Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Pomni trotted inside the jungle-gym of sorts. 

As the jester turned the corner, she noticed Jax staring down at seemingly nothing.

“I lost Kinger…but I got him down to one life!” 

“I lost a life but I got us down to one Kinger!” As Jax spoke, he spun his hand gun around his index finger and pointed towards the floor.

Pomni almost chuckled. “How’d you let her take a life off you?”

The rabbit seemed genuinely confused for a moment. “I don’t really know…”

———

The duo walked peacefully down their path where they planned to find Kinger. The two walked in comfortable silence until that silence was broken-

“What’s your whole corn thing?”

Jax seemed to scoff. “Tch…what corn thing?”

“Why…are you afraid of corn?”

“And- don’t say that you’re not! You literally jumped out of your seat twice when you saw some!” The jester quickly added.

Jax thought about his answer for a bit before responding. “I don’t know…it’s got a bunch of little pods on it…looks like an egg sack or something…it’s gross- makes my skin crawl” The lanky rabbit shuddered at the last part.

“Do you have a type of…trypo…phobia?”

“What’s that?”

“The fear of lots of little holes.”

Jax quickly tried to suppress a shudder at the thought, but failed; his lavender fur spiking up as he did so.

“Okay! Hmmmm…what about pomegranates?” Pomni poked.

“Awful-” Jax responded quickly.

“I’m learning a lot about you today!” Pomni’s mood seemed to lighten a tad.

He quickly looked away right as his face began to warm. Jax wasn’t used to that.

“Tch- let’s not forget we’re here to kill people! We still need to find out where nuts-o went before we can rest easy.” Jax took his pointer finger to his head and twirled it around for emphasis.

Ironically, just as the rabbit finished his sentence, the short jester seemed to freeze in her tracks, looking past Jax’s side.

“I’m right behind you, aren’t I?”

———

Great…

Alone in an empty room- how come…

Is she happier with Jax than with me?

Ragatha recalled the lighting round.

“Hey- uh Pomni! Remember when Kaufmo smashed me against the walls and I got all jumbled up?? All things considered…that was pretty funny right?” Ragatha forced a laugh as she spoke

Pomni seemed to look uncomfortable at the memory. “Uhhh…no…not really”

“Right…yeah- that was probably really traumatic for you-” Ragatha yelled at herself internally for fumbling so bad. She had also spilled her guts to the group…no one had even asked Ragatha.

She had tried so hard to help Pomni out when she first got here, but had Ragatha been pushing her away? Jax surely hated her for that. Her mind thought back to the “softball” adventure.

“Tch- can you stop? You’re doing it again Rags…” The rabbit scoffed

“No…I’m not.” Ragatha paused “What am I doing wrong?”

“You always try waaay too hard if you ask me…” Jax grimaced “Just be real for a minute- why are you trying to make everyone-”

“Well it’s better than being an insensitive jerk who deflects everything!” 

Ragatha had lashed out at Jax and Pomni that day. Pomni had forgiven her…but it still didn’t seem oka. Jax looked like he had hated her. Especially when she mentioned Ribbit during stargazing.

Ragatha still felt as if she were sinking right through her seat.

POP!

———

“HIGH FIVE!”

“YEAH!” The jester jumped up in excitement to high five the lanky rabbit as she laughed.

The duo exited the hall and stalked around; trying to find Zooble and Gangle.

Even though that fight took a ton out of Pomni, she was on an adrenaline rush! That gun fight with Kinger really had her on her toes. (Quite literally)

She and Jax were pulled out of their focus as a booming clatter was heard from afar.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Jax sneered

“A race?!” The short jester dared “READYSETGO!!” The words mashed together as she spoke quickly. Right as Pomni finished, she bolted off towards the noise.

“CHEATER!” Jax called as he too, started to sprint off.

The lavender rabbit caught up to Pomni and swiftly scooped her up with one arm, holding her like a football. The jester would squirm in his grasp; the jean-like material of Jax’s overalls rubbing against her cheek.

“Who’s the cheater now?!” Pomni would squeal as she giggled.

“Whaaaat? You were being slow! We don’t want Gangle and Zoobs getting away, do we? It would have taken you way too long!” Jax quipped as he glanced down.

