Work Text:
It took some time but you were able to get everything all properly coordinated and set up in your bathroom. If anything, Harlequin’s birthday made the perfect motivation to get everything set up just right.
You’d heard his birthday was coming up, so soon after Pierrot’s, and you wanted to offer him something that was unique but still heartfelt. He did favor savory and spicy food so you had dinner already prepared, along with a proper birthday cake. You opted for a lemon layer cake. After all of his talk about disliking sweets, you had a feeling he wouldn’t be too happy if he didn’t have a cake at all. And of course he he had to have candles. No way was he going to miss out on making a birthday wish.
But as for getting the bathroom ready, it was part of a more strategic plan. Harlequin, along with the rest of the circus performers, seemed to be very private individuals that always keep their masks and costumes on. While they did have times where more casual attire was appropriate, according from what you heard from Pierrot, they were still covered from head to toe.
And with how hard they’ve been working handing out flyers during the day to performing at the circus into the night, no doubt they were exhausted.
You set up fresh towels, clean bulky clothes to change into, a container of epsom salts, an ambient light, and some proper shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Now all that was left was making sure everything else was ready until Harlequin inevitably showed up.
Once you closed the door to the bathroom to turn back to the kitchen, a sudden feeling of doubt flared in your mind. This was definitely one of the most unconventional things to offer for someone's birthday, but it felt like this was something long overdue. There was something in the back of your mind that bothered you about Harlequin when it came to him being cared for.
He had moments where he felt distant, like he couldn’t indulge himself properly or it had to involve physical intimacy first in some way. He couldn’t just be gentle, or have someone treat him with the same gentle tone. To him, it was like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
All the more reason for this sort of birthday surprise.
By the time you changed into your own set of comfortable lounge clothes and finished making dinner, a familiar slide of the balcony door caught your attention.
“Evening, darling!” A familiar voice called once he was inside.
Definitely not Pierrot’s voice from what you could tell, and only one other person that would use the balcony as the door.
“Just a second!” You responded, making sure to get the cake ready, lighting the candles before making your way back to your room.
As you turned your back to the door to open it with your shoulder, Harlequin opened the door at the same time, nearly causing you two to bump into one another.
“Well isn’t this a nice surprise. Got me a cake and everything.” He said with an ever present smile on his face as he moved aside to let you in.
“Of course!” You said as you set the cake down, candles still lit.
“Happy Birthday Harlequin.”
Just as he was about to blow out the candles, you stopped him and said you had to at least do the song.
“Really? I’m not a child, you know.” He said, smile still not leaving his face despite his words.
“I know you’re not, but it’s something special when someone sings on your birthday. And the sooner you let me sing, the sooner you can blow out your candles and have a piece.”
He chuckled at that, and leaned his head into his hand.
“Alright, go ahead then. Sing for me.”
It was fairly quick but you could tell he was enjoying it. Harlequin wasn't one to shy away from showing every fiber of disdain towards something he disliked.
Once you were done, Harlequin gave his one man applause. A genuine clap and not a sarcastic slow clap. Truly a gentleman, you thought with a roll of your eyes.
He turned his attention back to the candles, closed his eyes, and finally made his wish as he blew them out. Once the cake was cut and you each had a slice, he leaned in a little bit closer to you.
“So, that delicious cake aside, is there anything else I can look forward to this evening?” He asked, clearly having several ideas dancing in his eyes.
You gave him a wry smile back, matching his playful energy. “Well I got everything in the bathroom set up.”
He tilted his head at that. “Okay, I didn't see that coming. Set up for what?”
“An at-home spa day.”
Harlequin’s eyes widened. “Qué?”
His shock had you feeling a bit worried about your plans, but you still persisted with your explanation.
“Well I thought with all of your hard work at the circus, you’d probably like a spa day to unwind. But with how you all are basically never seen without your costumes on, and the fact the town has their own reservations about you all, getting an appointment may have been impossible. So I thought, why not do the next best thing and set something up myself?”
There was a bit of silence, and a searching look in Harlequin’s eyes, like he’s waiting for some joke to land or you to say you were kidding. Neither of those came.
Instead, laughter bubbled from his chest and Harlequin threw his head back in uproarious laughter. It was like he just heard the best joke he’s heard in a long time.
"You really do think of everything." He said once his laughter started to die down. "I'll be honest, I never would've guessed this would be happening on my birthday."
He rose off of the bed and stretched his arms over his head, as if the mention of a warm bath made him aware of just how tired he was.
“Now that you mention it, I do feel a bit sore from my performance today. I think I’ll take you up on that offer.”
It didn’t take long to show him everything and all of the options, as well as making sure the bulky lounge clothes would fit him. Before he closed the door, he blew a small kiss and said he’ll rejoin you in a little while.
It gave just the right amount of time to clean up the kitchen. Maybe it was just fitting for Harlequin’s birthday that you had dessert first. You were just glad he seemed to enjoy the lemon cake. Even more so that he was willing to give it a try, as well as go along with your birthday plans. You knew had some sort of heart underneath it all.
