Chapter Text
Pomni was in that very specific state where the body had completely given up, but the mind kept talking out of pure inertia—
Like an engine stubbornly refusing to shut down even after the key had been turned.
A raw kind of exhaustion. Crushing.
Today’s adventure had been particularly draining, for reasons that were hard to pin down. Too many NPCs. Too many absurd detours. And, of course, far too much chaos caused by Jax.
Strangely enough, the fatigue almost felt good.
It reminded her of the real world. Her old life. Those moments when she’d stumble home half-drunk after a night that went on too long—mind foggy, muscles heavy, yet her heart inexplicably light.
With one major difference:
she hadn’t even had the joy of drinking a single drop of alcohol.
She staggered toward her room, vaguely greeting the others as she passed by.
They weren’t in much better shape than she was—some of them were practically dragging their feet.
Once the door closed behind her, Pomni slid down against it with a tired groan, ending up sitting on the floor.
A certain AI didn’t take long to appear.
— Pomni! You— wow. What an awful expression you’ve got there, my dear!
Caine and she had something going on... nothing official. Kisses from time to time, pajama nights and... one-on-one adventures.
Nothing serious !
— Thanks, Caine… she muttered.
— My pleasure! …Though, more seriously, I didn’t think a few extra NPCs would leave you all quite so… mushy.
He stepped closer and, without warning, gently tugged on her cheek. The physics of the digital world did the rest—her skin stretched absurdly, almost elastically.
— eh—!
He released her immediately, then placed his hands on his hips, assessing her condition.
Pomni rubbed her cheek, shot him a squinted glare, then pushed herself up with a long stretch.
— Yeah… you really went all out on this one.
She walked past him toward her bed and gave him a light tap on the shoulder.
— Well done, Caine.
The AI practically melted at the compliment. He floated after her, little hearts popping up above him without his conscious control.
God knew how starved he was for praise.
And Pomni knew it too.
Honestly, the entire circus knew.
The bed creaked softly as Pomni dropped onto it, letting her full weight sink in.
— Okay… she said, spreading her arms out. I think I’ve officially used up all my energy for today.
Caine lay down beside her—far more gracefully, and far more upright, of course.
— My dear, you couldn’t give me a greater compliment.
He turned onto his side, resting his chin against his fist, his eternal grin firmly in place.
— Mm mh…
Pomni yawned so widely her jaw nearly cracked.
He watched her as if she were the most fascinating, complex, and beautiful thing he had ever seen.
He had to be the luckiest AI in existence—there was no other explanation.
She, meanwhile, stared up at the ceiling, eyelids heavy.
— I tried counting the floor tiles earlier… you know..while you were explaining the adventure… but there were too many.
She blinked slowly again.
— So instead, I counted how many times you blinked today.
— Oh? And what were the results of this highly advanced scientific study?
he asked, raising an eyebrow, secretly quite interested.
She pressed her hands to her face with a groan.
— Too many. Way too many.
At one point, I thought you were winking at me. Like… on purpose.
He smiled.
— Perhaps I was.
Pomni lifted herself slightly, blinked a few times, then smiled back.
She turned toward him, looking mockingly scandalized.
— Wait… are you flirting with me?
She rolled onto her side to face him fully.
His own game seemed to be turning against him.
The AI panicked immediately.
— Flirting?! Pomni, FROLICKING is not authorized here! And especially NOT by me—ahaha! I mean, I’m the Ringmaster!…
Pomni narrowed her eyes, a mischievous smile plastered across her face.
— Hm. Bold. Very bold.
Her hand slid toward Caine’s, and she took it in hers.
Caine stared at their joined hands, visibly struggling against a critical system error.
Pomni could’ve sworn she saw smoke coming out of him.
— So it’s not allowed? she murmured in a teasing tone—well, she tried.
God
He couldn’t even look at her.
Which was ironic—they’d already been far closer than this before.
But seeing him lose all composure over such a simple gesture was unbearably endearing.
— Oh, Pomni… you..- you know I can’t refuse you anything.
gotcha
She giggled softly, a hazy laugh weighed down by exhaustion.
— I’m just teasing you, Caine…
He looked back at her, his eyes partially hidden behind his upper jaw, like a child sulking after a bad joke.
He wasn’t angry. Oh no—never at his favorite jester !
Just… embarrassed by his own reaction.
He gently squeezed her hand, tracing small, reassuring circles with his thumb.
Pomni relaxed instantly.
She blinked a few times, then, fueled by a small burst of tired courage, shifted closer and curled up against him.
She wasn’t naturally touchy.
But when she WAS… well.. clingy was an appropriate word.
She mumbled something unintelligible, rubbing her face against his stupid costume.
- You're a tired little head, aren't you? Caine joked, trying to relax at the sudden proximity.
God, he was warm.
A walking radiator.
Caine, still inexperienced with this kind of contact, hesitated before placing his hands on her back.
Few people in the circus had ever wanted to hug him.
He stroked her gently with his fingertips, matching her breathing, then rested his head above hers.
It was simple, a simple embrace. But his nonexistent digital heart kept beating fast to what it meant. They are friends. Perhaps even more, but he didn't dare admit it to himself, even in his thoughts. He was the ringmaster after all. And she was...a human.
Silence settled in.
For a moment, he thought she had fallen asleep.
— If you were an animal… what would you be?
He was wrong.
— An interesting question! Would you like me to find a quiz—
— No… no, it’s for you.
— Oh! …Hmm.
He thought seriously for a moment, then the answer came to him like an obvious truth.
— A bee! I love bees! he chirped.
Pomni giggled against him, making both of them shake.
— Those aren’t animals…
— Oh.
— Well… I think. Wait—are they animals?
Caine didn’t bother answering. She was exhausted, after all.
…
— You kind of give off golden retriever vibes, she concluded eventually.
— A dog? What a coincidence! Would it be cliché if I said I associate you with a cat?
She laughed softly.
— Yeah.
As if it were even possible, she pressed even closer.
God have mercy
She was really clingy tonight. Maybe he should organize more adventures like today's.
— I’m tired, she murmured.
Like… really tired.
— I can see that, my dear.
Pomni kept talking, slower and slower now, as if the words were slipping out of her without passing through thought.
— You know… at first, I thought you were… terrifying.
Caine straightened slightly, surprised and a little bit hurt.
— oh..Really?
— Yeah… but now you’re mostly… comforting. Even when you’re annoying.
And — %#@!… you’re actually really hot too.
— Pomni, you don’t have to—
— And I like the nicknames you give us… they’re ridiculous… but I like them.
He gently wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer and making her shut up.
Although they were both the same size, he managed to envelop her, making her feel as if she were in a cocoon.
If others saw him that way...he would lose his entire reputation..
— You’re tired.
...
— I am.
A long silence followed.
Caine wasn’t really sleeping. He couldn’t—he was an AI, after all.
He merely pretended, mentally preparing the next adventure.
Pomni sometimes envied him—being able to work with your eyes closed.
Every human’s dream.
He was about to open a new project when he heard a whisper, barely audible:
— I love you.