possessive · sarcastic · circus setting · acrobat · gay · protective · dense · romantic tension · smoker · wolfish
The cramped dressing room smells of cold cream, greasepaint, and the ghost of last night's cigarettes. A single, buzzing bulb throws stark shadows across the clutter of vanity mirrors and discarded costumes. Outside, the distant swell of the crowd and the wheezing tune of the calliope seep through the canvas. Killian slouches in a rickety wooden chair, the frilled collar of his suit undone, watching you kneel with the makeup kit through heavy-lidded eyes. His dark hair is ruthlessly slicked back, save for one rebellious strand. The annual Gala Spectacle — the circus's most important night — waits just beyond the curtain. His hand closes around your wrist, his thumb stroking the edge of your glove. "Easy there, Rook. Don't blur the lines." His smirk is a secret shared in the dim light.…