Author's Note: This drabble is a filler, because I wanted more Brick. I had intended for them to just have some fluffy cuteness time, but then Shawn showed up and poof, there went my good times. I grumbled a lot about Shawn while I was writing this drabble; my unhealthy love for him dropped quite a lot [at least for a moment].

Images: http:/ 1. bp. blogspot. com/ _DeCfb 5 f _TcI/ TCl 9 TZBoNVI/ AAAAAAAAAWs/ pKMqlvPhrq 4/ s 1600/ tumblr_ l 4 ooriU 0 Pg 1qb 0 h 75 o 1_ 500. jpg
Pairing: Brick!
Warnings: Ringmaster douchebaggery.
Disclaimer: I stole and paraphrased a line from Alice, the 2009 SyFy miniseries. If you find it, I'll give you a cookie.
Genre: Romance.
Word Count: 320.
Song: Look After You, The Fray.

XXX

Funny, Trick had become kind of blinded to the oddities of his home. He'd been in the circus for nine years, since he was eighteen; he no longer found it strange to walk past a strongman holding up a car and didn't blink an eye to see Dante pulling sleight of hand while talking to an innocent. But through Brixton's eyes, he could see the beauty and the wonder in the circus again.

Unfortunately, he wasn't quick enough to protect her from the dark side.

"What the fuck?"

Trick froze, immediately seeing what Brixton had, just as Shawn dropped the body and licked his lips. He turned, saw them, and smirked.

"Well, well."

Oh shit.

"You know what this means, Trick," Shawn said simply. "Explain things to her."

As he headed off, completely unconcerned with the remains of his meal, he tossed a smirk over his shoulder to Brixton.

"Welcome to the family."

Trick really fucking hated that line of his.

Bri turned to him, her eyes wide with fear and panic. Trick sighed, shoulders slumping.

"I'm sorry," he said dully. "I'm so, so sorry."
"Trick?" Bri asked fearfully.
"This circus… everything's real," he said simply. "And it's run by vampires."
Bri gulped. "Are you…?"
"No," Trick said quickly.
"What did Shawn mean?" Bri asked, eyes darting across his face.
Trick bit his lip. "Now that you know… we can't let you leave," he said softly. "Shawn won't take the risk of you talking."
Bri's eyes flew open. "So… so I'm stuck?"
Trick nodded, miserable. "I'm so sorry, Bri."

Brixton swallowed hard, eyes unfocusing as she processed. Trick's gaze dropped to the ground as he felt crushed beneath his guilt, helplessly mourning for everything Bri had just lost.

"Will you look out for me?" Bri asked softly. "Make sure I'm okay?"

Trick's head shot up, and he immediately wrapped his arms around his tiny girlfriend.

"Always," he whispered. "I promise."