Archive of Our Own

Maybe joining Lifesteal wasn't Branzys smartest idea. He was smart and strategic, so much was true, but he'd never been that much of a fighter, and in a place like this, that made him, well, a weakling.

And on the other side of the spectrum, there was an interesting... being. ClownPierce was never a people person, he didn't have plenty of friends, and his alliences were few and always something he would benefit from, never genuine, which might be why he didn't care for betraying anyone. However, despite also being terribly smart and strategic, sometimes even Clown needed help. Not with fighting, no, he could handle that, but with something bigger, something to help him lure people in, a trap. And that is where his plans came short: a good trap was complicated to build, with a lot of redstone and pistons and whatever else, but circuitry had never been his strong suit.

And so, what formed is what should have been another alliance, a partnership, Clown would protect Branzy, and in return Branzy would build his sick murder machines. 

However, Branzy was different. He wasn't a great fighter, but he wasn't something Clown could puppet around either. Branzy simply was more brains than brawn, and in his own way, he was a freak too... Clown liked that about him. He was interesting to watch, to observe, to see how everyone else was so convinced he was good and innocent, while Clown saw right through him, a catfish, a master manipulator maybe, because it was fascinating how many times people would trust in his false innocence, it's not like he could do anything: who, little old Branzy? and they just kept falling and falling for it!

But time proved that they were a perfect pair: Clown was impressed in the machinery Branzy built at his command, and he followed through aswell, protecting Branzy and giving him hearts, which was never part of their deal in the first place, so maybe Branzy was manipulating him too. 

But Clown, to everyone else, was still evil, sick and twisted and something to stay away from. To Branzy, however, he wasn't, he was scary, so much was true, but he wasn't evil. 

Clown, by now, has had countless opportunities to discard of Branzy, to kill him, or betray him, or just leave him to fight for himself, and yet he hadn't, because for some reason Branzy had grown on him, he was the one soul that he, for whatever reason, couldn't bring himself to kill, atleast not without a good reason, an actual good reason.

Maybe it was because Branzy saw him, tried to see him, to look past what he is and into what he wants to be, into how he wants to be seen, and realise that Clown doesn't want to kill for the fun of it, to keep himself at arms lenght from everyone, but he wants to show what he is capable of, that he can kill, that he can put his so called friends on the line, that he is not scared to not show mercy, that he wants people to see what he is capable of, to see that he is not weak. 

And to Branzy, he wasn't, Branzy was the first to figure out that maybe Clown just lacked the language, the social skills, the capability, to prove himself in a way that wasn't ignoring all his wants and needs just to show how strong and dangerous he is, how strong and dangerous he could be. He is dangerous, he wants people to know that about him, he wants people to not dare underestimate him, but somewhere inside him, he still has a heart, a heart that beats and hurts and wants and craves, craves to be understood, to have someone see he's not just a monster, craves genuine connection, a heart that craves something he won't let himself have. 

Weather he would admit it or not, Clown couldn't help but form an attachment to Branzy, and it didn't make him any less intimidating, not when he wanted to be, so a part of Branzy still feared Clown, but another part of Branzy, a bigger part, had a feeling Clown couldn't bring himself to kill him now. Weather he would admit it or not, Clown had formed a genuine friendship, slowly, very slowly, giving his heart what it craved so badly.

Clown saw through Branzy, through his false innocence, through the acts he'd put up for other people, but in the same way, Branzy saw through Clown, through his mask, through the coldness in his voice he must have worked so hard to make natural, despite his body betraying him, despite the flicks of his tail or the way he'd get animated and his voice would spike when he was excited, only for a couple seconds, only before he'd stop himself. 

Eventually, they started being more than just business partners, they started being friends, Clown allowed them to be, to keep Branzy slightly closer than he normally would, to show him a little more of himself, to give him hearts he could have kept for himself, while the real beating heart in his chest was slowly being laid out for him. Clown allowed himself to, for once, let his guard down, just slightly, just enough to let Branzy in, but not to let him get comfortable, enough to say they were close, but just enough that he could still say they're allies, not friends.

It was one day that Clown left Branzy on his own to work on the circutry for a new game in their casino, he said he'd just go to collect some more materials and be back quick, except quick wasn't as quick as he would have liked it to be, and by the time he got back, it was already dark out.

"I'm back, BranzyCraft." he hummed, setting down two shulkers full of materials. "Branzy?" he called out again after a few seconds of silence, but still no answer. 

At a quick glance, he couldn't seem to spot Branzy, so he assumed the dragon had just left, that's fair, but it couldn't hurt for Clown to patrol around a bit, see what his new friend had been up to.

He tried to be careful, not step on anything that looked important as to not ruin Branzys hard work, look at the lines of redstone and pistons and repeaters and observers and whatever else was there and pretend he actually knows what this all meant, how it was supposed to look, as if he could catch a mistake. 

All seemed well, atleast to his uneducated eye, until he stumbled across a body, Branzys body, laid on the floor, head half propped up on the edge of a piston. He couldn't help but rush to it, this wasn't exactly what he hoped to see, Branzy could have been hurt, not dead, surely not, but badly hurt!

Upon a closer look, however, it didn't seem so, Branzy didn't look beat up or bloodied or anything of the sort, covered in dirt and gime and redstone sure, but not beat up, and his face looked relaxed, as much as it could be with the edge of a piston digging in his cheek, there was a small rise and fall to his chest, and a quiet rumble... was he snoring?

Clown couldn't just leave him like this, or, well, he could, had it been anyone else, but it was Branzy, this couldn't have been comfortable, and he'd probably wake up sore, so Clown just couldn't bring himself to leave him like that.

"Oh, the things you're making me do, BranzyCraft." he sighed, groaning as he picked Branzy up, he was heavy, not the easiest thing to hold, and with the way his limbs were sprawled all over the place he wasn't exactly cooperating, so Clown tried to change the position, have Branzy cling to him like a koala, and it seemed to work, besides the noise of protest he'd made with how his head was getting thrown all over the place, "Let's go get you somewhere safe, huh?" 

It was a though walk back to Clowns base, especially since he couldn't really defend himself if anything came his way, and the last thing he would have wanted was for anyone to see them like this, they'd think Clown loved Branzy or something, and he didn't - Clown couldn't love Branzy, Clown couldn't love, that would mean he had a heart, and well, he did, he just didn't acknowledge it.

But now, back to his base, the question was what was Clown even supposed to do with Branzy now? He couldn't really just leave him on the floor or something, but he also didn't want to put Branzy, covered in a days worth of hard work, in his clean bed.

Was it somewhat wrong to wake him up?

"Hey," Clown muttered, an awkward edge to his voice as he bounced Branzy in his arms, trying to jostle him slightly, just enough to wake him, "BranzyCraft?" 

Initially, Branzy made a noise of protest as he stirred, his hands tightening their grip into fabric as he burrowed his face into Clowns neck, cheek smushed against his shoulder and his horns clinking against the hard material of the white mask, bone, perhaps.

"Branzy, wake up." Clown sighed, one hand patting his back now.

With another noise, Branzy opened an eye slightly, taking a few seconds to look around and yawn before reality sunk in and he sprung back to life so fast Clown had almost dropped him.

"Clown- I- What?" he blinked, his voice hoarse as he put a hand on the others shoulder for a bit of stability, "I am sorry, I am so sorry- What even-"

"You're fine." Clown cut him off, his voice far calmer as he lowered Branzy slightly, helping him down.

"Oh, I- I mean, yeah, just- What's happened with me?" he huffed, his fingers trembling as he took his hand off Clown.

"You tell me." Clown shrugged, "I found you sleeping on a piston. That didn't exactly look comfortable."

"Oh, darn in." Branzy scoffed, shaking his head, "I wasn't done with the mechanism." 

"That's fine, you can get back to it tomorrow." 

Branzy blinked at Clown, he couldn't read much of his face behind the mask, but he sounded calm, unsettlingly calm, not like he wasn't unsettling enough alredy.

"Yeah, right." he muttered, glancing towards a window, "On that note, I think I should go, Clown, you know, it's getting late and I don't want to inconvenience you or anything." 

"You're fine, BranzyCraft." Clown scoffed, crossing his arms, "I mean, I carried you such a long way already, and it could be dangerous for you to wander all by yourself at night, you might aswell stay now."

"What, like- Spend the night at your base?" Branzy gulped, swallowing a knot in his throat.

"Sure." he nodded.

"I mean, I appreciate the offer, but you don't have to bother, I can get back all safe and sound on my own, you know?"

"You're already here, Branzy, what's the point in going back?" 

"Okay, fine." he scoffed out a weak laugh, his shoulders dropping slightly as he smiled, "So, what, you trust me enough to sleep with me hanging around here?" 

"Who said I'm gonna be sleeping?" Clown hummed, head tilting slightly.

"Okay, maybe not.." Branzy gulped again.

"But, maybe I will. Who knows?" he shrugged, huffing out a laugh.

"Well, I sure don't..." Branzy muttered nervously, laughing along.

