Chapter Text
There’s a banging at Jax’s door and it’s far too early for anyone to talk to him. He roughly sandwiches his face between the mattress and the pillow. He groans and hopes it’ll be loud enough for the disruptive person outside his door to realize they should leave him alone. The banging doesn’t stop.
“Come on, Jax!” A familiar voice drawls. “I’m not leaving until you get your lazy bunny butt out here.” One of Jax’s long ears raises at the voice. If it had been anyone else he would’ve ignored them then made their day horrible. Afterall, someone who ruins the beginning of his day deserves a just revenge. But this person is the one exception. Only a minute later, Jax cracks the door open. One exasperated eye stares down at Ribbit.
“Why the [boink!] are you waking me up so early?” Jax sighs, rubbing where his nose had been only a couple years ago. He reluctantly slips out of his room - a place that has become one of his few escapes from pandemonium - and closes the door sharply behind him so Ribbit can’t see inside. Ribbit’s sharp eyes clearly don’t miss this behaviour but it isn’t unusual. No one is allowed in Jax’s room, everyone knows that. Instead of following their curiosity, Ribbit wraps an arm around Jax’s shoulders, pulling him close beside her as she walks the two of them down the hall.
“Oh quit complaining, it’s not that early.” Ribbit grins. Jax thinks they look like they’re enjoying his irritation a bit too much. “Caine’s got an adventure set up for us all.”
“Oh thank god you woke me up! I wouldn’t want to miss another adventure.” Jax rolls his eyes, unimpressed. His back complains from the slouched position he has to take to let the shorter frog keep her arm around his shoulders.
“That’s the spirit, Bunny Boy.” Ribbit smirks. “I knew you wouldn’t want to miss out on - not only an adventure but - spending time with your favourite circus member.”
“As if,” Jax scoffs and shoves Ribbit playfully off of him. “If I had a favourite character in the circus it would obviously be me.”
“You liar.” Ribbit grins. Straightening up, he puts his hands on his hips and leans back casually as the two of them walk into the main room. Jax works to hide the fond smile poking at the corners of his mouth but Ribbit knows his face too well.
The only person who hasn’t arrived is Caine. Kinger is staring distantly at the yellow slides snaking through the air. He seems to be the only one who isn’t uncomfortably aware of the interaction between Ragatha and Kaufmo.
“Knock knock,” Kaufmo repeats for probably the tenth time. He grins widely at Ragatha. For whatever reason, she is the appointed target of his knock knock jokes today. Kaufmo always tries to entertain the other circus members when they seem bored. When all he receives in response is silence, he repeats slightly louder: “Ragatha, knock knock.”
“What?” Her head jerks up and her hands that had previously been nervously fidgeting go straight down to her sides. “Oh! Right. Kaufmo… Uh, who’s there?”
“Apple,” he repeats with obvious withheld laughter. Ribbit glances at Jax with a faintly amused grin and Jax rolls his eyes in response.
“Apple who?” Ragatha says through a forced smile.
“Knock knock”
“Who’s there?”
“Orange,” Kaufmo giggles.
“...Orange who?”
“Orange you glad I didn’t say apple?” Kaufmo laughs loudly. Ribbit doubles over and slaps their knee.
“What a classic, Kauffy!” Jax snickers. Kaufmo’s laughter quickly fades though when he notices Ragatha is distracted again. He coughs and Ragatha’s eyes flick to him with recognition and a sudden guilt. She forces a smile and begins to laugh as well. The damage is already done though.
“If you don’t think it’s funny, don’t laugh,” Kaufmo huffs. Ragatha’s eyes go wide and she quickly starts to ramble off apologies. However, she’s quickly interrupted as Caine pops into existence before them.
“Hello my precious little ring worms!”
“Caine! Just in time,” Ribbit exclaims, still dealing with the giggling aftershocks from Kaufmo’s joke.
“Jax is so excited. I thought he was going to abstract trying to wait for the next adventure.” Caine’s disconnected eyes slide across to look at Jax. Sparkling tears well up in his eyes.
“Aw Jax, you sweet bunny you,” he exclaims looking genuinely touched. When Jax gives an unimpressed look Caine falters and looks back at Ribbit. “Are you quite sure he’s excited? He doesn’t seem to look it…”
“I’m no-,” Jax begins.
“-Oh he’s just playing it cool in front of his favourite ring master,” Ribbit says interrupting Jax. She punches Jax playfully in the shoulder and Jax rubs his arm exasperated. “No need to pretend with us, buddy. We all know you’re a softy deep down.” Building anxiety twists through Jax’s stomach at those words. His hands fidget. He looks away frowning. Unlike Ribbit, Caine is too distracted by being Jax’s favourite ring master to notice. Ribbit's hand drifts up to where they’d punched Jax’s arm. “Hey, you alrigh-”
“-Well enough chitter chatter!” Caine shouts joyfully, cutting off Ribbit. Jax steps away from her hand. “I’m sure you’re all as anxious as Jax to hear about today’s adventure. Well let your drums roll because today we’re going toooo Meatball Metropolis!!” He snaps his fingers and the five circus members are sucked into the sky.