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As far as hazing rituals go, this was definitely the strangest one Joel's ever encountered.
"We just need someone to check up on Bdubs," Grian grins, "And you're both omegas, nothing can go wrong,"
Joel quirks an eyebrow, "I'm not the only other omega on the server,"
"What, do you hate Bdubs or something?"
"What! No!" The duo certainly have a rivalry, but not one bad enough that they would let the other die on their watch, "Ugh, fine, I'll check on him,"
"Atta boy," the beta claps him on the shoulder, "Let us know what's happens,"
"Whatever," Joel huffs as he started the walk to Bdubs' base. It's not very far, maybe that's why Grian asked him to do it.
But it's not like Grian would have to go very far either. He lived right next door!
A thick, wet smell surrounded Bdubs' base. The closer to Bdubs' base he walked, the more intense the smell was.
It was earthy, maybe a bit like moss, if Joel had to pin-point it.
He knocked on Bdubs' door. When he got no reply, he slowly opened it.
The kitchen was in utter disarray. Dishes and leftover food covered every available surface. The rest of Bdubs' base wasn't much better. It was like a tornado had gone through it.
"Hello?" Joel calls out.
Still, no response.
Joel spots a closed door, and slowly opens it - before slamming it shut due to a shoe being thrown At His Face.
Joel hesitantly opens the door again.
Bdubs' is in his nest, face flushed red, which makes the amount of blankets surrounding him almost nonsensical, unless you've been by yourself during a heat.
There were even more dishes laying outside of the nest, as well as empty water bottles.
The moss scent was the strongest here. Of course, he was in heat!
But what was odd was that no one was around to help.
Most of the more painful side-effects of heat like fever and pain were often reduced when the omega was surrounded by their loved ones - whether romantic or platonic. Typically, Joel's with Lizzie for all of his heats. Although, with Joel recently joining Hermitcraft, he's probably going to have to discuss with Xisuma if he can go off-world whenever his next heat hits.
It also helps with keeping up with house chores when you're too exhausted to move.
"Get out!" Bdubs yells from his seated position.
"Okay okay!" Joel takes a step back, so he's not even at the entrance of the room, "Jeez, I was just asked to check if you were okay,"
"I'm fine," Bdubs huffs. He brings his blankets over his shoulders again and lays down, "you can go now,"
"Okay, sure," Joel agrees. He closes the bedroom door and looks around at the rest of the house.
The other doesn't have to… know that he stuck around. Joel could clean up, so that when Bdubs finishes his heat, he doesn't have a mountain of work to do. God knows that if Lizzie wasn't there for him, that's what he would want.
So, rolling up his sleeves, he gets to washing.
He washes, drys and puts away all visible dishes in their correct spot. He does a quick sweep.
He double checks all of Bdubs' animals to ensure they all had water and food. Even…. shudder… the horses.
He even puts some more packaged food in the fridge so that Bdubs' wouldn't get too hungry.
Lastly, before he leaves. Joel raids Bdubs' cupboards until he found a flannelette. He ducked the flannelette into the water and slowly opened Bdubs' door.
He knows that this goes against Bdubs' requests, but he hopes that Bdubs will forgive him.
Bdubs is fast asleep, his blankets pooling around his waist.
Joel has to lean quite far so that he doesn't enter the nest, but he manages to place the cold, wet flannelette on the other man's forehead. He then, finally, takes his leave.
Bdubs' soft smile at the cold flannel burned into his retinas.
Joel was surprised when Bdubs' requests his presence in the middle of the other omega's next heat.
"I just need a maid again, that's all," Bdubs' says over the communicator.
"What, want me to doll myself up for you?" Joel teases.
"Just get over here!" Bdubs shouts. Joel decided to arrive in his usual clothes.
From there, he does all of the same things as last time. Clean, look after animals, look after Bdubs.
Bdubs is just as whiny and annoying as last time, but he puts up a lot less of a fuss.
Joel even aims some muesli bars at him at the nest, shouting "Watch this!"
He misses. Multiple times.
"Wowwww, what an awful caretaker you are," Bdubs teases.
"Sorry, I wasn't aware that care-taking required excellent aim, which I have by the way!"
"Sure, sure. Tell that to my lack of muesli bar,"
It becomes Joel's normal for a while.
He spends his own heats with Lizzie, and helps Bdubs through his.
