🥩lamb🥩

As music played through the café speakers, MC was going through the motions of cleaning and closing everything out. It almost felt like being on autopilot, every movement, every task, familiar enough to allow them to zone out and let the music be their guide. It started with a gentle hum carried under the the sound of the overhead speakers, then turning into counting the cash drawer to the beat. While they were wiping down tables, there was a small sway in their hips and bobbing their head, singing the words aloud with confidence to fill the empty atmosphere. It was nice, getting lost in their own head like this. Little by little they were waking up more to just enjoying themself as the chores went down one by one.

Putting the chairs up it was finally time to sweep before they were home free for the night. Distracted only by this thought, they started to sweep up any loose debris on the floor, bouncing around more as the next song came on, completely unaware of the glowing green eyes watching from the store window, a smirk growing beneath his mask.

Feeling excitement build as the chorus began to play, MC couldn't help but start doing the choreography they had been practicing at home, dropping their broom in favor of this. Being completely absorbed in the moment, they never heard the bell on the door jingle as a man entered the store, watching MC's movements with their back turned to him for only a few seconds with a mischievous glint in his eyes before jumping in to join, matching their movements and using it as a chance to get his claws on them.

There was a clear jump and yelp from the barista, muscles tensed but the man behind them smirked as he pulled MC to him, keeping the dance going as they frantically tried to see who was behind them. The familiar sight of green eyes under black, heart shaped curls put them back at ease even with their face completely red from embarrassment.

It was almost hypnotic, the way they synced up their movements, almost as if they had always done this together or even at all. They were able to read each other's movements with the green eyed menace taking the lead. Every time MC pulled away, even for just a second, clawed hands were already reaching out to pull them back to him, to have them as close as their clothes would allow.

As the song came to an end, MC wrapped in his arms, hands between them against his chest, they stayed there to catch their breath. Staring up into those vibrant eyes that gleamed with mirth, they finally dropped their gaze as a worn out laugh escaped them, shaking their head.

“Harlequin! You scared the hell out of me!” They scolded without a lot of bite behind it, clearly having had fun as they ended with a laugh. They could tell there was a smirk under the black mask that hid his mouth as he held on just a little tighter, MC's hands pulling his mask down to his chin just to see his face.

“Oh but don't you just love the way your heart skips, dear one? I know I do.” His tone was teasing, wrapping around them with amusement for getting such reactions from them.

Sighing as their breath began to settle, they bowed their head to rest their forehead against the Harlequin's chest, pouting a bit at his words. Heart starting to beat at a normal rhythm again, they felt the calm start to wash over them. “Well now I'm more awake than I should be this late.”

“If you want, I'm sure I could think of a few ways to tire y-” Harlequin stopped with wide eyes as a finger was pressed to his lips, a flustered face with stern eyes staring back up at him.

“Nope, not right now. I'm almost done closing up and I don't want to hear what you're imagining right now.”

With a raised brow at these words, he couldn't help but pause at such a delightfully pitiful expression. Opening his mouth, a green forked tongue emerged, wrapping around the digit and never once breaking their gaze even as MC shrieked, face turning a bright red.

They pulled back and Harlequin relented, flicking his tongue at them and loosening his grip as a chuckle escaped him. A clawed hand went to pull his mask back up as MC  was wiping their hand off on their pants, a wicked grin now hidden as he listened to their heart speed up again. “Dearest, what I imagine about you isn't limited to just right now~”

The human was glowering at him, but the blush that hadn't come down told another story. “Stop.” They whined a bit. “Give me five minutes, and then we can go, okay?”

The performer hummed in satisfaction for every reaction he had managed to pull from them already, complying with them for now.

Putting away the broom and grabbing their stuff from the back room, MC returned to the front, bundled up for the cold night air. The Harlequin was the first to step out, waiting rather patiently for the other to lock and double check the doors before they could leave for MC's apartment.

Playfully, the performer gave a slight bow and offered his arm, a knowing look in his eyes as they accepted the offer, basically holding it hostage as they hugged onto his arm. It amazed and amused him how clingy they could be at times, knowing what he was. Feeling safer with a monster that lurked in the shadows than alone. It wasn't exclusively on the human either; the carefully crafted walls he'd built up were cracking.

Harlequin had started to seek them out for more than just a game, recently. To lay his gaze upon them put him at ease for some reason, as if seeing them solidified they were real, they were present, they were safe. He craved to be in their presence, to have their attention solely on him, to see their eyes hopefully looking back at him with just as much need to be with him. To see them squirm when he flirts and teases to see their face go a beautiful shade of red while trying to return the sentiments.

He'd begun to do just this, bringing up the little number they performed at the cafe. “You knew I was coming to see you, why are you so embarrassed, dear one? It's almost like you were begging for me to watch.” He was being a menace, but that was nothing new.

