Avo the Changeling: Part Two (rough draft)

Something had gone wrong with one of the stage lights just hours before the carnival was due to open. You had tried absolutely everything to get it up and running, but a fear of a short made you decide to take it down and hope there was a replacement within the storage facility.

“I’m sure Heathcliff has something.” Mr. Faire walked along beside you. “And not to worry! If worse comes to worse, we shall work with what we have.”

You were chewing on your bottom lip. “No. No. There better be a light.”

Mr. Faire eyed you. “Is that tension I sense within your tone? Nothing to do with the nuptials tomorrow, I hope.”

You cut your eyes at him then looked straight ahead at the storage facility.

Mr. Faire’s  jaw dropped. “Is something wrong? Is Avo alright? Has he said anything? Your dress! If something happened to it we can get it fixed right away!”

“It’s not my dress!” You snapped as you stood before the door. You then realized you had just yelled at him. You clapped your hands over your face and dragged your palms down. “Oh, darn, I'm sorry Mr. Faire.”

He placed his hand upon your shoulder, an action that took nothing, but it was worth a fortune with how much it soothed. “What’s wrong, darling? You can tell me?”

You took in a deep breath and kept your hands pressed to your cheeks. “It’s nothing at all really. It shouldn’t be anything.” You looked up into his eyes and almost wanted to cry. “It’s just…all the…small things-”

“The song?” Mr. Faire asked.

“No-” You stopped she he chuckled and you laughed with him. “No. I mean…things like this,” you murmured. “The light going out. The stove smoking in the cafeteria. The hall of mirrors shutting down all of a sudden-” You huffed as even listing off things made you stressed out. “AIt’s all these little, annoying things that keep happening. Even with Avo there have been these odd little hiccups. Nothing bad. But just…small. It feels like some sort of sign. Like someone is trying to tell me something, or god forbid warn me.”

“That has no bearing on the wedding,” he said gently. “It’s just life happening. If it wasn’t for the wedding, would you even have paid notice to these things?”

You shook your head.

“Weddings are stressful,” he said calmly. “Trust me, I know,” he said with an air of pride. “It’s okay to be scared. This is a huge step. But there’s nothing and no one trying to warn or of some doom around the corner.”

Mr. Faire then furrowed his brow and lowered himself closer to you. A dark look crossed his face and his hand on your shoulder tightened. “Unless you’re hoping for a sign.”

You gasped. “No! Of course not! I want to marry Avo more than anything!”

His usual cheery expression returned. “Oh good! I was worried for a second there. Don’t fret too much over the little things, the little things are easy to fix! It’s when something big happens, then we should worry.”

Behind you it sounded like a bomb went off. You both whipped around to see smoke coming from the big top and the roof of it was flailing in the breeze, the edges glowing and burning.

“Oh-” Mr. Faire gasped. He then ran ahead at full speed and you tried your best to keep up behind him.

Everyone was crowding around the big top to see what had happened. People were rushing out with billowing clouds of pungent smoke.

“Make way! Make way!” Mr. Faire pushed through the crowd to get inside. “Everyone stay back!” he ordered as he ran head first into the tent.

You stood there dumbfounded, unsure how to act or what to do. You looked around at everyone, seeing those who had escaped the tent were getting attention and water. Smoke continued to plume from inside the tent so you pushed your way to the front of the crowd.

“Everyone needs to move back!” You ordered. “Back! Back! Get away from the big top! Make room!” Others joined you to usher the crowd back away from the big top. Just as you managed to get them back some feet, fireworks began erupting from inside. They shot out through the tent and the gaping hole in the roof.

The emergency hoses were brought out, and luckily a fire didn’t spread. Mr. Faire eventually emerged from inside, carrying two people while others followed behind him. It was a big to do, and for a while it felt like chaos was reigning.

As you were helping Ballura shut down the front gate, you heard your name being screamed out. You turned, seeing Avo near the big top trying to force his way inside. You stopped what you were doing and rushed towards him.

“Where is she! I can’t find her!” Avo was yelling. “She was working on the lighting inside! Please!”

