" So, I don't need to worry about food today? "

   " No, Black took care of it. Just help clean around, and move things. I'll be in the main tent if you need me. "

Beast walked out of her tent after telling you your jobs for the day. You could only nod and leave the tent as well, starting on your job. So you skipped breakfast and started to get to work.

   ' The faster I get done, the faster I can start investigating the other tents. '

You first started cleaning up the plates from breakfast, washing them, and then drying them in the kitchen. Sebastian served all of the food he had made, allowing him the opportunity to look over at you. You had grabbed the bin of dirty dishes and walked outside; then you collected a basin of clean soapy water. Sitting on a stool, you worked at cleaning and drying the dishes. You had started drying the last set of plates when you felt a presence behind you.

   " Well, hello Joker. How are you doing today? "

Joker looked down at you with his natural smile and tapped his cane against your side.

   " I'm well enough. But ye haven't eaten, beauty. "

   " Lots of work today, I don't want to be caught behind. "

   " Ye should still eat, darlin'. I don't want ye fainting. "

Joker rested the end of his cane back on the floor and leaned on it, leaning toward you. Finally, you finished the last dish and set it on a stack to be used for lunch. You stood from your stool and smiled at Joker.

   " I won't. I'll eat a big lunch. "

   " Ye, better or I'll come to get 'ee and make 'ee. I'm skipping into town if 'ee wish to accompany me. "

   " Sure. Just come grab me when you leave. "

   " Okay! I'll leave 'ee to work, then. "

Joker walked away from you, waving, and you started to gather the dishes together. But you stopped when you saw Ciel's figure run from the showers. His figure ran behind the caravans. You left the dishes, willing yourself to get in trouble, and ran after him. You passed the first cart and ran past them, looking for Ciel. You spotted him, sitting near a wheel, clutching his clothes tightly, and he was shaking. He wore the clothes he entered the circus instead of his performance clothes. He was also dripping wet. You slowly walked toward him, and you crouched beside the man. You placed a hand on his back and rubbed his back soothingly. 

Ciel peeked out of his arms, looking at you. He leaned into your touch, and you wrapped both arms around him, trying to comfort him. He didn't cry or shed any tears, but he was wet, cold, and shaking. You didn't ask what happened, and you continued to hold him.

   " You'll catch cold, my lord. "

Sebastian kneeled beside you and Ciel, dropping a blanket around your shoulders. Ciel didn't lift his head or attempt to pull the blanket around himself, so you did. Then, you pulled the blanket around yourselves and continued to hold him close, getting yourself wet.

   " I've brought a change of clothes. "

   " Enough. . ." Ciel muttered.

   " What was that, Ciel? " You asked.

   " I've had enough! I'll go mad if I keep living like this. "

Ciel pressed his face into your shoulder and wrapped his arms around your waist, hiding.

   " Goodness me. Giving up already? Your fortitude ran dry fast. It's not like you to let such trifles drive you mad, young master. "

Ciel continued to shake and grip your waist, but when he stopped shaking, you looked at his bright blue eye to see it dilated.

   " Not like me, eh? Quite right. "

Ciel suddenly stood up, bringing you with him and looking toward Sebastian. Ciel kept one arm around your waist and pulled the blanket around your bodies himself.

   " I'm the head of the house of Phantomhive. Naturally, it's not like me to live this way. We'll get this over with and leave at once! "

Sebastian remained kneeling and smiled up at Ciel, his red eyes glowing and for a second turned pink.

   " Very good. "

Ciel took the blanket off his shoulders and wrapped you in the blanket to hide your wet clothes from prying eyes. He started to undo the buttons of his wet shirt, and you blushed, realizing he would change in front of you. You turned your head away, not looking towards his bare chest. Ciel smirked and thought of teasing you but kept the tease to himself and prepared to talk business.

   " Now, if we can just search the first-stringers' tents, we can go home. "

   " Personally, I prefer brute force since reaper keeps me from moving freely at night. "

   " The reaper's presence doesn't prove them guilty. Behave yourself. Y/n, you may turn back around-- "

You turned and saw Ciel in dry clothes, though his hair still was dripping wet.

