Road Trip (Part 7)
Rufo the Clown X Female Reader
Part 7 of Road Trip
Tag List: @trig-loves-clowning-around @rottenhearts-and-sharpteeth @booklover2929 @the-clown-crypt @chii2blog
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of the shower running and decided to take the time to get dressed for the day. I was slipping on my shoes when Rufo came out, dressed in his usual attire of slack pants and a button up. Though as he was coming out I watched as the human looking skin grew over his body and his hair changing back to black. I couldn’t lie, it was interesting to watch. He saw me watching him from the mirror he was in front of and turned to me with a smile.
“Morning doll. Hope ya slept well. Figured we could take a break from driving right away and we can explore the town a little bit. How does that sound?” His brow raised as he strolled over to me so he could put on his own shoes.
“Uh, yeah, that sounds good. I did see a lot of antique stores when we were coming in. A lot of them looked pretty neat.” I nodded as I finished tying my laces.
“We can hit up as many as you like. Ladies choice.” He seemed so pleasant, as if yesterday didn’t happen at all.
Once his shoes were on we decided to head out on foot into town. It was a beautiful morning with only a few clouds in the sky. I even brought my camera with me to take some pictures here and there when something caught my eye. Every antique store we stepped into was a little treasure trove of assortments that I wished I had more room in my car for. We found ourselves in a particular one that had two floors and Rufo had found something that he was telling me about. There was such enthusiasm in his voice as he talked about memories on how he used to use it back in the day. When his eyes landed on old circus memorabilia though that’s when he really lit up.
“Almost looks like my own.” Rufo mused as he picked up a vintage throwing knife. It was rusted in some spots but other than that it held up its age well. “Just needs a good polish is all and all brand new.” He had a fond smile before setting the knife back down, letting out a small sigh. When he left to go look around the corner I picked up the knife and held it to my side so he wouldn’t see it. Nothing wrong with getting him a little something as a little thank you, right? “Hey, (Y/N)!” Rufo called from around the corner and I quickly made my way around. In Rufo’s hand was a little clown. “Look at this little fella.”
Rufo held up the clown for me to take and I did with my free hand. The small clown was in a bright red outfit with a small hat that topped his bright green hair. The makeup on the porcelain face consisted of red lips with a red outline a little bit out, a green dot on his small nose and big blue eyes. There was a little charm about the doll that I couldn’t help to smile at and Rufo looked very pleased with himself when he saw how I was smiling.
“He’s adorable Rufo. I think he’s pretty great.” My eyes glanced up to Rufo and he took the clown from my hand.
“Perfect. I did say we would find you one. Maybe find him a friend or two at some of the other shops.” Rufo turned on his heel as he went to look around again.
“Rufo, don’t think you’re paying for him.” I did my best to keep up with him. It was easier said than done when Rufo had such long legs.
“Nonsense. I’m a gentleman and a gentleman should get the little lady some gifts now and again. I’m going to get you this little fella and that’s that. No arguing with me doll.” He turned to give me a side eye, so I understood to drop the subject and I did but only after giving him an eyeroll. I was getting him a gift so I could let it slide.
We wondered through the shop and I managed to get away to pay for the knife and tuck it into my bag so he wouldn’t see it. After he paid for the small clown we left to explore the rest of the shops and he indeed did find me a couple more clowns. There even had been one that was almost like him except the triangles were smaller and the dots at the end of the mouth were also triangles that pointed upward. Along our walk around the small town we would see some posters for a circus that was coming up in two days close by in the next state.
“I haven’t been to a circus in so long.” I tried to think of the last time I had been to a genuine circus, but the memories were fuzzy of a younger age with a smaller me.
“How about we change that then? We’re ahead on your little schedule. We’d have plenty of time to enjoy a circus.” Rufo had the bag of clowns in one hand, his other in his pocket as he looked down at me.
“Are you sure? Don’t you need to get to your um, job?” I raised my brow, looking back up at him to meet his gaze. The way he was looking at me made my cheeks blush. He had such a gentle smile on his lips and there was a bit of a sparkle in his eyes.
