Chapter Text
It hadn't been long since the circus had arrived in town.
You'd thought most people who had issues with them would have moved on by now, instead their hate for the members continued to fester.
That wasn't to say that everyone in town disliked them. You for one had come to like the members, at least, the two you had gotten to know.
One a bit more than the other.
An image of Pierrot pops into your head then, bringing a smile to your face as you prepare for the work day ahead.
You check everything twice, ensuring that the place is locked up tight, and that you aren't forgetting anything, before making your way out of the apartment.
Before meeting Pierrot, you had always been the type to carry a bandage or two around. You weren’t accident prone or anything, but it was good to have a couple on you in case of emergencies. Lately though, it felt as if you were carrying a whole first aid kit in your bag.
The number of times Pierrot found you, bleeding, with a scrape or two was starting to become concerning. You would have chalked it up to this particular Pierrot being very…clumsy. If you hadn't seen first hand the abuse some people thought they could get away with.
It was maddening.
But even more so, it made you sad.
Pierrot didn't seem to be bothered one way or the other about it. In fact he seemed nothing if not genuinely happy in your presence. So, you tried your best to smile and comfort him whenever he came to you.
And you did genuinely find yourself smiling whenever Pierrot was around.
But, maybe, you weren't as subtle about your feelings as you'd hoped. You began to see Pierrot less and less.
After your first encounter, it felt as if he were making an effort to come and see you everyday. At first, he would meet with you three times a day. Then two…now it seemed like you were down to one visit per day…
And, that surprisingly bothered you more than you liked. Among other things…
Initially, you thought his absence may have been work related. Maybe he had simply moved onto the next person.
He'd already gotten you to visit the circus once afterall, even though he had said you were an exception in getting to hear him speak, the more logical, sometimes disparaging part of your thoughts, told you otherwise.
It's just a gimmick.
A ‘shared secret’ that makes a person feel special when they hear something like that.
Something to lure you in. Get you to come see them and spend more money.
Sorta like how they say a staff on a cruise might be a bit extra flirtatious, and give a person extra attention, so that you’ll spend or tip more.
Not that you’d ever been on a cruise…but the principal was there. You worked in customer service. You knew the game. It wasn’t anything malicious on Pierrot's part either, it was a two way service. Everybody gets something out of it.
You had another sneaking suspicion however, that it wasn’t because of that. It wasn’t because he had gotten what he wanted from you and had simply moved onto the next customer.
Instead, you couldn't help but think that he was trying his best to look more presentable in front of you. Because he’d caught you looking upset each time you had to dress a new wound.
OR, maybe you just don’t want to face the reality that you weren’t that special to begin with.
You’d rather believe that he’s taking care of himself before coming to see you so that you won’t be sad. You’d rather believe he’d notice something so subtle in you rather than face the reality that you’re just another customer.
You come to a slow crawl in your walking.
Why am I…even carrying this first aid? You think, a sick feeling curling in your stomach.
It’s not like he had come to you for any of that stuff as of late.
Because he's looking after himself. He doesn't want to make me sad. You assure, only to hear another voice in the back of your mind.
Because there's someone else.
Your chest feels tight…
You’re so lost in your thoughts, that you don’t notice a gloved hand carefully lift your chin up, until his face is so close to yours. You blink in a panic out of your reverie as Harlequins voice, like a growl wrapped in silk, reaches your ears.
“What a delicious expression you have on you. Care to whisper your troubles to me, madam?~”
You feel a shiver run up along your body, before quickly putting some distance between you two, trying to hide your face from view. Not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing how embarrassingly red your face has gotten.
Judging from the amused chuckle that leaves him, you’re sure it's to no avail.
Were you THAT lost in your thoughts of Pierrot that you seriously hadn’t noticed him, a breath away from…
“Don’t…scare me like that.” You manage to stutter out. Heart still frantically trying to sort itself out.
He tilts his head at your words. A sharp and amused smile, ever prevalent.
“Is that the face you make when something scares you?” He questions, not allowing your heart the reprieve as he moves back towards you.
Through his glove you feel something sharp touch the side of your face. Not quite like human nails, more…animalistic. He drags a singular claw against your cheek as you avert your gaze from the intensity of his.
“It makes me wonder…how much prettier you'd look writhing for a different reason.” His grin sharpened, not missing the reaction of your body turning stiff at the connotation of what he was suggesting. “Would you tremble? Would you continue to look away from me like-so?”
You huffed, pushing the hand that had seized your face to look at him.
“I don’t have time for your nonsense Harlequin. I have a job to get too, in case you forgot.”
He chuckled at your pushback, before theatrically stepping aside for you.
