Work Text:
"By the way, I'm still curious." Pomni shook her head. "How did you do all of that?"
"All of what?"
"The mirror, the teleporting around, the dramatic lighting. And the boat? How did you pull that off?"
Jax already knew what she was asking, of course, but he still wanted to hear her explain what she meant.
"Oh, thaaaat!" he said in mock-revelation. "That was nothing. Just called in a few favors is all."
"Favors?" she questioned. "How did you get Caine to owe you a favor, let alone enough to make THAT happen?"
"I'm offended," he clutched his chest. "You say that like I don't have a way with words."
"Well, it's not exaaaactly what you're known for..."
"I'm wounded. Honestly." he swooned.
He peeked back towards her with one eye slightly opened. "But yeah, I guess /notorious smooth-talker/ isn't exactly on my repertoire, huh?" He lilted.
She rolled her eyes, trying to hide her growing smile.
"I'd say I earned those favors, though. It WAS my idea to add changeable clothes, which led to adding the mall, which also led to the movie theater, which ALSO-"
"Wait," she interrupted, eyes wider than Jax had ever seen them. "That was YOU?!"
"Uh- I mean, yeah? One thing kinda led to the other. I just wanted some different clothes-"
"So the best update to the circus since our new models was YOUR idea," she started, now thoroughly confused, "and you HAVEN'T been making sure everybody knew you suggested it?"
"I mean... it didn't seem that important to me?" He shrugged almost timidly.
"Oh my god." she whispered.
Pomni was astonished, not that the mall was Jax's idea, but that he hadn't bragged about it the moment it was added. He never even alluded to it being his idea!
"Hello, Earth to Pomni? You still there…?" Jax tilted his head questioningly.
"Wha- huh? Oh. Yeah, I'm- I'm good."
"You were staring at me for at least a minute." He deadpanned.
"I was? I'm sor-"
"Not that I mind, of course. I mean, who could blame you?" He flexed his non-existent muscles. "I AM the pinnacle of masculinity after all."
It was beginning to become impossible for Pomni to not start laughing. She couldn't tell what was so funny, though. Was it what he was saying? Was it how animated he was while joking around? The way he said it?
Or is it because Jax is saying it?
Those thoughts kept popping into her head, always taking her by surprise. And they were getting *louder*, increasingly harder to ignore.
But after the last time she tried to get close to Jax, during the gun adventure what felt like YEARS ago despite only being months, she didn't want to push her luck again.
It took forever to finally get back to where they were before that adventure, and she wasn't ready to risk it again. She would keep those thoughts to herself until they either became unbearable or, if by some miracle, Jax mentioned them first.
The two finally reached the doors to their bedrooms, taking much longer than usual thanks to Jax's endless stream of jokes, wisecracks, and one-liners, both in tears from laughter.
"Oh god," she tried to catch her breath. "This was so much fun. Thank you. Really."
All the air was sucked out of Jax's lungs. And just when he'd finally gotten it back... The look in her eyes, the look of pure joy in those giant pinwheel eyes. He could ride that high for the rest of his life.
But why settle for that? Just ask her.
No, he couldn't. Not when they'd finally become friends again.
It was your fault for that. She wanted to fix things almost immediately. YOU made it take so long.
So what if he did? It was to protect her.
Liar. It was to protect yourself.
Attachments only cause pain here. Everyone abstracts eventually.
They're also the only way to survive here, to stave off abstraction.
Damn it. Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!
Let her decide, then.
Oh yeah, and how do you suggest THAT? It's pretty established that I suck with words.
Then don't use your own. Use words already written.
What do you-?
Then it hit him. Music. A song he already knew. A song that was perfect, as if written for this very moment. And one she already knew...
"Hey, Pomni?" he started.
"Hmm?" she smiled. "What is it?"
"I... can't do this anymore."
Those words felt like ice.
"What?" she whispered.
"I need to know." he stated, walking to his door.
"Know what…?"
