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spooky-raccoon · 5 years

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Road Trip (Part 2)

Rufo the Clown x Female Reader

Part 2 to Road Trip

Tag List: @trig-loves-clowning-around @rottenhearts-and-sharpteeth

The curves of the roads seemed endless as we traveled through the country and mountainside roads. It was pretty peaceful. and it was nice to have someone in the passenger seat with me, despite him being a stranger. He seemed pretty enthusiastic about the music choice as we drove, talking about the various artists once in a while. He even recommended some that I hadn’t heard yet if a song seemed similar to one that was playing. I made a mental note of each one he mentioned to give them a look into. Sometimes I even heard him humming along and could see out of the corner of my eye his finger tapping on his knee to the beat.

We had decided that we were both pretty hungry and the next diner we saw we would stop at to grab a bite. It didn’t take long to find one that wasn’t too shady looking which I was thankful for. It was a small thing and had a fifties feel as we walked in with a large jukebox playing oldies. Even the waitress was dressed up in a throwback uniform. Overall, it had a cozy atmosphere which was perfect after our long drive. The hostess seated us at a booth in the back but made sure we still had a window. I already had an idea of what I wanted after taking a quick glance through the menu and Rufo didn’t take long to decide on his choice.

“I’ll be right back doll. Nature calling and all that jazz.” Rufo did a quick nod toward the bathroom and I nodded back, putting my attention back to the menu as he got up.

I must have thought he had come back rather quickly since I could sense and hear someone sitting in the seat across from me. I shut the menu, finally deciding on just a cheeseburger and fries with a shake to top it off. When I went to give Rufo a greeting and cheesy joke about coming back really quick that’s when I realized it wasn’t him.

Across from me was a pretty intimidating looking man with short brown hair. His eyes were brown. A lot of his outfit was beige and seemed pretty bland except for the round glasses that sat on his face which were a golden color. He looked as if he popped out of a Sears catalog from the oldie days. He probably looked out of place in a crowd of normal looking folk but here he fit in really well. My brow raised up in confusion as I looked to the people at other booths behind him to see if perhaps he had come from them and he had just gotten lost. He didn’t seem to care that he was sitting on Rufo’s jacket though.

“Ma’am, you and I need to chat a little bit and really quick.” The man spoke and my attention went back to him.

“Who on Earth are you and why do we need to talk?” I could see the twitch of annoyance on his face as if I should dare ask why a strange man needed to speak to me, but his smile came back. To be honest, his smile was more unsettling than anything. Something challenging and unsettled were at the corners it seemed to tug his lips upward. Definitely far from sweet and endearing.

“Jonathan Crowley is the name. I’m a bit of a bounty hunter of sorts. I’m here looking for the man that you’re traveling with.” He didn’t seem to worried at that fact despite my eyes widening. “He’s a dangerous being who I’ve been hunting around for a very, very long time. I don’t want you getting mixed up into anything, so I need you to kindly tell me the direction he went in and where he’s going. I doubt he told you why he’s going to where he is going but I’m sure if he did you wouldn’t be alive, cupcake.”

I blinked a few times in surprise. I didn’t really expect a strange man to sit down at my booth but then again I didn’t expect an attractive man to ask me if he could hitchhike out west. Either way, I wasn’t going to budge on telling where Rufo was.

“Listen, I don’t know who you are and why you need him. I’m not going to tell you anything, so I suggest you just leave me be.” I leaned back onto the table, my hand going around the glass of water to sip at. There was another hint of annoyance on his face.

“If that’s how it is.” Crowley pulled out a business card and something odd happened. I couldn’t tell the strange feeling that swept over me as I took the card without my own accord. “If anything happens out of the ordinary in anyway, just give me a call at any time. I’ll always pick up.”

