Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jax’s eyes weren’t droopy or tired at all. He’d been staring at the same corner of his colorful bedroom since last night at the favorite character awards. He hadn’t looked away. His thoughts hadn’t strayed away from the event other than the awards last night either.

He felt stiff. How long had it been since he laid down? Were people awake already? He wasn’t exhausted but couldn’t bring himself to close his stupid cartoon eyes just to speed shit up. Is that what Pomni thought of him? Stupid, and cartoonish? Had she taken HIM seriously?

He blinked his eyes for the first time in what felt like hours, and took his gaze away from the sad corner Jax now knew like the back of his hand.

He sat up in his bed, feeling every… bone? Whatever he had, in his simplified, lanky body finally get the chance to stretch.

He hadn’t realized how uncomfortable he was until now, when he felt the crink in his neck tweak the wrong way, sending a jolt through his chest to his paws.

Jax’s head felt heavy, not being able to find the strength to pick it back up.

After gaining the energy to somewhat stand up, he took his first steps slowly. He had definitely rotted way too long, and one of his knees almost gave out. That wasn’t going away anytime soon and was going to be a problem if he needed to run. Great.

After gaining the confidence (or whatever was left of it) he looked at the small mirror in his room that had been there since he had gotten there.

Jeez. Atleast look like you got sleep, Jax. He genuinely looked like a corpse. His fur wasn’t slick as it usually was, and his animated expression was sunken and dull. His ears wouldn’t sync, so one was flopped to the side of his head, and the other was almost twisted to the opposite side.

He blinked rapidly, hoping he was just dreaming. He would never let himself look this god awful, no matter how digital he looked.

He straightened himself, rubbed the inner corners of his eyes like a toddler and shook his head, attempting to reset himself.

Crap. One section of his fur wouldn’t lay flat. That’s embarrassing. For a second, his mind drifted from the conflict and settled on excuses of why this stupid chunk of fluff wouldn’t sit right while playing with it, trying to keep it down. Saying that he couldn’t sleep would obviously admit that he couldn’t stop thinking about Pomni. Not like… that, but like… the fight. What he said. Nevermind.

After pulling himself together, he slowly paced towards the door of his bedroom. Opening it was a nightmare. Seeing her room, her door, her face, made him retract immediately, his heart racing.

God that was stupid, really. Over a door? It wasn’t even really her. She probably wasn’t even in there.

He closed his eyes, thinking to himself. He slowed his breathing and braced himself to open the door again.

Without making contact with the door. (Which was almost impossible..) He scoured around the corners, looking at each end of the dormitory hallway. No one was there.

He slipped out of his room, a quick glance towards her door escaped him and he quickened his pace out of the hallway still trying to lay the piece of fur flat on his face.

---

Pomni’s eyes drifted open, drowsy as hell. The hour of sleep was going to catch up with her whether she liked it or not.

The fight hadn’t bothered her as much as it did Jax. The only thing that had ‘bothered’ her about it was the favorite character awards. He had disappeared for a few minutes, and she had caught herself almost getting up to check on him before he came back, a fake smile plastered on his face.

She was sure she was the only one that could see through it. She could see through it before and after their fight.

She wasn’t angry as much as she was disappointed, disappointed that he wouldn’t just let it go by talking to someone. She’d listen. But not yet. He’d need to learn how to apologize to people. Pomni could tell it was something he didn’t have experience in.

She created scenarios in her head, on how he would pretend nothing had happened , or just avoid her entirely. She was kind of hoping for the first option, but it was Jax she was thinking about. The most evasive person she’d ever meet.

She rubbed her eyes, her vision clearing up as much as it could.

She was usually rushed during the morning hours. She was a late sleeper. But, due to the lack of sleep Pomni had, she had woken up at a respectable time and took her time getting ready for whatever crazy adventure Caine had planned.

She reached up to the doorknob, twisting it and pulling the door towards herself.

She looked ahead at Jax’s door.

A pang of guilt stabbed her in the chest. She pushed it down, and shook her head.

She turned around and closed the door behind her, before walking through the hallway to the common area, where everyone… should be by now.

