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Branzy hadn't slept in days.
Normally he would go without sleep for long periods of time, but never more than a day and a half, but this?
It wasn't Branzy’s fault, he had way too much work to do, and people kept calling him, and it just got out of hand so fast, and now he was here.
An insomniac who desperately wanted to sleep.
He should have collapsed hours ago, and yet staring at the clock, knowing he had work to do, got him up.
He was way too tired to take a shower or honestly do anything to make himself feel better, so he just walked out of the door in yesterday's clothes, messy hair, and eyebags heavier than netherite.
The job wasn't too hard. The person he had to work with however-
Clownpierce was… Something.
Branzy honestly didn't know if he had a name for what Clown was.
He was some sort of human, he knew that, but personality wise, he was like a bear trap.
He would constantly sneak up behind people, scaring Branzy and many others constantly.
He threatened people on the regular, and threatened people with death every other day.
And yet, Branzy was working with him.
Which would have already been a pretty big problem.
And the only thing to make it worse is that Branzy was an idiot.
An idiot in love with Clownpierce.
Now his own ineptitude was one thing, he had dealt with that before, but love?
He had loved Clown for a while now, and it felt like as the days went on, he became more and more hopeless.
Which was bad news considering he had to work with the man on a regular basis.
At first, his and Clown's relationship was manageable when working in a professional environment, and he could keep the distractions of clown away, but as the days went on, it got worse.
But it was getting to a point where Branzy was practically a wobbling mess of jello whenever Clown did as much as stand next to him, over him.
It didn't help that Clown was like 12 ft tall and Branzy was shorter, the man was lanky what could he say!
Now that may have been an exaggeration, but it didn't really matter how much taller he was because he constantly loomed behind Branzy.
It didn't matter how careful Branzy was, it didn't matter that Clown knew that Branzy knew he was behind him, he still did it.
It was like a taunt, and given the circumstances of his own mind at the moment regarding the proximity to the man he admittedly loved the most, Branzy was even more affected by his scariness.
Branzy sighed as he got ready to attempt to not slip up and possibly permanently ruin his relationship with Clown, and say something stupid in the process.
____________________________________________________________________________
As Branzy soared through the air, the wind beneath his wings feeling like a comforting bliss unlike any other, he couldn't exactly focus because his heart was beating out of his chest.
As Branzy landed on the ground, almost stumbling over in the process of landing, he walked over to the large Casino that he and Clown built, which was always a nice sight to see.
It was truly some of his best work, and honestly he was proud of it for more than a few reasons.
He had gotten a surplus of hearts from it, and it still gave him and Clown some profit from idiots who still thought they could win.
And the biggest reason that Branzy loved this place, is what came from it.
It was the first time Branzy fully acknowledged his feelings for Clown, the first time Clown let Branzy touch him, and the time when Branzy learned something about himself from being held and promised threats against his enemies by Clown.
He strolled into the building and try to plaster the most convincing smile on his face that he could, trying to seem far more awake than he was.
He saw Clown looking at the plans that Branzy had sent him, and he walked towards the man and swallowed his exhaustion.
“Hi Clown!”
My god he sounded bad.
The taller man looked behind and locked eyes with Branzy, and even through the mask, he could feel the assassin's gaze upon him.
Clown walked over to Branzy and reached forward to hold his face to look down at him.
“Hello my darling, are you prepared”.
Branzy nodded as he and Clown walked forward to the location of Branzy workshop in the facility.
Clown had insisted that Branzy should have a workshop in the facility, and honestly Branzy wasn't mad about that, considering it made it easier to play off the fact he didn't hide where his actual workshop was.
It would, of course, be Clown themed and be littered with a large amount of Clown’s charm. Which Branzy certainly didn't mind.
What Branzy did mind was the fact that his brain was mush, and he had to organize stuff.
He liked organization, however it tired him out fast, and he might fall asleep in the middle of the job.
But to be honest, that was wishful thinking.