You weren’t sure if it was made of gold, but it at the very least had some gems inside it.
It wasn’t too long before Harlequin stepped out of the bath and rejoined you in your bedroom. His hair was already in its signature curls even while a bit damp, and the bulky clothes you gave him were a perfect fit. The hood of the lounge hoodie you gave him covered the top of his head. He was still a bit flushed from the hot water, and had the faint scent of the body wash you left for him. He was already heaving a sigh as he sat down in a nearby chair.
“Feel better?”
Harlequin nodded, a small smile on his face. “Definitely needed it. Even with the epsom salts, I still feel a bit sore.”
Seeing this as the chance to offer your next part of his birthday gift, you spoke up.
“Do you want a massage?”
A beat passed. Harlequin didn’t move or say anything for a moment before his usual smile began to form and he gave a small chuckle while looking over at you. And the longer he stared, the more of his smile began to fade. You weren’t taking anything back or going any indication this was a joke.
“You’re serious?” Harlequin asked incredulously. He shifted to a more devilish demeanor, almost like he was wondering if you were going to reconsider.
“Of course, but only if you want one.”
“Why wouldn’t I want one, my dear? A long day of work, having your hands on my body, knowing I can take this as a victory over Pierrot later even if I choose not to tell him, I have every reason to.”
Unfazed by his bravado, you roll your eyes. “Mmhm, I get that, but I just want to make sure. Do you want a massage?”
You could see it in his eyes. The emphasis you added finally made it click into place. You weren’t asking multiple times as some sort of chickening out procedure or some dare. Harlequin made a whole performance out of being vulgar and always wanting intimacy, but you had a sinking feeling about some of his mannerisms. How he tentatively reached for your hand one time but then drew away. How he seemed genuinely shocked when you hugged him and asked if he was alright.
Were there times Harlequin forced his smile and said the words he thought the other person wanted to hear?
“If you want me to, I’ll only go as far as you want, and you can change your mind.” You clarified.
Harlequin wasn’t sure what to say for a good while. In the end, he shook his head and gave a small wry grin.
“Okay fine. Let’s see what you’ve got. I’ll let you know if I need to use a safe word like ‘red’ or something.” He half joked before heading over to your bed. Once he sat himself down, you followed suit right behind him.
“I don’t mind you keeping the lounge clothes on, but do you want me to start with your neck first?” You asked, gently setting your hands on his shoulders so he could get an idea of what he wanted. He didn’t startle at the contact, but there was this unspoken rigidness you could immediately feel in his body from his muscles to his posture.
“Start wherever you want, darling.”
You figured starting with a medium amount of pressure would be just enough to be felt through the clothes without it being painful or uncomfortable. Using your thumbs to make slow circles near the base of his neck while your fingers gently pulled at the sides, you could feel the tension in his muscles almost too well.
From how close you were, you could catch by the fragrance in the air that he used the shampoo and conditioner you left too. Guess he felt comfortable enough for a full bath and wash. It was a small point of pride but a point nonetheless.
You could hear him take a deep breath as you continued, rolling back his shoulders at the same time.
“Was that too much?” You asked.
“Of course not. In fact, use some more pressure. I really need to feel it.” Harlequin answered, with a tone that made it clear he was smiling while he spoke.
With a nod, you increased the pressure while gradually slowing your movements. Harlequin’s shoulders rose with a sudden intake of air, but like he anticipated your hands freezing at his reaction, he spoke up.
“I’m fine, darling, honestly. You should be more concerned if I wasn’t being noisy while in your bed.” He of course had to tease, and you patted his shoulder in a show of “irritation.”
“I knew you were waiting to say something about it, I wasn’t sure what.” With that, you settled back into your rhythm. “Took you a little while though. Must be more worn out than I thought.”
Harlequin chuckled at that, turning his head toward you slightly, even though he clearly couldn’t directly see you seated behind him.
“Oh I’m just absolutely exhausted.” He continued to prod in a sarcastic tone. “I might just be too tired to get out of your bed tonight.”
“And I’m sure that would be a shame.” You said as you kneaded into the muscles right between his shoulder blades, loosening the knots you were able to find.
“Oh, fuck…” Harlequin said on reflex, having no shame in how he vocalized his pleasure.
“I bet that felt good.” You said with a chuckle.
“Very.” That was all he said as he turned to the bed. “I’ll need that for my entire spine.”
Understanding where he was looking, you paused the massage for a moment while he made himself comfortable. He was sprawled out on his stomach, head turned to the side against a soft pillow. His body surprisingly fit the length of your bed, even down to his feet, which you couldn’t help smiling at the fact he opted to wear the aloe infused fuzzy socks you left with his change of clothes.
“You know, when I pictured lying myself in your bed, this isn’t quite what I had in mind.” He commented.
You couldn’t begin to count how many times you’ve rolled your eyes since you’ve been here. “Oh, what did you have in mind then?”
