Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“What would you do if I abstracted tomorrow?”

Jax's voice was steady, yet a flicker of hesitation danced in his eyes. "I’d move on." He turned his head towards her, a slow and deliberate motion as he added, "And probably forget about you." He tilted his head slightly

“Okay… Okay… I understand…” 

A low scoff escaped Jax's lips, followed by a soft chuckle as he turned back to meet her gaze. “Geez, you really can’t take a joke, can you?” His expression shifted as he blinked and surveyed his surroundings. No longer in the main area and Pomni had vanished from sight.

Jax’s ears twitched involuntarily, the wide smile he wore faltering slightly. When had he arrived in the hallway?

He hesitated for a moment, before making his way down the long corridor, each step echoing in the stillness. He reached his door and halted abruptly, his ears twitching, picking up a sound—a voice?

Turning his gaze across the hall to Pomni’s door, his breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened as he witnessed a ghastly red X slowly materializing on the door, colour oozing down as if it were dripping blood. Panic surged through him, and he took a cautious step closer.

No. 

The noise escalated, static buzzing in his ears like an unwelcoming presence.

Not again.

With trembling hands, Jax reached for the doorknob, desperation clawing at his chest.

Please. 

He flung the door open.

I’m sorry.

The room behind the door was shrouded in impenetrable darkness. 

“Pomni?…” he called out, his voice trembling, almost a whisper. 

Suddenly, a multitude of eyes flickered open in the suffocating void, all staring him down with an unsettling intensity before the darkness surged towards him with a voracious lunge.

Jax jolted upright in his bed, gasping for air as if the remnants of that dream still clung to him. His heart raced in his chest, and his eyes darted around his familiar room, grasping onto reality.

He instinctively clutched the soft fabric of his baggy shirt, his hand shaking as he fought to calm his erratic breathing. Sweat clung to his fur, and his ears were pinned flat against his head.

Pomni.

Throwing off the blanket that had cocooned him, he rushed to the door, yanking it open to peer across the hall. 

The door stood intact, unmarred by any sinister marks.

He exhaled shakily, his ears resuming a more relaxed position. 

Right, it was the day after the awards ceremony. Was anyone else awake yet? He glanced at the clock perched on his nightstand, his eyes widening in horror as he registered the time. 10:30 a.m.? Had he really overslept!?

With urgency coursing through his veins, Jax stepped out of his room, his baggy pyjamas seamlessly morphing into his familiar overalls. He raced down the hall and through the archway before

Looking over the balcony.

To his dismay, everyone was already gathered at the breakfast table, and he rarely missed breakfast.

---

Pomni absently poked at the low-poly food laid out before her, a mix of vibrant colours that now felt dull and unappetizing in her mind. She was lost in reflection, replaying the events of yesterday in her head—how they had shared smiles and laughter, the sparkle in his eyes hinting at a happiness that felt almost fragile. 

Was it the hug that had tipped the balance? Had she pushed him too far?

She had seen through his facade. The way his smile had faltered, how his voice trembled with unspoken fears. And when he had darted away after the awards, something in her gut twisted—a gnawing sense that something was very wrong. 

“Pomni?” A gentle voice broke through her spiralling thoughts.

“Hm? Oh, sorry Ragatha. What were you saying?” She turned to her friend, momentarily disoriented. 

“I was just checking in… is everything alright? You seem… uh… down.” Ragatha's tone was laced with concern, her eyes searching Pomni’s for answers. “Did something happen yesterday?”

“Sort of?… I think I broke Jax.” Pomni's gaze fell back to her plate, trailing off into silence. “After we got zooble, he just…went off. Rambling about how it didn’t mean anything, and well…” She cast her eyes away, guilt gnawing at her insides. “I may have attacked and bitten him.”

“You bit Jax?!” Zooble exclaimed from across the table, a glint of admiration in their voice. “Good, he deserves to be taken down a peg.”

“I don’t know… I feel bad. He didn’t even fight back,” she sighed, her heart heavy with regret. 

“I’m sure he’s fine,” Zooble said with a roll of their eyes. 

“Well… he is late this morning,” Ragatha pointed out, furrowing her brow with concern.

Jax lingered behind one of the large, blocky decorations that adorned the main area. He took a moment to breathe deeply, forcing a familiar smile onto his face before stepping out towards the breakfast table. “Awwww, worried about me, dollface?” he teased, pulling out a chair and dramatically plopping down next to Gangle, his relaxed yet teasing tone barely concealing the storm beneath.

Ragatha shot him a disapproving frown. 

“You’re late,” Zooble stated bluntly, arms crossed defiantly.

“And?” Jax’s ears twitched, his defensiveness bubbling beneath the surface.

“Last time you were late for breakfast, you filled Ragatha's room with centipedes,” Zooble reminded him, their expression full of annoyance. 

Ragatha shuddered at the memory. “Please don’t remind me,” she said, burying her head in her hands in despair.

“Ah, good times.” Jax chuckled, his gaze flickering toward Pomni, only to find her staring intently back at him. He quickly averted his eyes, feeling an uncomfortable knot tighten in his stomach.

Act normal, act normal. It’s fine.

Jax pushed his smile wider, deliberately shifting his attention to Gangle, who was deeply absorbed in her sketchbook.

“Ribbons,” he leaned closer,

Mischief sparked in his eyes.

Gangle squeaked, instinctively pulling her sketchbook protectively to her chest. “Ah… J… Jax… hello,” her voice was soft, laced with anxiety.

“What are you drawing? Something freaky?” He reached out eagerly for the sketchbook.

Gangle flinched and scooted away, clutching her treasured book closer. “No!!” she replied quickly, her voice sharp with urgency.

“Jax, knock it off!” Zooble scoffed, their voice dripping with irritation.

Jax’s ears flattened against his head, a sharp glare cutting through the air as he shot a look back at Zooble. “What? She loves it!” he exclaimed defiantly, snatching Gangle's mask from her grasp and standing tall, holding it teasingly out of reach. “Don’t ya, ribbons?” he taunted, a smirk forming on his face.

Tears began to pool on Gangle's mask, her vibrant colours dimmed by distress as she reached desperately for her beloved comedy mask. “Jax! Please don’t break it!” she pleaded, her voice trembling with anxiety.

“Jax! Give it back!” Zooble’s eyes flared with urgency, a protective instinct flaring up deep inside. They felt compelled to defend her against Jax's antics.

With a wicked glint in his eye, Jax slowly lowered the mask towards Gangle, as if teasing her before abruptly throwing it onto the ground with a grin. “Oops! It slipped!” he said mockingly, a chuckle escaping him as the sound of shattering echoed through the air.

Gangle stared down at her shattered mask, her face falling in despair. “…awh….” she choked out, a heart-wrenching whimper escaping her.

“Jax!” Ragatha scolded, her tone sharp and disapproving.

Lost in his own amusement at Gangle's misfortune, Jax was suddenly shoved. He stumbled backward, eyes wide with surprise when he saw Zooble glaring at him with a fiery intensity. 

“You as*beep*hole! Seriously, what is wrong with you?!” Zooble's voice was fierce, filled with an urgency that left little room for argument. “God, can’t you ever take a hint?!” They let their frustration spill over, punctuating each word with a firm jab of their clawed hand against Jax’s chest, emphasizing their point with every poke.

“We. Don't. Want. You. Here!”

Stunned into silence, Jax stared down at Zooble, realizing with a jolt how rare it was to see them so fired up about something. 

Gangle, watching from the sidelines, felt a warm blush seep into the painted cheeks of her mask as she witnessed Zooble's fierce defence.

With a sudden gentleness, Zooble knelt down, carefully picking up the shards of Gangle's shattered mask. “Hey. I’m sure Caine could fix it?” they offered, trying to soothe Gangle’s distress.

“Ah! Uh…thank you, Zooble!” Gangle replied quickly, her bashful gaze flicking between them and the remnants of her mask.

Taking advantage of the moment, Jax felt the weight of guilt settle over him. He turned and stormed off, the echo of Zooble’s words resounding in his mind like a relentless drum. You’re not wanted, You’re not wanted, You’re not wanted, You’re not wanted… Y̸o̴u̷’̸r̷e̵ ̵n̴o̷t̸ ̵w̵a̴n̶t̸e̶d̵,̵ ̴ 

Pomni observed from a distance, concern creasing her brow as she watched Jax walk away, an unsettling feeling clawing at her insides as his troubled demeanour continued to gnaw at her.

“Caine?” Ragatha called out, her voice rising to break the silence.

In a flash, Caine zoomed over, his presence bursting with energy, and he exclaimed, “Yeeesss?” in a tone far too loud for the stillness of the morning.

“Could you maybe fix Gangle's mask? Jax broke it again,” Ragatha gestured apologetically towards Gangle, who was still reeling from the loss.

“Oh dear!! That’s no good!!” Caine exclaimed, snapping his fingers in an enthusiastic flourish. In an instant, Gangle's mask was whole again, the cracks disappearing as if by magic. “There you go!! All better!” 

A wave of relief washed over Gangle as she slipped the repaired mask back on, her spirits lifted. “Thanks, Caine!”

“Of course! Anything for my silly tangerines! Now! If you will excuse me! I must prepare for the next adventure!” Caine declared, spinning before vanishing in a flurry of confetti.

“Oooh, sounds like we may get the day off!” Ragatha's eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Really?” Pomni asked, a flicker of hope igniting within her.

“Yeah, usually if he doesn’t kick off an adventure after breakfast, it means he’s still working on it,” Ragatha explained, her smile widening. “It’s rare, but it’s such a nice treat.”

“Oh good…I’ve been wanting a break,” Pomni sighed, the weight of the recent events making her crave a moment of peace. The thought of a reprieve from the chaos was too tempting to resist.

As the morning wore on, the tension began to dissipate. Everyone moved to the couches, basking in the rare tranquillity that enveloped them.

However, as time passed, Pomni found herself growing restless. Hours slipped by since Jax had wandered off, and the gnawing feeling deep within her only intensified. She couldn’t shake the unease that hung in the air, pushing her to act.

Taking a deep breath, she stood up, the decision taking form in her mind. “I’m…going to go check on Jax,” she declared, determination sparking in her eyes.

“What? Why?” Ragatha looked up from her book, brow furrowed in concern.

“I don’t know; he just seemed off this morning, and…I want to apologize for yesterday,” Pomni explained, the sincerity in her voice resonating with her friends.

“Well…good luck. If he’s in his room, you won’t be getting him out,” Ragatha warned, a knowing sigh escaping her.

