Helping Hand — Jimmy Darling x Reader AHS One-Shot 2/3
The first place that Jimmy led you to was the mess hall tent where a few of the others were just hanging out and talking. Some of which you remembered from the diner and a few that you had yet to meet. Like the short male that wore tall brown and grey feathers on his head and a furry collared shirt that covered him up well enough, but he wore no pants. He held a live chicken in his hands. There were two pinheads that seemed thrilled together, like a married couple with the small Indian woman in the woman’s hands, and it made a smile come to your lips. They were so cute together. The last new person you saw there that you hadn’t met at the diner was a larger brunette woman with a beard. None of the people that you saw truly terrified you or startled you.
Jimmy slipped into the canopy and offered a smile to the bearded woman. “Hey Ma. It smells amazing.” He said, reaching up to rub the woman’s back before turning back to you. “Ma. This is Y/N Y/L/N. She wants to sponsor us. Y/N, this is my Ma, Ethel Darling. The guy with the chicken is Meep. Then you got Pepper and Salty and Ma Petite.”
You slunk under the canopy and offered the woman a smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you.” You looked over to the others and gave them smiles as well. “All of you, really.” Your gaze shifted over to the food that Ethel was cooking up. “Do you need any help? I’d be happy to help.” You offered as you made your way over.
Ethel looked up from what she was doing and looked over at her boy before turning her attention over to you. She gave you a courteous smile and inspected you from head to toe, sizing you up. “So you want to sponsor us, do ya? Now why is that?”
“I want to sponsor you guys because I want to. You guys deserve it and I’ve been dying to find something to invest in and this show and everyone in it deserves every penny I have to give to fund this show.” You explained, desperately seeking approval that you didn’t know that you were pining for. A kind smile took over the one that you were currently wearing.
Ethel bucked up and listened to your story, trying to wrap her head around it. She was deciding if the woman before her was telling the truth. Being who she was and what she had been through, being treated like a freak for being a woman with a beard. Knowing people's true intentions and the fake facades they put on was part of the job description, so to speak. The woman thought it odd that you didn’t call their freak show for what it was. You merely called it a show like a comedy show or a dinner and a show. Your tone sounded sincere in your answer that you wanted to give away your money on a group like them. “Ya seem genuine in what ya say. But how do we know ya mean what you say?”
You hummed softly, taking a moment to think of an answer, and it came to you. “I know how I can prove it to you. I won’t take a dime and I’ll help around the camp. Treat me like I’m one of you. I can do a little singing. Though I don’t personally think I’m as good as you or anyone else here in their acts. But let me work for my keep.” You clasped your hands together and interlaced your fingers together, pleading that she would accept your paltry offer.
A few tense minutes passed as Ethel stared you down and once she deemed your offer was good enough, she finally said. “Alright. I will pass that onto Miss Elsa. I’ll let my boy finish your tour of the place and then we’ll put you to work.”
You practically rushed the older woman with glee. The pure and innocent glee that you felt that Ethel, Jimmy’s mother, would put in a good work with Miss Elsa about the arrangement that you made with her. You wrapped your arms around Ethel in a tight hug, bouncing up and down in place. “Thank you so much, Miss Ethel Darling. You are a doll, truly.” You said before you released her from the hug with the largest and brightest grin on your face that you could muster. Ethel shared the sentiments and return the smile with a light-hearted chuckle.
Logically, you knew that you would have to meet with this Elsa person who was in charge of the whole freak show at some point. Probably that night, once you settled into a tent or caravan with one of the many entertainers. Part of you hoped that it would be with Jimmy, but surely they would never allow you to bunk with him. Things might happen. From the looks of it, Jimmy Darling was the real ladies’ man.
Jimmy laughed lightly as he watched the display in front of him between the two ladies and he placed a hand on your shoulder. “Come on, let’s finish this tour, huh? And maybe you can show me your singin’? Like a rehearsal before Miss Elsa hears ya because I’m sure that she’d wanna have ya show off what you can do to see if you’re gonna make the cut, so to speak.”
You looked back at Jimmy, feeling his hand on your shoulder. You nodded, and the smile didn’t fade from your lips. “Of course. Lead the way.” You quickly turned back to the others and gave them all a wave goodbye.
