A Little Darker Arent We?

I'm backkkkkkk. Check out this rewrite I did as a little holdover while I make great new writing for you guys :D

I made the non-dramatic “death” scene dramatic, yay!

extras + close ups below:

Hello everyone! I'm back after eight months. I have some new writing in store for you and it's a compilation fic. This is going to be a large collection of many of the PaTB one shot ideas I've made during my hiatus and perhaps even a few I want to explore more. I'm excited to be back and hopefully I will return to regular posting once more. Without further ado, enjoy!

(Here's an A03 link if you want to read it on there):

Dr. Robert T. Brainslowski had absolutely no time for inane distractions. Especially with such important goals lingering on the horizon for him to achieve. His passion for world domination was a never-ending pursuit, one that took all his focus during the waking hours, and even invaded his subconscious at night, appearing to him as visions of grandeur in his dreams. His fruitless attempts at proving his worth and securing a place for himself among the greats required every ounce of his effort. Being the busy man that he was, Brain had little patience for obstacles in his path to glory. Unfortunately, his assistant had other things in mind for him, ones that didn’t meet up with his goals.

Patrick Pinkus - a gullible, idiotic buffoon as Brain liked to call him - had completely boggled tonight's plans for conquest by setting him up with a supposed "date." He’d gotten the alarming news of his upcoming get-together right as he was completing his latest blueprint. Brain was less than pleased with Pinky's feeble attempt to introduce romance into his life, having been set up on many dates previously. All of which ended in disastrous fashion. A few bops to the head did little to aid in the searing rage and unfamiliar uncertainty that Brain was facing.

Especially considering the date he was set up with was male.

"A date? What a fool Pinky is to think I'd be interested in anyone romantically. I have far more important things to focus on." Brain mumbled to himself indignantly as he waited for his other half to arrive at a fancy restaurant uptown. Pinky somehow managed to book the locale for him, despite the tedious reservation process. Despite that surprising feat, Brain believed that the “date” was going as poorly as it could possibly go; he hadn’t even arrived yet. Brain had been drumming his fingers on the elegantly decorated tablecloth for six grueling minutes, had checked his watch for ten.

"Where is this cretin?" Brain huffed, patience wearing very thin. He had a plan he needed to execute; he had no time for tardiness or a lack of professionalism. This person proved to have absolutely zero sense of schedule. "I assume this person Pinky has chosen to set me up with is just as foolish as he is. He is simply an imbecile in its truest form. I'd even bet that he is on the exact same level of..."

 Brain's words faded to a discreet murmur as the restaurant's doors opened swiftly and an elegantly dressed man stepped in. Everyone in the room seemed to glance over towards the individual, whose dark gray hair and circular-framed glasses seemed to glisten under the lights of the nearby bar. He walked with confidence, elegance, and class, but seemed to be lacking the smile to match, instead he was scowling.

However, it made Brain freeze in his tracks. He could not take his eyes off of this man. How his suit fit comfortably around his waist, how his blue eyes seemed to twinkle delicately. He felt his heartrate increase exponentially and his gaze kept glancing over him repeatedly.

His eyes widened even more when the man came directly up to him and give him a quick look over, that harsh grimace firmly in place. "Are you Robert Brainslowski by chance?" he asked in an unexpectedly buttery smooth British accent.

It was only then Brain realized that this was his date.

This dapper, handsome, and strangely alluring man was his date.

For the entire evening.

 Brain was about to have a heart attack.

 "Y-yes," he meekly stuttered out, all his reasonable thoughts dissipating into nothingness. "I am he, but you may refer to me as Brain...it's...what I'm called by my...acquaintances..." Brain did not believe that formalities were required yet conveying that information to the man was proving arduous.

His date looked at him for a moment before responding by extending his hand. "Charles Lexington Worcestershire, charmed to be meeting you."

He was so lost in his rampant thoughts that he failed to shake the man's hand for a moment or two. Even then when he finally returned the gesture, his grasp was shaky and not the least bit composed. He could practically feel the tension. "So... Charles..."

 "Oh, I almost forgot. Please, if you are to refer to me, refer to me as Chips. I favor it, mate."

 "Chips..." Brain repeated to himself, finding the man's unusual nickname endearing. Considering they had practically done the exact same thing when it came to their real names. He'd only known him for a minute, and he already was beginning to sense a lack of typical upset at Pinky's matchmaking shenanigans.

“Where shall we begin?” Brain nervously pondered for a moment, rubbing his hands together in an attempt to ease the discomfort. “I... must admit I was not expecting my colleague to pair me up with such a... perplexing individual such as yourself."

 Chips raised an eyebrow, sitting down in his chair across from Brain's with a seeming lack of interest. “I don't understand either. I'm only familiar with your associate Patrick from my colleague; according to them, they were college roommates.” Chips studied him again, eyes roving over his entire body. “I have seen most people in this city. Yet I have never seen you around before in all my years bein’ here.” Chips gave Brain a deep stare, as if he were observing the very foundation he was made of and all the qualities he possessed.

