Strong Body, Fragile Hearts

Her Gardener, tearful

Bell's POV

Curse this cast! Joker had Wendy practically pinning me to the bed. "Let go of me! OW! I can still perform! Please Joker! Let me perform tonight!" I begged. Joker shook his head before calmly responding, "No. You are injured and would only further injure yourself walking tonight." I screamed in frustration as Joker left to begin the show. I wanted so badly to perform tonight. I wanted to be the opener. Joker had promised, once we were in London, I could open! I begin to weep bitterly. What was the point?

I relaxed into the bed, giving Wendy a break. A trapeze artist, she was much stronger that she looked. She leaned over, huffing in exertion, tired out from my fight. "You know, huh, you are, huh, a real fighter." She stammered out in between her gasps for breath. I just rolled over towards the wall. I was so disappointed. I wanted to perform my dagger trick and my spinning trick on opening night. I ignored Wendy completely.

Doll walked into the tent and Wendy left. Joker was taking no chances. She sat on the bed beside me. She began to rub my back as I cried. I was finally going to open! It was huge for me! "I know you're upset with Joker and I for not letting you perform." she spoke softly, not wishing to upset me further. "But we only have your best interests at heart. We don't want you to get hurt any more than you are." I could only sniffle. I didn't care, I heard Joker talking to Doll earlier when they thought I was asleep. Finni had come to tonight's performance. I wanted him to see me do my trick. I fell asleep with silent tears running down my face.

"Bells, Bells wake up. You have some visitors." Doll shook me awake and I sat up with a yawn. I blinked twice then realized Finni was right in front of me. I blushed and began to mess with my hair. I must look a frightful mess! I thought. Finni grinned at me and held out a bouquet of lilies, both purple and white. I grinned and took the flowers from him, and leaned in close to smell their scent. "Oh Finni! These are my favorite, you are so sweet! It is rather nice to see you again!" I laughed, delighted that he had actually come to see me.

Then I saw the others with him. A tall man with messy golden hair that had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, and a women with burgundy hair wearing opaque spectacles. "Who are your friends Finni?" I asked him. The tall man stepped forward and with a bow said, "The names Bardroy, but you can call me Bard. I'm the chef at PhantomHive manner where Finni here works." Then he stood up and winked at me. I laughed at his gesture and said, "My name is Bells, and I'm very pleased to meet you Bard, and who's your lady friend?" I asked Finni once more. He blushed and stammered out, "She not my lady friend, just a friend." I laughed at his expression. "Come on Finni, I know that, I'm just teasing."

He blushed again and motioned for the lady to speak. "I'm Mey-Rin miss, I am pleased to make your acquaintance I am!" She declared. I laughed once more. "I am pleased to meet you to Mey-Rin." Bard and Mey-Rin smiled then Mey-Rin's face fell. "What's this?" She asked pointing out my cast. "I got my collar bone broken. It was an accident though." I said smiling at Finni, trying to assure him that he was forgiven, and that I knew it wasn't his fault. He got real quiet, despite what I hoped was reassuring smile. Bard noticed.

"What's all this? Finni, are you hiding something?" He put his hands on his hips and leaned over the boy, casting him a stern glare. Finni begin to stammer out how he broke my bone on accident. "Finni how could you?!" Mey-Rin gasps as Bard begins to berate him, while in between apologizing to me. "Hey!" I tried to get everyone's attention but Bard and Mey-RIn are too busy yelling at Finni, who seems to be shrinking in the face of their anger. "HEY!" I yelled, causing everyone to stop. "It wasn't his fault. He was trying to make me feel better, I startled him, and he reacted. It's only a small fracture, I will be right as rain in a few days. Now stop yelling at him!" I yelled. They simply stared at me.

I dropped to my knees and looked Finni in the eye. "Are you alright?" I asked him softly. He sniffled and nodded. I moved forward and wrapped my arms around Finni in a hug. "Thank you for coming to see me." I whispered, looking up at him. He blushed, then carefully wrapped his arms around me. I laughed. Then he looked down at me and asked, "What?" I stifled a giggle and said, "Well, you seem so determined to believe if you touch anyone you will hurt them, but your hugging me and I feel fine, no broken bone." He smiled and gave a laugh himself. I beamed up at him dazzled. Everyone said my laugh was beautiful but I thought his was perfect.

We both them seemed to come to our senses and realize we were still hugging one another. I coughed and released Finni. He stood and took my hands, very, very gently, helping me to my feet. Bard and Mey-Rin had been silently watching us, then smiled at one another. Mey-RIn smiled and thanked me for the tickets then she and Bard took their leave, whispering like old women with gossip to spread. Leaving Finni and I alone.

Finni rubbed the back of his neck and began to back out of the room. "Well, I'm glad you're alright and awake and whoa!" He began to say then crashed into my trunk tripping over it. I walked over to him and peered at him. "Are you alright?" I asked, concerned. "I'm fine, I'm fine, no need to worry." He said with a nervous smile and continued backing out of the room. "Finni, thank you for the flowers!" I called to him as he left. "You're welcome, glad you liked them hope to see you again, bye bye!" he said then practically dove out of the tent.

I giggled. He was so cute when he was flustered. Then I paused. I thought he was cute? Then again his eyes were so pretty. I sighed. I might as well admit it. I might've had a wee crush on Finni, but it would blow over. I was in a circus, what was the likelihood that it would work out. Better to acknowledge it, then move on. But he was so cute when he was flustered. I flopped on my bed and sighed. I lifted a flower out of my bouquet he gave me and sniffed it. Still as sweet as when he brought them in. They must've had a lot of love. Love, I mused, what a curious idea.

Finni's POV (Yes two POV's in one chapter, cool yes?)

I rubbed my rear, tripping over that trunk of hers had hurt. I ran to catch up with Bard and Mey-RIn. When I caught up with them the ribbing began. "Finni, she's a mighty pretty girl hm?" Mey-RIn started on me. I groaned and his my face as Bard and Mey-RIn laughed. "It's, it's not like that!" I cried out. I continued blushing furiously. They stopped, took one look at my face and began to laugh with renewed vigor. "FINNI!" I heard a call behind me. I turned and Bard and Mey-RIn stopped laughing and looked then began to smile. Not nice smiles though, evil ones that promised mischief. Bells ran to catch up with us waving something in her hand. She ran up to us then leaned over, trying to catch her breath. I steadied her then she smiled at me. "Finni, take this." She shoved a piece of paper into my hands.

It was a pass to get back into the tents where the first stringers live. She beamed at me again. "Come see me tomorrow. We could do something fun!" I smiled and looked at the passes, then did a double-take. "Why're there two other passes?" I asked her. "So Mey-RIn and Bard can come!" She laughed, delighted with her idea. I thanked her and said I would come after the performance if I could. She thanked me then turned to leave then stopped. "What?" I asked her, confused. "If you come make sure Joker or Snake brings you through. The entrance is through Snake's tent, which has poisonous snakes everywhere. It's to keep intruders out" Mey-Rin shivered at the thought while Bard simply looked contemplative. I nodded. I didn't fancy getting bitten. She grinned once more, gave me a hug then ran off. I simply stood there, a grin on my face until Bard smacked me. "Come on, your little get together isn't until tomorrow. Let's get home." I turned and followed the other two. I looked back to see Bells watching me.

Her hair was blowing with the breeze and she looked pretty, despite the sling on her arm. I laughed and waved back at her. She laughed as well and I could hear her all the way over here and waved back. Her laugh was beautiful, was all I could think as Bard practically threw me into the carriage.