"Good, I like keeping you on your toes." Clown grinned under his mask, but there was something, perhaps a spark, a shine, in his eyes that made him look slightly softer, relaxed, maybe. 

It was hard to see Clowns eyes most of the time, his mask usually shaded them over, but sometimes, when his head was at the right angle, when the light hit just right, Branzy could catch a glimpse of them, bright cyan and orange like the nether fire dancing with itself, or, better said, with it's sibling, it made him wonder how Clown just hid that sometimes. Moreso, Clown was a mistery as a whole, he never showed much skin other than his tail, which was, more often than not, armored too, and whatever was peeking through the eye holes in his mask.

Truly a mistery of a man, he was.

Honestly, Branzy had gotten a bit lost in that train of thought, he was curious, curious to see more of Clown, to see what he looked like under that mask, what it was he kept hiding, however he flinched as he got snapped out of it, at the feeling of a hand on his shoulder.

"As I was saying," Clown started, or more likely continued, but Branzy hadn't heard him, hadn't been paying attention, "I think you should take a shower, I mean, you're covered in redstone dust and dirt and grime and whatnot." 

"Yeah, you're probably right." Branzy blinked, rubbing at his neck.

"I'll get you some clothes, you go." Clown said as he pointed towards the bathroom door.

Clown was taller than Branzy, so much was true, but not by much, not by this much atleast, Branzy shouldn't be drowning in his clothes like this, Clowns shorts reached bellow his knees and his shirt, despite looking oversized, or atleast baggy, was around the middle of his thighs, sleeves reaching past his elbows.

He looked, well, ridiculous, he couldn't really deny that, but what other option did he have? Sure, Clown laughed a little when he got out, before reassuring him it's cute, but Branzy still looks ridiculous.

He laid on Clowns bed while waiting for him to shower too, and the thought quickly came to his head that this bed was too small, for just one person it was enough, maybe more than, but for the both of them it didn't look like so; they could both have space, sure, but he doubts there would be much room left to move around or such.

Branzy just laid there, quietly, patiently, thinking, when Clown stepped out of the bathroom, and it was the first time Branzy had seen him without his hat, and he couldn't help but noitice how perfect the shape of his horns was for his it, curling the same way, not as long as his hat tips admittedly, the same shade of dark ashy gray as his skin, which Branzy was also seeing for the first time aside from his tail and a few glimpses of his hands when he'd been adjusting his gloves. 

"So," Branzy started, before he'd blinked and caught himself, "no, actually- no, nevermind, sorry."

"What was that?" Clown crooked his head, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"No, no, it's nothing, forget I was gonna say anything." he stammered, swallowing around the lump in his throat.

"BranzyCraft." Clown sighed, his voice lower, menacing, like it always was when he was trying to intimidate Branzy, and it always worked.

"No, I like- it's really nothing, sorry- I'm sorry." Branzy grinned, his voice higher, eyes wider, Clown always had a way with him, knew how to keep him in line, how to keep him scared enough to obey his every rule, every ask, every command, obey like his most loyal dog.

"BranzyCraft." Clown scoffed, crawling on top of Branzy on the bed, tail wrapping tightly around his ankles so he couldn't move his legs, he was getting close, too close, and he kept moving until their foreheads pressed together and he grabbed Branzys face, thumb pressed against his lower lip and pointer finger under his chin, the rest of his hand curled into a fist.

Branzys lips parted, but all he could let out was a strangled noise, he could feel his own skin start to burn, feel sweat beading on his face, could see the glint, the spark in Clowns eyes, and he's sure Clown could hear his heart thudding.

"What was it you wanted to say, Branzy?" Clown smiled, Branzy could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice, still low, quiet, intimidating, yet sickeningly sweet, like some kind of poison trying to lure him in.

"I- I just- I didn't expect you to- to keep your mask on, you know?" Branzy gulped, laughing awkwardly, and he flinched when he felt Clowns tail smack the mattress by his foot.

"Why do you want me to take it off?" Clown hummed, head tilting, and he didn't look satisfied with that, his eyes lowering.

"No, I- I didn't, I didn't, Clown, I just thought you would, but it's fine, it doesn't matter, you can keep it on, I think it looks great on you!" Branzy stammered, watching Clown blink so slowly, so calmly, like a threat.

"You want to see what I look like under the mask, BranzyCraft?" he huffed out a small laugh, looking down at Branzy expectantly.

"Why, I mean- I'm- I'm curious, you know, but like- only if you want to show me, it's fine- it's really fine, I don't need to see anything."

"Well, I guess I could show you," Clown hummed, looking away like he was considering it before his eyes snapped back to Branzy, "But I'd have to kill you after."

"No, it's fine, I- I don't need to- I don't need to see anything, I'm fine." Branzy simled, his voice going higher and higher as his heart was beating faster and faster in his chest.

"Well, I guess I won't. Not yet, that is." Clown hummed, and he could hear not only Branzys sigh of relief but also the bed sheets rustling under his feet as streched them once Clown unwrapped his tail.

"Th- thank you, that's good- that's a good choice."

"Now, BranzyCraft," he continued, moving his head back so he wasn't in Branzys face as much, "Can you hug me?" he continued, a different edge to his voice now, perhaps a little curious, like he wanted to see if Branzy really would.

Branzy blinked, his heart thudding again, "I- I don't want to make this seem like I'm doubting you or anything, but are you sure? Like, you're not gonna kill me, or anything?" 

"It does seem like you're doubting me." Clown laughed, his shoulders shaking slightly as he did.

"Oh, no, I am not, I would never, never doubt you, Clown." Branzy laughed, his fingers shaking as his arms wrapped around Clown and pulled him down until their bodies were flushed together.

"Good." he hummed, shifting his own position slightly, the cold material of his mask pressing against Branzys neck before he'd wrapped his arms around his shoulders, "You comfy?"

"Me? I- yeah, yeah, I'm good." Branzy nearly choked and, for maybe the first time ever, he was looking down at Clown.

"Good, good." Clown nodded, "Have a good night then, BranzyCraft." 

"Yeah... you- good night, Clown." he blinked.

Branzy could feel it, the exhaustion in Clowns voice, how it seemed to have gone just a tad softer, how his body seemed to almost go limp, practically melting onto him, feel the rise and fall of Clowns chest against his and hear his breathing. He has never been so focused on someone simply going to sleep, but especially after Clown himself had said it, Branzy didn't really expect him to actually fall asleep, or atleast not so fast, not first, not when Branzy could, atleast in theory, still do anything to him, and Clown just let himself be vulnerable like this.

Admittedly, Branzys eyes were heavy too, but he needed to keep them open, to admire the view a little longer, he'd probably never get the chance to again. 

Clown was out cold, and a soft smile graced Branzys lips, there was something oddly comforting to think that Clown really trusted him, and it was a little hard to believe most times; sure, Clown trusted him to build just about anything he needed, he was reliable, but this was a different kind of trust, and it seems like a bit of an odd choice to put that trust in Branzy, who, realistically, couldn't protect him in most scenarios, but it wasn't for protection, Clown could stand his own ground, he didn't feel safe around Branzy because he could protect him, but because, weirdly, he was Branzy, he was kind and sweet and genuine and trustworthy, atleast to Clown, and so much more that just made him Branzy.

"And you're just gonna sleep like that?" he scoffed, his voice sarcastic but quiet, he didn't want to wake Clown now.

Branzy also wasn't quite sure if he could let go now, he assumed he couldn't, nor did he really want to, if he's honest, but one of his hands did make its way into Clowns hair, fingers scratching his scalp gently and, as Branzy started to hum to a soft tune, Clown was unconsciously purring along, an even softer rythm, one that was eventually lulling Branzy to sleep too.

It was getting harder and harder to keep his eyes open, but he was satisfied, atleast for now, even if Clown would decide to kill him in the morning, but Branzy adjusted his head, shifting it so it was more supported by Clowns mask than the pillow, then he closed his eyes with a pleased sigh, and he was gone.

Clown was a pretty light sleeper, he had to be, to stay vigilant, but he also got by on maybe less sleep than he should have, and that can't be the reason he sleeps like a log as soon as he hits the bed every night. But now it was different, not only did he feel so much more well rested, but just so much more comfortable, calmer, warmer, his muscles were less sore, like this nap - because Clown would never get a full nights sleep - healed something in him. 

He let out a groan as he stirred, his eyes still closed as he lifted his head slightly and balled his hands into fists to rub at them, just to get bumped on his mask. Opening his eyes he felt confused and slightly dazed, just to see Branzy sleeping under him, it almost made him startle awake, and he did flinch slightly, until the pair of hands wrapped around his body and resting on his back pulled him back down while Branzy mumbled something incoherent. 

He'd remembered now, he brought Branzy here last night, and he's the one who got them in this position. 

Stupid, stupid, this was so stupid.