“I’m here! I’m Avo!” You cried out to him.

Avo turned, panicked and desperate. Once he saw you and rushed towards you and pulled you up into his arms. He held you so tight you thought you’d break.

“I got so scared!” he sobbed.

You held him in return and buried your face against his hair. “I’m fine! I wasn’t in the tent when it went off.”

Avo pulled back and cupped your face in his hand. Those pale green eyes were full of tears, and the tip of his nose was bright red from crying. “I got so scared! We were practicing all the way back in Scarebrook!”

“It’s okay. I was looking for a replacement spotlight. I wasn’t anywhere near the tent when it happened.” You kissed him softly to reassure him.

Avo laid his head upon your shoulder. “I’m so glad. I don’t know what I’d do if you were hurt.”

You wiped away his tears with a smile. “Luckily that’s not a problem.” You glanced back towards the tent. “Come on. Lets go to the cafeteria and see if anyone needs help.”

Avo tightly gripped onto your hand. It felt like he had something to say, but he remained quiet and went along with you. Most of the carnival had gathered in the cafeteria in hopes of calming each other down.

You and Avo helped served drinks to people at the tables. As you were gathering up some of the empty cups you heard someone say. “This will put a damper on the wedding, won’t it?”

You went quiet and your mouth opened and shut.

“Maybe, but hopefully we can clean up and have the wedding elsewhere,” Avo said without a hint of doubt. He smiled at you. “I think we’ll need the distraction tomorrow, don’t you?”

You followed alongside him as you went back towards the kitchen. “You still want to have the wedding tomorrow?”

“Why not?” he asked.

“The big top-” You started.

Avo shrugged. “Yeah, it’s awful. That’s where we first met. It was my dream for us to get married there. But we can get married anywhere in this carnival and I would be happy.”

You looked down and sniffled.

“What’s wrong?” Avo whispered.

“I don’t know-” you whimpered and covered your face with your hands.

Avo wrapped you up in his arms and held you close. “It’s alright. I know you’ve been worried. But it’s going to all work out. We’ll have our wedding and it will be perfect, no matter what happens.” he lifted your face up to look at him and he smiled brightly. “Look at me. Look into my eyes, and you’ll know it.”

You hiccuped and sniffled, gazing into those pale eyes and you saw glittering lights, flowers falling down through tranquil breezes, and something warm and soft.

“It’ll be alright,” he whispered. “I promise.”

You hugged him in return and then the two of you went back to your place.

It turned out there was a short in the electric work which had caused the malfunction with the very spotlight you were attempting to fix. Luckily, no one had gotten seriously hurt, and the only casualty of the big top itself and some of the equipment. The fireworks had gone off due to some sparks that were falling from the singed fabric. Luckily, there were no major injuries there either.

You got into bed but sleep was nowhere in sight. You gazed up at the roof as too many thoughts to organize rushed through your head like a river.

Avo reached out, touching your arm. He startled you, as you thought he was asleep. His glamor-less form rose slightly from the bed, his long hair had been braided back for styling purposes in the morning.

“Can’t sleep?”

“Not a wink,” you huffed.

Avo brought you to his side, letting your rest your head upon his chest. “Are you nervous or excited?”

“Can i add on to that list?”

Avo chuckled and kissed the top of your head. His long fingers combed through your hair and dragged down your scalp. “Do you want to talk?”

“What about?”

“Anything. Doesn’t have to be the wedding. Just something to take your mind off of your worries.” he kissed the top of your head. “I know you’ve been worried. Everytime something happens I can see you taking it in like a sponge. I just thought it was jitters.”

“I wish it was,” you murmured. “Maybe it is and I’m just overthinking it.”

Avo sighed. “Even with the accident at the bit top today, we’ve been so lucky. Its like everything has gone just right.”

You frowned. “What?”

“Like today for instances, you should have been in the big top when the explosion happened. You may have very well been at the exact spot it happened. But you weren't. You were out and away from it. And when the stove in the cafeteria started smoking really bad, we’d just left! We didn’t get bogged down by smoke. I’m not sure what happened in the hall of mirrors, but we were both supposed to be working that night and we were given time off.”

