Clownpierce was very good at hiding things. Whether it be a plan to betray the server, himself with invis potions, or literally his face from the entire server for several years, it could be said that he was good at hiding things. There were things you just didn't tell people on a server like Lifesteal, and barring certain people, hybrid features were one of them.

Some people couldn’t, and there was no relative downside, people like Minutetech or Ash and his glitchiness.And then some people chose not to, Parrot and his… parrot-ness, Zam and her shapeshifting, Jumper and her bunny traits. 

Clown got it and he didn’t. It was nice to share another part of yourself with the server and when they had bouts of peace, it was nice to relax. Clown just didn’t… do that. 

He had been concealing wings on his back since longer than he remembered. It wasn’t that he was ashamed of them, they were quite beautiful when he actually got the chance to look at them; pitch black with thin feathers. 

He just never unveiled them.

Keeping them hidden, keeping them safe was just as much a part of him as the mask that hid his face from the world. There was nothing to it other than that. But… he had been taking his mask off more with Branzy, and for the first time with Rek a few weeks ago since they all got together. 

Maybe he could… they were getting itchy anyways. 

It was embarrassing, season five had barely started and here he was missing the comfort of the off-season. Where was his hunger for blood!? He should ask Leo if anyone had hired the PMC yet. Or maybe he could just take a day off and visit Rek, talk to him.

Clown sighed, it wasn’t going to be a productive day no matter how hard he tried, he commed Spoke to let him know he would be hopping servers for the day, Branzy to let him know where he would be going, and then Rek to let him know that he would be visiting. 

There, now he could get things over with. Clean and quick, just how Clownpierce dealt with things. 

—

“Clown! I wasn’t expecting you so soon, it's early isn't it?”

Rek was just wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants, having clearly just gotten some rest after a particularly hard day (At this point, Clown knew that Rek didn’t dress comfortably often, only when he really needed to relax).

“I just, wanted to talk to you about something.”

Clown walked into the living room and sat on the couch. Rek was staying in a template home, but somehow Clown found that Rek had very distinctly made this place home. 

“Is everything ok?”

Rek was worried, and genuine; it was Clown’s chance to do the same.

“It’s nothing bad I ju–”

The door slammed open and an out of breath Branzyrcraft stood in the opening.

“I hope –hah– I haven't missed anything, have I?”

CLown couldn't help but laugh.

“No Branzy, you didn’t miss anything, actually, uh, I’m glad you're here too.”

“Clown’s going to tell us something,” Rek added.

Branzy looked between the two of them, eyes wide before asking, “Is it something bad?”

This time it was Rek who laughed lightly, “No, I don’t think it is.”

Clown smiled at his boyfriend before remembering Rek couldn't actually see it so he removed his mask. Simple. Clean. He was good at this vulnerability stuff, see?

“I wanted to show you guys something, just… be nice, ok?” He added with a smile.

“Of course Clown,” Rek grabbed his hand and held it. 

Branzy was sitting on the arm of the couch in front of them and was nodding along.

“I’ve got wings and here they are.”

Clown flicked off the ‘hide traits’ setting he had custom coded into his player menu and felt his wings settle against his back. 

“Woah”

He could feel both his partners say it practically in unison. Clown scratched the back of his neck, and he could feel the smaller wings on his head flutter against where they were hidden in his curls. 

“Yeah… that's it!”

“They’re beautiful," Branzy said, inching closer. “Can I–?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

He felt Branzy’s hand run over atop his primaries and he couldn't help but shiver, it had definitely been literal years since anyone had touched his wings, much less as kindly as Branzy was. It felt nice, like an itch finally getting scratched, he let himself get lost in the sensation a bit. He was snapped out of it a bit when he felt Rek run a hand through his hair and find his head wings. 

He smiled at Rek, and leaned into his hand. 

“I’m really glad you shared this with us, Clown. I feel, ah, really happy that you felt comfortable enough.” 

“Me too Rekrap, me too.”

He pulled Rek in with the hand not holding his and kissed him. Rek tasted like gapple and he couldn't help but smile into the kiss and deepening it. 

“You guys look really pretty doing all that.”

“Ah– Branzy! You can't just say that!”

Rek had pulled back, clearly embarrassed, Clown followed the flush on his cheeks to where it went beneath his shirt collar. (In all honesty, he could feel himself blushing, he just hoped it wasn't as apparent on his own cheeks.)

“You bet I can Rek! Who’s saying I can’t compliment my beautiful boyfriends, huh?”

“Well– no one, I guess,” Rek was flustered and it really was cute. 

“Seriously though, Clown,” Branzy said. “Thanks for sharing, I’m glad you did.”

“Thanks Branzy–”

“Cause now I can tease you for bein’ a bird! You didn’t tell me you were related to Parrot, didn't this form me all along?” Branzy gasped in mock-offence. 

Clown played along.

“Branzycraft–! You think I would be related to that goofball? How dare you!”

“Aw, I guess not. The deadly Clownpierce could never!” Branzy was laughing now. “Though I don’t think you can be all that deadly when you’re so fluffy!”

“Oh don’t you start! Rek, pillow please!”

His boyfriend handed him a throw pillow from the couch, giggling as he did.

