((if you guys haven't watched jack and the cuckoo clock heart its a really pretty and amazing animated movie, its on netflix if you guys have it, if not, i think it might be on youtube, i highly recommend watching it!))

Recommended Song(s) For This Imagine:
Flamme a lunettes (English Version) - from Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart

Rule 1: Don't mess with the hands of your clock.

Rule 2: Keep your temper under control.

Rule 3: Whatever else you do, never fall in love.

Carrying your sheet music to the front of the room, you sent a nervous smile at your parents. They always encouraged you and your musical adventures. You sat at the piano, bringing the microphone over to your face. It was only a rehearsal for your actual show, and the small diner you were preforming at was nearly empty. Only the manager and a line cook were there besides your family.

You were only a few bars into your song, you hadn't even began singing when your mom got a call, and both of your parents had to rush outside. Sighing, you stopped the song, not getting to the lyrics. You walked outside, looking around for your parents. You saw no sign of them. You were about to walk back inside right as a young boy of about your age turned the corner.

"Hey," he greeted you, and you looked at him curiously. "I heard your playing down the street, it was beautiful."

"Thank you." You tapped your foot, humming the tune and singing under your breath. "My vision's not quite right, but glasses make me look a sight, enough to give the world a fright, wearin' specs."

The boy perked up, and to your surprise, he sung as well. "Oh, fiery little sprite, conflagration in the night, don't play games with your sight if it leaves you in the dark."

"I prefer life all a blur I forget to wear my glasses. When I sing or share caresses, it feels good to close my eyes. All I see are stars. Suddenly some days, my eyes lead me astray, faraway down the street. Until I can't bear to steal a glance at the sun, or even look the sky straight in the eye. All I see are stars."

"I won't let you stray," he held out a hand to you, and you accepted it, beginning to dance. "I'll be your only guide. Let me be your pair of eyes, you'll be my special flame."

You giggled, stepping in time with the boy and the song. "I don't even know your name."

"Mark. What's yours?"

Before you could answer, a clap of thunder startled you, and a strange noise met your ears. "What's that odd pitter-patter?"

"Uhm rain," Mark caught a few drops in his hand. "Do you like the rain?"

"Getting wet? No. The sound it makes? Yes." You spotted a small stream of smoke coming out of his jacket. "What's that?"

"Oh nothing." Mark coughed, and you moved his jacket slightly, revealing something on his chest.

Just as you had reached into your pocket to grab your glasses, he fell over, and a woman dashed out of nowhere. You put on your glasses to look down at the fallen boy. The woman glared up at you. "What have you done?!"

Startled, you ran down the sidewalk, away from the angry woman. When you had gotten home, you found the house abandoned and ransacked. Neither of your parents answered their cell phones, and you knew it. They had been found. Betrayed.

3 years later

You had been running for nearly two years when you found the Extrodinarium. And that's where you've stayed for the past year. Everyday you thought of Mark, and wanted to write to him, but you knew nothing other than his name.

Then you got word that a new Frightener had been hired, for the only rollercoaster at the amusement park, the Ghost Train. You decided to go visit tomorrow, after your show tonight.

Music started up, and you left your dressing room to see the small crowd gathered on the seats outside. Singing and dancing your way through the song, your eyes got caught on a boy in the second row. Something about him seemed all too familiar. When you had finished, you bowed, and went back inside your room.

Sitting at your vanity, you began removing your earrings, then noticed something startling in the mirror. Someone was standing in the corner of your room. "Excuse me!" You snapped, standing up.

He took a cautious step towards you, and you backed up in accordance. "I'm so sorry," he apologized, holding something in his hands. "I-I just wanted to give you this."

You took the wrapped package, intrigued. "A bouquet of... glasses? I can't say they're my favorite flower."

"See, they're all broken, so you don't have to worry about breaking them."

"Thank you." You smiled at him, and set them down on the vanity before motioning for the boy to follow you outside.

You laid down on the ground, and he followed suit. As you gazed up at the stars, you were aware of his eyes on you. Humming the familiar tune, you sang under your breath. "All I see are stars, and suddenly some days, my eyes lead me astray, faraway down the street-"

"Until I can't bear to steal, a glance at the sun, or even look the sky straight in the eye." The strange boy continued the verse, to your amazement.

"All I see are stars." You both sang in harmony.

Turning onto your side to face him, you whispered in disbelief. "Mark?"

"I never did get your name that day."

"Y/N, my name is Y/N."

"Beautiful." He said, and seemed to be in pain, clutching his chest.

"Mark, are you alright?" You asked, reaching towards him, but he waved off your hand.

"I'm fine."

Just then, a drop of water hit your shoulder. It was raining. Again. "What's that odd pitter-patter?"

"The rain, do you like the rain?"

"The sound, yes." You stood up, offering him a hand. "Getting wet, no. But I wasn't talking about the rain."

Mark didn't protest as you moved his jacket, revealing the same mysterious object as before. Putting on your glasses, you peered curiously at it. It was a clock, protruding from his chest where his heart should have been.

"Oh my!" You gasped, gently placing a hand on the other side of his chest as you continued looking at it. "Is this your heart?"

"Yes, I was born with a frozen heart, and the midwife had to replace it with a clock." He pulled something out of his pocket, holding it out to you. "This is the key that winds me up, you can try it if you want."

Gingerly, you stuck the key in the keyhole and turned it a few times. His arms moved almost robotically for a moment before he returned back to normal. "Does that hurt?"

"No, no, it feels... I don't really know how to describe it, but it doesn't hurt."

You went to give it back to him but he caught your hand and pushed it back to you. "No, you keep it."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely, I trust you with the key to my heart."

You took off your necklace, slipping the key onto the chain so you wouldn't lose it. Holding his hand in yours, you went to kiss him, but he suddenly backed away. "Mark?"

"S-sorry, it's just that Madeleine, the midwife who fixed my heart, she said I wasn't allowed to fall in love. Because of my heart."

"What would happen to you if you did?" Your lip was trembling from anger and fear, the look on his face making it quite clear what would happen. "You are so selfish! Are you happy making me a murderer?"

"No, I happy with you."

"Well I'd rather you be sad and alive than happy until you're dead." You turned on your heel away from him, and you could hear his voice pleading behind you.

Inside your room, you sat on your bed, crying. After all these years you'd found Mark, and you couldn't even be with him or you'd kill him.

In the morning, you heard gasps outside your door, and you ran out worried. Collapsed on the ground against the wall of your little house was Mark, a hand over his clock. Falling to your knees in front of him, you quickly wound his clock, and his eyes widened up at you. "Thank you, Y/N."

"You idiot." You said shakily, hugging him. "You scared me. Now come inside, I'm sure you didn't get good sleep on some wooden planks."

You laid him down on your bed, and slipped in beside him. "What are we going to do, Mark? Madeleine made it clear love will kill you. But being without love will apparently kill you too."

"How about we get some sleep first?" He suggested, and you had to agree.

"Very well, but we're going to talk about this in the morning." You were careful to kiss his cheek, not his lips, before laying your head on the pillow.

"Goodnight, my flame."

"Goodnight." You smiled, falling asleep to the steadily quiet ticking of his heart.