Chapter Text
Pierrot was giving out the flyers as usual and doing his best not to pissed off the humans that would cause trouble for the circus. Harlequin was somewhere else or being lazy, not that he cared as he kept giving out the flyers.
Suddenly, he got slapped and found himself on the ground. It startled him, as he didn’t expect to be slapped and to see a human scolding him. He grit his teeth and lowered his head. He couldn’t do anything. He must endure this. He can’t let people find out, or worse, have anything happen to Circus because of him-
“HEY! YOU OLD MEANIE!!! LET HIM GO!”
Pierrot's eyes widened. He looks up to see a child standing in front of him, their back facing him.
“YOU BULLYING THIS UNCLE!! GO AWAY, YOU SMELLY OLD MAN!!”
“WHAT DID YOU SAY?! GET OUT OF MY WAY, BRAT!!”
“OH, TRY IT!!!”
Pierrot moved, grabbing the child and pulling them close before the man hurt the child. People who saw this immediately stepped in, yelling at the man to leave them alone. The child in his arms also shouted at the man and stuck out their tongue at him. “BLEH!!”
The man huffed and left angrily.
Seeing the danger had passed, Pierrot let go of the child and stared at them.
The child grinned. “You okay, clown uncle?”
Dumbfounded, Pierrot nodded.
“Good! Oh! You're hurt.” The child frowned, noticing his cheek. “That must hurt a lot…” They check their pockets and frown. “Right… I don’t have a bandage on me…” They look at him. “You should get a doctor to check it out.” They back away. “I have to go now before my teacher gets worried. Nice to meet ya, clown uncle!!” The child waved and ran off.
It took a moment for him to process before he collected the flyers and followed the child. He hid himself well. He saw the child entering a shop and soon came out with bags. He followed them to their home.
The child was unaware the clown was following him. They just kept walking and made it to the orphanage. They opened the gate and entered, where other kids showed up, taking the bags from the child to help them.
Pierrot watched everything from the roof. An orphanage, huh. They must be so lonely. And that determined Pierrot to adopt the child. He stayed a few more hours watching them play and laughing before leaving and heading towards the circus.
___________________________________________
“Excuse me?” Jester blinked. “You want a day off?”
Pierrot nods.
“Not that I don’t mind you wanting a day off, but it’s very rare for you to ask for a day off.” Jester put his book away and looked concerned. “Something bothering you?” He stood up and touched his cheek. “Mm, I do remember Doctor telling me someone hurt you.” He narrowed his eyes and smiled.
Pierrot let Jester check him. “Yes”
“Rude, humans…” He sighs. “You may have a day off.” He let go of him. “However, may I ask why? If you want to…”
I want to adopt a child, Pierrot sweat, No, he can’t tell him. He knows Jester would refuse him. Adopting a human child? Big No. And the rule of the circus: No child allowed.
“What’s wrong?” Jester noted Pierrot looking tense.
Pierrot shook his head. “I go”
“All right, see you tonight at dinner”
Happily, he nods and walks out of the tent.
Jester crossed his arms; he looked to the side where he knew HE was there. “Do you know anything about this?”
Harlequin comes out from the shadows; he grins. “Nope, but I will find out~”
Jester hums. “I still haven’t learned how the human slapped Pierrot… He wouldn’t allow some pesky person to harm him… Has he gotten dull with his instincts… I should speak with Doctor and check if he is skipping his meals”
Harlequin snickers. “You're such a mommy.” He waves his hand. “Don’t worry, I see what’s up”
“Call me that word, and I promise you, Harlequin, you won’t walk out of my tent straight”
“Kinky~”
__________________________________________________
For the next few days, Pierrot stalked the child, and Harlequin stalked Pierrot. He was dumbstruck to find out Pierrot was stalking a child. A CHILD!!
Why the heck would he stalk a weak-looking child? Harlequin wondered if it had something related to what happened with Pierrot days ago. Mm, what did this child do to get his attention?
Apparently, he didn't have to wait.
Harlequin was giving out his flyers to humans and doing tricks while keeping an eye on Pierrot, who wasn’t far away from him. Soon it was lunch break. He checked the time and walked towards Pierrot to let him know it’s time to return back only to pause as he saw a familiar child walking towards them.
“Hi, clown uncle!” The child exclaims, waving at Pierrot. “I brought you a drink!”
Pierrot, seeing the child lighten up, rushes to their side and picks them up while making sure he doesn’t spill the drink they brought him. “Thank you”
The child smiles brightly at him. “Hehe! Oh! I forgot to introduce myself… I am [Y/n]! And you, clown uncle?”
“Pierrot”
“Ooh nice! Like uhhh…” The child makes a face and furrows their eyebrows, trying to think of the word. “Like Silent clown? Is that why you don’t speak?”
“It is a rule of the circus… I cannot speak to anyone, but you are special…Can you promise me? Don’t tell anyone that I spoke to you…?”
The child grins and holds their pinkie to him. “I promise”
Pierrot looks like he’s about to melt as he uses his own pinkie and wraps it around their tiny pinkie. “Thank you”
Harlequin stares.
Really, stare.
Holy shit, Pierrot fucking adopted the child.
…
He’s gonna take that child from him just for shits and giggles.
Harlequin covers his mouth. He calmly backs away and pretends he doesn’t see Pierrot sneaking out with the child. Oh fuck, He’s gonna have so much fun.
Jester can know about this later.