“Uh…thanks. But I’m still going to try,” Pomni insisted, as she walked off.

She made her way up the stairs and down the long, hallway.

Standing before Jax’s door, doubt crept in, but she shook it off; what was the worst that could happen? He yelled at her again? Surely, there wasn’t much more he could say that could hurt her. 

With a deep breath, Pomni steeled herself and rapped her knuckles gently against the door, calling out, “Jax?… It's Pomni. I just wanted to…” Her voice trailed off as she noticed the door was cracked open, a sliver of darkness inviting her in. Since when did Jax leave his door unlocked? 

“Jax?…” she tentatively called again, her heart racing.

Silence greeted her. 

Hesitation washed over her, but curiosity pushed her forward. Slowly, she nudged the door open wider and stepped into the dim interior, anxiety knotting her stomach. 

“JAX!” Her scream echoed through the empty hallway

Chapter Text

Jax knelt on the cold, hard floor of his dimly lit bedroom, a feeling of disorientation overwhelming him. The relentless ringing in his ears pierced through the silence, and his vision flickered like a faulty light bulb, struggling to maintain focus. It was as if the very walls were pressing in around him, each labored breath sending ripples of static coursing through his body, causing his heart to race.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in the stillness, calling out his name. He recognized that voice—the sound was familiar yet distant. Gathering every ounce of will, he slowly forced his gaze upward, his eyes widening in shock at the sight before him. Standing in the doorway was the jester, Pomni. But how had she managed to enter his room? Panic flared inside him, coupled with a wave of confusion.

Pomni felt a wave of nausea wash over her as she pushed open the door. The sight that greeted her was heart-wrenching. Jax was huddled on the floor, his frame trembling violently, each shudder a testament to his anguish. The short, erratic breaths that escaped his lips were tinged with a raw panic that twisted Pomni’s heart.

As Jax turned his gaze towards her, Pomni felt nauseated. Horror gripped her as she took in his appearance. Half of his face was cloaked in a grotesque black glitching mass, sending a shiver of dread down her spine. Large, glistening tears streamed down his cheeks, soaking into his fur beneath them, pooling in a stark contrast to the darkness. The corruption had consumed his arms, rendering them nearly unrecognizable, each limb adorned with a multitude of misaligned, multicolored eyes.

“P̶o̶m̷n̴i̶?̸” Jax’s voice emerged distorted, barely above a whisper, echoing his fear. The chilling thought that she might be in danger sent waves of panic through Jax. 

“P̷o̵m̴n̸i̵ ̷l̵e̵a̶v̷e̸!̶” His voice, filled with desperation, cut through the air, imploring her to run. 

Pomni found herself frozen in the doorway. How long had he been suffering like this? Hours? It was agonizing to witness. She hesitated, weighed down by memories of what had happened with Kaufmo, yet she couldn’t abandon Jax; no one deserved such torment.

“Jax….” Her voice trembled as she took tentative steps forward, closing the distance between them. She knelt next to Jax, taking in what was happening. She was terrified of what might happen next, how long he had before he lost himself entirely to the abstraction.

“Jax…hey….can you focus on me?” The words tumbled from her lips, barely above a whisper.

Blinking slowly, Jax attempted to anchor himself to her voice. Why wasn’t she fleeing? Why had she come closer? “I̶ ̴d̸o̶n̸’̴t̵ ̸w̵a̷n̷t̴ ̶t̶o̸ ̷h̷u̴r̴t̶ ̶y̴o̷u̸!̴”

“Jax, I can’t leave you here! You’re in pain!” Pomni insisted, her eyes pleading for understanding.

His ears drooped, the weight of his suffering palpable in the air. “P̶o̵m̶n̵i̵ ̶I̶” Jax’s voice cracked as he struggled to form words. The creeping abstraction snaked down his legs, a visceral reminder of his decline, and an anguished scream ripped through him.

Pomni gasped, panic surging, but without thinking, she leaned forward, her hands resting on his shoulders, bracing herself for the anticipated pain that never came. Somehow, she remained untouched by the glitching chaos that surrounded him.

“Jax! Hey. Look at me, focus on me,” she urged, her voice wavering but firm.

Jax’s wide eyes darted to meet hers, trembling from agony as his gaze fell to her steady hands. It was inevitable; fear paralyzed him. “D̶o̷n̸’̵t̵ ̵l̴e̴a̵v̴e̷…̶…̷” he whispered, his voice fragile and broken.

“I won’t…. Jax, it’s okay. It’s…it’s going to be okay,” she promised, a shaky smile attempting to break through her worry as she edged closer. 

In that moment, Jax's carefully constructed facade shattered, exposing the raw, unfiltered pain beneath. He felt as though he were slipping away; futile to cling to pretense. When was the last time he allowed himself to experience comfort? Not since…not since Ri…

A choked sob escaped him, and he collapsed forward, desperate for any connection he could find. He clung to Pomni with his distorted arms, craving solace.

Pomni stiffened at first, then took a deep breath, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close. He needed this—she would not leave him alone, no matter the cost. But why wasn’t she glitching alongside him? Was it because he was still aware, still fighting against the tide of oblivion?

“W̵h̷a̴t̸ ̸i̵f̴ ̶I̴ h̷u̴r̷t̶… y̵o̷u̶?̴…̸…̶.̶a̶g̶a̴i̸n̴.” The shame weighed heavy on him, forcing him to avert his gaze, fixating instead on the wall.

“Jax, you’re not hurting me. I promise. It’s okay. See? I’m okay…” she reassured him, her own tears beginning to blur her vision.

Holding him tightly, Pomni found herself instinctively running her fingers through the untouched fur on his back. She inhaled slowly, collecting herself as she closed her eyes.

“D…Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do…

I’m half crazy all for the love of you. 

It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage.

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

Her voice quivered, laden with emotion as she softly sang the familiar tune.

Jax’s multiple eyes fluttered closed as he let her voice fill the space, the warmth of her presence soothing him. 

When Pomni opened her eyes again, a gasp escaped her lips. The glitching on Jax’s legs had receded, returning to their normal state. Disbelief coursed through her. Was it possible that the abstraction was fading? Abstraction didn’t simply vanish; from what the others had told her, no one ever returned from this.

“Jax… your legs…” she whispered in awe.

Jax blinked in confusion, glancing down at his legs. He was shocked to see they had returned to normal. He met Pomni's gaze, uncertainty washing over him.

“Just keep focusing on me. Jax, I think… it’s getting better,” she encouraged, hope filled her voice. She began to chatter about anything that came to mind—recounting tales of her past life, as much as she could remember. Telling stories about the different abandoned buildings she had explored, 

As Jax listened, his body began to relax in her embrace. His arms regained their shape, the glitching on his face dissipating as Pomni's soothing presence calmed him. Gradually, the chaos within him began to surrender, giving way to a fragile sense of hope amid the darkness.

Pomni let out a shaky sigh of relief, feeling the weight of uncertainty lift ever so slightly. He was still here, a tangible presence in a world that often felt chaotic.

“P̸l̸e̵a̴s̵e̶ stay?…” Jax asked quietly, his voice trembling at first but gradually regaining its steadiness, like a calm breeze restoring tranquility to a stormy sea.

“As long as you want me to,” Pomni promised, his tone warm and reassuring as she continued to hold Jax close, enveloping him in a cocoon of comfort and safety.

Jax's eyelids began to grow heavy, the emotional toll of the moment weighing him down. The rhythmic rise and fall of Pomni’s breathing was soothing, and soon, the exhaustion overwhelmed him, pulling him gently into slumber in the warmth of Pomni's arms.

Chapter Text

Jax’s eyes fluttered open slowly, and he was surprised by how well-rested he felt. It had been ages since he had experienced such a deep slumber. In fact, he couldn't recall the last time he had felt this refreshed. 

As he began to wake, he noticed he was curled up against something soft. Blinking the remnants of sleep from his eyes, he focused and realized who he was nestled against: the small, tranquil form of Pomni. His heart raced, and a warm flush crept across his cheeks, hidden beneath the fur of his face. Memories of the previous day flooded back to him like a crushing wave—had she really stayed by his side all through the night?

Should he shift away? Should he rouse her from her peaceful slumber? She looked so cozy and content nestled next to him… But what if she became upset or regretted her choice to remain with him?

Before he could spiral deeper into his thoughts, a delicate yawn escaped Pomni’s lips, her body stretching with the sleepy movement.

As her eyes opened, their gazes locked, and Jax felt a jolt of uncertainty. 

“Hi…” he croaked, wincing at the raspy sound of his own voice, a remnant of the tears he had shed the night before.

“Hey… uh… how are you feeling?” Pomni asked softly, a hint of concern in her tone.

Jax detangled himself from her and sat up, glancing around, still overwhelmed. “I’m… alright? Everything hurts, which is strange because we shouldn’t really be able to feel pain,” he sighed, his ears drooping slightly in defeat. “You stayed…” His gaze dropped to the floor, his voice trailing off.

“Of course I stayed," Pomni replied, scooting to the side to give him a bit more space. “You asked me to.”

“Yes, but why? Did you stay just because I asked you to?” Jax asked, a frown tugging at his lips, his eyes still averted.

“Isn’t that reason enough? I wasn’t just going to leave you after what happened. Jax, I… I know you tried to push me away, and you keep insisting we aren’t friends, but I care about you,” she said, her voice tinged with sadness as she studied him.

Pulling his knees up to his chest, Jax turned his head away, unable to fully process her words. “But—”

“Jax, it’s okay to need help,” Pomni interjected quickly, concern written all over her features. She knew how fragile his mental state was and feared he might spiral downward again. She needed to distract him from his own thoughts.

“Look, I’m not going to force you to talk about it… Why don’t we go get something to eat?” she proposed.

“But we don’t need food,” Jax answered, crossing his arms over his knees and resting his forehead against them. 

“That’s not the point,” she insisted gently, trying to keep her voice calm and soothing.

“What about the others?” he murmured, his ears drooping even lower, and shame flickering across his expression.

“They aren’t going to think less of you; they would want—”

“You don’t know that!” Jax shot back, looking up fiercely. “You heard what Zooble said….”

“Yeah, they may have gone a little too far, but you were being mean to Gangle. I’m sure they didn’t mean what they said,” Pomni did her best to reassure him. “I’ll be with you the entire time, and if you want to leave, we can? But I think it would be good for you to get out of your room for a bit.”