The two reached their destination. They had reached…

“The Play Palace??” The duo read the large sign in unison. Jax shrugged to Pomni as the pair tip-toed inside.

———

Zooble had spotted a small hand gun hiding beneath many vibrant metal pipes. They would groan as they hoisted the pieces of metal up and over their head, dropping multiple by accident.

CLANG! CLONG!

Zooble froze. “S#!$” A loud bleeping sound effect could be heard as Zooble cursed.

Knowing that their cover was bound to be blown now, they rushed back to where they left Gangle. 

As Zooble approached, Gangle would wave happily. She must have noticed Zooble’s tense aura as they approached because her smile quickly dropped.

“Hey Zooble…What’s wrong?”

“Gangle! Our cover is blown!” The toy box character would yell as they jogged before pausing to offer their hand. “Let’s go!”

The ribbon girl quickly accepted their hand, interlocked their fingers and together, the two ran deeper into The Play Palace.

———

Gangle and Zooble had found a spot to rest for a moment. Gangle sank to the floor, pulling her ribbon legs close her chest, eventually breaking the silence.

“Do you…think Jax is gonna be mad that I didn’t team up with him?”

“I wouldn’t worry about it- it’s all just a game right?” Zooble responded, trying to help.

“It’s Jax though…he probably wants revenge, and he’s going to make it painful and-”

“Hey, you deserve better than thinking about him when he isn’t even here.” The toy-box character pointed out. “It’s not fair to you. You're a human. You aren’t his toy.” Zooble sat down next to Gangle, quickly scooting close.

“Zooble…” Gangle’s breath hitched as she noticed their close proximity to one another.

“I’m sorry.” Zooble answered apologetically.

“Why are you apologizing? It isn’t your fault…”

“No one deserves to feel that way, but he won’t stop tormenting you. And I try…but he never stops.”

“Hey- it’s fine. It’s just-” Gangle would sniffle involuntarily.

Zooble then raised a hand up to wipe a tear from her mask. “You’re going to be okay. If he does anything…I’ll be there for you, okay? To talk to or for…literally anything.”

They stood before pulling Gangle up with them. The two interlocked their hands together.

Gangle quickly pressed a kiss to Zooble’s cheek. “Thanks Zooble…”

The other’s face immediately flushed a deeper shade of magenta before looking away. “Listen…” Zooble looked back. “I’ve got your back if you’ve got mine.”

“Got it…now let’s go kill Pomni and Jax!” Gangle smiled before Zooble pulled her into a hug. The two gradually pulled away.

Zooble offered their hand. Gangle gladly took it before they both headed to find Pomni and Jax.

———

“Wow! What a game! Who knew Pomni could be such a sharp shooter? These adventurers huh?”

The loser corner was very dim in lighting and had multiple seats. In the center stood a large fish tank with many different types of fish. In one of the many seats, Kinger noticed Ragatha sitting in silence. She seemed lost in thought or zoned out. He couldn’t quite tell the difference, but something was clearly wrong. Her eye seemed glossed over; it looked as if it was about to spill over with tears. Ragatha’s gaze was out and focused on nothing. It seemed distant. Her legs were pulled to her body, tightly squeezed by her plush arms. The seams of her hands looked tight and tense as if at any moment she would burst.

“Uh…are you feeling alright?” The chess piece questioned.

There was no response from the ragdoll. Kinger swiftly sat down next to her.

“Are you upset that we lost?”

Ragatha subtly shook her head no.

“Or are you upset about something else…”

Ragatha slowly nodded her head as a yes.

“Would you wanna talk about it?” Kinger scooted closer as he spoke.

———

Ragatha was cold…and was on her knees in a familiar kitchen. She was shaking. But where…how- her childhood home. She had left…why was she here?! How-

“I don’t have time for this…” A familiar voice boomed from behind Ragatha. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” 

It was her mother. Ragatha froze.

“Really? Right now of all times?” Her voice gradually upped in volume. “Why must you be so hysterical? We have somewhere to be…you’re seventeen years old damn it…”

“I-I-I’m sorry mama…” Ragatha couldn’t breathe well. She sucked in a shaky breath. Tears were threatening to spill. Before her mother responded further.

