sarah paulson character - one shots

i promise(TB Karen)

Info: You're only at Provincetown for a week because you needed to get away from the city to relax and think things over. On a late night walk, you saw a woman.

Trigger warning: Homelessness, depression, smoking, mentions of sexual assault!!

*Click click* The sound of my lighter filling the empty silence of the beach. I moved my hand down and put my lighter in my pocket once the cigarette was lit. I took slow steps along the beach while holding my converses with my fingers in the backs, holding them on my side. I took another drag and let the smoky air leave my mouth. All I could hear was the waves lightly crashing together and very faint wind that gently moved my stray hairs. It was very dark as it was about 2:30AM. I had always been a night owl, but I also couldn't sleep because of stress. I was stressed because work was getting a bit too much. That's actually why I am even here. I needed to get away from everything and a friend of mine suggested this place and even let me stay at her rental. So here I am. Provincetown, Massachusetts. A quiet, town with a low population and cold weather. How fun. I was pulled out of my thoughts by- a silhouette?

I approached the human-looking-figure that was on the sand. I eventually noticed that I was looking down at a woman. I dropped my cigarette in the sand and took my phone out my pocket, turning the flashlight on. She was laying down but soon opened her eyes and instantly scooted away from me. She was scared of me. "Hey, hey no it- it's ok. I'm not going to hurt you, 𝙄 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚." She stopped moving and looked at me without blinking. She had fear in her eyes and her chest was rising and falling fast and heavily. I pointed to flashlight at myself so she could see that I was a woman. I could only assume that she was scared of being assaulted. "Really? You promise?" Her eyes glistened under my flashlight and I nodded my head while kneeling down. "Yeah, I do,"

She gulped and seemed to relax slightly, but didn't move. She just sat where she was, pulling the strap of her bag on her shoulder. "Are you ok ma'am? You must be freezing out here?" I said while shivering from the cool, ocean breeze. "It's not so bad, I'm used to it now." I frowned and looked at her quivering. She wore a grey, puffer jacket that went down to her knees. She had a cream, shoulder bag on her left shoulder and white gloves up her arms. She also had a grey beanie on her faded, pink hair. Even though she had been living on the streets for all this time, she was pretty. I just felt bad for her. She must have had a hard life on the streets. I felt so bad for her. "Miss, would you like somewhere to stay?" She looked up at me after staring at the sand. "Wh-what?" She seemed to not believe me or understand what I was saying. "W- well, I'm only here for a week but I'm sure we can figure something out." I smiled at her in the most friendly way possible. She seemed to examine my face before she eventually trusted me. "Are you sure? You really don't need to do that." I saw tears in her eyes and I walked over to her and reached my hand out to help her up. "I really do though." She looked at my hand, then at me and then my hand again. "O-Ok thank you miss." She took my hand and I helped her up. I quickly slipped my shoes on then I began walking while still holding her hand. "No problem, and please, call me (y/n)." I turned to smile at her and she did the same. "I'm Karen." I smiled at her as we walked slowly towards my parked car.

We reached my car after occasionally talking about ourselves. I walked around the car and opened the passenger door for her, closing it when she got in. I walked around to the driver side and got it, putting my seatbelt on and starting the car. The drive was silent, except from the wheels on the smooth road and Karen sometimes coughing. "By the way, are you ok? That cough sounds pretty bad." She turned to me in her paranoid way and I saw her eyes glisten in my peripheral vision. "I'm fine, I've had it for ages now. I guess after a while you get used to it." I turned to smile at her for a split second before turning back to the road. I reached over and held her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. She looked out the window and I heard her sniffing quietly. "Hey, are you ok?" I squeezed her hand again and she started to talk. "Why are you doing this? No one has ever been so nice to me before." I frowned and swallowed before I replied. "Why shouldn't I help you? You're a human too and you should be treated like one." She cried more loudly and I felt tears in my eyes too. "How can I thank you for this?" She sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her gloved hand. "You don't have to." I smiled and squeezed her hand as a tear fell down my cheek.

***

I pulled onto the driveway of my rental house and turned the car off. I turned to see Karen looking at the big house in amazement. "Holy shit, do you live here?" I smiled at her cuteness and shook my head. "No, I don't. It's my friends rental, she let me stay for the week." She nodded her head slowly and then we got out the car. I opened the door with my key and walked in with Karen following close behind. "Don't mind how cold it is, I need to turn the heating on." I walked over to the kitchen and turned the internal heating on. "It's fine, it's a lot warmer than out there." I walked back over to her and replied. "I'm glad. Anyways, let me show you to your room." I smiled and she smiled back with shiny eyes. I walked up the stairs and she followed until we got to the spare bedroom. "Make yourself at home," She walked up to the bed and sat on it, putting her bag down next to her. "I'll bring you some towels and fresh clothes. Bring your stuff to the kitchen when you want so I can wash them."  She pouted at me as I walked over to her. "(y/n), you really don't have to do all this." I grabbed both of her hands and leaned down, kissing her forehead for a few seconds. "I know I don't have to, but I want to. And you deserve it, Karen." Tears fell down her cheeks and I wiped them away with my thumbs before walking to the door. I softly smiled at her and went to step out the room but was stopped by her voice. "(y/n)?" I looked at her and replied. "Yeah?" She smiled but this time, it was genuine. Full of emotion. Full of happiness. "Thank you." She whispered as another tear rolled down her face. I felt my heart melt as a big smile was stuck on my face. "No problem." With that I closed the door and walked down the hall, happy about having 𝘩𝘦𝘳 in my life.

a/n - crying while writing this but ok lmao. hope u enjoyed this one besties, have a good day/night as always and i love you all sm <333