However, glancing towards the window, the sun was barely starting to rise, the sky still dark, and Branzy looked comfortable enough, so Clown sighed as he laid his head back in the crook of Branzys neck. For a couple minutes, he laid awake, eyes open, listening to the sound of his own breathing and Branzys soft snores, it would have bothered him, had it been anyone else, and he's probably have woke them up to tell them to stop or maybe he'd have straight up punched them, but Branzy he didn't mind, he wasn't too loud, so he focused on the noise as he absentmindedly rubbed his thumb over Branzys bicep until he fell asleep again.

Now Branzy was first to wake up, his chest rising and falling with a deep yawn as he streched his limbs, the movement enough to wake Clown. 

"Morning, BranzyCraft." Clown blinked, tilting his head up.

"Good morning, Clown." Branzy blinked, his heart skipping a beat; he hadn't forgotten Clown was there, no, especially not when he could feel his weight atop his own body, but the sound of his voice, that tone, so early in the morning, whatever the clock would have been, but the first thing to hear as he woke up?

"I see you just held me here all night long, didn't you, Branzy?" he hummed, a tiny glint, a spark in his eyes, the smile audible in his voice.

"Oh, I- I had- uh-" Branzy gulped, his hands flying off Clown and freezing mid air.

"Why, I didn't tell you to let go?" Clown scoffed, "If anything, you passed the test." 

"Was the test to see how much of a teddy bear I am?" Branzy laughed awkwardly.

"Mayhaps." Clown smiled as he yawned, streching as he rolled over, laying on his side now.

"Well, I..." Branzy chocked, and he had to admit, a part of him was disappointed to lose the warmth and pressure of Clown on top of him.

"Did you sleep well?" Clown yawned, streching his legs.

"Yeah, I slept fine." Branzy smiled, sitting up slightly, "You?"

"Unironically? I think that was the best sleep I've ever had." Clown blurted out, involuntarily, before he could catch himself, before his brain could catch up to his mouth.

"Oh, I'm- I'm glad to hear that." Branzy laughed, shoulders dropping slightly.

Clown felt his heart stutter, admittedly, he's started lowering his guard around Branzy, too much, maybe far too much, that was a stupid, stupid thing to say, a stupid position for them to be in, stupid thoughts flowing in his head about how this somehow felt right. He gulped dumbly, trying to come back to his senses, to apologise, to take it back, but nothing came out when he opened his mouth, yet Branzy kept talking.

"You know, I know you- I kind of know you- I don't really think you're too happy with me knowing this, but uh- I didn't know you purr?" 

Clown felt his heart thud louder, his skin hotter, everything around him suddenly felt suffocating, his clothes, his mask, the air, everything.

"Yeah, I uh-" Clown blinked, voice unsteady, unsure, he balled his hands into fists to hide the way his fingers were trembling.

"I wasn't making fun of you." Branzy shrugged, his smile awkward, unsure too, "I mean, I think it's like, a little ironic, coming from you, but it's not a bad thing, it's really not a bad thing, it's, you know, cute."

This wasn't the position they were usually in, usually it was Clown making Branzy stammer, stumble on his words, yet Branzy wasn't being cruel, not that Clown really meant any harm, to him atleast, he seemed to be drawn in, curious, if anything, too curious maybe.

Suddenly Clown blinked, sat up, his back a little straighter than normal as he cleared his throat, "I'll be right back, BranzyCraft." he said, his voice flat, with seemingly no emotion, like he always seemed to be, then got up and walked into the bathroom, locking the door shut behind him.

He sighed as he took off his mask, his breath shakey now. Over time, Clown's gotten really good at hiding his emotions, noone should know what was going on inside, and when he couldn't control his face, his mask helped, he could, at the very least, keep his voice steady enough.

His face, however, didn't seem to do him justice, not for being 'the deadliest assassin'. 

He always felt dumb looking at himself in the mirror, always seemed to look it, his mask, at the very least, looked a little dumb on purpose, not as threatening as he really was, to see who would underestimate him, his face however, that wasn't up to him. The two halves of his face looked like they belonged to two different people: the left side looked normal, his eye was a bright cyan, his jaw looked normal, his mouth was normal, but the right side, he never quite wanted to claim as his, his right eye wasn't quite cooperating, he could see fine, sure, but it didn't want to be like its sibling, orange, slightly drooped, his face deformed around it, burnt, his skin scarred, like it later became on a bigger portion of his body, for reasons he maybe could be proud of this time, he atleast fought back for the rest of his scars.

He couldn't ever stop thinking of how dumb he looked, especially with his mask off, especially now, with his lips quivering and his eyes starting to water, for no reason at all once again. He often thought what people would think of him if they really knew, if they knew how he looked under the mask, if they knew his heart seemed to be bigger than his brain, if they knew he wasn't as controlled as he seemed. 

It's stupid, he's stupid, saying things like that, not that he planned to get Branzy back in his bed, but he doesn't need to know how Clown sleeps or when or anything, he can keep that to himself, he should keep that to himself. For the stupidest reasons, it felt hard to trust Branzy, he was a scammer and an arsonist, a manipulator, he knew how to talk his way out of things, he wasn't a good fighter, but he wasn't as helpless as he made himself seem, he was wearing a mask of his own, making himself seem more vulnerable, like an easier target than he really was, so everyone would spare him out of pity, Clown knew that, but that's not why, he simply seemed too kind, too genuine, too good to be true, to truly have no intentions underneath, and yet Clown kept being stupid, kept letting his guard down, kept trusting and catching himself too late.

Clown has made a lot of mistakes those past few hours, and he could have avoided all of it if he just let Branzy sleep on that piston, or even if he just woke him up and told him to go home, any other option would have spared him.

He turned on the tap, hands digging into his eyes as he washed his face, the water cold, as cold as it would run, just to calm something, the tears in his eyes, the heat in his skin, the stupidity in his brain. It was times like this 'Clown' just kept seeming more and more fitting to him.

He looked back to the mirror once he dried his hands and face on a towel, he still looked stupid, but his mask would hide it fine, he tried saying something, and his voice was a bit more unsteady than he'd like, but it would do, he told himself as he put the mask back on.

"Clown?" Branzy muttered as he came out of the bathroom, making him stop in the doorway, "I, uh- sorry. I know maybe I shouldn't have brought that up, but I wasn't making fun of you or anything, it really means nothing to me."

"You're fine, Branzy." he sighed, shaking his head as he sat on the edge of the bed next to him.

"Are you sure? I mean, it seems to have kind of upset you." Branzy gulped, reaching a hand out to touch Clown, but pulling it back.

"No, it's- it's not that." Clown continued, doing what Branzy wanted to do and laying his hand on the olders shoulder, "Still, don't tell anyone about that." 

"You got it." Branzy scoffed, grabbing Clowns shoulder too.

"No, seriously. This is like- I will hunt you down if anyone else finds out." he underlined, the slightest hint of desperation in his voice as he turned to look at Branzy.

"You got it!" Branzy laughed, "All that's happened last night and this morning is between you and me, my friend."

"Friend?" Clown blinked, a little caught off guard, the word quiet, stunned, escaping his mouth without his permission. 

Clown had teammates and allies, people he kept at an arms lenght and made a point not to get attached to, not to trust them one bit more than he had to. It's been a long time since he'd had friends, family, people he'd let himself trust and be vulnerable with, those were weaknesses, people who could take advantage of him, people who others could use to take advantage of him, they were too dangerous to have.

However, Branzy didn't quite lay in either category, they weren't teammates, Clown would call them allies, but despite that, he trusts Branzy more than he should, Branzy sees over his walls, behind his mask, sees more than anyone else had seen in a long time. Branzy is scary.

"I mean, we're business partners, but I like to think of you as a friend." Branzy shrugged, "It doesn't have to be mutual." 

When it came to Branzy, Clowns heart played tug of war, torn between giving up on him entirely and moving on or staying with Branzy and lowering his walls, comitting fully. Neither option felt quite right, both were scary for different reasons, but this- whatever they had going on, this didn't feel too right either.

"Friends... We can be friends." Clown blinked, looking at Branzy like he was tasting the word.

"Good, that's good." Branzy scoffed, squeezing Clowns shoulder slightly. 

Friends.

They could be friends.

For the past week, they've been hanging out more, Clown would sit and watch Branzy work, listen to him explain whatever he was doing, it's not like Clown understood, like he tried to understand, but he listened, Branzys voice felt calming to him. Sometimes they'd sit at the bar after hours, talk over a drink, about what they've been up to, about more things they could do with the casino and the funhouse, share stories, share ideas.

Clown groaned as he woke up with a dull ache in the back of his skull. He mumbled to himself as he rubbed his eyes, saying he just had too much to drink with Branzy last night, and that might have been a factor, but he knew that wasn't it.

No, being hungover didn't hurt like this.

He'd just get over it, he thought as he sighed to himself and made his way to the bathroom.

He sat down in the bathtub, hugging his knees as water ran down his back, blinking slowly and flicking his tail, splashing against the low water and he closed his eyes as he sighed, his forehead against his knees as he couldn't help but shake, a distressed noise breaking past his lips.