Jax considered her words, staring blankly at the floor. Was this all real? He ran a shaky hand down his face and sighed in resignation. “Alright… you win.” He was too exhausted to argue any further.

“Perfect!” Pomni exclaimed, rising to her feet and stretching her arms high above her head before extending her hand towards him with an inviting gesture. It was rare for her to initiate physical contact, and Jax had observed how she had flinched at the slightest touch from others. But last night, she had willingly drawn close to him, held him—and now, she was offering her hand.

After a brief moment of hesitation, he grasped her hand gently, allowing her to help him up. As he steadied himself, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and he swayed slightly on his feet.

“You going to be alright?” Pomni inquired, looking up at him with her bright eyes, full of concern.

“Yeah, I’m good… just a little unsteady,” Jax replied quickly, taking a few deep breaths to ground himself. “Okay…”

With Pomni still holding his hand, guiding him down the hall, he paused to lock his door behind him. He seemed indifferent to her grip or perhaps simply didn’t care at that moment. “Do you want the others to know?” she asked softly.

“Not really? But I didn’t want anyone to find out, so….” Jax’s voice trailed off once again as he stared at the floor, lost in thought.

“I can tell them if you’d like? It could be a good thing; they would want to help you,” Pomni suggested.

At her words, Jax’s ears twitched slightly. It was strange to see him so defeated, so empty. The sight scared her—the way his ears drooped against his head, the small frown etched on his face, and his eyes still irritated and red from the tears he had shed. “Fine,” he shrugged, conceding to her.

—

Meanwhile, Ragatha sat anxiously in the common area, her leg bouncing nervously and her fingers tapping rhythmically against the table. Pomni hadn’t returned to the group after she had insisted on checking in on Jax, and when Ragatha had knocked at her door, there was only silence. What if something had happened? What if Pomni needed help? What if—

“Ragatha… you’re shaking the table,” Zooble pointed out, pulling her from her spiralling thoughts.

With a start, Ragatha placed a hand on her jittery knee. “Sorry! Sorry, I’m just worried about Pomni. Maybe I should go check on her again,” she said, unease lacing her words.

“Do you really think something happened to her?” Gangle chimed in with a small frown etched on her mask.

“Yes!… no?… I don’t know! I’m just worried,” Ragatha groaned, her frustration evident.

“Maybe she just wants some space,” Zooble suggested, indifferent to Ragatha's growing anxiety.

“Yeah… yeah, okay. She might just need space.” Ragatha agreed, though her mind raced with possibilities. Pomni was a grown woman; she could take care of herself. But what if Jax had said something to her? What if Pomni was upset with them? 

Her heart raced as her thoughts spiralled,  What if Pomni was …….

walking over with Jax? 

Jax walked slowly, looking worse for wear. 

Pomni was beside him, carefully leading him towards the table. She gently pulled out a chair for him, assisting him down.

Pomni settled into a chair beside Jax, her hand reaching for a plate of food as the clinking of utensils filled the air. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension, and the other inhabitants shifted uneasily in their seats. 

Gangle caught a glimpse of Jax, her mask betraying the hint of concern that flickered across her features. 

“Uh… Jax?…” Ragatha’s voice was barely above a whisper, laced with worry.

Jax's brow furrowed slightly as he fixated on the food before him, his fingers plucking absently at the edge of the plate, as if searching for an answer hidden in the meal. 

“What happened? You look like sh*beep*t” Zooble’s voice cut through the silence, but instead of their usual tone, there was a palpable undertone of genuine concern emanating from them.

Yet Jax remained silent, his trademark wit replaced by a dull stare, his mind lost in a fog of exhaustion. The moments stretched out like an eternity until his weary gaze found Pomni, a silent permission for her to explain. Why bother putting on a facade? The weight of reality was too heavy, and he knew the others would see right through his pathetic attempts. 

“Jax… almost abstracted last night,” Pomni murmured, her voice quiet, cautious not to alert anyone outside their circle.

A sharp intake of breath from Gangle was audible as she covered her mouth in disbelief, her eyes wide as they darted back to Jax, searching for reassurance that everything would be alright.

Zooble’s expression shifted, eyes widening as guilt washed over them. Memories of careless words from earlier returned—words that had cut deep, declaring Jax as unwanted. 

“What!!?” Ragatha’s sudden exclamation shattered the fragile calm, the urgency in her voice reverberating.

Jax flinched, the sudden noise striking him like a physical blow, sending ripples of anxiety through his already overwhelmed senses.

“Shhhh!” Pomni urgently hushed, acutely aware of the gravity of Caine’s rules surrounding abstraction. The implications of Jax’s fragile state weighed heavily upon her—what if Caine learned of Jax's situation?

Ragatha cast a quick apologetic glance in Pomni’s direction, the atmosphere shifting into something more sombre.

“What… Do you mean almost?” Zooble murmured, forcing themselves to modulate their voice, which trembled with concern.

Jax’s foot began to thump rhythmically against the ground, a nervous tic, while his ears twitched anxiously. He kept his gaze glued to his plate, avoiding the weight of their eyes and judgments.

“When I went to check on him, I found him in his room,” Pomni explained in a hushed tone, her voice trembling slightly at the memory. “He was covered in glitches… and… eyes.” The words hung thickly in the air, her heart racing at the recollection.

The group’s collective gaze turned to Jax, and he could feel the heat of their stares like a blanket—a suffocating weight that made him want to disappear. 

“But… he is…” Ragatha began, her words trailing off, uncertainty making her hesitant.

“I know. I’m guessing it’s unheard of?” Pomni replied quietly, her eyes darting with worry.

“Yes. No one has ever come back from abstraction. How did you do it?” Ragatha asked, her voice barely above a whisper, casting furtive glances at Jax, as if fearing to disturb him further.

Pomni shrugged slightly, a hint of vulnerability lingering in her demeanour. “I just stayed with him… talked to him,” she added, omitting the part where she sang to him in hopes of soothing his distress.

Ragatha revealed a nervous hum, her brow furrowed deep in concern. “Jax?… Are you alright?” she ventured gently.

Finally, Jax lifted his gaze from the confines of his plate, revealing eyes void of life—worn down and hollow, a mirror to the exhaustion that enveloped him. He shook his head slowly, the corners of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly as a frown settled on his face, as if bracing for the worst: to hear they agreed that he deserved this torment, that he should have succumbed.

“Hey… Jax. It’s okay,” Pomni reassured softly, seeing the flicker of despair creeping back into his expression.

“Jax… we are not going to think less of you.” Ragatha’s voice was gentle yet firm, a beacon of support in the storm brewing within him.

Jax’s ears twitched at her words—the faintest glimmer of hope struggling against the tidal wave of his self-doubt. 

“Why wouldn’t you?…” he finally managed to rasp, his voice rough from the tears he had shed, filled with irritation and vulnerability. “I’ve given you no reason to care… You don’t want me around,” he stated, turning his gaze away, unable to bear the thought that he could be viewed as valuable.

“I didn’t mean that. I was just ticked off with you. Jax, I shouldn’t have said that,” Zooble confessed, the remorse etched into every word.

“You don’t deserve to be abstracted, Jax,” Ragatha asserted with a fierce stubbornness, seeking to lift the burden he carried.

“But I—” Jax tried to protest, but his words were swallowed by the sudden appearance of Caine, looming above their table with an exuberance that was almost startling for the hour.

“Good morning, my wiggling worms!” Caine exclaimed, his boisterous energy seeming out of place against the backdrop of Jax’s despair.

Jax winced, the enthusiasm of Caine's voice feeling like a sharp shock against his frazzled nerves. 

Caine’s gaze swept over the group, but lingered on Jax just a moment longer. Jax shifted uncomfortably beneath the scrutiny, instinctively masking his true feelings. Ears perked up, forced onto his lips was a large, unnatural smile – a compulsion to appear normal… 

“I hope you are all ready for an adventure!!” Caine declared, his voice dripping with excitement.

“Oh, uh… well maybe we could have the day off today?” Pomni suggested, her voice tinged with apprehension—as if considering Jax's state amidst Caine’s high spirits.

“Nonsense!! Now! Get ready! Because you all will get to sail the seas! Fight rivals and find treasure!!” he proclaimed.

“Uhhh…. no,” Zooble quickly objected, a note of panic creeping into their tone.

“I said nonsense!!!” Caine shouted, raising his voice even higher, snapping his fingers with authority. “All of you are required! Now, have fun!” With that, a swirling portal erupted before them, its magical energy engulfing the group and dragging them into the unknown.

Chapter Text

The group tumbled out of the swirling portal and onto the deck of an expansive pirate ship, the world around them shifting dramatically. 

Jax was the first to hit the wooden planks, landing awkwardly against a trio of weathered barrels that were scattered across the deck. The salty tang of seawater filled his nostrils, invigorating yet overwhelming, as he pushed himself up and collected his bearings.

“Are you alright?” Pomni asked, concern flickering in her bright eyes as she rushed over, deftly nudging the barrels aside. “That was quite a rough landing.”

“I’m alright…” Jax nodded slightly, though his jaw was tense as he tried to shake off the disorientation. He glanced sideways at Pomni, taking in her transformed appearance.

She donned a striking thigh-length jacket cloaked in her signature red and blue colors, contrasting sharply with her fitted black pants and sturdy black boots. A vibrant sash cinched her waist, and a sword was fastened securely at her side, glinting ominously in the sunlight. The bandana tied around her head, reminiscent of her usual jester hat, completed her ensemble with a playful flair.

She really did look... nice.

“You like it?” Pomni smiled, glancing down at herself with some pride. “Honestly, I’m really enjoying our new outfits for adventures. I despise that jester costume—especially at night!” Her voice carried a hint of exasperation.

“Yeah, Caine does have a specific vision for our appearances,” Jax shrugged, feeling slightly more at ease.

A small hum escaped Pomni’s lips as she shifted her stance. “How are you feeling?” she asked softly, letting her voice dip to a whisper that wasn’t meant to carry far.

“I…” Jax sighed, the weight of his own thoughts pressing down on him like an anvil. “Honestly? Not great. I'm just trying not to dwell on it too much.”

“I’m sure this adventure won’t be too... chaotic,” Pomni attempted to reassure him, her tone light, though her expression betrayed a hint of uncertainty.

“Right…” Jax murmured, well aware of Caine’s penchant for complicating their journeys.

“Well, you don’t look bad...” Pomni added, eager to divert the conversation toward lighter topics. 

