The Girl in the gilded cage (A Tom Hiddleston story)

Impotent Ioan and a knife accident

*Malina*
I have felt it the entire day. There is a tension in the air. It is like the entire circus is holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
Even Tom somehow seems a bit on edge and when he is to present the knife act he gets in the way of Ioan who hisses. "Get out of my way fool, let the real men come through".
Tom looks about to say something back, but he bites it down, his jaw tense. Then Ioan laughs to the workers carrying the spinning board into the ring. "What a wuss. What would any woman see in him".
I seriously wants to kick Ioan right now and I fear Tom might actually hit him. He looks angry enough. But then he smiles, a mischievous smile and I get a bad feeling. What is Tom about to do ?
Tom grabs his microphone. "The next act is something really special folks. He tames tigers and throw knifes after tied up women to feel like a real man. Now we are going to witness him throw his knives with an unbelievable accuracy, he never misses, well except for the one throw, but lets not talk about that. Here is the amazing, the unbelievable, the impotent Ioan and his deadly dangerous knife show".
Oh god I almost double over laughing, but Ioan looks absolutely murderous. Tom is brave making fun of a man armed with throwing knifes. And I know Ioan enough to know that he isn't letting this go.
And suddenly Ioan walks up to Tom grabbing the microphone from him. "Well I think we should change this up a bit, my poor assistant is very tired but I am sure our loud mouthed ringmaster has no trouble taking her place for this show".
Shit ! I want to yell for Tom to say no, Ioan is up to something. But Tom isn't backing down, they are glaring at each other like a couple of figthing cocks, huffing up their feathers and showing of their claws. "No problem Ioan, a real man isn't scared of a couple of small knives".

*Tom*
Yeah okay I asked for it, I know that. I don't know what came over me. I have been in a bad mood all day and Ioan's comments was just the straw. He has been at me, questioning me being a real man and my sexuality every change he got every since I got here.
And I can't back down, he would never let me live it down. No, I have to do this and not look scared. At least Ioan is actually good at what he does. I have seen him do this many times and he always hits his mark. Okay I am quite a lot bigger than his usual assistant, but I think he can work around that.
First he goes through the different throws, making me hold up different things. I must admit being a bit nervous. I don't really trust Ioan. But well I am sure he wont do anything here, in front of an audience, right ?
When he asks me to stand sideways against the wooden board. I must admit my hands starts to feel sweaty and my puls is racing. Ioan smirks at me. "Want to chicken out Tom ?"
"Oh no. I am perfectly fine with this". I say. When he starts throwing the knifes, placing them very close around me, I close my eyes. I know how dangerous it is if I move. When he places the a knive close to my lower back, I feel a sting, and I know he nicked me, just to show me he can.
"Whoops I might have ruined your suit". He whispers as he pulls out the knifes, freeing me. I know what is up next and I am frantically trying to find a way to back out without looking like a wuss.
Ioan pads the large wooden wheel and smiles at me. "So ready for the terrifying spinning wheel of dead Tom ?"
I just glare at him, and step up on the two small ledges. One of the circus workers holding the wheel in place. I take a good grip on the handles. "Ready Ioan".
He leans in close to me. His smile suddenly malicious. And then he whispers in my ear, sending cold thrills through me. "I saw you and Malina yesterday". Then he grabs the wheel and spins it. I have no way of escaping..
Oh shit, he know. This is just chipper. The man knows, that I am kissing the woman, he thinks, he is going to marry. And now he is going to throw knives at me while I spin around at top speed. I suddenly feel quite nauseated.
I can hear the knives hit the wood, knowing I give a little involuntary jolt every time. Would he do it ? Does he hate me enough to let one of the knives miss or ..well.. hit and claim it an accident ?
When someone. I think it is his assistant grabs the microphone and announces. "And now Ioan will try one of the most difficult throw in the world, one very few has managed". I know he plans on doing just that.
I hold my breath, cursing myself for jumping head first into his trap. I wait for the pain. Knowing it will come. But it still almost makes me let go of the handles when a white hot pain sears through me.

*Malina*
Oh God, Ioan is trying to kill Tom, I am quite sure, when I hear his assistens announce with a shaking voice that he will try a difficult throw. He is going to try and place the knife between Tom's legs. Ioan has never been able to make that throw. Not even once. He is going to hit Tom.
I see him throw the knife. I hear the sound. Or the lack of sound. There isn't the thud of the knife hitting the wood. But there isn't the scream or cry of pain I expected. Fuck were did the knife hit him ?
Even Ioan looks pale and scared as he steps up and grabs the spinning wheel, stopping it. I almost can't get myself to look. But then I see Tom smiling to the audience. He holds the knife in his hand and the audience goes crazy.
At first I think that some miracle has occurred. Even though I don't get how the knife got in Tom's hand. He can't have caught it, it just isn't possible. But then I notice how Tom's jaw is tense. How sweat is breaking on his forehead and the pain flashing through his eyes. Shit he is hurt.
I can see the determination on his face as he manage to walk very slowly out behind the curtain. I am by his side in a flash. "Tom ? Tom were are you hurt ?"
When he don't answer, I look him over quickly. Then I see the dark spot quickly spreading on his left thigh and looking down I see blood pooling at his foot. Shit he hit his thigh. "Tom did you pull that knife out of your thigh, you idiot ?"
"Well yeah. I didn't want to scare the kids. So I pulled it out. Do you think the audience bought it ?" He asks. He is looking a bit dazed.
I close my eyes briefly. Then I call out to a worker. "Get two strong men her now and run ask the doctor to get to Tom trailer immediately". I turn to Tom. "You should have left it. If it hit the big arterie you might bleed out because you pulled it out".
"Oh .. fuck I didn't know". He suddenly looks very pale, like he is about to faint.