Clown set down the Shulker and Branzy started rooting around finding the materials he wanted to set up the wiring for the lamps and testing station.
Clown had always been more focused on building, and he seemed to have already prebuilt the side of the room Branzy would be working on.
He wondered just how well Clown could read Branzy, and this was just another piece of evidence on the pile about the fact that it was more than Branzy thought.
He sighed to himself as he continued wiring and Clown built.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Branzy found himself messing up more often when wiring the lighting.
It should have been extremely simple, it was, and yet he found himself slipping up on the same part several times.
He knew it would be harder to wire this, he was tired, but for some reason, he was somehow groggier than normal.
It got to a point when he shocked himself and blew out a small light bulb, and at that point it had been around 3 hours and Branzy was pissed off, defeated and tired.
“-Stupid lamp. Damnit why wont this thing work!”
He exasperatedly yelled out into, what he forgot wasn't the empty room, and sighed before attempting to continue working.
He felt a hand lightly grab his shoulder and turn him around and he was faced to face with a Clown mask.
“Branzy, are you quite alright?”
Branzy tried to laugh to cover up his exhaustion and frustration, but Clown saw right through his attempt to cover up.
“Clown, I promise you I’m fine, this lightbulb is just being a pain.”
Clown sighed before firmly putting both of his hands on Branzy's shoulders.
“Branzy, you are clearly irritated about something. You have been extremely hard on yourself when wiring the lamps, and you have been getting irritated about the smallest mistakes when organizing”.
The shorter man sighed and lightly pushed Clown’s hands off his shoulders.
“Clown. I am fine.”
That came out harsher than he intended, but for some reason he was far too tired to care.
Clown nodded and went back to his work.
Branzy felt guilt settle in his chest, but pushed it off, as he knew when he needed help.
He didn't need it now.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Branzy was almost finished, just needed to put away some of his plans, but he always found it hard to focus when two sharp, unyielding eyes were upon him.
Clown had finished almost an hour ago, and Branzy is aware of Clown’s habit of staring.
He had always talked about how he loved watching Branzy do his mundane redstone work, something about seeing him in his element, which was sweet.
After what felt like years of sorting, but was a few minutes in reality, he stood back and admired his work, not realizing he backed up right into Clown.
He looked up and saw Clown looming down at him.
“You would have backed into your desk”.
Branzy sighed once again.
“I would have known Clown, I’m aware of my surroundings”.
“Really? Because you're stepping on both of my feet right now”.
Branzy looked down and stepped forward.
“Sorry”.
He saw Clown sigh and before Branzy could figure out a way out of his scrutiny, his waist and shoulder was grabbed and pulled closer to Clown.
“Your hiding something”
Branzy tried his best to wriggle out of Clowns hold, he knew it was useless, and he eventually gave in.
“Im not hiding anything Clown, I’m fine, just a bit tired is all”.
He could practically tell the look of disapproval of Clown’s face.
“Pretty tired actually”.
“Branzy.”
“Okay fine, I haven't slept in 3 days, sue me”.
He felt himself getting pulled closer and Clown’s voice crept dangerously low.
“We talked about this”.
Branzy quickly fired back.
“You try sleeping when your brain wont, shut up!”
Clown brought Branzy into his arms and Branzy relaxed.
“Tell me when you need help darling.”
Branzy laughed into Clowns shoulder and looked up.
“We both know you don't need me to tell you”.
As he finished his sentence, he was swept off his feet and spun around by Clown.
He had learned that Clown loved picking Branzy up, and Branzy had learned that stopping himself from laughing at Clown’s silly antics was nearly impossible.
He felt the grin in Clown’s voice.
“Well, now you seem better”.
Branzy rolled his eyes and kissed the cheek of Clown’s mask as Clown nuzzled into him further.
“You know I’m taking you home right?:”
Branzy simply nodded, as he knew how much Clown loved taking him home, something about seeing him safe, my god Branzy got lucky.