“Go clean yourself up…I can’t be seen with you looking like this.” Her mother scoffed in disgust, looking down at Ragatha. Her mother huffed before trudging downstairs.

Ragatha pushed herself to her feet and bolted to her room. Her knuckles were white on the door’s handle as she shoved it open. Her whole body shook as tears fell from her eyes. She fell back against the door and tucked her knees to her chest.

Why am I such an idiot- why did I do that?!

What had even happened?

She continued to shake and cry before a voice came- 

”Are you feeling alright?” A voice came to pull her from her memories and thoughts.

Ragatha hadn’t been crying- it was just the past…but-

That voice belonged to Kinger.

Ragatha didn’t want to lie…how long had he even been there for- probably long enough to see her spiraling. Lying would not help her. She took in a shaky breath as her hands quivered against her legs.

“I think…I might have failed Pomni. Just like I failed Jax.” Her voice wavered “I try too hard to get on their good side. Then I just end up pushing them away.” Feeling of shame and guilt rushed through her, forcing her lip to quiver. “Then they end up…hating me.”

Kinger spoke. “Well, I don’t think anyone in here hates you-”

Ragatha almost scoffed as she quickly responded. “Jax does! Gangle and Zooble don’t talk to me much and Pomni probably won’t after today either. She came to me wanting to be on my team…I said no…why did I do that?”

After a moment of silence, Kinger spoke. “It sounds to me like you just needed a break- seems like you put too much pressure on yourself to be there for everyone and when you’re not, you beat yourself up for it.” He paused for a second before he proceeded. “You said you failed Pomni…why do you feel that way?”

Ragatha looked up to Kinger as he spoke, her eyes became less blurred. Her face burned at the question but she genuinely didn’t know why. “I don’t know…I feel like it’s my responsibility but…she’s different- I’m not sure. She seems to be drifting further apart…maybe she sees through me and doesn’t trust me anymore…soon she’ll be a different person; one who doesn’t even want me around. I want her to know me…really bad.” Her voice broke at the last part. She couldn’t bear going deeper into how she felt truly.

“The way I see it? Relationships are two sided- there’s no use putting in work if the other isn’t in the mood” Kinger glanced over to the ragdoll.

“We all have our own ways of coping and dealing with problems. Sometimes people just like doing things their own way. As long as you’re still there when they need you.”

“I don’t even know what I want…I just want everyone to be happy and- I don’t want people to hate me…”

“Do you hate yourself?” Kinger asked

The ragdoll flinched at the question, her began to water as she froze; staring into his eyes.

Kinger quickly gathered Ragatha in for a hug. The doll sat there, frozen for a second before reciprocating the embrace.

She sniffled into the robe’s fabric while Kinger patted her back gently.

Kinger spoke as she sobbed. “I hated myself…I couldn’t help hating myself for the things I believed I was responsible for…until you showed up- my outlook just…changed.” After a while, she pulled back. “There are always ways of showing you care without ruining yourself over it. You need to look out for yourself too.” The chess piece smiled.

“Thanks, Kinger.” She chuckled, adding;  “I don’t get it…I’ve barely been able to keep it together but…you- how have you been around for so long?”

Kinger shrugged before responding gently. “I suppose I just have a resilient mind.”

Ragatha rested her head on Kinger’s shoulder as they watched the fish tank together.

———

Adrenaline rushed through Pomni’s veins as she ran beside Jax. They reached the large tubes of the play palace.

“ARE YOU GUYS STILL FOLLOWING US?” Gangle called from the front.

“Yeah, we’re still following you!” Jax piped up.

“Where else would we be?!” Pomni added.

Eventually the duos reached a long section of the play tubes. “This is a long one! We’re gonna have to run!” Zooble yelled.

As the two ran, gunshots began to fire from the bend behind them. Zooble shots multiple fires back. Gangle ducked. Eventually they too, reached a corner to shoot from. Eventually the bullets stopped.

“Shoot…” Pomni muttered.

Jax’s voice echoed through the plastic tubes. “Why’d you stop shooting? Ya out of ammo?!”

“Why’d you stop? You out of ammo?” Zooble fired back.

The rabbit turned to Pomni. “Pom-Pom, got any ammo left?”

