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The sunset resembled a watercolor painting, soft pinks mixed with brilliant oranges before being swallowed by the all encompassing dark blue as night crept upon your small town. You played with the blue ticket in your hands, remembering your promise to come again tonight and see the blue suited man with the dual toned mask.
The circus has been in town for a little over 2 weeks now and Ticket Taker has exchanged your ticket twice from Red and Green to his blue ticket, insisting you come each night.
“Wow that guy is being so rude” you overhear a girl whisper in front of you to her friend, snapping you from your thoughts of the blue gentleman. You follow her finger to the front of the line where a man’s yelling can be heard, insults being tossed every other word. You shift a little to the side of the line, leaning against the stanchion ropes to see who he’s being so verbally abusive to and see him, the polite gentleman who’s captured your eye and heart as of late, Ticket Taker.
“I know she was here, she texted me! Where the fuck is she you bastard?!” The man yells, grabbing Ticket Taker by his jacket. You gasp in horror as he’s dragged forward from his usual pristine posture, his hat is askew, hair ruffled from being jerked so suddenly and rough by the slightly taller man. He grunts as he's forced to grab onto the other mans forearms to not fall into his aggressor. What the hell is that guys problem?! I can’t just stand here and watch this, he needs help!
You slip out of your place in line, spinning quickly around a fool that attempts to keep you between the ropes and beeline it for Ticket Taker. “HEY ASSHOLE!” You yell as the man yells in rage, pushing Ticket Taker to the ground.
He slides a bit on his ass and grunts, looking up at the man in what you can now recognize as disgusted hatred, where to anyone else would appear as professional composure.
You sprint as fast as your legs can take you, shoving yourself in front of Ticket Taker just as the man goes to kick him, winding back his foot and swinging it forward as hard as he can. His foot collides with your shin, just under your knee “Fuck!” You cry out in pain, your hunch over and grab at the area he just struck, nearly falling from the force behind it. Gasps sound off from the line as onlookers see you get kicked.
The man yells again, spit flying from his lips and splattering the ground at your feet "You're with them aren't you?! AREN'T YOU?!" He screams, and for a moment you lose your hearing as his palm strikes over your ear. Eyes widen as the world sways around you, a loud ringing in your ear as you try to remain standing and not join Ticket Taker on the ground. You growl under your breath and swiftly bring your leg between the man's legs, he gasps and chokes on air, his head falling as he grabs at his crotch with a painful groan.
"Fuck. You." You grind out, reassuming your position in front of Ticket Taker as he stands, feet in a wide stance with shoulders squared, your arms out on either side of you to almost cage Ticket Taker from any incoming damage.
A heavy hand comes to clamp down on the angry man’s shoulder, a plague doctor mask looming over him “I believe you have an appointment, right this way.” His tone gives no room for argument, and the man is promptly dragged from the front gates and towards the Cyan tent, the Doctors footsteps fade as the man disappears from your sight.
You groan as you reach down to rub the ache, hobbling in a spin to face Ticket Taker your gaze his chest, a hand comes to grab your jaw to tip it upwards, his white eye stares down at you with a whirlwind of emotions lurking in their depths. Fear, Anger, Pride, Worry, they all rush to meet yours as he accesses the damage you took for him.
His gaze flickers to a Fool, and curls his finger in a beckoning motion, “Come. You are to punch these guests tickets, I shall be back shortly.” He commands, placing a hole puncher into the Fools hand, she just nods mindlessly and turns to the long line without a word. “Hello, ticket please.” her monotonous voice calls to the next visitor in line, holding her hand out.
Ticket Takers finger under your chin lightly caresses you, silently calling your attention back to him. “That was a disgusting man, you should see the doctor about an ice pack.” His voice is like velvet, a shiver crawling its way down your spine as you rest under his rapt attention. “Come along, Blue Ticket Guest” he calls, his spine is back to its perfectly straight resting position, as if nothing happened in the first place.
He drops the hand on your chin to instead offer his arm, something he never did before. Ticket Taker was the embodiment of professionalism and being gentleman, but he rarely touches anyone, not unless its necessary; so for him to be willingly offering you to hang on his arm? In public no less?
Your heart hammered in your chest as you gently clutched his blue sleeve, letting the man weave you through the crowds, past the stalls and games to The Doctor's cyan tent.
You look at the ground as you walk, suddenly shy from the gentle affection your blue gentleman has shown you. "I'm sorry you saw that" You whisper, an embarrassed blush decorating your cheeks and grabbing at your ears. Your hands fiddle with the soft fabric "I don't usually lash out like that, but I couldn't stand- couldn't watch--That man! That awful, awful man and how he was treating you! I couldn't stand it." You huff, eyebrows furrowed as embarrassment clashed with an almost defensive feeling settling in your chest. You never intended for him to see you angry, you didn't want to seem brutish, or come across as ill-mannered, but you were so angry with that abuser.
Tears prickle as Ticket Taker comes to a halt outside the cyan tent "It is fine, I only wish you weren't harmed in the scuffle" He murmurs, turning to you and placing a hand over yours, another comes to wipe a falling tear from your cheek.
