Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Welcome, welcome!

Let me tell you a story, the story of my chronic bad luck and how it brought me to the most annoying self centred ass clown who is more neon green than a street light. The stupid ass shines brighter than a diamond, and I loathe going out with that sassy clown.

But I digress! I digress…

Dear reader, my name is Scarlet, Scarlet Jones. Twin sister of Carol Jones. Ring a bell yet? Yes, the one girl working at the coffee shop who disappeared. They say she went away because of her family and a supposed lover.

MY SISTER WAS AS SINGLE AS A PRINGLE, but the part of the family is true. Our parents are… difficult.

I worked the opening shift in the same coffee shop, the café, - super original I know- as my sister worked. When she disappeared the boss decided it would be best if I started working the closing shift.

I hated changes in my life, still do, especially the ones that require my whole life to be tumbled around just to solve it. But I knew a girl in that shift, my sister's bestie, Y/N, L/N, so it wasn't that bad. She was fun to be around and I wouldn't want a girl to go home alone at night.

WORST FUCKING IDEA EVER.

The Freak Circus was in town and somehow Y/N had gotten a red ticket. She told me some weirdo had gotten her a pink one, but that a bigger red ass clown had changed it to a red one AND THEN A GREEN LIGHT HAZARD CLOWN was trying to change it to a green one.

"What is this, the rainbow exchange?" I asked her as she told me this. "First pink, then red, then green? What's next? Blue? Purple? Will I get a car if i turn in the seven colours?"

She told me she didn't want to go alone, and that the green dude was a creep so she didn't feel bad stealing the green ticket.

"Why would you need two? The circus doesn't look that good."

"You are coming with me!"

THE HELL I WAS.

I did, because she was a reckless head first person and I did not want to lose another person in my life because of it.

It was weird as hell, I will tell you that. Some big half blue half black looking dude took our tickets and said it was a surprise seeing both coloured tickets being used on the same night, and that we were "special" guests.

I WAS READY TO GO BACK. I WAS NOT ABOUT TO BE SOMEONE'S SPECIAL GUEST, OH HELL TO THE NO.

I was, because Y/N just charged inside as if the place belonged to her.

Well fuck me.

FUCK ME, READER BECAUSE AS SHE IS FLIRTING BACKSTAGE WITH THE 7ft WEIRD LOOKING RED CLOWN, I WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN A SEA OF PINK WEIRD LOOKING JESTERS.

I was leaving the tent to give the weirdos some room, because why not flirt with the weird looking clown that just headshoted someone with a knife?!

I tried to grab her, I did! But the pink jesters swarmed in to take the body away and I got caught between them. ONE WOULD THINK THEY WOULD LET ME PASS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, NORMALITIES?!

I was nearly drowning in a sea of pink, trampled like the father of simba by the gazelles. To think I would die after work. LIKE HOW MORE UNLUCKY CAN I BE, WORK LIKE A DOG JUST TO DIE IN THE END.

"LET ME GET OUT YOU PINK PONY SHITS! LET ME OUT!"

They heard something, of course not me, and changed directions to a black tent. The sharp turn of the tight procession shoved me out into the candy wrap filled ground filled with sticky pieces of caramel.

I looked just like Peter Griffin after a flight of stairs. I was groaning, my whole body hurting, my brown hair a disaster with all the ground shit stuck in it. I think some got into my mouth.

"Goddamnit." I moaned as i tried to get up. By the looks of it, the circus didn't really want me to be a cock blocker or something.

Yes, I use humour to cope, leave me the fuck alone, I just lost my twin sister.

I just stood there, looking down at the ground, vision going blurry.

Great, just great. I took out the green ticket and glared at it.

"Green is supposed to be lucky! Why aren't you doing your job." It was stupid to argue with a piece of paper, but I was tired. So fucking tired.

"But I am lucky."

I screamed, loud and high. Ariana Grande who?

I turned around, because being on all fours was not the way to go. My feet slipped on the grime as i looked up.

There he was, tall, around 6ft, black raven curly hair under a jester hat, green and black with two long points that ended with golden bells. His face was covered with a white porcelain looking mask, one green diamond painting on one eye and a triangle under the other. Too much green was going on.

His cape gave my eyes a pause on the green, the inside of it golden and the outside black. Hearts at the front, golden trimmed edges.

One side of the suit was alternating between black and green stripes, the other divided in gold at the top and green under. His mask had a slit for his mouth and two for the eyes black as night. And those neon eyes—shining straight down at me like I look down at a well cooked steak.

"Who the fuck dressed you?" I stammered, as I dragged myself back. "You look like a cheap glow stick who doesn't know if it wants to be rich or a cheerleader of Sporting."

THE MOUTH CLOSED, THE FUCKING MOUTH CLOSED WHAT THE HELLING FUCK! IS IT NOT A MASK?! THE MOUTH JUST DISAPPEARED!?

Oh never mind, it came back.

"Now, dear, that's just rude." His voice was rich, smooth even. Nothing of the weird raspiness I was expecting. I lie, I wasn't expecting anything, this is hella weird.

"I- I-"

"I-I-" He mocked me. The big shit. "Why do you have my ticket? HOW did you get my ticket?"

He started walking to me. Now I saw the boots he was wearing, slightly elevated by a heel with golden details. damn, at least whoever dressed him hit jackpot with the boots. Shit's fire.