“Oh yeah?” Jax glanced down at himself, noticing for the first time his own appearance. A long red coat emblazoned with gold accents hugged his figure, while black pants formed a snug fit against his legs. His bare feet felt the coolness of the deck, and his hands were adorned with fingerless gloves that revealed small, claw-like fingers. Curiously, he reached up and felt a large captain’s hat perched atop his head, complete with a flamboyant feather that waved in the sea breeze.

“Oh come on, he's our captain?” Zooble huffed as they appeared nearby, a peg leg clinking against the wooden surface with every step and a hook replacing their left hand. They wore a baggy white shirt that billowed in the wind, accentuated by a rugged belt that held both a gun and a gleaming sword.

Pomni shot Zooble a pointed look.

“Uh… sorry Jax, force of habit,” Zooble replied, their voice tinted with embarrassment as they lost steam.

Right… definitely not the best approach when Jax seemed so fragile today.

Ragatha emerged from the shadows of the ship’s quarters, brushing off her blue dress—a frock that tapered into a triangular shape at the front, ending just above her knees. Her sleeves were loose and billowy, framing her arms elegantly as she tied her hair back with a bandana. “Wow, you all look fantastic!” she exclaimed, her eyes darting nervously toward Jax, as if he were a fragile vase that might shatter at any moment.

Gangle carefully touched her mask, sighing in relief upon discovering it remained intact. She adjusted the eyepatch over her left eye and fiddled with the scarf loosely tied around her neck, her demeanor one of quiet apprehension.

“What’s our plan?” Kinger asked, his cloak otherwise unchanged except for the gold buckles that gleamed in the sunlight as he moved.

“Uh… Caine said we should sail, find treasure, and fight rivals, so… maybe there’s a map around here?” Ragatha suggested with a hopeful smile, glancing around the ship.

The group dispersed, eager to explore the expansive ship and familiarize themselves with their surroundings. Jax found a small stool tucked away in a corner and plopped down onto it, his ears drooping slightly as he gazed out over the dark waves, lost in thought while the others scurried about.

“Is he going to be alright?” Ragatha whispered to Pomni, casting a worried glance back at Jax.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Pomni replied, her gaze shifting to Jax, feeling the weight of her concern.

“He looks awful,” Zooble remarked bluntly, a hint of sadness in their tone.

“Yeah, it’s strange not to see him smiling and joking around,” Gangle noted, her fingers twitching anxiously.

“Look, he seemed comfortable with me earlier. How about I stay with him for this adventure? I’ll try to keep him distracted,” Pomni suggested, determination mingling with concern as she spoke.

“Alright, just be careful, Pomni. We don’t really know what’s coming next. Overcoming A… abstraction can be... dangerous,” Ragatha warned, her brow furrowed with worry. “And something like this has never happened before.”

“I will, but I’m not going to leave him to deal with this alone,” Pomni asserted firmly before making her way over to Jax’s side.

“We found a map,” she said, standing beside him. “Would you like to steer? I mean, you are technically the captain.” Her voice was light and encouraging, hoping the prospect of a distraction might brighten his mood.

“Yeah, I… guess,” Jax muttered, his ears flicking slightly in response as he rose from his stool and ascended the stairs to the ship’s wheel.

Pomni grabbed the map from her side and followed close behind. “Are you ready to find some treasure, Captain?” she smiled up at him, radiating enthusiasm.

Jax’s ears shifted to a more neutral position, and he granted her the faintest hint of a smile in return. “Let’s set sail,” he declared as he spun the wheel, the ship turning sharply and embarking toward their unknown destination.

—

After an hour of sailing beneath the vast, cloud-specked sky, a sudden cacophony invaded their camaraderie. Kinger, having discovered an accordion, had begun serenading everyone with an….interesting mix of tunes for the past ten minutes.

“Kinger, please stop,” Zooble pleaded, exasperation lacing their voice.

“Oh! Hi Zooble, I found an accordion!” Kinger exclaimed with glee, fingers dancing over the instrument as if transported by its melodies.

Jax dragged a hand down his face, frustration bubbling within him.

“I swear, I’m going to throw that thing overboard,” Pomni lamented, her tone bordering on desperate.

“Please do,” Jax echoed, desperate for some silence.

Chuckling despite herself, Pomni made her way down onto the main deck. “Sorry Kinger, but—” she started, only to be abruptly interrupted as an enormous splash erupted from the water beside the ship, forcing it to sway violently from side to side.

“Uh, guys! We have company!!” Gangle shrieked from her lookout perch atop the crow’s nest, her voice tinged with alarm.

The sight of another ship barreling toward them, its hull cutting through the waves with alarming speed, ignited a surge of panic among the crew. 

“Sh*beep*t,” Zooble exclaimed, scrambling to locate ammo for the cannons, their heart racing.

Pomni swiftly retrieved a telescope from her side, squinting through the lens to identify their unexpected visitors. “Hey, it’s the evil versions of us!” she yelled, her heart sinking as dread coursed through her.

“Oh no, I really don’t like them!” Zooble whimpered, hastily dragging a crate of cannonballs across the deck.

An ominous tension filled the air as the ship lurked closer, the specter of danger looming over the crew like a storm brewing on the horizon.

Another shot rang out, the cannonball narrowly missing their ship and creating a splash in the churning sea.

Gangle, with her vibrant ribbons flaring behind her, expertly wrapped them around the ship’s mast as the vessel rocked precariously beneath her. 

Meanwhile, Ragatha and Zooble worked in tandem to load the cannons, their hearts racing as adrenaline surged through their veins. With a deafening roar, they fired a volley at the incoming enemy ship. 

Jax gripped the ship’s wheel, his brow furrowed in concentration as he maneuvered their vessel away from the hostile fire, determined to steer them out of danger.

“Ahaha! We know you have the treasure map!” Evil Regatha taunted from her ship, her voice edged with malevolence.

“Yeah! Hand it over or we will sink your fu*beep*ing ship!!” Evil Pomni snarled, her sword glinting menacingly in the sunlight as she pointed it at the crew. 

“Oh, I don’t like this!!!” An evil Jax peered nervously out from behind the mast, his eyes wide with fear. “What if they hit us??” 

“Oh shut up!!” Evil Pomni snapped, rolling her eyes dismissively. 

“Then we sink!” Bazooble chimed in, their innocence misplaced in the midst of chaos, yet their spirit remained undeterred.

*Unintelligible evil orbsman sounds* echoed as the evil orbsman shook his head in disdain at Bazooble’s enthusiasm.

“Fire another!!” Coach Dictator barked, assuming command as the captain of the ship.

The cannonball shot through the air, grazing their ship and splintering some of the railing. 

Jax glanced back, dread pooling in his stomach as he watched the damage unfold. Oh, this was bad.

Zooble lit the fuses of the cannons, eyes narrowed in focus. A cannonball thundered through the top portion of the enemy ship.

“Take it over!!” Coach Dictator roared, rallying his crew for a counterattack.

Suddenly, the evil bigtops shot grappling hooks, soaring through the air with swift precision, embedding themselves in the side of their ship. 

Pomni dashed to the railing, desperately swinging her sword to cut the ropes binding their vessels. The remaining ropes began to retract violently, yanking their ship towards the enemy’s. 

Determined, Zooble lit yet another cannon. 

With a crack like thunder, the shot blasted apart a section of the enemy ship's deck. 

Evil Jax dove away, narrowly avoiding the chaos.

Bazooble, unfortunately, was less fortunate—caught in the blast, they were sent flying overboard into the churning waters below.

Evil Pomni and Evil Ragatha boarded their ship, eyes gleaming with malicious intent. 

“Oho! Looks like we got you!!” Evil Ragatha proclaimed with theatrical glee, as she lunged at Ragatha, sword drawn. 

Ragatha’s heart raced as she yelped and darted away, “Uh, guys!? I don’t know how to sword fight!” She unsheathed her own sword, struggling to defend herself against a barrage of strikes.

Evil Orbsman, with an air of menace, climbed onto the ship, his sights set on Zooble.

Backed against the edge of the ship, Zooble frantically pulled out their gun, firing off several rounds. But to their horror, the evil orbsman seemed unfazed, continuing his relentless advance.

With only three shots left, Zooble’s heart sank. Seriously?!

Just then, Gangle sprang into action, leaping from the crow’s nest directly onto Evil Orbsman, her ribbons lashing out and quickly ensnaring him. 

He stumbled, disoriented, as Gangle wrestled him toward the edge. Her erratic movements knocked him off balance, sending him plummeting overboard—Gangle following right behind him.

In a split second, she let go, reaching desperately for the ship's edge but missing her grasp.

Zooble leaned over the side, heart racing, and caught Gangle's hand just in time. “I’ve got you!!”

“Th-thanks, Zooble!” Gangle blushed, relief flooding her as she was pulled back to safety. 

Coach Dictator charged onto the ship, dragging Evil Jax along forcefully. “You will help! Now go after them!” He commanded, firing wildly at Gangle and Zooble.

Pomni rushed to aid Ragatha, sword drawn, ready for battle, but her eyes widened in horror as Evil Pomni bypassed her and aimed for the captain instead.

Just as Jax stood ready to fight back, a thunderous bang pierced his ears, and an agonizing pain shot through his right leg. He choked back a scream, falling to his knees as shock swept over him. This was turning out to be one of Caine’s more torturous adventures.

Evil Pomni loomed over him, her flintlock pistol still trained on Jax, a malicious grin stretching across her face as she kicked him hard, sending him sprawling down.

Jax attempted to kick her away, but panic surged within him as a shot fired inches from his head, stopping him in his tracks.

“Move and I shoot,” Evil Pomni sneered, pressing her knee into his side while she secured his wrists with rough rope. 

She yanked Jax to his feet, forcing him toward the ship's steps, holding him down at her level and again shoving the gun against his temple.

“HEY!” Evil Pomni shouted, drawing the attention of her crew.

“Great job! You got their captain!” Coach Dictator laughed darkly, satisfaction in his voice.

“Everyone drop your weapons or I’ll shoot him!” Evil Pomni threatened, her eyes scanning the group.

Jax winced as blood soaked his leg, heart racing with fear. He wasn’t just a character in a game; this felt all too real, and the thought of dying again was terrifying—even if he would simply respawn.

“Jax!” Pomni cried out, panicking as she dropped her sword, her hands raised in surrender. 

One by one, the others reluctantly followed suit, surrendering their weapons.

“Good,” Evil Pomni grinned maliciously.

