Painful Laughter (Laughing Jack X Reader)

Chapter 5

Just wanted to say that the picture above is not mine. I'm not sure who drew it, but it was not me. Hope you enjoy the chapter!!
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Over the next week, Laughing Jack watched (Y/N) carefully. She seemed more comfortable around him as the week progressed. She wouldn't fidget if he sat beside her. She would even talk to him as if he was just a regular person and not some monochrome clown freak. He liked that about her.

He was growing rather attached to the strange girl. He liked her quite a lot. He liked most aspects of her. Most things she did he thought were cute. The way her nose crinkled whenever she squinted. The way she acted as a mother towards Sammy. He couldn't even describe the way she made him feel when they sat on the couch and their hands almost touched.

He knew nothing could ever become of his attraction to (Y/N), which made him sad. She deserved so much more than a monochromatic killer clown. He could still have his secret desire for her, though.

It was Saturday night, and (Y/N)'s mother was out at a bar with her friends, leaving (Y/N) to care for Sammy, something that happened quite frequently.

Her father was drowning in booze with five of his buddies in the living room. (Y/N) had just tucked Sammy into bed when she head glass shattering downstairs.

She rushed down the steps to the living room, quickly ducking when a glass bottle shattered against the wall beside her head.

"(Y/N), there you are. Been lookin' all over for ya. Go get us some more beers," (Y/N)'s father slurred, holding an empty beer can in the air for her to see.

(Y/N) rolled her eyes, departing from the room to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and grabbed a six pack of beer from the bottom shelf. She reentered the room and carried the pack over to her father.

"Good girl. See boys, I told ya she was good for somethin'." One of the other men whistled at her.

"Come 'ere girl. I wanna see if you're good for somethin' other than brining beer," the man said, grinning at her. (Y/N) shot him a disgusted look and turned to leave.

Just as (Y/N) took the first step, the man jumped out of his chair and followed her. He grabbed ahold of her arm and spun her around.

"I wasn't finished with you, girly. Get over there and set down in that chair so I can have a little fun with you," the man sneered, his grip on her arm tightening painfully.

"No. Please release my arm, and go back to your booze. Leave me alone."

That was not the answer the man wanted to receive. He dug his fingernails into her arm, blood trailing down to her fingertips. He landed a swift blow across her cheek, instantly forming a bruise.

"Don't back talk me, girl. I can do whatever I want to you, and you can't do a thing about it." He grabbed her other arm and attempted to pull her to the seat he had currently occupied.

(Y/N) punched and kicked at the man. She managed to rip her arms away from his, leaving long claw marks bleeding down her skin. She didn't even give the group a second glance as she sprinted out the front door, their laughter echoing in her ears.

(Y/N) raced to the nearest oak tree, leaning against its trunk and sliding down. She pulled her knees to her chest, desperately fighting to keep back her tears.

Laughing Jack had witnessed the whole scene. He had desperately wanted to help (Y/N), but he knew she could take care of herself. If things had turned to a more violent path, he was there to help her.

When he saw her race from the house, he made sure to follow. He walked outside and spotted her sitting against a tree, face hiding in her knees. He slowly approached her.

"Hey (Y/N). I saw what happened back there. Are you ok?" Jack asked, taking a seat in the grass next to her.

"I-I'm fine. Just give me a minute to cool down."

"You know, it's alright to cry sometimes. You'd probably feel better if you did," Jack suggested.

"I can't allow myself to cry. It shows weakness. How would that look to Sammy? He'd think I wasn't strong enough to care for him. He'd think that I need to be pitied. I don't want anyone's sympathy," (Y/N) said, lifting her gaze to meet Jack's.

"It doesn't show weakness. Crying helps you release all your built up emotions. I cry sometimes, and I'm supposed to help Sammy be happy. It doesn't mean that I'm not strong."

"Jack, you don't understand. What if my father or that horrid man came out here and saw me like this? They'd make fun of me. They would try to take advantage of me. I can't let that happen."

Jack nodded, looking at the ground. The poor thing needed comfort, whether she wanted it or not. It sounded like she had never had any before. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"I'm here, (Y/N). I won't let them do anything. You can cry into my shoulder so no one can here you, if you'd like," Jack offered, smiling down at her. (Y/N) gave him a sad smile of her own.

"Maybe another time, Jack. I just can't right now. Thank you for being here for me, though. Nobody's ever done that for me before. I need to go now, Jack. It's getting awfully late. Goodnight." With that, she stood from the ground and made her way back inside.

Laughing Jack watched her go, a gloomy smile on his face. He wished she would have opened herself up to him more. That would all come soon, though. He knew what he had to do. He was going to get her and Sammy out of that house.