In Joy and Sorrow [Ville Valo fan fic]

Chapter 1

The rain gently pattered down on the ground, the mud swelling and the blades of grass dropping, dipping into the brown river. It wasn’t late at night but the sky was an angry blue and letting out bolts of lightning. Clouds billowed across the sky in black swirls and the rain keep pelting down like daggers. Yellow windows glittered in the distance, warmth shining through. Not a thing stirred anywhere; the only things that could be seen were the trees of the park, and the benches. And curled up on one was her own shadowy figure.

She was sitting in there with her knees tucked into her chest, while her wet black hair hung around her face, rain drops forming at the tips and then falling onto her lap. She shook as she sat there. A black sweater wrapped around her body, her hands bunched in fists up the sleeves and her toes clenched inside the shoes. She swallowed and wrapped her sweater tighter around her figure. Her breath rose from her mouth and shimmered in the air in front of her before being blown away into the storm. “Anywhere but home,” She thought to herself. “Anywhere but home”.

The rain pounded down on her head and after a couple what it seemed hours in the rain, she reluctantly got up and walked along the path. But this wasn’t the path home, it took her further away, and that was really what she wanted. Standing under a tree, she looked around and saw a tall, dark figure walking towards her. She got tensed, knowing how dangerous it was to be out there on her own, and with no passers-by to call to.

“Do you mind if I share your spot under this tree?” The figure asked.
She stepped aside to let the man stand next to her. He took the place and silently began to stare up at the sky, rocking back and forth on his feet. She giggled, and then suddenly stopped, thinking she may have offended him. The man turned around and smiled.

“So, seen as though I let you share my tree, may I know your name?” She asked, not really looking at him.

“Well I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. I’m Ville.” He replied taking his hat off and brushing his hair back, just before extending his hand on her direction.

“Oh, well, hey, I’m Karen.” They shook hands with each other while slightly blushing. Ville smiled again and leant back on the tree, staring at her.

“I wonder, do you know who I am? Have you ever seen me before?” Ville asked, still smiling.

“Well, if I have it must have been in worse light than this. Should I know you?” She said, and smiled back at him.

“No, not really. In fact, I prefer it that way.” Ville turned back to the sky.
She continued to gaze at him, wondering if he was a long lost friend or something, but she has never seen this man before; not that she remembered, at least. She stared down at her feet wondering if she had done something wrong to not know. “So Karen, what brings you out here on this weather?” Ville looked down at her again, turning on his side to face her. He had her full attention.

“Well, I don’t mind this weather really…” She trailed off.

“I’m thinking there’s more to that answer, but I wouldn’t want to dig at it if you don’t want to tell me.” Ville commented, but instead of turning away as if he’s lost interest, he carried on looking at her.She noticed, slightly taken back, then grinned, looking back down at her feet.

“Anywhere but home.” She said quietly. Her hair was drying up, bringing back its blue streaks shine.

“Well it’s a lovely spot to pick, I must say.” He said while looking around with a wry smile. “Did you decorate it yourself?” She laughed, and then buried her face in the scarf she was wearing and shivered. Night was coming and the air was getting colder. “You look cold. Um… Would you like to go for a drink or something?” Ville asked lightly, trying not to sound forward. She hesitated and then did some fast thinking. If she decided to go to her friend’s pub then she’d be safe if he tried anything.

“Yeah, okay. Um, I know of a good place, if you’d like?” She replied.

“Sure. Lead the way.” Ville smiled and started walking beside her. After a few seconds he stopped, and she looked at him. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to come for a drink, you just seemed nice to talk to. I don’t want you to think I’m one of those guys that… Well, you know.”
She blinked, seeing the smile melt from his face. He didn’t seem like a nasty sort of guy, and she felt that something was different about him.

“No, no, of course not! Come on!” She offered. She squinted up at him, and, although she could hardly see his face, she knew he was smiling again. She walked along the deserted streets, where every now and then a car illuminated their faces. She glanced at Ville as one came past and stopped dead in her tracks.

“What’s the matter, darling?” He asked, with a concerned look on his face. She stared back at him; the dark had swallowed him up again, but she had seen who he was.

“You are… You’re Ville Valo! I didn’t register at first because I couldn’t see you that well.” She suddenly blushed and looked down at her feet.

“So you’ve heard about me?” He smiled.

“Yes, my sister adores you! She has pictures of you all over the walls, and she sat me down to listen to your music. You’re very good, by the way.” She said in a rush.

“I think I just found my number one fan then.” He laughed.

“Oh God, that must be wild, having so many girls knowing everything about you and worshiping you!” She started walking again. She didn’t want to tell him that she secretly was a fan of his too.

“Yep, it’s pretty weird but I don’t let it bother me. I just do what I love doing. Girls like that are the reasons for us becoming known, so I think I should be worshiping them instead.” Ville chuckled.

“Well, you have got to meet my sister then, she’ll think I just walked in with Christmas” She grinned as Ville laughed again. She took this chance to properly look at him, and she noticed how good looking he was, even more in real life. Ville caught her looking and smiled sweetly. She rapidly turned away embarrassed, but as she walked she knew Ville was still looking at her out of the corner of his eye. Butterflies danced in her stomach as she walked by side by side with Ville Valo.