Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Branzy had just stumbled upon a certain barrel while trapping Redd’s base.

What was inside? An egg
A dragon egg.

It was one of the most prized artifacts of the server, and stealing it wouldn't go unnoticed.

So that's why he kept it! It would also bother his main target greatly.

//

Sneaking away with the egg, Branzy quickly hid back to his own base, informing his allies of his sudden burst of luck.

Now, what to do of it?

Something in him was worried for the egg, it needed safety.
It was kind of his kin, as a descent of the ender dragons himself. He couldn't shake off that desire to protect it.

When the vault idea sprouted in his mind, Branzy spent hours perfecting it, at first aiming for something that would keep the intruders out. Working on the plans for hours straight, as time was short after Pangi had threatened him to force him to disclose the location within a week.

The egg was gently snuggled in pillows and blankets next to Branzy’s desk in his room, kept warm and safe.
He couldn't stop himself from glancing at it, honestly considering putting a fake in the vault to keep the real egg safe with him.
Oh no he was already attached.

But it was probably not a big deal, he would place it away in the vault and eventually forget about it, this egg is probably unable to hatch anyways … right? It was just his own instincts acting up.

And after a sleepless night of working and reworking and rereworking every details of the vault, fighting with himself if he should make a fake and risk to get hunted down if it gets noticed, or put the real egg in there despite his heart aching at the idea, he eventually settled on a quite explosive design, and to put the real egg in, because his safety on the server was more important than some unfertilised shell. Even though this conclusion took him longer than he’d like to admit.

On his way out to start gathering the materials, Branzy very gently caressed the top of the egg, before picking it and the cushions up to move everything to a more discreet closet in a corner. He couldn't risk someone stumbling on it.
If he could, he’d bring it with him, but sadly, that egg was quite big and not the easiest to carry around.

//

He would come back every few hours, storing away what he had gathered and checking on the egg every time, probably a little paranoid.

Until near the end of the day, he came back to find the closet open.

Pure panic was tightening his guts, as he urged to check inside.
And his breath cut short.

The egg was cracked open.

“Oh god, oh god oh god oh god. Oh dear god oh no.”

What happened? Who did that? His door was locked shut, wasn't it? He had to unlock it to enter the room. At least he thinks he did. Did he really? Most likely, but the doubt was creeping up. He started checking everything, seeing if anyone had mined inside the room, a misplaced block on the walls, anything.

And then, his panic was interrupted by a noise.
An honestly cute little growl followed by books falling off a shelf.

And when his purple eyes turned to look at said shelf

A baby dragon.
It had black scales, dark grey horns and bright purple eyes, like the ender dragon. But the horns and eyes were especially similar to Branzy’s.

The albino slowly approached, making sure to look the least threatening possible.

“Hey there little guy? Don't worry I'm not gonna hurt you, I am totally non-threathening..”

But the dragon ended up jumping on him. The albino, of course, caught the little thing, and the latter snuggled into him, feeling visibly safe around what it considered its mother.

Oh dear.

He couldn't stop his own tail from wagging, holding the scally infant with wide eyes, shining with a form of adoration, glued on it.
He was so cooked.

//

After sitting on the floor of his room for a few hours, honestly forgetting about his surroundings and current issues, only acknowledging the fragile little being in his arms that he had been gently petting the whole time, Branzy had to start figuring out what to do.
He couldn't put her in the vault. That’s a baby, a child, HIS child. He couldn't deny it. He was already too attached, and pretending the egg was empty cannot work anymore. Because it definitely wasn't empty apparently.

One positive point is that he could put some random weight like a rock inside the cracked shell and glue it back together, it would make a perfect fake while technically not being fake. So the problem of what to put inside the vault was settled.

But he needed to inform someone, he couldn't handle that alone. He needed someone he could trust and that he knew would be able to protect her, a second parent for the child.

Clownpierce.

But before that, he needed sleep, as he had been awake for way over 24 hours by now.

And Branzy stood up with some struggles to head to the bedroom part of the personal quarter, laying down on his side, curled up around the little bring he was still holding preciously.
He didn't feel capable to let go of her.

Chapter Text

In the morning, Branzy hadn’t taken too long to get up, however, being careful to not wake up his new child.
He preferred being ready in case someone broke in, his head was still wanted for the egg.

He needed to reach for help as soon as possible, the PMC was his safest bet, especially Clown, who he trusted more than anyone else on the server.
To be fair, it was justified. He was known as the deadliest assassin, being way more capable in pvp than Branzy could ever be. And on top of all, he was a secret member of the PMC, and loyal to them through every alliance he ever had. Which he proved several times.
So he knew they trusted him, and he hoped to trust them back.
His relationship to the jester was also… peculiar. They never talked about it in details on this season, but the hand off comments, the little flirts, and even just the long exchanged looks whenever they’d cross eachothers way. It was pretty sappy. But the albino liked it.
And this is why his first idea of the perfect candidate to be co-parent, was none other than the jester.