It was unusual for Clown to spend so long in the bath, but this was bad, he could run into anyone, he could have to jump into a fight whenever, he was thinking, planning, strategizing, or atleast trying to, the ache in the back of his head only worsening.

By the time Clown had gotten to the circus, Branzy was already there, kneeling as he fiddled with a repeater.

Clown didn't say anything as he got closer, but he made his presence known, he was unlike himself, a little off balance, his steps a little heavier.

"Is that you, Clown?" Branzy mumbled, too busy with his circutry to look up.

"Hard at work this early in the morning, BranzyCraft?" Clown smiled, stopping behind Branzy, looking down at what he had been doing, "You're working?"

"It keeps my mind busy."Branzy shrugged, looking up at Clown now.

"You're always here." Clown blinked, "You don't need to overwork yourself, take a break every now and again, we'll be done with this whenever we're done, there's no timeline."

"Since when are you looking out for me?" Branzy laughed, crossing his arms.

"Since you've been here." Clown scoffed, like it was obvious, to him, it was, "You should take care of yourself, BranzyCraft."

"Oh, I'll be fine, and if anyone finds me I can talk my way out of whatever I need to. You know me, Clown." Branzy laughed, leaning back on his arms.

Even under layers of clothes and armor, Branzy could tell Clown was stiff, tense. His back was too straight, his eyes, judging atleast by how he was holding his head, glued to the ground.

"Do you want to sit with me for a bit?" Branzy smiled, patting a spot in the grass next to him, "You seem a little stuck in your head."

Clown blinked, almost flinched, his eyes going back to Branzy, "I'm fine." he sighed.

"That's fine then, you can still sit with me if you want to." he hummed.

"Sure, BranzyCraft." Clown nodded, sitting down in the grass - they really need to clean this place up someday.

"Great." Branzy smiled, "Do you need anything?"

"Huh?" Clown blinked, a little taken aback, "What, like now?"

"Now, later, just in general..." Branzy mumbled, focused on fixing up a redstone line.

"Not right now, no." Clown shrugged.

"That's fine, you can let me know if you do." 

"Why?" Clown blinked, tail wrapping around his own ankle.

"You just seem a little off." Branzy shrugged, looking back at Clown, "Everything okay?"

"I'm fine." he sighed, waving a hand dismissingly.

After a few hours, Clown was still there, sat in the same spot, watching Branzy work and listening to him ramble and explain what everything he was putting down did; he'd pretend he understood, and he'd honestly rather listen to Branzy talk about redstone for hours than go out and run into a fight.

For a couple moments, he felt like he forgot about it, like he could calm down a little, but eventually, the ache in his head came back, stronger, wrapping around his skull and pulsing, pushing his nerves, nothing short of unbearable, and he can't help but curl in on himself.

"Clown?" Branzy whispered, laying a hand on his back, "Something wrong?"

"My head..." he groaned, fingers trembling as they dug in to the back of his hat.

"You want to come here?" Branzy asked, the hand on Clowns back patting him gently, the other open, calling him into a hug, despite Clown not looking in his direction.

Clown shook slightly as he exhaled, his eyes shut thight. This was painful, painful on so many leveles, on one hand it was his head, the pain he expected, was aware he'd probably have to deal with for the rest of the day, knew would spike up and down, and on the other it was Branzy, Branzy who was just trying to make it better, to offer him comfort, but he couldn't take it, accepting it meant being vulnerable, letting himself be vulnerable, but sitting there yelping and groaning and shaking was also vulnerable.

It was painful opening his eyes, just barely, his vision blurry around the edges, looking at Branzy with heavy eyes, begging, begging to be saved, begging for an escape, begging for the pain to stop.

"Come here, c'mon." Branzy whispered, soft, scarily soft, both in his voice and his face, the way he was looking at Clown, patient, inviting, but not expecting, giving him a little pat on the back, encouraging.

Clown almost couldn't help crawling to him, sitting in Branzys lap and wrapping himself around him, face burried in his shoulder.

Branzy couldn't help but let out a small huff as he leaned his head against his, one hand holding Clown securely while the other rubbed his back, "That's it, I got you." he whispered, "You're safe here, Clown, stay as long as you need."

Every nerve in his body was trembling, eyes so heavy they could barly stay open, yet scanning every entrance, every corner, trying to make sure noone else would see him, not like this.

"Clown..." Branzy cooed as a sob ripped through his chest.

"Sorry- I'm sorry..." Clown hiccuped, tried to pull back, get out of Branzys grasp.

"No, no, you're fine." Branzy shushed, one hand patting Clown on the back, "I got you, okay? I know you want everyone to see you as dangerous and powerful, they do, I do, but that doesn't mean you have to be strong all the time. It's okay to have your moments, Clown, I don't think any less of you."

"I-" Clown gulped, the tears in his eyes shining as light caught them.

"You're safe with me. Let me help you." Branzy whispered, one hand on his face over the mask.

Clowns shoulders slumped as he sighed, his body gone soft as he melted onto Branzy, taking off his hat and helmet at once and setting them somewhere on the ground before laying his head on Branzys shoulder with another sigh.

"There you are." Branzy cooed, leaning his head agains Clowns again, one hand rubbing his back as the other tangled in his hair, brushing through it slowly, feeling both of their hears slow down to match eachothers rythm, feeling Clown starting to calm, "You need to let yourself breathe sometimes, always being on guard, that's no way to live."

"What do you want from me, Branzy?" Clown sighed, his voice quiet, breath shaky, fingers digging into wherever they were gripping on Branzys back.

"I'd want you to be a little kinder to yourself." Branzy huffed, squeezing Clown a little tighter, pulling him in a little closer, "Is that a good enough answer for you?"

"You want something... everyone does..." Clown gulped, "You're trying to get to me."

And it's working. 

You're trying to get to me and it's working.

"Has noone ever been nice to you just because?" Branzy hummed, a small laugh in his voice, then he stopped as he noiticed, the silence, the way Clown was waiting for him to continue -just because of what?-, the hiccups, the way Clowns fingers were trembling where they dug into him.

"Oh, Clown..."

This hurts, on every level, this hurts. Maybe he's letting Branzy stay too close, getting too attached, letting him see and know too much. But Branzy was warm, Branzy was kind, Branzy was the one person who's had many opportunities to kill him, and hadn't taken one, Branzy was the one person he'd let this deep into his heart.

"How's your head, Clown?" Branzy asked, loosening his hold on him slightly.

"Still bad," he groaned, "but a little better."

"I made it better?" Branzy smiled, a little teasing, a little cheeky, testing the waters just slightly.

"You did." Clown laughed quietly, squeezing for a few seconds, "Thank you." 

Branzy made a small strangled noise, surprised, he hadn't expected Clown to-

"You're so very welcome, my friend." Branzy laughed back, watching Clown get off him and get his hat and helmet back on.

"You know, Clown," Branzy started as he got up, reaching a hand to help Clown up too, smiling as he took it, "a couple days ago, you could have left me here, or you could have just woken me up, or something, but you took me in and kept me safe. Let me return the favor." 

"That's nothing, I can sort myself out." Clown shook his head slowly, before pressing a palm to his forehead, the movement making him nauseous.

"I could've sorted myself out too." Branzy shrugged, a hand to Clowns shoulder, "Let me help you, Clown. You helped me when I didn't need anything, let me help you when you could use it."

"Fine, BranzyCraft." Clown sighed, looking down at Branzy.

Branzy looked far too proud of himself for that.

"Should we go to your base?" he asked, "I just don't know if my meds are really gonna work on you."

"Sure, we can go to mine." he blinked, "You can lead the way, BranzyCraft, 'cause I'm just so weak and feeble right now."

"Clown, I am helping you." Branzy sighed, an annoyed smile creeping onto his face.

"Yeah, lead the way."

"You won't make this easy for me, will you?" he giggled.

"You wanted to help me so badly," Clown shrugged, "might aswell make it worth your time. Unless you've changed your mind?" 

Branzy sighed again, "I know what you're trying to do, you can keep that up if it makes you feel any better."

"What am I doing, BranzyCraft?" Clown hummed, crossing his arms.

"You're trying to be all difficult on purpose so I'll just leave you to deal with this by yourself, you- you think I'll just leave you to fend for yourself because you're being a pain in the butt and because it would be more convenient for me." Branzy scoffed, "And you know what? Be as difficult as you want, see if I'll really dump you." 

Clown blinked, a strangled noise ripping out of his throat. 

"I mean, I get that this is Lifesteal, and you can't really put too much trust in anyone around here, but still, it's like you don't want help." Branzy soffed, shaking his head before he sighed, "Look, I- that came out wrong, I'm not trying to scold you or anything, I'm just saying-"

"I don't want your help." Clown mumbled, cutting Branzy off.

"I- sorry?" 

"I don't want you to help me, and I don't need you to; what, you think I can't manage a little headache on my own?" Clown scoffed, looking down at Branzy.

"That is not what I- I never said that!" Branzy huffed, a little taken aback, his voice louder than he intended.

Clown didn't say anything, but he continued to watch, to stare, to analyze.