I quickly dragged myself back like a crab running from the pot, but he just smirked wide. This is karma, because I did the same yesterday with the poor crab.

See what I mean by bad luck?

"Y-yours? It's mine!" I choked on my own saliva, and maybe some of the dirt that got on my mouth. "I was gifted it!"

He gave me the stink eye, placing one hand on his hip as he eyed me top to bottom and then to the crunched green ticket on my hand.

Rude.

"My darling, that ticket is gifted by me. There is no other way to get it." He had a stride as big as him because in two steps he had one heel on either side of my torso. Suddenly I was mid air, dangling as he held me up by my hoodie's neck. "Where. Did. You. Get. It?" His voice was deep and unsettling, just a pitch under the normal deepness of human tones, his eyes shaking rapidly as he glared down at me, mouth wide, showing me a row of super sharp teeth.

Oh I was so about to piss myself.

I felt tears fall down my eyes as I sniffled. God I was so pathetic, crying instead of kicking the shins out of him. But he was horrifying up close.

"Tears won't take you anywhere." He snarled, starting to open his mouth, wide and sharp. Oh he will bite my face off.

"Y/NSTOLEITFROMYOU" I shrieked loud, making him flinch before tilting his head.

He closed his mouth, making a slurping sound as he licked the drool from his lips. At least when Pennywise opened his mouth he had the decency to have some lights at the end. This one had the void.

"Who?"

Just kill me, I hate drum rolls before the demise. The green is really making my eyes dry and I'm sure my bra is showing, because I'm melting down the hoodie. I hold onto his wrists, but he doesn't even waver. damn, for a stick-bug looking thing he sure is strong.

He held me higher now, lifting me way over his head. It was scarier being this high up, AND I'M STILL SURE MY DAMN BRA IS SHOWING.

I was a pathetic whining mess, tears falling down my eyes.

"S-she told me you wanted to change her red one by a green of yours and that you were mean to some weird red dude and that she didn't like it so she stole it from your pocket." It was impossible to look as suspicious as him, if side eyes killed, I would be happily dead. "She gave it to me so she didn't come alone."

He looked at me intensely, tilting his head sideways before looking down. I had taken one hand from his wrist to pull down my hoodie. He smirked as he looked at me, full of snickering mirth.

I had my fair share of perverts, so I kicked hard. My heel clicking into his face with ease.

HOLY SHIT I WAS SO DEAD.

He changed hands, lifting me with one hand as the other came down to his jaw. He looked up, amused as he licked the blood from his lips. He had bitten down when I kicked him.

Serves him right. Close your putrid mouth first.

"Hmm, that's a fun way to get-" He didn't finish his phrase, looking to the side as a merry smile danced on his bloody lips. "I see. Well, since you already punched the ticket, you are my responsibility. Ticket taker is already sniffing around me because of that."

He was talking to himself as he lowered me, too slow for such a horrifying thing.

I start sneaking away as he is distracted, but before I can get far he pulls me back, as if I'm nothing, dragging me along with him.

"Well, if it is who I think it is, they must be in his tent."

"I can walk on my own, thank you very much." I grunt, trying to take my hoodie's hood from his talons.

"Are you sure? You looked so pathetic that I wondered if a pacifier would help."

I manage to snatch it away from him grumbling.

"Filho da puta." I am way more confident on my native language, knowing damn well it's near impossible he knows portuguese.

He peeks from up his shoulder, amused as fuck.

"Mal educada do caralho."

My jaw is somewhere in hell, because what the fuck. My legs are shaking and I am tented to ask him to drag me by my hood again.

We pass by all the other tents, people all around, laughing and snickering at the pink jester looking people. A big red tent shines the brighter in the distance and I recognise it fast.

The blue and black man is punching tickets still, but he looks sideways in our direction and I get goosebumps all over.

This place is weird as fuck. I shake my head as I recall the knife throwing act of the dude Y/N was with.

I truly hope that girl is safe, I don't want to lose her too to whatever this is.

"Do you, do you… hmm… have like a hmm" I drag, looking at his back. "Do you have murdering acts?"

He stops, making me bump against his back. A wall of bricks would be softer. And he turns around slowly, one of his big ass talons running up my neck, tilting my face upwards.

"A what, darling?"

Oh stopping was much worse than being dragged, so I kept walking to the big tent. He pulled me up by my hood, like a cat. What's his shit with pulling people up.

"I asked you a question." That horrifying tone came back.

"I saw the red clown headshot a pink jester with a knife. I want to know if it was real." I look at him in the eye. I should at least die with a good tale of bravery. "It was too realistic for my taste."

He arched a brow, or whatever that thin black line above the opening of his eyes was.

"We are the freak circus. It's supposed to be eerie and weird, dear." He hummed. But I wasn't convinced. "And those are fools, not jesters. There is only one Jester and he is purple."

"Fools?" I asked, looking up at him. "Weird name, why not Jester or Harlequins? If you are all about the theatrics vibe."

That seemed to hit a nerve, because he held me high again with a contempt smile.

"There is only one Harlequin and that's me, dear, they are just fools who go around on errands. Little minions."

"Okay geez, you don't have to get your panties in a twist over it." I groan, kicking the air. "It was a fair question."

He bursted out laughing. Loud and obnoxious, just how he looked.