“By all means, madam. Right this way, please~”
“I know where I'm going” You shot back, moving right past him. Your steps clipped and walk brisk.
He hummed, undeterred with your irritated tone as he easily followed suit.
Curse his long legs!
“I meant no offense, m’am. On the contrary, you looked rather lost. Pathetically sad looking at best.” He mocked, voice dripping in amusement.
“I wasn't. I was just…thinking to myself.” You decided, not about to admit to Harlequin of all people that you had been sad about–
“About that Pierrot?”
HOW?!
Were you actually that easy to read???
You round back at him, startled that he'd been able to pinpoint what had you so upset. Only to realize that he'd merely been joking. If his confused demeanor was anything to go by. At your shell-shocked expression , he spills out into unbidden laughter.
If he didn't know before, he certainly knew now.
Stupid!
You're about to continue on, ignore him and his stupid laughter, thoroughly having embarrassed yourself enough for one morning, before you catch the hushed whispers from some of the people about.
“That poor girl..”
“He just keeps following her…”
“What if….next victim?”
“Someone should call…”
“Those damned freaks.”
…
You turn to face Harlequin. The action catching him by surprise, as his jeering laughter dies down. Clearly not having expected this of you.
“Okay, laugh it up. Yes, I was thinking about Pierrot, you got me.” You playfully sigh, preparing yourself for the mockery to come for admitting this to him.
Instead he stares at you, smile stiff, his eyes flitter about before landing back towards you.
“...Did you not have to rush off to work, madam?”
You noncommittally shrug.
“I have a few more minutes. Besides, we're friends, right?
The smile on his face seems to twitch at the words.
It did sound weird once the words left your mouth. But you wanted to make it clear to everyone watching or eavesdropping.
Harlequin and Pierrot…
Neither of them, or any of the circus members for that matter were monsters.
They were people just like everyone else. Just here to do a job.
You could understand why people were scared, with all the recent missing cases in the town. But blaming the circus members for every disappearance? It was just blind hatred at this point.
In fact, once you got to know them and talk with them, they were pretty cute.
…
Well, maybe just Pierrot. Harlequin was his own breed of…something.
But, as much as he annoyed you and liked to push at your buttons, you couldn't say you disliked him.
Heavily.
At the very least neither he and especially Pierrot deserved the abuse.
“Ooh?” Harlequin's voice questioned, unconvinced but very much amused at being called your friend. “Then seeing as we're such good friends, care to confide your feelings to this Harlequin?”
“...My feelings?”
“That Pierrot…has he scared you? Do you hate him? Do you find yourself disgusted in some way~”
“...Why do you sound happy asking me that?” You question, expression deadpan, not at all understanding these two and their strange relationship. Questioning once again if the two of them were really friends.
“Sorry if this sounds “disappointing” to you. But, I don't hate Pierrot.” You sigh, watching his mirthful expression dim but remain curiously on you. Sensing their being more you'd like to say.
You debate to yourself for a moment, before a thought comes to you as you look him up and down.
He purrs at the action.
“See something you like, madam?”
“Harlequin, are you hurt at all today?”
“...Pardon?”
“Are you hurt at all?” You ask again, carrying on with your line of questioning. “I never see you banged up or anything. Not that I want too. But, do you ever get hurt passing flyers around town? Pierrot always…”
Harlequin seems to understand then. What you're asking, and chuckles almost to himself. It doesn't sound like his usual mocking laughter, but it's also not one out of amusement.
“Disgusting…”
“What?” You tilt your head, stepping back closer to him. Unable to catch his response.
“I said, unlike that Pierrot, I've got much faster reflexes.” He smiles, “you won't catch me looking quite so pitiful~”
You pout, annoyed on Pierrot's behalf, then with a deliberate slow hand, you raise your palm up.
Harlequin looks questionably at the universal gesture of a high five, half suspicious and half amused.
“...Do you wish to congratulate me, ma'am?”
You don't answer. Merely keep your hand in place, waiting for him.
When you continue to say nothing, he chuckles, seemingly amused by your antics once more as he raises a hand to meet with yours.
Just as his palm is about to make contact, you swerve, tapping at his chest with a small and very satisfying flick.
“Huh,” You mockingly grinned, “Someone who was just bragging about having fast reflexes looks awfully pitiful to me.”
He stills, more confused than offended, before your words seem to sink in.
His Cheshire-like smile broadens.
“Cheeky little thing, aren't we?”
You triumphantly stick your tongue out but before you can follow his response up with a quip. Before you have time to notice just how long you've been standing there talking to this Harlequin. You hear a loud man's irritated voice ring through the air. Everything before is garbled but you can make out one word very clearly
“– FREAK”
You glare towards the voice, so close towards the two of you that it's pretty clear who they're directing their hatred towards.