Branzy blinked a couple of times, looking up at Clown too.

"You know, I don't get how you- just switch up like that..." Branzy sighed, closing his eyes as he rubbed at his temples, something else seeping in his voice, maybe exhasperation, or maybe a hint of sadness, "Like, you were crying in my arms just a minute ago, I-"

"You never say that again." Clown said, his voice monotone, but low, threatening on its own, "Do not say that ever again. Don't let anyone ever hear you say that."

Branzy sighed again, his face taking on a bit more of a frown, then he cleared his throat and continued, "-and now you're just... whatever this even is." 

"And is that a problem?" Clown asked, tilting his head.

"Why do you act like I'm trying to argue with you?" Branzy shook his head, crossing his arms, "I didn't make fun of you, or threaten you, or do or say anything bad to you, I'm just trying to help you out here."

"And I'm being ungrateful, right?" Clown scoffed, "Why do you even want to help me so badly?"

"Because I care about you?" Branzy choked, arms falling to his sides as his sholders dropped.

"And why would you do that?" Clown laughed, his voice starting to quiver again.

"What?" 

"Why would you care about me when I've been nothing but shitty to you?" Clown laughed again, harder, like a maniac, his fingers trembling along with his voice, "All I've ever done is be mean to you, and put you in danger, and be an asshole, I- I'm trying to keep you at an arms lenght, what the fuck do you keep wanting to have to do with me!?" 

Looking up to Clown, Branzy was still frowning, but different now, not mad, not anymore, but confused.

"Is- Is that really what you think?" 

Clown nodded slowly, but didn't say anything, not anymore. He'd slipped up, said more than he meant, louder than he meant.

"Clown..." Branzy gulped, his frown getting more and more concerned until he took a step forward and wrapped his arms around Clown again, diamond armor clinking as he nearly got knocked off his feet.

"Branzy, what are you-" Clown choked, his arms shooting out but staying in the air, not hugging Branzy back, not touching him.

"I don't know what's up with you, man..." Branzy laughed, but he didn't sound amused, he wasn't, he sounded nearly miserable, "But, I mean, I'll stick with you through it."

"What?" Clown blinked, voice raspy, sounding like it was punched out of him.

"I care about you, Clown. I really do." Branzy continued, still laughing, his own voice starting to quiver now, the smallest tears forming in the corners of his eyes, "I don't really know if you understand that, but that's okay, I'll be here until you do."

"Branzy, I- I- Are you crying?" Clown whispered, his hands on both of Branzys shoulders.

"I- Am I? I don't know..." he mumbled, bringing a hand up to rub at his eyes, that smile still on his face, shakey, but there, soft, patient, understing with someone, something, he shouldn't be understanding with.

"Sorry, I- Sorry." Clown gulped, his hands softening ever so slightly on Branzys shoulders.

"You care too, in your own way." Branzy scoffed, one hand raising to the back of Clowns head and pushing it down gently, lowering it down to his shoulder, "Maybe I just don't understand your way of caring, but I'll try to, Clown." he whispered, leaning his head against Clowns.

He just made a noise, a noise that sounded like Branzy had punched the air out of his lungs, a noise that sounded like his last breath.

"I know it's hard to trust anyone aroud here, but not everyone is out to get you." Branzy murmured, "As much as a thieves word is worth... I'm not."

Clown could feel his eyes only get heavier, harder to keep open, partially with tears threatening to well up and spill again and partially from the pain, and he let himself close them, just for a moment, as he leaned on Branzy a little more, held onto him a little thighter.

"And you don't have to belive me." he continued, and he sounded so calm, so understaning, so nice about it, his voice so soothing, like just the sound of Branzys voice alone helped dull the ache in Clowns skull.

He feels his breath start to get heavier. 

He feels like a monster. He is a monster. He's always been.

He shouldn't rely on Branzy, shouldn't let himself need Branzy, shouldn't look at Branzy like something safe, as much as he wants to make himself look that way.

But he can't help it. He's weak, far weaker than he'd ever want to admit, and he can't help it.

"Are you gonna let me help you, Clown?" Branzy whispered, hand running over the armor on his back. He couldn't help but smile as he felt Clown nod against his shoulder.

"There you are." he cooed, "Thank you."

"Why are you- thanking me?" Clown huffed, his breath heavy and ragged.

"Takes a lot of effort for you to let me do this, doesn't it?" Branzy asked, "That's fine, I'll keep you safe."

Clown swallowed around a lump in his throat.

It's a weird feeling, it's hard, lowering his walls, letting his guard down, all for Branzy, even if it's ultimately still in his own favor. 

And he knows. Branzy's always had a way of reading people, of studying and analysing them, and to him, Clown was trickier, he couldn't analyse the micro expressions in his face, and he was good at keeping his voice steady, which made him unreadable to anyone else, but not to Branzy, to Branzy he was just tricky. Branzy read him, his body language, the slightest changes in the tone of his voice, his eyes, whenever they were visible. 

Branzy is scary.

Branzy could be a weapon, not only is he terribly smart, but he has such a way with words, a way of talking himself out of things, a way of playing innocent after he'd just done something horrible, a way of making everyone believe he's just a powerless helpless little thing, that he couldn't be a threat. 

Clown sees right through that. Clown knows Branzy is far from the angel he makes himself out to be, he's seen that firsthand, that Branzy is just as bloodthirsty as everyone else here, that the only thing holding him back is the fact that he just can't fight, doesn't know how to.

Clown likes him that way, it's one less thing for him to worry about.

That doesn't mean Branzy couldn't kill him, he'd be dumb to think that, but he couldn't take him on in a fight, no, if Branzy were to kill him it would be with a trap, some engineering masterpiece Clown wouldn't see coming, and Branzy would stand there, watching, laughing, and then he'd act innocent. 

Clown had recruited Branzy to help not only because he knew that he was capable, that he knew how to do the redstone, that he could cover up Clowns weak spot, but also because he's heard things, heard that Branzy was a thief, a manipulator, a scammer, and despite that he talked himself out of everything. Clown wanted to see just how Branzy would talk his way out of wronging him, and the results were surprising: not only was Branzy all that Clown had heard he was, but somehow, under all of that, he had a kind heart, he wasn't dumb, he wouldn't wrong Clown, because he didn't want to kill Clown, he knew it would be stupid, and he had no reason to, all the contraptions he made were to protect himself more than anything.

Clown hadn't given Branzy a reason to protect himself from him. Clown promised Branzy protection, and he's stayed true to his word, he offered protection whenever Branzy needed it, he went out of his way to save and protect Branzy, even if it mean inconveniencing himself, even if it meant putting himself in danger.

Branzy was a crack in Clowns armor. A crack he had let form, because truly, Branzy could only get as close as Clown would let him, and Clown kept letting him closer and closer. 

He kept saying he didn't care, that Branzy was just as disposable to him as anyone else was, and he lied to himself so much that he believed it.

When he brought Branzy to his own base instead of letting him sleep in a piston or wake him up, Clown cared.

When he hunted down people for trying to trap Branzy, Clown cared.

When he willingly gave away his hearts to Branzy, Clown cared.

When he started coming home late just so he could spend a little more time with Branzy, Clown cared.

When he sat in the grass listening to Branzy ramble about redstone for hours, despite the fact that he didn't understand anything, Clown cared.

Branzy didn't mean nothing. 

Branzy only meant as much as Clown had let him. 

Branzy means quite a lot to Clown.

Clown groaned slightly as he pushed himself off Branzy, the fact that he suddenly had to fully support his body now reminding him of his headache, his headache that now came with some mild dizziness too.

"Can we go to your base now?" Branzy smiled, his face, his voice, just all so caring and patient, it's nearly overwhelming.

"Yeah." Clown sighed, fingers rubbing at his eyes through the holes in his mask.

The walk back to Clowns base was slow, slower than they had intended, because Clown had gotten so dizzy they had to stop, and Branzy ended up having to help him walk the rest of the way.

It was a good feeling finally being able to sink into his bed.

"Hey, Clown, just tell me what you need and I'll get it for you, yeah?" Branzy asked, standing by the door.

"I can go get my medicine myself, BranzyCraft." Clown groaned.

"Uh- yeah, sure, I don't think I should get into that. Anything else?" Branzy muttered, scratching at the back of his head.

"I can get it myself." Clown muttered, sitting up slowly.

"That's not how helping you works, Clown." Branzy sighed, shaking his head, "Let's go get your meds, and I'll help with everything else."

"I can get it, it's fine. I'm going to the kitchen anyway." Clown continued, getting up and tapping one of Branzys arms as he passed by him.

"Yeah, but you're also not feeling that well, you should try to rest up. Whatever you need, I can get it for you, it's really no problem." Branzy insisted.

Clown just sighed as he rummaged through a cabinet, his medicine cabinet, Branzy assumed. Eventually, he found what he was looking for, popping two pills out of their foil and taking a few seconds to stare at them in his palm.