Branzy gathered his stuff and Clown grabbed his bag and his scythe, before they both set off to Branzy’s home.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Getting to him and going inside was always the best part of a long day of working.
He let his shoulders drop and set down his bag by the wall.
Jaron looked up and saw the two of them.
“Please tell me you're here to help him sleep, Branzy tries to be quiet when he’s tired, but that tossing and turning is starting to get to me”.
Branzy sheepishly apologized as Clown just simply nodded.
“Thank god. I’ll make some chamomile tea”.
Branzy sat down on the couch, closely followed by Clown, who pulled Branzy close to him.
Eventually Jaron came over with the tea and gave each of them a mug, while he sat and turned on some sort of random documentary about seals.
He saw Clown’s demeanor change as he perked up.
Jaron looked at Clown, caught onto his enthusiasm, and started discussing the documentary like a sort of sports game.
Branzy was content laying next to Clown, and felt himself getting sleepier, yet he knew it wasn't the kind of actual sleepiness he had been chasing.
He and Clown had been getting closer in the past few weeks, however sleeping together felt like something much larger.
Yes they had made out several times, cuddled and held each other before, but sleeping was something he knew him and Clown held as one of their weakest states.
He knew Clown sometimes slept with his mask, something about comfort, but he had actually never seen Clown sleep.
He knew Clown had seen him sleep, hell Branzy had fallen asleep while being held by the man!
Eventually all three of them finished their tea, and Clown slowly shook Branzy and led him upstairs as Jaron cleaned up the dishes.
Branzy closed the door as he pulled off his redstoned covered clothes and pulled on a simple graphic shirt and just pulled on some ratty shorts.
He opened the door and saw Clown standing outside in his PJ’s, which he probably changed into in the restroom next to Branzy’s room.
Clown stood by the door as Branzy flopped onto his bed and they started to talk.
It was just conversation, but eventually it led to silence, which gave way for ideas, which gave way to an idea that popped into Branzy’s head that he couldn't ignore.
Branzy had had a weighted blanket a few years ago, however it broke and spilled out its contents on the floor around one and a half years ago, so he was left without one.
It was always helpful when he hit one of his stints of tiredness and insomnia, and he found himself missing it.
He looked over at Clown.
He was tall, and honestly a similar size to many of Branzy’s blankets, and also Clown.
He swallowed his embarrassment at the question he was about to ask, and opened his mouth.
“Hey Clown, I have a weird question”.
Clown stopped and looked at Branzy and came closer.
“Yes darling?”
“Well, you know how I’ve been struggling with sleep right?”
Clown nodded.
“Well, I think I might have something to help”.
Clown perked up and stood tall above the sitting man.
“In that case, where is it? I can go fetch it for you”.
Branzy panicked and grabbed Clown’s hand as he was leaving.
“Just…”
Clown looked back at Branzy, his expression unreadable through the mask.
“Can you lay on top of me?”
Clown stopped in his tracks and looked at Branzy with an expression even he could tell was confusion.
“I, don't quite understand”.
Branzy took a steadying breath.
“You know how when I struggle with sleep, I sometimes come over and cuddle with you to collapse into exhaustion”.
Clown nodded,
“Yes, it's kind of funny how quickly you fall asleep in my arms, its adorable. But I don't get exactly-“.
“Just, lay on me won’t ya?”
The silence that fell over the room felt like it lasted for ages.
Branzy started feeling his heart start racing and his breathing get slightly faster.
Clown looked at Branzy, and even Branzy could tell he was confused.
Branzy decided he would rather die than be in this silence any longer.
“Wait, okay that sounded weird. Its just, your weighted, and y’know weighted blankets? like that- I don't really know how to say it without sounding weird-“.
“Branzy you're overexplaining again”.
Branzy laughed nervously and apologized.
“So, you’re saying you want me to lay on you like some sort of, bootleg weighted blanket?”
The amusement in Clown’s voice was palpable and Branzy could feel his face getting hot.
