“So. Theo, I was thinking that after that last success, I could ask you a question.” Jerome sat down slyly across the dinner table from Theo Galavan, a strand of his thick ginger hair flipping down across his forehead. He rested his chin in one palm and rested the other forearm on the table in an inquisitive way, his piercing eyes smiling at Mr. Galavan.
“What is it, Jerome? You’re right it was a success.” Theo folded his hands in his lap.
“Is there a room in this,” Jerome gestured widely with his arms, looking around, “that I could commandeer for a while?”
“Sure,” Theo’s eyes narrowed a little bit in confusion, “what for?”
“For Y/N. She misses her training. She wants the circus, so I’m going to get her one.” Jerome’s eyes twinkled briefly with determination, and he flashed that joy-inducing, first prize smile that had gotten him everything he’d wanted, for years. Theo’s eyebrows raised, and he looked out the window in thought.
“I suppose that’s alright, I’ve got some spare rooms on the top floor. If you can have our second best asset back to normal than I’ll do anything. What else will you need?” he asked.
Later that evening, you were lost in thought while fitfully doing pushups on your bedroom floor when you felt a hand rest on your head. Spooked, you violently snapped out of it and whirling to grab the wrist, shrieking. Jerome stopped the attack swiftly, chuckling at your futile attempt.
“Good evening, gorgeous, what exactly are you trying to do?” he asked you, still amused. Your face remained stoic
“I was trying to make myself tired so I could sleep, Jerome.” Your eyes snapped downwards, annoyed, and you tried to yank your wrist away.
“Hey, karate kid, I’m here to help ya.” He stiffened his grip, reminding you how strong he actually was. At this moment, you realized he was wearing his pajamas.
“12 am, love. It’s a new day!” he spread his hands and smiled cheesily. After waiting for a reaction that didn’t come, his face snapped to a mock concern. “Now, you’d better crawl your little body up into bed, tomorrow’s going to be a looooong day.”
You did not. His eyes barely widened and his grin turned fake and angry.
“What did I say, Y/N?” he rasped at you, growling a little. Okay, time to obey. Any further and you’d regret it.
“To crawl on the bed….” you whined, crawled up onto the mattress that you shared. He seemed satisfied, and only helped you up gently. “Why will it be a long day, J?” you inquired with a sigh. You figured it’ll just be another job. He wagged a finger, climbing up next to you, and then placed his finger over your lips, even though you weren’t making a sound. He did that. It was a power thing, needing to be on top of things even when there wasn’t anything threatening his dominance. You liked it, in your own way, you like his dominance. After all, he’s the boss.
“Ah-ah, not for you to know, Sugar” he smirked, watching the wave of confusion ripple across your face, “but for now, we - “ he suddenly cut off and flopped back, fake snoring. A little spunk returned to you, you narrowed your eyes and leapt onto him, pinning him down. Or, at least, trying to. His eyes grew a little dangerous, and he suddenly jabbed his hands at your sides, tickling you.
“Nooo!” you squealed, “Jerome, stop it, you-”
He was laughing now at your girlish squeaks, but stopped to slide both hands behind your back and lower you down to lay beside him with your head on his chest. You let him, face falling again. He turned a smidge, one arm still wrapped around your shoulders, and reached the other arm out to flick off the light.
“Now just… try to sleep, Y/N.”
“Uh-huh,” you just mumble quietly, and nuzzle into his neck, his chin resting on top of your head as both arms wrapped around you snuggly. It took a little bit of effort to fall asleep. You squirmed every once in awhile, and Jerome would tighten his grip on you and mumble “no no no”, or “shhh-sh-sh” at you. Slowly, your eyes closed and the sleepy drowsy feeling washed over you.
The first thing you were aware of was the heartbeat. Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump. It was steady. You shifted one leg, then aware of the body next to you, and then the blankets in a cocoon around you. You inhaled slowly, narrowly opening your eyes just to shut them again. One hand that was resting on your shoulder blade slid to your side as Jerome pulled away from you a bit to look at your face, smiling.
“Hey, gorgeous.” his voice was a low rasp as he brought you back to him, muttering in your ear now, “sleep well, did ya?”
You nodded and groggily reached up to tug the hair away from it’s grip around your neck, but Jerome got there first, stopping your hand before pulling your hair free and burying his hand in its silky length. Waking up a bit more, you sniffled. Suddenly you remembered what had been mentioned last night about today being a long day. Perked up now, you tried to prop yourself up on one elbow.
“Jerome, why is today going to be a long day?” you tilt your head, and he raises his eyebrows, his eyes dazzling with mischief.
“Because,” he sits up energetically and brushes back a hair from your face, “baby, do I have a surprise for you! Now, stay here and I’ll go get you what you’ll need.”
The freckled ginger hops off the bed and fixes his robe, smiling that grin you’d fallen in love with. “Don’t you worry darling, I won’t be gone long. Now, see, you’ve got to stay right here or it won’t be much fun. Promise, or do I have to tie you down? Because heavens, we wouldn’t want that taking a tangent.”
“I’ll stay,” you managed a groggy smirk, interested now. He winked at you jokingly and quickly made his way out the door.
“You’ll need this apple, that piece of toast, this water, and of course,” Jerome paused and put a hand on his jaw in thought, then began ruffling through your clothing drawers, to your protest.
“AH, yes, this, this, this, ORRRRR this.”
Four of your old circus outfits were tossed in your face, one shiny gold with black diamonds, one white with red hearts, and the others solid black and black and white stripes. Perplexed, you stared at him, and the pile of miscellany in front of you, and back at him. He smiled, gesturing at the things.
“Now, you get yourself all dolled up - not that you aren’t already princess as you are - and meet me outside the door, you’ve got an audience to entertain!” he shuffled from the room, with a final glowing look at you. What? An audience?
