Child Robert E.O Speedwagon x unicorn female reader
Requested by: anonymous
Request: Child Speedwagon meeting a captive unicorn reader in a traveling circus, freeing them from the cage and helping the unicorn escape.
Unicorn AU
Please enjoy.
Word had spread around London of the approaching moving circus. Advertisements flying around about the wonders it would hold. Not of regular tricks or displays, but ones of the impossible and wildest imaginations. A circus that held captured creatures of myth. Beasts that thrived in stories be seen in the flesh, real and true.
As expected, the advertising had attracted many guests to witness the claims and see for themselves. People of all ages came to see if the rumour were true, as well as the stories. A young, golden haired boy, barely in his teen years, also frequently snuck inside, wanting to see. Speedwagon couldn’t help himself but keep coming back, ever since he saw that these creatures were true, he kept coming back when every display show was on to see them.
To see her.
The unicorn.
[Colour] coat of soft fur that looked softer than clouds could ever hope to be. A [Hair colour] mane that flowed gracefully like the waves of a flowing stream of water, her tail sharing its grace. Everything about her radiated grace and peace, pulling at something deep within his soul that even he didn’t know about. A mix of awe but also sorrow. Her [Eye colour] orbs glowed with such sorrow for being captured and forced onto display; snatched away from her home, her family.
Each time he went there, he looked only at her. Others saw her too, but they only looked at her for her beauty and grace, seeming to be ignoring the pain in her eyes. Begging silently for someone, anyone, to help her. And yet they all stared and gawked at her until the ringleader shooed them away. Speedwagon kept low and hidden as he did, noticing the way people’s expressions would drop as they looked away from the unicorn, as if something was taken from them that they may never regain again.
“Oi, kid! Scram!” One of the employees of the ringleader shouted after spotting Speedwagon, who quickly slipped out before they could have a chance to grab him. The unicorn watching him the entire time. At one point, he thought he could hear her speak to him, a whisper among the wind, begging for his help. Those bright, beautiful eyes in his mind throughout the day, the pain weighing heavy upon his shoulders, gnawing and festering within his gut.
That night, he couldn’t sleep without seeing those eyes. That pain and sorrow that stared at him, begging for his help. He could not allow her to remain in that cage. Not something as pure as she. With this in mind, Speedwagon got up and rushed towards the circus.
The grounds were silent aside from some guards moving around to ensure the creatures were in cages still and everything was in order. It wasn’t much to be concerned about as Speedwagon had broken into and trespassed in places similar to this. He knew how to be careful. The image of the unicorn’s cage was present in his mind, telling him what to search for, thus taking him only a few minutes to find her cage.
Smiling, he quickly made his way over to her, keeping his footsteps quiet. As well as his voice. “Hey. Over here.” Her ears twitched before she turned her head towards the voice, surprise flashing across her [Eye colour] orbs, her voice also quiet.
“What are you doing here?” She questioned, a mix of curiosity and surprise stitched into her tone at the fact that he was actually here again. The young boy smiled simply and quickly got to work on trying to pick the series of locks on her cage door.
“I’m gettin’ you outta here.” he answered, keeping his voice low. “You don’t deserve to be trapped like this.” His words sparked hope within her, something she had not felt since her capture. The locks clicked open one at a time as he worked through them before the cage door quietly creaked open, allowing her the sweet taste of freedom. Smiling, Speedwagon quietly guided her away from the circus grounds, hoping none of the men would spot them.
Once they were away, Speedwagon turned to her, “There, you’re free now. Go.” She turned and looked at him, a softness in her [Eye colour] eyes that had replaced the heart-aching sorrow, instead, now a fluttering warmth coursed through Speedwagon at them. A sense of peace.
“Thank you I shall not forget this for as long as I live.” She spoke, lowering down to his height and lightly nuzzling against him, careful of her horn. Speedwagon smiled, nuzzling back and petting her.
“What’s your name? I’m Robert Speedwagon.” The light in her eyes glowed again, sparking like fireflies on a moonlit night.
“I am [Name], Robert.” She said, “We shall meet again someday, I can promise you that.”
Chatter rung around the place, people shuffling around the market area while the stall owners bellowed out their offers in hopes to draw more customers to their stall instead of another. Pulling her cap down a bit more to shadow her face, the teenage female manoeuvred her way around the crowd.
