Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Minty laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling. Outside, the noise of cars honking and objects going about their day-to-day lives was abundant. He was spaced out, thinking about everything he had to do later.
The door squealed open, and Minty jumped up in surprise. “Oh shoot- hi Brandy.” Brandy walked in towards the night stand and grabbed his watch. “Hey Minty, you ok?”
Minty nodded, “Ya i was just napping… where are you headed too?”
Brandy finished putting on his watch and grabbed a bag, “I'm going to work, I’ll be back at like 3pm.” Minty smiled nervously as Brandy walked away, “K, bye…!” Minty called afterwards. He kept sitting up until he heard the sound of the front door close and lock. Minty layed back down.
Staring at the ceiling.
After a couple of minutes, the green anthropomorphic mint leaf groaned, “Ughhh fine…”. Forcing his way out of bed, Minty slowly walked toward the mirror. He stared at himself.
His body looked weird to him. Minty didn’t know how to describe it, and he also didn’t feel like thinking about it. He looked…
“Just make it to Friday.” He whispered, walked away and out of the room, towards the kitchen. Minty grabbed himself a bagel and cream cheese. “Maybe I should go on a diet and build some muscle…” He whispered, as he crunched into it.
He sat in a chair and looked out the window. Life was boring as usual. It was always like this. Brandy left to work at 8am, came back at 3pm, and the whole time Minty would just do house chores or sleep. Kind of like a housewife… but he’d figure out the taxes and what not. It's not like Minty wanted to live like this; he had got fired from his last job, which was an accountant. It was because he “wasn't fit for the team…” whatever that meant. Really though, he had a depressive slump, bigger than usual last month. And that did affect his work life, so he couldn’t blame his boss for firing him. Who would wanna work with him?
Who even likes Minty? The stupid green… he stared at his bagel. He wasn’t hungry anymore.

It was around 9:30 am when Minty got into the shower and noticed something. There was a bracelet that he’d never seen before on the counter. He picked it up and tried it on, it was too small. Definitely too small for brandy to wear. Minty stared at it confused and shrugged, walking into the shower anyways. It was probably his mother’s or something; when she came to visit Brandy, Minty had to leave the house.
It did bother him a bit that he had to leave the house when she visited. He wanted to live a stable happy life with Brandy and meet his family, but his mother would never approve of Brandy dating a “monster” (i.e, a mint leaf that had the characteristics of a cat or whatnot), and also the fact that Minty and Brandy were both dudes. But she didn’t know Brandy was in a relationship either, so if she were to find Minty in her son's house… she’d have a heart attack. But Minty thought, just maybe, if he could convince his boyfriend’s mom he was perfect, they’d all live happily. Ever after. Or whatever it goes like.
Minty walked out of the shower and dried off. The bracelet still was on the table and he grabbed it, thinking he’d give this to Brandy later. Grabbing his bag, Minty put whatever he needed inside, including the bracelet.
At 10:20 am, Minty left the house.

