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Evbo wondered if he might be going insane.
This felt insane-territory. Impossible-territory. He had to tell Tabi about this.
If he made it out of this alive. Which wasn’t seeming so terribly likely.
It had been crazy enough, being on a casual server. He didn’t do that often. He hadn’t even had Seawatt, and had nearly gotten in his own head about being alone for a whole series run.
But he really, really, hadn’t needed to worry. He’d had ClownPierce, which was crazy, and no, Evbo wasn’t over it. Of all the people to run into. And, then, somewhat intimidatingly, Clown’s husband, who he’d known for all of about an hour with before he’d run off and gotten himself killed off the server.
No, Evbo hadn’t at all been unhealthily delighted about having Clown to himself for the rest of the series. No, he hadn’t started to get increasingly desperate in his plays for attention.
No, he wasn’t at all worried about being invited to Clown and Branzy’s private server, and feeling distinctly nervous about Branzy’s potential jealousy coming back to bite him. Evbo, that was. Evbo was scared of Branzy.
Still, Branzy didn’t seem… too unhappy, about the man who’d spent a good few months chasing after his husband being in his living room. Evbo was still watching him nervously, as he busied around the kitchen, waiting awkwardly for Clown to return from wherever he’d gone.
They had a nice house. Evbo hadn’t had much time to linger outside, with how quickly Clown had nudged him towards sitting down. But he caught a cool-looking parkour course, and something that definitely resembled a pvp arena. Plus, a garden, and a nice forest behind it.
It was really nice. Evbo wasn’t quite sure how to approach being on someone else’s private server at all. This wasn’t like Seawatt, he couldn’t just go crazy. Politeness seemed to be a good place to start. Even if it felt a little awkward, after some of the stuff he’d pulled on Clown, trying to get his attention.
Branzy reappeared, setting up an array of snacks, and shooting Evbo a smile that seemed half a challenge.
“So, Evbo… you’ve come pretty- pretty far, out here.”
Yep, Evbo was scared of Branzy. He was way more scared of Clown, but he wasn’t quite dumb enough to fall for Branzy’s innocent act. Even if it had been an accident—allegedly—he’d still taken out someone else with him when he left.
“Yeah. Thanks for having me.”
It had been a bit of a whirlwind, between the ending of the season, then the weird, Rekrap-organised afterparty, then Clown quietly appearing beside him and asking if Evbo had any immediate commitments after this.
“Oh, it’s no problem.” Branzy’s eyes sparked like lightning, a glimpse of something like excitement behind his easy smile. “It’s not like we kill people, out here.”
That was a joke. That was obviously a joke. Evbo was an actor, he knew a clumsy lie when he saw one.
“Ha… of course not. Right?”
“Of course not. Not- not that you’ll notice, when I start messing with your code.”
Grinning cheerfully, Branzy perched on the end of the sofa, looking over his shoulder like Evbo hadn’t felt genuine fear trickle down his spine. That was less impossible. And in character.
“Uh…”
Intelligent stuff. He was never good at this. Unscripted interactions, feeing like he was a step behind, Evbo got flustered easily when he was having a normal conversation.
Branzy’s expression and posture softened, and he laughed for real, shaking his head as he slid down the sofa to beside Evbo.
“Got you. Nah, haven’t actually damaged someone since Rek, and he- he basically volunteered.”
Funny thing, that didn’t feel great either. But Evbo just nodded, biting his lip, staring awkwardly at the floor as he felt the conversation die around him. He was so bad at this. He didn’t even know Branzy, he should be trying to make an effort. He was the guest here.
“Rek? Like- Rekrap?”
“Yep.” Branzy sounded disturbingly happy about it, grabbing a bowl of chips from the coffee table. “Messed him up for a few days, but he- he was fine. Food?”
Branzy offered the bowl, and Evbo shook his head, feeling really, really awkward. It was like a burning, wrapping around his bones, making everything feel like life or death. He should have just headed home.
“Suit yourself.” Branzy sat down, eating one himself, then leaning over, and setting the bowl carefully in Evbo’s lap. “If you get hungry.”
“…Thanks.”
Evbo chewed on the inside of his lip, fiddling with the sleeve of his hoodie. It would be rude, to leave now. And he kind of did want to spend time with Clown, and Branzy was nice, and he should really socialise more than he did. This was networking, he could call it that. A chance to get invited to the next season of this thing.