[Eye colour] eyes scanned over the crowd, searching for an easy picking among the swarm of people. It was never truly easy to do so when in a place like this, so many eyes looking around but what other choice did she have? Her small size was some advantage as she could slip away quickly if needed to. Her eyes landed on a particular man who seemed to be dawning nice clothing for the area they were in, meaning he had money. And that was what she needed. Carefully, she slithered around the other people towards the man, keeping her head low as she did, waiting until she was close enough. Relax. Just relax, [Name]. You can do this. Do this for Robert. Those words chanted over in her mind like a broken record as she grew closer and closer to her target.
She and Robert had not been dealt the best cards in life. No parents at home waiting for them to come back after a long day of playing around outside and making friends. No proper home to go back to aside from the abandoned flat tucked in the corner of a dead street where the rats were as large as cats almost. Each day for the pair of them was a struggle for food and money. With Robert being barely into his teenage years, he was allowed to get a simple job of peeling potatoes for a few coins but at least it was something. [Name], on the other hand, was more limited. As a young woman in her teen years, many told her that all she was good for was selling her body for men to enjoy, and she refused to go to such horrible, disgusting measures for money. The second option was what she was doing now: Stealing.
It was nowhere near the life that one believed children should have. But with very few options, what choice did they have? The sight of one night where she saw how the lack of food had gotten for her little brother was one that haunted her, churning guilt in her guts for being unable to give him a proper life. A proper childhood. Shaking her head, she yanked herself from her thoughts and focused on the task at hand. She took a small breath as her body aligned with the man’s his back facing her, her hand moving to slip into his pocket and grabbed the first thing she felt; cold metal against her fingers as they curled and latched onto it, pulling it out and gaining speed in her steps.
The item, a pocket-watch, was quickly tucked into her own pocket as she quickly disappeared into the crowd, using her size and cover to hide as she moved out and away from the man. Good. She got something. After making sure to put more space between the man and her, she continued this pattern for a few minutes but made sure not to push her luck with this.
Once she had left the market area, a heavy breath of relief left her lips at the work she had been able to do. She may not have liked it but it was for her and Robert’s survival. They needed it more than they did. The usual antic shop [Name] went to when she had gotten something stood there, the open sign hanging on the door as she slipped in. She did not sell everything she had stolen, knowing that they would likely need to save it for another day, but she had gotten enough to promise a meal for the next few days and that’s what mattered.
The sun had threatened to set when the two small blondes entered the inn, Robert’s body shivering lightly from the cold despite the jacket that hung on his small frame. “Robert, you go and find us a table, I’ll try an’ get us some food.” [Name] told her little brother, he nodded and went off as she went another way. It was only a small meal but it was warm and it was decently cooked rather than the scrapes they had been scavenging for. When she joined Robert at the table, she couldn’t help but frown, sorrow tugging at her heart, by how he shivered still. She prayed he wasn’t coming down with a cold, then they would struggle more to try and help him. She moved and took a seat beside her little brother, pulling him close and wrapping her own jacket around him in hopes to give him some more warmth.
“I-It’s alright, sis...I-I’m okay.” He stuttered through chattering teeth, trying to put on the brave face that he had been forced to dawn. But she could see past it easily. Shaking her head a little, she began to run her fingers through his golden blonde locks that were starting to grow longer again, now lightly brushing against his shoulders.
“No, you’re not, Robert. You don’t have to act tough around me, you know that.” She told him, her fingers working to untangle any knots threatening to form as she did. She turned his face a bit so he was looking at her, his coffee brown eyes looking in her [Eye colour] ones with such admiration and love, he had always looked up to her. The light in his life that did all she could to make sure he could eat, that he was warm and safe regardless of her own being. To her, nothing mattered more than Robert’s survival and safety, and [Name] would happily starve if it meant he could eat.
“Robert, I need you to promise me somethin’.” she said, her tone equal to that of a mother talking to her child. Her hand gently resting on his hair as he listened. “Whatever you do, whatever happens to me, never give up on people. I know that might seem difficult with all that’s happening but never give up on them. Acts of kindness can go a long way for people, an’ maybe one day, that kindness would be repaid.” She spoke, remembering the same words that heir mother told her once, back when she was still around. Robert took in her words and nodded, knowing what she was referring to as he has seen her often help those on the streets, people like them; and many of them were thankful for her kind deeds and actions.
The food was served and set on their table, [Name] thanked the man and turned to Robert. “C’mon, let’s eat.”