 Brain swallowed harshly. He could feel Chips’ icy blue eyes attempting to push past all the barriers he had made for himself over the years. It was as if he was trying to get information out of him. And unfortunately, Brain was about to succumb to his tactic. "Well...I'm a scientist at the renowned facility Acme Labs, so I spend most of my time...alone and concentrated..." He took pause in his words when his date's expression shifted to one of bemusement.

 "Acme Labs you say? Doesn't seem like a place I'd want to work at, considering I'm employed at a much cleaner facility in the part of town that isn't covered in rubbish."

Brain could feel the sweat beads forming on his forehead, especially with Chips’ sardonic response to his occupation and place of employment. It was not that he desired to work at Acme Labs, it was simply that he could not find work anywhere else.

"I... I would like to...well I have a much more...ambitious goal in the future..." Brain said without entirely knowing what he was about to do. Still, he was trying to salvage anything that remained for this date to continue, even if it meant confessing his greatest want.

Chips adjusted the lapels of his suit, a movement that indicated slight boredom, before looking back at Brain with a puzzled glance. It appeared that Brain had captured his attention, even for only a moment. "Do tell what this goal may be."

 Brain nodded, proceeding to discuss his desires to take over the world. He described the plans he'd made in the past, the discovery of his assistant Pinky, and what he wanted to do as a world leader. He even mentioned his failures, though passed them off as simple roadblocks and nothing more. As he talked and rambled about his passions, he took note of how Chips became less tense, lowering his shoulders and widening his eyes. Occasionally, he could even see slight curiosity.

He also realized that him noticing these details was making him blush a ferocious red; he hoped that Chips wouldn't notice his flustered state through the glow of the soft candlelight.

“Well, Brain,” Chips said after Brain had finished his discussion (though it was more of a tangent), “it appears that you have captured my interest. World domination is such a unique goal and you offer a lot of perspective on the issues of our society.” Chips slightly adjusted his position in the seat, moving closer to Brain. “I was going to cut this little 'date' short on account of my busy schedule, but perhaps I can allot a small bit of time to you and to dinner." He was visibly smirking, a move that Brain subconsciously believed was an attempt to seduce him.

"Oh..." Brain had to take a minute to regain the rational thought that had escaped his mind. "Then...let us continue this engagement." As if on cue, the waiter brought two glasses of white wine, before he promptly turned around and left, scoffing at the two of them.

Homophobic miscreant.

 As they savored their wine, Brain, and Chips dove into a conversation regarding the nature of scientific experimentation, specifically on the lesser rodent species. Brain found himself astounded at how Chips was able to be so calm and gentle with the mice he evaluated on, especially since laboratories stereotypically had harsh and relentless upper management that imposed strict rules.

 "I am struggling to believe that you actually claim to have done all these things you say, Chips. How have you never been questioned by authority for your unusually affectionate behavior towards lab mice?" Brain perplexedly remarked as he sipped his alcohol, swirling the liquid around in the glass.

 "I'm a man of my word, mate,” Chips exhaled sharply, “my laboratory's management simply trusts me to do my job and does not care about how I treat the specimen I work with. It's quite a surprise."

Brain could not comprehend the enormous differences in their work environments. Chips had practically found the laboratory nirvana, where discrimination and mistreatment were limited and obscure. Unlike his own facility, which was filled with distaste and cold, callous individuals who turn their heads at people like him. "You are quite fortunate, my friend. Me and my associate struggle with a very cumbersome workplace, it's hard to even walk a foot without someone torturing some helpless creature or spouting a mindless slur." Brain sighed deeply, this lifestyle was profoundly affecting him in the worst feasible way, giving him a deep hatred for humanity and for himself. Being open was an impossibility and he had been forced to repress everything. "It's been an immense struggle for me to be confident about anything."

"Blimey..." Chips passed him a surprised but understanding look – the first one of the night – reaching a hand across the table to cover his own that was still. Brain made a soft gasp, blush returning to his cheeks. "I know how it feels, like the world is going to crumble beneath your feet and you're going to drown. People don’t seem to understand us, and we’re forced to hide. I faced a lot of insults when I came to work one afternoon with a male partner instead of a female one, and it was painful. We broke up not too long after because of that. But you grow numb to the insults and realize that there are people out there who will listen. That those people who try to take you down are bloomin’ mongrels."

 He thought about what Chips told him, surprised by the bluntness of his phrasing. He was right. He certainly wasn't alone; he had Pinky who confided in him without hassle and now it seemed like Chips would join that insignificant list. He was listening. Chips, a random man that he hadn't even shared a meal with yet, was taking the time out of his day to talk to him about such gripping, personal issues. That was an admirable feat in itself. Despite the date being set up by Pinky, Brain found himself enjoying it far more than he'd ever thought he could before. And he was particularly enjoying Chips’ company.

"You are correct, I do have people who will listen. It appears that you have become one of them..." Brain's pink eyes started to scan the floor, somehow it was becoming interesting to him. Partially from embarrassment but also because that too familiar warmth in his face was returning.

The other man chuckled, his soft laugh making Brain look up again. "Oh, Brain, you are a funny one. Even if it’s not intentional. Seems like what you said is true though. I am listening to you now." He moved his hand to cover Brain's more, a delicate motion meant to comfort him. "I think this date is going smashingly. You’re by far the most enticing individual I have ever come across on these little excursions.” Chips took a quick sip of wine before looking at Brain again, eyes shining. “Perhaps we can order a little something and continue with our conversation?"