“I…I thought we couldn’t bleed. Why is he bleeding!?” Pomni exclaimed, darting anxious glances at her friends.

“Caine sometimes likes to try out realistic injuries,” Ragatha explained, her voice twitching with panic as she surveyed the scene.

“We know you all have a treasure map! Give it to us, or we will shoot your captain!” Coach Dictator demanded, his expression dark and threatening.

Jax struggled against his bindings, the rope cutting into his wrists.

“Okay, okay! Here, take it!” Pomni relented, handing over the treasure map, desperation lacing her voice. “Now… now let him go, that’s the deal, right?”

“Oh, we will let him go! Don’t worry.” Evil Pomni taunted, shoving Jax dangerously close to the edge. He winced again, feeling the sting of pain as he teetered over the side, barely held back by Evil Pomni.

“Hey! What are you doing!?” Gangle gasped, eyes wide with a mix of shock and disbelief.

“Well, we agreed we wouldn’t shoot him!! But we never said anything about pushing him overboard!!” Evil Ragatha chuckled darkly, her laughter ringing with malevolence.

“No! Hey!! Let him go!!” Ponni shouted, her voice rising in panic as she wrung her hands helplessly.

“Sure, if that’s what you want!” Evil Ponni sneered, a sinister grin spreading across her face as she released her grip.

As the cold water loomed closer, Jax heard Ponni's desperate screams echoing in the air before he plunged into the depths. The frigid water collided with his body, knocking the breath from his lungs in an icy gasp.

Jax struggled beneath the surface, limbs thrashing as he kicked desperately for the light above. Pain shot through his leg with each frantic movement, a sharp reminder of his injuries. The water around him felt heavy, dragging him down as he fought against the suffocating grip of the ocean.

His gaze fixated on the surface, but it seemed to recede further away with every fleeting moment. His body screamed in protest, instinct urging him to breathe, but he clung to the fragile thread of hope. Don’t give in, don’t give in—you don’t need air. You don’t need it!!!

As survival instincts overwhelmed his will, he inhaled sharply. Bubbles cascaded outward as the icy water surged into his lungs, filling him with a suffocating weight. Panic surged through him as he struggled against the invisible restraints of the water, his body sinking deeper into the abyss. His lungs ignited with burning agony, and as he choked, more water invaded his throat, triggering a cascade of desperate coughs.

Everything around him became a blur, edges softening, clarity slipping through his fingers like sand. The pain suddenly faded away, replaced by a tranquil darkness as his eyes fluttered and rolled back. And then, everything faded to black.

Chapter Text

A gut-wrenching lurch twisted Pomni’s stomach at the sickening splash of Jax hitting the water. She scrambled to the railing, peering frantically into the churning dark water. Her breath hitched, a cold dread seizing her chest as the surface remained unbroken, an empty, mocking mirror. He didn't resurface. The icy grip of panic ignited into a searing inferno of rage as her head snapped towards her twisted doppelgänger, who stood there, a grotesque symphony of cackles tearing through the air.

She launched herself across the deck, a guttural scream ripped from her throat as she slammed into evil Pomni, sending them both sprawling onto the splintered planks. The impact jarred the pistol from evil Pomni's grasp, sending it skittering with a metallic screech across the damp, wooden deck, coming to rest just beyond their flailing limbs.

Evil Pomni thrashed beneath her, clawing and bucking, a desperate attempt to dislodge her attacker. “Get off me, you sickening freak!” she spat, her voice a snarl.

In a primal surge, Pomni sank her teeth into the fleshy part of evil Pomni's forearm. The coppery tang of blood flooded her mouth, hot and visceral.

A shriek of pain tore from evil Pomni's lips – “*Agh!* You godd*beep*m freak!” – followed by a savage kick that sent Pomni sprawling backwards, tumbling onto her hands and knees.

Pomni scrambled to her feet, eyes fixed on the discarded pistol, and lunged. Her fingers closed around the cold metal just as evil Pomni's outstretched hand brushed against it, a hair's breadth from reclaiming it. But evil Pomni was fast, tackling her again, a whirlwind of limbs and desperate strength. They grappled, rolling across the gritty deck, a deadly ballet for control of the weapon, evil Pomni's weight pressing down, forcing the gun's muzzle against Pomni’s own chest.

A deafening *CRACK* split the air, echoing across the water. Evil Pomni's body went slack, a sudden, heavy weight collapsing onto Pomni, a dead puppet without its strings.

Pomni gasped, a strangled sound, and shoved the cooling, lifeless form off her with a shudder of revulsion. Her chest heaved, each breath a ragged gasp for air, as she pushed herself onto trembling legs, the world swaying around her like the ship on rough seas.

Coach Dictator, a crimson flush creeping up his neck, bellowed, his face contorted into a mask of pure, unadulterated fury. “You are all utterly, spectacularly USELESS!!” Without a word, Kinger, with surprising force, simply shoved him over the railing. A startled yelp, a splash, and Coach Dictator was gone.

“Kinger! Where in the world were you?!” Zooble demanded, their segmented face twisting into a familiar scowl, a mixture of exasperation and mild curiosity.

“In the cabin,” Kinger replied, his voice a distant hum, “Putting away the accordion. It’s terribly loud out here.”

“Of course you were,” Zooble sighed, the sound a weary exhalation that seemed to carry the weight of a thousand Kinger-related absurdities.

“What... what do we do with *him*?” Gangle whispered, her face drooping slightly as she gestured with a trembling hand towards evil Jax, who had finally slunk out from behind a stack of crates where he’d been cowering. “I mean… he’s not actively hurting anyone now,” she added, almost apologetically.

Evil Jax, a pale imitation of the original, shifted his weight from foot to foot, his long ears twitching nervously. His gaze flickered to the still form of evil Pomni, a flicker of something almost akin to dismay crossing his face. “Did… uh… oh…” he stammered. He clasped his hands together, a pathetic parody of prayer. “Oh god… please… please don’t kill me,” he whimpered, his voice barely a squeak.

“Just… go sit down,” Zooble commanded, their voice flat, utterly drained. “We’ll figure out what to do with your sorry hide later.”

Evil Jax hesitated for a long moment, a rabbit caught in headlights, before cautiously perching himself on a nearby stool, shrinking into himself.

Pomni’s legs gave out, and she crumpled to her knees, her ragged breathing filling the sudden silence. She stared at her hands, still faintly trembling, as if they belonged to someone else.

Ragatha, ever the caretaker, was instantly by her side, her soft fabric brushing against Pomni’s arm. “Hey… hey, it’s alright, Pomni,” she murmured, her voice a gentle balm. “Jax will respawn soon, you know he will. It’s not the first time one of us has… well, temporarily exited an adventure.” She tried for a reassuring smile, though her own eyes held a flicker of unease.

“That’s *worse*!” Pomni choked out, a raw cry of horror escaping her lips. “He was finally starting to… to *calm down*! And then *this* happened!?” Her voice cracked, tears welling in her eyes.

“We all respawned during yesterday’s gun adventure,” Ragatha offered, trying to connect the dots, to find a pattern in the chaos.

“No… no, this feels… *different*,” Pomni insisted, shaking her head, a shiver running through her. She couldn’t articulate why, but this wasn’t like the fleeting deaths of the gun adventure. Yesterday, the pain had been… simulated, a fleeting inconvenience, and they’d popped back almost instantly, pristine and unharmed. But the image of Jax’s leg, soaked crimson and mangled, was seared into her mind, a visceral terror that yesterday’s digital discomfort hadn’t even touched.

“Right. Well, he *should* be back soon,” Ragatha said, a worried crease forming between her brows, her attempts at reassurance sounding less convincing even to her own ears.

A soft, familiar *ding* echoed, a digital chime cutting through the tension, and then, with a shimmering distortion of pixels, Jax materialized on the damp deck. He stood, or rather swayed, completely drenched, water streaming from his fur, his lanky frame trembling uncontrollably. His lungs burned, and he doubled over, coughing up a torrent of brackish water onto the planks, gasping, sputtering for breath. His wrists, though red and chafed, were mercifully free of ropes, and his leg, miraculously, showed no sign of the gruesome bullet wound. It was a bizarre, inconsistent mercy, this respawn mechanic, leaving some wounds behind while erasing others.

“Jax!” Pomni cried, her own pain momentarily forgotten, as she scrambled back to her feet and rushed to his side, dropping to her knees beside his shaking form.

Jax slowly, stiffly, lowered himself to a sitting position, his gaze, raw and bloodshot from the saltwater, finally lifting to meet Pomni’s. His usually mischievous eyes were rimmed with angry red, and the glint of unshed tears shimmered dangerously. Out of a deeply ingrained, pathetic habit, he tried to force a grin, a brittle, desperate mask. “Ha… hah haha…” he began, a hollow, rattling sound, attempting to dismiss the terror, to play it off as just another inconvenience. But the forced laughter caught in his throat, twisting into a ragged, broken sob, then another, and another. His grin wavered, a fragile facade crumbling, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks. The dam burst. He broke, completely and utterly, unable to stem the flood of tears that streamed down his face, silent, gut-wrenching sobs shaking his entire body.

A collective gasp rippled through the stunned onlookers. Jax. Crying. It was an anomaly, a breach in the fabric of their reality. He never cried. Not in front of *them*, at least. He’d always brushed off death, dismemberment, and existential dread with a sardonic quip and a shrug.

“Oh… Jax,” Pomni whispered, her voice thick with empathy, and she instinctively shifted closer, a comforting presence. Her gaze, desperate and pleading, swept over the others. “Can we… can we please just get out of here?”

“No,” Ragatha replied, her voice tinged with regret, her feet shifting uncomfortably on the deck. “Caine never opens the portal until the adventure’s officially… finished.”

“How about this,” Zooble interjected, their voice a careful, almost hesitant, monotone. “We finish the… objective, and you… you work on… calming Jax.” The last part came out with a noticeable grimace; the words felt alien, unnatural, even to them.

Pomni nodded, a silent agreement, and gently, with a surprising tenderness, eased Jax to his feet. “Come on,” she murmured, her voice soft but firm.

Jax didn’t protest, didn’t even seem to register her touch. His eyes remained blank, distant, as fresh tears carved glistening trails through the wet fur on his cheeks. He simply allowed Pomni to lead his unresponsive body down to the main deck, where she gently lowered him to sit against the cool, rough planks.

Pomni watched, a silent observer, as Zooble, with a surprising lack of ceremony, herded the cowering evil Jax back onto the deck of the *other* Big Top’s ship. With a few swift, decisive cuts, the thick ropes binding the two vessels were severed, and the evil ship began to drift away, its twisted crew a receding nightmare.