MC began to rub circles around the back of Harlequin's hand with their thumb, barely meeting his gaze. “Shush, I just got swept up in the moment. And what about you?” Their tone almost sounded accusing, adorable.

“Hmm? What about me?”

“Just- just coming in and taking the lead like that? I didn't even know you could dance!” they exclaimed in both bewilderment and amazement. “Where did you learn that?”

A low chuckle left him, his free hand up to the mask as if to cover his mouth. “We travel all over the world, darling. What, did you think that circus acts are all we know?”

“Well no, but the only one I've seen before is Pierrot.” The mention of the red clad clown caused Harlequin to tense up for just a split second. “And his was more… majestic? In a hypnotizing kind of way.” he rolled his eyes at this, not wanting to hear praise for the other performer. Their attention should be on him, only him. Why do they need to be talking about Pier-

“Yours was more breathtaking, sensual.” MC had cut off his train of thoughts, their gaze down on the sidewalk as they continued. “You made it really easy to follow your lead without having to overthink it.” he watched them, almost stunned for a moment at their words.

Automatically he takes their words and changes the sentiment behind them. Pulling his arm from their grasp, they looked up at him with a mixed look of confusion and hurt until that same arm wrapped around their shoulder, pulling MC into his side. Leaning down, his mask brushing against their ear. “If you want something that will take your breath away, dear one, I'd be more than happy to oblige you.”

“Can you take anything seriously?” They puffed their cheeks, refusing to turn and meet his gaze but he felt the heat coming off their face, making him chuckle lightly, not pulling himself away.

The teasing continued all the way to their apartment door when they finally pulled his arm from around them, a contemplative look on their face. He stepped back a moment as they unlocked the door and took a theatrical bow to the human as the door opened, taking the previous look as one of how to tell him good night. They had made it clear they didn't seem interested tonight. “Until next time, then.” He announced, feeling their eyes on him as he stood back up.

Turning to leave, a hand quickly reached out and grabbed his wrist with a small tug. “You didn't want to come in?”

He raised a brow at those words, confusion in his eyes. “I was under the impression that you were not in the mood to play. Change your mind?”

“Just… get in here.” MC huffed, tugging his arm to bring him into their home, locking up behind them. Removing their coat and hanging it up and heading to the kitchen with the menace in tow. “You want anything to eat or drink?”

As they stopped at the counter they took out their phone, connecting to the blue tooth speaker on the counter when hands wrapped around MC from behind making them gasp, claws going just under their shirt and  gently scraping against the skin of their stomach, just enough to leave sharp red marks but not breaking skin.

“Are you being willfully ignorant, or trying to tease me, dear one? We both know how that ends for you.” his voice was low, his mask brushing against their neck.

With a soft breath MC put their hands over Harlequins, their touch gentle and not at all what the clown was expecting. Music began to play softly in the room, slower than what was playing in the café and despite the position they were in, Harlequin could feel MC relaxing against him, taking the chance of his loosened grip to turn around and face him.

Their hands trailed up his torso to his hidden pointy ears and removed the mask to set it on the counter behind them. The Harlequin looked frozen at all the sweet and gentle touches, the human taking his face to bring down to theirs for a chaste kiss, and it only made him feel more conflicted.

Bringing their hands down his shoulders, arms, they finally took his larger hands in theirs, one being guided to their hip, the other held with care. “You wanted to show off earlier, too shy to show me what else you know?” They hummed, finally getting to tease him back a little for earlier.

A low rumble made its way through his chest until a laugh escaped him, sharp teeth glinting in the light as a sly smile made its way across his features. “That's what all this was about?” It was relieving, hearing him let out a genuine laugh, seeing him loosen up after seeming lost since he came in the door.

Taking the opportunity to make the first move, they fell into the music once more at Harlequin's lead, every move feeling like they were gliding across the floor. “Be careful what you wish for, dearest.” His voice a sultry purr as he dipped MC back, taking in every expression they made. They stared up at him from this held position, completely at his mercy, with nothing but wonder and adoration in their eyes. “I may give you more than you can handle.” A mischievous glint in his eyes as he spoke.

A moment of quiet before a smile came across the human's face alongside that sweet blush that kept showing up tonight. “Then I guess we'll just have to see if I can keep up.” They laughed a bit as they were pulled back up, suddenly having it stifled as lips met their own, the kiss slow but hungry for them.

They let out a sigh as he pulled away to kiss their jawline, his thumbs rubbing small circles at their hips. “Mmm, can't you give me a few more dances before we get there? Are you in that much of a rush to leave for the night?” They asked quietly as they rested their head against his chest, gripping at the sleeveless hoodie as if to keep him there with them.