"I like you." He snickered.

For someone who was supposed to be responsible for me, he sure was leaving me behind. I had to run to keep up with him. We ran around the circus tent, stopping behind it and sneaking inside, under the heavy cloth.

"I can't see shit." I groaned behind him. Of course he didn't care, waving me to shut it.

HE SHUT IT.

There was a heavy wooden wall securing the cloth, far too tall for me to see anything, but not to tall for the green glowstick to peek. I hear, a whimper of pain, Y/N's voice!

I walk back, to take a run wide enough to jump on his back, feet on his thighs to take impulse up the wall.

"Cara- Sai fora!" He hissed, my boots scratching his face as I wiggle myself up the wooden wall.

"You coming or not?" I hiss, looking down at him, his little green pupils burning in my direction. "Here, come on!" I stretched my arm down at him.

Do not mistake my intentions. If the big red dude is like the Harlequin then better to bring him and let them resolve whatever shit they have going on. The way Harlequin was more interested in him than the missing ticket that somehow wasn't supposed to be in my hands was suspicious.

Speaking off, he was staring at my hand as if it was poisoned.

"Are you coming or not? Hurry your ass up!"

He took it, amused for some reason. He didn't need my hand, the stupid prick jumped high as hell, my hand in his only an accessory. The claws caressing the back of my hand making me jump out my skin.

We sneaked around under the spectator benches that circled the stage in the middle. He stopped and I climbed his back, only our heads peeking as Y/N was backed against the wooden target, between the giant's arms as they spoke in hushed tones.

"So he does talk~" Harlequin snickered.

Then she wiggled herself out of his grasp and ran out. She sure had a dramatic way to go, hands close to the chest, hopping in her step.

"No, this is wrong." She whined on her way out.

Is this a soap opera or something? He ran behind her and Harlequin quickly straightened and jumped in pursuit. I guess he forgot I was on his back because I got tossed back way faster than a backpack at the start of summer vacation.

"PUTA!" I screeched as my back hit the uneven wood panels. Dizzy for a moment, taking in my surroundings. 

It was a big tent indee, higher up than anything I have ever seen. The chairs reserved for the public were polished and built from sturdy wood, red cushions making it look more regal.

Wait... no, they were not red. Was it only this one the red one? The rest of them was a vivid red.

I looked down. When I reached to touch my leg I brushed my hand against something soft and spongy.

IT WAS A DEAD FUCKING BODY. IT WAS THE DEAD BODY OF THE PINK FOOL OR WHATEVER IT WAS CALLED. THE ONE WHO GOT HEADSHOTED WITH A KNIFE. It was a human under the mask, eyes wide and bloodshot, mouth so open it looked dislodged, a big putrid hole on her forehead.

I gagged, scared to move and touch more of her. What the fuck was this place? I felt my anxiety rise, wrap it's tallong around my stomach and neck, making me nearly pass out.

I had to get out, out, out, OUT!

I limped out of the tent, none of them in sight.

"Fuck me." I wheezed to myself. "I am going home, fuck this."

I held my shit together until a black tent, it was the only place where there were no people. I leaned against the black cloth and vomited all the shit I had that day on the ground, my legs quivering like leaves under me as I fought the blackout.

"Are you lost?" A male voice rung behind me.

FUCK THIS SHIT ALREADY, GOD. 

Please... Just let me go home...

I kept emptying my stomach as the person stopped right in front of me, a loud tsk sound making me look up.

It was the ticket taker from before, his half black half white mask looming over her, a white pupil trembling as it looked down at her.

"What the fuck is this p-"

A large hand covered her mouth tightly, and as she looked down she saw the green heart on the glove. Was she schrewd? Did she say the wrong thing?

Would she be the next?

"There you are, I wondered why you stayed behind." His voice was sickening sweet above her.

"Harlequin." The ticket taker straightened up, looking slightly down to meet the green clown's eyes. "Why was she around the restricted area?"

Harlequin's hand shook slightly against my mouth and wondered why.

"She wandered of to…" He hissed as something sticky glued his heel to the ground, the burger I had for lunch in crumbles and bile under his foot. "Throw up. I guess she didn't want to do so in front of us."

The taller one loomed over Harlequin, his blue jacket right in my face.

"And why did she had the need to vomit, Harlequin?" His voice was suspicious, as if looking for something.

The clown shut his mouth for a while, and the ticket taker looked down at me.

"Can you not speak?"

Harlequin took his hand out of my mouth quickly, his hands still on my shoulders.

"I got lost, I just had to vomit and didn't know where I was going. The movement of the circus was too much for me."

It too all of my willpower not to start crying and lie right into whatever he was, face.

"So sorry to hear that, my lady." His voice was softer. He handed me a blue ticket. "I don't want you to miss out on the fun just because of the crowd. This ticket will make it easier for you. You will come back tomorrow won't you?"

The thought of coming back made me whimper in fear, enough to make him perk up, look up to glare at Harlequin.

"She will, Ticket Taker. Won't you, darling?" He loomed over me, making me shrink down, my face pathetic with terror. I didn't, I wouldn't.

"Give her your ticket, Harlequin, or I will give her mine." For some reason it sounded a lot like a threat.

A green ticket flourished inside her hand.

AS IF SHIT WASN'T TERRIFYING ENOUGH.