Over the course of the rest of the tour, you got to meet with everyone except for Miss Elsa, along with the others that you met earlier at the diner, and chat with them about a little of this and that. It was amazing to see their individual talents and what they brought to the greater community. It made you want to prove yourself all the more and building this rapport with them seemed to be worth it.
The last place that Jimmy showed you was the main show tent, and he slipped away while your eyes took in the sight of where they performed their acts. Inside the tent was larger than what you were expecting it to be from what you could make from it on the outside. Chairs set up and lined up with an aisle down the middle of the tent. A stage platform at the back of the tent with a microphone stand on it. Speakers on each side and music equipment set up off to the side. A large open curtain draped to create a beautiful waterfall on both sides of the stage.
“Testin’.” Jimmy’s voice broke through your thoughts over the live microphone and you immediately brought your attention to the stage where you saw the male standing there. He looked so perfect up there. Like he was made to be on stage as casual as he looked up on that stage. “Testin’. I think we’re ready. Don’t worry, I’ll play sum music for ya so ya aren’t goin’ completely solo up on there. Figure that it might make ya a bit more comfortable.”
“Sounds perfect. Thank you.” You said, reaching out your hand to place it on his chest momentarily. “Promise not to laugh if I completely bomb this. I’ve never performed on stage before.”
He gave his charming smile to you and reached up, taking your hand in his. “Don’t be scared. Jus’ pretend it’s just the two of us. Sing to me, alright?” He reassured you. “Because I have a feelin’ that the others are gonna wander in here when they hear your song.” He gently led you over to the stage and walked you up onto the wooden platform, taking you to the mic. “You got this.” He met your gaze and winked his signature little charming wink that made any girl melt. The corners of his lips curled into a light smirk before he jumped off the stage and took a few steps away before turning back around to see you on the stage all on your lonesome. “Beautiful.” He uttered to himself, thinking that you wouldn’t hear it, but you did.
Your cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment, but you cleared your throat as soon as he walked away to put on some instrumental music in the background. He returned to his spot dutifully, giving you another charming wink. You looked up, closed your eyes, took a deep breath before lowering your head and opening your eyes. Your eyes trained on him as you sang with the music. The song you chose was ‘Strangers Like Me’ by Phil Collins. It seemed quite apt given the situation. Though fitting in the nicest way.
As you sang to the sung, like Jimmy said, the others filed into the tent with hearing the music coming from the tent. Even Miss Elsa showed up to see what all the commotion was all about after Ma Petite, Salty, and Pepper came by to tell her what was going on. You were so engrossed in the song and focused on Jimmy that you hadn’t really noted the others until the song came to a stop. Seeing everyone there to watch you sing sent anxious shivers down your body and your face to flush immediately.
“That was beautiful. Truly something to behold.” The older woman with curly blonde hair and a german accent spoke as she walked closer to the stage. “I hear from Ethel that you wish to make your keep here and sponsor our little show, taking nothing for yourself. Don’t you think that is a poor business decision on your part if you wish to invest in us?”
With Jimmy’s helping hand, you jumped off of the small stage and stood directly in front of it before the great Elsa Mars. “I’m not interested in the money, Miss Elsa. I see some real potential in this show and I want to put my money where it is needed most. Not where I can make the quick buck. I genuinely adore everyone here. For who they are. Because they are people, just like me. Just because they are different doesn’t mean that they aren’t living, breathing people like anyone else.”
Jimmy’s gaze softened slightly towards you as he listened to every word that came out of your mouth. A small sense of pride overcame him for finding such an amazing sponsor for their show and breathtaking as well, with a heart of gold. You saw them as he saw them. You two were one in the same, cut from the same metaphorical cloth, and he loved that about you.
“I see.” Elsa drew out, taking a drag from her lit cigarette. She blew out the smoke that filled her lungs off to the side before turning her head back to you. “Well, I suppose you and Jimmy here think similarly and you seem genuine in your claims. We are glad to have you join us, Miss...”
“L/N. Y/N L/N.” You introduced delightfully, extending your hand to the woman who returned the exchange to shake hands.
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