“Don’t worry about the job, doll. I always get them done, one way or another.” He chuckled, plucking two tabs off the poster that offered free entrance. “This is a vacation after all, and you’re supposed to be having fun. So, let’s have some fun.” He tucked the stubs into his pocket the put his arm around my shoulder to lead us away to somewhere else. “And a clown knows best about fun.”
After that, we had some lunch then we checked out of the motel so we could take off down the road. Things almost felt back to normal between the two of us as we eased back into idle conversation between singing along to the music. After a while Rufo flipped off the music and let out a long sigh.
“(Y/N), it’s not usual I have someone I can open up to things about. I usually end up killing anyone who tries to know too much about me. Heck, even if they catch me in an off mood if they tap me on the shoulder just a little too hard. Only one who really knows me well is the man I work for. You’re probably the only willing living person who knows who I am.” There was a bit of solemnness in his tone.
“I still don’t know too much Rufo. You don’t have to tell me either if you aren’t comfortable with it. Yeah, I’m curious but I wouldn’t want to push you.” I shrugged and Rufo chuckled with a slight shake to his head.
“Oh doll, you couldn’t push anything out of me even if you tried or gave me some big old puppy dog eyes.” His fingers ran though his hair as he let out a few more chuckles before having a more serious look on his face. “No but I think it’d help to explain things just a little with me. Seeing as we’ll be around each other a bit longer and you agreed to stick around with me.”
Rufo went on to tell me about the time before. How he was a boy named Cecil Phelps who grew on a farm with a little sister who looked up to him. How he ran away to the circus so he could try to get to his dream life of being an escape artist. He even would write to his family and send them money when he could. I could see an old pain in his eyes when he spoke about his sister, but he would quickly move on. He told story after story about the circus and each of the members of his new strange little family. For a while there he had even become a ring master to fill in now and again. Then he told me about Serenity Falls, how the townsfolk hated them all and that one night after some murders and a scuffle some of the towns people came to the circus late into the night to kill. And kill they did. They burned the trailer with the clowns inside, Rufo being one of them. Rufo then went into how he clawed himself out of Hell, wandering the town of Serenity Falls until Albert came into the picture. Even Albert had tried to send him back a few times but Rufo kept coming back, so Albert decided to put the stubborn angry soul to use and eventually got him a new body to help further. Rufo had been enjoying his new life to the fullest despite some bumps in the road of trying to help the souls of his friends but he was making due.
“And now I’m here. On another job on some other part of the country. Been doing this for a long time. Don’t plan on stopping any time soon.” There was a stone look on his face, a stiffness in his jaw that had set about halfway through his story telling. I had turned my body so I could look at him better as he spoke, and I found myself resting a hand on his arm which surprised him. He looked at me with a raised brow before quickly looking back to the road.
“Rufo, I’m so sorry for what happened to you. What they did was horrible and I’m sure each and every single one of them will get what’s coming to them. In some way or another.” He could see that I was sincere and there was an odd look on his face. Something that he never had felt before perhaps of someone accepting and knowing of what had happened. “Thank you for telling me. It means a lot to me that you told me.”
“I… Thank you, (Y/N).” He only nodded and I slipped my hand away, facing the road again. There was a sense of ease on his face that settled in with the restlessness that had been there the start of the drive.
It had been a few hours and now I could see he was getting tired. The next time we had to fill up I suggest we switch off and he agreed, leaning the seat far back so he could stretch out his long legs. He even fell asleep at one point. I draped his jacket over him like a blanket so he would rest better. We wouldn’t be driving much longer anyways as the sun was starting to set and I could see some storm clouds rolling in. It was nice to have a moment to myself to just sit and dwell on everything and how I felt. Even after finding out everything I still couldn’t ignore the way I felt for him. The butterflies fluttered in my gut and I could feel how my heart pounded in my chest. I hadn’t known him for more than just a couple of days but there was still the nagging feeling of something there. Though I could push it down for now and ignore it as he slept next to me. For now, at least.













