’Are you unhappy too?’

That question remained stuck at the back of his mind the past few weeks. Matthias never imagined he’d end up at a place like this, and much less that he’d meet anyone worthwhile. The people here seemed eccentric to say the least, but what more could you expect from a traveling circus troupe?

He would’ve never come here by choice but certain circumstances led him to the traveling circus called Hullabaloo. Following the accident, Matthias had been living off the funds his parents had left him in their will. His wallet was beginning to run dry. He needed more cash but putting on a puppet show alone sounded like a nightmare he wasn’t prepared to face. Standing on stage with Louis was a death sentence for his self esteem. Louis was, in all senses of the word, his better. A walking, talking, intricate machine that was everything his parents had ever wanted their son to be. To them, Matthias was nothing more than a shadow haunting the house. A puppet’s shadow, not even worth calling a human.

The last thing Matthias expected from the circus was to find someone who he could understand. Or more accurately, who could understand him. But he sensed something different about that man the day they met. With his gaze downcast, he seemed unlike anyone else at the circus; a mix of gloom and dread hung around him like a shroud Matthias was far too familiar with. A weeping clown. He was the secondary act to Hullabaloo’s smiling clown, Sergei. Matthias didn’t pay him much mind at first, nor did he associate with anyone more than necessary. But overtime relationships would develop regardless of how reluctant or reclusive he was. And shockingly, he found himself enjoying the company of that one specific member of the group. Almost wanting for it.

“Joker?” Matthias peeked around the curtain backstage, spotting him at the vanity counter wiping off his makeup. He looked as melancholy as ever, a sharp contrast to his brightly colored surroundings. “Ah…sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to say, that was a great act out there.”