   " --though you didn't have to look away in the first place. "

You lightly hit his shoulder and took the blanket, wrapping it around him. He gratefully took the blanket and shook his hair dry.

   " I can help with the first-string tents. I can go in and out of the area without the snakes trying to attack me, but they report back to Snake. And it appears he talks to them, so they'll know if anyone else entered or not. Also, I do have something to mention. "

   " On with it. "

   " Last night, in Beasts tent. I went to rest, but Beast left, saying she had some business to attend to. She warned me not to leave the tent, so I didn't. But I heard more than one set of footsteps leave the first-stringer tents. It seems that where ever Beast went everyone went with her. "

   " Mhmm, right. Then we'll have to look in their tents during one of their shows and somehow get rid of the snakes. Then we can look around. I'll need to lose that chap that keeps tailing me everywhere first. "

   " Just keep me updated on what we're going to do, and I'll see what I can do. I'll try to finish my jobs today and look around Beasts tent first, but I also have an outing with Joker. "

   " You two have gotten close, haven't you? " Ciel said with a sneer.

   " Yes, but there's no need to be jealous. "

   " I'm not jealous! "

   " I would have to agree with, Y/n, young master. " 

   " Shut up, the both of you! "

Ciel sighed, and his back slowly started to relax. He kept the blanket tightly around him as he grew cold from the winter weather. He let out a breath of hair that became cloudy as the air froze.

   " I want to go home and eat something sweet. "

Ciel leaned over and pressed his cold lips against your cheek. Though his lips were cold, the kiss on your cheek was warm.

   " But this will have to do, for now. "

   " You're full of poise today. " You said, blushing but still looking at Ciel.

   " Naturally. "

You shook your head and said goodbye to the two, returning to the dishes to bring them back into the kitchen. Upon returning to the kitchen, Dagger called your name.

   " Y/n! You're soaking wet! Go get some new clothes before you catch a cold! "

   " I don't have any spares. " You said, looking at Dagger.

   " Get something from Beast, she should have something for you. Ah, Beast~ "

Dagger went into a dreamy state, and you left him to his own. 

   ' Beast said she would be in the main tent. I'll go grab her and then get a shower. '

You stepped out of the kitchen and walked toward the main blue tent. Upon entering, everyone was practicing their talents for the show tonight. Beast was in the corner of the tent with Betty, practicing. You walked over and called her name, and her eyes widened when she turned toward you.

   " Why are you so wet!? "

   " Well, you see, I was cleaning the dishes when some younger performers ran by, and tripped over the bin I was using, spilling the water. Dagger said you might have some spare clothes. "

Beast nodded and ordered Betty to sit and stay. She strapped her whip by her hip and placed a hand on your back, guiding you to her tent. You passed lots of people and snakes, but she started searching through her big chest on the floor when you made it into her tent. Finally, she brought out some clothes for you to change into.

   " I don't know if anything will fit, but I'm your best bet. I'll step out and stand in front of the tent flaps while you change. "

She handed the clothes to you and stepped out of the tent like she said she would. You quickly stripped yourself of your clothes and wore what she had given you. The clothes were black and red, matching Beast's color tones, but you didn't mind. You were just happy to have a dry set of clothes. You wanted to look around but didn't attempt to, realizing that Beast was waiting for you. You stepped out of the tent, and Beast looked down at you, raising her brow.

   " You look good in my clothes. Well, get back to work. You know where I'll be. "

You nodded and followed Beast away from the blue tents knowing if you didn't follow her, she would notice. Beast disappeared in the main tent, and you were left on your own.

   ' This would be a good time to go back-- '

   " Y/n! "

   ' Maybe not. '

You turned toward Joker, who had called you. You walked over to him, and he rested a hand on your shoulder.

