Every Trailer Park Princess needs her Jester
Chapter One: Knockin' on heaven's door
In which: you, Y/N, are the estranged younger sister to Chris Smith, Peacemaker. Years after running away, you're dragged back home to Evergreen. What happens when you run in to your childhood friend (and something a little more) Adrian Chase.
cws/ tags : past abuse. reader can be read as neurodivergent but that is up to interpretation. Auggie smith exists. references to physical abuse. abandonment. slight slowburn(?). fem reader she/her/hers pronouns used.
Adrian Chase is great at remembering things. Ask him for an owl fact. Any fact. He remembers exactly how many bones are in a human body, 206, and he remembers exactly where all the ‘easy’ ones are. The ones you don’t need to use extreme force to break. He prides himself on it.
So of course he remembers everything about the night you left.
Summer. July 18th. Humid. Light drizzle. Half-eight pm. Prom night.
Adrian believes in a lot of weird shit, but that was the night that made him believe in magic. You, amazing, beautiful you, his best friend in the whole world was holding his hand, without even cringing! No one else in that room mattered. Why would they when he had the love of his (teenage) life dancing with him.
Of course, you were dancing as friends though. That's what you told him when you asked. This was just a dance as friends. You were just his prom date as friends. You were just holding his hand as a friend.
While the crowd moved and mingled, you slowly pulled him further and further toward the door. Gut told him this may happen. Well, he said something like 'Yeah, if pigs fly, maybe she’ll suck you off behind the bleachers', but that was kind of along the same lines. His heart was beating like a hammer inside his chest, he just hoped you couldn’t feel how sweaty his palms were.
The door led out into the main hallway, and you led Adrian along behind you. He was more than happy to tail after you, as long as you kept holding his hands. While you snuck around, you were trading stolen laughs and in that moment he knew that night was the night. He’d ask you to be his girlfriend.
When you finally reached the girl’s toilets, his whole body froze and he stood rigid. He couldn’t go in, that was against the rules, and like, the law.
“Wait here, I gotta grab something.”
“Do you need to get a tampon?” He asked earnestly, ever the feminist.
Your laugh was addictive as you declined. A few moments later, you had changed. You were wearing a graphic shirt and a pair of old shorts. Not yours, a hand me down from your older brother. Baseball shoes caked in dry dirt. A big red duffel bag slung over your shoulder. Three pins on the front pocket of the bag, a pokemon pin, your favourite starter, a band pin and a tiny enamel owl pin.
“Come on, we can’t stop now.” You whispered, like it was just some silly game. He was stupid enough to believe it was. You led him by the hand to the door.
The music was still blaring inside the gymnasium, some song he hated.
He used to like it, but that night tainted the song for him. Every time it played at work he grit his teeth until it faded out. The ghost of you on his shoulder until the music transitioned into another equally cheesy tune. Even though you were gone, you lingered like an aftertaste.
But back there you were, prom dress stuffed in the bag, standing in the school’s parking lot under the flickering lights. Apparently working lights ‘weren’t in the budget’ but they could always find money for the football team or the cheerleaders. Weird.
You had stashed the bag away during school, above one of the ceiling panels in the girls toilet. Inside the bag was: a change of clothes, three thousand and three hundred dollars (all in cash) and your important documents. Birth certificate, IDs, anything you’d need to be independent. To be free.
This wasn’t a spur of the moment idea. You’d been planning your escape for a year.
Sneaking out after school to work at the restaurant downtown, saving all the tips you could. Doing odd jobs- babysitting, car washing, grocery pickups, yardwork, anything. All so you could escape your father. Auggie, August, Smith.
You wanted to bring your older brother with you, but it was pointless. He was sickeningly loyal to your tyrant of a father. A dog. Auggie could kick, shout and spit on Chris, and he’d stay at his heel.
He was a lost cause. If you were going to get out, it had to be soon, lest you turn out like him.
But Adrian, he had to come with you. Since middle school you’d always had each other's back.