Branzy made a noise, he was about to talk, about to ask Clown if he wanted him to turn around or cover his eyes or something, but before he'd gotten the chance to ask anything, Clowns free hand grabbed his mask by the cheeks and lifted it off his face just slightly, just enough to shove his other hand under it and throw the pills inside his mouth, shuddering as he swallowed them.

"Whoa, there." Branzy blinked, taking a step closer, one hand to the small of Clowns back, "You just- swallowed those dry?"

"I don't care." he groaned, voice hoarse, like it was recovering.

"I don't think you should be doing that, Clown." Branzy said, his eyebrows pulling together in a frown, a concerned frown.

"I'll be fine." Clown mumbled, "That's how I've always done it."

"Oh, Clown..." Branzy sighed, carefully pulling him in; Clown didn't reciprocate, didn't bother, but he slumped slightly against Branzys shoulder.

"You know," Branzy started, "you should probably go take off your armor and all this, get comfortable. I'll stay with you until you're better, yeah?"

"Ah." Clown hummed, swallowing around nothing, "I'll be fine from here, Branzy, I'll probably just take a nap. I appreciate it, but I don't need you here, you can go." he mumbled, the words quiet, slow, calculated.

"No, no, it's fine." Branzy shook his head, "I can stay here, it's not like I have much better to do."

"You could keep working on the casino... What were you just doing?" Clown groaned, pushing himself off Branzy, one hand pressed on his mask, against his forehead.

"We'll be done with it whenever we're done, there's no timeline. Didn't you say that?" Branzy smiled, "Plus, that's not something better. I mean, I know how much you want it done, and I do too, but I think it's more important that we'd both be in one piece for the opening... whenever that'll be."

"Oh, a little headache won't put me down, BranzyCraft." Clown scoffed, "I'll wake up as good as new tomorrow."

"Well, I'll stay here to make sure you do." Branzy nodded, squeezing his shoulder, "Clown, I know, you think needing a little help is making you look weak, it's not, we all need help sometimes, I'm just trying to look out for you."

"I don't need your help with this, Branzy." he muttered, shaking his head slightly, groaning in pain as he stopped.

"You don't have to deny help until you need it, you know." Branzy sighed, "If you really don't want me around, I can go, I guess that's fine too."

"I-" Clown gulped, swallowing around the knot in his throat, he didn't know what to say, couldn't say anything, he didn't want Branzy here, not now, not when he's like this, but he also didn't want to push Branzy away, not more, not again, not now, now that he's already shown this much of himself, now that he's already let Branzy see so much of him.

"If you don't want me here, I can leave. But I won't just stay and sit around, if I stay here, you have to let me help you, Clown." Branzy insisted, squeezing Clown ever so slightly.

"Help with what?" he sighed as he nodded.

"Anything you need." Branzy shrugged.

Clown looked around the kitchen, his breath heavy. That pain tired him out more than he thought it would, and those medications still hadn't kicked in yet, it probably won't be another hour until they do.

"Can you brew some tea, Branzy?" he whispered eventually, voice not only quiet but almost shy, scared, like it was that big of a request, after how much Branzy had already insisted on helping.

"Oh, of course." he smiled, "Where do you keep it?"

Clown moved away from Branzy, slowly, carefully, oppening an upper cabinet and setting a box down on the counter.

"This should do." he thought out loud, lemon and honey, he always came back to it when he wasn't feeling well, always had it around.

"I'll just- go get all of this off..." Clown mumbled, gesturing to his body.

"Sounds good." Branzy smiled, "I'll bring it to your room when it's done, yeah?" 

"Yeah." Clown nodded, "You can make some for yourself too, if you want." he said as he left.

It was a relief, finally dropping all that heavy armor, his shoulders had dropped too with all that weight off him. His whole costume was pretty uncomfortable too, let alone impractical, but that was the fun of it, to think of how much better he could be without it, without the corset digging into his ribs and the useless ruffles on his sleeves and pants, with it off, he finally felt like he could breathe again, and his pyjamas were just so much better, so baggy and airy.

His bed felt even more comfortable now, like the mattress was swallowing him whole, letting him sink into it, it was hard to stay awake, but with the throbbing pain at the back of his head, it would have been even harder to fall asleep.

Branzy was back quickly too, setting two steaming cups of tea on the nightstand. 

Clown thanked him, then grabbed whichever one was closer, warming his palms against it. He nearly brought it to his lips when he came to the realisation, one hand settling on his cheek on top of the mask, like he was making sure it was still there.

"Oh." Branzy breathed, he couldn't see Clowns eyes, but the rest of his body was enough, the way he seemed to have gone stiff, curl in on himself a little, the way his tail froze in place.

"Branzy?" Clown mumbled, his voice breathy, "How do I-"

He didn't continue, didn't need to.

"I don't know." Branzy gulped, "Do you want me to look away?" 

Clown hummed, staring down into his cup for a few seconds before he set it down on the nightstand.

"Clown, no, drink it- I can- I can turn aroud, or something..." Branzy stuttered, reaching out towards Clown but not touching him.

"Branzy," Clown sighed, lifting his hands to the back of his head, the clasp holding his mask together opening with a click, "close your eyes."

And he did, without heasitation. Branzy had always followed his orders, was good at it.

He set his mask down in Branzys lap.

Carefully, Clown grabbed his right hand, moving it slowly, until he turned it palm side up and laid the left side of his face on it.

Branzys hands were coarse, rough from so much work, but his touch was gentle, caring, he readjusted his grip on Clowns jaw, then his thumb started stroking Clowns cheek.

"Is this... fine?" he asked, a small laugh in his voice.

Clown only hummed a mhm.

After awhile, Clown grabbed Branzys left hand too, placing it on the right side of his face. 

He noted the way it heasiatated, feeling the different texture of his skin, the way his thumb moved slower, Branzy had realised his hand was on quite a decently sized scar, he was more careful with it, but his expression hadn't changed. Clown noted that too.

He analysed Branzys face carefully, searching for a reaction, a recoil, a sign of disgust, the tiniest heasitation.

"You can open now." Clown gulped, and he could hear his own heart thudding.

Branzys hands stilled before he opened one eye, slowly, like he was scared of what he was going to see, then the other, fixing on Clowns face. 

Noone could truly say they knew Clown, but if someone had to, Branzy was the closest to it, and he never quite knew why he wore his mask in the first place, what's its story, but it had great sentimental value, he knew as much, so there was something, something even about the mere thought of Clown showing him what's under it, trusting him enough to take it off, that no matter what was there, his smile couldn't help but soften.

"Hello." he cooed, head tilting slightly, the hand on the left side of Clowns face retreating slowly.

"You can say it, Branzy." he sighed, leaning into his hand ever so slightly.

"Say what?" Branzy giggled, thumb stroking Clowns cheek again.

"I- Are you swooning right now?" Clown blinked, a slight pout forming on his lips as his eyebrows drew together. 

"I-I did, I'm sorry- I swooned." Branzy scoffed, cheeks tinting pink.

"For- For this?" he choked, "You know that- You can say what's on your mind."

"I- I'm sorry, Clown, I- I promise you're still really scary- like, really scary- but you just look so adorable all pouty like this- I'm sorry." Branzy laughed, his free hand on Clowns shoulder.

"I-" Clown gulped, blinking slowly, "Is this- Are you making fun of me?"

"No- no, no, no, Clown, I wouldn't." Branzy shook his head, calming down slightly, "I'm not, really- I'm just, you know, goofing around."

"You- You can say I'm ugly." he muttered.

"What?" Branzy blinked, face falling like he'd just been the one who was insulted.

"You don't have to pretend you don't see it. I know this whole burn- scar- thing- whatever, is like, hudge and disgusting, you don't have to pretend it's not there to spare my feeling or because you're scared of me- you can state the obvious." Clown rambled, pushing Branzys hand off his face.

"Clown- What?" he choked, "Who said that to you?" 

"I know you think that too, Branzy, you don't need to hide it." Clown shook his head.

"When did I say that? Clown, I couldn't care less!" Branzy scoffed, "You have a scar, so what? You're basically covered with them, you think one more makes a difference to me?"

"But this one is different isn't it?" he insisted, "This one's bigger and- and it's just pathetic really, not to mention that it's like half of my face."

Branzy sighed, an attempt to calm himself down, to groud himself.

"You clearly have a problem with it," he gulped, "but that doesn't mean I will. I couldn't care less, Clown, c'mon, do you really think it makes a difference to how I see you? And- And even if it did, I'd be an asshole to spit in your face like that after you've- do you even realise how much you must trust me to just show me this?"

"Do I realise how much I trust you?" Clown huffed, running a hand through his hair, "Branzy, do you?"

"I do." Branzy nodded, his words slow, "I think I understand a lot more about you than you realise, you know?" 

Clown frowned ever so slightly, but didn't say anything, grabbing his mask from Branzys lap and stared at it.

"If anything, Clown? I'm proud of you." Branzy smiled, laying a hand on top of Clowns.

"Proud?" Clown gulped, looking at Branzy again.