Gangle, her ribbons still a little askew from the chaos, carefully retrieved the crumpled map from the deck. She then made her way to the ship’s wheel, unfurling the parchment to show Ragatha the next waypoint.

With a groan of timbers and a snap of sails, they began to move again, leaving the recent horror in their wake, heading steadily towards a hazy, distant smudge on the horizon – an island shrouded in mist.

Jax, still an empty shell of his usual self, instinctively leaned sideways, seeking the nearest warmth and stability. He found it in Pomni’s shoulder, resting his head there, his body still wracked with tremors, his gaze fixed blankly on the scuffed wooden floorboards.

“I’m… I’m sure you’ll be all dried off once we get back to the Circus,” Pomni murmured, her voice a soft, uncertain comfort against his ear.

Jax offered only a low, noncommittal hum in response, a sound devoid of his usual sarcasm.

Pomni watched the endless, indifferent sky, a vast expanse of blue. She didn’t mind the unexpected weight against her, the quiet vulnerability of him. In fact, a strange, protective warmth bloomed in her chest.

Twenty minutes crawled by, marked only by the gentle rocking of the ship and the distant cry of gulls, before the shoreline grew distinct enough for them to drop anchor with a heavy splash and a rattling of chains.

“Hey, how’s he doing?” Ragatha asked, her voice hushed, as she approached Pomni and Jax, a concerned frown etched on her face.

Jax, utterly spent, had finally succumbed to exhaustion, his head heavy against Pomni’s shoulder, his breathing shallow and even.

“Cried until he… passed out,” Pomni whispered back, her voice barely audible, tinged with a weary sadness.

“It’s just… weird seeing him so… *not* him,” Ragatha mused, her gaze softening as she looked down at the sleeping rabbit, a profound sadness in her eyes.

“I know,” Pomni agreed, her voice a quiet echo. “It’s like all his fight just… evaporated. He looks so utterly, completely exhausted.” She glanced down at Jax, a profound, tender sorrow in her own eyes.

“Well, we’ll get the treasure, and that should finally end this… adventure,” Ragatha said, trying to inject some much-needed optimism into her tone. With a final, worried glance at the two, she turned and joined the others, stepping off the ship to begin the hunt for their elusive prize

Pomni’s hand, almost without conscious thought, drifted to the back of Jax’s head. She watched the gulls wheel and cry in the vast, indifferent sky, her fingers gently, rhythmically, raking through the soft, damp fur on the back of his neck.

Jax stirred in his sleep, a faint twitch rippling through his long ears, a sporadic jerk of his back paws. A fragile peace seemed to settle over his usually restless form, a welcome respite from the terror.

“We found treasure!!” Kinger’s voice, a sudden, booming exclamation, shattered the quiet as he clambered back onto the deck. Below, on the dock, the others strained and grunted, dragging a large, ornate chest, its brass fittings glinting, onto the weathered planks.

At the abrupt clamor, Jax’s ears flicked, twitching like antennae, and his eyelids, heavy with sleep, slowly peeled open. A low groan rumbled in his chest as he blinked sluggishly, the world slowly swimming into focus. “Wh… what happen?” he rasped, his voice a raw, scratchy whisper, still rough from the saltwater he’d coughed up.

“Hey,” Pomni said, her voice soft, a gentle counterpoint to Kinger’s shout. A tender smile touched her lips. “The adventure is over.”

Jax seemed to finally register the warm weight of Pomni’s head against his shoulder, the gentle rhythm of her fingers in his fur. A slow flush crept up his neck as he carefully, stiffly, straightened himself. “Thanks…” he murmured, his gaze distant, heavy with a lingering exhaustion.

Pomni rose, her gaze steady, and offered him her hand.

Jax’s fingers, still trembling slightly, shakily closed around hers. With her help, he slowly, unsteadily, pulled himself to his feet just as the familiar, disorienting pull of the portal rippled through the air, yanking them all back to the bizarre, kaleidoscopic reality of the Digital Circus.

Jax landed hard, a graceless heap, sprawling on the vibrant, geometric floor of the central hub. A fresh groan escaped him as the air was knocked from his lungs.

“Welcome back, my precious treasure pirates! You managed to find the treasure!” Caine’s voice, a cheerful, booming cascade of sound, echoed through the vast space, utterly oblivious to the recent trauma.

Pomni’s eyes narrowed, a sharp, piercing glare fixed on the grinning ringmaster as she helped Jax, still dazed, back onto his shaky feet.

Caine’s gaze, usually so manic and unfocused, seemed to snag on Jax’s disheveled appearance, lingering for a fraction too long on the rabbit’s haunted eyes and trembling form before snapping back to his usual, unsettling cheer.

“Did everyone enjoy the adventure? Was it amazing?!” Caine chirped, his eye-teeth clicking together with an unnerving enthusiasm.

“Yeah, okay,” Zooble drawled, rolling their segmented eye and turning their back, already trudging away with a dismissive wave.

“It was… not that bad,” Ragatha offered, her smile a nervous, strained curve that didn’t quite reach her worried eyes.

“What?” Kinger asked, a bewildered tilt to his head, completely lost in his own world.

“Eh… I liked the treasure part… not the fighting, though,” Gangle mumbled, shrugging her ribbon-limbs nervously, her face a drooping mask of discomfort.

Pomni, beyond words, simply glared, a silent, seething accusation in her wide eyes, directly at Caine. “Come on, Jax…” she muttered, her voice low and protective, as she gently tugged his hand, leading him away. Jax, still moving as if in a daze, slowly trailed behind her.

“Oh! Good feedback!” Caine exclaimed, his eyes twitching almost imperceptibly as his form shimmered and vanished, leaving only a faint echo of his forced cheer.

The two walked in a heavy silence down the seemingly endless hall, Jax lagging slightly, his footsteps dragging. His gaze drifted upwards, scanning the row of identical doors that lined the corridor, each bearing a unique, whimsical icon. His pace slowed, then faltered entirely, until he stopped dead before one particular door. His long ears flattened against his head, a gesture of profound distress, as he stared at the icon: a cheerful frog with a sickly, angry red ‘X’ slashed violently across it. *Ribbit…*

A high-pitched, insistent ringing began to throb in his ears, a maddening internal clamor that drowned out the world. His vision blurred, the edges of the hallway rippling like heat haze. *My fault, my fault, my fault, my fault. My fault, my fault, my fault, my fault. My fault, my fault, my fault, my fault.* The words screamed in his mind, a relentless, self-flagellating mantra. He heard a distant voice, muffled, struggling to break through the cacophony. *My fault, my fault. My fault, my fault, my fault, my fault. My fault, “Jax.” My fault, my fault, my fault, my fault. “Jax.”*

“Jax.”

Pomni’s voice, sharp and clear, finally pierced the swirling fog of his spiraling thoughts, yanking him back to the harsh present.

“Jax, are you okay?…” Pomni asked, her voice laced with concern, as she looked up at his rigid form. Her gaze followed his, landing on the door he was fixated on. *Who… was that?* a silent question formed in her mind.

Jax stared down at her, his pupils shrunken to pinpricks, his ears flickering erratically against his head, and his chest rising and falling in rapid, shallow breaths. Panic was a tangible aura around him.

Jax blinked slowly, as if clearing cobwebs from his mind. “I…” His mouth pressed into a thin, grim line, a desperate attempt to regain control. “I’m fine. Let’s just keep walking.” He tore his gaze from the door, a visible effort, and forced himself to continue down the hall.

Pomni lingered for a second longer, her eyes tracing the outline of the frog in the icon, a ripple of unease stirring within her. Then, shaking off the strange dread, she quickened her pace to catch up with Jax.

Jax stopped again, this time between his door and Pomni’s, a clear boundary established. “Well… uh… thanks…” he mumbled, shifting his feet awkwardly on the polished floor. “Night.” He turned, his hand reaching for his doorknob, but Pomni’s fingers, light but firm, closed gently around his wrist, stopping him.

“Jax. If you need anything… anything at all… you can come to me, alright? No matter what… don’t shut me out. I want to help you.” Pomni looked up at him, her eyes wide and earnest, a profound sadness clouding their depths. She didn’t want to lose him, not like this, not to the darkness she sensed swirling around him.

Jax looked down at her, and the familiar, insidious fears of intimacy, of letting anyone get too close, began to creep back into his mind. But Pomni was persistent, unwavering. Even after all he’d said to her, how cruel he’d been, here she stood, insisting on helping him, insisting on getting closer. A strange, unfamiliar warmth, fragile but real, began to bloom within him, slowly displacing the cold grip of fear. He wanted to try, for her… he wanted to see her happy, to ease the worry from her expressive face. Jax took a shaky, fortifying breath. “I… I’ll try,” he promised quietly, the words a fragile whisper. Then, turning back, he slipped into the solitary refuge of his room.

Pomni let out a soft sigh of relief, the tension draining from her shoulders, before retreating into her own.

Jax climbed into his chaotic pile of blankets, burrowing deep, shifting and turning restlessly until he found a position that was *just* comfortable enough. It took a long, agonizing hour for sleep to finally claim him.

“Jax.”

Jax blinked slowly, disoriented, his mind a hazy fog. Where was he? When had he gotten to the hallway?

“Jax.”

Jax’s ears tilted towards the voice, a familiar cadence that sent a shiver down his spine. He knew that voice. Hesitantly, drawn by an unseen force, he began to make his way down the dimly lit hall.

“Jax.”

Jax froze, his gaze snapping towards an open door – Ribbit’s room. Why was their door open? Their door shouldn’t be open.

“Jax, where are you?”

Jax cautiously stepped into the oppressive gloom of the room, the shadows seeming to lengthen and twist around him.

“R… Ribbit?” Jax called out, his voice barely a breath, thick with apprehension.

“Jax!” Ribbit stepped into view from the shadows, their form indistinct, shimmering at the edges. “Where were you?!”

“Wh… what? What do you mean—”

“Where were you, Jax?” Ribbit cut him off, their voice accusatory, taking another step closer.

“I…”

“Where were you, Jax?” Another voice, deeper, colder, emerged from the oppressive darkness. Kaufmo.

“No… no, I…” Jax’s head whipped between the two figures, his breathing quickening, a frantic rhythm against the rising terror.

“Where were you, Jax?”

Pomni’s voice, chillingly familiar, came from directly behind him.

