Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Fizzarolli extended his legs high, almost to the ceiling and bolted in part of the trapeze. Smiling, he came back down as Asmodeus walked in and marveled at all the work his fizz had already done to make this place look exactly like a circus. There were large balancing balls, unlimited juggling supplies, and the trapeze was coming along nicely.

“Froggy! I thought you were gonna wait for me to get started on the tent!” Ozzie said, grabbing Fizz as he jumped in his arms.

“Pff you know how excited I am for this Ozzie! I can’t fucking wait, this is going to be my dream! Thank you for helping fund it big daddy” he said sincerely and gave him a big kiss on the cheek.

“Froggie what did I say! It’s OUR money, I ain’t funding shit, this is all you baby” Fizz jumped out of his arms and handed him another trapeze to help install.

“I knoooow but I like to appreciate you, Sue Me!” he chuckled and held the trapeze base steady and Oz poofed nearby and bolted it in.

Fizz looked away from him for a moment and he replied, “I’d rather fu-”. Fizz, being deaf turns back, “Huh?”.

“What? Nothing” Ozzie continued and smiled, helping Fizz to the ground even though he doesn’t need it. Fizz fiddled with his jester hat, “How many do you think will show up for the first session? I hope it’s enough, but also what if it’s too many! Oh Satan Oz what am I gonna do!” he squeezed the ends of his hat.

“Froggieeee”, he grabbed his hands and smiled brightly down at his adorable and passionate imp, “You have had this dream for so long, and you are the absolute expert on this! You got this! And I will spend no expense to make this circus school a reality for you” he explained genuinely and Fizz took a deep breath.

“Okay, thank you Oz. I feel a little better now. Are you sure you’ll be okay running your factory without me again? I know everyone thought I was a waaaay better boss” he smirked and bumped Oz. Oz rolled his eyes and chuckled, “I’ve been running that factory so long Froggy, I can do it in my sleep. You don’t gotta worry about me” he kissed his imp on the head and continued helping Fizz do various tasks to get the circus tent up and running. It was set up in the Lust ring near the factory where Ozzie could keep his eye on Fizz himself, but he still felt wary about leaving his imp in charge of a new business venture that was going to be an obvious competition to Mammons’ Clown competition. Ozzie didn’t know the details of clown politics, but assumed it got messy.

Later that night while Fizz was doing his long and arduous nightly self-care routine, Ozzie stepped out in the hall and once again, dialed Blitz.

Blitz, once again sulking on his couch and watching the horse movies he’d seen a million times, looked at his caller ID and seeing the sins’ name, sighed and put his phone face down. Was he calling about the full moon with Stolas? He did NOT want to talk about that right now. He couldn’t very well ignore a damn sin either. Fuck. He answered, “Yeah what’s up” he said, slightly annoyed.

Ozzie, caught off guard at the imp’s tone, was concerned a little.

“Hello to you too Blitz. Are you alright?” alright the sin was more than a little concerned.

“Oh, yeah everything’s fucking PEACHY” he groaned and considered hanging up, but if it could be about Fizz, he wanted to know.

“It’s for Fizz again, he’s starting a circus school!” Ozzie exclaimed and Blitz softened a little, “No shit, huh, that’s great for him!” he said genuinely.

“I think so too, glad we’re on the same page. However…”

Blitz groans, “You aren’t going to ask me to-teach are you? I haven’t been in that shit for so long, Oz”.

“Oh no. NO. Never, Haha”, Ozzie replied.

“Okay offended, but then why are you callin’?” he asked.

Ozzie just spit it out now, “I’m afraid for Fizz again, the school is in Lust but it’s a direct competition to Mammon. I don’t know clown politics”

“Ohhhh yeah it’s messy” Blitz chimed in. Ozzie continued, “So you’ll watch over the school for me?”

“…Is there...Anything in it for me?” Blitz had to ask. Ozzie sighed, “The knowledge that your best friend is safe? And you’re technically under my jurisdiction now with that crystal so, ya know” he didn’t wanna bring up the crystal but, it is true. Blitz groaned again and leaned his head back, sighing.

“Fine okay I’ll watch over the circus” he relented.

Ozzie smiled, “Thank you Blitz, you’ll be compensated” he went to hang up when he got a reply from the imp, “Why didn’t you fucking lead with that?!” then he hung up.

