(A snippet from an AU I've been cooking up for a while. It's more of an ensemble universe, where each character has their own story to tell...so you should be hearing more from the other mages in this world in the future. Surprisingly enough, this AU started with Martyen and Ren, but I have yet to write anything for them yet. This snippet isn't the first scene I've written either...but that fic will only come out once I've deemed it complete. So enjoy some Ethubs content in the meantime!)
[This story is also available on Archive Of Our Own]
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They had only discovered how disliked witches and their familiars were after already setting foot in the town, and with them both being newcomers, there were too many curious eyes on them from the second they arrived. Bdubs had been riding in owl form on Etho's shoulder for the most recent part of the trip, his tiny form tucked up against the fluff of Etho's hood with his talons tightly gripping the fabric of his magebond's jacket. He had intended to turn back to his human form (or at least an avian one) once they arrived in town.
But the signs were clear from the moment they stepped past the border. The banning of witches from most inns and taverns, the refusal of service to hybrids and those of non-overworld descent. The first posting they passed by made Etho go still, and he brought a hand up to hold Bdubs closer to the crook of his neck. Bdubs took a moment or two longer to register the signs, hooting indignantly and nipping at Etho's fingers - but once he spotted what Etho was looking at he, too, grew tense. He shrank into Etho's palm and pivoted his head about, trying to get an eye on any of the locals.
"Stay close," Etho murmured, already combing a hand through his bangs to try and hide the red of his magical eye. "We'll be fine. One night, and we'll leave. Okay? Next town's another day's trip north."
Bdubs cooed and tucked himself into the fluff of Etho's hood as best he could, half-hidden from view but still able to see. They'd be fine.
Being outsiders, of course, brought curious eyes to them more frequently than Etho would have liked. His own non-traditional clothing and appearance didn't help things either. Their stop at a local tavern for food had gone mostly uninterrupted, with Etho discreetly replicating his own meal using a low-profile spell and tucking away what he could for Bdubs to eat later. He snuck his familiar bits of meat from his own plate, not so much caring if someone noticed he'd brought a "pet" into the building. Most people were too busy with their own meals anyhow, and with their table tucked away in a dark corner of the room, most eyes passed over their chosen corner without a second glance.
It was when they stepped into the nearest inn that questions arose.
"Who's that you've got with you?"
Etho was halfway through counting out some money when her question met his ear, her eyes curious as she stared at a spot near his shoulder. Bdubs. Crap.
"Oh, you know," he said casually, his eyes crinkling into a forced smile. "Travelling gets a bit lonely. I like having a friend to keep me company."
Beside his ear, Bdubs' talons dug into Etho's shoulder, and he could almost imagine the squinting little glare he was attempting to level the innkeeper with.
"So you picked an owl?"
"Mhm." Etho shoved the rest of his money back in his pocket and reached up, all but expecting the tiny screech of protest when he caught Bdubs by the legs. He lifted his familiar from his shoulder easily, watching Bdubs ruffle his wings for balance before he settled - rather petulantly - atop Etho's hand. He hooted and nipped at Etho's fingers, though with the gloves Etho was wearing it didn't do much. "He’s a saw-whet. He's been with me for a few years now. Smart lil' guy too. I don't have to worry about him getting into too much trouble, and he always comes back if he goes off to fly for a little while."
"Oh, does he?" The woman was smiling brightly now, completely enamored by how adorable Bdubs was. (Not that Etho could blame her. He really was cute like this. He was cute when he was human, too, but that was beside the point.) "He must really like you to stick around like that."
"Oh, he loves me," Etho said brightly, and Bdubs immediately puffed up, his eyes wide and his feathers all aflutter. It took everything Etho had not to snicker at how flustered he looked. "And he's just the sweetest too! Aren't you, buddy?" He ran a gentle finger over the feathers atop Bdubs' head. For a moment he looked as though he wanted to try and bite Etho all over again - but just like Etho knew he would, he ended up caving and melting into the little show of affection. "Yeah. You're my sweet boy, aren't you? Such a cutie."
Bdubs turned and pressed himself against Etho's raised palm, letting out a tittering little sound and shooting Etho a hilariously ineffective glare. He hid himself behind his wing in a way that left Etho biting back laughter. Oh, he was in for it, wasn't he?
"Well normally we don't like animals in our rooms," the woman behind the desk said, "but I'll make an exception this time. He seems so sweet and polite. He won't be much trouble, will he?"
Etho chuckled.
"Nah, not at all. I promise."
It was only once they were hidden away behind the locked door of their room that Etho let himself laugh, just a little, with Bdubs attempting to murder his glove with his talons all the while. Etho dumped his travel pack on the lone bed and sat on the end of it, watching with amusement as Bdubs took off from his glove to land on his knee instead. There was a brilliant glow and a moment later Bdubs was back in his much more human form, straddling Etho's lap with his hands clamped on Etho's shoulders and a red-faced glare on his face.
"Cutie?” he demanded, the (now much larger) wings still present behind him fluffing up all over again. “Sweet boy?? What the heck, Etho?!”
“What?” he asked, feigning innocence. He reached up and tugged his mask down, revealing the cheeky little smile behind it. “It’s true, isn’t it?”
“Well I–” Bdubs spluttered, floundering, his wings curling forward as if to hide him from view. “That’s not fair! I couldn’t say anything back!”
“Mhm,” Etho agreed. “It’s fun to see you get riled up.”
Bdubs opened his mouth a few times, unable to quite find the right argument, and then settled on not saying anything at all. He closed the gap between them and dragged Etho into a kiss, one hand tangling in his hair and the other clutching at the fluff of his hood. When they broke apart, Bdubs huffed.
“...you’re lucky you were wearing gloves,” he grumbled after a moment, and Etho - who had pressed their foreheads together - merely laughed.
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(There's a mass post I made with my ideas months ago, but it's gotten lost in my tumblr history. If I find it again I'll link it!)
