Scarlet-Roads: Because I have written a few chapters ahead, I can upload the second Chapter now. Please enjoy and tell me what you think about it in a review if you like. Red is so hard to write, but also fun! Though, he will only continue to show up for a few chapters...

Disclaimer: I don´t own DGM!


Madness, Insanity, nutcase, crazy, daft, lunatic…

So many words to describe the same thing. Obviously, Red had known that the Clown hadn´t been…right in the head from the start. But this. This was something different. Telling him things…that were completely and utterly crazy. Like insisting that he was actually 17 and was searching for his brother. At first, the days had started out a bit uncomfortable. Red had been on his own for so long, it was hard to image to be with someone who wouldn´t hit him whenever he felt like it. Slowly and surely, he had relaxed a bit around the old man, despite the strange mood swings he appeared to have. A bit too fast for his liking, trusting someone shouldn´t be so easy after all, but it was the same with the burst of madness the man had.

One minute he muttered nonsense, sometimes he had this far-away look on his face, detached from the world and would go somewhere, just walk on in a trance until he snapped out of it. How Red knew how to deal with it like he did it was a normal experience from his day to day life was still a mystery to himself.

There was just something about the old man that cracked his tough and protective shell little by little. Red found out that he didn´t mind to be in the presence of the man, not even if he had another episode. Sure, at first it was annoying and a bit frightening. Such behavior wasn´t normal, maybe the man would walk into traffic if Red wasn´t looking, but with time, he learned to adapt, he was a fast learner through and through.

If he had to put up with his almost insufferable, cheery personality then so be it. If taking the man by the hand like a mother did with her child and snap at him to get his mind out of lala-land then he would do so without too much complaining. Even if the man wasn´t all right, Red would still put up with it because he was different from the rest.

Sometimes he even had to act to get the man to snap out of it. Pulling a smile, being gentle with him, whispering soothing and comforting words. Hell, Red never did that for anyone. Comforting, soothing, gentle. Such words would never be associated with him! He was rough, cold, and sassy. With time everything could be possible and he believed that. The more it happened the better he had become at pulling a smile, an act.

Also, who was he to judge people upon their weirdness? Maybe it was a good match. The insane man and the monster street rat. No one was entirely sane either. With the strange dreams, Red had going for him, it was safe to say he wasn´t innocent.

"Are you sure you don´t want to perform with me this time?" Mana inquired with a smile, Red was confident to say he hadn´t seen the man go by a whole day without that stupid curve on his lips. He was in costume again, looking utterly ridiculous.

While Red still held some dislike for Clowns, finding them stupid and telling that straight to the old man´s face, who had tried a whole afternoon to get him to smile with his stupid tricks and grimaces which resulted in some terrible black humor and left him in a sour mood, it steadily lessened. One could say he was dare he admit it, fond of them.

Silver eyes turned to stare impassively at the man.

"No way. Ya can perform on yer own." Red refused, his voice still harsh and cold, but his eyes appeared to be lighter when talking to the man, who looked saddened by his refusal.

"But! You are a natural! It´s like you knew my tricks! Maybe you were a Clown in your previous life?!" Mana spoke up, golden eyes shining with childish glee. His former pout turned into enthusiasm. Red pulled a face at that possibility.

"That would be ta worst possibl' life that I cloud hav' lived. Don´t joke bout' such things!" Red retorted horrified at the idea of wearing such silly make-up and dancing around in the stupid outfit. Mana chuckled airily as he moved to pet Red´s red hair, who scowled but didn´t slap his hand away.

The boy was just so cute when he made these faces!

"I won't perform with ya so back off!" Red said and turned away, fully intent on ignoring the man until the show was over. Wasn't it enough that he collected the money with that ridiculous top hat. Seriously, the thing was the worst piece of clothing he had seen.

Mana sniffed, looking heartbroken and Red tensed up, gritting his teeth. That wouldn´t work this time. No way. Holding his head high, he refused to relent, trying to stand to his resolve.

Determined Silver orbs with flecks of Violet around the pupil stared into sad Golden.

Red´s brow twitched but he stood his ground. Mana´s eyes watered slightly.

His fingers trembled and curled into a fist. Mana sniffed dramatically with his dishearten expression.

I. Will. Not.

A pitiful whimper made his already crumbling resolve falter and Red sighed loudly.

"Fine! How bout' this. Ya perform this one lone', but ya can choose ma outfit for yer next show, kay'?" Red suggested irritated at being played, but unable to refuse. The beaming of the old man kind of made it maybe, worth it. Never would he admit that though.