Branzy pulled out his communicator, and Evbo caught a glimpse of something that looked like virtual design paper.
“Uh- whatcha doing, dude?”
Like a startled rabbit, Branzy looked over, then relaxed into a small smile and a shrug.
“You- you don’t seem too talkative, and I’m not about to force you to chat. I’m just- just thinking of building something. Want to see?”
He didn’t seem too talkative. Yeah, right. Evbo bit back a smile, and nodded slightly. Branzy was nice. Maybe he’d get a bit more chatty, if he let himself get comfortable.
“Cool.” Branzy made to move, then froze, cheeks turning slightly red. “Sorry- boundaries. Can I- be near you?”
Branzy was becoming suspiciously nice. Narrowing his eyes a little, Evbo nodded, and shifted over as Branzy sat next to him.
He nearly didn’t question it. All things considered, he probably shouldn’t have questioned it. But Evbo couldn’t quite resist the lure of something he didn’t know, and felt like something relevant to him.
“What- what’s Clown been telling you about me?” Laughing, Evbo tried to style it out as an offhand question, still hugging the bowl of chips a little tighter than could be considered reasonable adult behaviour. “I’m a parkour god, you know.”
Violet eyes flickered across him, and Evbo heard a small, involuntary laugh from Branzy, who seemed to have softened a little. He wasn’t warm, but he was a presence, close enough to Evbo to feel him there even if he closed his eyes.
“Y- yeah, I’m sure. Sorry. Force of- of habit, just- didn’t want to startle you.”
Now Evbo was really intrigued. He leaned closer, half-studying Branzy’s tablet, half paying attention to his reactions.
“What habits?”
Branzy shrugged, almost imperceptibly, but didn’t stop smiling. His design was half-done already, some kind of bladed weapon that looked insane.
“Clown likes things that are- that are more dangerous than they look, let’s go for.”
“Huh. You dangerous, BranzyCraft?”
“Me?” Branzy grinned, still not looking up at him, and a note of shameless satisfaction slipped into his voice. “Oh, yes. Very dangerous. Better- better watch your step, Evbo.”
It was hard to believe. But Evbo had believed a lot, more than he probably should have, from Clown, and he wasn’t about to break that streak for his husband.
Also, it had taken that long for the other part of Branzy’s explanation to click, and Evbo’s brow furrowed as it did.
“Wait- am I dangerous? Clown thinks I’m dangerous?”
That felt fun. In a bubbly, lava-about-to-erupt kind of way. Evbo liked the idea. He turned it over in his head, testing how it felt, and came out grinning.
Branzy was watching him, with that thoughtful smile, the same focus in his eyes now as had been on his tablet.
“Ye-es… I’d say so. Evbo, I- I don’t suppose- nah. Ignore me.”
Waving one hand, Branzy shook his head, and Evbo couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
Only for a second, though, because Clown appeared the next, sitting next to Branzy, hugging him, and whispering loud enough to be heard.
“Go sit on the floor. Evbo can play with your hair.”
Branzy pushed him off in faked-disgust, scoffing like Clown had offended him deeply.
“Excuse me, first I play housewife while you run around with my best friends, now I- I don’t even get to sit on my own sofa?” Branzy rolled his eyes, and they landed on Evbo, lighting up against with a spark of something concerningly sadistic. “Oh- I wanted to try this. Evbo, sit.”
Branzy gestured to the floor brightly, and Evbo felt himself twitch, straightening as if to stand up before he even managed to catch himself, way too late not to feel his cheeks burn.
Clown laughed, softly, mask off as he kissed Branzy’s temple, and pulled him away.
“Excuse him, as he said. Evbo, sit on the floor. Please.”
So they were both insane. Evbo wasn’t quite sure how he’d arrived at that conclusion, but he did know that something in his bones told him very firmly not to even consider disobeying, as he slid off the cushions, and settled awkwardly on the plush rug.
Then Branzy caught him by his shoulder, dragging him gently over to sit between him and Clown, making a noise of satisfaction.
“Better.”
“Attached, much?”
Evbo was fairly sure it was unhealthy to be this lightheaded. Maybe, if he just carried on staring straight ahead, he wouldn’t have to acknowledge… any of this.
Clown’s fingers found his chin, and tilted his head back, scratching gently at his neck as Evbo struggled not to gag.