There was something inside you, some invisible signal, that told everyone to avoid you. Maybe it was behind your eyes, or stuck in your teeth. Something about you made others steer clear. You had a couple friends, but you never let them in, always at an arms length.
Not like Adrian. Instead of being repulsed by your signal, he was drawn into it, like waves coming to shore. You could admit he was strange, but his lack of shame and unabashed authentic nature endeared him to you.
The air in the parking lot was thick with anticipation, to him at least. He was waiting for you to explain why you took him out of the gymnasium. Was this going to be his first kiss? Of course! You must be into him like he’s into you! That explains why you were sneaking around! Okay well it doesn’t explain the bag- but who cares! This is the happiest day of his life!-
“I’m skipping town and never coming back. My ride’s gonna be here in two minutes. Come with me.” you blurted out with direct eye contact. You were still holding his hand.
“I feel the same- what?”
No. No this isn’t happening. What are you talking about? Why would you want to leave?
“Adrian, if I don’t leave now, I never will. This town is a hellhole- there is nothing here for me-us. Cmon you know we’ve never belonged here. I’ve got a friend with a sister a couple states over, she said I can move in with her as long as I pull my weight around the house. Come with me, I’ve got some cash saved- we’ll get jobs, we’ll figure something out. Just please, I need you to come with me.”
His feet felt frozen to the ground. It was all too much too fast. Why didn’t you tell him any of this? Before he could open his mouth to speak, the sound of a car horn sliced the air. Your eyes shot wide, thinking your father had caught you mid get away, but softened when you saw it was your soon to be roommate waiting for you.
“Adrian, I’m going now. Are you coming with me?”
When he couldn’t find the words, you made your decision.
“I’ll miss you.”
He still thinks about the kiss on the cheek you left him when he feels lonely. When his coworkers make fun of him behind his back, he prods the spot on the left side of the face.
All these years later, you’re still thinking of him too.
You’ve changed over the years. Worked hard, met new people, distanced yourself from your ‘family’.
The first two years were great, but it went downhill quicker than you could keep up with. First your new roommate decided that she actually wanted her boyfriend to move into the space you had been given, so you had to find your own place.
A small apartment in the bad part of town. Landlord who never answered the phone when you needed maintenance but was always calling first thing in the morning when rent was due. Neighbours who loved to scream and shout at each other all hours of the night.
Now, you were just trying to get by. Sure it wasn’t glamorous, or easy, but it was safe. You could come home and know that no one would hurt you. You never tiptoed in your own house.
The day started like normal. You woke up, washed, dressed, made the bed, ate breakfast and left for work. You didn’t love your job but the pay was fine and the hours were okay. Admin work was easy enough, you would take calls and respond to emails in the comfort of your booth. Not a lot of face to face interaction. It was enough to pay the bills at least. It kept the life you built for yourself safe.
But on your way to work, in your shitty car that always had something wrong with it, you got that call.
You promised yourself you’d never speak to him or see him again, that your old life was behind you now, and you didn’t need him anymore. But when the phone rang, it made you feel like a child again. At first you wanted to let it go to voicemail, that would show him. But he never calls. Ever. Curiosity got the best of you.
“What?”
“That's how you’re gonna talk to your old man? No respect, you never had any manners. Bitch.” August ‘Auggie’ Smith. Your father.
“I’m driving.” You hoped he couldn’t tell how scared you were.
“I’m not dying to talk to you either. Your brother’s in jail.”
“What?!” you slammed the brakes, thankful that the street was empty. The car jolted to a stop and sent you forward. “How-why- why is he in jail, why are you so calm about this? Is he okay? What happened?” your fingers were trembling as you held onto the wheel with your free hand. Carving tiny grooves into the pleather wheel.
You always knew he’d do something stupid and get himself killed or locked up, it was always just a matter of time. But now the time came, you weren’t ready.
“Stop being hysterical. I don’t care what he did. He left his stupid bird here. Get it or I’m gonna throw it out into the woods.” He hangs up without waiting for your answer.
Truthfully, you wanted to keep driving to work. Forget about the whole thing. Wash your hands of it all. They weren’t family. You hadn’t spoken to them in years. You didn’t need them.