She fidgeted with her fingers, before switching to the pompom on her costume

looking around for a crowd of people to recognize.

The common-area was an area of couches, all arranged in a half rectangle. The couches were quite questionable, but they definitely matched the circus’ aesthetic. Along with the couches, there was a messy table where Pomni was sure she had left something there a few days previously. Maybe she’d find it, don’t know!

On top of the arrangement of couches, were her friends she had made in the circus so far, probably, most likely just waiting for Caine to pop out and scare the shit out of everyone.

Zooble had her feet kicked up on the coffee table reading something. Ragatha was chatting with Kinger while he rebuilt his pillow fortification that had gotten wrecked after the last in-house adventure. Pomni wanted to help him rebuild it. Gangle was doodling in her sketchbook, but what surprised Pomni is that Gangle was anxiously close to Zooble on the couch, rather than her regular separate sofa chair. It was kind of sweet.

Another person she’d rather not mention wasn’t there. She wasn’t going to bask in it, she barely noticed at all really. Maybe she’d find would keep this mindset for a bit. Not in a mean way, just in a … ‘he needs time’ way. Maybe that would take a bit.

She almost turned the corner to finally be in their view, but stopped herself. Did they know? No, they couldn’t, no one was even there. I’d have seen someone if they were there, but everyone was in the loser’s corner… No, no one knows, I’m fine.

She braced, heaved a strong exhale and turned the corner to finish the walk to the common-area. Everyone’s eyes , one by one, landed on her, and she held her breath. They totally knew.

As she got closer, Ragatha got up from her chair and awkwardly waved at Pomni. Pomni just smiled crookedly, her hand still.

“Hey- Pomni! How’d you sleep-?” Ragatha stumbled her words, fidgeting nervously with her hands. Gangle just watched the interaction, and Zooble only cared for a second, she didn’t put her book down. Understandably, because Pomni didn’t think it was that big of a deal.

“Oh, uhm.-“ Should she lie? No, why? It’s not like they need sleep a lot.

“Fine!.” She smiled, playing with the tail of her hat.

“Hey- uhm Pomni?” Ragatha asked unconfidently, reaching a hand towards Pomni, who flinched. Pomni tilted her head, waiting for the question. She knew what it was.

“Are you… okay?” Ragatha spat out, almost immediately regretting her choice, and taking her hand back. Pomni still looked stunned, no matter how much she had told herself she had expected. She really was okay, it was just Jax that she was worried about, well- not worried- just. Yeah. She didn’t want to just say anything if that wasn’t what they were talking about anyway.

“Er- yeah… why? Did something happen?” Pomni asked, lying through her teeth, a clear digital bead of sweat glistening off her cheek.

“You don’t need to lie, Pomni. You’re good.” Zooble piped up from her book, startling Gangle a bit.

“But I’m fine, really! It’s just—“

“WOWZAWEE POMNI! LOOKS LIKE YOU’VE GOTTEN YOURSELF INTO A TUSSEL WITH A CAST MEMBER!” Caine materializes on the right side of Pomni, making her jump, and her pupils shrinking in fear. She lowers her guard, an comprehends what he said.

“No- it’s not like that. Really…”

“IF IT’S NOT LIKE THAT THEN WE’LL START THE ADVENTURE RIGHT AWAY! OHHHH JAXXX!” Caine twists and fiddles with skewing his morph, making him look distorted in some frames. He turns to the hallway of dorms, in which everyone follows his direction, as Jax stops in his tracks, his mouth flat, and eyes widening. His postured assumed he was sneaking instead of making himself known.

Caine snapped his fingers.

“There ya go Jax! Wouldn’t want to have ya walk all the way down here would we!”

He’s frozen, almost humiliated.

“What-.”He stammered.

Pomni admitted it was kind of… sad. He slowly turned, much quieter than he had been in first months Pomni had been here. She never made eye contact with him. She felt his gaze on her though. There wasn’t anything she could do about it without confronting him again. She’d rather… not right now.

“Today’s adventure is : The Journey to the Crust of Caine’s Circus Mines! Everyone is instructed to stay together for this journey and bring back my Cainecrystal! But do be careful, I’ve enabled pain features for this adventure, but they are… ah.. still in beta! Suggestions are appreciated!”

