Work Text:
Faint footsteps that sounded like impacts in small water puddles echoed through the colorful tent. Creme's artificial legs made her way across the checkered floor, as she got lost in her thought while looking for the bedroom of the one she held dear.
The brightness of the circus was like an overwhelming kaleidoscope. Walking around felt like an acid trip, and it made people sick to your stomach if they weren't used to it yet. Though some of the residence have just accepted their fate there, unlike the abstracted friends who were only just a distant memory now. Creme shuddered at the thought.
She'd never seen it in front of her own eyes despite being in the circus for a bit, only listened to the stories of her fellow damned allies speaking of it like a sacred topic. The described look of one was scary. Even the idea of abstraction made her stomach twist. Was it painful?
Her thought about abstraction subtly drifted to her current worries while nearing the mid of her journey to the person she wanted to check up on. Jax, her lover, had seemed off lately. Distant, more than he usually was. Creme knew his past wasn't the prettiest memory to look back on, but she always tried to help him through it..! Were her efforts not enough? Did he not value the work she put into their committed relationship?
It stung Creme's heart to even think about it, scoffing to herself for coming up with the foolish idea. She trusts that he loves her as much as she loves him. It was final. But that lingering unease prickled at her gut. She refused to believe it. He only pushes away people so he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else. And she knew he broke that solemn rule he stood strongly, it was how they were where they are now. Dating, inside this digital hell. That's the kind of trust she swears to not break.
Creme soon pushed away those thoughts now, realizing she was at her destination, the door to Jax's room. Everything felt more cold and solemn. Like a piece of her was missing. Like something was *wrong*. Very wrong.
Swallowing the lump in her throat at the feeling, before knocking at the door swiftly. Her usually bubbly voice coming out more strained then intended, hinting at her inner turmoil.
" Hi, bun bun!! I just wanted to swoop by and check up on my favorite person here, I've missed you! "
The somewhat burnt out light in her eyes faded by the second as that usual teasing, bold voice wasn't heard. Her heart sunk farther than it should have. Creme spoke up again, hoping for a response this time.
" Aha... If you're upset at me you can let me know...! I'm really sorry for whatever I did wrong, just let me in so I can properly apologize, please..? "
Silence. Again. She felt like a clown. An absolute idiot. A disappointment. She took a shuddering breath and leaned her forehead against the door. Her voice a bit quieter this time.
" ...Silly me, you're probably not even in your room. Maybe somewhere teasing Zooble. "
Creme said, forcing a self deprecated smile, before getting an urge. She lifted her face up off the wooden door, before twisting the golden doorknob to peer into the room, to see if he was even occupied in it at all.
And boy, was he *occupied*.
The figure of what Jax seemed to be was halfway covered with that glitchy, uneven, unsettling funk with colored eyes that was described to her vaguely in the mentions of abstractions. Creme's forced smile immediately wiped off her face, breaking into an expression of panic, sorrow, and absolute fear. She swung the door open immediately to step inside.
" Jax- Oh my god.. "
She covered her mouth, muffling the quiet squeak she let out from the beginning of the tears forming in her eyes, along with the lump she couldn't seem to swallow down.
" ... You.. I- ..... "
The distorted figure, once someone real and alive, tilted his head as he listened to her stumble over choked out words. He wasn't hostile like the other abstractions were described.. Just.. there, in the moment as she slowly broke down at the realization. He couldn't go over there to comfort her and wipe her tears as he usually did. Jax could only watch through the many eyes he formed from his turmoil, and it pained him more than what the glitch that was morphing him ever could.
Creme let out a sob. Quiet, but loud enough in the small room. She just stumbles over to embrace the half-glitched body. He didn't want to move. Didn't want to hurt her more than she already emotionally was. She broke out in full sobs, as the glitch slowly seeped into her own skin, not quite effecting her like it did him, but it stung nonetheless.
" I didn't know you were in pain alone. I wish I could have been there for you while you went through it... but it's not your fault- "
Creme stuttered.
" ...Why did you have to give up on persisting when something so true and beautiful was finally blooming, bun bun? "
She quietly asked through her tears, though it was more like a question to herself. But all that responded was the faint sound of glitched code and error sounds.
Creme just fell to her knees, curling up against the now fully bugged out figure, once someone she recognized, now just an embodiment of his own inner demons. She continued to embrace him while she stayed silent, tears steadily streaming down her cheeks.
She didn't dare leave the room to get someone to help her. She knew there was no helping this. This was the last and only goodbye. Creme had so many words she wanted to get out and tell him at the moment, but she only settled for three before they both parted forever.
' I love you. "