The blush burns your cheeks as your eyes flicker between his face and hand as the warm words rush through you, scorching every nerve in your body. "I-I uhm" You fumble, "I'll be okay! There'll definitely be a bruise, but I got a pretty good kick in return!" You grin at him, watching as his gaze dips to your leg. He nods quietly and escorts you into the Doctor's tent "Doctor, an ice pack please." Ticket Taker calls out before the flap of the tent even closes behind you two. There's a clash and bang further into the tent, you jump slightly at the loud noises "D-Doctor? Are you okay?" You call, going to step forward before Ticket Taker gentle pulls you back to his side with a head shake.
Suddenly the massive man with the plague doctor mask peeks over the top of a hanging doll, light from the opening catching the glass in his mask making it twinkle. "Ah hello again dear patient" Doctor greets as he steps out from behind the dolls.
Blood is splattered on his uniform and hands, fresh from the looks of it "Oh! Did we catch you in the middle of getting ready for your show? I'm sorry!" You apologize, bowing a little to the man. He pauses and looks down at the blood "Yes. It's fine." He dismisses quickly, walking around the chair in the middle of the tent to a freezer, his body blocking the contents from sight.
Doctor closes the freezer again and turns to you two with an icepack and a wash cloth covering it "Here you are. May I inspect your injuries?" He asks, gesturing to his chair. Ticket Taker clears his throat "They won't need the full show, just an examination is fine." He tells the doctor, leading you to the chair before you can respond. "Can I request to not be tied down?" You ask softly "It kinda hurt my wrists last time..." You trail off, rubbing at your wrist as the memory.
Ticket Taker stands taller as he points a glare at the Doctor who chuckles and nods "Of course Blue Ticket Guest, just a light examination" He says as he grabs a small hammer from his table. He comes to crouch beside you and lightly taps it on the knee of the leg that got kicked. He watches it jolt and lightly kick forward, he does this again two more times before nodding and standing. "Now, beyond that kick, did you sustain any other injuries?" He asks, turning to place the hammer back in its place.
"He smacked my ear real hard and caused it to ring, but I can hear fine now." You recount, reaching to rub your ear tenderly. A gloved hand gently forces your hand away, an otoscope placed at your ear so he can look inside. "Hmmm, there's irritation but luckily no bleeding." He notes mostly to himself, pulling the otoscope back out and clicking a tab on the side, the used attachment going into the trash beside you.
You smile and nod "Thank you Doctor." He's never been very forceful with you, then again you've always obeyed from the start so maybe its just that he never had to be.
"I observe a clean bill of health, you are free to go dear patient." The Doctor moves to the side and sweeps his arms towards the entrance, his head tilting as you stand, gingerly putting pressure on your sore shin. You hand back the now warm icepack and give a grateful bow "Thank you again for your services Doctor, I always appreciate your care." The only thing that ever unnerved you was the dolls watching you, but the Doctor was kind. Attentive and curious, but kind.
Ticket Taker offers his arm again, allowing you to place a bit of your weight on him so you're not putting too much pressure on the limb. You blink in astonishment before taking the arm "Again? My, my ever the gentleman" you beam up at Ticket Taker. He nods gently and begins to escort you from the tent "Yes, and thank you Doctor." He calls behind him, receiving a hum in reply.
The last twinkle of the sun dips below the horizon as you step out, the crisp air filling your lungs as the sound of laughter and screams greet you. "Now, I do believe 'No Violence' is rule number 3. Am I going to be removed from the circus grounds?" You ask the gentleman, glancing over at him as he guides you between the tents.
The world spins as he places you against his blue tent, away from the prying eyes of visitors and crew alike. He leans in, mask lightly rubbing your cheek as you gasp, the blush from earlier making a killer comeback. "You worried me." He sighs, arms coming around you, gripping your waist and shoulders, its not too tight but you're not getting away easily. Your heart thunders in your chest from the close proximity, never has he been as forward as he has been today, and you don't know how to respond.
"I'm sorry." You whisper again, you hold him to you, your chin coming to rest on his shoulder as you settle into the embrace. "It's okay if a guest gets rough with us, the Doctor will handle them. Don't use your own body to shield me again." He rumbles, "Please." His grip tightens slightly, his tone edging on desperate and professional. Nothing about this feels professional though, this feels very personal. He's carved out a corner of the circus for you two to share this moment, a moment of tender askance and sturdy embraces.
You gulp the lump in your throat and nod against his shoulder "Okay...unless they harm you." He pulls back to protest but you quickly stammer out "I can't handle the sight, please. I will try to get harmed, but I refuse to sit back and watch someone hurt you and not intervene." You finish firmly, and a tense silence hangs in the air between you.
He stares down at you, searching your face before the white eye closes in defeat "I see. It seems there is no stopping you Y/N" You heart skips a beat as your name leaves his lips, the velvet smooth of his voice caressing every syllable.
He smiles at your surprised face and places a soft kiss against your cheek "Thank you for saving me then." A slight tug at your collar alerts you as he places a pin there, a half white half black teardrop.