“Look, Evbo, you don’t know me that well. And Branzy’s bad at people when he’s not killing them.”
“I am.” Branzy nodded firmly, back to his tablet, one foot on Evbo’s knee, lightly keeping him in place. “Sorry- ignore me.”
“…And so am I.” Clown had paused, given time to make sure Branzy was really done, then spoke with a soft laugh intertwined with his voice. “But I think you’re cute. And you’re going to tell us, if you’re uncomfortable. Understood?”
Evbo had a creeping sensation he knew what wasn’t being said. And it was terrifying. He’d been on servers before, he wasn’t a teenager, he knew what most of the rest of the server had probably presumed when Clown had quietly invited him back to his house.
“Uh- y- yep, understood. Maybe?”
And he wasn’t… opposed. If this went that way. But this felt kind of nice too.
Clown let go of his chin, and Evbo could breathe normally, although that stopped again the moment silk-gloves fingers ran through his hair.
“Awesome.”
“Clown.” Branzy made a huffy noise, and adjusted, utterly failing to keep Evbo from overhearing anything. “That- that meant sex. You were talking about sex.”
“…alright.”
“Clown.”
“I- I don’t mind.” Evbo tipped his head back again, just a little, trying not to wince. This wasn’t the most comfortable position to be in. “Pretty- pretty good with that, to be honest.”
“Evbo, I- no. Not when- not when I’ve just met him, Clown, holy… that- that’s not going to work. Not on me.”
“Worked on Ferre, when I got Pili.” Clown had all the nonchalance of someone examining his swords, not having what sounded like a pretty serious argument with his husband, from where Evbo was sitting.
“Ferre already knew Pili. And Pili knew what- what he was getting into.”
Funny, Branzy didn’t sound as angry as he should be. Evbo wasn’t sure what stance to take. Neither of them were talking like this was serious, even though their words were.
“Are- are you two good? I can go.”
“Sorry, Evbo, Clown… is bad at sex with- with normal people.”
“Hey. Careful.” Clown’s voice dropped into genuine hurt, for half a second, before relaxing again. “I thought he was into it, Branzy, don’t make this my fault.”
Evbo wanted to say that he sort of was, but he really, really didn’t want to interrupt. Clown’s hand was still in his hair, and everything had this malleable sort of feeling about it, like this could end very badly or like nothing at all had happened. Just in case, he twisted around, so he could at least have some sight of both of them without choking himself.
“…yeah, ok. Sorry. You’re great.” Branzy nudged Clown, eyes worried. “You just caught me off guard babe, it- it wasn’t personal.”
At that, Clown gave Branzy a look so scathing Evbo was impressed neither of them were respawning on the spot.
“Babe? Really?”
“O- ok, I feel like we were talking about something else, but- but this is fine-“
“Ugh, you got that off Squiddo, didn’t you?” Clown groaned, seeming far more concerned with the pet name than he’d been with anything else. “Don’t say it in front of Ash, please. He’ll start trying to spend time with me again.”
“You- you sound like him, y’know.” Without any of the tension of five seconds ago, Branzy grinned playfully. “Stop trying to be moody, we have a guest.”
“Hi!”
Evbo smiled hopefully, quietly crossing non-horrifically-awkward sex off the list of possibilities for today. That was fine.
“Hi, Evbo.” Branzy giggled, ruffling his hair where Clown had been petting it down. “Sorry a- about that. My bad.”
At that, Branzy turned, and gave Clown a pointed look, which was rebuked with a scathing glare.
“Branzy, the accountability thing only works with you.”
“Apologise, go- go on.”
“No. No offence, Evbo.” Clown glanced down at him, expression deliberately flat. “Didn’t mean to jump you.”
“Eh, good enough.”
Seemingly satisfied, Branzy leaned back. He met Evbo’s still-nervous gaze, and patted the sofa beside him, gently.
As if searching for permission, for some insane reason, Evbo looked to Clown, who just tilted his head. That would be good enough. It was almost odd, how much he kept checking he was doing this right around them.
That would have to be good enough. Evbo turned around, climbing relatively smoothly back onto the sofa, now sitting between two people he was honestly thinking far too hard about.
He felt Clown’s eyes on him, and turned, feeling a little like a rabbit with a sword to his throat. Clown looked like he was considering something.
He moved without much warning at all, and- yeah, Evbo could see how he’d lost to this guy, because he barely saw what happened between Clown sitting beside him, and Clown sitting on his lap, feeling far too comfortable there in a matter of seconds.
