It is morning. You are walking on your street with him... you are on his left. You are both walking at the same pace. You look up at him. He is frowning slightly, looking straight. You look down, frowning. He looks at you.
"Hm? Is something the matter?", he says with concern. You sigh.
"No... it's just that... I've never been near this part of the street before... and...", you say quietly, trying to hold back your fear. Usually, a carriage takes you where you need to go... walking is not necessary. You close your eyes, your mouth cringing. He smiles very sweetly.
"Don't worry...", he says, looking straight. You feel something. You look at the space between you both. He is holding your hand. You feel... warmth... protection... emanating from his words... and from his grip. "As long as I'm around... no one's gonna hurt you... harm you... I won't allow it... not while I'm around...". You look up at him with gleaming eyes, your mouth slightly open. You look at your hands. He is so sincere, even if it is unintentional... what love... what passion...
You smile and look forward. You tighten the grip of his hand.
"Hey, mister!". You both stop, your eyes open wide. He lets go of your hand and wraps his arm around your waist, pulling you close to him. He looks to his right with a frown.
"Yes?".
"What do you think you're doing with that girl?". You turn your head to the right. A man is standing on a box on the other side of the street. The man looks very angry. He smiles, closing his eyes.
"Why, I'm abducting her!", he says with a laugh. The man jumps off the box.
"Don't kid around with me! I heard what you circus people do!".
"Oh? And that is?". The man walks over to him and grabs his collar, pulling him up to his face.
"Shouldn't you know, you bloody moron?". He looks into the man's eyes... surprisingly... somewhat scared. You do not understand why. He stares at the man for a long time before looking down, to his left. He feels his grasp on your waist. He frowns.
"No...", he says, pushing the man away from him with one hand. "I don't... I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about...", he says, still looking down. He stands there for a second before walking again. You look at him with concern. He is still frowning.
"Is that so, huh?", the man shouts from behind. "All of London knows you steal things!". The man throws an apple at his back. It hits him. He stops. He looks up, his eyes wide... even more scared than before. His mouth is open slightly. He frowns. His eyes turn angry. You look at him...
"What... is going on? I've never seen him like this before...".
He turns around, letting go of your waist. He runs towards the man with those angry eyes and grabs the man's collar.
"How on earth... why... what do you know about any of this?", he says, in between his teeth and angrily.
"Well, I...".
"TELL ME!".
"Well... chap...", says the man, trying to back off from him. "There's a rumor going around that you circus folk's been stealing food from grocers... and since I'm a grocer...". He frowns. His eyes become softer.
"Oh... is that it?", he says, letting go of the man's collar. "I... wasn't aware you meant it like that...". He looks down.
"Well, either way, keep your hands off my produce! And it wouldn't be bad to take them off me, too...", says the man, turning around and frowning.
"Yes... I... apologize...", he says, still looking down, ashamed. The man sighs and walks into his store. You look at him. Why... did he act so rash? Was it because the man falsely accused him of something? You frown. You walk up to him. You hold onto his arm with both your hands and put your head against his shoulder. You smile, closing your eyes.
"Come... let's go...", you say, sweetly. He looks at you.
"Perhaps it's best that she never finds out...".
He smiles. He starts to walk with you again. You hold onto his arm tightly.
"You know, I realized something...", you say with a smile. His eyes open wide... worriedly.
"Oh, no... she couldn't of found out...".
You look up at him. "You can be sweet and sincere one minute... angry and violent the next...". You smile. "You are normal!". He smiles.
"That so, huh? You must be abnormal if you think my personality is in check!", he says with a laugh. You laugh.
"Hehe... ever think I was comparing you to a clown?".
"Oh, now that would make sense!", he laughs, wrapping his arm on your shoulders. "Say... you haven't eaten a thing today, have you...".
"Now that you mention it... not a bite...", you say, looking down with a frown.
"Well then... here!", he says, flipping an apple at you from under his cape. You catch it. You look at it in your hands.
"Wait but how?".
"That man... he sure can spread rumors!", he says, putting his finger up to his mouth, smiling and giving you a wink. You smile at him. You look at the apple and take a bite. Very delicious!
"Good... now she won't assume the worst...".
You look up at him. "Want a bite?", you say happily.
"Yes, of course!". He smiles and moves his lips towards your neck. You slap him lightly before he gets too close.
"You know what I mean...", you say, somewhat in laughter. He puts his arm around your waist. He moves his mouth next to your ear.
"Don't think I'll let you go too easily...", he whispers. You smile, backing up a little.
"Really? I thought you were gonna say a perverted joke or something!", you exclaim, laughing. He smiles slyly. He moves his mouth up to your ear again.
"Oh, really? Well then, to be honest... I didn't know where you wanted me to bite, so I went ahead and guessed...". This sends shivers down your spine.
"Why. You. Sick...", you say, quietly and with wide... mortified eyes. He smiles. He kisses your ear.
"There... now you're cleansed from a comment you were so eagerly asking for...", he says with a smile.
"Well, if that's how you intend to flirt...", you say, walking out of his grasp. You stop and turn around, looking at him. He stops. "Don't mind it when I say my body's not up for grabs...", you say with a smile.
"Oh, come on... you know you like it...", he says, smiling slyly.
"Yeah... up until it makes me sick to my stomach...".
"Well, I'm all for improvement... that I don't need much of... right?", he says, smiling slyly again. You turn around... you refuse to let him see you turn red. You clench your fists and scowl.
"This... really isn't something to joke about...", you say, somewhat to yourself.
"Oh? Who said I was joking?".
"No one, no one...", you say, somewhat to yourself again. He smiles. He walks near you, snaps his teeth by your neck, and steals the apple out of your hand, taking a bite as he walks ahead of you.
"As you can see, I get what I want...", he says with a smile. You scowl.
"Yes, and it sure is easy for you...". He looks at you. He holds up the apple. He smiles, closing his eyes.
"Here... want another bite?", he says happily. You scowl even more.
"What ever happened to the first one?". He grins and laughs.
"Gotcha again!".
"Why, you...". You run to him. He has you chasing him through the street. You reach your hand out... and trip, falling to the ground. You look down. You cover your eyes with your hands and start to cry. He turns around and looks at you. He frowns. He runs over to you. He kneels down in front of you. He puts his hand on your shoulder.
"Are you ok? Did you break something?", he says with concern.
"Yeah...", you say, uncovering your eyes. "Your record!", you laugh, smiling. He jokingly scowls.
"Why, you playing... scheming... deadly lady!", he exclaims, tickling you. You laugh uncontrollably. Thunder is now heard. You both look up. He stops tickling you. A drop of rain falls from the sky to the ground, followed by many more drops. It soon becomes a downpour. He helps you up. He takes your hand and starts running.
"Where are we going?", you shout in the rain, holding one hand over your head.
"To the circus... I've got connections... we can get in there without a ticket!", he shouts to you, closing his eyes and smiling. You smile back. Any place is better than no place, as long as it's not in the rain...