Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Clarence paced behind her, talking a million miles a minute.

“Well, gee Betty, I really do appreciate you doing this for me, but-“ Betty abruptly stood from her chair.

“Oh shush, Clarence, you.” She tapped his shoulder, “ Will.” She tapped again, this time a bit harder, “Do.” Another, even harder, hit, “Great” Finally, she pushed him back “Trust me.”
She smoothed out his vest.

“Betty! Is this that,” Oscar looked Clarence up and down, drinking him in, “handsome belle you told me about?”

“Oh, hiya Oscar, yep. This is he, Clarence will be such a good help on set, trust me.” Betty bumps his shoulder as he walks by her to properly greet Clarence.

Oscar holds his hand out to Clarence, shaking his hand, quietly studying his features. “Of course I trust you Betty,” letting go of his hand, Oscar walked over to where the camera was, gesturing for Clarence to follow, “I’m sure he will be a great help.”

Clarence immediately jumped to Oscar’s side, “Of course, what do you need, si-“ He was cut off

“None of that, not here Clarence, we’re all needed to make these shorts, so none of that. Alright?” Oscar once again looked him up and down.

Clarence nodded and smiled, “Alright.”

Oscar grinned, “Excellent, now, places, oh Clarence, here you are,” Oscar handed him a megaphone, “Just repeat everything I say into this, please.”

“Of course, now, places everyone!” Clarence shouted, as the scene began.

Chapter Text

“Clarence, honey, what did ya think about him?” Betty sat next to him, handing him some water.

Clarence looked around, like he was checking who could be listening, “Betty, doll, again, I really appreciate you doing this, but did ya hear what he called me?” He leaned closer to her.

She grabbed his hands, “Course I did, I’m always getting called belle, what’s the big deal?”

He squeezed her hands, frowning, “It’s a big deal because I ain’t a girl Betty, if someone talks, if someone says Imma faggot, I could be goin’ to the big house.”

Betty looks surprised, “Oh Clarence, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything, I would hate for anything to happen. Look, if it makes you feel better, I’ll talk to him, tell him he oughta not say stuff like that to you. He’ll listen, believe me.”

“Gee, thanks Bets, but you don’t hafta do that.”

“Nonsense, I do have to if it makes you comfortable, look, you wanna know why Oscar needed a new assistant?” Clarence shook his head.

“Great, so, here’s what happened. The old guy, don’t even remember his name, don’t really care, kept on flirting with me. And like, I’m fine with flirting, every now and again, don’t get me wrong, but this guy, he would not stop flirting, so I marched up to Oscar, and I said, ‘Hey Oscar, your assistant is making me uncomfortable, so I would prefer if he wasn’t here any more,’ and Oscar was like, ‘Of course doll, whatever you want.’”

Clarence shook his head, “No, you don’t hafta do that, it’s alright, it’s just if someone calls him a fag, he’ll be fine, he’s the Betty Boops director, you can’t just replace him. The assistant on the other hand, he’s easily replaceable.”

He looked down at his hands, shaking, when Betty grabbed them and said, “Nonsense, I will let him know, that if he lets you go because people are calling you, that, I will go to. I promise. And when have I ever broke a promise?”

He smiled at Betty, still shaking his head. “I don’t think it’s that easy babe. The world is made for people like you, not like me. Not for queers.” He let go of her hands and wrapped his own around his body.

Betty huffed, “Well, well, I’ll do something to change that. The world should be made for everyone, not just for folks like me.”

Clarence looked around the room, eyes landing on the photos on the vanity. He chuckled as he picked up one of them, “This was from your first short.”

Betty looked up at him, “Y’know I don’t like thinking about that one, it’s too weird.”

“Yes, I know, that’s why I like to bring it -“ A knock at the door cut him off.

“Betty, I’m coming in, so please be decent.” Oscar’s voice rang out. Both jumped and Clarence ran to hide.

Betty sat down on the chair in front of the vanity, “Oh hiya Oscar! Whatcha doing, here, in my dressing room?”

