it's been a while... huh o.o

oopsy-daisy! here! i tried to make it a bit longer. it helps that i've actually decided on the plot, yeah...

Lalage hummed a lullaby to herself, brushing out her hair and twirling around her room. A cat mewled at her feet, pressing against her.

She quieted, staring down at it. "What's your name?" She asked in a tiny voice.

The cat meowed at her pointedly. It had black, shiny fur and distrustful brown eyes.

"Nyan?" She repeated. "Hello, Nyan. My name is Lalage," she crouched down to the ground and held her hand out as she clicked her tongue encouragingly.

The cat, barely older than a kitten, slinked over to her and mewled again.

Lalage smiled softly and took the cat into her arms. "Nyan nyan nyan?" She asked it gently.

The cat let out a low mrow.

"Nyan nyan," she agreed, standing and holding onto the cat and turning. "You remind me of my brother." She stroked his ears. "His name was Kalil. When I was silly, he would always groan like that." She sighed. "He passed away five years ago, ya know."

The cat hissed, but cuddled up to her bosom.

Lalage continued, smiling slightly. "You see, men were courting me. I was so foolish back then," she laughed lightly at the memory. "I would play with their hearts before I broke them." Her face darkened. "There was this one… Jason. I suppose he wasn't good with rejection. The night after I said 'no' to his proposal, he broke into my room. I screamed, of course, so Kalil ran in." Her voice broke and she felt tears run down her face. "Jason threw me from the room... but I heard a gunshot, and then silence. Nothing."

The cat leapt free of her lap and cuddled up on Joker's cot. She stood, not noticing Joker as she slid free of her costume and laced up her nightgown. Vicious wounds marked up her back, including a deep burn mark.

"Jason kidnapped me…" She whimpered. "And he brought me to some strange place filled with women. He sold me off to men for as long as they paid." she held her knees. "And they all touched me, and begged for me to moan for them. They wanted me to say their names. I was so scared... But you're just a cat." She wiped at her face, smearing the leftover stage makeup. "You can't talk."

"Whiiiisper~" Joker sang from a while back. "Are you in there, Whisper?"

When she looked at him with her tearstained face, he rushed her. He wrapped her in a hug and rocked her softly. She clutched his arm and tears slipped silently down her face.

"I'm here now," he murmured into her light hair. "It's okay..." He gently sat down, pulling her onto his lap and cradling her

Lalage sniffled, but allowed him to touch her. All her instincts screamed against it, though her heart yearned for the comfort.

Joker's amethyst eyes flashed. "I'll protect you, Lalage." He whispered. "You're one of us now." His skeletal hand clasped her shoulder.

The 21 year old closed her eyes and fell asleep to the beating of his heart.

The older man grunted above her, pushing in. "You're still so tight," he complimented her.

Lalage didn't reply, emotionless.

"Still going to be that way, eh?" He pulled out and waddled across the room to pull out a bullwhip. "I'll make you scream," he promised. "One way or another." The searing end sliced across her exposed stomach.

Lalage tensed, her eyes flying open. Outside, the sun hadn't risen yet. Joker was asleep beside her, one arm beneath her neck and the other draped lazily across her stomach.

When she shifted, reaching to escape, Joker groaned and pulled her closer. He nuzzled his face in her hair and sighed happily.

The flap opened, and Beast pushed through. "Jo—."

Lalage reached her hand out. "Heeeelp," she mouthed.

Beast's face was one of disappointment, and possibly jealousy. The animal tamer spun around and rushed out, muttering her apology.

Lalage retracted and frowned. Beast loves him. Why does he not love her? She's beautiful. She sighed.

Joker moved his arms to let her go, watching her through his lashes.

She rolled off the cot and crawled over to the wardrobe to dig out what she was going to wear today. A cream blouse and brown work pants are what she settled with.

The light blue cascade of hair shifted as she craned her neck to make sure he was asleep. When she felt comfortable that he was, she stripped and changed.

Joker had to resist flinching to see the extent of the injuries across her torso. Many had scarred over by now.