Brain blushed more somehow, the color deepening in shade. He nodded eagerly, pleased that this date was surpassing his low expectations. "I-I suppose we should...and if you want to discuss other things..."

Chips smiled, the faintest glimmer of his pearly white teeth beginning to show. "I would like that very much, Brain." he responded earnestly, bringing his hands back to in front of his chest as he anticipated the next piece to their ever-growing conversation.

Brain had to blink once to confirm it, but he was certain that he could see a slight reddish glow in Chips’ cheeks, accenting his soft grin perfectly. Brain felt his own lips being to upturn ever so slightly, as he too eagerly waited for Chips to say something else.

Art by meeeee!

And btw,

“Brain looks so cute when he’s planning! He must be the most handsomest mouse in the world”

Hiii y’all! I’m @therealhayyhay and I’m one of the two co-mods of this blog. I’m not good with words, so I will try my best to introduce myself without being too short.

I am Mod Brain. If you call me Hay, I shall have to hurt you. I like participating in my school’s theater company and singing. If you know me from TikTok, you know I used to do Warner Siblings impressions. I don’t know if that will continue. I don’t have a plan as to what I want to pursue in life, but hopefully I’ll work it out.

I am somewhat new to the fandom, as I got into Animaniacs around July of last year. I’ve pretty much missed all the important events but I will not let that stop me! I’m not exactly sure when I got into Pinky and The Brain but ever since I have, I’ve really loved them and everything about them.

I suppose I will also have to share some of my “favorite” episodes and songs as a result of a certain imbecile on the first mod introduction.

“Favorite” Eps:

- Napoleon Brainaparte

- The Pinky P.O.V

- Pinky and The Brain Christmas

- Welcome to the Jungle

- Robin Brain

- This old Mouse

- Brainwashed

- Project B.R.A.I.N

- That Smarts

- Das Mouse

(Not full list btw)

Favorite Songs:

- Brainstem

- Cheese Roll Call

- The Really Great Dictator

- Just Say Narf

- Most Animaniacs songs

Just like my partner, I am also excited for what this blog may bring and what the future holds for our plans toward it. I don’t know what I’m exactly going to post, but I hopefully find out!

Hiii y’all! I’m @therealhayyhay and I’m one of the two co-mods of this blog. I’m not good with words, so I will try my best to introduce myself without being too short.

I am Mod Brain. If you call me Hay, I shall have to hurt you. I like participating in my school’s theater company and singing. If you know me from TikTok, you know I used to do Warner Siblings impressions. I don’t know if that will continue. I don’t have a plan as to what I want to pursue in life, but hopefully I’ll work it out.

I am somewhat new to the fandom, as I got into Animaniacs around July of last year. I’ve pretty much missed all the important events but I will not let that stop me! I’m not exactly sure when I got into Pinky and The Brain but ever since I have, I’ve really loved them and everything about them.

I suppose I will also have to share some of my “favorite” episodes and songs as a result of a certain imbecile on the first mod introduction.

“Favorite” Eps:

- Napoleon Brainaparte

- The Pinky P.O.V

- Pinky and The Brain Christmas

- Welcome to the Jungle

- Robin Brain

- This old Mouse

- Brainwashed

- Project B.R.A.I.N

- That Smarts

- Das Mouse

(Not full list btw)

Favorite Songs:

- Brainstem

- Cheese Roll Call

- The Really Great Dictator

- Just Say Narf

- Most Animaniacs songs

Just like my partner, I am also excited for what this blog may bring and what the future holds for our plans toward it. I don’t know what I’m exactly going to post, but I hopefully find out!

Hellooooooooo Tumblr!!! If you are seeing this, you have stumbled across the newest Pinky and The Brain exclusive blog (as hinted by the title of course!) that will be dedicated to celebrating the legacy, brilliance, and gayness of the PaTB franchise! I am Mod Pinky (my other half will be making an intro very soon) and many of you may know me from my main blog @theonethatyaks93 where I post Animaniacs and PaTB content for a living. I am really glad to share this fun new project with my bestest partner and we are both excited to be sharing our love for the mice with all of you! Now I am aware that the fandom is not as active as it once was, and many blogs like this one have been abandoned. Still, we are excited to be keeping the fandom alive and we are looking forward to helping cement this show into public conscious for a while longer. But enough about that; we'll be making another post to describe the blog in more depth at a later time. Let's get to the fun, actual introduction part of the post:

Name: Please call me Pinky or Mod Pinky if you'd like

Pronouns: She/They

Basic Interests: Writing, Singing, Acting, Animation, Drawing,

Dream Job(s): Voice Actor, Author, Writer on a PaTB Reboot

OTP: Brinky

My History in the Fandom: Surprisingly, I've been involved in the Animaniacs fandom since 2020 and the PaTB fandom since 2021. I got into the show thanks to the trailer for the Animaniacs reboot and I instantly fell in love. I was actually more into the Warner Siblings when I first watched the original series and I spend the first months in the fandom obsessing over them. However in 2021, I got really, REALLY into Pinky and The Brain. I believe it was because I saw people talking about them everywhere. And I started shipping Brinky as well. The mice just appealed to me specifically, and as I was going through the worst time in my life, they were there to help me out. Since then, nearly three years later, I've become an expert in all things PaTB. Pinky and The Brain has actually gotten me interested in other things shockingly, including neurological science and even rodent care, believe it or not. These mice have a death grip on my life and I am looking forward to growing my love for the series even more.