"It's... brave, trusting me like this. I'm happy you do. It takes a lot of strenght to open up, you know? trusting someone with the parts of you you wish weren't there." he shrugged.

Clown closed his eyes as he dragged out a sigh. His hand moved awkwarly as he intertwined their fingers, squeezing slightly, to which Branzy reciprocated.

Branzy grabbed one of the mugs, nudging it against Clowns free hand, letting him grab it before grabbing the other one for himself. 

"How's your head, Clown?" he asked, taking a sip of his tea.

"Oh- My head?" he blinked, his voice slightly slurred as he looked up at Branzy again, "Better. Not- not fine fine, but better." 

"That's good." Branzy smiled, squeezing his hand again; Clown reciprocated.

For awhile, they fell silent, sipping their tea quietly, either one of them squeezing the others hand, always reciprocated.

"Do you want to talk about it, Clown?" Branzy nudged, holding his mug up to his face, breathing it in.

"What was that?" he opened an eye, half asleep.

Branzy took a sip of his tea, "Your scar- a burn, did you say?" he hummed, "It doesn't change anything for me, but it seems to mean a lot to you." 

"It's... stupid." Clown sighed, shaking his head.

"That's fine. I can do stupid." Branzy scoffed, shrugging.

It was another few moments of silence, before Clown took a long sip of his tea.

"Kids are really... mean, sometimes- you know?" he mumbled, shrugging.

"They can be." Branzy nodded, "I mean, I think that's more of a reflection of how the adults around them act, they don't really know any better than to copy what they see, but yeah, kids can be mean sometimes."

"Yeah..." Clown sighed, swirling the tea around in his mug, "Games kind of escalate sometimes, huh?"

"Oh, definitely." Branzy scoffed, "So, is that what happened? Got hurt when you were playing with your friends?" 

"I wouldn't call them friends." Clown hummed, "Just... some people I grew up, with, I guess." he shrugged.

"You don't have to call them friends." Branzy said, his hand squeezing Clowns slightly, "Not everyone you hang out with has to be a friend." 

"They just... did some things that were pretty messed up..." he sighed, "I'm from the nether, but lava does still burn me too."

"I know." Branzy nodded, "I know, Clown."

"They knew too... It burnt them too..." he mumbled, "But I don't think that stopped them."

"Was it on purpose?" Branzy asked, his words slow, cautious.

"They said it was an accident, but it seemed intentional enough to me." Clown shrugged.

"Ah..." Branzy cringed, his eyes darting to the floor.

"Yeah." Clown blinked, swirling his tea.

"Can I- ask about the story?" Branzy gulped, looking up at Clown now.

"They pushed my head under a flowing stream of lava." he shrugged, taking a sip, "I don't really know the reason or the thought process or such." 

"Oh, I- I- That's awful..." Branzy choked, nothing he said, he could think to say, felt right, like a good response, so he just scrambled for an answer.

"I got picked on a lot." Clown scoffed, "I didn't really have friends my age, so I hung out with my brother and his friends... they were quite a bit older than me, so I guess I was an easy target." 

"Have you, like, talked to them- now that you're older?" Branzy asked, sipping his tea, which was starting to run cold.

"I killed them." Clown grinned, his head tilting to Branzy.

"That... seems like you." he chuckled, thumb rubbing Clowns hand.

"I feel like I didn't grow up in the greatest place." Clown mumbled, "Sometimes I wonder what I'd have been like if- I don't know- if I had a better start."

"Tell me about it." Branzy huffed, shaking his head.

"The nether is a weird place." he sighed, "Like, most species kind of have groups and such- I grew up in sort of a village, and I guess most demons have packs of a few families, you know? And in a way, you get a comunity, but noone really cares about anyone else, everyone is so focused on survival, they all just really care about what a great fighter you are, and how good of a hunter you are, but noone really tries to know you, noone cares what you like or what you want, they just care about how useful you can be."

"I've had... quite the opposite problem." Branzy muttered, blinking as he caught Clown staring at him for a few second, "I- sorry, I'm sorry- I didn't mean to make that about me, that just- that just came out."

"No, no, keep going." Clown nodded.

"I uh- The end is very isolating." he mumbled, "I never really met my family."

"You haven't met your family?" Clown frowned, "How does that work?" 

"It's weird- the end is pretty much survival of the fittest, and they want to make sure that only the strongest survive, so once kids are old enough that they can, you know, walk around and stuff, they kinda just get sent off to separate islands." Branzy shrugged, "It's just the regular end islands you come across, the islands with adults and such are a lot further away from the main island, you know?"

"I don't know." Clown blinked, taken aback, "So what, they're just sending out basically babies with hopes and dreams?"

"Pretty much." he mumbled, "I'd say most people die of starvation than anything else, really. Food is scarce, the only real option you have are chorus fruit, the little yellow guys inside shulkers are your best source of food, I'd say, but they're a little hard to hunt when noone actually thaught you anything about hunting, and I guess you also have the ocasional endermite, but those are rare."

"So- what, you just teach yourself to hunt so early?" Clown scoffed, shaking his head.

"I mean, what else can you do? You adapt or you die." Branzy scoffed, sipping his tea.

"That's... cruel, even for me." Clown mumbled, "How'd you get out?"

"I... I don't remember." Branzy blinked, frowning, "I don't remember a lot of things from that time, I- I was young, so, I don't know, I don't remember much, I just have a few foggy memories."

Clown hummed, taking a long last drag of his tea before setting his mug on the nightstand.

"How'd... How did you get out?" Branzy asked, looking up at Clown.

"It's not that impressive." he shook his head, "I found a lit portal one day, pretty far from my village, but I just went through it, and I guess I just started going in and out of the overworld after that, until I kind of set up camp here."

"You- You found a lit portal and just went through it?" Branzy blinked, staring at Clown for a moment before scoffing out a small laugh, "That doesn't seem like great survival instinct, my friend."

"Oh, BranzyCraft..." Clown sighed, shaking his head, despite the smile curling on his lips, "I- I'd say you know all about survival instincts, since you've just made yourself comfortable in my base, but- but I guess you really do know a thing or two."

"Yeah, I know a thing or two." Branzy shrugged, "My survival instincts are telling me to fight you right now because you wouldn't expect it."

"Woah, fight me now, when I'm weak and wounded? Where's your honour, BranzyCraft?" Clown gasped, free hand covering his mouth.

"You've upped your theatrics, my friend." Branzy hummed, he took a last sip of his tea and squeezed Clowns hand before he'd freed his own, getting up and setting his empty cup on the nightstand by Clowns, "How's your head now, by the way?"

"Same as the last time you asked." Clown shrugged, "I mean, I don't think it can get that much better in like 2 minutes, can it?"

"Maybe?" Branzy smiled, sitting back down.

"I don't think it can, BranzyCraft." Clown smiled as he huffed out a laugh.

They sat in silence for awhile, until Branzy looked over at Clown again, noiticed that, by the look on his face, he'd probably zoned out. For some reason, he couldn't help but stare, analyse his face, the shape of his nose, the curve of his lips, the pattern of his scars, analyse everything, like he was trying to memorise it- and, in his own defense, Clowns bare face wasn't a sight he'd see any day.

A few seconds later, Clown blinked: once, twice, thrice, fast, one after the other, and looked at Branzy again.

"I- Sorry, I- I wasn't listening- did you say something?" he sighed.

"No, no- Didn't say anything." Branzy gulped, shaking his head, trying to shake the warm feeling from his cheeks, it just felt so embarrasing getting caught like that.

"Why were you- Then why were you staring?" Clown frowned, and yet, he looked more sad, maybe hurt, than mad.

"I was just thinking." Branzy mumbled, his hand slowly inching towards his face, letting it rest on Clowns jaw before his thumb started stroking the scarred skin.

"Thinking about..?" he blinked, nuzzling into Branzys hand just slightly.

"Can I show you something, Clown?" he hummed.

"Sure." Clown blinked.

Branzy shuffled away, turning his back to Clown, "It's kind of similar to what you have." he said as he undid the buttons on his vest, taking it off before sliding his sweater over his head.

Across Branzys back, starting between his shoulderblades and going down just about to his lowest ribs, were two vertical slashes, long and thin, coverd in scar tissue similar to the one coating the majority of Clowns body.

"You had wings?" Clown gulped.

"Yeah, I- not for a long time." Branzy scoffed.

Clown was curious, almost couldn't help the hand that was reaching towards him, a finger tracing one of the scars from top to bottom, making Branzy yelp and his back arch, body shivering, making Clowns hand draw back like he'd been burnt.

"That's- Please don't do that, Clown." Branzy choked, trying to recompose himself.

"I- I- Sorry, I didn't- I didn't know you would- it still hurt..." Clown babbled, swallowing around the knot in his throat.

"No, you- you're fine, just- that's sensitive." Branzy mumbled, "They weren't really cut off properly, so there are like, a bunch of nerve endings- or something of the sort, I think- it's- it's weird."

"They weren't cut off properly?" Clown frowned, "Branzy, who cut your wings?"