Chapter Text

The next day Blitz walked into the Circus tent, looking up at the trapeze and tightrope, the balancing balls, juggling supplies and balloons and groaned then sighed under his breath. The whole tent looked eerily similar to the one they performed in as kids, though with some Fizz-colored blue and purple touches. Blitz guessed Circus tents didn’t really have much of a variety to them anyway. He sat on one of the bleachers and propped his rifle on his knee. He admitted to himself that it will be fun to watch these newbies see how clowning is done. As long as Fizz didn’t expect anything else from him besides watching for any of Mammon’s goons.

Fizz spotted Blitz on the bleachers and smiled, cartwheeling over to him and sitting next to him.

“So, what do you think!” he gestured to the whole tent with an extended arm and looking at Blitz expectedly. Blitz put his rifle next to him and put his hand on Fizz’s shoulder.

“It looks great, Fizz. Though, I don’t get why someone who was blown up in a circus tent keeps going back to it” He joked. Fizz rolled his eyes and leaned his head on Blitz’s arm, hugging it. He giggled, “Maybe some kind of crazy fucked up trauma response?” Blitz hugged him back and accidentally let out a sigh and Fizz looked up at him, “You good buddy?” Blitz gave him a weak smile and a thumbs up with his other hand.

“Just...great! Ready to watch out for Mammon’s fuckwads” he tried to sound elated but he failed to even sound like himself, like his voice could crack under any more pressure to talk about his current feelings. Luckily for him, Fizz let it go for now.

“Okay…” he narrowed his eyes at him, “Thanks, really for watching the circus for us, we trust you. Do whatever you need to keep my students safe”.

“I think the big Oz was more worried about you fizz” Blitz chuckled and Fizz joined him, “Of course he was. I’ll be fine. I had some defense lessons from a great teacher” he winked at him and Blitz had to take a deep breath to hold in his blush. Then fizz waved as he went to prepare for the first session of students. Blitz felt dizzy. But he was doing this job. Not only to help Fizz but to prove to himself that he doesn’t need that...prince to feel happy and productive, he’s just...he doesn’t need him. And what better way to spend ignoring your feelings and hoping they go away than scoping a job.

The first session of clown students filed in and Blitz took stock of them. One short succubus with curling horns, one larger wrath imp with short horns, two greed imps that looked like twins, a greed shark, and a small wrath imp girl about the size of Millie, but she was way too anxious looking to be anything like Millie. Her hair a little of a frazzled mess. Fizz wasn’t here to judge looks, he welcomed them all with eager fervor and shook all of their hands, introducing himself and the tent, though himself didn’t need much introduction without claps from the students. Blitz snorted to himself at how much Fizz loves the spotlight. How others look up to him. He wondered if Fizz always wanted to be an idol, rather than just chasing one.

While he was introducing his first lesson, balloon animals, Blitz scoped out more of the grounds. It wasn’t a large lot. As Ozzie had said it was right next to the factory, and only consisted of the tent itself, two makeup trailers in the back, one with a kitchenette that he helped himself to a soda from, and one suspicious pile of burning dildos in a corner against the fence, the stench of burning silicone stinging his nose, so he went back inside the tent.

“And sometimes, the way you present your animals to an audience is the most important part”, Fizz made a devilish smile as he saw Blitz walking back into the tent and used an arm to pull him nearby, in front of the crowd, dropping his rifle back at the door. Blitz, now in front of the students looked at fizz with wide eyes then back to the students.

“Uh, Hi?” he said nervously. Fizz chuckled, “This is our security for our sessions, Blitz, but he’s also my best friend and previous Circus partner” he smiled his way and Blitz again had to try to control his burning cheeks.

“I mean I guess-” he started, rubbing the back of his neck. Fizz interjected, “Don’t be so modest! Why don’t you show the students how a balloon animal is done for a crowd!” Blitz looked back at him with an anxious ‘you’re an ass’ face now. Fizz just continued smiling, handing him an inflated balloon.

He looked at all the students and surprisingly, they’re looking at him with no judgement, just waiting for him to do it so they could watch and take notes or whatever. He looked at the balloon and folds it in, waiting for it to pop in his face, but it doesn’t. He ties a successful Worm-Horse. Fizz giggled nervously, “oh great, worm horse is making an appearance once again”.

Blitz defended, pointing worm horse at him, “Hey! It made the prince laugh!” the students all oooh’d and clapped, but Blitz was having trouble breathing now, trying not to crush worm horse in his claws. Fizz noticed quickly and said to the students, “We’ll be right back, uh, practice making a worm horse and then we’ll practice a full horse”. He grabbed Blitz in his arm and pulled him back to the bleachers.

