high rise hearts ☆ lifesteal smp au

𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐒 𝐅𝐋𝐘 ✦

𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲: fluff
𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀: clownzy/branzypierce, swagdoons
𝘁𝘄: none
𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆: n/a
𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁: very late independence day oneshot in which two couples interpret fireworks in two different ways

─── ⋅☆⋅ ───

𝐏𝐎𝐕: branzy

Branzy flipped the page of the book he was holding- a present he'd gotten today, from Clown. He leaned back a little in his lawn chair, allowing the whispery night breeze to ruffle his shining silver hair and cool him down a little. He and Clown were sitting on the balcony of his apartment, relaxing and chatting amiably with each other.
"Like the book so far?" Clown looked up from his newspaper- Branzy wasn't sure why he insisted going so oldschool when it came to the news. "Mhm, I haven't gotten far yet though." He looks up from his page at Clown. He's wearing a plain hoodie and denim shorts, plus the classic plastic clown mask strapped to the side of his head. The light from the balcony's electric lantern dances off his pitch black hair, styled in his usual low ponytail. The sight of him, however plain, never fails to entrance Branzy.
Clown looks up after a moment, catching Branzy's gaze in his own scarlet eyes. "What, do I look nice today?" He says jokingly, and Branzy chuckles. "I mean, maybe..." He can feel his cheeks heating up slightly as he says that, and he quickly looks down to conceal his face a little, under the guise of continuing to read. "Aw..." The sound is barely loud enough to hear, and Branzy considers himself lucky to catch it over the rustling of the newspaper. When he looks up again, Clown's hidden his face behind the front page, which ironically has his face on it.
"I can still see you, y'know. On the front of the newspaper," Branzy laughs a little, and Clown peeks from over the top of the page at him. He then flips it over and smooths out his face on his lap. "'KILLER CLOWN' BELIEVED TO BE BEHIND NEW SERIAL KILLINGS," reads the headline. Branzy can't read the rest of the small text. "Well, hello there handsome." Clown runs a finger over his mask's paper cheek. "Not as handsome as you though," he adds, sneaking a quick glance at Branzy.
"Pfft, I'm flattered." Branzy laughs, blushing a little again and looking back at his book. They'd been flirting back and forth for as long as he could remember them being friends, and he'd grown accustomed to it. At least he thought so. Were friends supposed to blush at each other? Clown has a dusting of red spread across his own cheeks as he locks an admiring gaze on the other man, but Branzy fails to notice, too preoccupied with these thoughts.
A loud bang interrupts their awkward pause. Branzy looks up at the sky to see bright flashes of color sailing through the starless night sky in pretty patterns- fireworks. He'd almost forgotten it was Independence Day today. "Well, would you look at that," Clown says. He's looking up too, and from where Branzy sits, he can see the fireworks reflected within his eyes. The display is somehow more mesmerizing than its counterpart in the sky.
"Pretty, isn't it?" Branzy gets up from his chair to stand by the balcony railing, trying to get a better view of the fireworks. Clown gets up and stands beside him. A nod is all he gets in the way of agreement. They stand there for a brief moment of silence before another bang again shatters it. Two fireworks have shot up into the sky, one red and one purple. The sparks from both fly together like small, shimmering comets.
"If that isn't a sign, I don't know what is..." Clown mumbles, half to himself. "Hm, what was that Clown?" Branzy turns to him, one arm resting casually on the top of the metal railing. "I- nothing." He's quieter than usual, and his gaze is distant as he continues looking up at the fading lights of the two fireworks. "C'mon, you can tell me..." Branzy coaxes, shuffling a little closer to him.
"I've been trying to tell you since forever." Clown looks at him with a somewhat fearful smile, and Branzy freezes up a little, suddenly nervous too. "You see, I... I love you, Branzy."
The words are unexpected, to say the least- Branzy never expected to hear them at all, let alone at such a random moment. But he doesn't think about that as he leans forward and kisses Clown, their lips locking together perfectly. He's not sure of how long they stand like that, but he's only aware of the bliss he feels as they pull away, looking into each other's eyes.
They both chuckle, as if they can't believe what just happened. Branzy's suddenly made aware of Clown's pulse, beating steadily but faintly as Branzy's wrapped against him, arms circling his waist and head against his chest. No other words need to be said- for now, this is all he needs.