okay I lowkey headcanon that towning met either in training or just out of it and became kinda friendly but not close. there was some initial attraction, towns knew he was gay and was attracted from the start but browning was still in denial and trying to be the good, straight southern boy his family wanted him to be
browning had just moved to the city for the job and was still getting used to it. they get much closer after they get partnered together, to the point that browning fully realized he’s gay because he really, really liked towns. browning had gone low/no contact with his parents shortly before but towns didn’t know that, so when towns was getting to go to see his family for thanksgiving he asked browning what his plans were
browning was kinda dodgy, which was weird because he was decently open about most things with towns, but he didn’t want to be pushy so just kinda…asked if he’d like to come along to his family’s dinner. and browning is nervous at first but towns is his best friend (and crush) so he agreed.
anyways that’s when towns’ mom is first like, “oh, your partner is such a sweet southern boy” and towns is internally laughing bc browning looks so awkward and it’s so inaccurate to how he usually is. but dammit, browning needs to make a good impression on his potential mother in law!!!
and towns’ family know he’s gay to me so after they call him and are like, “I know you said he’s your work partner, but is also your Partner™️” and towns just unloads his crush onto his unsuspecting mother (she encourages him to talk to browning about his feelings <3 we can thank mrs towns for towning)
thea I need you to know this is canon to me now i am in LOVE with this
Towns’ mom is a queen. I love the idea of everyone thinkin Browning is the sweet darling southern boy when he’s so not. But just because he talks Like That they’re like awww… he’s a lil cutie isn’t he?
Browning spending Thanksgiving with Towns’ family and having an open conversation about Towns being gay and like it’s a totally natural conversation it Just Comes Up and Browning is so comfortable but so envious because he’ll never have this sort of relationship with his own family.