“Blitz what the fuck is wrong buddy, you are not okay” he put his hand on his thigh and Blitz pushed it off, turning away and hugging himself.

“It’s nothing Fizz it-it doesn’t matter okay? You matter. This-” he gestured to the tent, “Matters”. Fizz’s eyes went wide and he pulled Blitz in for a hug to his chest.

“Hey, we can both be important” he insisted, “So what the fuck is going on” he asked again. Fizz could hear Blitz whimpering and squeezed his hands in his.

“It’s the fuckin’ prince” he wiped his face with his sleeve. Fizz frowns, “It didn’t go well? Did he do something to you? I’ll have Oz fucking KILL hi-” “NO no, nothing like-like that we just. He gave me the crystal and then said he had feelings for me and then we-we fought and he portalled me out of the palace”. He gave Fizz a moment to process the information.

“Mmmhmmm and did you tell him you loved and cared for him back?” he asked. Blitz turned around, clear tear stains down his cheeks.

“Why in Satan would I do that?!” he asked sincerely, and Fizz just looks at him like he’s an idiot.

“Fucking anyone could see that he cares for you Blitz, god, what have you been through to make you not be able to see the simplest of crushes on you?”

“….Mind blowing sex?” Fizz narrowed his eyes and pulled him in for a hug, “The owl loves you, you dumb idiot”.

“I know now” he leaned his head on Fizz’s chest, the imp rubbing his best friend’s forehead.

“Then why in hell are you here?” he asked him. Blitz sniffed and looked up at his friend, “Cause I didn’t wanna go back, I meant some of what I said, he doesn’t understand”.

“Do you love him?” Fizz demanded an answer. He pulled Blitz up to a sitting position and put his hands on his shoulders, “Cause if you do, you have to show him”. Blitz groaned and slumped back over, dejected.

“I don’t know how”, he covered his eyes. Fizz uncovered them and cupped his cheeks in his hands, feeling them warming. He chuckled, “Show him warmth and softness, fuckface”. Blitz gave him a weak smile, “Mmm you have a way with words”. Fizz rolled his eyes and kissed Blitz on his circus tattoo and pulled him up to standing.

“Now go to him. I’ll cover for you with Oz” he said. 

“A-are you sure?” he questioned one more time, hoping his best friend would let him just stay. Fizz pointed to the circus entrance, “Fucking GO. Please. But I expect you back next session in a few days”.

Blitz gave a weak laugh, “You got it”, and went to grab his rifle and headed out. Trying not to trip on multiple worm-horses made by the students that were floating near the tent entrance.

Chapter Text

Fizz was leading the group through their warm up at the second session. They were doing stretching and exercises to music and practicing their singing. He praised each one but kept getting distracted by his anxious boyfriend furiously texting on his phone, and looking at the entrance for Blitz.

“G-good job, just keep on doing those jumping jacks then dip down and do push ups. You got it!” he praised and continued, “Just k-keep...hold on, keep going everyone. I’ll be back in a sec”.

He flipped over to Ozzie and put his hand on his leg, “Oz, he’s gonna be here”. Ozzie looked at his Fizzy with annoyance then sighed, “I trust you I’m just worried about going back to the factory without him here to watch” he pulled the imp in his lap.

“If you trust me, then you’ll trust me that he’ll be here soon” he insisted, still looking at the entrance. Oz sighed and put his phone away, “Fine Fizzy frog, but if there’s any sign of danger you call me, got it?”

“Yes sir, big daddy sir!” he did a salute and Oz giggled and put him down and head out of the tent.

He came back to his students and clapped once, getting their attention to his eyes, “Alright where were we!”. So far his being deaf hasn’t affected his teaching at all. He can read all of their lips, and they seem to be patient if he asked them to repeat their questions. 

The group practiced another exercise on the balancing balls and he was impressed by how fast all of the students caught on. They were determined, passionate, and getting more confident each day. This is what he was meant to do, he thought as he supported one of the students that couldn’t balance well. I’m supposed to help others who want to be great clowns, because I know they have the potential. He beamed with pride when the small wrath girl balanced on her own, and smiled at him, giving a thumbs up. He gave one back.

Blitz finally arrived, falling on his face as soon as he came into the tent entrance and Fizz narrowed his eyes. He went over and helped him up and dusted him off.

“Where the hell have you been?!” he asked his best friend.

Blitz put up a pointer finger, “As a matter of fact, I was on my way the whole time but I’m still having trouble with this damn crystal” he pointed at it and Fizz giggled. Then he looked at his friend sincerely, “And the prince?”.