I flipped the card over a few times to read what was on either side as Crowley got up from the seat and moved with such ease through the small, packed diner to outside. Something in me tucked it in my purse instead of tossing it in a nearby garbage can. Maybe I would give him a call just in case. It couldn’t hurt. As he said, just in case. After all I had just met Rufo, but I didn’t want to downright call him an evil person or someone who had done horrible things. I didn’t know the guy well enough to put that sort of judgment on him. For all I know the bounty could have been for something silly that he was going to work on settling after this job.

My thoughts were broken when Rufo himself came strolling back to the booth. His sleeves were now rolled up and I had to take my eyes away for a brief moment before I started to blush. He had looked to his trench coat that had been resting at the side of the booth as if he realized it had moved when the other man had taken a seat. The corner of his lip twitched, and he looked back to the menu, shutting it shortly after once he made his choice. There wasn’t much chit chat between the two of us during the meal. He would look around if someone behind us had made too much noise or if there was some sort of silence. There was something on his mind and I didn’t feel like prying too much into it. When it came time to leave he insisted on paying the tab, his wide and perfect grin on his face as he shooed away my hand that had my card. I at least tossed a few bills on the table for the tip just before we got up and left. He offered to drive the rest of the way to the park we would stay at and despite the strange man who had sat down in the booth with me telling me that Rufo was dangerous, the tiredness in me agreed. Once we were back into the car we took off down the highway.

It was nice being the passenger and things seemed to relax with Rufo as he got to drive, letting his mind wonder about the road ahead of him. He still hummed along to the music and would once in a while switch out the CD’s, asking it was alright with me each time. I still couldn’t wrap my head around him being dangerous with how polite he was being, even if it was just a CD change. He did drive like an old granny I noticed but that was it.

A few hours passed and I noticed he was glancing in the mirrors more often. I couldn’t help but look back as well just to see if there was maybe someone riding my trunk. They weren’t riding the trunk, but they were a bit closer than I would have liked. It was a Thunderbird. An older one from what I could tell. I could see the look of annoyance grow more and more prominent on Rufo’s face. I settled back into my seat, but I turned my head to him.

“Everything alright, Rufo?” My brow raised as I finally decided to ask and maybe see what was going on.

“Just dandy. Don’t worry about it doll. Just hold on.” I was confused until he slammed his foot on the gas pedal of my car and it roared as it went to match the speed he wanted.

“Rufo! What the hell are you doing?” I grabbed onto the trusty oh-shit-handle and the side of my seat. I shot him a glare and there was his own glare on his face. Something determined and fierce that sent a shiver down my spine.

“One. Watch your language doll. Two. I’m finally getting closer to my next job after a week of trying and that old man thinks he can just barge in while I’m working.” He muttered under his breath, shaking his head. “Just give me a couple minutes and we’ll be back to smooth sailing. Don’t you worry your pretty little head.” He turned his head to give me a smile, but something seemed off. Something didn’t sit right on his face and I couldn’t tell what. Maybe it was his eyes as they looked brighter than they had before though that could have just been the sun light.

He was right though. It didn’t take too long to lose the car behind us, and I was thankful that no state troopers were patrolling the area as we were going well over a hundred miles an hour. I let out a sigh of relief when he got back to his old granny way of driving and finally let go of the handle.

“Sorry doll, but we’re not gonna stop at a campsite tonight. Just feel safer for the both of us if we stayed in hotel instead.” He finally spoke after a bit and I couldn’t help but agree with him. The man had given me an odd feeling when he had spoken to me at the diner and it didn’t help that he had been following behind the car. I nodded and a gentle smile was on Rufo’s lips, pleased that I agreed with him. “Make sure it’s a nice cozy one. Don’t you worry.”

