Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Pierrot

• Pierrot usually sneaks over to visit you to make sure you're safe. Lately, though, he's been coming by so often that you eventually gave him a spare key to your apartment. That's how he ended up visiting you this time.
• But when he arrived, seeing you curled up on your bed was a rather unusual sight. You weren't the type to go to bed early, and you were still wearing your work clothes. Quietly, he walked over to check on you.
• Oh God! You're shivering! You're trembling in your sleep! Your face is flushed, too... and your body is burning up!
• He'll genuinely think you're dying.
• He nearly carries you straight to the Doctor, but when you reassure him that it's just a fever caused by the recent unpredictable weather, it does little to calm his worries.
• Pierrot has absolutely no idea how to treat an illness. The last time he—or anyone in his family—got sick, the Doctor would either put leeches on them or try to drill into their skull.
• He'll pull every single medicine out of your medicine cabinet and hand it to you. You'll definitely have to teach him which medicine is actually safe to take, otherwise he might accidentally overdose you to death. But Pierrot will listen carefully. He really will.
• He's an incredible chef! Using whatever ingredients you have in your refrigerator—which honestly looks like the fridge of a poor family in a movie... well, you haven't exactly had enough money to keep it stocked—he somehow manages to make you a restaurant-quality soup. In the end, you get a delicious bowl of soup and even a small dessert to cheer you up.
• Pierrot barely leaves your side. This is your chance to be as spoiled as you want because he'll happily indulge you. Thirsty? Of course! Want to watch TV? Absolutely! Want him to rob a bank? ...Give him a moment.
• If you don't start feeling better, you can bet he'll skip work just to take care of you. He'd probably end up clinging to Jester's leg, crying and begging for time off so he could stay with you full-time.
• He'd honestly rather kidnap you back to his tent, but seeing how comfortable you are in your own bed, he's willing to let you stay.
• Even after you fall asleep, Pierrot still can't relax. He gently strokes your hair, whispers soft words of comfort, and watches over you as you sleep—even if it means staying awake the entire night himself.
• You'll have to make it up to him with kisses. Lots and lots of kisses. He desperately wants your attention.

Harlequin

• Harlequin comes over to your place for one reason only—to annoy you. He doesn't visit as often as Pierrot does, but honestly, he watches you from afar quite a lot. Besides, he doesn't need your house key anyway when he can simply pry open your balcony door and let himself in.
• What he doesn't expect is to find you... lying on the floor. At first, he thinks it's some kind of joke. But when he crouches down, about to poke you for fun, he hears a weak groan... and notices that you're shivering.
• Harly immediately panics. He hurriedly scoops you up into his arms, completely unsure of what to do. Your body feels limp, and you're whimpering in pain!
• "...Wait. You're not dead?"
• No matter how much your throat hurts, you have to explain that you're just sick and beg him to carry you to your bed.
• Just like Pierrot, he has no idea how to treat an illness. But he vaguely remembers a few things the Doctor once taught him. He rummages through your medicine cabinet, reads every label one by one, and brings you the medicine along with a glass of water.
• You can't really blame him for accidentally grabbing a laxative, too.
• Harlequin cannot cook. Seriously, his cooking is somehow worse than an English fish-head pie. Eating it feels like swallowing radioactive waste.
• Just let him order food for you.
• He isn't sure how he's supposed to take care of a sick person, but he tries his best to spoil you in his own awkward way. Feeling cold? He'll reluctantly set his pride aside and hug you. Feeling like you're about to throw up? Uh... should he carry you to the bathroom or grab a trash can first?
• He stays by your side the entire time, constantly on high alert. He watches your every move just to make sure you don't end up dying from something stupid.
• This is all completely new to him. He's never taken care of a sick person before. The last time he saw Pierrot get sick, he watched... the Doctor try to cut open Pierrot's skull with a surgical knife. (Thank goodness Jester stepped in and stopped him.)
• Once you finally fall asleep, Harly stands beside your bed for a while. He pretends to leave...
• ...only to come back a moment later to make sure you're warm enough before leaving again.
• Then he comes back again to refill the glass of water on your bedside table so you won't be thirsty when you wake up... and leaves again.
• Then he comes back again just to tuck the blankets snugly around you.
• He's only doing all of this so you'll recover faster and he can go back to teasing you. It's not because he likes you or anything.
• Good grief... he's basically a tsundere heroine straight out of an anime.

