Work Text:
Jax always had trouble sleeping. In reality, as well as the circus. His mind never slowed enough for him to actually settle down and rest. That was, until Ribbit came into his life. The pair became fast friends. They laughed at the same jokes. They enjoyed the same pranks. They were perfect compliments to each other. They even shared similar insecurities and comforts.
It began when Jax noticed Ribbit looking far less chipper than usual one morning. It took a while for the rabbit to poke an explanation out of the sleepy little frog. Ribbit admitted to intense feelings of anxiety around being in this digital world. He described vivid night terrors that plagued him nightly. Jax’s hardened heart softened. It hurt him to know his friend was struggling just like he was.
They decided the best solution was to be together, so they wouldn't suffer alone. By day, they were joined at the hip. They were never apart. Buddies for every adventure and game, they grew closer each day. They would sneak out of their rooms under the cover of dark, carefully, one silently making their way to the other's door. They spent every night together. They could relax. They could be as close as they wanted without the rest of the circus whispering and eyeing them. They could recharge and recover from the crazy adventures of the day. When they were together, there were no bad dreams.
It was easy for Jax to sleep with Ribbit in his bed. His slender form fit perfectly in Jax’s embrace. The warmth of his body soothed and comforted Jax, like a living heated blanket. Ribbit smelled like sweet grass and falling rain. His calm, even breathing was easy to follow. Each beat of his heart reassured Jax that Ribbit was safe, and loved.
Jax slept peacefully with Ribbit cradled against his chest. His entire world spent every night nestled safely in his arms.
Nothing could hurt his dear friend. Nobody could take him away.
…
What he wouldn't give to hold him close just one more time.
Since Ribbit had abstracted, Jax was a shell of himself. He was bitter. Mean. He opted to play shocking, cruel pranks on everyone, trying to get a reaction that would make him feel… something. He was desperate to feel anything other than the hollow coldness that filled him. Peaceful sleep was nothing but a distant memory for him. Jax would lay awake at night, tossing and turning, consumed by dread, guilt, and loneliness. When the exhaustion took over, he was thrust into terrifying nightmares. Mainly visions of his friend morphing into a grotesque monster. Ribbit's final words being a frightened, choking scream for Jax to save him. Jax would shoot awake every time.
Tonight was different. The dream started like any other: Jax wandering through an endless black void, searching for the only one who made him feel whole. Jax found him quickly in the dark, tiredly calling out his name. Ribbit turned to face him, the same elated expression on his face, like always. Jax sighed sadly, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. He was grateful for any opportunity to be with him again. Even if this was only a dream.
He approached his dearest friend wearily. Tears welled behind his eyes, as he counted the seconds before the dream would be over and he would be alone again.
Moments passed.
Nothing happened.
Something was different. Ribbit seemed too real.
Normally, Ribbit was nothing more than a ghost in his dream. A vision he could see and hear, but never touch. This time, there was a subtle awareness in Ribbit's eyes. The frog grabbed him and yanked him close. Startled, Jax stumbled into his embrace.
His body had the same familiar weight. His skin, as smooth and soft as the day he left. A warm sensation spread along Jax’s fur every place Ribbit touched. Jax cautiously snuggled his head into Ribbit's chest and was met with the steady beating of his heart…
.
..
…
This was real.
It just had to be.
Jax couldn't hold his tears any longer. He wrapped his arms around the frog, blubbering like a baby. He breathed in his familiar, comforting scent. Ribbit held him back tightly. He stroked the tuft of fur between his ears, his touch gentle and comforting. Ribbit whispered something unintelligible, but Jax didn’t care. They were together again and that was all that mattered.
That's when he felt Ribbit tense and tremble.
Jax felt Ribbit’s heart race and his breathing pick up.
Ribbit started to whimper in fear. His grip briefly tightening before an invisible force ripped the pair apart.
Then Jax heard the bone chilling scream.
Jax sat bolt upright in bed, drenched in a cold sweat. Anxiety filled his stomach as he cried out for Ribbit. His heart was pounding as he frantically tore through his bed linens, desperately searching for Ribbit. He was right here. Not even a moment ago! He was safe, wrapped in Jax’s protective embrace. He felt his breath on his shoulder… he could feel the warmth of his skin and hear the beat of his heart….
couldn’t he?
After several moments of disoriented panicking, Jax came to a sickening realization:
It was only a dream.
Everything he had seen and felt wasn't real.
He was back in reality; and it was worse than any nightmare.
He was alone.
Silent sobs shook the rabbit’s body. Every part of his body that had been pressed to Ribbit in his dream stung, like the fur had been ripped had the skin torn off. Shivers ripped through him as air sucked away any memory of warmth that Ribbit had left behind. There was a deafening ringing in his ears that thundered over his recollection of Ribbit’s voice. His heart squeezed painfully.
He stumbled out of bed, clutching his chest and gasping in panic. He shuffled towards the sink across the room, clumsily yanking the tap on. He plunged both his arms into the cold water, trying to reset his nervous system. He’d learned this coping mechanism from Ribbit. The coolness and sound of rushing water always helped to ground him. He tried to slow his breathing, deeply inhaling through his nose and shakily blowing it out of his mouth. He splashed his face, scrubbing snot and tears away. He peaked at his reflection in the mirror, startled by his reflection. Dark circles under bloodshot eyes, disheveled fur, and limply hanging ears greeted him
“You look like shit” he chuckled darkly.
Jax pushed himself away from the sink, making his way out of his room and down the hall. There was only one way he could settle himself down after a dream so vivid. He sniffed, wiping his nose while padding through the dark corridor to his friend’s room. Bright red paint was slashed in an X shape across his smiling portrait.
He stopped in front of Ribbit’s door, turning and pressing his back against it. He slid to the ground. He fished Ribbit’s bowtie out of his coverall pocket. He gingerly stroked the edges of the pink ribbon, a longing feeling settling in his core.
Jax sighed heavily “I had that same stupid dream again… you were there, and then you were gone…” his voice trembled as he finished
“I miss you…” He whispered thickly, pressing the article of clothing to his lips “I wish you were here with me”
Jax roughly wiped away the rest of his tears. Fatigued from the emotional rollercoaster of the evening, he drew his knees up to his torso. He tucked the bowtie back between the fabric of his coveralls and his chest. He folded his arms on his knees, and rested his chin on his forearms. He felt his eyes getting heavy. He breathed deeply, settling himself into a relaxed position to spend the remainder of the night at Ribbit’s door.
“Night, Rib… don’t let the bed bugs bite” he muttered, slipping into sleep.