"Fantastic! This show won`t be too long, so please be patient." Mana assured before ruffling his hair and finishing getting ready. Red watched him go, choosing to stay silent while he held the hat with his hand.

This was going to be a long day.


Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Red should have known it would end in a disaster! Everything went too good for the year Red had stayed with Mana. From getting random bursts of hugs to dealing with the man. He even let the man carry him for a short while, after shoving and protesting, that had only happened because his feet were getting sore from the walking they did. Not because he liked it or anything!

For Red everything was going great, until that accident had to happen.

After being forced into that hideous costume from the man to perform with him. Red was almost daring to say the man was precious to him, which was a foreign concept to him.

Then there had to be this one jerk of a Bastard who just had to see his arm and start another mess.

Mana hadn´t seen his arm yet. Red didn´t want him to. His opinion mattered to him, the first and only person who managed to impact his life in a positive way. Who Red would willingly walk through hell maybe even murder if the person deserved it, the silent confession was made after the man stated that he loved him, which left him speechless and slightly confused due to the strange dreams he had which were embarrassing to say the least.

He did not dream about the man adopting him and treating him like his son!

Anyway, it ended up with Red running off with shame and fear at being rejected. When had he become so weak again? It was sickening, but at the same time reassuring to have someone to count on. They were almost…family if he dared to go that far.

Which was the reason, why he was currently hiding in a dirty alleyway in the middle of the night. It was stupid but after witnessing the calm but displeased frown of the person who meant the most to him, made him reconsider even going back at all. Maybe he could find a new circus…?

Who was he kidding. Mana was his new life, walking away from him would be too painful, something he would never do. Even if he had to take a few breaks like this one.

"Red?! RED! Where are you?! Please come out of hiding! I am not mad!" Mana´s pleading voice reached his ears as he curled up tighter hoping not to be seen in the shadows of the night.

That voice was pulling on his heart strings and he wanted to let the ground swallow him to safe him from this horrible nightmare.

"Please…Red. Don´t disappear on me…n-not like him…" The broken plea that was boder-lined on hysterical shouts made him whimper. The look on Mana´s face was too easy to imagine right now. The worst part was he was responsible or that. It was his fault.

Footsteps were heard and Red tried to make himself as small as possible, but it was useless when he heard someone crouching down in front of him.

"Don´t do that again!" Mana´s voice sounded rough and filled with panic as he felt himself getting pulled out of his hiding spot and into a warm and possessive embrace. The hammering heart ponding against the ribcage of Mana creating a horrible beat that made him want to cover his ears to drown out these horrible sounds.

"Promise me!" Hands cradled his face and raised it up, a warm forehead falling against his own as Golden eyes stared into his very soul. Red bit his lip and nodded mutely, before being pressed against a chest again.

A hand rubbed soothing circles on his back only to switch places to pet his hair. It calmed Red down immensely. The warm pressure being comforting. Though only now did he notice the warm patch of liquid that stained Mana´s clothing.

Thinking the worst, Red pulled away to look at his right hand which was covered in red substance, slightly shimmering. Heart missing a beat, he tore away from the embrace to inspect the wound.

"It´s all right. Shh." Mana tried to console him, but Red wouldn´t take the risk. Slapping the hand away he tried to gently press on the area around the blood. Even Mana couldn´t be unaffected by something like this!

A slight wince would be all he needed to locate the injury. Or a glimmer of pain. Then they could find a doctor or he would rip his shirt to stop the blood flow and

"It isn´t my blood, Red."

What.

What?!

Letting his fingers gently be pried of, not even noticing that Mana had taken both of his hands into his own, he stared numbly at the man.

The blood had to come from somewhere. Blood didn´t just show up for no reason. If what Mana said was true and it wasn´t his blood then it would mean

Paling slightly, he blinked, trying to clear his vision that went blurry. Mana was a kind and gentle man. He wouldn´t. He wouldn´t. Not for him. This wasn´t his fault. It couldn´t be.

There was a gentle wet pressure on his knuckles, after warm but rough fingers lightly brushed across them. With wide eyes he stared up into the face he had come to grow to love. Golden eyes were tender and so painfully clear it almost hurt to look at them.

Then he released something.

Mana just kissed his cursed hand. The one thing that had people running away from him, calling him a monster, a demon.

and it finally stopped throbbing so painfully. The tightness in his stomach vanishing.