Favorite Episodes of PaTB (All episodes that I've seen so far) (In no particular order):

A Pinky and The Brain Christmas

This Old Mouse

A Pinky and The Brain Halloween

Broadway Malady

Brinky

Brain's Way

Talladega Mice

Narf Over Troubled Water

Of Mouse and Man

That Smarts

Megalomaniacs Anonymous

Snowball

Welcome to the Jungle

Future Brain

How The Brain Thieved Christmas

Groundmouse Day

Pinky Suavo (Yeessssss)

Plight of Hand

Brainie the Poo

Brain's Night Off

Happy Narfday

Mouse Madness

Royal Flush

Mouse Congeniality

How To: Brain Takes Over the World

Spell-Bound

Yes, Always

Brain Meets Brawn

Bubba Bo Bob Brain

Inherit the Wheeze

Where Rodents Dare

Pinky POV

Favorite Moments from PaTB: You guys are going to have to wait for the blog. I wanna make posts about them and talk about why I love them so much. But one of my favorite moments, of course, is the ending of the Christmas episode because it makes me sob every time I watch it

Most Underrated Episodes (Again, in no particular order):

Brain's Song

Pinky's Dream House

Anything from the Animaniacs Reboot

Melancholy Brain

The Pinky and The Brain Reunion Special

But That's Not All Folks!

Dangerous Brains

Beach Blanket Brain

Pinky at the Bat

You Said a Mouseful

Brain Drained

Hoop Schemes

Napoleon Brainaparte

Battle for the Planet

Win Big

When Mice Ruled the Earth

Favorite Songs:

Just Say Narf!

Brainstem

Pinky's Memories

Cheese Roll Call

The Really Great Dictator

A Meticulous Analysis of History

I Ate a Rock

Pinky's Dream House (Song)

Brain Doggie Mambo

International Mouse of Mystery (For the vocal performance alone)

Most Interesting Opinions on the Show:

I really like Snowball. He's my favorite side character from any iteration

Julia (from the reboot) is AMAZING in her second and third appearances. Not in her first

I prefer the fan versions of Billie to her canon character

I do not like Phar Fignewton very much. She isn't a very interesting character

I think Pinky and The Brain thrived in the late 90's while Animaniacs faltered a bit. Seasons 3-5 of Animaniacs had some good episodes but quite a few duds while PaTB had an incredible third and fourth season

To me Brinky is canonized in the reboot. Not in the traditional sense but it's pretty obvious

The reboot PaTB episodes are really good

I am not a big fan of the episode Brainania. It's not bad but I find it a bit slow in the pacing department

Mousechurian Candidate (from the reboot) is the worst episode of PaTB ever made

Pinky, Elmyra, and The Brain is not as bad as people think and there are some good jokes. But it is nowhere near the quality of the rest of the franchise

Pinky is the best character ever created (not biased)

My favorite episodes of the show are usually the ones that focus more on character dynamics and emotion

The animation of the show is very inconsistent. My favorite studios are TMS and Rough Draft since I think they capture how they characters look the best. Wang could be pretty good too but in other episodes they made the mice look strange. Akom did some weird lighting techniques but they did great on the episode Snowball, and the less said about Startoons the better.

I like Pinky and Brain's reboot designs a lot. And I think there are some improvements (i.e. Brain's more expressive face, the details in the designs, Pinky's more angular body, Pinky's tail, their cute little fangs). But I like them in the original series for the softer edges and more classic feel

What am I Going to Do on this Blog: One of my biggest ideas (along with getting to share my love of the mice with everyone and my partner-in-crime) is maybe to do a weekly thing, where I analyze an episode or moment from the show. I also want to review fanfictions and post random funny mouse things. Maybe I can show you guys the comics I have or my ever-growing merchandise collection. I will be opening the ask-box to suggestions at some point so if you want me or my partner to look at a specific moment, feel free to ask. I might even make some Tumblr-exclusive fanfics to post on here too. This is mainly just a fun place for us to express our love for Pinky and The Brain so it might seem random at times. But I can assure you all that I want to do some fun stuff to build up excitement. These are all things I wanted to do on my main blog but I think it will be better to do it here.

Once again, I would like to say that I am really excited for all that we have planned! This is a project I have been secretly wanting to do for a long time, and now I have someone to do it with. @therealhayyhay is perfect and I know that we're going to do so many amazing things with this blog! She's the greatest. Stay tuned for another intro coming soon and be prepared for more regular posts to come out in the following days.

The Revolution for Gay Mice Supremacy begins!

Mod Pinky over and out! Narf!

