#I'm rewatching 3l rn but haven't got far so don't look too close

[captainschaos]

still catching up with @mcyt-aro-week ! hoping to double up tomorrow to be back on schedule <3 day 2 - loveless / au

some aro tangtho writing from an old 3l/traffic au of mine ^_^ I will note that tango is referred to as a he/it phoenix, etho a he/she fae !

words: 681

-/-/-

Tango was angry at a lot of people, but he wasn't angry at Etho. For a simple reason, because at least it'd been able to get back at the fae for the firing range. But for more complicated reasons, too. Etho was trustworthy, is all. When Tango had been unfairly shoved into the line of fire, Etho'd had the decency to look sorry, at least. And when the phoenix's arrow had been able to find her heart, something was forgiven in that moment. But the others?

Tango was wondering how long it'd be until it found itself in the Crastle's line of fire again, but by his own choice.

It couldn't leave Etho though. It wouldn't. And other people might make whatever conclusions they wanted about that, but it couldn't be explained away in other people's words. They just trusted each other. They were on the fringes of things, but they were there together, they understood. The fae understood the phoenix's fires, and Tango trusted him with it.

At the moment, Tango was standing alone in its solitary, hidden base. Secret, except for Etho. It made it feel less lonely. It was easy, knowing he and Etho were the same in this kind of thing, in solitude and in easy expectations. Never betray the other. Never ask unnecessary questions. So often, they would only have to look at each other to know what the next course of action was. It was so easy.

So if Etho trusted the king, well... Tango knew Etho would never force it into the Army. But maybe the phoenix wanted to join the fae.

---

"Are you sure about him, Etho?"

Their postures were casual, but the fae knew better than to slip around the Red King.

"I'm positive Ren."

Martyn shifted with a frown nearby, but neither Ren nor Etho paid attention. This was between them, and really wasn't a situation where Etho would use all the "highness"s and "your majesty"s. It wasn't her style, anyway. And it was important to stay consistent.

The dog-king crossed his arms and gazed off into the distance, in thought, as he mumbled. "The phoenix would be a powerful ally indeed..."

"We can trust it. Tango's wanting a change anyway, he and Bdubs are..." Etho faltered, but quickly picked it back up. "There's an opportunity, if we let it in now and don't leave him high and dry."

Ren considered, and then chuckled. "You and the firebird a thing or something?"

Etho's stomach pinched, just a bit. Ah.

"Er, well not--"

"Yeah, you're real eager to trust that guy!" Martyn chimed in from his leaning against the wall. "Got a crush, Etho?"

"No, ah, I don't do that. Neither of us do that, we just--" Etho reached back and rubbed the back of her neck, his eyes flicking down to the floor to a moment. "We're not the romance types, I'll put it that way. It's just..."

What is it? He and Tango, they weren't easy to describe. They weren't romantic, and never would be, and weren't really anything else in particular either. After romance people were likely to assume queerplatonics like Bdubs and Cleo, but they weren't like that either. There was something other than friendships that were simple though, it just... evaded description. Etho knew Tango. Tango knew Etho. That was all.

"I trust him. I'm willing to put my head on the line for it, it's a good ally. We should invite it to the Red Army."

The king eyed the fae for a long moment, then nodded understandingly. Decisively.

"Then offer him a banner, Sir Etho. The phoenix shall fly red!"

Under the mask, Etho grinned in a way he knew would only get more prodding from the highly romantic king and hand if they could see. But they couldn't, and who could blame her for being excited? The fae wanted the phoenix to join. Etho would never force Tango to join the Army, but he knew it was too enticing to have the two of them together again.

Free, unkempt and indescribable, and fighting side-by-side.