She gestured to her pistol. “I have one in the cylinder and a sniper round…but no sniper rifle.”

As the rabbit and the jester discussed their situation Gangle had found her tommy gun.

“Crap”

Manic laughter sounded from the other end of the tube before gunshots echoed as well. Gangle turned the corner to start shooting recklessly at the two.

Jax and Pomni had dodged all of the shots strategically but there was one problem…

Holes…lining the walls of the tubes like a hole-puncher.

The tube-like halls began to shake before dividing into two. The pairs fell and fell before hitting the ground forcefully.

Through Pomni’s blurred vision, she potted a sniper rifle near where she landed on the floor. She quickly scrambled to get a hold of it and load up the singular round she had.

Pomni aimed it at gangle’s mask the moment she got up. They both had guns pointed to each other.

CLICK, CLICK, BOOM!

Gangle fell to the floor as her happy mask shattered with a twang!

“S#!t!” Zooble cursed as they bolted for their door. They only had one life left.

The rabbit and the jester quickly followed in pursuit to chase them down.

Zooble sprinted to their room and locked the door behind them.

“You’re just gonna hide in your room?!” Jax called.

“Coward!” The jester added as she held back laughter.

Pomni almost flinched as Jax nudged her twice with the back of his glove. It seemed he wanted her to follow his lead- like he had an idea?

To her surprise, Jax began to sing…

“Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do! I’m half crazy all for the love of you!”

Pomni joined in right at the second line.

As the two sang, Zooble yelled, “Are you really singing that now?!”

“It won’t be a stylish marriage…I can’t afford a carriage!” Pomni harmonized with the rabbit as they joined hands and Jax twirled the short jester about. His face went warm as the short one giggled while singing.

“But you’ll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two!”

Right as the duo stopped, Jax averted his gaze before changing the subject.

“Oh wait! I got a key to Zooble’s room!”

That turned out to be a mistake- because right when Jax unlocked the door, a stun grenade was tossed through the doorway.

Pomni stumbled back and Jax fell to the floor. 

The two were then pelleted by bullets repeatedly. The sound of gunshots and laughter sounded from Zooble. Their appearance now showing more than two arms, four now; with each one holding a weapon. When Zooble was satisfied with the violence, they took off towards the stage and out of the hall.

Jax and Pomni were both down to one life.

———

“W-wait!” Jax called as Pomni ran off.

“Don’t worry partner, I got this!” The jester called back. She was heading to take down Zooble; their last enemy left.

Pomni ran and ran until she reached the end of the balcony. She spotted Zooble heading for the stage.

“I have one in the cylinder and a sniper round…but no sniper rifle.”

She recalled the play tubes…right- she had one shot left-

Let’s make this shot count-

“Like the way you’re aiming that gun…too realistic! Just let loose!” She thought back to Jax’s advice at the beginning of the round. Even though most of it was a strange monologue on his weird logic, his intel on shooting was fairly useful.

Pomni shrugged as she scoffed. She spun the gun around her index finger and then in the air. With no particular aim, she pointed the barrel of the pistol to the ceiling of the tent. The bullet ricocheted off of the ceiling and to the floor. Then to the wall, eventually hitting Zooble’s guns out of their hands.

“Okay, that’s actual bulls#!#!” Zooble yelled as they tripped to the floor. The toy-box character grunted as they rested on their elbows. As they expected, Jax and Pomni were above them, looming over zooble with weapons aimed toward their face.

“Well…I guess that’s it- see you on the flip side!” Zooble held up all of their arms to flip off the duo.

BAM!

———

“HAHA! We did it! We won!” Pomni was on an adrenaline rush. Usually she wasn’t a fan of physical touch, but at the moment she doesn’t mind.

The jester jumped up to wrap her arms around Jax in a hug.

Jax smiled for a second while he put his hand on her hat.

Until he realized what was happening…

Wait- no, no, no!

Jax quickly shoved Pomni away with all the force his arm could muster. 

Jax tried to brush off what just happened. “Tch…yeah to be fair- our competition wasn’t anything crazy!”

“Y-Yeah true!” Pomni turned for effect. “I suppose this is the part where one of us betrays the other…AHA!” The jester turned with her pistol aimed at the rabbit.