“Why are pain sensors enabled…?” Zooble crosses their arms, clearly not impressed.

“GREAT QUESTION ZOOBLE!” Caine exclaims, confetti erupting from… somewhere?

“The reason pain sensors are enabled for today’s adventures is because, according to my research, mines are dangerous!” He pauses.

“Is that it—“ Zooble looks around.

“AND I NEEDED TO TEST THEM OUT!”

Everyone just stares. Zooble looks unhappy, and gangle is just straight confused. Pomni shares the expression as Gangle. Ragatha looks somewhat scared, which, also reasonable. Kinger is still— in his fort, and-.

Jax has somewhat covered his neglected emotions, and has reverted to a subtle expression.

“IS EVERYONE READY?”

“No-“ Pomni sighs.

“OFF WE GO!!”

The red, trippy portal always makes Pomni’s head hurt afterwards, which leads her to stop for a minute after getting through the portal. Ragatha’s the first one to notice, it’s a costume adventure, and everyone got new outfits! They are all pretty much similar to their original outfits, just differently colored and extra pockets.

“Uhh… okay… so we got a map! It doesn’t exact tell us where to go though. There’s three paths.” Ragatha states, pointing at each tunnel and path.

“We should split up. That’s still staying together isn’t it?” Zooble asks, turning to Ragatha.

Ragatha slides Pomni a look, and Pomni looks uncertain, shaking her head. Ragatha understands quite well.

“I’m not sure, these tunnels are not that long. I don’t think they’d take that long just to go through together.” Ragatha traces the length of the tunnel with her finger, and then leans on her chin.

Pomni gets distracted by something on the wall over by the third entrance, the voices of everyone around her becoming distant and distorted. The walls, engraved with tiny crystals of all unique digital species, made Pomni forget about the ‘dangers’ in the cave. After running her fingers across the wall, crossing the crystals, she cuts her finger.

“AGH!!” She shrieks, everyone stops dead in their tracks, and stare at her- most weirdly, Jax stared, almost the most concerned

“Sorry- just- Owh- Caine fucked up. He totally made the pain receptors much more dramatic.” She pointed at her finger, and shook her hand to somewhat numb it.

“Ouh…” Gangle gasped, the concern filling her mask.

Ragatha chuckles, “huh- well okay… that’s nice to know I guess.”

She turns back to the map, thinking strategically. Zooble takes peeks through each and every tunnel entrance.

She’s still holding her cut finger. She… doesn’t know how to respond to that. That probably wasn’t good at all and was going to be a problem for sure. If he- if anyone got hurt, she wouldn’t be chill about it.

Jax quietly stared at Pomni, from the middle of the small corridor. Why? He doesn’t know. Matter of fact, he wasn’t even looking at all. It’s not like he.. cared.

A low rumbling sound starts up above the cast members. It stops for just a second, everything settles. But only for a second. The stalactites from the tall ceilings are completely severed, and they come crashing down, blocking Jax and Pomni from the rest of the group. To avoid certain death from the path of the stalactites, Jax shuffles towards Pomni, unaware he was almost covering her.

Everything is a dust storm and the only thing Jax can hear is Pomni’s small coughs due to the amount of dirt being stirred up around them. His senses are hijacked, and doesn’t know what to do. He slowly regains where he landed, his chin touching the dusty ground.

Once everything settles, more noises come to mind and it’s the rest of the group shouting and yelling from the other side. More senses are coming back to him, and he sees Pomni stand up and go to the wall of their now-blocked cave. Her yearnings are muffled, but he can still see her. Desperately looking for an exit.

Jax’s vision clears, but so does the immense pressure on his leg.

“Shit-!” He exclaims, as he turns his body towards the large boulder swallowing his leg. His paw, almost completely crushed. He winced in pain, desperately pulling on his leg.

“No- no! Don’t pull, that won’t make it any better.” Pomni rushes over to his side, making genuine eye contact before observing his injury. She drastically looks around for something to pry his leg out from underneath.