Blitz blushed a little and smiled, rubbing his back spikes, “We’re right as rain”. Fizz patted him on the back, “Good job buddy! I knew you could do it. Proud of you. So you’re good to stay the whole session?” he asked.

“Oh yeah, I’m ready to watch you and these rookies make worm horses til the sun don’t shine!” he joked and Fizz rolled his eyes.

“They’re actually catching on way quicker than I thought, especially for teens and young adults. They’re all making full horses now” he smiled proudly down at them from the entrance.

“Well damn, then get to teachin’ more, teach! I’ll be here and everywhere and nowhere” Blitz answered and put on his aviator glasses, sliding against the ground like a secret agent and hiding under the bleachers. Fizz chuckled and flipped back over to his students.

The rest of the session went smoothly, Fizz starting the group on beginner tightrope with the rope only two feet off the ground. He could hear Blitz snort once in a while when they would fall and he’d glare at his spot under the bleachers, then see a rifle move in front of his face, hiding it. All of the students were again, catching on quickly, able to walk the full length of the 2 ft tall tightrope after just a few hours. Fizz waved goodbye to the students for the day and watched one, the wrath imp girl walk over to Blitz under the bleachers. He cocked his head but didn’t think much of it.

Blitz put away his rifle in it’s case and turned around to see the imp girl from wrath looking up at him.

“Oh geez!” he dropped the case and looked down at her, “Fuckin’ scared me. What’s up, did you wanna learn a new balloon animal er something? That’s fizz’s job”. The girl’s tail wrapped anxiously around her ankles and smiled, then pulled out a worm horse from behind her back.

“No I...made this for you. I know how to make the full one now but...I like the original”. She placed the worm horse in his hands and Blitz’s eyes widened.

“Well uh, gotta go home, byeee!” she practically ran away, and he tried to grab her by the shirt but she was too fast.

“Fuck...damnit” he was tearing up, and out of the bleachers now. Fizz saw him and ran over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“I appreciate you waiting to break down till your shift was over” he said, trying to get a chuckle out of his friend. Blitz did laugh, and showed Fizz the worm horse. Fizz snorted and looked back up at him.

“Seems you made an impression on someone” he answered, “well, I’ll see you again next session Blitz!” he squeezed his shoulder once more then left the tent to see Oz at the factory.

Blitz continued to stare at the worm horse and chuckled to himself. He had never been looked up to by someone for...clown shit before. And it felt good.

That night, Fizz snuggled under the blankets next to Oz, his horns covered in a nighttime jesters’ cap. He kicked his legs on the bed, warranting Oz’s attention from the book he was reading.

“What’s up, Froggy?” he asked, putting the book on the bedside table. Fizz crossed his arms and pouted.

“Fizzzyyyyy” he crooned, pulling him closer. “It’s Blitz” he relented, “I’m just…thinking”. He leaned his head against Ozzie’s chest.

“He showed up and stayed his whole shift then I presume?” he asked. Fizz nodded, “Then what’s the problem?” Oz asked.

“One of my students gave him a balloon animal after the session. One that I had him show them how to make” he explained. Oz nodded, “I see, and you’re jealous because you didn’t get one from your own student?” he asked.

Fizz’s eyes went wide and he sat up, “What?! No, I’m just thinking maybe I got Blitz’s part in this all wrong. He’s great at protecting and sure, all that action hero bullshit but what if he just...wants to be a clown again too?” he asked hypothetically. “Hmm”, Ozzie replied and rubbed Fizz’s back.

“How much do you remember of working together in the circus?”. Fizz sighed, “I mean most of it’s when we were really little, like we had an act together where we swung from the trapeze and caught one another”. Oz’s eyes widened, “That high up?? As babies?!” Fizz chuckled, “Yeah, Blitz’s dad, who was in charge of the whole thing, didn’t really care how young we were. Even giving us these tattoos that young.” he lifted his hat for a moment and pointed to his forehead. Ozzie’s eyes didn’t waver and he pulled his Fizzy close.

“Its alright though. I think Blitz really started not liking clown shit early, as his dad just kept telling him he was bad at it. But he wasn’t! He just didn’t have the same confidence I had. We had so much fun doing those acts, though”. He smiled, reminiscing and Oz smiled too.

“Maybe he could teach then.” he kept his imp close, “could be good for you both”. Fizz laid on his sin’s chest and curled up, his tail wrapping around Ozzie’s waist.

“Yeah, I think it could too”.