She was surprised to see Jax staring at his hand. Jax quickly tossed his gun away once he snapped back to the present. “Ohhhh yeah you can betray me!” Jax sounded too casual.

“Oh I uh thought this would be a mutual thing-” Pomni sheepishly confessed.

“Nah, nah go on do it!” Jax poked.

“I don’t really want to…” Pomni admitted.

“La-ame! C’mon I thought you were cool!”

“We could just b-be winners…as a team?” Pomni suggested.

“We’re not a team c’mon…”

“What are you talking about- yes we are…”

“Delusional!” Jax twirled his finger to mock the jester.

“But weren’t we kinda bonding over chaotic-evil together?” Pomni tried to reason with the rabbit.

“I was merely entertaining you because I thought it was funny! Now, are you gonna shoot me or what?” Jax leaned down to her level

“Did I…do something wrong?”

“Jeez- you sound like Ragatha right now- no wonder we aren’t a team!” Jax retorted.

“No I mean…W-We were having fun…talking- you’re suddenly just-” 

“You’re not committing.” The rabbit took a hold of the gun and held it to his forehead.

He almost whispered. “Do it.”

Jax had an uncanny smile plastered on his face as he spoke. It made Pomni feel a cold shiver down her spine.

“If I shoot you right now…are we still gonna be friends afterwards?”

The lanky rabbit narrowed his eyes as his unsettling smile widened. “We were never friends.”

“Uh- W-What about all that stuff you told me?” Pomni looked like a puppy who had just been kicked.

Jax then stood and spoke. “Yeah I did tell you a lot, did I? I’m gonna have fun thinking about that tomorrow-”

“No, no, no, no. We’re not doing this…you’re not gonna in the eye and tell me nothing we’ve been doing together meant anything to you because I-I know that’s not true!”

The rabbit’s arms were at his sides before throwing them in the air. “…Are you coming onto me? Yeah- that’s what everybody wants; a straight couple!” 

“Oh my GOD!” Pomni gritted her teeth. “Can you take this seriously…can’t you take anything seriously?!”

“Tch- dude…you’re a cartoon clown. How am I supposed to take you seriously?”

“You reached out to me! Not the other way around! You’re seriously just gonna pretend that didn’t happen?”

“You must be misremembering.”

“Is this why you didn’t how up to Kaufmo’s funeral?”

“I don’t show up to any-” Jax crossed his arms before he was interrupted.

“Yeah, I bet you don’t. Because you’re scared- you’re scared you’ll show an actual human emotion!”

“I’m scared I’ll be bored to tears!” Jax corrected.

“Have you ever thought that this is what causes people to abstract in the first place?!” Pomni’s voice was raising.

“Oh my GOD!” The rabbit let out a bitter laugh before quickly turning around; Pomni flinched back terribly. “Are you seriously gonna blame me for something everyone else did too?! You didn’t even know em’! You don’t even know what people are like before they abstract! They are NOT pleasant to be around- like at all! You-”

Jax quickly cut himself off before he continued further. He was already saying too much.

“I-I’m sorry…”

Jax would click his tongue. “I’m sure you are.” His eyes narrowed as his smile faded.

He turned to gather himself. “Hooooo- man…this is all sorts of embarrassing- huh?”

There was no response. Once looked back at the jester, she wasn’t facing him. Instead she was looking down at her gun.

“…What would you do if I abstracted tomorrow?” Pomni’s voice sounded hushed, haunted yet focused. As if Jax was a wild animal Pomni was afraid to spook.

Jax’s arms dropped to his side before he finally looked to Pomni.

“…I’d move on…and probably forget about you” He tilted his head at the Jester. Her face dropped right as he finished.

Jax regretted his words right as they left his mouth. He couldn’t take them them back. They’d already hit her too hard.

“Okay…” The jester turned back away from him. “Okay…I understand…”

Jax couldn’t see her face but he could only hear the gun shaking in her hands.

“Jeez- you really can’t take a joke can y-”

BANG!

The rabbit’s voice was cut off by a gunshot. He saw Pomni’s body go limp as it fell to the floor. It quick popped out of existence.

Before he realized what he did, confetti fell from the air and kazoos sounded from above.

Words appeared above his head; WINNER!