Haven't posted in a hot minute, but I'm trying to get back into writing. I have an AO3 account now, so hopefully that'll bring back some motivation. Here's a rewrite of my first ever L.J x Jason fic.
Jason sat at his worktable, finishing up a new toy for his most recent little friend. This one was a bit more⊠troublesome than he'd like. Sure, Lia was a nice kid, very talkative and more than happy to spend time with him, but⊠annoyingly close to her parents. They were constantly checking in on her and would no doubt notice if she suddenly went missing. Too many times had they interrupted his time with her and cut his visits short. At least today he wouldn't have to worry about them. Lia would have a babysitter who he'd come to learn was more than happy to leave the kid to her own devices and rarely come looking for her. He looked over the finished toy, a pink fluffy rabbit with blue button eyes and a matching blue bow around the neck. A perfect creation, just like all his other toys. Licorice, who had been sitting on the work table, occasionally fetching the toymaker a tool when he requested it, scampered closer to inspect it.
âWhat do you think, Licorice?â he asked, âI'm sure she'll love it.â
Licorice gave a small squeak in agreement. Jacob smiled, holding out his hand to let Licorice climb up onto his shoulder.
âCome along, I'd hate to be late for her little tea party.â
Jason grabbed the finished toy and headed to the square blue door at the back of the workshop. He opened it, climbing through and into the girl's room. Lia was already busy setting up the little craft table for a tea-party. An extra blanket draped across to be a tablecloth, her little plastic rose tea-set, and 4 colorful chairs set around the table as well as extra pillows she already had stuffed animals sat on. She lit up when she noticed the toymaker.
âJason! You're here!â she cheered, running over to him. âHi to you too, Licorice!â
âHello to you too dear. I hope you don't mind, I brought another guest for you.â
He held out the pink rabbit toy. Her eyes widened in wonder.
âI love it! Come, come, she can sit next to Sir Fluff!â
She grabbed Jason's hand and pulled him over to the table, taking the stuffed animal and placing it on one of the pillows next to a stuffed bear that Jason had fixed on his last visit. She took a seat and gestured for Jason to sit next to her, which he did. On his other side sat a larger stuffed animal and across from him was⊠empty.
âWho's the extra chair for?â he asked.
Jason froze. New friend? He forced a smile to remain on his face.
âLia⊠You know how I feel about other people seeing me.â he said gently, but internally he could feel his anger rising.
What did she need another friend for? Why was he only learning of this now? Were they someone from her school? A neighbor kid? He kept his hands hidden under the table so she wouldn't see them blackening at the tips of his fingers. He needed to calm down before she noticedâŠ
âI know⊠but this one's different! He's magic like you!â she replied.
Now that caught Jason by surprise, but before he could ask anything else a voice came from near the window,
âWonderful! Looks like I'm just in time for tea!â
Jason turned only to face a strange black and white clown with long limbs and a cone nose. He gave a wide, toothy grin.
âOh! And who might this be?â he asked, his eyes locked on mine.
Jason wanted to ask the same question, but Lia spoke before he could.
âThis is Jason! He makes me toys! And Jason this is L.J! He's a magic clown!â
Jason stared at the clown silently for a moment. Something about him definitely wasn't sitting right with the toymaker, and it wasn't just that heâd become friends with Lia. L.J walked over, that unsettling smile plastered on his face as he held out a clawed hand for a handshake. Jason gave a tight smile, reluctantly shaking it. He yelped, quickly pulling his hand back while the clown cackled.
âHand buzzer! Works every time!â he announced, holding up his hand to show the small device, earning a giggle from Lia.
The toymaker glared at him, the golden color of his eyes shifting to a bit more of a green.
âAh don't look so serious! It's just a little joke, no harm done, right?â
Jason said nothing in response as Jack took his seat across from him. He took a deep breath to try and calm himself. He just had to make it through this⊠Lia seemed practically oblivious to the toymakerâs annoyance and went on to start the tea party, filling each and every plastic cup with the imaginary tea and speaking in what Jason was sure she thought was a âfancyâ accent. He was quite proud of himself for being so civil (And certainly didn't send Licorice to discreetly mess with the clown as payback, why on earth would he do that?).
After what felt like hours of playing, a voice called from the hall,
âLia, come on! I'm ordering pizza!â
Lia almost immediately jumped up, calling that she was coming.
âThanks for playing today! We should all do it again soon!â she suggested.
Definitely not, but Jason gave a smile anyways.
âWe'll see,â he replied.
Much to the toymaker's annoyance, L.J slung an arm around his shoulders.
âRun along and get some food, we'll play again!â
Lia waved and quickly left the room. Jason gave a small nod and Licorice followed behind her discreetly. Once she was gone, Jason tightly gripped the clown's wrist, his claws digging in before throwing his arm off.
âI don't know what your deal is, but Lia is my friend, and whatever you're playing at? I'll make sure it doesn't happen.â he hissed, his hair slowly turning white and eyes shifting to green.
L.J just laughed, seeming amused at the other's change in personality and appearance.
âWell isn't that just adorable! You think you can order me around. But let's get one thing straight, little toymaker.â
Without warning, his hand shot out to grab Jason by the neck, lifting him off the ground to be eye-level.
âI won't confirm whether I am or am not planning something, but if I was? I don't think there's a thing you can do about it.â he explained, his voice low with an air of⊠malicious intent behind it.
After watching the other thrash in his grip for a moment, Jack let him drop to the floor.
âWell this was fun! I'm sure I'll see you around, little toymaker.â
Without another word, the clown disappeared in a puff of black smoke. Jason's hands clenched into fists. He had to do something soon before he lost Lia to this⊠thing.