(this is not an elaborate plan to take over the world I promise you)

Hi guys!! Happy Valentine's Day!!! This is the fic I made for my incredible friend @therealhayyhay as a little present. I'm so glad that we found each other! I'm gonna try and keep this short but I really put my heart and soul into this and I'm hoping you guys like it!!

Another botched plan, another night spent wasting away in failure. Even though world domination had been put aside for his marriage to the love of his life, he still felt that lingering guilt of a futile attempt. Why he kept pondering these negative ideals, he had no clue. But The Brain could only wish that he would pay attention to things that truly mattered.

Mainly his lovable Pinky.

He kept his head down as Pinky literally carried him back into the cage, his arm bandaged from an incredibly painful fall after an explosion. It stung mildly but he was certain it would be healed by tomorrow. Brain could only think about how fortunate it was that his husband hadn’t been harmed by the blast. He almost forgot that he’d been hurt himself.

“I’m sorry that the plan failed Brain. Narf! I’m sure you’ll get it tomorrow! I know it!” Pinky smiled, holding Brain gingerly as he slowly walked.

Brain winced a little at the slight pain the Pinky accidently inflicted on his arm with his movements, but he sighed afterward as he glanced upon Pinky’s calm expression. He found relief in the way his precious face was all scrunched up and cheery looking. “You have nothing to apologize for, my dear. Tonight’s failure was entirely because of my own volition. I…should have paid more attention to the fine mechanics in all honesty.”

“Aww!” Pinky purred, nuzzling Brain’s nose, touching it softly which caused Brain to let out a light squeak. “Don’t be so hard on yourself! I believe that you can do this! Or at least you won’t cause an explosion next time!”

“Thank you, Pinky.” Brain nuzzled back, pushing them as close as they could go in their current circumstance. “I welcome your support and confidence in me. And I couldn’t be happier with your loyalty…”

He stopped in his tracks when he got a good view at his husband’s reaction to his returning affection. His eyes lit up and his tiny smile grew wider. He could even notice a light pink dusting his face. Brain could feel a deep blush creeping up; suddenly his want for Pinky took over a desire for everything else. Even those nagging thoughts that were previously present faded away.

“Uhm…it appears that my previous temperament has left me. I seem to have become entranced by your loving stare, Pinky. I cannot finish my previous sentence, at least with the same level of slight irritation as I once had.” He tried keeping a straight face, but his emotions were starting to affect his entire body. Brain felt himself heat up more when Pinky responded with a flirty smirk

“Oh, Brain! Poit! Stop it! You’re making me feel all fluttery and gooooshy! I could so kiss you right now!” Pinky quickly batted his paw up and down, as his blush became even more obvious.

Brain lifted his non-injured arm to place his paw on Pinky’s cheek, causing him to look directly at Brain. “We are spouses, Pinky. We’ve been married for a year. You know you don’t have to say that anymore. I usually oblige to kissing in most situations.” He stopped briefly to pull Pinky closer, their foreheads touching. “And you are far too beautiful right now for me to resist.”

Pinky was about to respond, but Brain didn’t let him, their lips meeting before he even had the chance to speak. Pinky made a moan of surprise when Brain made his move, but he soon began humming contently as the kiss continued, his tail happily swishing. Brain felt himself swoon a little at Pinky’s quiet sounds, one of his favorite parts of kissing by far. He savored the moment, deepening the kiss at a speedy pace.

When Pinky parted for air, Brain didn’t waste any time and locked their mouths together once more. He loved kissing his husband. It always made him feel better about himself and about his difficulties. Pinky was so placid and caring with him, it was almost unreal how this mouse had become all his. But just as their kiss was about to take a more intimate turn, Pinky’s legs gave out as he tripped on the entrance to their cage, causing Brain to tumble to the floor with an obnoxious thud.

Brain yelped; the fall had caused a searing pain to return to his injured arm. He hissed, biting back embarrassment that the kiss had distracted Pinky from seeing where he was going, but also fighting back tears that began to prick his eyes. Brain knew it had been an accident. Yet somehow, this little slip caused all the built-up emotions from before to come crashing back, even more spiteful, and harsh than before.

Before he could fully lose himself in his agony, he felt himself be held tightly. Brain eased a little when he saw his husband’s worried face in front of him, his apologetic appearance radiating immense trepidation.

“Brain, are you alright? Zort! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to drop you. I always forget about that nasty-wasty step. I’m such a dunce. How’s your arm?” Pinky spoke chaotically and quick, inspecting Brain’s arm gingerly. He seemed to grow more troubled when he noticed the slight swelling, his distress growing. “Oh no! It’s even worse! Your arm’s all swelled and angry! I’m sorry, Brain! I’m a bad husband!”

The megalomaniac felt his stomach churn a little at Pinky’s sudden outburst. It was not his husband’s fault that he was injured, it had just been a matter of occurrence. “No, Pinky. You are certainly not a bad husband. You just happened to not pay attention to your surroundings, which is inane. But you are mostly not to blame. Even if the pain is immense” Brain snuggled closer to Pinky, doing his best to soothe his spouse’s woes. “You are a remarkable partner, dearest. Don’t ever doubt that or I shall have to kiss you.”

