‘How To Be Found’ - 1

Instructions

‘ How To Be Found ’ - 1 When Etho made his regular trip to the social hub, the one connecting his singleplayer server with many others, he hadn’t particularly expected to find two kids hidden underneath a small bench. He’d just gone into one of the out of world shops to grab whatever specialised stuff he needed and when he came out, he sat in the bench. Only to be met with an almost-growl from under the bench. It wasn’t much but it was enough to startle him into standing up and backing off a little. He’d crouched down enough to see the two kids hidden beneath the bench. Frankly, they looked scruffy. As if they’d been there for a while. There were two of them, one slightly taller, blonde and had very light blue eyes, although he was covered in dirt, Etho could make out scars and scratches across his face, and the other one was slightly shorter with fluffy brown hair, but he was more hidden in the shadow, behind the other one. “Are you okay..?” Etho called softly, looking over at them. “Go away!” The taller on hissed, “This is our bench!” Etho sighed, and held out a piece of bread he had from his world, “You don’t look too okay.” The kid eyed it before taking it and splitting it with the other kid. “I have more.. you don’t have to share it-” Etho said, which only causes the kids to scuffle back, to which he quickly frowned, “No- I’m sorry- I didn’t mean..” he sighed. “I have more food, just take what you’d like, or what you need.” He took out a spare piece of leather (it was the closest he had to any cloth on him right then) and set out most of his spare food and gently pushed it towards the two kids, the smaller one reached out and grabbed a one of the smaller pieces of mutton, before shuffling back again. The blonde one pulled the whole square of food back. “I’ll come back with more food tomorrow if you need?” Etho asked. “…fine,” the kid muttered. “I’m Etho.” He said. “I’m Tommy and that’s tubbo..” he mumbled. “Nice to meet you both,” he nodded. The next few days, Etho continued to bring them food, with them slightly warming up to him over the days following. By the end of his first week bringing them food, they’d come out from under the bench and sat on the other end of the bench from him. And by two weeks they seemed comfortable enough to just relax alongside him, eating food and taking whatever supplies Etho brought for them. This particular day, around 3 weeks from when he first met them, he’d passed the regular supplies and food to them when he felt a weight against his side, and he looked down to see Tubbo, the smaller, brown haired kid, asleep against his side. Etho froze a little, not wanting to wake him up. “He hasn’t slept in a while..” Tommy mumbled quietly, bringing his knees up against his chest. “You know- I have an extra room in my world… if you need somewhere to stay,” Etho said. Tommy eyed him suspiciously, but ultimately didn’t say anything. “It would just mean you’d have shelter. And you don’t need to- It just.. can’t be good for you guys to stay out here all the time?” “We’re fine. We’ve always been fine and we always will be.” Tommy grumbled. “But you’re just kids.. you shouldn’t have to worry like this..” There was a look of genuine sympathy in Etho’s eyes, and as Tommy looked up at him, he looked down very briefly. “Maybe... maybe we could stay with you,” Tommy said, before quickly adding, “Just briefly!” “Yeah, okay,” Etho nodded, smiling just a little. “Go. Lead the way..” Tommy said begrudgingly, getting up from the bench. Etho smiled ever so slightly and picked Tubbo up, and began walking towards the portal back to his server. It was not a brief stay, as Etho would be glad to find out, the kids slept for almost two days straight after arriving on the server and getting settled. And Etho was just relieved they were able to relax, and to feel safe enough to sleep, and even when they woke up, neither of them seemed particularly keen to leave, and Etho was, of course, more than happy to let them stay.