works. But etho seems to be a shapeshifter, and those are pretty much illegal in every sense of the word.
Bdubs rushes forwards to try and heal him, the fox makes no indication that he even knows they're there. Cleo shuts the door and ponders her next move. If they turn Etho in, they would almost certainly be pardoned for their crimes. Shapeshifters are incredibly dangerous, at least in the eyes of the government, and they need to be controlled. Most shifters are volatile, human brains aren't made to change in the ways required to shift, so they're violent and aggressive and a threat to the people around them and to themselves.
But Etho isn't like that, Etho's smart and calm and mild mannered and honestly more than a little awkward. He's an outlier is what he is.
Oh also, turns out the "thing" he was holding when he was sprinting home was his fucking eye. Luckily Cleo can reattach it but...woah.
They make eye contact with Bdubs, cradling Etho close, gentle in the way she holds him. The fox is still thrumming with Bdubs' magic, healing him from the inside out, and his eye is carefully sewn back together with Cleo's red threads. They've gotten attached. They both know that turning Etho over would grant them nearly whatever they wanted, they both know that isn't an option.
They've decided together, completely silently and completely by accident, that Etho is their funky little bomb guy, shapeshifter or not. They haven't been watching him to find an opening at all, they've been watching over him like guardian angels. That's some bull. shit. right there.
This is so messy because I kept gaining ideas, I trust you'll find it in ur hearts to forgive me
The issues they had with Etho all seem... Petty in comparison to this. They wanted to turn him in, sure. Cleo wanted a bit of revenge. But nothing like this. Neither of them wanted him dead.
Bdubs' fingers stroke through Etho's fur, the fox curled on in his lap. He's still not come around, but it's a more peaceful unconsciousness now. His ears twitch as he sleeps, making quiet fox noises. It's adorable. It's absolutely adorable. Bdubs just wants to coo over him and kiss his forehead. Even Cleo feels something warm, wanting to cradle him close.
Did Gemini know? It's the only thing they can think would cause this. Sure, Etho is a nuisance, but he's not violent. He's not a massive troublemaker. Not enough to get that kind of response!
It turns out they're a perfect duo as well! Bdubs is worried Etho won't accept their help. Cleo is enough of a villain to not care, he's getting it anyway!