Except it's you.
You don't have time to react before something is thrown at you. You freeze, and only have time to shield your face before–
There's an arm that comes around you. You're pulled in towards Harlequin who covers your head behind his cape, your body tucked against his.
What?
“So, you were –” Harlequin sighs, after a long silent beat. His words sounding muffled enshrouded behind his cape. Nothing hit you.
Nothing hit Harlequin.
You hear the unmistakable sound of a bell.
You quickly lift your head up from Harlequin to find Pierrot shielding both you and Harlequin from what looked like an explosion of food and liquid. But, Pierrot is clearly more bothered with Harlequins arms around you.
“What? Would you have preferred I'd let her get hit?” He grins, making no immediate moves to remove his arms from you. Enjoying the figurative daggers being stabbed into him.
“Pierrot!”
At the sound of your voice and full attention his expression quickly lifts into a gleeful smile, before turning to mild concern, seeing the worried expression on your face.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” You pull away from Harlequin much to his chagrin, fussing over Pierrot who merely blushes at your rapt attention.
“No need to worry, ma'am. Our Pierrot is quite a magnet for trash. Attracted to its kind, perhaps?” Harlequin jeered, a smirk tugging at his lips as Pierrot turned back to him with clear annoyance. “That's just to say that this isn't anything new.”
You find yourself trembling at those words, the anger only boiling over as you hear the sound of laughter, loud and sharp. Completely devoid of any remorse, the sound grating on your ears.
“Dude, you totally missed!”
“Did I?” The man from before snorts. “Pretty sure I nailed it. Whether I hit one freak or the other.”
“Fucking deserved man.”
“Anybodys who's actually buddy buddy with those monsters can rot in hell with the lot of them”
“Seriously, whatever those devils minions are actually doing with those missing girls, she fucking deserves. She's just asking for it, man.”
“That's nothing new.”
The group of men erupt out in laughter, as if they'd just told the best joke in history. Their cruel and mocking laughter begins to echo down the street, as they begin to walk away, congratulating the other on a job well done.
Before either Pierrot or Harlequin could question your actions, too busy it seemed at each other's throats, you reach for a piece of trash, having fallen off Pierrot, and chuck it at the man who'd thrown the bag of trash to begin with.
A smug, wicked, but utterly satisfied smirk curls against the sides of your mouth, as the dirty food hits the man straight to the back of the head
Your companions freeze, as do the man's. Seemingly shocked at what you've just done.
“What?? I thought it was funny. Aren't we laughing?” You theatrically shrug, taking a book out of Harlequin as you look at the group.
“You little bitch.” The main perpetrator turns, jaw tight, shoulders squared. His fists clench beside him as he stalks his way back over to you, each step faster than the last. Ignoring his friends trying to reel him back to them.
The air around you seems to shift after those words leave his mouth. You think it's the clear fear and panic you feel heavy against your chest. As the taller and aggressive man quickly approaches.
He's just trying to intimidate you.
Don't back down.
He doesn't get to say shit like that and just walk away. Not to you. Not to the men behind you. Not to anyone.
So, you don't back down. You stand your ground and meet his glare head on. Sharp defiance in your gaze as you will your body not to show fear.
Don't give him the satisfaction.
The man raises a threatening fist.
Don't–
A hand comes up behind your eyes just as you swear you see him reach for you.
You flinch at the sudden contact, only relaxing at the sound of jingling bells near your ear.
“Pierrot??” You question, feeling as if everything had gone eerily silent.
His body trembles against yours as he presses you closer against it. Hand still over your eyes, the other holding the side of your arm.
…Was he scared? He was much taller than the man coming at you, more intimidatingly so. But, being taller didn't necessarily equal pro-fighter.
You fail to hear the sharp inhale of breath from the man approaching. Too distracted over Pierrot's actions to process it.
There's the sound of shuffling going on. Footsteps, urgent and uneven hitting against the ground. The rustle of clothes as someone shifts? Backs up? Maybe stumbles??
Harlequin's beside you both.
In front of you?
You hear him say something. But it's so quiet that you're not quite able to make out the words. His tone sounded venomous, with only a thin veil of amusement still prevalent behind the words.
The soft rhythmic jingles from Pierrot's costume rise in contrast as he continues to tremble faintly against you. The metallic melody somehow helps calm your frayed nerves as you remain unsure as to what's happening. Or maybe it's just Pierrot's presence alone.
“Hey…” You open your mouth to speak, voice small and unsure, but before you can question it all, Pierrots turned your face up towards him. Allowing you your sight back. He looks down at you with that sweet smile, carved into his mask, or perhaps it was his face. He was so close and you still couldn't really tell.
