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"What would you do if I abstracted tomorrow?"
When Pomni asked that question, Jax's shoulders went slack. His back was still turned to Pomni, so she couldn't see his face.
When Jax turned his head around to look at Pomni, his face was blank. "I'd move on", he answered simply.
Then he turned his body all the way around. He tilted his head to the side, a blank smile crawling on his face. "And probably forget about you."
Pomni blinked in slight disbelief. After everything they had been doing together, Jax had just admitted that if Pomni had abstracted, he wouldn't care in the slightest.
"Okay... okay", Pomni breathed, her voice shaky. Then she turned her back to Jax, looking down at the gun in her hand. "I understand."
Jax's fake smile fell slightly at Pomni's reaction. He hadn't meant to hurt her feelings, but this was the only way he could keep himself and Pomni safe.
So, Jax just scoffed in response. "Jeez, you really can't take a joke, can you?"
As he watched Pomni for an answer, he saw a glitch. Pomni's hat had glitched in a flash. But Jax saw it and his face shifted into a worried and concerned expression.
"Pomni?", he asked quietly, reaching a hand out to her.
Pomni glitched more dangerously, making Jax take two steps back. Then Pomni chuckled, but it didn't sound right.
"You did it again, Jax. You pushed the one person who cared about you away", Pomni spoke in a deep glitchy voice.
Jax's eyes widened, his pupils shrinking. "What?", he asked in a tiny voice.
When Pomni turned around to look at Jax, she changed. It wasn't Pomni anymore. Jax gasped when he saw his old friend.
Ribbit now stood before him, his face blank. "Remember when you told me the same thing? That you'd forget about me if I abstracted? Well, you really hurt me, Jax", Ribbit spoke a bit sadly.
Jax blinked away tears. He stepped closer to Ribbit, then fell to his knees.
"Ribbit, I... I didn't mean to...", Jax stuttered helplessly.
"It doesn't matter now, does it? I'm gone, and now Pomni will abstract because of you. Because you're too scared to let anyone be close to you like I was before", Ribbit added, crossing his arms.
Suddenly, Ribbit grabbed hold of Jax's throat, making him choke. Jax stared into Ribbit's eyes, which quickly changed back into Pomni's red and blue eyes. But her eyes turned into a bright and ugly green and yellow and pink color.
"This is all your fault. You made me into this", Pomni's voice rang in Jax's ears.
Then her body glitched even more as she turned into something else. Jax watched in horror as Pomni turned into that abstracted monster.
Jax's heart raced in fear. He reached his hands out to try to grab the monster's face. "Pomni, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... please don't leave me", he panicked in a choked voice as the monster continued to choke him.
The monster looked down at Jax. "It's too late. What's done is done. You can't change what happened now."
Then, the monster towered over Jax, opening its mouth. Jax didn't have time to react before the monster swallowed him whole. Everything went black.
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Jax screamed helplessly, bolting awake. He gasped and panted as his heart raced. He placed a hand over his chest, trying to calm his beating heart. He took a couple more deep breaths, grounding himself in the present.
When he got his barings back, Jax looked around to see that he was in the main lobby of the digital circus. He sat on the red couch in the lobby where the others normally would hang out when Caine wasn't bothering them.
The last thing he remembered was that he had fallen asleep on the couch while the others chatted together. Caine had been generous today and had decided to let them relax for a whole day.
Jax saw that no one was around, so he guessed they had all gone back to their rooms. Jax rubbed his temples, trying to soothe his mind from that horrible nightmare. Then he sighed and got up from the couch. Jax put his hands in his overall pockets and slowly walked to his room.
When he got to his door, he grabbed the doorknob, but he didn't open the door. He just stood there, staring off. After the nightmare he had, Jax thought there was no way he could go back to sleep.
He darted his eyes around to try and distract himself, but then his eyes landed on Pomni's door. He stared at the adorable picture of Pomni when her eyes went all big.
Jax let go of the doorknob and walked over to stand in front of Pomni's door. He raised a hand to knock on the door, but he stilled for a moment. Jax figured that Pomni was sleeping soundly, and it would be rude of him to wake her.
Jax rolled his eyes at himself, huffing. Ever since the two had that talk the night before, Jax had been feeling different. In front of everyone else, he still acted like himself even around Pomni. But he knew he was in love with Pomni, as silly as it sounded. They had kissed the previous night and agreed to keep their relationship secret.
Jax inhaled through his nose and decided to knock on the door three times. He waited for a few seconds, checking if Pomni was even awake.
The door opened gently, and Jax saw Pomni rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"Um, Jax? What are you doing here?", Pomni asked, yawning.
