How you meet Art (Fluff!)
As requested, here's a little fluffy drabble about how you meet Art!
It's Halloween night and you sit with your friend in a local pizza by the slice place. The two of you had gotten pretty tipsy at the party you just came from, and you're trying to sober up before you head home. All and all it was a good night, you're happy with your costume and you had fun at the party. You just wish something interesting had happened, it was Halloween after all.
Just as you're thinking this, a guy in a black and white clown costume carrying a trash bag trudges into the pizza shop. You have to admit his costume is pretty good. He's eerie looking, and your friend nudges you and shifts uncomfortably when he sits down across from you, though all the other tables are empty.
He's staring you down, and suddenly you're unsure how you feel about your wish being granted.
"Should we go?" your friend asks you anxiously. "That creep is like really starting at you. He's like making faces and shit."
You glance over your shoulder and see him smiling wide at you with his chin in his hands. When he notices you looking he immediately changes his expression to a dramatic frown. You let out a small laugh and wave at him. He excitedly returns the gesture.
"Oh my god, what did you do that for?" your friend chides you.
"What," you defend yourself, "it's Halloween. I'm sure he's harmless."
"Well, don't look now," she say's ducking her head, "he's coming over here."
The clown walks up to you carrying a plastic capsule he'd gotten from the quarter operated prize machine by the door. He approaches you rather shyly, opening the prize capsule to present you with a small plastic ring.
"For me?" you ask. He nods eagerly.
You find yourself blushing at his advance. He lights up and smiles wide when you hold out your hand to accept the ring. He places it on your hand with a flourish.
"Okay, we're done here," your friend interrupts. The clown guy looks like he wants to slide into the booth next to you, and she gets up, pulling you by the arm as she does. You bump into the clown as your friend jerks you up out of the booth.
"Sorry," you mouth to him. He keeps his eyes locked on you as you head to the door. Without your friend noticing, you look back and hold up a finger, telling him to wait.
You're not sure what's come over you, but you don't want this to be the last you see of the man in the clown suit. You walk your friend home and bid her a quick goodbye.
"Get home safe!" she calls after you as you head in the opposite direction. Back towards the pizza shop. You're anxious, wondering whether the clown will have waited for you.
You aren't even halfway back to the pizza place when you see a tall silhouette approaching you. It's the guy in the clown costume. He quickens his pace and waves to you, still hauling his trash bag. You wave back and give a small smile in return.
"I was hoping you'd wait for me," you say as he reaches you.
"I like your costume," you compliment, and he grins down at you. "You really don't say much, do you?"
The clown shakes his head slowly, and puts a finger to his lips, still smiling. You notice his teeth are pretty gnarly.
"Well, you can still be a gentleman and walk me home," you tell him. At this he perks up and enthusiastically claps his hands. "Great," you say, "let's go!" You start off towards your house and the clown guy follows.
As you're walking, you feel emboldened by the alcohol flowing through your veins. You reach out and interlace you fingers with the man in the clown suit's. You notice how much larger his hand is than yours.
He jumps at this, and looks down at your interlocked hands in earnest confusion. You can tell you've caught him off guard. Then he looks up and meets your eyes with a rather serious expression.
"What, you've never held hands with someone before?" you tease him. He rolls his eyes and acts bashful at your jab. Then he shrugs his shoulder and continues to walk happily hand and hand with you.
The two of you meander down the sidewalk in silence through the chilled October night, and you wish deeply that the walk to your house was longer.
