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Clownpierce, the executioner of Carcosa had to watch Zam because the prince got a little too flirty with a guy named Pangi.
School was pretty much over for the day and PrinceZam was fetching stuff from his locker while Clown stood behind him.
Clownpierce did not take pride in this 'job'. It was stupid! He was supposed to be intimidating and fierce but instead he had to babysit this imbecile of a 'prince' all day.
"You're an idiot, you know that?" The executioner said flatly.
Zam immediately turned around, looking at Clownpierce like he just insulted his entire bloodline. "How am I an idiot?!" The executioner just looked at the prince judgmentally through his mask. "Okay, okay! It isn't my fault that Pangi is.. cute.." His face flushed a light pink as he thought about the pangolin hybrid, he quickly shook it off.
"There you go again! Falling in love with a mortal. Tch, stupid." Clown shot back, crossing his arms.
The prince groaned dramatically, turning back around to look through his locker.
A moment of silence stretched between them before Zam giggled to himself as he turned back around, ready to fire the most spectacular insult he had ever thought of.
Instead of saying the most malicious thing ever, he saw the most unexpected thing ever.
Branzycraft, a redstone mechanic walked past, holding a few, messy workbooks in his arms.
Clownpierce noticed Branzy walking by and took half a step forward, extending his hand as if to catch the attention of the redstone nerd.
Branzy seemingly didn't notice the executioner and just walked on by.
Clown sighed without even knowing it, his gaze drifting towards the ground. He looked utterly defeated.
"What was that?" The prince gasped, staring wide-eyed at Clown.
The executioner's arm -which was still extended in that same spot- immediately pulled back. He readjusted himself, turning to face Zam. "What was what?" He asked, tilting his head as if to act completely clueless.
PrinceZam groaned, "What you just did!" He extended his arm slowly like he was demonstrating it to a toddler, "You reached out towards Branzy! You looked like a lost puppy, dude. So much for 'you're stupid for falling in love with mortals'."
"What?! M-me? No way, I wasn't reaching for.. for him!"
"Uh-huh... sure, and I'm delusional." Zam argued, but he couldn't help but smile. He had never seen Clown act like this before.
The executioner muttered a curse under his breath, his mask tilted towards the ground. "You are delusional!" He hissed.
"I know what I saw." The prince smiled smugly, crossing his hands behind his back.
Clownpierce grumbled, quickly turning around like he was trying to hide his blush (Which was unnecessary because you couldn't even see his face anyways). He leaned against a locker that was close to Zam so he could still keep an eye on the prince while also having a view of the hallway. He sighed, his eyes instinctively scanning everyone's faces.
Pangi came over, Clown barely even noticed.
"Hey Zam!" The pangolin hybrid greeted cheerfully.
The prince immediately shut his friend up without thinking, "Shush!" He squeaked, "I think Clownpierce has a crush on Branzycraft." He whispered as quiet as humanly possible, his voice barely above a breath.
"What?!" Pangi exclaimed, taking a small step back. His eyes -though hard to see from behind his glasses- widened in disbelief. "Don't joke with me now, dude."
"I'm not joking!" Zam insisted, "I swear! He is down bad, trust me."
Pangi paused for a long moment, "Hm.. okay, I trust you!"
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The next day.
Clownpierce was in class, listening to the teacher when he said something about a group project.
Alright, whatever, the executioner could work with a group.
"I will be assigning partners, though." The teacher said. Almost the entire class collectively groaned.
The teacher began to get the pairs together, reading off a list in his hands. "-Clownpierce with Branzycraft," He said, looking like he planned all of this out.
Oh.
Branzy looked like he was about ready to disappear from this mortal realm as he grabbed all of his stuff and moved to an empty seat next to the executioner. He didn't look happy at all. He muttered something under his breath as he slid into the seat, trying not to make eye contact with Clown.
"Branzycraft." Clown greeted quietly.
The redstone mechanic didn't reply, his eyes glued to the desk he was now sitting at.
The executioner saw how Branzy was practically vibrating and just sighed. He hated how everyone was scared of him, especially when it came to Branzycraft. He just wanted to have a normal conversation with the guy, and he already looked like he was about ready to run away like a scared mouse trying to get away from an owl. Maybe one day the redstone mechanic will realize Clown isn't out to hunt him, but today isn't that day.
"We need to work on writing an essay about potions and their effects, right?" Clownpierce asked, hoping that would prompt Branzy to talk.
"yeah.. kind of, we need to make a poster and an essay.. o-or at least a description of sorts." The redstone mechanic explained, his voice shaky.
Clown nodded, "Alright, thanks."