Lalage stretched her arms and ran her fingers through her hair. Cool air seeped from under the tent's entrance. Making up her mind, she knelt beside Joker's cot and poked him apprehensively.

Joker remained in his pretend sleep.

She poked him again, frowning awkwardly.

He sighed and rolled over.

"Joker," she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper.

He groaned, amused by her blush and how guilty she looked. She stood, tucking her hair behind her ear. Joker grabbed her arm and pulled her back onto the cot. She squeaked, stumbling to keep her balance as she tumbled back into his hug.

"Good morning," he opened his eyes and grinned at her.

Her eyebrow twitched. "Have you been awake this entire time?" She demanded.

His expression turned sheepish.

She huffed, but then her face turned bright red. "You saw me change!" She gasped.

"What happened," he asked, sitting up and crossing his legs.

Lalage mimicked the movement, but didn't speak. "We have our last performance tonight," she commented quietly. "I h-h-h-h…" She trailed off. "To warm up the h-horses."

Joker scowled and helped her to her feet. "I understand. It's fine." He walked towards the dining tent. "But don't you want to eat first?"

She shook her head, catching the hem of her shirt and wringing it anxiously. "I'm not hungry."

"Eat 'cuz ya body needs it, not cuz' ya want it." He chastised, clasping her hand in his. "Come on."

Lalage tore away and jogged towards the menagerie. "S-Sorry," she murmured.

Joker entered the tent and sat beside Dagger. The boy looked eagerly at him. "Where's Whisper?" He asked.

"That crazy girl is off training 'er 'orses already." He shoveled cold scrambled eggs into his mouth.

"This early?" Dagger's eyes widened. "That is crazy."

"I want to know abou' 'er past." He admitted around his mouthful of food. "I think she's a lot more than we think."

"Why do you say that?" Dagger nibbled on his toast.

"She was changin' this mornin', and there's nasty cuts all over her body. I think there's a reason she's quiet."

"There's always a reason," Dagger said wisely.

Joker sighed, looking out through the sunrise at the tent she had gone to.

"Allons-y! Go! Go!" Lalage called to them. She held her hands up. "Cesser. Levez, s'il vous plaît."

In a wave, they reared. Their front two hooves pawed at the air as they struggled to keep their balance.

"Non!" She snapped. "Cesser!" We've been at this for hours… the performance is soon. She thought, frustrated.

"J'ai cherché pour tu, mon chére." A deep, silky voice came from behind her. I've been looking for you, my dear.

Lalage froze, not daring to turn her head to look behind her. "Qui…qui êtes-vous?" Who are you?

"Devez-vous vraiment demander cela?" Do you really need to ask that? Footsteps crunched closer to her. "Come, now, Lalage. I thought we had something special."

Chocolate Chip snorted and pawed the ground anxiously, feeling the tension in the air.

"When I heard you had run away," he stopped behind her, caressing her arm. "I was broken."

Lalage sprinted forward with a burst of adrenaline. The black-haired man's hand flew out and caught her by her light sapphire hair. "Stop it!" She begged. "I don't want to go back!"

He dragged her to one of the black Friesians. "But my dear, you must! You're widely missed!"

"I DON'T WANT TO GO," she screamed as he threw her on the horse. She kicked him in the face and slid down the other side of the horse. The horses scattered in fear.

Jason dabbed at his bleeding nose and took off in pursuit as she sprinted out of the tent.

Joker watched with amusement as performers practiced knife-throwing, tight-rope walking and flame-blowing. "That looks great, Doll!" He called to the white-clad walker.

Doll smiled, bowing at the platform. "Thanks!"

"Dagger, ya should try throwing them all at once!" He offered.

Dagger laughed, shaking his head. "Or not!"

The short, blue-haired act flew through the entrance of the tent. Her shoes were nowhere to be found. "What're you running from, Whisper?" Joker teased.

Lalage didn't seem to hear him as she ducked through the performers. When she glanced over her shoulder, Joker saw utter terror reflecting in her sapphire eyes.

A dark-haired man sprinted in after her, glaring at the back of her head.

