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You smiled nervously as you poured coffee for a guest. He was older, maybe 75. He was short and wore a button-up, leaning over the counter, “inconspicuously” looking at your tits. When you glanced over at him, he pretended to be reading your name tag. He tested the name on his tongue and you suppressed a foul look. You hated when people did that. But you smiled and continued making his coffee.
He began to speak to you. A friendly conversation at first.
”It’s my second time here, y’know.”
”Oh, well, I’m glad you’re back. Happy to have you.” You said in your customer-service voice, perfectly trained to be calm and polite.
”If every barista looked like you, I’d come every day.” That’s when it got weird. You tried to keep your smile in check. You couldn’t say anything. People are watching. You just nod slowly with a smile.
He continued.
”Y’know, you’re really hot.” You freeze. Your heart drops. You’re afraid.
What if he puts his hands on you? What if he waits outside and kidnaps you after your shift? What if he follows you into the bathroom? What if-
“Your hair, it’s-“ he reaches out to touch it, but decides against it, instead opting to pretend it was just a hand motion. “Lovely. You’re very pretty. Very nice.”
You press a smile into your face, handing him his coffee and spouting out the same niceties as you always did, not catching the golden eyes staring daggers into the man.
You take a shaky breath. You place a hand on your rapidly beating heart and lean against the counter.
2 hours until clock out. You pop over to the bathroom, making triple sure to lock the door as you sink to the floor. You don’t think you’ll ever get used to it. Maybe you should’ve worn a sports bra instead of an underwire. Maybe you should’ve worn less makeup. Maybe you should’ve done this, done that. Maybe you should’ve said something.
You didn’t. Your day only got better when it was closing time and you heard the bell ring on the door, and the jingle of your favorite circus’ member’s hat. You look up excitedly at him, grinning.
”Pierrot! God, I needed to see you. Today was shit. Absolute shit.”
”I’m so sorry, my dear, what exactly happened?” He asked, as if he didn’t already know. As if that man hadn’t been properly dealt with.
You spout out every bit of the interaction. Pierrot couldn’t particularly hear the man from outside the window, he just knew that you were extremely uncomfortable. But having every detail be recounted, a look of disgust fell upon his face. You didn’t even realize you were crying until your breath hitched and your throat started to tighten. God, this was embarrassing.
”…what an absolutely horrid person. I’m so sorry, my dear.” He had such a sympathetic, pathetic look on his face. You sighed and rubbed your face.
”It’s fine. He’s old. It’s happened before. I should be used to it by now.”
Pierrot’s brows furrowed. This logic was terrible. Of course, he didn’t say that, he could never say that about his dear, his light.
”That is no excuse. It does not fix what happened. It does not help anything.”
”Yeah. I guess. I just wanna go home.” You rubbed your face, not even caring about the makeup that may or may not be there. You hardly remember anymore.
”Of course, my dear. I shall be on my way. It was lovely to see you. I will not request your return to the circus tonight. Today has been particularly strenuous on your behalf. Good night, my dear.” He smiles as he exits the door. You wave goodbye. He sure talks funny.
He sat firmly at the table with the circus members around it. He had his hands folded on top of each other, and he was maintaining his facade of calm.
”So, why this human, specifically?” Jester asked, sipping the tea that Ticket Taker made so kindly.
”I just need him gone. He is the scum of the Earth and I do not want to see him any longer.” Pierrot answered, tapping his foot softly against the flooring of the tent.
”So, what did they do to get you all wound up like this, huh?” Harlequin asked with a teasing look. Before Pierrot could reply back, a ringing was heard. It was the little phone you had gifted him. He scrambled to pick it up.
When he answered, he was greeted to laughter.
”PIERROT! You won’t fuckin’ believe it, dude! The guy who harassed me, harassed my best friend too! I called her up, and- and she was like ‘no way, me too!’ And I gave her a description and it’s the same fuckin’ guy! This is funny as shit, dude.” You couldn’t stop laughing. It wasn’t funny in the slightest, but it was better than breaking down in tears.
”…I see. I’m sorry, my dear. As much as I hate to hang up, I am currently in a meeting.”
”Oh, shit, sorry. Hi, everybody!” You shouted into the phone. Everybody responded with their own greeting.
“Okay bye love you!” You hung up. Pierrot froze, a grin on his face as he stared at the phone. He’ll never get used to that.
”…great. Here we go again.” Harlequin griped as Pierrot grinned ear-to-ear.
”What was that about harassment?” Jester attempted to steer the conversation back on course. This sobered Pierrot up.
”Ah, yes, of course. Sexual harassment, likely a sex offender. Obviously, we need him gone. For the safety of everyone.”
This reached no dissenters, and they all nodded slowly in agreement. It was reasonable enough.
And so when you came into the circus in your front-row seat of Pierrot’s show, you didn’t know that the man that said all those nasty things was tied up there. And Pierrot took great satisfaction with slicing his head open. He fought back a grin at the sight of his body lurching forwards.
And he continued on with his day. Anything he can do to help his light.