“Betty! I was just coming to talk to you about your friend, the one who was here today, for the assistant job.” Oscar approached her.

Betty crossed her arms, “What about him?”

Oscar raised his hands in surrender, “All good things, I was just coming to ask, did I scare him off? I haven’t been able to find him since we went on break.”

Clarence was about to come out when Betty said, “Oh, I’m sure ya didn’t, Clarence just wants to impress you. Ya better be careful with him though pal. Clarence happens to be one of my closest friends, so if you do anything to hurt him.” She gestured threateningly.

Oscar took a few steps back, backing into where Clarence was hiding. “Horsefeathers!” Oscar shouted as he fell backwards.

Betty immediately jumped up, running over to the two, “Gee, you birds alright? That was quite the tumble you took.” She offered her hand to Oscar.

He took it, smiling, “Thanks Betty, I’m quite alright doll,” he turned to Clarence, offering his hand to him, “Now are you alright there baby?”

Clarence accepted his hand, stammering, “Yep, I’m alright.”

Oscar grinned, pulling him into a hug, “Attaboy. Sorry about that. And I’m sorry, for … whatever I did or did not do that made you uncomfortable working with or for me.”

Clarence returned the hug, smiling, “No, it’s quite alright.”

“If I ever, and I mean ever, do anything to make you upset, tell me. I would hate to upset someone, especially someone so close with Betty.”

Chapter Text

*The Next Day*

Clarence sat in Oscars office, with three coffees, once again pacing back and forth, waiting for Oscar to arrive.

“Oh, I shoulda asked him how he liked his coffee, cause, he probably won’t like this one, I shoulda just stayed home, yes, that’s it. I’ll leave, that’s what I’ll do. Can’t mess up if you’re not here. That’s what I’m doing, oh,” Clarence turned to face Oscar, who was holding two coffees.

Oscar, glancing at the desk, chuckled, “Looks like we had the same idea.”

“Certainly looks that way.” Clarence made his way to the door.

Oscar moved to grab his arm, “Look, I really am sorry-“

“No,” Clarence tore his arm away, “you don’t get to apologise. It’s not fair that you get to, cause I can’t. I flirt with the, with the wrong guy, I’m as good as dead. I don’t get to apologise, so why should you?”

Oscar didn’t respond, standing silent. “Aren’t you gonna respond? Ya just gonna let me yell, is that it!”

Clarence stood in front of Oscar, arms at his sides, fists clenched, “Well, are you going to say anything?”

He stayed silent, bowing his head as he dropped to his knees. Clarence glanced quickly at the open office door, “Hey now, hey. Woah, we’re in your office, I don’t think-“

He was cut off by Oscar grabbing his hands and resting his forehead against them, in a silent plea for forgiveness.

Clarence shifted on his feet, glancing up at the doorway every few seconds, looking for anyone who may be watching them.

They stayed like that for a few moments, Oscar bowing his head like he was praying to Clarence, all while Clarence was watching the doorway.

They stayed like that, up until, “Oscar, where are you? I thought you wanted to start right at- oh, oh geez, sorry for interrupting.” Betty was backing out as fast as she came in.

Clarence turned to face her properly, stammering, “No, that’s not, we weren’t… Uh, he was just…” He looked between Betty and Oscar, “I was just… I wouldn’t do that.”

Betty looked between the two of them, Oscar finally standing, “Haha, yes, please excuse us, it was nothing inappropriate, I was simply trying to apologise for yesterday.”

Betty looked between the two, hands on her hips, “Uhuh, sure. Anyway, you two’ve got five minutes to do, whatever it is you was doing.”

Clarence glared at Betty, face bright red in embarrassment, “We weren’t doing nothing Bets, cmon.”

Oscar coughed, “Y’know, Betty wouldn’t let anything happen to ya?” He steps closer to him, “I wouldn’t let anything happen to ya.” He raised his hand to caress his face.

Clarence slapped his hand away, “Ya don’t even know me, you can’t promise that.”

“Then let me, let me get to know you.” Oscar grabbed his hands, pleading, “I just want get to know you.”

