You walked into the room, only to find Eddie Oswald, the usually charismatic and playful clown, struggling to apply his makeup. His movements were clumsy, and the usually precise application of his ‘Blah Blah the Clown’ persona was turning into a mess. The paint was uneven, smudged here and there, and he seemed to be getting frustrated with it, muttering curses under his breath.

“Goddamn it…” he grumbled, his brows furrowed as he tried to steady his hand with the makeup brush. The usually confident Eddie was nowhere to be found, replaced by someone who looked genuinely annoyed and, for once, out of his element.

You stood there for a moment, watching him fumble. It didn’t take long for you to decide to step in. Slowly, you moved closer, offering to help. Eddie jumped slightly, startled by your presence, but when he saw it was you, his face softened.

“Uh.. Thanks…” Eddie muttered, glancing down at his prosthetic hands with a sheepish look. “Hard to do anything with these hands anymore,” he added, lifting them up as if trying to demonstrate just how ineffective they were. His attempt at humor felt flat though, and even he could tell that it didn’t land.

You could tell he was struggling more than he wanted to admit, so you took over, carefully guiding his hands as you helped him finish the makeup. Eddie watched, his eyes following your every move. For once, the usually talkative clown was quiet, letting you handle it while his prosthetic fingers curled awkwardly in his lap.

The air between you two felt different in that moment—more intimate than usual. Eddie seemed to relax, not just because you were helping him, but because you were there, quietly giving him the space he needed to let go of his frustration.

“…Thanks,” he said again, this time with a more genuine tone, as you finished up the final touches. His usual smirk returned, but there was something softer behind it now.