Pinky placed a paw on Brain’s cheek, rubbing it tenderly. He giggled, carefully setting Brain’s arm down before dragging him closer. “I love you so much, darling. I want you to know that every day! But can I kiss and hug away your boo-boos so that you feel all happy and good again? Pretty please?”

Brain was hesitant at first, mostly because he knew that kisses didn’t provide any real healing and that his arm was still hurting quite a bit. But the prospect of more kissing from his lover was so tempting, he couldn’t pass on this opportunity. “Alright, Pinky. You may proceed with your attempt at comforting me. Be careful though.”

“Yay!” Pinky cheered, slightly shaking Brain in his excitement. “I promise this’ll make you feel all better! Troz!”

Wasting no time, Pinky immediately lowered his head and began peppering kisses along Brain’s arm, making sure not to miss a single spot. It was a little crude, but Brain was not paying any attention to the more awkward factors in the matter. He was far too lost in the pleasant sensations invading his body. “P-Pinky. It-it’s perfect.” He struggled saying anything coherent. Pinky’s kisses proved to incapacitate him in every single feasible way.

Pinky briefly looked at Brain, adoration shining in his eyes. “I knew you’d love-love-love it! And I’m not done!”

After a little while of Pinky simply kissing Brain’s arm, he sneakily worked his way up to Brain’s neck and chest, leaving a couple smooches there. Brain held in a reaction as best he could, though he failed to suppress light chuckles. His husband noticed this, kissing him even faster and deeper than before. Brain had a feeling that Pinky didn’t exactly want to relieve his injuries anymore. Not that he cared, Pinky kissing him was a benefit no matter what. But he could clearly tell that things were shifting.

Brain let out a slight whine when Pinky left him, though the two remained close. He felt his spouse’s arms wrap around his waist, as he began being pulled into an embrace. He was about to protest the crushing contact, feeling like the kisses were enough. Just as quickly, however, that initial unease was completely replaced when the side of his face was gently settled on Pinky’s soft chest.

He could hear the soft sighs and hums elicited by Pinky, which he found quite adorable. Brain tried his best to situate himself to where he could be in a better position so he could hold Pinky as well. Obviously, he couldn’t raise his bandaged arm, but he supposed that one would suffice enough. He did his best to keep Pinky close, but his husband was nuzzling and kissing his head and it tickled just a little. While he tried at first to tell Pinky to stop, Brain suddenly froze when he sensed an unusual, yet loving feeling began seeping into his mind.

That’s when he noticed it.

The noise that he’d grown quite accustomed to over the past few years. This time, though when he heard it, something was different. His reaction was different.

Pinky’s heartbeat.

It was like he was hearing the gentle thrum for the first time. Which was simply not true. It had been so many years since Brain first rested against Pinky’s chest. The first time, he’d been shocked and even a little confused. He knew Pinky had a heart. Every living being did. But he still hadn’t heard one beating so close. Brain was even a little fearful about it at first. Pinky had been so comforting though, helping him feel more secure in their newfound relationship. It was one of the best days of his life.

Following that, whenever they would get close or fall asleep within their shared sponge bed, Brain would always listen for Pinky’s heartbeat. He felt like it was a sign of their love for each other, their connection. Without it, Brain felt insecure and trepidatious. Almost scared, though he wouldn’t admit that. When they’d been married, Brain sought it even more. He hoped that for as long as he could hear Pinky’s steady heart, they’d be together.

And yet, currently, he was feeling strange. Something wasn’t adding up to him.

Brain stayed as quiet as possible, trying to absorb the sound into his mental capacity as a dark blush appeared on his cheeks. It was a steady rhythm, quick and yet soft. Noisy but peaceful. Energetic and a little erratic. Just like the mouse that it resided within. How a heart could match someone so perfectly Brain did not know. Still, his usual calmness during these kinds of moments was nonexistent currently; he was thinking about a lot. But he had not a clue as to why.

Was it because of the failure? Was he questioning his relationship with Pinky? What was happening to his emotions?

A sudden rush of anxiety crept over Brain, hitting him like a rock. He hastily pulled away from his husband, backing away slowly as his breathing increased in vigor. Pinky’s calm face sank into one of confusion, cocking his head to the side at Brain’s peculiar reaction.

“Brain, is something wrong? I didn’t hurt you again, did I?” Pinky murmured with a little hesitation.

Brain mustered up his confidence, trying to respond to Pinky’s questions with an excuse. “Yes, I’m fine, dear. I…uh…I just remembered that we haven’t had dinner yet.” He looked off to the side, hoping that Pinky wouldn’t make assumptions. Brain wasn’t even hungry.

“Egad! You’re right! Narf! I knew I forgot something! Silly me!” Pinky got up from the ground and immediately dashed for the cage door, a slight skip in his step. “Would you like me to use the three-in-one oil again for your food pellets? I know how much you like that.”

Brain nodded, hoping that he’d be gone for a while so he could process what was occurring in his thoughts. “I would like that very much. Feel free to take all the time you need. I’ll be here waiting for your return.”

Pinky squealed, waving flirtatiously and winking as he walked away. “Don’t go anywhere, love! Or do. I’m not stopping you!”

Brain did his best to smile, but when Pinky turned around, his face fell.

Now he needed time to ponder for sure.