Clarence dropped his hands, turning to leave, “I don’t know, I don’t know.” He walked out the door, glancing back at Oscar, before shaking his head.

Oscar called after him, “How about dinner? This Friday?”

Clarence stopped, “Alright, but I choose the place and you’re paying.”

“Oh, ‘course doll, whatever you want.”

Chapter Text

Friday Afternoon

Betty sat in front of the vanity, powdering her face, “Clarence, you know I wouldn’t do anything, I just wanna know who your date is.”

Clarence stood next to her, holding a mirror for her, “I know, but I don’t want you to know. I’ll tell ya after the date.”

She turned to him, putting down the powder and brush, “Look, sweetie,” she grabbed the mirror and sat it down, grabbing his hands, “I just want to know because I know that some guys pretend to be queer, just to hurt guys who are, you’ve told me all about your dates like that.”

Clarence gave her a tight smile, squeezing her hands, “I know Bets. I know that I’ve told you about dates that have gone wrong, but I don’t think he could beat me up even if he wanted to,” Betty looked at him in slight surprise, “Yeah, I know, I know, I’m finally branching out, not going out with jerks.”

She giggled, “Well can you give me a hint of who he is?” Leaning closer, cupping her ear, “I promise I won’t do anything with it.”

He chuckled, leaning in as well, “He is someone you know, quite well I’d say.”

Betty grinned, covering his mouth with her hand, “Is it Oscar? It’s Oscar isn’t it?”

Clarence rolled his eyes before nodding, “Yes it’s Oscar.”

She laughed, jumping up and pulling Clarence to his feet, spinning around with him. “Oh Clarence, I’m so happy, you two will be such a cute couple.”

They were interrupted by a knock, as well as a voice calling out, “Ms. Boop! Five minutes.”

Betty smiled, calling out, "Thanks Roger! I'll be out in a minute!"

Clarence pulled away, "Well, I better get out of here, see what he needs me to do."

Betty nodded, taking a step back to the vanity, "Have fun on your date tonight, don't get into trouble."

Clarence smiled, turning to the door, "I will make no guarantees."

—Later That Night—

Clarence stood on the corner of 7th Avenue and 45th Street, glancing around, waiting for Oscar to show up.

He sighed, beginning to pull out a pack of cigarettes, when suddenly a voice said, "Well, hey there nance. How are you tonight?"

Clarence jumped a bit before turning to look at the speaker. It was Oscar, wearing a checkered suit, sans the hat he normally wears on set. "Well, I was just waiting for someone to come and take me to The Lobster." Clarence responded, nodding his head in the direction of the restaurant.

Oscar grinned, "Well, I think I can manage that, if you'll have me." He held out his hand for Clarence to take.

Clarence smiled before taking the out stretched hand, "I think I will."

—Later—

Oscar thanked the waiter as he sat down a brownie a la mode, smiling at the two men. "Let me know if there is anything I can do for you."

Oscar smiled at him before turning to look at Clarence, who was staring down at the table, looking around cautiously. Oscar grabbed his hand, gently squeezing it, "Hey, no one'll bother us, trust me."

Clarence met Oscars eyes, smiling before saying, "I know. We should probably finish this now." Moving to grab a spoon, he let go of Oscars hand.

The two sat in a comfortable silence as they ate the dessert, looking up at one another and chuckling. Eventually they finished eating, with Oscar paying for the whole meal, the two of them left.

—

Clarence stopped in front of his building, looking at Oscar, "I did have fun tonight, really I did." He paused, taking a deep breath, "but, I don't think we should try to do this, at least not now." He dropped his hand, taking a step towards the door.

Oscar looked at him with a sadness to his eyes, before nodding, "No, of course. That's perfectly alright. now don't you worry about your job, you have been the best assistant director I've had. If I make you uncomfortable, I'm sorry, please let me know," he stepped toward Clarence, "I do care about you, I really do, so if you ever need anything, you can ask me."

Clarence nodded, whispering, "Thank you," before turning to the door and pushing it open.