Harlequin

Ever since the weather had started getting colder, the cafe you worked at had been bustling. You felt like you were pulling overtime every week now, working your ass off to serve the entire city at this point. It's why you welcomed the lull you currently had.

It was a Thursday evening. You were the only one there, and had begun cleaning up when you heard the bell chime.

You recognized the person right away—it'd be hard to miss him, considering his black and green circus get up. Harlequin. He was wearing that mask like always, his green eyes shining behind it as he gave you a wide grin and approached the counter. Ever since the circus had rolled into town, he had seemed to grow an interest in you and visited the cafe daily.

"Well good evening," he greeted, leaning against the counter. "Is it too late to just get a cold brew?" he asked, tilting his head, his gaze never wavering from you. As you got to work, he produced a green admission ticket.

"And here! Figured you could visit me at work tonight."

Maybe circuses just weren't your thing.

After your friend had been hounding you on coming, and you had run into Harlequin on the street who insisted you show up, you finally had caved and went to visit the circus that night. You had never been to one before, and figured it would be a good experience...

Or not.

The food was overpriced, the people were too loud, and the acts were just weird. Some of them were cool. There was a knife-throwing one that had you on the edge of your seat, but for the most part you were just... unimpressed.

And above all of that, there was just something weird going on here. The vibes were not it, and you had been ready to just leave and abandon your friend when the very clown that invited you stepped in front of you.

"I saw you in my tent! How did you like the little puppet story? Most people find it riveting," he told you, wrapping an arm around your shoulder and bringing you close before subtly steering you away from the exit.

You had a feeling that you should not be here. You were now far away from the hustle and bustle of the circus; Harlequin had sequestered you from the main area, taking you to the back part and into an abandoned tent. As the flap had closed, you only had a sliver of light to try and make out what was happening as Harlequin picked you up and placed you on a table.

Next thing you knew, his lips were pressing against your own, sharp teeth nipping at your lower lip. Before you could reach up—to push him away or pull him closer, you didn't know—you felt something cool wrap around your wrists and hold them above your head. It almost felt like... ropes?

More 'ropes' slid around, one wrapping around your thigh and the other going up your shirt and sliding across your stomach as Harlequin began to trail kisses down your neck.

"Don't mind them," he murmured, as if reading your mind as you tried to figure out what was holding you down. "Just focus on me, mkay?"

You should have never trusted that slimy bastard.

Your life had been hell since you stepped in and helped Pierrot out—and while you didn't regret helping somebody in need, you really wished that you could have been left out of all of this.

No good deed goes unpunished though, right?

After Pierrot began hanging around you like a lovesick puppydog, Harlequin had also been hanging around. Where Pierrot was caring and attentive and actually nice to you, Harlequin seemed to get off on rage-baiting you, constantly teasing and harassing you and never keeping his hands to himself.

It had only been a matter of time before something happened.

After days of being hounded, you had finally agreed to go to the circus with Harlequin. He had left, only to come back moments later with a snow cone drizzled in what looked to be your favorite flavor. His grin was mischievous, like usual, as he handed it out to you.

"It's your favorite flavor! Here ya go!"

How the fuck were you supposed to know it'd be drugged?