What he doesn't get is all of the hermits reactions to his help.
"How'd you do it?" Etho asks, the beta standing almost on top of him as he asks.
"Do what?" Joel says, placing down his 5th shulker box to continue gathering the items he needs for his next build.
"Let you help Bdubs with his heat," Etho asks.
"What, like it's hard?"
Etho looks at him like he's grown a second head, "Uh, yeah. Bdubs famously does not want company. He'd let me in occasionally, but, well… it's been a while,"
"Oh," Joel had no idea, "Uh, sorry,"
"What's been done has been done," Etho shrugs, "I guess its good to know that someone has Bdubs' back,"
Something started to feel… wrong. Especially during his heats. Like something was missing.
A deep discomfort sits in his gut. It's this awful gnawing feeling. He doesn't want to tell Lizzie, the woman flip-flopping between teasing him and protecting him and he knows it'll only cause her stress.
Besides, he should have everything he needs. Nothing has been removed from his environment or relationships in a while.
It all comes to a head during his heat right before all of the hermits move worlds.
He spends his entire heat crying. Lizzie, bless her heart, tries to keep him hydrated and warm. But it's not enough.
Why was Lizzie no longer enough?
He knows at one point he lashes out at Lizzie. Now, without hormones flooding his brain, he feels bad about it. But at the time, it had felt so logical. His Alpha was failing to protect him. So evidently it was her fault he felt like this.
Once he had finished his heat, the two had a long talk. It was easier on the both of them if Joel spent his heats away for a bit.
It's probably for the best, until Joel figures out what's missing.
Joel had completely forgotten that the thing about spending heats alone was how awful it was. His energy was completely drained. The walk to the kitchen was impossible, let alone do anything meaningful in it. He had no idea how Bdubs used to cope before him.
Bdubs! That's who he should call!
Not that Joel was helping him for the ability to con Bdubs into helping him back, but it would hopefully help convince him.
The text on his communicator swims, as his brain struggles with the heat of the fever he's running, but he must have gotten the message across somehow as there's a knock on his door, not long after he sends the message.
"Come in!" Joel calls. Bdubs enters soon after, looking around the place.
"Good to know you weren't kidnapped or something," Bdubs notes, "Just a heat,"
"Just a heat? I'm dying here, Bdubs,
Bdubs rolls his eyes, "You'll survive,"
"Can you get me something to eat or drink?" Joel employs his best puppy dog eyes. It seems to work, as Bdubs stops in his tracks before sighing.
"Yeah, okay," Bdubs nods, padding over to Joel's kitchen.
"Thank you!" Joel calls, before cuddling further into his nest. Bdubs starts humming, as he sets Joel's kettle to boil. God, Joel doesn't even need to tell Bdubs what he wants, and yet the other omega immediately goes to make him tea.
Joel lets out a massive yawn. He wouldn't say that he was energetic before Bdubs arrived, but he's definitely sleepier. Calmer.
"Don't fall asleep on me yet, or you won't get your tea," Bdubs chides, rummaging through Joel's cupboards.
"I'll try," Joel sits up in his nest. Bdubs doesn't take long with his tea, because Joel sprung for a decent kettle. The second Bdubs turns around, Joel's making grabby hands towards him.
"Okay, I'm coming. Hold your horses," Bdubs says, before snorting at the face Joel makes.
"Not the horses," Joel says, but accepts the tea from Bdubs regardless. He takes a sniff. Earl grey, his favourite.
"Well, if that's all…" Bdubs trails off.
"No wait, come cuddle," Joel says, patting the area beside him in the nest.
"Are you sure?" Bdubs asks, fidgeting with his fingers and overall acting like a frightened baby deer.
"Bdubs. Get in here,"
"Yes sir," Bdubs rolls his eyes, and thankfully does what he's told. Bdubs rudely sits on the edge of the nest.
"No, closer," Joel bosses. Bdubs moves over an inch. How rude of Bdubs to not read his mind and do exactly what he wants. With very little effort, Joel drags Bdubs into the middle of the nest with him.
The other omega freezes.
"That's better," Joel says, curling around him.
"Oh, I get it now," Bdubs jokes, though strained, "You wanted a teddy bear,"
"Yep! And teddy bears don't talk to shush," Joel says, closing his eyes finally.