"LEAVE ME ALONE JASON." Lalage wailed, climbing up the ladder to the trapeze.

"Or what?" He teased, reaching for her ankle. "I've already killed… Ohohoho," he guffawed. "Don't tell me you actually like it here!" His hand encircled his target and he threw her to the ground.

Joker narrowed his eyes, finally realizing that he had to take action.

Lalage laid motionless on the ground, closed-eyed.

Joker tore Jason off, sending the man sprawling.

Jason narrowed his eyes at the clown, but chose to take his retreat. Before security could reach him, he had blended into the crowds of London.

"Someone call Doc!" Beast ordered.

Joker scooped Lalage's unconscious form up and shook his head. "I'll take her."

Beast froze, her brow furrowed. "I'll come too." She decided.

They walked in awkward silence until they reached the medical tent. "Doc," Beast burst in. "It's our new act."

The disabled man glanced at them. "What happened?" He demanded, wheeling over to a cot and gesturing for Joker to set her down.

"She fell." Joker answered quietly.

Doc turned her head this way and that. "She probably has a concussion. It's probable she won't wake up…"

"That's not an option!" Joker challenged, his eyes flashing.

"It's the truth." Doc closed his brown eyes. "I'll keep her in here. If she wakes up, I'll send for you. I don't think she will… not for a long time…"

"Lala..." Kalil looked at her with bewilderment. "What are you doing here? Go away!"

Lalage peered around, sweeping her hair out of her face. "Kalil!" She cheered. "You're here… Where are we?" The place was plain white, but it resembled their small, cramped apartment.

"This is Limbo of sorts," he explained, scowling and sitting on her bed. "Where you go when you're on the verge of life and death. I believe it's called 'comatose'."

"Why are you her, then?" She sat beside him.

"You're mind conjured me." he shrugged. "I'm not actually the real Kalil. Just...exactly him. Anyways, it's clean here huh."

"Much more than you could keep it," she agreed brightly.

He snickered and elbowed her. "I hope you manage to get better," he sighed.

"I miss you," she murmured. "I'm so sorry."

The raven-haired male looked over to see her small form trembling with sorrow. He gently pulled her into a hug. "It's not your fault," he promised. "I'm just glad you're alive."

"I don't want to be alive!" She shouted, fisting his shirt in her clenched hands. "I just want to be with you!"

Kalil ruffled her hair affectionately. "You're still so naïve," he smiled sadly. "You've experienced all that pain… but there's someone out there for you now. You've started forging your own future. Once you realize that, you won't need me anymore."

"Don't say that!" She hit him, but it rolled off of his muscled chest without so much as a tickle. "I need my big brother…"

"Open your eyes, silly girl." He chuckled. "Joker wants to protect you. He doesn't want you to get hurt. You have to let him in. I know you're scared, but he does. He told you as much himself."

"Bu—."

"If you don't listen to me, I'm going to rattle chains all night and keep you awake." He closed his maroon eyes triumphantly.

"Stupid!" She protested. The room rumbled.

"Someone's talking to you," Kalil explained, amused by the awed look on her face. "Open your heart and listen."

Joker watched her sleep. It was the only time she looked truly peaceful. He shook his head at how cliché that sounded. For a week, she remained in this prolonged coma.

"The crew misses ya, Whisper." He told her, tracing random figures on the palm of her hand. "When you wake up, we're gunna 'ave a party!"

There were several beats of silence. Outside, he could hear the murmur of voices. It was true. People were stressed. Although no one knew her very well, they had seen her enough to decide she was nice. It was hard to hate such a shy person.

"I miss ya." He finally murmured. "It was fun makin' ya turn all red."

With no response from the girl, he continued.

"Please wake up soon, 'kay?" He stopped tracing her palm and squeezed her hand in both his. "It's no fun without you anymore. Funny… It was fun before ya got here too… but now yer not actually here and it isn't as fun… ya know?"

Feeling silly, he shook his head. Had he really expected her to magically wake up?

"I'll be waitin'." He told her as he straightened and headed back to the Big Tent. "So please wake up."