This was a horrible idea.

The most horrendous and stupidest idea Taemin has initially decided to do. Perhaps Taehyung would threaten to fire him if he knew what the curious friend of his was up to, but he can't help himself to be a little daring.

Taemin was always the daredevil type of man, and that's clearly something Taehyung is not use to.

Time changes people, and if anything now Taemin is under the trance to be more risk taking than usual.

So that's why after dropping off his drunken best friend to his apartment, he took his leave and headed back to the same place where his soul feels the most called to. The same please where the whirls of colors and flips of people soaring the air has taken his attention and dreams in the blissful night; Sometimes the sweetest faces becoming nightmares that leaves him only breathless with startled broad eyes.

So why not go to the place where the root of those dreams originated from?

See, stupid idea but such a foolish boy to stop himself now.

He has already crossed territory by hauling over the fence with his exquisite climbing skills before growing closer to the darken large tent. So unlike the vivid lights beaming of fireflies outside that are still on, but no doubt will shut to darkness after a specific hour.

Spoke to soon.

Just as Taemin's feet landed to the stable ground beneath his feet, over the fence, the glowing lights outside flickers off, leaving him to see darkness aside the clarity of the stars and moon, a perfect night for a daring act.

If anything they did him a favor to be more sneaky.

Hiding from tree to tree, attempting to keep himself hidden in case of any guards that may be strolling the area to avoid this type of horrendous act from civilians. Growing closer and closer only forced his heart to pound harder against his chest, narrowing his eyes to the dim light coming from a far section of the tent unlike the rest that's completely dark.

Wait, is that shouting?

There's a moment of hesitation where Taemin didn't move, only listened quietly as he hears a series of grunts and muffled snarls from the glowing section of the tent, now being able to move after a moment of being completely paralyzed in fear that he may be caught. He moved quietly and swiftly, keeping his eyes peered as he grows closer and closer to the light before hiding beside a barrel, right beside where a small cut was to take a glimpse from the inside.

And what he sees forces his heart to drop to his knees.

The marionettes are going over their acrobat movements, flying through the air and practicing a perfect formation that has not been seen before. Perhaps will be performed tomorrow night? Not only are they there but also the ringleader, who's watching with a stone monotone facial expression on his handsome features. He's studying them closely, watching for any sign of mistakes or errors.

And one did happen.

Gold Kitten was holding onto the large hoop ring with one arm as Raven and Candy whirled around the rope with their poses, but it seemed as though his strength suddenly gaze out.

And he was falling down from a very high altitude, landing to the ground on his side with a yelp and a series of whimpers.

"STOP! STOP!"

Raven and Candy instantly stopped their rotation and slide down the purple ropes just as the ring leader order, who approached Gold Kitten with a firm look now as the male cradles his wrist to his chest.

What was unusual about this was that..... He was still smiling.

That perfect and wide smile of happiness, despite his eyes now glistening tear yet no tears were streaming down his cheeks. It was almost as though he was smiling the pain away, or perhaps he was unable to..... Stop smiling at all?

The sight is so strange and Taemin could feel a shiver run down his spine to it.

Unamused the ringleader crouches down to Gold Kitten, observing the the now bruising wrist before suddenly rolling his eyes, "You need this hand, you must do these acts with caution!"

Gold Kitten only tils his head to the side, blinking but not saying anything else. His smile didn't twitch or even waver, along with the bright smiles from Raven and Candy.

Wait, there were two more marionettes, where could they be?

The Ringleader gets up with a heavy sigh and claps his hands, "That's all for tonight, time to be polished for tomorrow's show," And he turns around, walking with his cane in hand to the curtains where he disappeared off to. Candy and Raven followed wordlessly without sparing a glance at Gold Kitten, also disappearing through the curtains after the Puppeteer.

Gold Kitten remains on the rough ground alone for a moment or two, but suddenly got himself up in the most stomach turning way possible. He places his feet firmly on the ground, gliding his body up in a mortified version of a backbend but reversed. Yet this is such a broke way he gets up, almost like a rusty doll with his hand still clutching to his wrist on his chest, his smile still prettily wide and painfully beaming.

There's no thoughts Taemin could latch onto specifically by how awestruck Gold Kitten has managed to hold onto that smile despite being very horribly injured, judging by the swollen bruise growing on his wrist, and get up to his feet like that.

