IT WAS ALMOST TIME TO MAKE HIS EXIT. He knew his time being around the city was almost up, he had known such thing for a little while by now. He could stay only for so long before people would start questioning, or someone would get curious and try to pry into his past, one that was held behind a heavily guarded door. And yet, despite having done such thing over and over again with nothing much of a sorrowful smile accompanying his departure, this time around felt different. Dick almost felt as if he had found his place in the world, one he didn’t even knew he could even dream to have.
Perhaps he could stay for a little longer. A thought that so easily was dismissed the moment the fight broke out, part of it was his fault, he should have just kept going, ignoring them but something that was said had him freeze for a moment too long. No one should have known about his past, or rather, no one from his past should be there, and yet. Instincts to protect himself kicking in. It was all a blur from there on, till the blade of the knife gleamed under the not so distant lights from the circus itself.
Braced for a hit that never came because the all too familiar ringleader stepped in. But there was confusion crossing his features at the sound of footsteps running away, but it only took a beat longer for the realization to dawn on him when he noticed the knife’s blade very much lodged inside the older man. A muttered curse, or rather a string of curses, foot bringing him closer to Archex. ❝ What were you thinking ? ❞ He usually wouldn’t dare talking like that to the person who gave him a chance to work in the circus, but there was worry laced with each and every of his word, and for once he was more worried with the current predicament than manners.
❝ We need to go to the hospital before — ❞ The sentence cut off, words swallowed back down as he watched the man remove the knife like it wasn’t that big of a deal; like the wound wasn’t a fatal one and he could bleed out. ❝ Fuck, you can’t just do that ! ❞ Disbelief so openly gracing his features. ❝ Did you already lost enough blood for you to have gone delirious ? ❞ He wanted to reach for the wound, to press it and just call an ambulance, but there was part of him that was questioning the whole ordeal, a voice in the back of his mind telling him to pay attention because things weren’t as they seemed.
A scoff followed Archex’s question, as if his couple of cut and bruises were much to think about when they would be gone by morning, ❝ Are you really asking me that, now ? ❞ It was only then that it clicked, just how strange the situation was, the way the older man, despite just having been stabbed, wasn’t fazed at all, yes, it was easy to notice that it had hurt but not as fatally as it should have been. Brows furrowing, one too many questions starting to form in Dick’s mind, one of the loudest being if he was like him, but that couldn’t be possible and he couldn’t risk exposing himself, and so he settled for something else, ❝ What is going on here ? ❞
“I was thinking that someone in my family needed protection,” Initially when he’d not been undead, he’d always scoffed at the use of the word family when referring to a job. But the circus was different than any major (or even minor) corporation that he’d ever worked for. Archex always strived to make sure anyone who decided to join felt at home, and realized that whenever he chose to use the word he genuinely meant it. Even if someone wasn’t certain they’d stay, or chose to leave sooner than anticipated Archex always made sure they knew they were welcome to return-- the only time he wouldn’t is if he’d ran into trouble with someone and had to kick them out.
That’s yet to happen, for which he’s very grateful.
Raising his hand not holding the knife to gently ward off Dick’s concern (for all the effort may be worth very little) Archex offered the other a wide grin, “It’s fine. It looks worse than it is.” Usually such words were used to shrug off genuine injuries by some people, but considering it was only a matter of hours before his body stitched itself up they were genuine in this case. Fingers curl faintly as Archex took note of the inky-black blood-like substance that had coated his fingers, and hazel hues cast down to his shirt with an annoyed frown.
“Can’t say the same for my shirt, unfortunately.” A bit of a joke, attempting to lighten up the situation if just a little bit. Considering the weight of the secret he’d just exposed, with or without explanation, it was something likely necessary. Not everyone reacted positively. Archex knew he had to brace himself for that very possibility.
“... look, try not to freak out...” Probably not the best words ever used when leading up to a reveal in a more dramatic fashion, but he really couldn’t figure a better way to lead into it. The last thing he wanted was to chase Dick away. At least the man wasn’t capable of seeing his true look, as pictures and videos tended to reveal. A sigh slips free, and Archex slowly turns around-- knife tucking away to try and showcase he wasn’t a threat. The inky blood had already slowed and stopped leaking by this point, but it was visible enough in the stain it left on Archex’s clothing, “I’m... not exactly alive in the same sense anyone else may think. And no, I’m not a zombie and I don’t eat people-- just the same food anyone else would. Biggest difference is that I can’t exactly die.”
Hazel hues flicker across Dick’s face, watching him closely for his reaction. Archex could figure well enough now wasn’t the best time for such a thing to be admitted, but there really wasn’t room to wiggle out and circle back around. Nor could he joke it off and wait until Anastasia could help alter away the memory if Dick reacted bad.
“I’m sorry, usually I tell people under better circumstances but I couldn’t risk letting him hurt or kill you.”