You pouted slightly. “Yeah-”

Avo chuckled. “I feel like something is watching over us, making sure we get to tomorrow.”

You sat up so you could look down at him. “I’ve been thinking the exact opposite, and now I feel silly that I did!”

Avo sat up and smiled. “You should have told me you were worried so much.”

“I felt silly,” you muttered.

Avo kissed the middle of your forehead. “Next time, promise me you will.”

You nodded and looked into his eyes. You kissed softly, putting your arms around one another.

“I can help you fall asleep if you need me to,” Avo said with a chuckle.

Your cheeks warmed up as you heart began to patter. “I thought we were going to wait for the wedding night?” You giggled. “We’ve been good all week since we made up that plan.”

Avo sighed. “Well, it is midnight now,” he murmured. He stroked your cheek and smoothed back your hair. “Technically, it is our wedding night.”

“Technically, it’s the morning of our wedding,” you giggled. “But I can go along with your way of thinking.”

“Mmm, good.” Avo kissed you again, moving you down upon the bed.

Yu breathed softly as he began to kiss your cheek and neck. You turned your head to the side, letting him have more skin to touch. You moaned as his fingers went under your nightgown, pushing it up until his hands rested firmly upon your thighs. His long fingers kneaded into the soft left, slowly opening you up for him.

He moaned into your ear, turning your head back so you could kiss. His long, pale hair fell over your face and you focused upon those soft, green eyes.

“You get more and more beautiful,” he whispered. “Ever since we met, there’s not been a moment you haven’t taken my breath away.”

You giggled. “Then how are you breathing?”

“I’ve learned a trick.” Avo rose back up, his long arms removed your nightgown from over your head, then his marbled skin touched yours directly. He groped your breasts, squeezing them then letting them fall back upon your chest. His long fingers stroked down your center before cupped around your mound.

You whimpered, arching your back slightly. It had been a while since you two last had sex. You had made an agreement to wait for the wedding night, which now felt silly as you realized how much you had missed this touch.

“I promise, I won’t exhaust you too much for tomorrow,” Avo teased.

“It’s been a while, it might not take much,” you breathed.

“Maybe so. But we’ll still enjoy it.” His fingers tugged down your panties and took them off your legs. He pried your legs apart and through the curtain of his hair you saw his eyes light up. He touched you, rubbing your found with his fingers until they sunk in, greeted by a dewy wetness of your own eagerness.

Avo moaned, prodding his fingers deeper until you gasped. “Perhaps you need more than that,” he breathed. “Something…thicker.”

You gulped and opened your eyes to him again. “Maybe.”

Avo’s body arched over top of you. His arms pinned you pin while he spread your legs wider. Below he rubbed against you, his cock already hard from the excitement. It felt warm, and the underbelly bulged outward, pressing into you. He reached down, angling himself to press at your entrance. His tip rubbed against your clit, making your whimper with anticipation.

“I can’t believe it's tomorrow,” he whispered.

You placed your hands on his neck, trailing your fingertips down his long neck. “I know. It feels like it’s been forever since we first met.”

“Four years,” he whispered. “An eternity.” His body arched and he eased himself inside you. His thickness stretched you, filling you and warming you.

You whimpered again, tightening your grip around him. Your fingers trailed down the bumps of his spine until your reached the base of his tail. Avo shivered and slid even deeper inside you. His loud moan turned your thoughts to mush, and that’s when the night faded away. All your concerns and worries melted with the warmth he gave to you.

“That’s it,” Avo moaned into your ear. “That’s my girl.”

“Avo-” you gasped.

He moved deeply inside you, his cock thrusting into those spots that made you feel best. He grunted and snarled, gnashing sharp teeth as you tightened your inner walls around him.His deep breathing, his pleasured sounds, they mixed like a cocktail in your mind to make you drunk upon him. Your cries of pleasure must have egged him on, because he bore down upon your without mercy.