“In lack of a better word, yea?”
Clownpierce’s chuckle rang through Branzy’s ears and practically rang through his spine.
Branzy swore Clown’s laugh could topple cities when he did that specific laugh.
It wasn't full of malice or anger, or any other kind of bad emotions or intent, it was amusement.
It was the laugh Clown used when he found something too interesting to ignore, and that was dangerous of most, but for Branzy it was more confusing.
“Whats so funny?”
Clown shook his head,
“Nothing’s funny Branzycraft, but I have never heard you be so blunt before, its new.”
That was the dangerous tone.
It meant Clown had just figured out something, like he just solved a puzzle he had been stuck on for ages.
Clown walked over to the side of Branzy's bed and lazily brushed his hand over Branzy’s chest, practically spawning butterflies in Branzy’s chest.
He started taking off his armor, removing the chest piece, the knee pads, the shoulders, everything.
Removing every little weapon or sharp object around his body, at times seeming comical just how much there was.
Branzy watched this, practically tantalized by how Clown moved.
His movements swift and quiet without seeming to have much thought behind them.
Like seeing a sharp knife cut through warm butter, his body moved with grace that nothing could replicate.
Until the only thing left was Clown’s silky undershirt, flowing wide pants, and a few bits of red and black fabric dotted across for decoration.
He walked over to Branzy and placed his hands carefully over the shorter man's eyes and Branzy kept them there as he heard Clown unclip and reclip something.
Branzy removed his hands from his face as Clown tapped them, and there was Clown without his hood. His long black hair rolling down his shoulders in black strands that felt too perfect to be real.
Branzy felt his face getting hot once again as he looked at the sight to behold that was Clownpierce.
He knew Clown hated taking his armor off around people, it was apparently a big source of vulnerability for him.
So him taking off his armor, so naturally, like where he was was the safest place on the planet, it made Branzy feel special.
Clown walked over to Branzy and gestured for the shorter man to stand up.
Branzy’s knees protested, but he couldn't exactly see no as he faced the taller man.
Clown gently grabbed Branzy, his hands curling protectively around his waist.
Branzy swallowed the lump in his throat as he began to try and say something, before being interrupted the swift motion of Clown picking him up and throwing him over the taller man's shoulders like a sack of potatoes
“Hey- what are you doing!?”
Clown just chuckled as Branzy tried to sputter out a response, but failed considering although he didn't want to admit it, he loved being manhandled by Clown.
“I’m just having a little fun Branzy~”
Before Branzy could take that in, he was dropped onto the bed and was face to face with a looming Clown.
The taller man sat on the bed and then moved over to where Branzy was, before climbing on top of Branzy like a cat.
Branzy had imagined this for a while, but feeling the full weight of Clown on his body was amazing.
It was basically the perfect amount of pressure and it came with Clown attached to it, so it was the best weighted blanket Branzy had ever had.
He felt his body melt into the mattress and he laid there, just soaking in the fact he was completely and utterly stuck, and couldn't have been happier.
He was like that for a while, until he eventually got the bravery required to reach up and slowly start brushing his fingers through Clowns hair.
He felt the taller man tense up at first and Branzy stopped before Clown pushed his head into Branzy’s hand, demanding for more affection.
Branzy laughed and kept scratching his nails along Clown’s scalp, eliciting soft sounds of amusement from the assassin.
Eventually Branzy tapped Clown on the shoulder.
“Hm?”
“Clown, you don’t have to stay, y'know, this has honestly gotten me the most relaxed i’ve been in weeks”.
The actual answer might have been years, but Clown didn't need to know that.
Clown slowly raised his head and snuggled closer so his lips were just next to Branzy’s ear.
“I won’t leave you alone darling, you’re stuck with me~”.
The proximity of Clown and the resting of Clown’s lips on Branzy’s ears practically made his mind start going nuts at the fact that this was happening.
“Well, that means you’re also stuck with me Clown”.
“And what a world that is”.