Jax averted his eyes away from Pomni. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Pomni, now more awake, blushed. "Uh, I um... sure I guess."
Jax nodded and entered the room. Pomni closed the door behind him and put her hands over her stomach.
"Jax, are you okay? Did something happen?", Pomni asked softly.
Jax's ears drooped slightly. "I uh... just wanted to sleep with you, that's all."
Pomni's lips frowned in concern. She knew there was more, but she didn't want to push Jax. So, she just sighed quietly and walked over to her bed. She laid down on it and leaned her head on her pillow. She patted to the empty spot on the bed, gesturing Jax to join her.
Jax blinked slowly like a cat and went over to Pomni. He crawled up to the bed until he was slightly towering over Pomni. Then he closed his eyes and laid his head against Pomni's stomach. He wrapped his arms around her small frame.
Pomni's face flushed a deep red. She felt like if she moved, she would explode. But she slowly put her hands on either side of Jax's head, cradling him.
She didn't utter a word. She waited patiently for Jax to explain why he decided to come in here. He'd probably make the excuse that he just wanted to be near Pomni, which wouldn't be too out of the blue now.
Jax finally sighed against Pomni's stomach, making Pomni shiver slightly. "So, you're probably wondering why I'm here", he said quietly.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to", Pomni assured.
Jax opened one eye. "I had a nightmare that involved you."
Pomni blinked, looking down at Jax. Then her face softened. "It was about the other day, wasn't it?"
Jax felt his heart ache. They both knew what she was referring to. Jax nuzzled his cheek against Pomni's stomach. "I should have never said that to you. That'd I forget about you. It wasn't true. I would be upset if you were to abstract. And... I'd never ever forget about you. In fact, you'd probably haunt me for the rest of my pathetic life."
Pomni ran her hands along Jax's head. She petted his smooth head in comfort. "Jax, I know. I know you didn't mean anything by it. It's okay, I promise."
Jax felt his body relax a bit as he felt Pomni's hands pet him. "The nightmare... I was too late. I... couldn't save you. You changed and..."
"Shh, it's okay. I'm here", Pomni whispered softly.
"You're here now, but... what if you... abstracted tomorrow? What if you abstracted now?", Jax asked in a shaky and quiet voice.
Pomni hummed. "Then you'd be upset. Everyone would be. But I know you'd always hold me and my memories in your heart. You'd grieve for a long time, but that's not a bad thing. It just means you love me, and you always will, long after I'm gone."
Jax's ears perked up a little. He raised his head slightly so he could look at Pomni. "Please, don't abstract yet. Stay with me for just a little longer", he begged quietly.
Pomni huffed a soft laugh. "Don't worry, I'll stay for a long while. And you will too."
Jax let a small smile form on his lips. Pomni smiled back at him as she petted Jax's ears softly. Jax melted into her touch, closing his eyes in pleasure.
Pomni watched as his face changed, smiling in amusement. "So, you like ear pats, huh?", she asked slyly.
Jax huffed a chuckle, grinning. "Don't you dare tell anyone, especially Zooble."
"I don't know, it sounds tempting to tell them. They'd get a good kick out of it", Pomni said with a smug smile.
Jax lifted himself off Pomni and pressed his forehead against hers. "Smug little BLOINK."
Pomni returned the grin. "Guess your smug attitude is starting to rub off on me, bunny boy."
Jax snickered. "Don't call me that. It sounds so cringe", he joked.
Pomni stopped petting Jax and moved her hands to cup his face. "You're cute when you're all flustered. Didn't know you had it in you."
Jax's face heated up, but he still grinned. "Says the jester that burns red. I'm not the only one who gets all flustered."
Pomni blushed red on cue. Jax smiled in amusement. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Cute...", he whispered huskily.
Pomni grumbled. "I will kick you out of this room, I swear."
"Well, no one's stopping you", Jax said with a smirk.
Pomi tsked, rolling her eyes fondly. "You're lucky I love you."
Jax's smug face shifted into a soft expression. "I sure am."
Pomni hummed and pressed her lips against Jax's. Jax closed his eyes as he moved his lips against the jester's. He held Pomni's body close, afraid to let go. Pomni still held Jax's face as they kissed slowly and sweetly.
When they pulled away, they gazed into each other's eyes. Then Jax laid back down on Pomni's stomach.
"Well, I'm beat. Sleep tight, PomPom", Jax said, yawning slightly.
Pomni wrapped her arms around Jax's head, burying him into her stomach. She enjoyed the warmth that emitted from the purple bunny's body.
"Goodnight, Jax", Pomni said softly.
Soon, the two fell into a comfortable slumber. They slept together, keeping each other company for the rest of the night.