Jax barely noticed the eye contact, while he was staring at his mangled leg. He tried to look away but he couldn’t. Jax had never been in this much pain before ever- and he had broken multiple bones before the circus, but god, Pomni was serious about the miscalculated pain sensors.

He clutched at his chest, hyperventilating, and desperately blinking before falling back to the ground with his hands over his face. Laying down was definitely better at conserving his energy. Although the quick breathing made him dull, losing acknowledgement of the things happening around him, which was good for forgetting about his foot, but bad for the fact Pomni was trying to get his attention.

“x… ax…jax…Jax!” Pomni’s sudden appearance was the first thing Jax saw when he opens his eyes again. She was lifting his hand and holding it. He wasn’t holding hers back.

“Hey. Hey. I need you to help me out here, can you sit up?” Pomni gently spoke to him, probably the softest she had sounded around him ever. He nodded slightly, roughly pushing himself upwards onto his elbows slowly. It did take him a bit. But Pomni didn’t move, she waited. She was patient with him. Jax couldn’t help but notice it.

“Do you think you could help me lift this?” She backed away from his head, putting both hands on the boulder.

“I’m not strong enough to lift it myself.” She says, slightly embarrassed by herself. He holds in a chuckle.

“Uhm-… ugh.. maybe- I don’t know- just please.. give me a minute.” He grumbled softly, leaning his head into his one good leg that he has pulled up to his chest. He used his knee to wipe away his damp eyes. He couldn’t let her see him like this. It was embarrassing… but so… painful. Jeez.

“No worries. I’ll- um… check in with the group.” She stumbles up from her kneeling position beside the boulder to the wall that blocked them in. Jax watched her as she stood up still in wincing pain, and observed the stalactite that fell for the first time. It wasn’t blocking them completely. Pomni could leave in many places, and crevices due to her small avatar, but she chose to stay. He wouldn’t mention it most likely, but it did make him wonder.

“Pomni!! Are you okay in there?!” Ragatha’s muffled yelps could still be heard from the other side. Jax wished he was unconscious again. He mine as well have been, his head was pounding so abruptly.

“Yeah- uhm. There’s really no…” Pomni responds, her voice fading in and out as Jax struggled to keep his breathing steady. While looking around the cave, she snuck a glance at Jax too, which he pretended he didn’t notice.

“But- Jax is hurt….!” She responded. Jax clenches his heart. ‘Why’d she tell them I was hurt-, couldn‘t she have lied or something?’ Jax’s ears pinned to the back of his head, but almost immediately picked them back up, in seems to no look weak like Pomni had just described he was to the rest of the group. He didn’t need someone to help him move, or get this stupid boulder of his leg. He wasn’t something to be fixed or looked into- or… maybe he did. His leg fucking HURT.

The rest of the conversation between Pomni and Ragatha was clouded by Jax’s inability to admit he needed support. Atleast is was distracting him from the excruciating pain. And Pomni, was back at his side once again in a matter of moments.

She swiftly settled herself in a firm position next to the boulder and looked straight at Jax, while he avoided all contact whatsoever.

“Jax. Are you-“ Pomni shifted her position a smidge.”Are you okay to lift this now-?” She asked. He had been, for a while actually. It was just her. Just her that he needed a break from. He couldn’t stand the way he looked at her when she made eye contact. He could feel his eyes widening, and he wouldn’t keep eye contact with her for more than a few seconds. He couldn’t tell if it was because of his headache or just the headache of him avoiding the attention of someone who actually wants to help.

He didn’t speak, only nudged himself forward and pressed his gloved fingers underneath the boulder. Using every ounce of strength he could use from just his upper body wasn’t as much as he wanted to. He unknowingly had used his some lower body strength, and had shifted his foot, pausing for a second and holding his leg before shaking his head and replacing his hands. He wished he could help more, but just because he noticed that Pomni was struggling terribly just by herself.

The boulder slowly rolled over onto its flat side, and relieved some pressure off of Jax’s foot. Not as much as he needed, but it was the pain in his foot that was making him so unbelievably uncomfortable, not the pressure on his paw.