“The very deadly thank you very much, Clownpierce is going to suffocate you now Branzycraft.”

“No– don’t! That’s my boyfriend!” Rek cried from behind him.

“There are no rules here, Rekrap! Only survival of the fittest!” 

Branzy had invited them to a picnic on his island –yes, it was his island, he had terraformed and built practically everything on it– because hey, he was going to capitalize off of having both of his boyfriends on the same server if it killed him! …Knowing him, it probably would in some way or another.

He hummed as he prepared glowberry pie filling, glowberries were sour and many people didn't like them but Branzy made sure to add a heaping of sugar to the simmering pot. Plus, he knew Clown liked sour things so this one was for him. 

He felt a lag spike and paused, then turned off the stove. At least he hadn't been holding the pot or anything, lag spikes were dangerous when cooking. Hence why so many players preferred to farm, or eat gapples. Hm, gapple pie, that was an idea. 

He let the filling cool a bit and started work on the sandwiches. Honestly, if you had told Branzy that he would be making sandwiches on his peaceful island on Lifesteal, he wouldn't have believed you, but then again here he was. He wouldn't trade it for anything really, except maybe 20 hearts. 

He cut the cucumbers into slices and put them on the bread. Who cares if it were probably against Lifesteal’s code to grow them, they made good sandwiches. After gutting the sandwiches ito pretty triangles, he wiped his hands off on his pants and checked his comm. 

Well, it seemed like several people had died in the explosion but not Clown or Rek, good. That meant they would still make it on time. Honestly, shame on them for leaving Branzy to do all the work! He want even that good of a cook, really. If Clown hadn’t been busy literally helping lead the resistance or whatever he would've been the one making their lunch. 

Rek was a lost cause in any kitchen. 

Branzy hoped that Rek was having fun with Clown, it wasn’t common for them to get to team up, especially not on lifesteal. He looked out at the amusement park and sighed, maybe he should let minutetech get a… sneak peak, so to speak, as thanks for getting Rek back on the server for the week. He seemed like a sweet guy who would look good bleeding. 

Okay, yeah, Branzy needed a kill soon.

He scraped the edges of the bowl of filling into the pie crust and popped it into the oven. Now, he just had to wait. 

—

It was a couple of hours later when Branzy heard fireworks and before the shink of a chestplate switching with an elytra. 

Clown and Rek had arrived!

Branzy rushed back inside to check on the basket he had arranged –hey, let him at least pretend to be normal for a bit– and walked out to greet his wonderful, killer boyfriends. 

They were talking in the square when Branzy walked up, he smiled the moment he saw them,it really was nice to all be in one place.

Rek noticed him and lit up, “Branzy!”

Clown turned around, but before Branzy could say hi he was assaulted by an armfull of Rekrap. He nearly dropped the basket but thankfully, their precious lunch remained intact.

“I’ve missed you so much!” Rek pulled back and stepped away.

“You just saw me like, two days go!” Branzy said.

“Doesn’t matter, it's been too long.”

Clown stepped forward and pulled his mask to the side, "What, no hello for me?”

Branzy set the basket down momentarily, “Aw, Clown you know I’d never forget you.”

He pecked Clown on the cheek before what had happened with the orbital cannon, sue him he was curious. Apparently, it had been a close call but ultimately spawn had not been utterly destroyed which was nice. 

The pair continued to recount the tales of the past couple days and all the puzzles while Branzy led them to a small hill that he had built to overlook the park. He couldn’t help but think that this was where they were all meant to be.

Rek was laughing at something Clown said when they arrived. Branzy stopped and pulled a blanket out of his inventory before laying it on the ground.

“Oh– are we here?” Rek stopped and then looked out at the island. “This is beautiful Branzy.”

“Thanks,” He smiled and patted next to him. “Now c’mon, eat. I worked hard on this while you guys were off slaying the Abyss you know.”

Clown sat down. 

“Of course, of course, we wouldn’t want Branzy’s hard work to go to waste wouldn't we Rekrap?”

“No we would not!”

It was far past sundown when they finished eating, thankfully the mushroom island stopped any mobs from bothering them. Clown had eaten half the glowberry pie, as expected, and Rek had eaten half the sandwiches. Saving the server was exhausting, they told him. 

“We should do this again sometime, after,” Rek said.

“I agree.”

Clown nudged his shoulder. 

“I’ve been thinking I might take a break too.”

Aw shoot, Branzy hadn’t meant to say that just yet.

Clown’s eyes widened, mask long forgotten on the grass.

“Really?”

Branzy smiled sheepishly, the real one, not the fake one he used to get out of accusations of war crimes or something along those lines.

“Yeah, just, more time to build stuff like this.” He gestured out to the park, lights of the ferris wheel twinkling against the night sky.

“Hey,” Rek said. “I’ve been thinking about coming back so, maybe this time next season it’ll be you visiting us.”

“Oh I hate to see what you two would cook up for me to eat. Guests shouldn’t be the ones cooking you know!”

“Hey! I can cook damn well Branzycraft– you take that back!” A clown flicked his forehead.

“Ow, hey, alright, alright, Clown you cook fine enough.”

Rek giggled to their left.