RELEASE ME FUCK!

"See you tomorrow, Green ticket guest." He smiled down at me, that hellish white pupil nearly popping out to bite me.

As soon as he walked away my knees gave out. The green shit didn't even care to hold me up, just let me down on my own.

He looked bored.

"Wh-where is Y/N?" I whimpered. "What was- what is-"

"Home, Pierrot took her there." He yawned.

"Who the fuck is Pierrot?"

I held my face in my hands. I had to get out, this was all a dream, all a dream.

"The one you call red clown. Now, time for you to go too." His voice was casual, super bored even. "And be sure to come back tomorrow."

"I won't!" I screeched up at him. 

"Yes you will, or I will go there myself and drag your pretty ass here. Ticket taker will have my ass on a platter if you don't come." He pulled me up by my hood again. "Come back with Y/N, I'm sure you will be safer with Pierrot."

Something told me he wanted me to go with her to bother Pierrot, his little simper smile gave him away instantly.

"Please, please don't make me come here again. Please." My voice was a gurgling whimper, I bearly bursted out crying as I clutched his cape.

He knelt in front of me, eyeing me. Surely he could sense I saw something... wrong.

"Come here tomorrow, or they will get suspicious. And if they get suspicious, whatever you saw back there will be you." His voice was quiet, his eyes shaking again. "Go home, little thing. And. Come. Back. Tomorrow."

And so home I went, called a taxi and as soon as I entered my apartment I blacked out on the floor.

Chapter Text

It was late into the night by the time I woke up. Groggy, body hurting everywhere.

I had smacked my arm against my shoe rack as I went down, and was laying down so crooked that I was not crooked, the crooked was me.

"What the fuck was that?" I murmured, whining as I got up. Everything was popping.

* sush* *Tap*

I was surely not hearing things. Maybe I had hit my head too hard or been traumatized badly, but I don't think my luck would be that bad.

I dragged myself around the corridor my head a thick haze, the night horrors still reaching out for me to recall them. The house was pitch black, but after years living here it stops making a difference.

I had intended on going up the stairs to Y/N's flat. She told me, during our shift, she lived just above me. But it was late, and if she wasn't there or worse, was there, but dead, I would explode. The day had already been shitty enough.

You know that, you were there.

I wanted to check on her, be the good person, the good friend who would check on you if you got taken home by a ginormous clown who absolutely killed his performance assistant. But I couldn't, just couldn't.

What if I find her dead? Sprawled on the floor, dark blood pooled under her, starting to dry as flies gather around for one hell of a feast and heavenly spot to leave their little maggots? What if no one believed me if I told the truth? What if I somehow got some of her blood on me and left my fingerprints all around as I try to help her?

Worse… what if the clown is there? I guess he is not a clown, the green hazard told me there was only one pierrot and that that was the red one's name.

Oh they were weird, scary, eyes pitch black with only that little light for an eye. Their faces hidden by porcelain masks that weren't at all porcelain. Porcelain was hard, and those masks opened and moved along to their expressions.

It was creepy and horrifying. Surely this was the uncanny valley Carol told me about before disappearing.

I finally reached the kitchen, feeling around for the knife drawer and nearly cutting myself on the big and highly sharpened carving knife.

I saw the cleaver, but I certainly didn't have enough force to swing bluntly enough to sever someone. The carving knife was better, I could just… stabby stab.

The noise came from outside the living room window. Weird because I was on the first floor and the building was super tall. It was nearly impossible for someone to get to the first floor by climbing.

My heart is hammering against my ribs and I feel the anxiety push harder and harder against my brain. One wrong thought and it's swarming me with panic.

I feel around the wall, keeping as close as possible as I slide across. It doesn't truly matter if I want to move or not. It's my house.

The circus is theirs, the city is theirs. This here is mine. I have not been busting my ass trying to keep up with the rising rent just for someone to think they can barge in.

I feel so much like an animal that I might as well start peeing around the corners. Let them know I'm not kidding and will not be cornered.

Watch it be a cat and I'm here pep talking myself into murder.

I finally reach the living room, the curtains covering the glass door are pushed aside. That's on me. But thank me for leaving them like that, because there is a neon green hazard light post dangling from Y/N's balcony.

The bastard must be trying to get inside her flat. Only his lower half is on my balcony, feet dangling and reaching to the railings to get some impulse.

I slide the glass door silently, thanking myself again for oiling it last week.

Truly reader I outdid myself, applaud me, reader. I'm about to impale a bitch.

I sneaked forward, stabbed once - air- stabbed twice - air again- thrice - fucking air!

The asshat was jerking his legs around too much, so I grabbed one, feeling him shiver and kick his other one, and stabbed it will all my might.

I was expecting him to scream loud enough to wake up everyone around us. If I was to take him alone I would be the impaled bitch. And I sure as hell did not like that idea.

I ducked as he kicked forward harder, trying to both get his footing and kick whatever stabbed him. The knife was deeply lodged inside his leg, and by the way I couldn't shove it deeper, I must have hit the tibia.

That must hurt like a bitch.

I managed to grab both of his ankles and pull him down with all my might.

"Mas que caralho?" He hissed, coming down with me, only held up by his hands.

He was weirdly strong, super strong. Without footing and with someone pulling, he surely should have fallen down, plus there was no way he could have grabbed something that quickly to steady himself.