He chuckled. “Definitely more leather and straps.”
Unfazed, you answered, “Sounds like you want to go to the club.”
“I might, especially if I get to see you in something much less uptight.”
You move over towards one of his legs, ready to start the massage again as you set your hand on his calf. “Guess we need to make sure your legs and feet are ready for the dance floor.”
With that, the massage resumed. Kneading his muscles along his calves, all while being mindful of any sensitive pressure points or knots. Harlequin seemed to sink deeper into the mattress by the minute. His breathing began to slow as he felt his body gradually unravel in your hands. The moment had no words, but it was like you both were still having a conversation.
You saw him turn to glance at you as you moved upward to his thighs. He only gave a small chuckle before lying back down. It didn’t take a genius to know what he was smirking about. Following the trail from his calves to his thighs, there was one obvious place you could work next. You could've continued to say something, but you knew keeping quiet about it would drive him crazy. In the end, he turned away and closed his eyes, letting himself drift off while you kept up the massage.
By the time you dug your thumbs into either side of the base of his spine, right above his hips, Harlequin sucked in a breath through his teeth.
“You okay?”
“Yeah yeah, I’m fine.” He said, his tone a bit quieter. “Just didn’t think I was that sore.”
You nodded. "Exhaustion really has a way of sneaking up on you sometimes."
As you continued the massage, easing the tension gradually out of his muscles as you moved up along his spine, a thought crossed your mind. You figured you knew the answer but decided to confirm it anyway.
“I take it there isn’t anyone else in the circus that does this sort of thing for you all?”
Harlequin shook his head. The answer you expected.
“Some of the Fools work in the circus or behind the scenes, but they’re more like assistants and stage workers rather than any sort of personal attendants.” He confessed, before a small chuckle escaped him. “No doubt Jester and Ticket Taker wouldn’t like the idea, and there's a limit even for me on what I can get away with.”
You nodded as you kept working your way up his spine and back. His breaths were slowing even further, almost like he could nod off any second. This felt almost like a rare sighting, witnessing Harlequin visibly relax to such a degree. And from what he told you, he’d likely never had anything like this done before.
“Speaking of Jester and Ticket Taker, would they be upset if you stayed the night?”
He glanced at you with half lidded eyes. “Aww, are you worried I’ll get in trouble?”
When you didn’t tease him in return, he closed his eye again.
“I’ll be fine, dear one. They decided to have my party and show early, so we have the rest of the night. It wouldn't be too surprising if I came back late.”
Just as you were about to resume your place, you felt familiar rope-like appendages slither around your waist and torso. You remembered these tentacle-like things from when you followed Harlequin into the tent the other day. In the light of your room, you could see they were green, and had a sort of gelatinous and soft texture. You tried to see where they were coming from and all you could see was they were coming from somewhere under Harlequin’s shirt, near the base of his spine. He must've had them hidden until now.
Without another word, he used those tentacles to set you down on the bed directly next to him, allowing Harlequin to wrap his nearest arm around you. It seems another appendage had reached toward the light switch and subsequently turned off the light. Your room sunk into complete darkness, with nothing but Harlequin’s glowing green eyes in your immediate line of vision.
“In fact, I think I’m ready for my next birthday present, darling.” He purred, leaning his face in closer. Even though his embrace was warm, a slight shiver still raced up your spine. His voice wasn’t this low just because of the massage.
You closed your eyes, just as his mouth met yours in a soft, intimate kiss. It was like he was assessing how much more you would let him in, gauging your movements and how you melted into his touch.
That was all it took for him to deepen the kiss, feeling the forked tip of his tongue graze over your lip. You would think he was wanting a second helping of dessert with how he eased into the kiss.
All the while, you felt the familiar warmth and touch of the tentacles gliding over your legs and torso. It was like he was memorizing your form with every part he could embrace you with. One of the tentacles slid underneath the fabric of your shirt, and when you gasped in surprise, Harlequin couldn’t resist deepening the kiss. You could feel the tips of his forked tongue trace along the roof of your mouth, almost like he wanted to see how far he could reach. It was ticklish, and you couldn’t help but smile against his lips. And then all too quickly, he drew himself back with a satisfied flick of his tongue.
“Still too sweet.” Harlequin said with a satisfied grin on his face. “But the most satisfying and delicious thing I’ve had this evening.”
You could feel the heat rush to your face, knowing full well this was part of his charm, but there was something about his more relaxed state that felt more honest. Like this wasn’t just his usual playful self, but genuine excitement. And in a way, you were happy to see it. This is what you hoped to gift him on his birthday.
You could feel more of his tentacles coil over your arms and your body, not holding you firmly in place but just enough to assert he wants to keep you right here next to him.
“We still have some hours left until my birthday’s over, my dear. I can think of a few ways to spend them.”
You couldn’t help but answer him with a devilish smile of your own.
At least he knew exactly what he wanted for his birthday.