All Taemin could think about at the moments is how he could help him. His family aside from being traced with business branches, the women were nurses. Whenever he was not occupied doing business back in London, he would spend time with his aunt and watch as she attended her patience at a hospital near home. She even taught Taemin a lot of things in case he needed to take care of himself in the future.

What's storming into his mind is extremely risky. If someone were to come in if he gets caught, then who knows what could happen to him. Most likely get arrested for trespassing.

But now is his chance to speak with the mysterious man who has caught his complete attention; confusing his emotions and whirls his thoughts just as he twirls with the ribbons when he performs.

The more he watches Gold Kitten growing closer to the curtains, the more Taemin's heart began to accelerating in complete debate with himself until finally he slides from underneath the tent and scrambles inside.

Gold Kitten must've not heard this because he kept moving, but Taemin quickly moves to stand in front of him with a gentle hand to his arm.

And he froze.

There's a knot forming Taemin's throat from his nerves, instantly taking a step back and offers a bow, "I'm so sorry to intrude," He instantly says, moving back upright, "I uh.... I saw your hand and well.... I can help you-"

Gold Kitten wordlessly continues to walk forward, eyes not even looking at Taemin but past him.

To the curtains.

Taemin panicked that he may tell the ringleader about this and stands in front of him again, once again making him freeze to the presence close to him, "I don't mean to alarm you. Please don't consider my intentions as ill. Your hand seems broken and I would like to help."

The smiling man didn't even twitch an eye. That's the strange part because his smile never met his eyes, so Taemin can see his gaze clearly on him but..... Not at the same time.

It's like he's seeing through him.

By this point Taemin couldn't even focus on his beauty or the astonishing make up, rather to his bruising wrist. It doesn't seem broken, probably sprained, but he wants to make sure that's the case. So he hesitantly glances to his eyes and back to his wrist, gulping thickly before he reaches a hand to his wrist. The other male made no movement to protest, more so just stood there frozen.

When Taemin clasps his hand onto his wrist, it all happened from one moment to the next where the the marionette eyes suddenly flutters close.

And his body suddenly falls, just like his smile.

Taemin's eyes widen and he reaches forward quickly to catch the fainted marionette before his body could reach the ground. His heart is thumping against his throat, sweating in absolute anxiety to how the male just suddenly dropped like this from one moment to the next. Well it could be from the exhaustion from the performance or practicing but...

His chest isn't moving...

Is he..... I-is he dead?!

"You're not suppose to be here."

Abruptly Taemin jumped to the new voice, snapping his attention to the girl standing there with wide eyes and that wide smile on her lips that also never met her eyes. Her voice is so familiar as to her acts; sweet and soft, just like her appearance. Taemin expected to see her angered or perhaps cautious as she stands by the curtains but she doesn't, maybe because her smile won't let her even appear bothered.

"I-I," Taemin couldn't even form words by how panicked he was to the motionless man in his arms, "H-He dropped and I-I was just trying t-to help-"

Candy walks forward towards them, back straight with an elegant way to her walk as she approaches the two. At first her entire focus is on Gold Kitten without a single string of worry in her gaze before glancing to Taemin.

"No need to worry, he'll be okay," She said with her soft tone of voice, "I would advise fleeing off before Master comes. You can leave Gold Kitten here, we'll handle this."

She's....Helping him?

Why?

Well the gesture is appreciated but strange since he is just a stranger. At the same time Taemin was cautious of leaving the almost lifeless looking man here without any proper care, he is not breathing after all.

However there's something strange here that Taemin doesn't feel comfortable with. Candy's smile, Gold Kitten's sudden fall and his facial expression before that as though he was not even listening to Taemin when he was talking to him.

No, all his doubts won't be cleared right now, but this will most definitely not going to be the last time he sneaks in here.

And hopefully Taehyung would get intrigued after knowing this information.

Moving his gaze to Gold Kitten now, watching his expressionless face in his arms with his cheek pressed against his bicep, Taemin really grew hesitant to leave him here. But he found it in himself to lay him down gently, trying not to ling his stare too long on his peaceful face before looking back to Candy, who still wore the biggest smile on her face, and he turns around to quickly leave.

Right when the Puppeteer stepped in, but Taemin was already long gone before he could even catch him around his precious jewels.

____________________________

A/N:

Oop-

Just putting this out there, there's going to be a sequel for this book when it ends. It'll make sense to make it once the ending arrives, you'll soon see why hehe

I PURPLE YOU!! <333