"Come down asshole! I will fucking flay your legs!" Surprisingly enough, my voice did not quiver like my heart did. I was so heavenly fucked.

He leaned down, as if to see if it truly was me. He must have recognized my voice, his face betrayed him. His eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth was not in its usual toothy grin position, but in a small o shape.

He looked at me for a little while, wiggling his feet as his eyes scanned me up and down, stopping with a frown at the blade on his leg. He chuckled, as if it was a little splinter. He used his arm strength and yanked me forward with him as he pushed upwards.

To prove him I wasn't playing around, I let go of his ankles and yanked out the knife, earning myself a front row view of his sickly pointy teeth as he sneered at me from the pain, his legs swinging back and hitting the stone railing. Before he could swing himself up, I reared back the knife and swung it down to his pelvis. I didn't mean to actually make him an eunuch, but he must have thought I did, because he quickly let go and jumped down, his stomach impaling itself on the blade. Usually people reared back from weapons, not against them.

He sneered again, this time no funsies played on his eyes.

Oh I was so fucked.

He leaned down, face scrunched as he showed me the pointy and weirdly big teeth he had. Pennywise had nothing on him compared to this. One chomp well done and my head would be off.

He glared at me and moved his arm. Before he could get the knife. If that was what he meant to do I grabbed it and yanked it back, pushing back with my foot against him. Instinct, good.

He staggered slightly, having put weight on the stabbed leg. I walked backwards but something too close to a tentacle shot out from behind him and slapped the window door closed.

MOTHERFUCKER THAT DOOR ONLY OPENS FROM INSIDE! BLOODY CUNT.

My heart was worse, hammering harder, wanting to leave me and get away. I didn't blame it, if I was an organ and the body owner did shit like this I would have said toddles too.

I felt the anxiety boom all around my body, my legs rigid and that unmistakable cold shiver running down my spine. I looked at my hand for a split second. I was shaking harder than a leaf, my head as blank as my exam sheet.

Even so I had brought myself into this, and I would see myself out the same way.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him, forcing my knees to unlock and lower myself. If he moved I would pounce, there was no question. "What do you want with Y/N?"

I forced my eyes away from the black blood that ran down his hand as he clutched his stomach. He was not so fun sounding nor looking. The moon behind him hid his face in darkness, only the neon green dots visible. It was unnerving how quiet he was.

I wanted to say sorry, I wanted to tend the stab wound. The leg I couldn't care less about, truly, it didn't cut much flesh, a good wrapping and zero movement would have that healed, but the one on his stomach was different. Lethal.

"I'm sorry for the stabbing on your stomach, but you impaled yourself on my knife." I whispered after he didn't reply.

His mouth opened into a simper smile, but his eyes didn't waver.

"Is that what you'll tell yourself tonight?" Harlequin's voice was low, nearly a dog snarl. "Is the knife to my leg included? Or will you keep that knife up to add more?"

Here is what I get for trying to be different.

"I mean it, I was just trying to scare you. The one to your leg was… Well I wanted revenge for your well… You scared me shitless and I wanted to…"

I didn't like how I was over explaining myself. But him not moving was horrifying.

"Prove yourself you could have done the same at the circus? Or was this some pitiful try at comeback? I don't recall stabbing you." His eyes squinted at me. His tentacle drawn back against his back. It was green like him.

I hated that he had spoke it out loud, but well, better than having to say it myself.

"Doesn't matter. You need to get that checked." I nodded to his hand. It was black as coal, not just from the gloves but not even a single hint of green peeked out like it should.

He moved slightly as he saw me look at it, but a hiss was all he managed before stumbling slightly.

"Go away! Go back! Leave Y/N alone, your friend haunting her is enough!" I tried to shoo him, my hand behind me, feeling for any opening on the door. I would have to break the glass if I wanted to get away. The balcony was too small for us both. "I don't want to get in trouble with the cops. Go get that healed!"

There it was, reader. I knew he wouldn't go far, as much as he was stalling here with me, the blood kept running. I wanted him as far away from our lock as possible. The cops would see the blood he splashed on my balcony from his kicking attempts.

He chuckled and moved away from the balcony, staggering slightly.

"Do I look like I can go away to you?"

"You are not human, that much is certain. Go back the way you came! Either that or you will let me knock you out and tend to that."

He had the audacity to scoff at me.

"Surely, surely. Do you want me to also give you tips on how to get away with a corpse."

I couldn't stop the fear anymore, it was greater than me. I just wanted him to go away. Tears spilled from my eyes, my body broke down in shaking as the joints locked painfully. Good thing I didn't have to pee. There was as much humiliation as I could handle.

"I don't want anything to do with any of you, why can't you just leave us alone?! I don't want to go back tomorrow! I want you gone, but you won't get far with that wound." My voice was a pathetic whimper, my mouth quivering as much as the knife in my hand. Jeez Scarlet, if Carol saw you now, pathetic and weak. "Please. I'm too scared of you to heal you while you are awake."

Suddenly Y/N's door opened above us and a man leaned down. As soon as Harlequin saw the red peeking out from Pierrot's hat, he lunged to me, one hand covering my mouth. It was but a blur of green and he went from illuminated by the moon to fully cast in shadow as he towered over me, face coming down to hiss in my ear. His other hand had slapped the knife clean out of my hand.