But you knew your father. You knew ‘throw it out’ was code for ‘I’ll shoot it between the eyes and mount it on the wall.’
So you turned around.
That's how Eagly came into your life. You took him away and kept him at your place. It was like living with a new born. Always screaming for something, knocking stuff over, eating what he shouldn’t. You had to pry a fork out of his beak before he could eat it. It was a whirlwind for a couple months.
Once the landlord heard his never ending screaming he kicked you out. The small home you created had to be packed up and moved out.
Your job was good, not great, so after being kicked out of the modest home you loved, you swallowed your pride and packed up.
A smaller, shittier apartment, in an even worse part of town. The landlord didn’t give a shit about Eagly, just that you paid your rent, in cash, and didn’t cause him any other problems. When you asked if he needed a background check he laughed in your face.
You settled. Learnt to live with the fact your life fell apart through no fault of your own.
Everything was fine, for four years and five months. Then Chris got out of jail.
“What do you mean you don’t know where he is? Fuck Dad I asked one thing- one fucking thing- I just wanted you to keep my best friend alive-”
“I don’t give a shit about that feathery prick. Not my problem.” Auggie didn’t bother looking over his shoulder. Chris threw his hands up to his head, trying to keep his brain from exploding. “House aint a damn zoo.”
“He could be dead.” Chris shouted, exasperated.
“Probably. She probably stuffed those feathers into a pillow.” He laughed, cruelty buttering his gravelly voice.
“She? Fuck sake. You gave my best friend away to some chic? God dammit.”
“Don’t let her hear you call her that. She’d get all pissy. You know what she’s like.”
“No I don’t- did you miss the part where I was in prison for four years!? How am I suppose to know the ladies you bring back? I don’t even wanna know.”
A dry, wheezing laugh escaped Auggie, and while it warped into a cough, he managed to rasp out “Four years and you’re still dumber than a pile of rocks. Your sister, idiot. That ingrate came and took the bird.”
Chris froze, stood to full height. Your name had become a taboo in that house. Only to be said when Auggie wanted to prattle on about all the ‘sickness’ in the world.
“Y/N came back?” The whisper of hope in his voice was unhidden. You were back? Did you finally decide to come home? Just his luck that you came back while he was in prison.
“Came and left. Didn’t say a word to me. Like always. Damn bitch storming in my house and walking like she owns the place.” Auggie’s voice held no affection for you. It never did. Auggie wasn’t a subtle man. When he hated someone, they knew it. And he hated everyone. But there was a special hatred for you.
“She say where she went?” Chris hoped that his question came off as nonchalant. He wanted Auggie to think that this was just about the bird. Your big brother definitely wasn’t mentally planning to march to yours and demand to know why you never visited him. Or make up for lost time. Although with the two of you it would probably end up in a shouting match. Definitely.
“You deaf? Said she didn’t say nothing. Came in, took the damn bird and left.”
The car ride home was painfully silent. Prison had been quiet too, but when he was driving before everything went to shit, Eagly was always there to squawk along to the radio. Or just scream. His chirping made the car feel less empty. Bummed out, he made a stop at the liquor store. Bag full of chips and beer, and an empty heart, he pulled into the trailer park.
Any other day, he would’ve tracked his best friend down guns blazing. But tonight, his first night of freedom, he wanted nothing more than a smoke and a drink. Eagly was a big bird now, he could fight. He’d seen him peck a man's eyes out once. That being said, he just hopes Eagly didn’t maul you while he was away.
The night air on the porch felt great. Under the open sky, it hit him that he currently had no obligations to anyone. He had weasled his way out of Waller’s thumb, ran from the cops and now he was back where he belonged. With nothing to do. And no one.
To drown out the bitchy ‘I’m so lonely’ thoughts, he cranked up the speaker. Some hair metal band he liked as a kid. It brought him back to being eight. Keith would’ve been what, ten? That would’ve made you a toddler. While he and Keitch were rocking out, you were in your cot. Instead of crying over the noise, you were dancing. As well as a baby could. You probably didn’t get the music, you were just copying them.