Jax attempted to pull his foot back to his chest, but Pomni had gently grabbed his ankle before he could, taking what he assumed she had found was already in the cave to cast his foot. She rested his foot in her lap as she wrapped an assortment of things around his paw.

She was… caring. She didn’t pull or tweak it at all, unless it was when she warned him she was going to pull his foot back into place to straighten it. Even then, she was still considerate with him. Even after the lashing out he had pulled on her just yesterday. Even if she did accidentally pull it just enough to pinch it, he didn’t mention it.

She swiftly finished, and lifted his leg out of her lap. He kind of wished she didn’t.

“How’s that?” She sat, looking very proudly at her cast job. Her hands were in her lap and she was teetering back and forth.

He turned his leg as much as he could to get every angle of his foot. He was surprised too, on how well swaddled it was. Where did she even learn this?

“Where did you learn to do that..?” He perked up, the most relaxed he had been since he got here. He actually faced her this time, trying to make eye contact instead of avoid it. He was genuinely grateful. The pain still lurked in his eyes.

“Oh- uhm.. some survival documentary I watched like.. years ago.” This time *she* leaned away, avoiding his contact. She seemed embarrassed, like she shouldn’t have said that she learned something that genuinely helped someone. Something that actually helped how crappy he felt right now. Morally and physically. Or just physically. Yeah. Just that.

The silence of around two minutes was deafening. It was making Jax want to snap his other foot as well. The tearing pain shook that thought out of the box. He started tapping his finger against his elbow, his arms crossed around his knee, trying to unfocus himself from his uncomfortableness. He looked around, and found himself staring at Pomni, not realizing he had entirely zoned out on her. He shook his head and ran his fingers through the ground, trying to push himself upwards with his arms and one good foot. Not a great idea.

That seemed to catch Pomni’s attention as he went unbalanced, when he realized he really couldn’t put any pressure on his foot at all. He caught himself, but he also caught Pomni’s concentration on making sure he was still okay.

“Uh- take it easy… okay?” She nervously chuckled, immediately reverting back to her original position to seem like she didn’t move to him.

“I got it. Geez.” He infant did not have it. He slid down the cave wall, pushing his foot out, but only ended up moving it wrong and gasping before, slowing his movement until he was leaning against the wall and sitting comfortably enough.

“Why do you care so much.?” He asked after a couple of seconds, turning his head away.

Pomni perked up, her eyes wide and hypnotic. She fidgeted at her hat, and sighed.

“Well… I don’t know. Force of habit I guess.” She flicked at a rock on the ground.

“You don’t deserve to be in pain, that’s for sure.“ She continued to draw overlapping circles in the dirt with a small stick, similar to the one Jax had attached to his foot.

“All the times I’ve made everyone feel sooo tortured, and you still think I don’t deserve it? Maybe you are the funny one.” He snickered and flipped his hands around, amused that she thought he actually deserved to be cared for and loved. Let alone respected as something human. Without being able to move much was making him useless, less than anything.

“Listen, I may have helped you with.. this… or whatever, but that doesn’t mean you can just go back to being an asshole, Jax.” Pomni waved her hand at his leg, and glared at him. She was frustrated that this clearly wasn’t what she had hoped he would be like when she helped him. She sighed, realizing it would be much harder for him to soften up. She wasn’t even asking for that much. Just to realize it was okay to open up sometimes, and was worse to push feelings deep down. The further you push them the closer you get to your core, the one place that actually hurts the most. She contemplated saying that out loud.

Jax stayed silent for a moment, as he shifted his foot, it being uncomfortable in every position he took.

“I wasn’t trying to be. Just— why. Why are you being so patient with me? What did I do to deserve you?” He paused. His face flushed, he stammered,

“Not like that, but-.” He looked at his foot, avoiding eye contact after making a fool out of himself. Pomni didn’t seem to care and look at the visible pain still in his eyes, not the flustered expression. She stood up and waddled over to Jax, taking his paw back in her lap.

Jax stared at her for just a moment, before turning his flustered face the other way and covering it with his hand before she looked up at him.

“Everyone deserves a chance sometimes. Technically, if you think about it, these months were only your first opportunity to make something happen between us, rather good or bad.” She sighed and paused. Then looked him directly in the eyes.