Branzy looked over at the masked man beside him, and planted a kiss right on the nose of the mask.
The taller man paused before snuggling farther into the crook of Branzy’s neck and staying there.
Branzy felt his eyelids getting heavier at this, and he was finally overtaken by the sleep he so desperately desired.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Branzy’s eyes slowly blinked open in reaction to the beam of sunlight going through the door.
It casted a perfect line right at Branzy’s face, which he was convinced at this point was a design by the builder to piss him off specifically.
He tried to get up, but was met with a weight half on top of him.
His heart started racing as he was trying to think, and then the memories of last night hit him.
His face flushed as he looked over at the sleeping figure next to him.
Clown was fast asleep, but Branzy knew better than to think that he was actually out cold.
Clown was a notoriously light sleeper, always on guard and all that, but at this moment he looked like nothing could disturb him.
Branzy sighed and tried to readjust himself so he could get out of bed, but was met with a tightening grip on his waist, and a pull that sent him right back to Clown.
He feels arms wrap around him like some sort of teddy bear, and he is now more stuck than he was earlier.
He sighs as he tries to wriggle out of Clown’s grasp, but its no use.
“Mhm, stay”.
Clown’s voice soothes him as Branzy relaxes and cuddles closer into the taller man's arms, finally submitting to Clown’s insistence.
He feels himself being crushed tighter by Clowns arms and while a nice feeling, it is a little constrictive.
“Clown, honey, you know I love you, but I cannot breathe”.
He feels Clown’s arms release as he stops moving and hears Clowns breathe hitch.
Branzy freezes for a second as his mind starts racing.
Did he do something wrong, what did he say? Did he just mess everything up?!
Branzy watches as Clown moves over and holds himself up by his hands, which are right beside Branzy’s head.
The looming figure over Branzy and the fact that there is no way he can ever escape this man at this moment is making his heart race even faster, god what had he done-
“Did you just call me honey?”
Branzy stopped, realizing that he did in fact just call the deadliest assassin in all of minecraft “honey”.
“Well, I mean- okay technically, okay yes, yea I did”.
Well that could have gone better.
“Awwww, we’re at the pet name stage Branzy?”
Branzy could practically hear the grin in Clown’s voice as he lowered himself back onto Branzy and resumed his previous position as the world's comfiest blanket.
“Well then my darling, I think I could get used to it”.
Branzy’s face was probably becoming red enough to be considered a tomato at this point.
Clown had just called Branzy ‘His darling’, like Branzy was the most important thing in the world to him.
He swooned, he couldn't help it, how could he after all of that?
He giggled before wrapping his arms around Clown and squeezing him tight.
They once again stayed like that for a few minutes, before a ring jolted them both to sitting right up.
Clown reached for his phone and Branzy saw his posture change to a more alert stance.
“Mhm, when? Consider it done”.
Clown hung up the phone and sighed before turning to Branzy.
“My apologies Branzy, I need to do a rush job for a returning client”.
Branzy stopped before talking, and a sinister idea popped into the man's head.
Clown got up and quickly got his clothes to go and get dressed, and Branzy did the same.
Clown walked back into the room and Branzy walked up to him and looked up at Clown.
“Clown, you do like scaring me, correct?”
Clown tilted his head at Branzy
“In a similar sense, yes my love”.
Branzy walked closer, maintaining eye contact.
“You certainly love surprising me, Clown, but y’know”.
In one swift motion, Branzy grabbed the taller man's tie, and used his other hand to guide it down to his waist.
“Branzy what-“.
Without too much overthinking (still way too much), Branzy leaned down and wrapped his fingers a few times around Clown’s tie, putting them in a similar dance-like pose as when Branzy first felt butterflies in the tent.
“I can surprise you too y’know?”
He felt Clown freeze at this, before laughing and looking at Branzy.
“Would you do me a favor and close your eyes?”
Branzy wordlessly complied, and suddenly felt soft lips crash into his with a fervor that Branzy could feel in his soul.