He looked through the room for a minute, until he found what he needed, a bag. One big enough to hide his daughter on his way.
Branzy knew how to be discreet, going unnoticed was his best perk after all, but the baby dragon may catch more eyes than he’d like.
Speaking of which, the little one has woken up, head perked up from the bed to stare at her white haired parent.

“Oh hey there little cutie! Don't mind me, just preparing what we need to go somewhere.”

He said after turning his head to see the little purple eyes fixed on him. He had the softest tone he ever had.
After tossing a blanket at the bottom of the bag to make it more comfortable, he walked to the scally infant.

“Alright! Now we need to be discreet okay?”

He didn't knew if she could understand him, but speaking to babies is how they learn language anyways.
And he picked her up carefully before installing her in the handbag.

“Try to stay still please.”

And he closed the lid, which completely hid the small creature, before putting the handle around his opposite shoulder, a hand carefully placed around the bag to make sure everything was fine, before stepping out.

He didn't lose any time, taking the paths with the least players, going under the tree’s shades or manmade contraptions to avoid anyone with elytras.

And soon enough, he got himself inside the PMC headquarters, the non-public area that served as a main base and a place to rest outside of the quite bloody work.

He couldn't see anyone there, and so he simply sat on one of the armchairs, bag on his lap, discreetly checking inside to make sure his child was okay. And she was !
He couldn't help but smile while petting her head in a soothing pace, like how mothers move their thumb instinctively around their child’s head when holding them. The two purple eyes closing at the gesture made his heart completely melt.

“Hey there Branzycraft. I wasn't expecting you here today”

Clown’s voice made the albino jump, which also startled the baby. The assassin’s footsteps were always as silent as the grim reaper’s.

“Oh no no it’s okay, shh.. H-Hi Clown !! I needed to speak to you!”

His hand was hidden by the bag, but still caressing the dragon's head to sooth her.
And the Jester simply tilted his head, waiting for the albino to continue what he had to say.
He was simply standing there, scythe in his back, arms crossed, and mask hiding the curiosity in his eyes.

“So… I wanted to ask you if you wanted to be the father of my baby !”

“... What?”

And Branzy held out what was hiding in his bag, a small baby dragon that coincidentally shared similarities with Branzy. The older one was smiling brightly and tail wagging.
Clown was completely dumbfounded. He was expecting EVERYTHING but this.

“...Who did this to you ?? Who knocked you up?? Who do I need to kill??”

“Oh no no no, no one ! What? No! That's just- that's the dragon egg, it hatched, and… here we are !”

Branzy punctuated with a nervous laughter.
If you could see the jester’s face, you’d see his jaws agape in confusion
But he ended up accepting the weight of parenthood.

“...Alright, sure”

“GREAT! Great great great, could you huh, watch over her for… maybe a week? Probably less…”
Branzy immediately continued, holding the scally infant forward to give her to the assassin. Smiling brightly.

“Wait what? Are you seriously going to make me babysit it now?”

“W-Well- You, huh, you don't look busy right now, and-and you already accepted to be her dad, and, like… I thought you weren't that busy, and like… You’d basically be looking after the dragon egg ! Technically. And I can’t really bring her outside to- to build the vault, it’s dangerous, and…”

Branzy got interrupted by the jester finally taking the dragon in his arms, struggling a few seconds to figure out how to hold her correctly.

“...Fine”

“YES, THANKS YOU CLOWN, THANKS YOU SO MUCH!”

Branzy almost leant forward to kiss the assassin on the cheek but caught himself and ran away to hide the shame reddening his cheeks. Before vanishing through the door he saluted Leowook, who was standing near the entrance.

“Hi Leo, bye Leo!”

“Hey Branzy! … So, can I be the fun uncle”

The feline was looking at Clown, how long had he been standing there? Who knows.
But Clown didn't notice him until now, to his own shame, and turned his head to look at the leopard. Both of them had their faces hidden, but you could tell that one had a smug plastered across his face, and the other was unamused.

“You know what, sure, if you want, but you have to help me then.”

“Sounds fair enough. So what's the lil one’s name?”

“Hum …”

“You guys didn't name your child ??”

“Well in my defense I didn't know about it- her until 10 minutes ago !”

“Tsk tsk tsk… deadliest assassin but worst dad”

The feline shook his head

“I can be an incredible dad if you give me more than a few minutes. Branzy didn't tell me if he named her already, so I may as well pick one…?”

The jester paused.

“Shouldn't you guys pick a name together? While holding hands romantically and all”

“...He bursted out of the room, if he wanted a word on it then he should've stayed …”

The assassin very much ignored the comment about “holding hands romantically”, feeling his face heat up under his mask.

“Now that I think about it, he didn't give me any instructions… What do you even eat?”

He held up the dragon in front of him, hands under her arms, facing her. The infant simply chirped, wagging her little tail. Clown couldn't help but melt at the sight of the happy little gal.

And now, he had to figure out how to take care of a newborn dragon.