Jester

• That day, Jester was sitting quietly in his study. In his hands was the novel he'd left unfinished the last time he read it. Most days, he spent his time reading or working in silence—but today would be a little different.
• He noticed you walking into his tent. Your face was bright red, and you staggered toward him. Before he even had the chance to ask what was wrong, you sank down onto the floor beside him and rested your head in his lap.
• "Oh... you're sick." How pitiful. Humans really are fragile. A little rain is all it takes for you to get sick. So weak.
• Jester wants to send you away, but letting you wander back outside in your condition—especially with the freezing weather—isn't exactly a good idea.
• He reaches into a drawer and takes out some medicine. The Doctor had insisted that everyone carry some, even though monsters like them had no real use for it. It seems that advice has finally come in handy.
• He could send you to the Doctor... but no. He doesn't trust that crow. Not after the Doctor tried to treat Harly's heatstroke with pickled cockroaches.
• Jester gently strokes your head while quietly humming to himself, though most of his attention remains on the pages of his book.
• But when he notices your condition getting worse, he sighs, picks you up, carries you to his bed, tucks you in under the blankets, and lets you rest there.
• Food? He'll have The Fool bring something over. He has no intention of cooking himself—that's Pierrot's job. More likely than not, he'll simply ask Pierrot to prepare something for you instead.
• He's not particularly gentle, and he certainly won't spoil you. Especially if what you're asking for will only make you feel worse. Want to watch TV? Keep dreaming. You're staying in bed until you recover.
• After you fall asleep, he'll remain by your bedside for a while. He softly strokes your hair, absentmindedly plays with it, and hums a quiet tune. Honestly, he's more interested in playing with your hair than anything else. He likes your hair. Even if it's short, he'd still like it. (If you're bald, though... that's a different story.)
• By the time you wake up, Jester is already gone—he has work to do. Still, he leaves behind a cup of tea, a single tablet of medicine... and perhaps a small snack as well.
• He'll come back later to check on you. He's not so heartless that he'd leave you alone for too long.
• Gently patting your head and placing a kiss on your forehead—that's about as much affection as he's willing to give you.

Ticket Taker

• Whenever the circus isn't open to visitors, Ticket Taker is usually in his office, busy with bookkeeping and paperwork. Sometimes he'll let you sit nearby just to keep him company, and every now and then he'll even give you a few small tasks to help him with.
• He quietly writes financial reports, the room filled with nothing but the scratching of his pen and the sound of your breathing. But... the moment he hears you sniffle, his eyes immediately drift toward you.
• "...You have a runny nose." And your face is flushed, too...
• He sets his pen down, hands you a box of tissues, and tells you to go take some medicine.
• If you're stubborn enough to insist on staying with him, he'll simply carry you there himself. He brings you over to his bed, lays you down gently, and tucks you in beneath the blankets.
• He'll go to the Doctor for medicine and brew you a cup of tea. Unlike Pierrot and Harly, he actually knows what to do when someone is sick.
• He'll make you ginger tea with lemon. If you don't like that, he'll brew chamomile tea instead. But if you still refuse to drink it... then he'll have no choice but to make you. There's no way he's letting such wonderful tea go to waste.
• He moves part of his work to the bedside table so he can keep working while taking care of you. He isn't much of a talker when there's important work to be done. To him, you're just as important as his numbers.
• "Doll... you look awful. You should get some sleep."
• He's not cruel enough to keep you imprisoned in bed forever, but walking around will only make you feel worse. He might tease you by saying something like, "If you insist on wandering around and collapse, I'll leave you there to chat with the dust on the floor." Of course, he'd never actually do that. He loves you far more than you realize.
• He's nowhere near as talented a cook as Pierrot, but he can manage a few simple meals. Maybe vegetable soup... (ugh.) Or rice porridge. Don't expect much flavor, though—it'll be as bland as it looks.
• He'll feed you himself while softly comforting you. He might even wrap his arms around you, gently rocking you back and forth.
• If you ask to watch TV, he'll simply shake his head. "This is a circus. We don't exactly keep televisions inside tents." Instead, he'll find something else for you to do that won't make your condition worse—perhaps drawing or reading a book.
• Once you've fallen asleep, he'll make sure you'll be as comfortable as possible when you wake up. He tucks the blankets snugly around you, surrounds you with plenty of plushies, leaves cookies and chocolate by your bedside, along with a pitcher of water, a teapot, and a small note explaining that he's gone back to work.
• Every hour, he'll have The Fool cover his duties for about five minutes so he can come check on you himself. He just wants to make sure you're doing alright.
• He may call you "Doll," but he takes care of you like you're royalty.

