Friends? (Dagger One-Shot)

1.

 "Today is the big day, folks! I want everything to be perfect!" The ringleader shouted from her position on the stage. Her circus folk cheered, ready for the battle.

The crowd dispersed, understanding the cue and leaving a confused girl in the dust. (Y/n) didn't have a specific job in the circus due to her lack of special skills or abilities. She couldn't even juggle well.

Scurrying out of the tent, she paused, still unsure of what to do. For her case, it was best to stay out of the way. She knew this, along with the fact that she was a second-string in her circus group. There weren't many, the ringleader made sure of that when she fired most of them the other week. (Y/n) wasn't sure why she hadn't been kicked out long ago, it's not like she had friends in the group, nor could she cook.

Instead of joining in with the last minute bustle, she chose to find a quiet place backstage in the giant performance tent where she wouldn't be a bother, and wouldn't be bothered.

It was less then five minutes before the big competition to be the best circus started. It was the circus she was in versus the Noah's Arc Circus. The excess people from the second circus were all the more reason to stay hidden and out of sight. (Y/n) simple hated crowds.

Her life wasn't that bad, especially not in the eyes of some street rat or poor bloke who's only comfort was a bottle of gin. (Y/n) was content with hiding behind stage and fighting for her share of food during meal times. All that mattered to her was the lack of work and the lack of rain-soaked naps she had to survive through.

"Oi! (Y/n) you aren't meddling, are you?" The ringleader called out, her eyes cutting to (y/n)'s spot with the sharp edge of suspicion.

"N-No. Not at all," the girl replied hesitantly, hoping to blend in with the boxes around her.

The ringleader huffed, but quickly moved on. From the ruckus coming from just in front of the performing tent, (y/n) could only assume that the opposing circus had arrived.

It was show time.

~

"Watcha doing back here alone?" A boy asked, making (y/n) jump in surprise. She had been so focused on the awe-inspiring performance before her that she hadn't hear him walk into the back of the performance tent.

"Nothing," she mumbled, looking to the ground while she inspected the boy with her peripheral vision. His blond hair made his smile seem all the brighter. His dull coloured clothes made his jolly face make-up pop out more. "I'm not stowing away, if that's what you were asking," she added quietly.

He laughed, a sound that (y/n) found she liked to hear. "Not at all, miss! Should I be asking that?" He joked.

(Y/n) didn't respond, unsure if she was supposed to or not. Instead, she tried to steer the topic away from herself. "You're with the Noah's Arc Circus, right?"

"Mhm! I'm on my break, but I'm Dagger," he said cheerily with a wide grin, offering his hand.

"I'm (y/n)," she replied, reaching her (s/c) hand up to shake his.

Dagger leaned forward and set a soft kiss on the back of (y/n)'s hand, sending a blush to spiral up to the girl's face. "Where are all your friends?" Dagger asked, sounding genuinely curious as he glanced around the area.

'Friends?' (Y/n) wondered to herself, glancing down at her feet. "They're, um... Out doing the performance?"

Dagger's smile only grew as he tapped his chin playfully. "Somehow I don't believe you," he started, walking closer and sitting on the crate next to (y/n). "Do you have friends?" He teased.