**************************************

It had only been five minutes, and yet Brain had already found himself in an intense emotional spiral, his mind whirling and scattered thoughts giving him a mild migraine. He was sitting on the edge of his sponge bed, staring out into the empty space beyond the cage bars. He hadn’t heard Pinky in a while so something told him that he was very busy making the food pellets just the way he liked. But that pleasing notion was doing nothing to stop his uncertainty and worry.

He didn’t understand why he’d reacted like that. Why he’d panicked upon hearing Pinky’s heartbeat. That had been happening for years. Why now suddenly was he nervous? Why now had he felt odd?

Somewhat bewildered.

Frightened even.

It had been three years since he and Pinky had become a thing. Romantically speaking that was; they’d been friends for decades. He’d first heard Pinky’s heart only a few days before the big confession. That had been the triggering point for him. What pushed Brain to confess his affections to his partner. Their first kiss was breathtaking. The snuggles that followed over the next few days were glorious. Things only grew from there. Days in a relationship turned to weeks, which turned into months, which eventually led to their marriage. Brain’s love for Pinky knew no restraints. He loved Pinky. He loved Pinky so much.

Yet, he questioned why Pinky would stay with him. How had the most incredible being to ever exist ended up with him? He was a simple laboratory mouse who constantly failed at taking over the world. And still he got a loving husband? Why him? He was a failure. And his abrasive behavior towards Pinky occasionally could be seen by others as abusive.

Through all the plights, Pinky cared about him. Loved him unconditionally. Showered him with warmth, late-night cuddles, and tender kisses that made him feel rather invincible. Through all the peril and despair Brain encountered, Pinky was always there to offer him support. He hated to acknowledge it but without Pinky, Brain wasn’t so sure he’d still be alive.

He could feel the tears pouring from his eyes, could sense his labored breaths. Brain didn’t understand why he was so afraid of confronting his love for Pinky or what exactly made him question it. Pinky was his world. They were married and had been together for what felt like a lifetime. While it had been so long since they reached non-platonic levels, Brain still questioned if and why he even earned his husband. He questioned if Pinky would truly stay with him forever. Or would he leave him at the first signs of trouble. Right now, those thoughts were prevalent more than ever.

All this started because of a stupid heartbeat. What a preposterous reason to be upset.

He held in a sob, closing his pink eyes to resist the sudden urge to start crying and never cease. All these questions were killing his emotions, making him feel unworthy. Brain hated weakness. He tried to never show it. Though now, it seemed like all he could do was be vulnerable and get lost in his own beliefs.

“Brain! I’m done with the food pellets! Poit! We ran out of the three-in-one oil, so I had to use that stuff in the cupboard that tastes like soap. I hope that’s okay with you!”

Brain didn’t even look up when he heard Pinky calling out to him. He couldn’t glimpse at him directly with all the emotions that were building. He tried to ignore Pinky, but as always, his spouse knew something was wrong instantaneously.

Pinky approached slowly, a clear apprehension prevalent in his expression. “Honey, is something wrong? You look like you’ve been crying.”

Brain lifted his head so he could finally glance at Pinky, not trying to hide his tear-stained face anymore. Pinky seemed to notice Brain’s upset state, rushing over to him, and sitting on the edge of the bed. He immediately pulled him into a small hug, using his paws to hold Brain’s face.

“No, no. Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. It will be okay, I promise. What’s wrong?” Pinky gently wiped tears from Brain’s cheeks, kissing his nose softly. Brain tried to hold it in but to no avail.

“I’m sorry Pinky. About everything,” he quietly sobbed. “I’ve been having these ridiculous doubts lately about us. About why you stay with me. Why you chose me to be your husband out of everyone else. It’s inane, yet I still have these questions.”

Pinky gasped faintly, tilting Brain’s head so that they could stare at each other face to face. “We’ve talked about this so many times, Brain. I chose you because I love you. I’ve always loved you since I first met you.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“I’m not.” Pinky’s tone changed from sympathetic to stern in a matter of seconds. His usually soft blue eyes were now filled with some hints of irritation. “I would never not be honest Brain. I’m not a good liar. Zort! Why are you feeling like this? Did I do something wrong?”

Brain snapped. His emotional barrier came toppling down much quicker than usual as he moved from his husband, eyes flaring. “That’s the problem! You’ve done nothing wrong. You act so kind and considerate of me, Pinky, and I’m afraid that I don’t deserve you at all! That you’d leave me someday because I hurt you! I can’t risk that.” He tried to keep from making a scene, but not much could quell his vicious and sudden sobbing.

Surprisingly, Pinky didn’t overreact. He barely whimpered. He wiped a few small tears from his face before holding onto Brain’s shoulders, making sure not to cause pain to his injury. “You do deserve me, sweetheart. We’re a happier-than-happy couple and we’re in love! I couldn’t think of anyone else to be all mine. You’re amazing! What made you think about all these spooky scary thoughts?”

“Surprisingly, Pinky, it was that.” He pointed to Pinky’s chest, a little hesitation present at revealing his reasoning for his brief emotional crisis.

“My chest? How does my chest make you nervous?”