Doctor

• The Doctor usually keeps to himself inside his tent. Jester only comes out when necessary—but the Doctor? He almost never leaves at all. More often than not, you're the one who visits him first. Usually, he'll simply let you stand nearby and watch him work. If you want to help, though, he'll give you simple tasks like handing him medical instruments, taking notes, or cleaning his tools.
• But this time is different. You come to him with a hoarse voice and quietly ask if he has any medicine.
• "...It seems you're sick. Let your doctor take care of you."
• He gently carries you over to a chair. There's no need to strap your arms or legs down—you've always been such an obedient patient.
• He checks your pulse, your blood pressure, and your heart rate. Medical equipment? No. His hands alone are enough.
• Thankfully, it doesn't seem to be anything serious. Just an illness brought on by the unpredictable weather. It happens. Humans are fragile; it doesn't take much for you to end up bedridden.
• Fortunately, the Doctor has no desire to experiment with any bizarre treatments on you today. He simply gives you medicine, wipes you down with a cool cloth to help with the fever, and carries you to his bed. You deserve proper rest.
• The Doctor's bed is large and circular, piled high with pillows and blankets until it resembles a giant bird's nest. It feels incredibly warm, soft, and safe. Naturally, a few of the Doctor's feathers are scattered here and there... though surely you don't mind sleeping among his feathers, do you?
• The Doctor isn't much of a cook, but he does know what you should be eating while you're sick. He'll do his best to prepare something gentle for your stomach, like rice porridge or tomato soup.
• He feeds you one spoonful at a time, helps you drink water, gently wipes your mouth clean, and even gives you your medicine himself.
• He's a doctor. He knows exactly what will help you feel better.
• He tucks the blankets around you, turns on the heater, and brings you even more pillows to make sure you're comfortable.
• Want a snack? Fried chips covered in oil won't do your sore throat any favors. Want to watch TV? That'll only make your headache and eye strain worse, dear. Want to read a book? He can read it aloud to you—as long as you're well-behaved.
• Once you've fallen asleep, he leaves your medicine and a glass of water beside the bed. Throughout the night, he quietly checks your temperature and gently wipes you down to keep your fever under control. Even while you're asleep, he's as gentle as he can possibly be.
• When you finally wake up, it's already very late into the night. You find the Doctor curled up beside you, holding you close in his sleep. One of his wings is wrapped protectively around your body like a blanket.
• ...Perhaps you should go back to sleep.
• You can ask him in the morning why he has bird wings. That's a problem for your future self—not for right now.

Columbina

• Columbina is just as clingy as Pierrot. She absolutely loves being around you. To her, you're like a tiny little hamster—adorable, fragile, and in constant need of affection. She loves dressing you up and doing your hair, though unlike Bill, she always chooses cute, charming styles instead.
• One day, she comes to visit with an adorable long-sleeved sweater she picked out just for you... only to find you lying in bed. You let out weak, pained groans, feeling like your head is about to split open.
• She panics.
• "What do I do?! Are you dying?! Oh my gosh! You need to see a doctor!"
• You have to explain to her—for the third time—that you're just sick.
• Columbina throws herself into taking care of you. She cooks for you, wipes your forehead with a cool cloth, changes your clothes, and will even march over to your neighbors if they're being too loud.
• She gives you your medicine, then immediately hands you a piece of chocolate afterward so you won't have to think about how bitter the medicine tasted.
• She decides soup sounds like the perfect meal. She even brings you some fresh bread, feeding you herself and carefully blowing on every spoonful until it's cool enough before offering it to you.
• She cuddles up beside you, holding you close while whispering sweet words of comfort and planting gentle kisses on your cheeks.
• She barely leaves your side.
• "You want to go watch Pierrot's performance? No, Pumpkin. You need to rest. I'll take care of you myself. Pierrot can wait."
• If you get bored, she'll happily read books aloud to you or softly hum songs until you drift off.
• Even after you've fallen asleep, Columbina doesn't leave. She isn't nearly as busy as Pierrot, and her own tent isn't particularly famous, so taking time off to care for you isn't a problem at all.
• When you wake up, you'll find a plate of cinnamon rolls, a mug of warm milk, and a little pink sticky note on your bedside table.
• "I'm going out to buy groceries so your refrigerator won't be empty anymore. Don't go anywhere while I'm gone, okay, Pumpkin? <3"
• You should probably take another nap... and wait in bed to be showered with even more love when she comes back.

Carol

• Carol isn't especially close to you, but she genuinely cares about you as a coworker.
• When she notices you staggering around while mopping the floor, she immediately walks over and guides you to the staff break room to sit down.
• "Oh... you're burning up. You should be resting."
• She takes some medicine out of her bag and gives it to you. Then she volunteers to cover the rest of your shift. Even if you protest, she won't listen.
• She'd rather work herself to exhaustion than watch you collapse in the middle of the store in front of the customers.
• At lunchtime, she brings you some bread and a cup of coffee. She doesn't feed you herself, but she stays beside you until you've finished every last bite of the bread.
• Once she's sure you have enough strength to make it home, she insists on walking you there herself. She escorts you all the way back to your house and makes sure you get into bed.
• Carol won't leave until she's certain you've fallen asleep. She's worried you'll secretly get back up, do something reckless, and make yourself even sicker.
• After you've drifted off, she quietly takes care of your household chores. Dirty laundry? "I'll handle it." A sink full of dishes that's been sitting there for a week? "Don't worry about it."
• Once everything is finished, she stays with you for a while longer. She isn't in a hurry to go home anyway. If taking care of you gives her a perfectly good excuse to avoid another argument with her mother, she's going to make the most of it.
• When you wake up, you find Carol asleep in a chair she'd dragged over from your kitchen. Her arms are folded across her chest as she dozes off.
• At the very least... she didn't forget to leave you a snack.