“Pomni?…” Jax glanced back, his heart hammering against his ribs. “I’m here, I…”

“You didn’t come! You left me!!” Ribbit shrieked, their voice rising to an unbearable crescendo. “You left me alone!!”

“You ran away!” Kaufmo spat, his voice dripping with venom.

“You did this,” Pomni moved closer, her eyes, usually so expressive, now cold and condemning. “See what you did? This is all you do! You killed them, Jax!! Their deaths are on you!! You are to blame!” Pomni’s voice rose to a furious yell, echoing through the claustrophobic space.

“No! No, I… I’m sorry! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it! Please!” Jax cried, tears streaming down his face, as he tried to reach out to her, but Pomni recoiled, her form blurring. “Goodbye, Jax,” her voice, now flat and chilling, whispered as she turned away.

The floor beneath Jax’s feet gave way with a sickening lurch, and he plunged into a vast, bottomless pit. Multicolored eyes, hundreds of them, blinked open all around him, burning holes in the darkness, watching, judging.

“It’s what you deserve,” Pomni’s voice, distorted and echoing, reverberated through his mind as he fell.

Jax sat bolt upright in his bed, drenched in a cold sweat, gasping for air, the phantom sensation of falling still present.

He scrambled frantically out of his blankets, his foot catching on one of the tangled folds, sending him sprawling onto the floor with a thud. Kicking the oppressive blankets away, he clawed his way to his feet, his limbs trembling uncontrollably.

Jax stumbled to his door, yanking it open with a desperate clatter, and practically fell across the hall. Without a moment’s hesitation, without even a chance for his panicked brain to process the action, he hammered on Pomni’s door.

A moment stretched, agonizingly long, and Jax almost turned to flee, when he heard the faint click of the doorknob. The door slowly, creakily, opened.

“Jax?…” Pomni asked, her voice thick with sleep, her eyes barely slits in the dim light of her room. She took in the sight before her, the exhaustion instantly vanishing from her face.

His ears were plastered flat against his head, his eyes wide and unfocused, his pupils darting around in a frantic, scribbling motion. He was breathing heavily, ragged gasps tearing through the quiet, and his entire body trembled, a visible tremor shaking his lanky frame.

“Oh… oh, Jax, come in, it’s alright,” she whispered, her voice immediately softening, laced with concern. She opened the door wider, allowing Jax to shuffle into the comforting glow of her room.

She sat on the edge of her bed and gently patted the spot beside her, an unspoken invitation.

Jax’s gaze darted around the unfamiliar room, his mind still reeling, before he cautiously, stiffly, lowered himself onto the bed next to Pomni.

“Nightmare?” Pomni asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jax gave a small, jerky nod.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Pomni looked up at him, her eyes searching his.

Jax quickly, vehemently, shook his head no, his ears still pressed tight.

“Do you… want to stay here for the night? The beds are big enough,” Pomni offered, her voice gentle, unwavering.

Jax looked at her, confusion clouding his wide eyes. The offer was so unexpected, so… kind.

“I’m here for you, Jax. If you want to stay, you can,” Pomni reassured him, her sincerity palpable.

“I… yes please…” Jax admitted, the words barely audible, a fragile admission of vulnerability.

“You are welcome here anytime, Jax.” Pomni said, a soft smile on her lips, as she climbed back under her own blankets.

Jax remained seated on the bed, his panicked brain still struggling to fully process the unexpected comfort, the simple act of acceptance.

“Come on, bunny boy, let’s get some rest,” Pomni tried, a small, weary attempt to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

A small huff of air escaped Jax, almost a laugh, and a faint, fleeting smile touched his lips. He appreciated the effort, the gesture.

Jax finally climbed under the blankets, settling in beside Pomni, the warmth and quiet presence slowly beginning to soothe his frayed nerves.

“Goodnight, Jax. If you need anything, you can wake me,” Pomni murmured, her voice already slurring with sleep, before her eyes finally drifted shut.

Jax felt the frantic pounding in his chest gradually subside, his mind slowly unwinding from the terror. His eyes grew heavy, the exhaustion finally catching up, and then, with a soft sigh, they slipped closed, and he drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep..

Chapter Text

A dull, leaden weight anchored Jax to the mattress. He stirred, the motion slight, his eyelids glued shut in a futile attempt to postpone reality. A sluggish, unsettling realization seeped in: the texture beneath his cheek was alien, softer than his own pillows.

His eyes snapped open. A furious, internal heat wave—pure mortification—scorched his cheeks beneath his fur. The memory hit with the force of a physical blow: the shattering nightmare, the desperate flight, seeking shelter with Pomni. He was not just in her room; he was entrenched in her bed.

She was a warm, compact anchor, perfectly nestled against his length.

Jax swallowed a dry knot of anxiety. His arms were wrapped around her torso in a tight, possessive grip, and she was curled into him, her small, gloved hands pressed flat against the soft, fluff of his chest.

The proximity was overwhelming, a hundred times more intimate than their accidental cohabitation on the floor the previous night. His tail, betraying his carefully constructed indifference, gave a faint, involuntary thump against the mattress. His ears swiveled, listening to the soft rhythm of her breathing. She looked peaceful, her features smoothed by sleep. A dangerous thought whispered through his mind: Was it truly selfish to steal this moment, to remain encased in this fragile warmth for just a few minutes longer? When in this digital purgatory would he ever be afforded such a genuine connection again?

Jax’s muscles seized. *Stop it. Where are these thoughts coming from?*

A subtle shift in Pomni’s weight, a light sigh against his chest, pulled him out of his internal panic.

He carefully lifted one hand, his gloved fingers feathering gently against her forehead, brushing a few stray strands of dark hair away from her face. He paused, looking closer. Her jester hat was gone. Ah, right. Caine permitted them to shed their usual avatars and change into casual wear while inside their rooms.

Jax, having collapsed from sheer exhaustion, was still encased in his bulky pink overalls and pristine yellow gloves.

A low, vibrating rumble caught in Jax’s chest. He realized, horrified, that he was purring—a deep, resonant sound resonating through his fur. He inhaled sharply, trying to clamp down on the noise, silencing the unexpected, animalistic contentment.

*What in the world was that?*

Pomni stirred again, her eyes fluttering open, revealing dark, sleepy pupils. She hummed softly, her hands unconsciously tightening their grip around the soft fluff of his chest.

“Mh… Jax?” she murmured, her voice thick and drowsy.

Jax instantly went rigid, his ears flattening slightly against his head. He quickly, awkwardly, unwrapped his arms from her.

“M-morning…” he managed, his voice rough and slightly strained.

Pomni looked up at him, her expression slowly clearing as the events of the previous night flooded back.

“Did you sleep alright?… Any more nightmares?” She asked, the anxiety tightening her chest.

Jax shook his head, a smooth, definitive motion. “No.” Surprisingly, he had slept soundly, sinking into a deep, dreamless rest he never achieved alone in his room.

Pomni shifted away and sat up, the sheets pooling around her waist. She was dressed in a soft, baggy T-shirt that slipped low off her left shoulder, paired with fuzzy, light-colored pajama bottoms. She yawned, running a hand through her messy, dark hair. “I’m glad. Do you get nightmares often?… You looked pretty rough last night.”

Jax stared up at her, his pupils momentarily dilating. The question felt too direct, too focused.

He pushed himself up to sit beside her. “Oh… uh, yeah…” he admitted quietly, the confession feeling heavy and strange on his tongue. “I… I actually slept incredibly well after I came to you.”

“Really? Well. Like I said last night, you are free to stay in my room if you need to again.” She offered him a smile—a sweet, genuine curve of her lips that made his chest feel suddenly, uncomfortably light.

Jax loved when she smiled.

*Stop it! What is wrong with you!? Stop thinking like that!*

“Thank you, but I don’t want to burden you or… or disturb you,” Jax mumbled, running a shaky hand over his sensitive ears before resting them in his lap.

“You won’t, Jax. I'm offering you to stay here. I want you to be comfortable.” Pomni reassured, her hand reaching out and settling lightly on his arm. The touch was feather-light but grounding. “I’m here. Don’t push me away.”

Jax felt a wave of heat spread up his neck and into his cheeks, visible even beneath his thick fur. She was touching him, *voluntarily*. She often recoiled from anyone’s comforting gestures, yet here she was, purposefully reaching out to *him*.

His ears perked up slightly, involuntarily. “Sorry… sorry, habit.”

“I know, it’s alright.” She smiled, removing her hand after a few moments, the residual warmth fading slowly. “Are you ready to head down for breakfast?”

Jax gave a small, jerky nod.

“Alright, let me just get changed.” Pomni slid off the bed, her fuzzy pants rustling softly.

“O-oh! Uh… right, sorry. I’ll step out.” Jax scrambled off the bed and quickly retreated, closing the door behind him to afford her privacy.

Jax leaned against the cool wall of the hallway, his foot tapping a nervous, anxious rhythm against the ground.

His ears swiveled the moment Pomni’s door creaked open. She stepped out, her jester hat perfectly fixed upon her head, and offered him a bright, composed smile.

“Ready?”

Jax nodded, falling into step beside her. He consciously adjusted his long stride, ensuring he stayed precisely at her side, not ahead, not behind.

The two arrived at the breakfast table, where the others were already seated. They were a few minutes late.

Jax took a seat, and the slight thump of his tail against the chair betrayed his pleasure when Pomni deliberately chose the seat right next to him.

His good mood immediately dulled under the weight of the weary, scrutinizing glances the others kept sending his way. He couldn’t blame them, given his recent near-abstraction, but the silent observation made his skin crawl.

“Morning, Pomni!” Ragatha finally spoke, her voice warm. “…Jax,” she added, a note of hesitant caution creeping in. Usually, she avoided greeting him to prevent a snippy retort. But Jax seemed so fragile now, it stressed her.

Jax’s gaze dropped to the table before he lifted it to meet her eyes. “…Morning,” he murmured after a few seconds, the word barely audible.

“You guys just missed Caine. He said he needed to perform necessary maintenance, so we get a free day,” Ragatha announced, her smile widening.

“Really??” Pomni breathed a sigh of relief. She was absolutely dreading facing another impossible adventure.

Jax visibly relaxed, the tension easing out of his shoulders.

“So we were… thinking of watching a movie?” Gangle offered, her ribbon-body swaying slightly.

“We can watch movies here?” Pomni asked, intrigued.

“Yeah, but they are all made by Caine. They’re basically bootlegs of real movies because of copyright, or whatever lame excuse Caine gave,” Zooble shrugged, their geometric antenna twitching with mild annoyance.

