Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

An upcoming server collaboration for the big and small SMPs are happening soon. Lifesteal was invited to join once more to the Civilization SMP. This time the server had a few twist.

Though teams are by server, there were smaller teams within it. Those smaller teams were randomized and Rekrap and ClownPierce were paired together. Rapier— that was their team name. A pretty strong duo, if you asked Rekrap. Though he's not sure Clown thinks so. But hey, he carries his own weight! except the times he doesn't but thats less times than he does. He is a pretty good speedrunner, by ClownPierce's words. Its a compliment he greatly appreciates, of course, coming from a literal god at the game. At first, he was a bit nervous when he was teamed with Clown. They weren't that close and Clown was extremely intimidating. Clown and he had some pretty deadly back and forth previously after all… not that he lived through most of those. But anyway…

To prepare for their teamwork and coordination, Lifesteal as a server, had a day where the pairs would practice together and collaborate with other pairs so they can work as a huge team. Especially that sometimes, some players really play well independently and struggle with teamwork. Each members were on call with their pairs and by the end of the designated time, they would all go to one singular call to discuss plans and techniques. The pairs decided they can record so they can brief on what went wrong, what are the best way to communicate and such, which could be shared with the other teams.

Clown and Rekrap are actually doing pretty well together. Clown taught Rekrap a lot of necessary PvP tips and tricks, as well as dueling one another to get to know their strengths and weaknesses.

"Woah, I didn't actually think that would work." said Rek, they have been practicing for a while and he just "mastered" a trick Clown taught him. "Yeah, that makes it easier, doesn't it?" Clown said. Rek nodded in agreement, he could use this in Lifesteal when they return. It makes for a smoother fight.

Looking at the time, they had about 30 minutes left for their practice before the meeting. Rekrap realizes they haven't actually practiced dueling togther. "Clown, should we, like, fight together? not just with each other?"

"Yeah that sounds fair. We can go in a cave? so its a bit easier when we're grinding on the server."

"Yeah, I'm down." Rekrap answers.

"This one looks good." Clown looks around a huge area of a cave they just mined down to. Rekrap hummed, "Yeah, and its not like we have spare time to look for more." Rek looks at the time, there's about 20 minutes left. He could even see some people already on the channel.

"Rekrap, come, this one's the perfect spot. Its wide and has a lot of mobs, we could probably practice here." Clown points to an area below him. Rek approaches and peeks down, indeed there was a lot of mobs down there. A bit intimidating honestly. "I'm alright here." Intimidating yes, but there would be a lot more challenges in the event, surely. This would help as practice.

Clown studies the place first, he observes. Rek also analyzes the place himself and thinks of the best plays to do with Clown.

"Alright, I got an idea." Clown ushers Rekrap to come closely for their strategy, it was short and quick. They needed it since there wasn't enough time left. So they discuss for a bit and came to a conclusion.

"Okay, I'm ready." Rekrap said, pumping his chest. He actually was excited now, the plan sounded smooth. "Yeah, baby!! Let's go!!" He exclaimed as he jumps down. Clown finds that a bit funny and chuckled, he soon followed and jumped.

Rekrap rushes to the nearest ore vein, they needed iron and diamond. That's the priority. So while Clown lures all the mobs towards a hole, he mines. So far, everything was going smoothly, their communication was great and it felt comfortable and safe since Clown was getting all the mobs. Well… not for long.

He felt a sharp pain on his leg, he quickly turns to see a baby zombie. And its zeroing him really quickly. Rekrap panicked. "Oh my gosh!" He starts running. He barely has enough heart really, he's gotta eat first. But how is he supposed to eat when the baby is so fast?! "Clown!" He shouts.

"Wait, I got a hoard following me. I'll be there in 1." Clown sounded rushed too, he was in a bit of a pinch as well.

"Clown!! Clown! Oh my gosh!" Rek panics, he builds a small pillar and stood on it. However, he was shot by a skeleton and fell down, taking off another heart. But he couldn't even pause for a second because the baby was still there. "CLOWN! CLOWN— BABY! BABY! HELP!" He screamed on top of his lungs. The fricking baby won't leave him alone! Running away like everything depended on it. He didn't even realize what he said he just was on full panic mode.

Clown paused. The mobs following him all fall down the hole they planned to farm later. Baby?

Did he just call me baby? "Alright, I'm coming babe." He said as he ran to rescue Rek. "Baby, where are you?" Clown followed the sound of the screaming. He sees a silhouette running towards lava with a small figure chasing him. "I'M HERE! I'M—"

Clown bursts into laughter when he sees Rek just absolutely in tears screaming bloody mary with a baby zombie behind him.

Clown kills the zombie baby in one fell swoop, saving Rek. "Oh my gosh, thank you so much. I was in low health, and I couldn't eat because the baby kept chasing me!" Rek ranted as he ate two steaks, healing himself. "No problem, baby." Clown answers, chuckling lightly.

