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Pomni fiddled with her top button, her breath shallow as she stared up at the door. His grinning face beamed down at her shivering form.
Her nightmare had been quite vivid and she was too troubled to fall back asleep tonight.
Why am I even here?!
That was a valid question all things considered. Being in Jax's space was a sure way to piss him off and just make her even more miserable. Comfort was the LAST thing she would expect from him.
But we've been getting along well enough, right?
Damnit. No matter how close they've gotten, doesn't mean he's suddenly going to change and be this cuddly bunny.
Cuddly bunny… now why—
The tired jester shook her head and clasped her hands to her chest. She's still here, might as well follow through. She's a 25 year old fucking adult. Not a lovesick teenager afraid to get caught by her disapproving parents.
She took a deep breath in and raised a clenched fist. Two knocks resounded down the dark hallway, the noise too loud in her ears. She stood there for about a minute before she knocked on the door again.
Silence.
Maybe he's a deep sleeper? Unless he's out in one of the random rooms again.
Pomni tries the doorknob and is not surprised to find that it's still locked. She huffed and crossed her arms, tapping a foot as she peered down both sides of the hallway.
"Th-this is stupid," she muttered.
But before she could turn back, the door slowly creaked open. She snapped her head up to meet glowing yellow eyes peaking out of the darkness. It was an eerie sight, however, she felt… safe for some reason. It was weird.
"You need somethin'? Or can I go back to sleep."
Pomni wrung her fingers together and opened her mouth, "Uh."
He raised a thin eyebrow and leaned his elbow against the door frame with a cheeky yellow grin.
"You suddenly gained a speech impediment or what?" His snarky voice had a raspy tone to it like he was still half asleep.
Her left eye twitched, "you would wish for that wouldn't you?"
He let out a loud cackle and reached over to push her head down. She struggled to keep herself upright.
"Don't get your legs in a twist, where is that sense of humor." He chuckled as he put more pressure on her head. "Huh, Pomni? You killed it didn't you?"
She growled under her breath and stepped back away from him. "What the h€%l you– k-killed who-what?"
Jax didn't grace it with a response and let his hand slip away from her without complaint.
They stood there for awhile before he closed the door behind him and sauntered past her.
Her lips slowly turned up into a small smile.
She followed him back into her room and yelped when he grabbed her sides and threw them both onto the bed. Pomni smacked him in the chest as he wiggled his body to get comfortable in the sheets. Their legs tangled together and his arms squeezed her to himself. She felt like she was about to pop.
"God!! Your bed is so comfy, why does it get to be comfy," he complained out loud. "Selfish little thing aren't you?"
Pomni peaked up at him with a sharp glare, her skin itching. His shit eating grin grated on her nerves
"Don't blame me for your sh^%tty bed. I'm not the one with godlike powers y'know."
She squirmed to try and get out of his hold but it was no use.
"I'm still blaming you," Jax mumbles grumpily, his ears folded back. "It sucks. You suck Pom. You know that?"
"Sorry that it's sucky but what the f*%k do you want me to do?" She groused.
A hand grasped one of her bells and started to pull. The jester yelled out at the stretch, which earned a snicker from the purple rabbit.
"Go fetch Caine for me and tell him to switch our beds."
"No way in h€*l Jax. And would you please stop it," she pushed against his chest. "I'm not in the mood!"
He let go only to pinch both her cheeks. She scoffed and jerked her head away from him, but he pulled her back and their foreheads bonked together. They both grimaced but didn't pull away from each other.
Her chest constricted. He's so close…
"I don't care," he rolled them onto their sides and smothered himself into her chest. She squeaked, her face heating up like a fucking oven. "I'm gonna use this as a pillow."
"Eeek! Jax! Stop it. Pervert!" Pomni shrieked, her hands trying to shove his head away to no avail.
He peered behind a half-lidded gaze, his smug smile sending a spark of irritation underneath her skin.
"I won't hesitate to kick you out."
"With that shrimp of a body?" He lifted his head to stare into her two-toned eyes with a smirk. "Good luck with those spindly limbs. Wouldn't stand a chance against my masculinity."
She blinked at him. His grin widened,
–then the jester busted out laughing and it dropped.
"Says the guy who freaked out when he was put in a maid dress," she sputtered out in a breathless gasp.
His pupils shrunk and purple fur prickled unpleasantly on the back of his neck and along his shoulders.
Fwip, fwip, fwip fwip fwip!
Pomni tilted her head down to where she heard the curious sound. His foot was twitching erratically, as if it was thumping.
"Huh," she flicked her gaze back to him. "Did I hit a nerve?"
His cheeks flushed and he tried to will his paw still. It kept going. Fuck. Seriously?!
"No, you didn't. Stop looking at me funny." He snapped.
"I-I'm not."
"Yea, you are."
"I'm really not, though."
"Liar."
"Jax." She huffed. "I promise I am not looking at you funny."
Jax grit his teeth, "I don't believe in your empty promises Pom."
She sighed and tucked her head under his chin, her fingers digging through his chest fur. A shiver went down his spine and his ears perked up.
"You don't have to," she murmured softly.
She seemed to be mulling something over because a mintute passed before she finally spoke.
"I think it's, cute."
He inhaled sharply and his hand gripped her waist tighter.
She suddenly pushed herself up and hovered half her body over him. His heart fluttered as she looked down at him with such a genuine smile.
"It actually gave me an idea," Pomni tilted her head and the glint in her eyes made him nervous. "Thumper seems fitting, don't you think?"
Ears pinned down, Jax fought the giddy feeling that wanted to overstimulate his senses.
A nickname. She finally gave me a nickname.
The thought was like a sledgehammer to a concrete wall, crumbling it into dust. It made him want to dunk her in a pool and watch her sputter and hurl curse words at him. Make him want to call her names until she was blue and red and green in the face. Do something to make her say it again.
He was brought back to reality when Pomni let out a huge yawn, tucking herself back under his chin. Her body curled up into his stomach and a breath ruffled his fur. His fingers twitched.
"Don't ever call me that again," he whispered.
"Whatever you say," she smirked. "Thumper."
She giggled at his loud groan.