"It's uh... some sort of tradition, I think?" he shrugged, "Before we get sent off we get our wings cut- I think it's so we can't fly back? But they're basically just cut so there's no outer wing and they like- remove something so they can't grow back, but there are still parts that are supposed to be connected to the wings, you know?"

"I don't- What?" Clown choked.

"It's just- It's a sensitive area, it's full of nerve endings and whatnot, because they're just cut off, they don't remove the nerves and what connects them to our bodies on the inside." Branzy sighed, shaking his head "I don't really know either, okay?"

"Okay, that's- That's insane." Clown mumbled, his brows knitting together, "How did you even survive like that?"

"Determination?" Branzy laughed, "I don't know, luck, probably." 

"Well, you must be really lucky, BranzyCraft." Clown scoffed, shaking his head.

"What can I say? Luck seems to follow me around." Branzy hummed, turning towards Clown again, "I mean, I'm lucky to be this close to you and not get killed, aren't I?" 

"Don't make me change my mind." Clown hummed, closing his eyes as he leaned back against some pillows, "I mean, you've seen my face now, maybe I should kill you, you know, to make sure word doesn't spread around." 

"For- For the record, you chose to take off your mask and show me this- I- I suggested I look away or turn around or something- This was entirely out of my control." Branzy stammered, grinning awkwardly.

"That doesn't matter now, Branzy." Clown smilled, his voice dragged out, sickeningly sweet, that voice he always used when he knew he had the upper hand, but only on Branzy, only ever on Branzy, "You've seen too much, I don't know if I can risk letting you out of here now."

"I- I have- I have, Clown, but doesn't this like- cancel itself out?" Branzy laughed, heart inside his throat, "You know- You've showed me your scar, I showed you mine- I- I'm just saying- We're equal now, an eye for an eye, isn't it?"

"You- You think you can make a fair deal with me?" he laughed, "Oh- Oh, BranzyCraft. Oh, that's cute."

"Well, I- I- I mean, surely there has to be another way to settle this- right- right, Clown?" 

"Oh, I don't know about that." Clown hummed, "I mean, I don't know, maybe, maybe I can think about it, but I don't really think there is, BranzyCraft. I might just have to kill you, and you do understand, right? You're just- You simply left me with no other option here." 

"I- I would ap-appreciate it if you do- think about it, that is." Branzy smiled as he nodded.

To him there was alwasy something about Clowns threats. Clown had never killed him before, had never truly tried to, so the logical part of Branzy knew that all those threats were just games to him, he knew that, no metter what Clown said, he wouldn't actually kill him, not over a game, not over something stupid like this, not unless he really, really had no other option- and if it came down to that, Clown would probably do it with quite a heavy heart too- and yet, in the moment, they always felt so real, Clown was so intimidating, so good at acting like he meant it, that Branzy wasn't acting scared, that for a second, he really belived he would.

It was only ever after Clown had gone back to normal, or a long enough calm period passed, that Branzy would finally calm down. And, as Clown sat quiet, pretending to think of something that could spare Branzy, he was analysing, trying to determine how much danger he still was in.

So now, when he suddenly lunged forward with a hiss before curling in on himself, arms reaching over his face just to grab at the back of his head, Branzy couldn't help but flinch. But this wasn't danger, not for him, not with the way Clown was trembling, tail quivering uselessly and his breath shakey and ragged, pained.

"Clown?" Branzy gulped, pulling him in almost instinctively, hands wrapped around the demons shoulders, "Clown, what's up?"

"I- Fuck..." he yelped, one hand grabbing onto Branzys back, holding on almost desperately, squeezing at the flesh, despite the tremble in his fingers, forehead nuzzling into his shoulder.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Branzy whispered, though he already had an idea, "Is your head okay?"

"No, fuck..." Clown sighed, choking on his own tongue, "It's so- ow..."

"Is it worse?" Branzy mumbled, "Was that like- a spike or something?"

Clown nodded as he mumbled an urgent mhm, "Feels like I got stabbed..." he continued, voice quieter now, weaker.

Branzy put a hand to the back of Clowns head, in the same place his own was, massaging the spot gently, the other hand patting his back.

"What the fuck is this?" Clown panted, leaning further into Branzy, "It's not usually- I don't think I've ever had it this bad..."

Branzy gulped, looking down at Clown, holding him a little thighter, "Are you sure you don't want to go to a doctor, or something? I- I can take you to the nether, it's fine."

"No- No, I'll be fine." he shook his head, "It'll go away on its own, eventually."

"I- I'm sure it will, but, in the meantime..." Branzy suggested, shrugging slightly, "I mean, whatever you think is best."

"I'll get over it..." Clown mumbled, lifting his head slightly, "You just- You stay here, BranzyCraft." 

Branzy gulped, a warmth spreading through his cheeks as he blinked rapidly, "Yeah- Yeah, Clown, of course I will!" 

He sighed, closing his eyes as he laid his head against Branzy again, hands relaxing their grip slightly, and he could feel some of the tension leaving Branzys shoulders.

"Are you- Are you a little better? Is this okay?" he whispered, two of his fingers still rubbing circles at the base of Clowns skull.

"Yeah- Yeah..." Clown mumbled, his left eye opening just slightly, half lidded.

"Do you think, maybe you could sleep it off?" Branzy hummed.

Addmitedly, Clown wasn't too tired, it had been maybe 3 hours since he woke up, and he really didn't get anything important done, he shouldn't be tired. At the same time, Clown's gotten used to sleeping very little, he's gotten used to being tired all the time, gotten used to tired feeling like his normal, and yet he wouldn't miss a good opportunity to catch up on sleep.

"I can try."

"Thay sounds good." Branzy smiled, rubbing his back, "So, do you- do you want me to stay here, or I could go in a different room..?"

"I- I want you here." Clown whispered, his voice not only quiet but small, ashamed, almost, "You know, so I can have you on standby- incase I need anything."

"Ri- Right." Branzy gulped, "That's good, I'll be here on standby."

"You can lay down, Branzy." Clown sighed as he pushed himself off of Branzy and leaned against the headboard, bringing a hand to the back of his head with a groan.

"Oh- I- Yeah, just- give me a moment." he nodded, standing up.

Branzy kicked off his boots, took off his belts and emptied his pockets of anything that might poke him, leaving them on top of a chair along with his vest before he slid back into his sweater. 

Clown also couldn't help but noitice the two red patches of skin on Branzys back, where he'd been holding onto him, tight, maybe a little too tight.

"Hey, Clown- where do you keep your blankets?" Branzy asked over his shoulder.

"In the chest, back there- I'll get it, hold up." Clown responded, groaning as he sat up again, throwing his legs over the edge of the bed.

"No, no, I got it!" Branzy shook his head, his steps larger then usual as he walked towards the chest Clown pointed to, "This chest?"

"That chest." Clown nodded, laying against the pillows again, "Take whichever."

"You don't have a preference?" Branzy mumbled as he opened the chest.

"I don't care, Branzy. Take it for yourself, I don't want a blanket." he shrugged.

Branzy shrugged too before he started digging through the chest. Somewhere towards the bottom, in a corner, he felt something soft against his hand, giving it a squeeze, it was a pleasant texture, so he pulled it out, a fuzzy lavander blanket.

"Of course you'd take the purple one." Clown scoffed, one hand covering his mouth.

"For- For the record, this wasn't intentional." Branzy laughed, shaking his head as he closed the chest, "I didn't even see it, it just felt nice."

"Sure, BranzyCraft, sure." 

"So- are you sure you want me on the bed?" Branzy crooked his head, "I mean, it's just- a little cramped, y'know?" 

"You'll live." Clown scoffed, "Plus, I have a solution for that."

"I- I mean, if you say I'll live, I guess I'll just have to take your word for it." 

Clown shuffled to the very edge, letting Branzy, who was trying to take up as little space as possible, lay down. 

"You can come closer," Branzy muttered, laying on his side on the opposite edge, "I mean, your bed, I'd want you to be comfortable, not to mention your head." 

"Oh, I intend to." Clown grinned, "You come a little closer, BranzyCraft."

Branzy gulped, shuffling just slightly, "Is this fine- I- I don't know what you're trying to do, Clown."

"That's just perfect." he hummed, moving towards the middle of the bed too until they were chest-to-chest, arms wrapping around Branzys body and tail curing around one of his legs.

Branzy yelped, a small shiver, his hand flying to Clowns back more out of surprise than anything else, like he wanted to keep Clown close- keep him safe.

"See- not so cramped now, is it?" he smiled, all smug and confident, "If anything, I think we have plenty of space."

"Y-yeah, plenty..." Branzy gulped, "Didn't you say you don't want a blanket? I- I just think it's, you know, a little complicated now?"

"You can cover me, BranzyCraft, I don't mind." Clown shrugged.

"Right- Right, okay." he nodded, unfolding the blanket and pulling it up over the both of them, making sure to tuck Clown in.

"Goodnight, BranzyCraft." Clown purred, nuzzling his head into Branzys chest.

"N-Night, Clown..."