Evbo was only slightly mortified to say that he squeaked. His eyes shot to Branzy, wide with terror, asking what the hell do I do now? without making a sound.
“I- I’d just relax, Evbo, honestly.” Branzy leaned over, patting his husband’s head fondly. “He doesn’t bite. Strangers, at- at least.”
Ok then. Evbo could work with this. ClownPierce, sitting on his lap like a contented cat, making Evbo feel like his three inches above the average height actually mattered.
He caught Branzy’s eye again, and received a reassuring smile, and a mouthed comment that looked sympathetic. Evbo just nodded like he’d understood, one hand moving unconsciously to Clown’s hair, not even covered by his mask.
“I- I am so scared right now, so- so you guys know-“
“So stop being scared.” Clown nuzzled against him, a little, and Evbo was very reminded that he still wasn’t in control here. “Branzy, find something to watch, or he’s gonna pass out.”
Stop being scared. That was a doable thing.
Evbo swallowed hard, and let enjoyment seep through the cracks in his composure, soaking in the warmth of Clown in his lap. It was really nice, if he both did and didn’t think about it too hard.
Really nice.
——————
“Ugh…”
Evbo’s eyes were sticky. His joints were sticky, or stiff with disuse, warmth radiating through him, making him so much less than inclined to move at all.
He got his eyes open, tacky and blurry and unable to process whatever he was seeing. He tried to move a hand to rub them, but felt a heavy warmth pressing his arm into a mattress. A warmth that moved, and grumbled, just a little.
Evbo froze.
Behind him, someone else moved, and Evbo felt cool breath on his neck, a soft murmur too quiet to be tinged with morning roughness.
“You’re good, Evi. Just us. Want breakfast?”
So somewhere between last night and now, two very crucial seeming things had happened. Firstly, Branzy had a nickname for him, apparently. Secondly, Evbo was waking up next to ClownPierce. And his husband.
“B- Branzy… what the hell…”
Evbo heard his voice crack into something approaching wonder, not daring to move, even as a fidgeting burned under his skin. Branzy touched his head, brushing his hair out of his face idly.
“No- no sex, don’t worry. You looked tired, and Clown noticed, and- and you kinda wouldn’t let go of him. You’re safe, don’t- don’t worry, m’kay?”
That made sense. It fell into place, a little unsteadily, and Evbo nodded. It was blurry, but yes, that felt right. He hadn’t really expected Clown to actually say yes, but hey, he wasn’t complaining.
Evbo moved his fingers, or tried to, but they felt a tingly sort of numb. Clown was facing away from him, still asleep, judging by his impressively steady heartbeat. Which Evbo had the privilege of feeling, basically pressed against his back.
It did feel like a pretty privileged position. Evbo could feel Branzy playing with his hair, like he was another trophy he’d picked up, but he could feel the slight tug behind the movements, the subtlest warning, like how someone would hold a horse back before it even did something wrong. Evbo was getting lucky here, being given something no one else got to have. He needed to appreciate it.
“You’re gonna be careful, right, Evi?” Branzy’s voice was still quiet, but rougher at the edges. No sparkly, bright-eyed innocent who snuggled against Clown. A Lifesteal veteran, a killer in his own right, someone who’d won the heart of the deadliest player with more than mere sex appeal. “I- I’m sure I could make your excuses, if you’re not here when- when he wakes up.”
For just a second, Evbo let a shiver run through his body. If this was what making it felt like, it was a scary thing. Waking up in danger, surrounded by the stuff, trusting that danger not to rip his throat out before breakfast.
“I- I’ll be good.” Evbo could hardly hear himself, and laughed, breathlessly, just to remind himself that he was still alive. Time had slowed to hardening concrete, getting slower and slower by the second, and he didn’t have the strength of will to break it.
“Great work.” Branzy nuzzled against the back of Evbo’s neck, holding his head gently in place. “You did great, y’know, Evbo. Really good. ‘M impressed.”
“Thanks.”
His eyes slipped shut, somewhere between Branzy pressing way too close to his collarbone for innocence, and Evbo letting out a sleepy sort of sigh, snuggling against the warmed blankets.
His brain started to go fuzzy again, as Branzy showed no signs of getting any further away, and Evbo began to melt into the cool warmth. It was comfortable.
It was easy.