Was I that little of a threat to him all along?

"Quiet! If he finds me here we are both fucked." His breath swirled around my ear, making me shiver hard, his glove cushioned and soft, but his claws dragged on my cheeks. "I will not allow you to knock me out, but trust flows both ways, mousey."

I frowned up at him, not understanding what was he talking about. Surely they weren't that beastly with one another.

But then again, humans were no different.

"Scarlet is that you? Who's there?" Y/n's voice was soft, as if she wasn't at all bothered by Pierrot being there with her. Weird girl she was. "Pierrot be careful." Oh the damsel voice, I'm sure she was clutching her pearls.

A little more and Pierrot would be able to see us. He had leaned up again, his little bell disappearing. Probably to assure Y/n.

"My darling lady, it will be okay." His voice was rich, quiet, and Harlequin nearly snapped his neck looking up. I guess Pierrot wasn't supposed to be speaking at all.

The way Harlequin looked down on me told me it was my cue for something. Maybe, if he was scared of Pierrot and Y/N had him leashed, I could snitch on him and get on with it.

But then again, he hadn't pounced on me before Pierrot, and he didn't actually hurt me in the circus. Ditched me, sure, left me behind, sure, but didn't hurt me.

I looked back into his eyes before looking up and reaching to take his hand away from my mouth. I was shivering so hard he made a face as his hand shook with mine.

Judgy much?

"It's alright, Y/N! I'm fine!" That didn't sound convincing at all.

I had a sister, getting out of shit came with the job.

"I heard a noise and came out to see what it was."

I could feel Harlequin's eyes burn a hole through my head and I had to use a little more force to push his hand away from my mouth. His claws were scratching my arm in warning.

"I thought I saw the red clown from the circus going up." He seemed to go skittering away from the balcony. Jackpot. "Are you okay? Should I call someone?"

"NO! No! I am alright, if you are too then goodnight!" Y/N's voice was high pitched and the thud told me she had closed the balcony's door.

Harlequin sighed, his body slowly slumping down, as if he too was locked into place by fear. He still looked at me weirdly. My chance of escaping had gone away.

"I hope this enough for you to trust I didn't truly want to impale you." I whisper, hyper aware of how close we were. He was radiating warmth all around. I liked that much more than I would ever admit. The night was still chilling and my pajamas were too baggy to retain any warmth. "Because now neither of us can get inside."

He looked at my eyes for a moment, making me look away from how intimate that felt. The door clicked behind me and swung open gently.

I guess we can now.

I didn't move, too scared of his sharp claws too close to my neck. He opened his mouth to say something, but i heard the faintest jiggle of bells and grabbed his collar.

As quickly as Pierrot peeked down from the balcony, I had yeeted Harlequin inside the living room, the shadows hiding his offended gasping frown. All Pierrot saw was me, standing up, knife in one hand, looking straight into his eyes.

"Go. Back. To. Her." My voice came out clearer than water, more threatening than I wished for.

If Harlequin was scared of him, I was in deeper shit.

He looked startled to find me catching him in the act. Surely I wasn't much o him, because he only smiled at me, friendly, nodded, and went back up.

I let out the breath I was holding and quickly closed the door, locked it and ran the curtains. Harlequin had dragged himself to the sofa, a trail of black oily blood from where he landed to there.

I had to burn that carpet.

Chapter Text

There are things that happen in one's life that makes you wonder…

WHAT THE FUCK DID THE AUTHOR SNORT BEFORE WRITING MY LIFE?!

Harlequin was panting, wheezing even, one arm over his eyes as I stared down at him, my back against the glass sliding door of my balcony.

Slowly, very slowly I slid down to the floor, exhaustion taking over me.

"What the fuck does she have?" I murmured quietly. "Why do I have to be dragged here?"

It wasn't exactly my idea of romance, to have violent monsters around me, CEO's, even the whole wave of costumers only picked during her shifts. I truly don't mind not being chosen every single time, nor swarmed to, but… the universe could at least give me the green one.

I was desperate reader, I am desperate… To be chosen, to be seen.

When he put himself in front of me I felt something close to happiness. Forget how he reacted to me having his ticket, he protected me, he searched for me, he…

Yeah, he came back for Y/N and now I had to deal with him.

I had to clean it all, to patch him, to care.

I pushed it all down and got up. Didn't matter, I was being stupid, and it wasn't healthy to want every thing that came my way.

"Do you know my sister? Carol Jones?" I asked him, bending down to my desk where I kept my first aid kit. "We are twin sisters, she looks exactly like me."

"Uh?" His slightly ragged voice came from behind me. He was peeking at me under his arm. "No clue, mousey."

Even so, he looked me up and down, frowning as much as his mask allowed him, before covering his eyes again.

Yeah sure, fucking liar.

Finally I found the blasted kit.

One thing I noticed as I sat down on the sofa was how thin was his body. I was sitting just by his waist and still we were both comfortable.

As comfortable as one can be after two knife wounds.

"I'll need you to open your shirt. At least lift it up." I hummed, taking out the gauze and oxygenated water.

He quickly sat up, only to groan and fall back again, turning in pain.

"I know I am handsome, mousey, but you wont see shit."

Something in his voice was wavering, as if he truly didn't want me to see whatever was under the fabric.

