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Season 3 of Lifesteal SMP was about to end. Everyone was ready to jump into the void with their last heart, people giving their last speeches before it ends.
Clown gave his speech first, “This season proved many things for me. I’ve developed relationships I wouldn’t have if the events didn’t happen the way they did.” Clown hoped Branzy would know this was for him, “Even if I would’ve wished things went differently, if it meant I would lose the connections I have now, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
He glanced around to see if the love of his life was listening, but Branzy wasn’t there. Quickly getting worried, he finished his speech and snuck away as the others started to get courage to have a speech of their own.
He walked around the area to spot Branzy, footsteps slowing down when he neared the burnt and blown up remains of The Circus, when he spotted a familiar silhouette.
“Branzy?”
His love hastily whipped his head around, then immediately looked down, not meeting Clown’s eyes, “Clown…”
If Clown was worried before, he was anxious and concerned now. Was Branzy going to say that he never loved him the same way he does, and now that Clown was no use, they’re going to split? Was this the last time he would ever get to call Branzy his?
“I’m scared, Clown.”
That immediately broke his worried filled haze, now directly concerned for Branzy. He was bad at comforting people, in fact, almost no one broke down his walls enough for him to care about comforting him. ClownPierce didn’t know what to do.
“What happens after this ends?”
Clown…had never thought that far. He imagined his relationship with Branzy as his forever.
“We wait for season 4.”
Crap. That was bad. Will Branzy feel dismissed and leave him now?
“No! No- Clown- What will happen to us after this ends?” Branzy was growing increasingly panicked now.
Clown only furrowed his brows. What will happen after this? He hoped they continued to love each other. He hadn’t thought of any other outcome.
“‘Relationships’ don’t last in Lifesteal, and I-” Branzy seems to choke down something stuck in his throat, “I don’t want this to end.”
That…that admission made Clown feel relief in the worst way possible. He wasn’t supposed to feel relieved right now, but the admission of having the same wants as Branzy. But seeing Branzy so torn up over thinking that Clown would leave him was…saddening.
“I’m not letting this end Branzy. It’s alright,” Clown tried to insist.
“I’m just a thorn by your side, Clown. Nothing but an annoyance constantly in your way.”
“Roses have thorns because they help them survive.” Branzy seems to think about it for a moment as Clown continued, “They serve as protection against pests.”
At that, Clown started to walk closer to Branzy, “You help me live. Not just survive Branzy. This season, it went on far too long but you gave me reason to restart it; to give us a better future.”
“Roses can survive without thorns,” Branzy insisted, almost as if he was convincing himself rather than Clown.
“And I want to live,” Clown held Branzy’s hand in his gloved ones, “not just survive.”
“There’s better engineers than me- like MrCube. I can’t fight even if my life depended on it, and that’s established multiple times now-”
Clown cut in at that, “That’s why you have me. I can’t do redstone even if my life depended on it.”
“But you have things to make up for it! They’ll use me as your weakness! There’s so many other people in Lifesteal that you can easily replace me with that will defend themselves better!”
“And I don’t want to.”
Branzy seems to actually pause as if he didn’t think about how there’s a possibility where Clown wanted him too. Clown’s heart shatters too, knowing Branzy thinks he would just replace him for someone better.
“But what’s stopping you from doing so?” It was so quiet, almost a whisper.
“Because I love you.”
That was the first time Clown has ever said that to anyone truthfully. Sure, he had jokingly said “I love you” to other people…but this one…this one was real, so sincere it scared Clown.
Clown wiped the tears rolling down Branzy’s face, “Because I love you so,” he said, quieter this time, only for Branzy to hear, “Because I love you too much to do that. Because I love you, and only you. Not MrCube, not Spoke, not anyone else. Just you,” he pressed his forehead against Branzy.
Sobs tore out from Branzy’s throat as he broke down.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry- I’m sorry-” Branzy hugs him, “I was just so scared.”
Clown shushes him and his Branzy tighter, “I know.”
Branzy continued to cry into Clown’s chest, his tears soaking the jester styled clothing.
“Love?”
His engineer’s face peeked out from his hold, “If we could do it at once, we could do it again.”
Clown slowly de-tangled himself from the hug, “and I can’t imagine going on without you again. I believe our bond is stronger than rings or a certificate paper, but,”
He kneeled down on one knee and pulled out the amethyst ring that was sitting heavily in his inventory moments before.
The ring had an obsidian band, polished amethyst in small circle shapes surrounding the band with solid and also polished redstone littered in between the amethyst gems. The ring was more suited to an eternity ring than an engagement ring, but Clown thought it was perfect.
Branzy continued to cry, and he picked the ring up for Clown, which revealed a chain along with it.
“Clown…”
“A representation of our love.” and Clown’s smile could be seen through the jester mask.
The engineer took the ring with comprehension and placed it delicately on his ring finger.
“I’m not even going to ask how you got my ring size. I love you so much, Clown. I truly do”
Clown got up from the kneeling position and carefully took his mask off to give a kiss to Branzy’s lips.
“So is that a yes?”
“Of course Clown!!” Branzy sounded slightly offended but it was overrun by his emotions of happiness.
“This season still needs to end and I think the others are looking for us right now,” Clown said, but still continuing to nuzzle Branzy.
“Let’s go before they find us” a giggle escaped Branzy’s lips and Clown couldn’t imagine himself to be any happier than he is now.
When they made it back to spawn where the rest of the members were waiting, they just gave them a knowing look when they caught sight of the new ring on Branzy’s finger.
“Ready?”
Everyone gave their nods as Clown linked hands with Branzy.
“We are lifesteal!”
“Season 4 babyyyyy!!”
“Woooo!”
“We are season 4!!”
Clown and Branzy were the last to jump, one last look in each other’s eyes as they jumped together, Branzy clutching his new ring to make sure he doesn’t lose it in the void.
They didn’t say anything as they jumped, their looks to each other said enough.