“But it’s… it’s still fun!” Gangle chimed in quickly.

“Oh, it is, but definitely lower your expectations,” Zooble added dryly.

“Yeah, I’d be down for a movie… Jax?” Pomni looked up at the rabbit beside her.

Jax was tapping his fingers against the table…a nervous habit. “Oh, uh, yeah, sure.” He didn't want to be alone today.

Jax stabbed his fork into a perfectly round pancake, his movements surprisingly precise. His mouth opened, exposing his sharp, angular teeth, before he shoved the entire thing into his maw.

“How do you do that?” Pomni asked, watching the feat with fascination.

“Mh?” Jax asked, finishing the pancake and swallowing with a quick gulp. “Do what?”

“I mean, you talk, but your teeth always seem fused together, yet you can also open your mouth like that? Why don’t you just do that to talk all the time?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“Oh, uhhh… I’m not sure? It’s just not really how my body works. I don’t know. I tried to think about why once, and it gave me a headache, so I've stopped questioning it.” Jax rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

“Ah… yeah, probably a good call. Sorry,” Pomni nodded, accepting the strange logic of the Digital Circus.

Jax shook his head. “No… no, it’s alright,” he quickly reassured her.

The rest of breakfast passed smoothly, though Jax, acutely aware, noticed the occasional concerned glance from the others. It made his fur stand on end, making him feel like a volatile object they were all waiting to explode.

Jax tried to shove the paranoid thoughts away as he followed the group to the small living area.

He sat down on the familiar, slightly lumpy couch, and was surprised when Pomni settled next to him again, not leaving a comfortable gap between them.

“So, the movies kind of cycle with what choices we can have,” Ragatha explained, holding up a few DVDs. “Looks like we have… some rip-off Disney stuff.”

“Hmm… what about that one?” Pomni pointed to a movie titled *Entwined*. The box art was a badly copied version of *Tangled*.

“Oh, I don’t think we have seen this one yet. Good choice,” Ragatha smiled, sliding the disc into the player before taking a seat next to Kinger.

Gangle sat down next to Zooble, offering them a small, sweet smile.

The movie began. True to Zooble’s warning, it was essentially Tangled, but the dialogue was slightly altered, and the characters all possessed subtly unsettling, off-model designs.

Jax made it halfway through the film before the deep, restorative sleep from the night before caught up with him. His eyelids grew heavy, and his long ears drooped down until they rested against his shoulders. Soon, he had fallen completely asleep, slumped upright against the couch cushion.

The others noticed Jax’s silence. Ragatha shifted in place nervously.

“How is he doing?” she whispered to Pomni.

“I think… alright? He’s pretty tired. He came to my room last night because of a nightmare,” Pomni whispered back, keeping her voice low.

“But he’s… stable?” Zooble asked cautiously, their mechanical parts clicking softly. “He didn’t nearly abstract again?”

Pomni shook her head. “No, no. He seems much better today. But I think I should… keep an eye on him.”

“I’m just surprised he’s letting you be so close, and… he actually came to you last night?” Gangle whispered, a genuine astonishment in her voice.

Jax always maintained an impenetrable wall, refusing help, brushing off concern. Had all of that been a façade? Were they finally seeing the true Jax? someone just as scared and desperately in need of help as the rest of them?

“Yeah, well, we talked a bit. And it sounded like he wanted to let me help him, so I told him he could come to me if he needed anything.” Pomni glanced up at Jax’s large, sleeping form. “I’ll admit, I was a little surprised he actually came to me. He… he looked really bad last night. He told me he gets nightmares often.” Pomni felt a pang of guilt for sharing, but Jax needed support, and she needed guidance.

Ragatha frowned, her doll features creased with worry. “Alright, just… be careful, Pomni. I’m not saying don’t help him!” she added quickly. “Just… none of us know what could happen after a partial abstraction. He could become unstable again. And even if he doesn’t, Jax is difficult. If he suddenly decides he doesn’t want you getting too close anymore, he will make sure you stay away… no matter what.” Ragatha warned, her voice laced with sadness.

“I’m not going to just abandon him,” Pomni stated, her voice firm.

“I… I’m not saying you should! I just… I don't want to see you get hurt. Please just be careful?” Ragatha pleaded.

“None of us want Jax to go through something like this. Even if he is a complete a-hole. But there isn’t much we can do if he doesn’t let us. But he’s letting *you*. He’s trusting you,” Zooble added quietly, their tone unusually soft.

“I know… and if he will let me, I’ll continue to be there for him. I know how he can be, but I also see more… a side that he hides away, a side that he’s starting to let show. And I know it’s likely because he’s tired and can’t put on a front, but if he’s shown it’s okay to be who he is, maybe he won’t push us away again,” Pomni whispered, looking at Jax with a complex mixture of pity and determination.

“I… I think he needs that. He needs you. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Jax act softer. Something about you, Pomni, makes him feel safe,” Ragatha said, looking intently at the jester.

“What do you mean? It’s been a long time?” Pomni asked, her curiosity piqued.

Ragatha sighed. “It was a few years ago now, but there was… another. Jax was very close with them until… they abstracted.” She kept the details deliberately vague. “Sorry, it’s not my story to tell, and I don’t think he would like me telling you about them.”

“It’s alright. Maybe he will tell me eventually,” Pomni sighed. Did that have something to do with the door Jax stared at last night? The one with the frog decal?

Jax stirred slightly, murmuring something unintelligible in his sleep. His foot thumped against the ground a few times, and his ears twitched rapidly.

He looked restless, but so far, he didn’t look distressed, which was a relief.

The group returned to watching the movie, Pomni occasionally glancing at Jax to check his breathing and expression.

The movie was nearly over when Jax stirred again. His eyes slowly opened, blinking against the light. He stretched his long arms out above him in a stress-relieving yawn.

Pomni giggled softly. “Hey, sleepy bunny,” she whispered.

Jax’s gaze fell upon her. “Oh, did I fall asleep?” he asked, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He didn’t comment on the nickname, but surprisingly, he didn’t fully hate it. “Is the movie almost over?” he whispered.

“Yeah, it’s the prison break scene right now,” Pomni explained softly.

Jax hummed, turning his attention to the screen. He stayed awake for the remainder of the film, occasionally glancing down at Pomni. She looked happy, relaxed.

The rest of the day was unexpectedly pleasant. Jax found himself enjoying just being in the presence of the others as they chatted and idled. He didn’t contribute much, but he listened, letting the normal chatter wash over him.

Occasionally, he would glance over to see what Gangle was sketching. She would tense up out of habit, but when Jax didn’t mock her or grab the pad, she would relax and continue drawing.

Pomni stayed reliably near Jax for the rest of the day. Jax couldn’t suppress the warm, buoyant feeling that bubbled up again, especially when she would laugh. Her laugh was light, it was a sound that he realized he liked very much.

After dinner, Jax walked with Pomni toward their respective rooms.

“Thanks,” he spoke softly once they stopped in the hall between their doors.

“Oh? For what?” Pomni asked.

“Just… for today. Staying with me.” Jax offered her a genuine, if brief, smile.

“It’s no problem. I enjoyed it,” she smiled back.

Jax shifted nervously in place. “Well… goodnight,” he said quietly. He turned to his door, his hand resting on the smooth knob, but paused. His ears slowly fell, weighted down by a familiar, heavy dread. He didn’t want to be alone. But he couldn’t ask Pomni again. He couldn’t impose on her. *It’s okay. He’s dealt with nightmares for years. He’s fine. He’s… he’s fine…*

“Jax.”

Jax turned around. Pomni was still in the hall, watching him with an understanding gaze.

“Would you like to come to my room tonight?” she asked, having clearly witnessed the sudden tension in his posture.

“Are… are you sure?” Jax asked quietly, the question tinged with disbelief.

“Of course. Last night was nice. I mean, you didn’t kick me off my bed,” she chuckled lightly.

“I… yeah, if… if it’s alright? I don’t think I can be alone right now…” Jax admitted, the confession feeling raw.

“Alright. Go get changed, and you can come over,” Pomni said gently before slipping into her room.

Jax’s ears wiggled up and down with relief.

He hurried into his room and rummaged through his meager selection of clothes, pulling off his overalls and slipping into a pair of baggy carrot-print pajama pants and a soft, pink T-shirt.

He left his room and crossed the hall, tapping lightly on Pomni’s door.

“Come in, Jax!” she called out.

Jax turned the knob, finding it unlocked. He stepped into her room and slowly made his way over to the bed.

Pomni was arranging the pillows. She was wearing a red and blue patterned shirt that covered her shorts. “Nice pants,” she laughed, pointing at the small carrot decals.

Jax looked down. “Yeah, well, Caine thinks he’s funny.” Jax chuckled, taking a cautious seat on the edge of the bed.

Pomni climbed up beside him.

“Hey, uh… I know you don’t really like touch. Are you sure you are okay with this? I mean, I get pretty clingy at night… usually I wake up holding pillows,” Jax asked, his voice low with concern.

“It’s alright, really. You are actually pretty cozy, especially with your soft fur,” Pomni reassured him, tilting her head.

Jax felt heat spread rapidly up his neck and onto his cheeks. “O-oh! Uh… thank you?” What was he supposed to say to that? No one had ever offered him a compliment like that before. “But uh… if it’s too much, just push me away. Seriously, it’s okay, I won’t be offended.” he quickly added.

Pomni laughed, a light, airy sound. “Alright, but seriously. It’s fine.” She said, laying down and getting comfortable beneath the blankets.

Jax hesitated only a moment before he burrowed into the soft blankets beside her.

“Night, Jax. You can wake me if you need anything,” Pomni yawned.

Jax hummed in response, closing his eyes. He let the warmth and the unfamiliar security of the shared space wash over him. He relaxed into the mattress and slowly, peacefully, fell asleep.

Pomni glanced over at Jax, smiling softly when she saw his deep, even breathing. He looked utterly peaceful.

She found herself shifting a little closer to him, drawn by the residual warmth radiating from his body.

Jax shifted in his sleep, turning onto his side. His arms moved, slow and heavy, draping over her side and slowly pulling her closer until she was tucked firmly against his chest. He was clearly still fast asleep…he hadn’t been kidding when he said he was clingy.

Pomni smiled softly, adjusting slightly to get more comfortable in the tight embrace. She closed her eyes and sighed, letting sleep claim her.

Yeah, she… she could definitely get used to this.