I've had my fair share of gruesomeness, mostly because of Y/N's very very jealous CEO's who would beat people up for absolutely no reason. One even threatening her period once? Because of the pain??? Yeah wtf indeed reader.

"Don't play stupid on me. You are bleeding everywhere! And we need to stop that." I hissed as he didn't even move to rise it.

"No we don't, mousey. I just need doctor to see me and I will be good."

I frowned at him, was he that stupid? A doctor? A human doctor?

Then I realized something.

"Is the doctor you mentioned a monster too?"

He groaned at the name, or the wound, I couldn't care less.

"We are not monsters, and he is one of us, yes."

THE HELL I WOULD HAVE ANOTHER ONE HERE.

"You can forget that! I won't have another one of you inside my house after today. I only let you in here because I am scared shitless of the one above us!"

"He is stronger than me mousey. What makes you think I would protect you against him? Me and Him are not different by human standards. I would kill you and eat you if it weren't for your stunt with my ticket." He smirked, rising enough to look down at me, trying to scare me away.

I punched his wound, making him bare his teeth at me with a loud growl. Oh he would have severed my fucking throat.

"Down I say! You were terrified of him seeing you here, so shut the fuck up and open the fucking shirt before I rip it off."

For his merit, he shut it, scoffing briefly.

There was indeed something wrong with him, he looked way slower than usual. He seemed to notice so too because he looked to the ground, staring at the knife.

"Silver?"

"Yes, why?"

He groaned again and tried to get up.

"I need Doctor, this will not close, fuck. It hurts like a motherbitch."

I fisted the shirt, just near the hem where he had taken the knife and he quickly held my wrists.

"If you lift it I will devour you, mousey." His voice had lost all momentarily truce with me, going back to that unsettling tone as he bared me those rows and rows of pointy, thin and sharp teeth.

"I'm the best chance you got." I hummed as I lifted it up.

Truth be told, I was at that point where I didn't really care what happened to me. Monsters, Carol, father losing his job, mom going around town, nan dying…

I was so exhausted, and after yesterday, I really wanted to sleep, even if it meant forever.

Do not mistake this for suicidal thoughts reader, I am just exhausted.

"And you can't kill me, or I won't be able to go and that ticket taker will have your balls." I hummed, feeling his saliva dribble down my arms as the mask opened unhinged just to his mouth could open wide enough to fit my head.

Yes reader, he wasn't kidding, this isn't Y/N's story. Leave me too and go read one with her in it.

I looked up, watching him retreat, close his mouth, slurp the saliva back to his mouth as he pondered.

With his shirt opened, I palmed his toned, but unregular torso jagged with some type of hard scales. I felt his stomach, the wound was still coughing out blood. It was supposed to start coagulating, but maybe it didn't work so for monsters.

I didn't mind how unsettlingly black his skin looked. It was weirdly soft to the touch, he must have stopped his bristling scales, because I couldn't feel them prickling my fingers.

"Why it it still open?" I asked, looking him in the eyes.

He didn't hear me. He was dumbfounded for some reason, looking down at me and then my hands, and then his shirt hiched up.

"Hey! Why is it still open!?"

I pressed again, my face right in front of his.

"Silver, your blade is made of silver. I cannot heal as quickly." He murmured, as if snapping to life just now.

I rummaged through my kit, searching for something to close it. I never had to stich anyone, but I knew how to stich clothes.

All I had were band-aids, gaze, oxygenated water, alcohol…

"Do you think I can stitch you closed? Since silver is what fucks you up, nothing else will pose much threat, right? At least to hold it together. Gauze around it tightly and off you go." I hummed, looking between a regular metal sewing needle and his gaping wound.

His scales lifted under my palm, like a cat with the fur sticking up. It was fascinating to feel and as I moved down to look at them more closely, they rose even more, his muscles tightening under my breath. There was a soft green light peeking between them.

"It's so pretty, is it your skin that is green? Do you have skin under your scales?"

He quickly stilled my hands, grabbing my wrists again.

"Enough. Stich me up and be done with it."

He groaned too quickly for me to understand anything at first hearing. As I looked up he looked sideways, a faint glow of green under his eyes. Maybe the light of the eyes hitting the porcelain.

Whatever it was, props for him, or not. Who cares honestly.

I watched his scales slithering under my hands. It was hard to see them, it looked like he was just black, pitch black with no reflection. I think that if you point a flashlight straight into his scales he would find a way to change them enough for light to miss him.

But right now they caught the light, he was allowing me to see them, briefly.

"How can I stich you? With all your scales?" I hummed, taking the needle and slipping a piece of dental floss, unflavoured. "Between them?"

Yes reader, better than normal thread.

"Do I look like a fucking doctor? Just fucking jab the fucking thing!" He hissed at me, teeth bared. "FUCK!"

Fuck indeed reader, fuck indeed.

"Dental floss? DENTAL FUCKING FLOSS?! ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW? ARE YOU GONNA FUCKING FLOSS ME?!"

He looked really offended, one would think I was telling him I shagged his nan and that his dad was my son. Jeez.

"Yes, dental floss! Do you want it to infect?? Who knows best here?!"

"WELL YOU SURELY DON'T WITH THAT WACK ASS DENTAL FLOSS."

