BRANCE + RINNEY

black balloons and wise words from finney blake

White light shined against the opened windows, thunder booming against the ground distantly. Wind passed through trees, knocking off leaves and producing pattering sounds against the roof of the home. Finn and Bruce sat in the midst of it all, legs crossed as the two of them sat in the living room with half-blown up balloons sprawled around them.

"Finney! Stop that!" Bruce laughed, swatting at his best friend as the boy attempted to rub a balloon against his head. Strands of his hair poked up, static sticking to it momentarily before the few raven locks flowed back down to their original spot. Finney laughed too, his voice high with inhaled helium. "My bad man."

The balloons they had been blowing up were black, red glitter sprinkled into them ready to be popped out.

"Are you sure this is enough for them to be scared?" Bruce scratched the back of his neck, his nerves sore with the thought of his boyfriend being unfazed. Finney nodded his head, tying a ballon. "Yeah, don't worry. Robin's a baby when it comes to these things and for Vance, well, just trust me on this one." Bruce remained silent, trusting his best friend's words as he helped finish blowing up and tying the remainder of balloons.

The thunderstorm outside refused to calm down, hard rain pattering against the pipes of the home and making the grass sleek with mud. The inside of the house was dark, shutters of the windows now closed with no source of light.

The front door opened, squeaking on its hinges as the rattling of keys ceased. Vance stepped through first, his shoulders tense and eyes narrowed as a balloon drifted towards him.

"What the fuck." Robin approached his side, the front door slamming closed from the wind. Both boys turned towards the loud noise, hearts hammering into their ears as they looked at each other.

Three more balloons came forward, drifting around in circles before they rested an inch away. Robin reached out to touch one, biting his tongue to hide a yelp when Vance grabbed and pulled him back.

"Dude, that fucking hurt." Robin rubbed at his arms, tears clouding his vision as he frowned. Vance gave him a sympathetic smile, patting him on the back. "Sorry man. Bruce, Finney! Assholes, get out here!"

Five more balloons came after that, slower than usual. Vance held his breath, Robin following suit. The balloons inched closer, the smell of rubber sticking to the two boys' noses with each breath of air.

Until suddenly,

Robin's shriek echoed through the air as the balloons popped one by one, each louder than the last. Vance held onto him for dear life, legs wobbly and nails digging into the other's arms as his heart leapt into his stomach.

Distantly, if enough attention was paid, the quiet laughter of Finney and Bruce could be heard from upstairs.

"Told you."