Those moments always stuck with him, when it was just the three of you. He didn’t mind being a middle child. He never called himself ‘the oldest’. It felt wrong, even for him. But you did. You used to call him ‘your biggest brother’.
God what happened to you? When did you change? Both of you.
He checked his phone, rolled his eyes when he saw a backlog of voicemails from Adrian, whatever, he could delete those later, but paused when he saw one from you. One. You’d been gone over a decade, and you sent him one call. And he missed it.
Hey, its me. Uh, Y/N. Listen, Auggie told me to get your bird- hey! Hey! Stop that! That's not food! sorry - your bird is tearing up my front room- but he’s with me. Listen I don’t know where you are, or what you’re up to, but he’s here and you need to pick him up. And change his name, cmon man what kinda name is Eagly? Would you call your son sonny?
Ok call me when- if- you can. Uh. Bye.
There was a hesitation in your voice, like you wanted to say something else at the end but didn’t have the guts to go through with it. In character for you, he thinks. You were never the brave one, he was the one who always had to beat up the kids who spoke about you behind your back. You just pretended you couldn’t hear them.
Chris held his head in his hands for a long moment.
Then presses his screen, eyes still closed, and calls back.
“It’s me, I got your message. Could you drive Eagly back here? I don’t have my car back yet. I’m not gonna Uber that’ll be way too much. Y/N, when you're back I think we should talk.”
“Y/N’s coming back?”
Oh god no. Chris’ eyes open and he checks the screen. He called Adrian’s voicemail. Not yours. He groans and feels a migraine coming on. Fuck sake.
Adrian can’t believe what he’s hearing. First Peacemaker’s back, now you!
“I can drive us! In the vigilantemo- my normal car.” he switches carefully, lest anyone hear. “My normal car. That anyone could drive. Because I'm a normal guy.”
Chris weighs his options and with reluctance he answers. “I don’t even know where she’s living. How far are you cool to drive?”
“Coolio to drive anywhere. But I gotta be back by 7pm tomorrow, Fargo's on and my stupid Mom won’t tape it for me. Can you believe that?”
“You still live with your Mom?”
“I’ll come round in the morning- dude this is our first road trip, it’ll be totally like a buddy cop movie! I’ll make a playlist-”
“Cool, great thanks Adrian, see you tomorrow.”
He hangs up and sighs. Fucking great.
When he makes sure to click on your voicemail this time, he hesitates. Chris isn’t sure he’s ready to hear your voice yet. Or to really speak to you.
Unknown number Hey Buggy, it's Chris. I just got out today- Dad said Eagly’s with you. I’m gonna come by tomorrow, text me you address
You don’t reply.
No, two hours later you do.
Buggy Ok I’m not giving you my address. There’s a park, I’ll text you the address. Meet me there.
When the address comes through he sends it to Adrian
Unknown number- Chris (block after bird) Got it. What time?
Buggy
Any time. Not working tomorrow
You both iron out the details.
Tomorrow, Chris will come and take Eagly off your hands.
You aren’t looking forward to seeing him at all, but you’ll just have to get it over with. As if he can sense something is wrong, Eagly hops closer to your leg and chirps at you a couple times, titling his narrow head left and right.
Despite the rocky start, when he would rip your couch apart and scream all hours of the day, you truly have grown attached to him. He’s more like a dog than a bird to you. The cold air of the fridge whispers over your arm when you pull out a box of leftovers, throwing Eagly the best bits. He deserves that tonight.
While you’re feeding your baby, Adrian is deciding what to wear tomorrow, too eager to sleep. Maybe a patrol will tire him out. Yeah, that’ll work. While he’s killing litterbugs and decapitating jaywalkers, he’ll think of your soon to be reunion <3
ITS HERE EEEEEEE
oh my days the concept of this fic has been rolling around in my head for months and I've reworked the concept twice.
I hope u guys enjoy this one, its different from my other project but I had fun with it!
taglist/inbox open!