It was getting close to ten at night and I could feel the exhaustion from the drive getting to me. I was thankful when we finally pulled up into a hotel. There were a couple and Rufo picked the best looking one. It didn’t take long for us to get into our room and settled in for the night. I had to break my eyes away from when he came out of the bathroom after he had changed. He had only put on a pair of sleep pants, leaving his torso bare. He was pretty hairy and rather toned for his frame. I could feel my cheeks starting to blush as I made myself look away though before I did I caught a glimpse of a slight smirk on his face in the mirror that hung over the basic hotel desk. I focused on just getting to sleep for the night. It felt good to be in my pajamas and in my own large bed. He looked pretty relaxed too in his bed next to mine and soon he was snoring with his arm draped over his face. It didn’t take too long for me to follow suit, the worries of the day melting away.

#rufo #rufo the clown #more love for rufo #smile no more #james a moore #rufo fanfic #rufo fanfiction #rufo the clown fanfic #rufo the clown fanfiction #rufo: road trip #rufo: road trip part 2

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ficdirectory · 6 years

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Somewhere Inside (Disuphere series #4) Chapter 63

(To listen, click here) - 13:13

Francesca’s super bummed because it’s already 7:00. Her bedtime is 8:00 on weekdays. Even though it’s not a weekday, they’ll have to be up way early tomorrow. Like, when it’s still dark out, in order to get to the airport in enough time to make their flight. So Mariana said in private that it was a good idea for them all to really try to get sleep tonight, and for Francesca to go by school-day bedtime.

Even though it makes sense, it also kinda makes Francesca want to cry. Being there for Levi and helping him clean his room after Peanut Butter Cookie came and messed it all up was important, and Francesca knows that. But she also wishes the time could stretch out, the way it does at school, where the minutes take forever during gym or math or science, or some other class she hates.

Right now, they’re going by too fast, like it’s recess.

It means they only have one hour of Feelings Time, not the usual two.

“What’s up, buddy?” Jesus asks, and Francesca’s glad he’s back to calling her his buddy again.

“I only have an hour until bedtime. So less Feelings Time…” Francesca confides, stopping short at the Avoidance table outside their cabin. Jesus joins her. Then Levi. Then Pearl, Dominique and Mari on the other side.

“Well, so we prioritize. What’s the most important thing you want us to know?” Pearl asks.

“I don’t know!” Francesca shrugs. “It’s too much pressure…”

“Okay. Is there something anyone else wants to share?” Pearl wonders. “Or that we agree we wanna have happen in Feelings Time tonight?”

“A picture,” Francesca offers. “I know I can’t really ask this and have it be fair because we’re not all comfortable with pictures...but I really want one of all of us together. All of us Avoiders.”

“I think it’s worth having a conversation about,” Jesus offers.

Francesca feels her sadness lift a little. Conversations are good. “Okay. About how whichever of us feels the most awkward about pictures can have the most say over them?”

“Something like that…” Jesus allows.

“So, I remember this conversation, I think. Or a similar one. Right?” Pearl asks Jesus. “From before you left last time?”

“Yeah,” Jesus offers. “So, what if, we all get the chance to offer a suggestion about picture-taking. Like, if it’s a full on accommodation, that’s cool and if it’s a suggestion or a lowkey wish. But if everybody could offer something that’d help so those of us who don’t feel okay could feel supported asking for what we need.”

“I need nobody to tell me to smile nice…” Francesca offers. “Sometimes, when I’m my most happy, Moms are like ‘Tone it down, Fran. Less mouth. Put your chin down.’”

“Oh, babe. That’s your CP, making your smile that big!” Dominique shares, matter of fact, proud. “It’s muscle movement stuff. We’d never critique your smile. We love your smile.”

“Really?” Francesca asks, shy. Dominique knows so much. She must really see a lot of kids with CP at the hospital. They must all have big smiles like her.

Mariana raises her hand. “Kinda along the same lines… I don’t really like my smile. It changed when… Last year… Whenever… My face changed. I need you guys to know I don’t love how it looks. Just...maybe don’t comment on me?”

“Okay. We won’t,” Francesca promises. “I know what it’s like to not want anybody to notice mine.”