Branzy nodded stiffly, fidgeting with the mechanical pencil in his hands.
They both wrote down stuff for a few minutes, barely even talking to each other. Clownpierce tried to start some small talk but it didn't work in the slightest.
The bell was just about to ring when the redstone mechanic began packing his things into his bag. "Alright, we can work on it more tomorrow." He muttered, quickly scrambling up to his feet the millisecond he heard the bell echo throughout the school.
"W-wait!" The executioner yelped, instinctively grabbing Branzy's hand in an act of desperation.
Branzycraft flinched, immediately yanking his hand back. "Sss... what do you need?" He squeaked, his mind refusing to process how desperate Clown looked.
Clownpierce went silent for a moment, "We could- uhm.. study at your house, y'know.. make it easier for both of us. If- if you're comfortable of course." He blurted out the messy offer, he didn't even know what he actually wanted to say, that was just the best his brain could give him in the rush of the moment.
"O-oh..?" The redstone mechanic's eyes went wide like he just saw a ghost. He couldn't say no to Clownpierce, could he? "Yeah.. s-sure."
"Okay, thank you."
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And so they arrived at Branzy's house to do the work.
"This is my house. My parent's aren't home or anything so the entire house is basically free..." Branzycraft said, slowly opening the door. He sighed, checking behind his shoulder to make sure Clownpierce wouldn't sneak attack him.
Why the actual shit did I invite him to my house, goddamn it.. Branzy thought, regretting his desicions. I'm going to die tonight.
He led the executioner up to his room, quietly awaiting his demise.
The redstone mechanic grabbed a few papers and his notebook, laying them on the floor of his bedroom. He sat down on the ground. He huffed, gesturing for Clownpierce to sit across from him.
Clown nodded, sitting down on the floor where Branzy wanted him to be, trying to show the white haired man that he wasn't going to hurt him.
But of course, Branzy was still on edge. When Clown moved at all, the redstone mechanic glanced up at him and or shifted away.
"Branzy," Clownpierce said, making Branzycraft flinch. "I am not going to hurt you, I promise."
The redstone mechanic glanced around the confined room, "uh-huh.. sure..." He muttered quietly, not believing the executioner one little bit.
Clown sighed, "You don't believe me, do you..?" He asked, a bit of disappointment seeping through his usually confident voice.
"I- I do! I do believ-"
"No you don't," The executioner interrupted, "You've been shaking this entire time, you move away from me every time I try to do something. You don't believe me at all."
Branzy paused, his heart hammering against his ribs so hard he was sure Clownpierce could hear it.
"Take my hands, please." Clown muttered, putting his hands out, palms-up, waiting for the redstone mechanic to grab them.
Well, here goes nothing, I guess. Branzy thought, shakily grabbing Clownpierce's hands. He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for something to hit him and knock him out or kill him, but that force never came.
He slowly opened his eyes again, Clownpierce was still sitting in the same spot, his gaze -although hidden from behind his mask- was soft, holding no malice whatsoever.
The executioner gently held Branzy's hands, grounding the redstone mechanic's trembling form. "It's okay, I wouldn't hurt... you, not ever." He whispered quietly.
Branzy's eyes widened, "W- what..?"
"I love you, Branzy. I want you to know that." Clown said softly, shifting a bit closer to the mechanic.
Branzycraft stared at him for a long few seconds, "I- I- wha-" He blurted out, utterly bewildered by the executioner's sudden confession.
Clownpierce slowly took his mask off, setting it on the ground before carefully intertwining their hands, "Look, I'm sorry if I scared you before, I didn't mean to make that impression on you." He sighed, looking at the redstone mechanic with genuine adoration, a look he had never given anyone else. "I do truly love you." His face flushed a light pink, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
The mechanic blinked, the words taking a long time to load in his head. Something in his brain clicked, a sudden realization rushing through his body. "I- I love you too." He muttered, a deep crimson spreading across his cheeks.
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The 4th of July.
Clownpierce was watching the fireworks with Branzy. The executioner was laying his head on the mechanic's shoulder before lifting his head and looking at Branzy. He gently put his mask down on the grass before he slowly leaned in, giving Branzy plenty of time to pull away if he felt uncomfortable.
When their lips touched it felt like the only things that existed in the whole world were just the two of them.
Both of their faces immediately flushed a deep crimson. Branzy leaned into the kiss, closing his eyes as his hand found Clown's, intertwining with his.
After a few seconds, the executioner pulled away, his eyes locking with the mechanic's.
They both giggled softly as fireworks went off in front of them, lighting up the night sky.
Branzy didn't have to fear Clownpierce anymore, they were finally both happy together.
And they would be for the rest of their lives.