   " I'm going into town now. Still want to accompany me, darlin'? "

   " Of course! " 

   " Then let's be off! "

Joker held out his left arm for you to take, and you wrapped your arm around it. In his other hand was the cane he used to walk around. You walked to a stable with horses waiting to be ridden. Joker pulled the reigns of one horse and jumped on, offering you a hand. You took his hand, and he held you sit in front of him on the horse. He whipped the horse, making the large beast start moving. The horse galloped out of the stables and away from the circus. The city was a reasonable distance from the circus, but when you made it into town, you noticed many people out and talking happily. The horse softly trotted through the roads, happy to be out of the stables. 

   ' It's almost lunch now, so Henry will get a break from the shoemaker. '

Before you could pass the store, you tapped Joker's arm and pointed toward the shoemaker's place.

   " That's where Henry works. He should be on break right about now, so we can go in and see how he is doing, and where Tom works. "

   " Sounds good to me. "

Joker stopped the horse and slid down, tying the reigns to a light pole. You stepped up to the shop door and opened it, peeking inside. Joker walked behind you, placed his hands on your shoulders, and looked inside. 

   " Tom! I told you not to overwork yourself! "

   " I know. . .I know, I'm sorry, Henry. "

   " Tell yourself that! I'm not the one sick! What would Ms. Y/n think? "

   " Ms. Y/n would think that Tom is working to hard, and needs to take a break every so often. " You said, stepping through the door, with Joker's hands still on your shoulders.

Behind the desk, you saw Henry's head pop out, and he smiled at you. 

   " Ms. Y/n! "

Henry ran toward you with his arms outstretched, ready for a hug. Instead, you kneeled to the ground and embraced the young boy tightly. 

   " It's good to see you, but it's a bad time. Tom's sick. "

   " He is? Let me see. Oh, and Henry, this is Joker, a friend of mine. "

   " Hello, lad. "

   " Hi! "

Henry waved at Joker before taking your hand and leading you toward the desk. You stood to your full height, slightly bending over and walking behind the desk. After turning around the desk, you saw Tom lying on the floor with a pillow underneath his head. His nose was red, but the rest of his face looked pale. There was a wet cloth on his head, and his eyes were half open. He glanced toward you, and a soft smile made its way to his lips.

   " Ms. Y/n. . .it's wonderful to see you. "

   " It's great to see you too Tom, but you're sick. "

You crouched beside Tom, Joker following you and sitting beside you. Tom took your hand and lightly squeezed it.

   " I've overworked myself, it seems. I had to call out of work, sick. "

   " I'm sorry to hear that. . .but now you need to get better. Do you have any medication? "

   " Yeah, Henry went to get some for me, and I've been taking it for a few days now. I should be better soon, hopefully. "

   " Good. I don't like seeing you sickly. But, I have brought a friend of mine. This here is Joker, he's head of the circus in town. Ever since I told him about you, he has wanted to meet you and your younger brother. "

   " Hello, lad. I'm sorry we've come at a wrong time. "

   " Hi, it's nice to meet you. It's fine, it's always fun seeing Ms. Y/n, and now we get to meet one of her friends. "

   " What happened to 'ee parents? "

   " Illness. They couldn't survive a plague, that contaminated our town. After they died we couldn't afford to keep our home, so we decided to come to the city, hoping things will be better. "

   " I'm sorry to hear that. "

   " It's okay. I still have my brother. "

   " That's good 'ee have each other, 'ere . "

Joker reached into his pocket, and pulled out a few gold coins. He placed the coins in Henry's hand, and closed Henry's hand into a fist.

   " Use that for anything 'ee need, lad. "

   " Thank you Mister! "

   " Thank you. "

   " Well, we will leave you to rest Tom. Henry don't overwork yourself too now, okay? " You said ruffling the younger boys hair.

   " I won't! "

You briefly hugged the boys before leaving the shop with Joker. Joker waved to the two boys, before shutting the door, and leading you down the sidewalk, toward the market.

   " That was very nice, of you Joker. "

   " Well, I understand the situation they be in. And being sick, is not something they can afford. Let's grab some foodstuff, and head back. "

Joker had a soft look in his eyes, and you felt your heart soften by the sweet look. You nodded and followed Joker to the market, buying food for the rest of the people back at the circus.