“I know this isn’t...exactly what you meant, maybe, Jesus?” Dominique starts. “But would y’all be okay if I took the picture?”

Dominique takes the best pictures. She’s definitely the best out of all of them at it, even though Francesca takes pretty good ones, too.

Francesca looks at Dominique, looking at Jesus. She knows to wait for consent from the ones who are least comfortable before saying yes. Because it might make the ones like Jesus with picture-trauma feel pressure to agree.

“Could I see it after you take it?” he asks.

“Absolutely. And I’d be real obvious about taking it.” Dominique promises.

“None of that feature that takes the pics really quick all in a row?” Jesus asks.

“No.” Dominique promises.

“Can you...not say to smile? Say cheese or whatever?’ Levi asks.

“I won’t police your emotion,” Dominique promises.

“And can we not share it on social media?” Jesus asks.

He waits til everybody says they agree. Then Levi and Jesus say Dominique can be the photographer.

“Wait, what about Pearl?” Francesca asks. “She didn’t get to say a thing about pictures.”

“Aw,” Pearl says. “Thanks, Francesca. Let’s see...are dogs welcome? Mom always tried to find ways to exclude Gracie from pictures...” she confides.

Gracie was the prettiest dog. And the best. It’s her face Frankie remembers from after falling down all the stairs at the cabin. Her softness. Her gentleness.

“In the Avoiders official picture?” Dominique asks. “Of course. Dudley and Cleo should be in on it. That makes me miss my cat, though…” Dominique makes a sad face.

Francesca doesn’t really miss Roberta, but she doesn’t tell Dominique that because it would hurt her feelings.

Finally, it’s time to take the picture. Dominique asks how comfortable they feel climbing on the picnic table, sitting on it, bunched up behind Dominique so she can get a good angle.

People don’t think so, but Francesca’s a great climber. And Levi makes sure to guard her, to make sure she keeps her balance. Then, Dominique raises her phone.

“One last consent check. Everybody still on board with this?” Dominique checks.

Francesca holds her breath. She hopes nobody says no even though they are all humans and have the right to. She really wants this picture of all of them together. Luckily they all nod.

“Nobody needs an out?”

Heads shake no.

“Everybody feeling present?” Dominique wonders, camera still down.

Francesca’s confused. Until she sees Levi shake his head a little.

“You’re not?” she asks, quiet. Francesca calls a pause so she’s sure Dominique notices.

Dominique puts her phone down on the table, screen side down.

“Sometimes it helps to hold on tight to people around you. You can hold on tight to me. So I don’t lose my balance,” Francesca offers, soft.

Levi puts an arm around Francesca. She squeezes his hands tight after he says it’s okay. Then he looks like he’s more here. Not hiding from bad memories. She sees him give a thumbs up to Dominique.

“All right. One, two, three, Avoiders!” Dominique cues.

“Avoiders!” They all say it at the same time. Jesus and Levi each take a long time looking at the picture. Levi still has his arm around Francesca for balance.

“I think this is the best picture,” Francesca decides.

They go inside after that, because it’s starting to get dark a little. And also they don’t have snacks out here. They get some grape soda, and Levi offers some pizza Pringles. Jesus gets the Hostess cupcakes and Junior Mints. Even though Francesca really wants some of both of Jesus’s snacks, she doesn’t ask, because they’re his specific ones.

She tries to be okay with that. It’s easier when Mariana breaks out her secret stash of dark chocolate raspberry ice cream. With the chips and the soda it tastes like the greatest thing ever. Francesca doesn’t even miss Mountain Dew.

“So, Feelings Time should have some feelings in it. What do you guys think?” Pearl begins.

“I feel sad Peanut Butter Cookie wrote you that mean note, Levi. And tried to make it seem like you threw away pictures of Gracie when it was really her.” Francesca tells him.

“How do you feel about it?” Pearl asks Levi.

