The Circus Part 10
The lights flashed on around me, bathing the circus tent with white light. I blinked a few times to get my eyes to adjust then focused on Catherine. She stood in front of me dressed in her bright and dazzling circus outfit, smiling at the crowd. Pulling out her numerous small knives she nodded to me once and then readied to throw them.
THUNK
The first hit next to my waist, just nearly missing my oversized clown pants.
THUNK
The second hit and I glanced past her into the stands, searching the rows of people.
THUNKThe third knife. I didn't find who I was looking for but that was okay. I turned my attention back to Catherine as she readied to throw the last knife of her act.
This one flew in the air, straight for my face. I could hear the crowd gasp in fear, but I was already busy. Yanking my hand from the leather strap I brought it up just in time and caught the knife by the blade between my fingers.
Catherine stood across from me, her hands over her mouth in mock surprise, the rest of her knives lying on the ground around her. Meanwhile it was as if the audience held their collective breath, waiting for a pin to drop and shatter the silence.
Then the silence was shattered, but a small round of applause.
The clapping and cheering quickly grew into a roar and Catherine relaxed, stepping forward to undo the ties that held the rest of my limbs to the board. Stepping down and handing her back her knife we clasped hands and bowed to a very happy and excited crowd.
We bowed once more, then let go of each others hands and walked toward the flaps for the tent, the next act already setting up.
As soon as I stepped past the tent flap a cute little blond bundle of energy jumped forward and wrapped his arms around me.
I laughed and caught him in a tight embrace!
"Wow! I didn't think you were going to be able to catch the dagger in time! I was really worried!"
Catherine frowned. "Oh, thanks a lot, Quat! I didn't know you thought I was that bad of a shot." She stuck out her tongue at the blond and he just giggled back.
"No, I know you would never intentionally hit Trowa."
I smiled as Quatre snuggled against me. Scooping him up in my arms and I nodded smiled at Catherine. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."
She grinned. "Night, you two love birds!"
We exited the tent; Quatre snuggled happily in my arms. He wasn't wearing any glamour anymore; the entire troupe knew exactly what he was. After the manager had died and he'd lost consciousness Catherine had been the first to find us and I explained everything to her. Least, most of it. I didn't tell her about Quatre being fey and it was obvious I'd left a lot of parts out.
Still she didn't seem to care at the time and insisted we take Quatre back to her trailer to fix his wounds. When he woke up the next morning we called in the whole troupe and explained everything that had happened.
Surprisingly they were quite supportive and, after they'd heard about what he'd done to Quatre, they were quite happy to see the manager gone. Together we hid the manager's body far out past the circus, where it wouldn't be found, then sold his trailer and used the money to buy a new one for Quatre and I to live in.
I was surprised when the entire troupe insisted we stay with them. They didn't want us to leave and even agreed to help me keep Quatre safe for as long as we stayed with them. The fatman took over the manager's job as the new manager while I soon dropped back into my old routine of taking care of the animals and being the clown Catherine threw knives at. Quatre didn't volunteer in any of the acts, but that was fine, he seemed to enjoy watching them over and over again every night more anyway.
A month has passed now since the manager died and we've all come together as a tight and loving family, all in this together to protect and care for each other. But more then that Quatre is finally free and he's happy.
As we enter the trailer Quatre snuggles closer to me, nestling his face against my neck.
"I love you, Trowa."
I smile and close the door behind us, hugging him back tightly.
"And I you, my sweet."
OWARI