Sweat dripped down your skin, and your breath seemed to fog the air around you. The world was hazy, all you could make out was him. He was deep inside you, making you forget the world and everything else. He knew how to make you moan, make you cry. Avo breathed into you something that moved your body and pushed your soul out for a moment. He made you dizzy and spin until you felt him inside you so warm you began to drip back into yourself as he dripped from inside you.

It wasn’t until morning, and bright light shone in your eyes, that you realized the night had passed. You sat up in bed, hearing voices approaching. You got up and quickly put on some clothes.

“Avo,” you whispered into his ear. “Avo, wake up.”

He moaned and turned towards you, slowly opening his eyes. “Give me five minutes and I can go again.”

You chuckled. “No silly, you need to go and get ready.”

His eyes widened and he instantly became fully awake. “What?” He jumped up from the bed. “Already?” He opened the curtain to see the world outside. People from the carnival were already up and about, preparing for the ceremony.

“I can’t believe it.” he looked back at you and grinned. “Today’s the day.”

You smiled, standing on tiptoe to kiss him. “Are you nervous?”

“Only a little,” he chuckled.

The two of you were separated by your wedding parties. Ruby took you to her home to help you get ready. She had your wedding dress all ready, and Muna was doing my makeup.

“Authaire has a surprise for you,” Ruby told me. “Since the big top isn’t usable, he’s done something special for today.”

“I figured he would,” you sighed. “I feel bad having the wedding with that happening now. It feels…strange.”

“It’s just a tent,” Ruby murmured. “It’s sad, but luckily it can be replaced. No one was hurt, thankfully.”

Muna sighed. “Did you get any sleep last night?” You blushed and he got a big grin “Never mind,” he chuckled.

Ruby sat down beside you and painted your nails. “I think we all need this today,” she murmured. “Something so wonderful after losing the big top. You and Avo are special around here.”

“Really?” You were shocked.

“Don’t move! Lipstik!” Muna fussed.

Ruby smiled. “It’s thanks to you that I’m here, so for me that’s important. It feels like…because of you two, a lot got started here.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” you murmured.

After a while of getting prepped by Muna, you had a small meal, some touch ups, and then you were put into your wedding dress. It was made for you by the carnival wardrobe, and it looked like you had been born into this dress. Everything about it was simply perfect. It was an off white, antique in color to make the twenties aesthetic of the gown. The long train shimmered like a pool behind you, and the beeding had a way of making you glow like an angel.

“You look amazing,” Ruby whispered.

You were lead behind the cafeteria where you saw the surprise Mr. Faire had in store. There was a large field that had been set up with picnic tables and some storage. It had been cleared away and a large canopy had been built and it was draped in twinkling light and flowers. Petals floated through the wind, and the green of the grass reminded you of Avo’s gaze.

“It’s beautiful,” you whispered.

“You like it?” Mr. Faire came up beside you and offered his arm.

You smiled brightly. “I love it. Than you so much.” You took his arm as music swelled and as your bridesmaids walked out onto the aisle you held your breath.

“Those little things don’t matter,” he whispered. “Even that big thing yesterday doesn’t matter.” he smiled brightly down at you. “You and Avo matter.”

You smiled at him as the music changed. You looked down the aisle as people rose from their seats. At the end you saw Avo waiting for you. He looked gorgeous in his green suit, his long hair braided and styled, full of flowers and glittering gems. You felt full, your eyes began to leak tears. Everything was perfect.

At the end of the aisle, Mr. Faire handed you to Avo. His hands clutched yours tight and he smiled so brightly at you.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered.

“So are you,” you giggled.

The ceremony commenced, and before you knew it, the two of you were married. The ring on your hand felt like a missing weight. And the whole carnival erupted with cheer.

It didn’t fully hit you until you were dancing with Avo under the canopy. Soft music played and you could hear the happy chatter all around you.

“It was all worth it, wasn’t it?” Avo asked.

“It was,” you kissed him again for the millionth time that day.

Avo gazed into your eyes. “You were always my family,” he said. “But this…I don’t know how, but this just feels amazing.”

“I know,” you breathed. “I feel it too.”