“Scared,” he confesses, not really eating any of the snacks, not even the ones he brought. “Because she was in my space.”

Francesca shivers a little. It reminds her of the time Moms came in their room at home and yelled at Mariana for making a huge mess in it. For swearing at Francesca. It was back when Francesca thought she was Other Mariana. But she was really herself the whole time. Just needing accommodations. And also love and understanding.

She remembers how Moms went through with garbage bags and threw out a bunch of their stuff that got broken and some that didn’t. How Mariana started crying. And they said she should feel bad.

They left the bags behind because there was a lot of them and went to bed, and it was quiet for a long time, so Francesca thought Mariana was asleep, but she was moving around, walking to Fran’s bed, whispering (because they have an intercom in their room which is like having Moms in it all the time and zero privacy ever since Mari got back).

She was whispering “Please… Please…”

When Francesca rolled over and looked and saw Mari trying to move the bags outside the door without making any noise.

Francesca had gotten up and helped her. Not saying anything. Closing the door after, not leaving it open like Moms said to. Mariana was scared of those bags.

It was the first time Francesca thought Moms might be wrong about Mari being gone. But it was March. Months after Jesus left. And before they met the Avoiders.

“I don’t like it when Moms are in our space either,” Francesca says, looking at Mariana.

She can tell by Mariana’s eyes and that shadow in them that she’s thinking about the same thing Francesca is. Jesus doesn’t know about that happening. Or the mean comments Moms made when they cleaned. That was the day when they said the thing about that they couldn’t believe that had two kids with brain damage. It’s been over a year, and Francesca still can’t forget. She knows Mari can’t either, because sometimes she says it:

“Two kids with brain damage…” like she’s thinking about it and saying it at the same time. It doesn’t bother Francesca. It bothers her that Moms said it and the words got trapped in Mari’s head. Like they are in her own.

“I’m not going to kick Levi out,” Pearl offers. “Just so there’s no doubt with anyone. I know my mother did those things with Gracie’s pictures, not Levi.” Pearl turns to Levi: “You will always have a home with me.”

Levi nods. But he doesn’t say anything.

Strong feelings move inside Francesca. Like she wants to hurt something. Usually, that’s not a thing, it’s herself. So, she stands up and goes to Dominique. Trying to think about using her hands for balance, not for hurting.

“I need backup for The Thing,” Francesca whispers. “I’m remembering stuff. Trying to do positive coping.”

“Want to sit with me?” Dominique wonders.

Francesca nods, and climbs into Dominique’s lap.

She gives Francesca her phone to hold. “Look up some sloth videos, babe.”

“Sloths won’t help…” Francesca says, feeling like she’s definitely gonna do The Thing.

“Do you need to share with the group?” she asks. “It is Feelings Time…” Dominique reminds.

“I feel angry,” Francesca admits, quiet.

“Hey, Avoiders? Fran’s doing some tough work, coping right now. Can we tune into her?”

Francesca keeps her head down, finding sloth pictures anyway to look at. So she won’t have to feel all the Avoiders looking at her.

“I’m angry…” Francesca repeats. It doesn’t make the strength of The Thing any less. She flips through lots of sloth pictures. But right now there’s not enough sloths in the world.

Dominique offers her hands. Francesca sets her phone on the table, face down. Squeezes Dominique’s hands hard.

“What are you angry about, buddy?” Jesus asks. “Can you take a deep breath?”

Francesca tries but her throat is too clogged with sadness. She tries to smash it back inside where it goes. But that doesn’t work.

“Moms…” she whispers. “How they were in our room one time?” she glances at Mariana. “Really mad, and saying they had two brain damaged kids now…”

“That makes you angry? At them?” Jesus asks. She can’t see his face. It’s better that she can’t see it.

Francesca nods.

“How does it make you feel about you?” Dominique wonders, gentle.

“Like I shouldn’t be in the family. And they’d be happier then.” Francesca sighs.

#fic: somewhere inside

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