His hand cradles your chin, as his thumb delicately brushes against your cheek, being mindful of the claws on his glove. It's all done in such a loving gesture, but with unmistakable intent.
Only me.
Look ONLY at Me.
You hear more scrambling. Followed by the sound of heavy footsteps, pounding away against the floor.
“Outta the fucking way! Get out of the FUCKING way!”
You hear loud and very clear panic, followed by multiple footsteps following suit.
It's only when the first man's cries are farther from you, that Pierrot's grip softens. Allowing you to catch the tail end figures of the group running off.
You look at Harlequin, who indeed was standing in front of you. His expression is…unreadable as he stares after the man. Only switching back to its usual mischievous grin once his eyes catch yours.
“I threatened to call the police if he dare lay a hand on you, madam.” He answers your unanswered question. “It's one thing to throw trash, it's another to assault a fair lady such as yourself~”
Seriously?
You doubt that's the full story. Then again, it wasn't hard to imagine that puffed up chest deflate at the sight of these two. Like Harlequin said, it was one thing to throw trash at someone. It was another thing to expect a confrontation.
Harlequin takes your hand in his, only to immediately have it snatched by Pierrot. His whole body vibrating once again, this time for a different reason. Obviously unhappy with Harlequins actions.
“Heh, I was simply checking she was alright. No need to get so worked up again Pierrot.” He chuckled, hand over his mouth, as he seemed all too pleased with himself.
You roll your eyes at the two, before focusing on Pierrot, looking over his dirtied outfit.
“Are you alright, though?”
He stops, quickly nodding along to your question, as he puts your hand against his chest.
“...You're touched over my concern?” You smile back at him, wondering how someone who was meant to be so silent could be so expressive even when he said nothing.
He swoons, that you can understand him so well. That you're so concerned over his well being. That–
“Madam, aren't you usually at work right about this time?”
You gasp, realization kicking in as you look at the watch on your wrist. You were okay with being just a little bit late. This was a whole lot late!
“I gotta go!” You rush past the two, snatching your hand away from Pierrot, only to rush right back as you remember something. Grabbing onto his wrist, missing the way he shivers at you touching him.
“I wanna see you again.” You blurt out, not really thinking about the meaning or connotations. “Later today, can we? After work?”
Pierrot stares wide-eyed, dumb struck. Starstruck. All kinds of struck as he figuratively melts like putty in your hands.
You watch him keel over, gripping at his chest as if he's just been shot through the heart.
“I– I'm going to take that as a yes?” You hesitantly release his wrist, as he shakily offers you a thumbs up.
You let out a breathy laugh, waving to him and Harlequin as you make a mad dash towards the Cafe.
It's only once you're out of earshot, and away from view that Harlequin speaks up again.
“...I didn't think you could be any more pathetic.”
Pierrot's hands are instantly pulling at his collar.
“Ah, ah, ah.” He wags a teasing finger. “We're still under the public eye, my dear Pierrot. You can save all those naughty little things you've been itching to say to me after we've dealt with our little…problem.”
Pierrot stills at the reminder of those men. That man. How he'd tried to sully you.
How he'd tried to hurt you.
He's shaking again. Unbridled hatred coursing through him. The grip on Harlequin tightening in response.
A strained chuckle escapes Harlequin, strained from the pressure on his collar but amused nonetheless at the fury burning from the other.
“...I believe it's THEM you're looking to kill? Not myself.” A pause, “Well, I suppose that's not true. But we can always save our little dance for after we've dealt with them. Yes?”
Pierrot eyes Harlequin suspiciously.
“Why indeed.” He murmurs, as if answering the question Pierrot was most wondering. “Would you rather this get back to Jester? I certainly don't care one way or the other…it would just speed along our plans of leaving the town, but I doubt you'd be happy with that decision.”
Pierrot releases him. Irritated.
“Oh, don't give me that look, Pierrot.” Harlequin coos, mockingly sweet. “I'm doing this just as much for you as I am for myself.”
His eyes narrow in response. Not quite believing Harlequin, but accepting that for the most part, he, for all intents and purposes did intend to help.
Harlequin laughed, the sound chilling and far from his usual teasing cadence.
“Hard to believe, I know, but I’m genuinely angry.”
Pierrot didn't like this. His want and need to keep you safe. To keep you away from him. To keep you all to himself. He was losing himself. He was losing patience with every passing second he wasn't by your side.
You were his.
You were his to shield.
His to watch over.
His to hold.
He would deal with them first.
Those men. That disgusting excuse of a human, who tried to come at you.
He'd show them TRUE hell.
Everyone and anything would come after.
So, just wait for me, My Lady~ ♡