"It´s okay. It´s part of you. I love you. This won´t change anything. I love you." Mana repeated the words, while holding eye contact with Red, who´s eyes teared up with the words.

Nobody had ever stated that they loved him and meant it. Nobody had glanced at his arm and chose to ignore it, let alone touched it with such care. The warmth inside his chest spreading through his whole body, making him forget all about the blood. Was this what love meant? If it was so, Red never wanted the feeling to go away.

"I…I love ya…too." Red muttered feeling oddly shy as he leaned into the offered hug. Mana´s eyes had widened and a happy flush appeared on his cheeks. Warm arms warped around his small figure and Red had never been happier.

"What did you say?" Mana inquired with a teasing lit in his voice. Red scoffed into his cloak while tightening his grip.

"Ya heard me."

The soft and airy laughter of the man echoed through the empty streets as he felt himself get picked up. Secured by the strong arms, Red let go off his worries.

"Let´s get going, Red." Mana´s warm breath was pleasant against his ear and slowly Red drifted off.

It happened. Again.

Like in a trance, Mana walked on, thankfully not bumping into people like last time. The man hadn´t appreciated it and Red had to physically throw himself against the man to stop him from punching Mana, when he noticed that he was being ignored. It resulted in him getting a scolding and a bruise on his jaw and the man going down with a swift kick between the legs.

Red prided himself in taking care of himself, being independent. Especially with his paralyzed arm. It showed him that he was stronger than most, who would probably have given up by now. Then again, they weren´t as stubborn as him. It was still a surprise to him that he had reacted as strongly as he did. He didn´t have to go all snarling, protective maniac on the man. Simply waiting for him to punch Mana to see if he would snap out of it would have been enough.

…but, his blood had run cold before boiling over when he saw the raised hand. Body acting automatically, his left arm pleasantly tingling, and he only released what he had done when the man was already on the ground and Mana had carried him off while lecturing him. The throbbing on his jaw made him feel prideful and smug when he saw the man whimpering on the ground. The smirk had been permanent for the whole day, after trying to drown out the scolding.

"Oi! Mana!" Red called out which had gotten no reaction from said man who walked aimlessly. Feeling frustrated at the fast pace the man had worked up, he had to jog to keep up.

"Gone…Where are you? …alone…come back ." That was another thing. The burst of depression that the man had were worrying him, though when he brought it up, Mana brushed him off while distracting him with something else.

Having enough at being ignored, Red choose to grab the limply hanging hand and hold onto to it like it was a life line. That got a reaction out of the man, who blinked a few times before turning to look down on at the additional weight. Tear marks visible on his cheeks.

"Mana…ya aren´t alone. Look, I am here too." Red said with a small smile, trying to comfort him. Rarely did he do that, so it showed how much the Clown meant to him. Golden eyes cleared a little, like the sky after a bad shower.

"R-Right…" Mana whispered.

The hand he had grabbed curled around his own, holding on tightly. "S-Sorry…"

Red shook his head and swayed their joined hands a bit. The chilly air helping him to stay awake. All that running around with the performances and chasing after Mana was exhausting for him.

"It´s all right. Mana doesn´ need ta worry bout' bein' alone, cause' he´s always goin' to hav' me. If we are together then we aren't alone anymor', cause' Mana´s evrythin' that I need." Red explained with a slight blush though he didn´t bristle like he used to when he heard the fond chuckle above him.

"Right. You are everything I need to be happy. I am glad you think like that about me. Mutual feelings are a wonderful experience." Mana mumbled with a smile so big, Red feared it would break his face in half.

Nodding absently, silently thanking that this time it was easier to bring Mana back, he walked on. The slight smile on his face getting easier now, even when it was sometimes faked. Acting more upbeat had become natural during the year he spent.

Mana cheerfully hummed a tune underneath his breath.

"You know…I am glad you are here. You make everything brighter around me. Like the sun shining through the clouds, chasing them away from my mind. Your presence relaxes me, my child." Mana confessed and the blush on Red´s cheeks could give his name a run for its money. How could that silly Clown manage to make him this flustered?!

Who was the old fool calling his child?! That would mean they were-! Tch, just for once would he ignore it. Let the madman indulge in his little fantasy if it made him happy. If that stopped the him from trying to commit suicide unknowingly or put an end to his depression then fine.

Turning his head sharply away he chose to ignore the tingling feeling inside his chest. Listening to the calming sound of the melody that Mana hummed when he was in a good mood. It sounded familiar and faint lyrics echoed through his mind, which were pushed back.

For now, the humming was enough.