She was scared now. The sudden change in Jax wasn't like normal, where he switched to acting carefree. This was a different thing altogether.
"I need to know where you stand on this. And if it's the same I'm at." he sighed. His voice was low. Guarded, but not closed off. Like he's scared.
What's going on?
"What do you mean? Where I stand...?" She started to walk towards his door, but he held out his hand to stop her.
You have come here.
In pursuit of your deepest urge.
What?
In pursuit of that wish
which till now has been silent.
Silent.
He was singing. Jax, unprompted, was singing.
I have brought you.
That our passions may fuse and merge.
In your mind you've already succumbed to me.
Dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me.
Now you are here with me,
no second thoughts
You've decided,
decided~
"Two choices," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "You have two choices. You can turn and walk away, and I'll never mention this again. Or..." He turned to face her, his eyes full of an undefinable emotion. "You can walk through that door and meet me where I am."
"Where you are? What are you talking about? Please just tell me-"
Past the point of no return.
No backward glances.
Our games of make-believe are at an end.
Wait, this is…
Past all thought of if or when.
No use resisting.
Abandon thought and let the dream descend.
What raging fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us...
He held his hand out towards her, but she couldn't tell if it was part of his sudden performance or an invitation.
Or both.
Past the point of no return.
The final threshold.
What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn
Beyond the point of no return?
Jax was breathing heavily now, like he had run a marathon. Why is this so hard? It shouldn't be. It's just a song.
You know why it's hard. And you know it's not JUST a song.
He was in the middle of his room now, hand still raised toward Pomni.
"I want you to know what it means if you walk through that door." he said, his voice eerily calm. "You walk through, and there's no going back. You're stuck with me. I won't hold it against you if you walk away."
He'd just abstract right in front of her, leaving her permanently traumatized. At least that's what he'd LIKE to say in an attempt to lighten the mood. But he couldn't bring himself to. Something about... THIS felt different.
"I..." His attention snapped back to Pomni. She looked conflicted, almost scared. But of what? Of accepting him? Of what would happen if she rejected him?
Jax's head dropped to look at the floor, his hand not quite falling back to his side.
You have brought me.
To that moment where words run dry.
To that moment where speech disappears into silence.
Silence.
Huh? She's... singing? He looked back up, his brow furrowed, and saw her walking towards his door. Her eyes were locked to the floor, like she was hiding her face.
I have come here.
Hardly knowing the reason why.
In my mind I've already imagined
our bodies entwining,
defenseless and silent.
She was at his doorway now, just a few steps away from being inside.
Now I am here with you,
A step.
No second thoughts.
Another step.
I've decided,
One more step.
decided~
She stepped inside and closed the door softly. The sound of the latch securing itself was quiet, but it felt like a bomb detonating right next to his ears.
Past the point of no return.
No going back now.
Our passion play has now at last begun.
She slowly started walking towards him. His body froze, eyes wide, staring at her.
Past all thought of right or wrong.
One final question
She had circled behind him now, out of his view. All the better for him since his face was now a completely different color from blushing.
How long should we two wait before we're one?
She circled back in front, eyes lidded, eyeing him like how a predator watches its prey.
Yeah, he was doomed.
When will the blood begin to race?
The sleeping bud bursts into bloom?
When will the flames at last consume us?
She placed her hand on his chest before grabbing one of the straps on his overalls, and his knees almost gave out. Whether it be from his nerves, the words of the song (which he hadn't thought about until a rather jester-shaped cannonball found itself halfway through his chest), or the fact Pomni was the one touching him, it didn't matter.
He had to finish what he started.
Past the point of no return.
The final threshold!
The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn!
We've passed the point of no return.
They were face-to-face, foreheads almost touching. Jax held onto her by her waist, Pomni held onto him by his shoulders. They were both exhausted. Not from the singing itself, but because of WHAT the singing meant.
And they both knew what it meant. They had both made their bed, so left with no option but to lie in it
They kissed.