Brain sighed, rubbing his temple a few times in annoyance. “No Pinky, your chest is…nice. It’s…uh well…it’s your heartbeat.”

Pinky’s confused face shifted to one of slight alarm as he examined his chest. “My heart, Brain? Is something wrong with it? I try to tell it to not be so chatty, but it just can’t help itself. Poit! It loves making those funny noises.”

The megalomaniac couldn’t help but blush and smile a little at Pinky’s naïve nature and trivial comments. “It’s just…set some feelings in me that weren’t there before a few moments ago. That’s really it.”

“Oh! Like the day we became a couple! That was so fun! And so sweet of you! I remember that all the time!” Pinky nuzzled Brain after saying that.

“I appreciate your comments and your unbridled affection for me.” Brain nuzzled Pinky back and pulled him nearer. “But would you ever leave me for someone else? I’d hate to make you feel like I don’t love you when I do…”

“Pish-posh!” Pinky interrupted, happily chuckling afterward. “I love you no matter what happens! Narf! And I’d never leave you! I married you because I knew I’d never hate you! I don’t know how many times I need to say it, but I love you! I love you so much!”

Brain felt more tears coming, but they were far from unhappy ones. He gave his husband a soft kiss on the lips, before settling their noses together. “I love you too Pinky. And I don’t suppose I could…uh…m-maybe do that thing again?”

“Do what?”

With a slight eyeroll, Brain changed his position, so he was sitting perfectly in Pinky’s lap, wrapping an arm around his spouse’s waist. “W-what I meant was that I would…like it very much if we shared an embrace again, like before.” He held his breath for what Pinky would say.

“Of course, darling! I always love hugging you! Even if you grab me by the nose afterward because I almost killed you! Zort! C’mere!”

Without saying another word, Pinky pulled Brain to his chest, settling his head on Brain’s. It wasn’t long before the room grew quiet enough to where Brain could hear Pinky’s heart. However, instead of feeling bizarre, Brain felt a pleasant warmth conquer his senses, leaving his face in a deep red and his eyes widened. The sound was just loud enough to be audible but so soft that he could have easily drifted to sleep. It was the same thing as before, yet all the sweeter. Brain could sense his own heartrate increasing. How was it possible for him to fall more in love with his husband?

When Brain finally lifted his head, he was met with the warmest look he’d ever seen Pinky give him. He couldn’t help but softly smile. They just stared at each other for what felt like hours until Pinky finally spoke up.

“C-can I try it too?” Pinky asked with so much hope.

Brain was very puzzled. “Try what Pinky?”

“Can I listen to your heartbeat thingy? I wanna hear it too. Troz!”

He wasn’t sure how to respond. It had been so long since Pinky had made any remarks on his own heartbeat; ever since they’d gotten married, he remembered. But Brain wasn’t going to tell him no. He wanted Pinky to feel the same way that he’d just felt. But he was still a little apprehensive about how Pinky would react.

“Yes, Pinky. You may. As long as you don’t suck all the oxygen out of me. And please remember my injury, okay?”

Pinky cheered, instantly settling his head beneath Brain’s, and laying his ear against his chest. Brain let out a slight gasp at how quickly his partner had hugged him, but he didn’t want to complain as he planted light, tender kisses on Pinky’s head so that Pinky could feel his love. He already knew his heartbeat was fast, so he hoped Pinky wouldn’t mind.

He was surprised when Pinky pulled away so quickly. Brain was worried he’d done something wrong, although by the way Pinky was staring at him, he could tell Pinky was more amazed than anything.

“Brain! Your heart is sooooo cute! It’s making me swooooon! Poit! It sounds so soft and sweet. Kinda like you!” Pinky purred, his eyes fluttering.  

Brain was flattered by Pinky’s charming words. Though he still thought that their embrace was far from over. “Pinky, dearest, if you’re still up for more… I guess you could continue listening if you so desire.”

The taller mouse perked up, clear excitement showing. “Really? You mean it?”

“Certainly, Pinky. I’d be keen on it if you kept going.” Brain could feel the blush returning to his face.

“Well then I better not waste any more time!”

Pinky was true to his word, grabbing Brain and resting his head on his chest, humming softly as their embrace continued. When Pinky had made the sound, Brain shuddered a bit, his entire body heating up. His husband was very adorable when he was like this, so loving and cuddly.

After a few moments of silence, Pinky finally said something again. “Y-know, Brain. I could stay like this forever and ever. I love your heartbeat. And I love you! I wanna stay with you beyond forever! Narf!”

For once, Brain agreed with his lover, and though it was only one paw, he tried to hold Pinky as tightly as he could. Before he could finally silence himself and just sink into the moment, he responded with words he felt like he’d needed to say all night.

“I love you too, Pinky. And I agree with your statement. I want to remain with you forever too.”

“You mean it, love?”

He did his best to keep Pinky close, but his husband was nuzzling and kissing his head and it tickled just a little. While he tried at first to tell Pinky to stop, Brain suddenly froze when he sensed an unusual, yet loving feeling began seeping into his mind.

That’s when he noticed it.

The noise that he’d grown quite accustomed to over the past few years. This time, though when he heard it, something was different. His reaction was different.

Pinky’s heartbeat.