Clown kissed Branzy like he could never taste his lips again, and before long wormed his tongue in between Branzy’s lips and started exploring.
Branzy smiled as he kissed Clown back harder, still holding onto his tie, savoring the kiss like the best meal he had ever had.
Eventually, much to Branzy’s dismay, Clown pulled away and readjusted his mask.
“You can open your eyes now”.
Branzy opened his eyes to still see him in the same predicament, just Clown breathing harder, and Branzy having a no doubt goofy smile on his face.
“I do love you darling, I do have to go do this thought”.
Branzy laughed and stood back up and looked at Clown.
“Well, now you have a good luck charm”.
Clown chuckled and wrapped his arms around Branzy, hugging him before grabbing his scythe and leaving.
Branzy looked in the mirror beside him, and saw the red smudges were much less noticeable this time, quickly washed them off, and went downstairs.
He was greeted with Rek holding a large box, and Clown giving him instructions, before walking away to his job.
Rek sat the box down on the table and looked over at Branzy and snickered a bit.
Branzy sighed.
“Yes, I’m aware of the red smudges. Shut up”.
Rek just sighed before looking over at Branzy.
“Clown gave me this massive box and told me to have you open it, I don't know what it is, but its freaking heavy dude”.
Jaron sipped his coffee as he walked over to look at the box.
“Wow, Rekrap is pulling out the big boy words, must be heavy”.
“Oh be quiet Cookie boy”.
“Okay-“.
Branzy sighed and looked back at the both of them.
“Can I open this box without yelling?”.
Rek and Jaron looked at each other.
“I mean-“.
“Maybe?”
God Branzy thought he lived with idiots sometimes.
Branzy took out his spare knife in his pocket and cut open the box to reveal a black and red striped box, typical.
“Wow a box inside of a box, very…”
Rek looked at the box up and down.
“Clownpierce”.
“Well that's for certain”.
Branzy muttered as he opened the second box.
He looked in and pulled out what Rek was complaining about as heavy, and it was.
It was a red and black striped blanket, and when Branzy lifted it up, it was clear that it was a weighted blanket.
Branzy saw as a little piece of paper floated down from the blanket’s surface, and Rek picked it up and turned it over in his hands.
“It says “for my dearest Branzycraft’”.
Branzy felt his cheeks flush as Jaron laughed.
“My dearest?”
“Oh be quiet, and gimme that”.
Branzy set down the blanket and took the letter from Rek and opened it.
He read it carefully.
“I remember how relaxed you were when I was assisting you as a human weighted blanket, so I thought, why not give you one just like me to remember this night by”.
-Signed. “Your honey”, Clownpierce.
Branzy felt his face getting much hotter before he shoved the note in his pocket.
Rek looked over at Branzy and tilted his head.
“I didn't even know someone's face could get that shade of red-“.
Branzy pushed Rek’s face away with his hand and heard an “Ack” from Rek, but at this point he didn't really care.
“First an egregious amount of food ‘just because’, and now a weighted blanket? My god I didn't know you had a sugar daddy-“.
Branzy hurled the blanket at Jaron and hit him square in the chest, luckily without the coffee cup in his hand, and knocked him over.
“Nice shot”.
Rek high-fived Branzy as Jaron threw the blanket back at full force towards the both of them, thunking into them and leaving Branzy barely able to catch it and stand, leaving Rek not so lucky.
“Why you-“.
Rek lunged at Jaron and they started throwing pillows, so Branzy just got out of there and went into his room.
He held up the blanket and put it over himself before lying down on the bed.\
It was perfect.
The weight was heavy, but not overwhelming, and the colors reminded him exactly of Clown.
Had Clown really slipped away during the night and gotten this for him?
The thought of Clown being so considerate gave Branzy butterflies and he kicked his feet that were poking out of the blanket.
For how much teasing Jaron gave him about Clown’s gifts, if this became regular Branzy wouldn't be mad.
God, how did he get so lucky.