Rek looked at him confused, "Baby? is that our new code name now?" seems a bit too intimate.

Clown bursts into hard laughter, "Yeah! Sure, baby." he says. Rek was confused but he guesses that Clown's just memeing. They end their practice session and joins the group call. 

Chapter Text

…

"Oh yeah that was smart, Clown." one commented. Currently all the Lifesteal SMP members were watching and observing some parts of the recording of Rekrap and Clown's coordination practice. They took a bit long in practicing some techniques and PvP'ing each other, but that's not really harming anyone. Finally, Clown skipped to the part where they go to the cave, he mentions that he and Rek wasn't really able to fully practice fighting together due to some time restrictions and some mishaps.

No one was really expecting anything that great, since Clown had said this was the part they had spent the least time and didn't really practice. But boy, was it gold.

It starts out normally with Clown and Rek strategizing their plans.

"Starting off strong." Minute commented. "Yeah, wonder where will it go wrong." Ashswagg spoke, honestly it felt pretty tiring watching and analyzing everyone's playstyle as a duo and having to plan out depending on the duo's dynamics. For example, player 1 could be strong in PvP and could actually carry if he was individually playing. However, if he was teamed with someone who's not well-versed at PvP but excels at different stuff then it might cause problems. Especially since the two are linked in many aspects in the server. Teamwork and coordination for all of them is a must.

But so far, Clown and Rek had a great chemistry.

Clown was able to teach Rek many PvP techniques and Rek mutually taught him some speedrunning knowledge that might be useful. It was a balanced pairing at the very least. And their plan was working out well, communication was good. Though, its noticeable that there's little time left. That's alright though, they can practice again tomorrow. This is their first practice after all.

The camera was currently focused in on Clown, he was the one killing and luring the mobs to a hole. Their ultimate plan was to see if it was an efficient way to level up in their state and gather resources from mobs. It really was going smoothly. Until of course, the distant yelling of Rek.

"Oh my gosh!" it was a bit faint shout, but panic was noticeable. "Clown!!" a scream followed.

"Wow, you're really calm." Peentar joked, the other members laughed. Clown chuckled, it was funnier now that you watch it back.

Unfortunately, Clown's hands were full. He was swarmed with mobs, as much as he wanted to help. He couldn't. "Wait, I got a hoard following me, be there in a second!" He replies back. For a while it was just shouts and a bit quiet, but short-lived. "Clown!! Clown!! Oh my gosh!" Rek shouted with more urgency but his voice were getting louder, he was getting nearer.

"CLOWN!! CLOWN—" You could really hear so much panic in that voice. "BABY!! BABYY!"

Pause. Okay, maybe they really have great chemistry.

"!!!" everyone was shocked, including Rekrap. He did NOT know it sounded like he was calling Clown, "baby". NO WONDER THEIR CODENAME WAS BABY!

Clown paused the recording. This was hilarious. Oh my god.

"BABY?!" everyone just bursts out in laughter. "I didn't know you were together!" Reddoons teased, "I never expected Rek and Clown…" wheeze "…getting together" wheeze "but I'm glad it happened." Derapchu said in between laugh. Jaron audibly smashed his table from laughter. Rekrap was just embarrased but laughed it off, "I didn't know it came off that way!" a surge of laughter erupted once more.

Everyone was just laughing. It wasn't THAT funny but it just so unexpected and they've been looking at footages for a while now. It was a much needed laugh.

"Oh… 'Baby'…HAHA!" Zam laughed. The group were laughing for a while and teasing Rek. Clown waited for at least the loud laughter to die down. He starts playing the footage again, no pauses this time.

As the recording plays, they saw Clown's confused and baffled face, he opened his mouth and said, "Alright, I'm coming babe." he walks for a bit and let the mobs fall down the hole. "Baby, where are you?" 

And everyone just bursts into laughter again. "No way." Mid spoke in disbelief, she thought this was the funniest thing ever. "Clown x Rekrap2 is real…" Squiddo joked. "ClownRap… Reklown?!" "The ship has sailed!" "Rek knows who yaoi is now." Derapchu joked.

Clown snorts, "Oh god… "

"I'M HERE, I'M HER—" The footage continues to play.

Rek was just speechless and embarassed. It is funny but, I don't know! It's embarrasing!

Soon, Rek was in Clown's line of sight. They see Clown burst into laughter when they see the baby zombie behind Rek. Clown quickly killed it with ease. "Oh my gosh, thank you so much. I was in low health, and I couldn't eat because the baby kept chasing me!" They see Rek eating, completely unaware of how funny he was.

 "No problem, baby." Can this get any better?!

Then they see the most confused they ever saw Rek looked, "Baby? is that our new code name now?" This is just cinema. This is peak romance. No one has ever seen love like this. Everyone was just filled up with energy again. 

Rek just wants to bury himself underground. Clown and everybody else are having the time of their life.

 "Yeah! Sure, baby."