"Do you want Pierrot to hear you?" I groaned, snapping my head up to him. That shut him up. "Exactly, now bite something, I'm going in."

He grumbled something about Pierrot being a ninny and that he was not scared of some little needle, and that he had taken worse, that I was a dumb ass for using dental floss, that he would rather die choking than being found with fucking dental floss on his ass.

For someone his size, he sure was fussy.

As soon as I forced the needle into the soft green tissue between his scales he let out the most high pitch 5 year old pageant baby I have ever heard.

JOJO HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING?

I wanted to ask him, but the fear of Pierrot hearing us and coming down was worse than anything right now, so I looked around, nothing to use, took of my baggy shirt and shoved it right inside his big sharp toothed mouth, making him gag and close it to a normal size, his cheeks looking like a chipmunk hiding nuts.

I nearly snorted, If the situation wasn't so dire. So much talking led to a lot of blood to be now everywhere.

He fought hard not to buck under my hands as I found my flow with the sticking, I patted his stomach, trying to soothe him.

My nature keep trying to bring memes into this, just so I could have a sense of security. I wanted so hard to say:

Go Kylie, GO! You are doing amazing sweetie!

Oh but I couldn't, not with him already like this.

I understood his situation. He didn't know me, he didn't like me, he had Pierrot above us not even aware of us, his wound wasn't closing, he couldn't leave. And he had to let me stick him up, even after threatening and nearly biting my head clean off.

"Shh, just a little longer, you are doing so well." I cooed softly, rubbing his arm before going back to stitching.

He looked greatly offended by it, his head snapping up to stare at me, eyebrows furrowed. He mumbled something, the shirt in his mouth making him sound so far away.

I truly didn't give a shit if he liked being praised like a kid or not. If it worked, it worked.

Good thing I only felt him stirring, if I head him actually voice how it hurt I wouldn't be able to keep going.

"Mmph! Ff-fff-mff!"

Something something, you cunt, something bitch.

But he quieted down, giving me more room to work, his scales going down again. I had to stop to clean my hand on his pants, feeling him stir slightly before shushing again. The black oily blood kept making me lose grip on the needle.

"Just like that, Harlequin, you are being such a good boy. Just a little longer." I murmured. "You can take it, you are being very brave."

"MMPH!"

Something something, oral b'ing my ass, something something, stop patronizing me.

I stopped entirely and looked up at him. Was it that hard to take some praise? I would be shitting myself if someone was stitching me raw. I reached up to pat his head, curious by his two points hat that had yet to fall down.

"You are doing very good, stop being fussy okay?"

He scoffed and looked away.

I went back to the last stitches and he went back to his muffled groans. Dang.

My back was already hurting from being hunched over him like a miner staring at the ground. Finally I did the knot, tugging it to see if it would keep up with tension, it did. I leaned down to cut it with my teeth, my breath must have prickled his skin because his scales jumped open and he slid his hand up my neck to the back of my head.

Goodness gracious reader, that felt good. Like I said before, the toxic insecure part of me like it, loved it even. I shivered and looked up at him, my chin rubbing against his stomach as his hand held me there.

His other hand snatched the shirt out of his mouth, opening wider than pennywise to take it all out in one go. It looked so sensual.

I CAN'T EXPLAIN HOW OKAY READER? FUCK OFF!

He looked down at me, throwing the shirt to the floor.

"What do you think you are doing? Taking advantage of me to sneak in a blow?"

My hairs flared up in pure bewilderment, I forced my head back, his nail catching my bra, snapping it against my skin as it let go.

"Excuse you?! I was trying to cut the fucking floss, you jerk!"

He looked down at himself, seeing the thread still uncut, longer than it should. He moved down and clipped it with his own nails, shaking slightly.

"Calling me a good boy was part of it? Did you enjoy it? Having me writhe under your hands? Because it won't happen again, mousey." He growled in that deep sultry voice of his.

I slapped his wound, making him bare his teeth.

"I was trying to soothe you, asshole!"

I slammed my hand on the kit, poured oxygenated water right into his now closed wound, making him nearly bend backwards.

"That's what you get. Very bad boy, you cunt! Worst boy in all of monster land"

He flashed me his teeth and I flashed him mine right back. I had come to the conclusion that he was actually harmless. Don't mistake me, I said harmless, but he is still terrifying and ultra dangerous. The only thing keeping me alive is the red clown and the blue and black one that wanted me back to the circus by night.

Until then, I was as safe as a house cat.

"Worst boy in all of monster land? If you are five, just say so." He huffed, an amused glint dancing between the green of his eyes.

"If you have a praising kink and don't know how to handle it, just say so." I huffed back at him, finishing with the bandages around his torso.

"Bitch? I do not have a praising kink! And if I did, I wouldn't get off on humans doing it."

I scoffed.

"You so would. Your scales were prickling up, but as soon as I called you a good boy they went down faster than you, super soft and warm. Don't lie to me, Harlequin, I will bet you twenty bucks on how you would have those pants wet if I kept calling you a good boy, you nasty freak!"

He looked so stunned you might think he was copying the shocked owl sticker. Sitting up on the sofa, mouth open in a big offended O.

"Now either skedaddle or skedoddle, I have work tomorrow. Shoo, you stray, shoo!"

In no time, I was alone and fast asleep on the bloodied couch.

It was warm, and smelling like him.