Chapter Text

Brandy was resting his arm on the bar table, pouring a drink. The dude sitting across from him was drunk, complaining about his marriage.
“Ugh it's just you know… you know how the ladies are… always ordering the men around like… ahh…” The customer, a fork, laid his head down on the table. Brandy gave the finished drink to a chick near him, “Hey bud,” He said, “Maybe it's time to chill off the drinks and go home, make up with your wife.” The fork slowly raised his hand and stared at Brandy blankly. “Uhhhhh oki doki sir! You’re right!” The man got up, slammed a 30 on the table, and walked off. The chick, a blue feather with anthropomorphic claws, giggled as he walked off. “Wow bar man, you're pretty good.”
Brandy shrugged and walked to the other side of the bar picking up an order of another cocktail. It was nearing the end of his shift, and he wanted his lunch break, which was at 11:00am.
Right when he served the drink across the counter, someone familiar walked in. It was… wait a damn minute.
Minty.
Brandy stopped and turned around quickly so Minty didn't see him. Too late.
In the reflection of the whiskey bottle he could see Minty, waving his arm in excitement. Brandy sighed and slowly turned around. Minty was walking up to the bar, smiling. “Hiiiii Brandy!”
Brandy looked annoyed, “Minty!” He hissed, “You need to be at home!” Minty ignored his boyfriend and pulled his bag onto the counter. “Uhhhh here you forgot some stuff, so I brought it here! Like the good boyfriend I am.” Brandy shushed Minty, “Shhhh! Don't say that so loud!” Minty ignored him, yet again, and pulled out a bracelet from his bag. “Here, you left this.”
Brandy stared at it with surprise, “Oh- sorry, I'll give that to her later.” Minty nodded, “Your mom right?”
Brandy winced. It wasn’t his moms, or Brandy’s. It was someone else’s and he completely forgot to take it away. “Uhm ya… my moms.”
Minty raised an eyebrow, shrugged, and then put his bag back on. “Want me to pick anything up for you?” Brandy nodded, “Yea, gimme a grilled cheese from that place down the street.”
Minty nodded and waved his hand goodbye, and walked away. Brandy stared after him as he walked away, holding the bracelet in his hand close to his chest. He sighed as Minty walked out of sight.
Brandy checked his watch and read 11:02. “BET!” He exclaimed, and walked into the back, it was his break. Brandy sat down in the employee room, pulled out his phone and started scrolling.
He felt someone walk up to him. Brandy looked up.
“Hi Brandy! Is that my bracelet?” Maplesyrup asked. Brandy was caught off guard, “Oh yea- I mean yea I was just- here take it,”. Brandy slipped it onto her wrist. Maplesyrup smiled and sat down next to him, “Whatchu watching?” Brandy shrugged, “Brain Rot.” Maplesyrup laid her head on his shoulder, “Can I watch it with you?”
Brandy nodded and adjusted the phone so both of them could see it.
Brandy really liked Maplesyrup.

Chapter Text

Brandy put in the password to the apartment. It was 3:17 pm, he had finished his last shift for the day at the bar. The exhaustion from talking to drunk people all day started to wear on him. At Least he didn't have the night shift… that would've been a nightmare.
Brandy walked in and took his scarf off, putting it on the hanger nearby. “Minty! I’m home!” He called, walking towards the living room. Minty was sitting on the couch, asleep. Brandy walked up to the couch and smirked, setting his bag down and sitting next to Minty.
He laid there next to Minty for a bit, closing his eyes and clearing his head. Earlier that day, Maple Syrup was talking to him about her brother’s drama with his wife, and Brandy thought it was the funniest thing to see her get crossed. Minty usually didn’t show when he was angry, but Maple Syrup looked cute when she’d talk about something that upset her. It made him want to cheer her up.
“AHHHHH” Brandy flinched and turned his head towards his boyfriend, “AH! Minty! You ok?”
Minty stared at Brandy in surprise, “Sorry I didn't know you were home.” The green leaf relaxed and noticed Brandy’s bag on the floor, “Got any tips?” He smiled with glee and reached over Brandy.
“Ey-Ey-Ey! My money, I earned this.” Brandy stopped Minty by grabbing his wrist. Minty narrowed his eyes. “By what, rizzing up single 20-year old college kids after giving them 10 shots? Gimme that.” Minty snatched the bag and unlatched Brandy’s bag.
“Hmmmm… ooo! A thirty! I bought you that sandwich earlier, so can I have 15?” Minty asked, turning to Brandy smiling. He looked like an autistic bee. Brandy sighed, “Ok whatever…” Minty raised the money in joy.
“AMEN! GOD IS GOOD! GOD IS GREATTTTT!”
Brandy grabbed his bag and shut it, “Save that for when you get hired. Speaking of being hired, did that job interview you went to the other week get back to you?”
Minty went a bit quiet when Brandy mentioned that, then stood up and stretched, money still in hand- “Uh I dunno, I’ma check later.”
Brandy watched as partner walked across the living room to their own room. “Ok, tell me what they said, K?” He called after Minty.
Minty didn’t respond, just nodded. Brandy sighed and leaned back.
Something was off, but he didn't want to think about it.
Then something buzzed. Brandy leaned down to get his phone and opened it up. A text message- from “Mom”. He sighed, and opened up the text message.
Brandy stopped breathing.
“Hey, I'm outside your apartment. Let me in pleaseeeeee :)”
It was usual for her to come visit him, but she almost always warned him beforehand. And he ALWAYS had time to prepare before hand so that she didn’t run into Minty.
He turned his head to stare at the entrance door. His mom was on the other side.
And Minty was in the house at the same time.