“I… I actually have a terrible habit to trust people for the second time, after giving them another chance, y’know? Never seemed to get to their heads.”

Her words dipped into Jax’s chest. She was giving him another chance. Another chance to probably fuck it all up again. Like so many people had done to her before. He couldn’t, wouldn’t. This would most likely be the last chance he got, and he wouldn’t want to be added to the list of dickheads who screwed her over. If he fucked up now, he’d lose the one person in the circus that actually gave a shit about him. And he actually gave a shit about too.

“Jaxx? You don’t look good… are you alright?” Pomni ushered him, only because she couldn’t tell if he was red from her holding his hurt paw in her hands, or the fact that she told him she would give him another chance if he wouldn’t waste it.

“Huh? Oh- uhm- uh- I’m fine. Just… thinking.” He pressed his head into his knee, his ears drooping and covering his face. He was genuinely getting a migraine. Great. Pomni laid her hand on his leg and gently pet his fur. He tensed up, glad to know that his tail was behind him. If it wasn’t, that would be an embarrassment shithole. But we would admit that it did make pain go away somewhat.

“Can I know?” she asked calmly, completely unaware that she was making him almost wish the ground would swallow him whole.

“It’s just.. I don’t know. Why- you’re giving me a second chance for what? Just for me to push you away again because I can’t promise that you won’t abstract and leave?” He flinched at how much he gave away. “Sorry- nevermind. Forget I said anything.” He shrunk into his shell, taking his paw back to himself, leaving Pomni.

“I won’t. The last adventure was actually…. really fun. It was exciting, me and you bonding over loosening up. I really enjoyed it. I appreciate it, Jax.” She scooched closer to his side instead of his paws.

“You don’t mean that, stop fucking with me.“ Jax huffed, clearly annoyed.

“Trust me Jax. I’m not lying.” Her hand lies on his shoulder, and he pulls slightly away. Only before he leans much more closer.

“You’d know if I was lying. I’m not a great liar at all. I seriously had fun with you, and it made the circus not feel so dull and closed. I liked it.”

Jax’s head started to really hurt now, pushing all the pain away from his foot to listen to Pomni was genuinely giving him a migraine. He put his hand on the side of his head and tensed up, hoping to somewhat relieve it.

“But seriously are you okay? You’ve been doing that with your head for a bit now.” Pomni leaned forward to see him from the front, and with a worried look she asked him,

“What can I do to help?”

His eyes widened, a response Pomni was confused about. He started to turn red and looked the other way, hand still over his face.

“Nope. Forget about it, nothing works.” He stammered.

“You have something that works, I know it! Just tell me, please.? I don’t care if it’s embarrassing.” She nearly giggled, but figure it wasn’t the time for that, and would probably push him away further, losing all progress she’d made in the last 30 minutes.

“No. Forget it.” He covered his face even more now, almost entirely facing away from Pomni.

“Jax, come on. It’s just you and me! You think I would tell anyone?” She pushed, leaning around more to see his face.

“Fine. Just- I swear Pomni if you tell anyone, I won’t give a shit about that second chance.” He huffed, and turned back around, careful about not shifting his foot too much.

“Ok ok! I won’t . I promise, Jax.” She held her hands together, clasping as tight as she could. He watched her, getting more and more cheerful, as he got more and more embarrassed. He grunted, and turned entirely away from her so she was facing his back, he then quickly, (but softly) laid his head in Pomni’s lap, and tucked his legs into his chest, leaving his bad foot out. He squeezed his eyes closed shut and flicked his ears, hoping she ld get the memo without having to speak up ever again.

Pomni gasped. It’s not what she expected at all- but she honestly didn’t mind it. His fur was soft and delicate, and his cartoony head fit perfectly in her lap. He twitched his ears dramatically, giving Pomni a little more insight. She hesitated for just a second before laying her hands over his ears.

He eased into it, relaxing into her arms, no longer tensed up or squeezing his eyelids shut. He just hoped that he wouldn’t-…

She actually quite enjoyed it. He was a great blanket, and the cave was actually quite cold. His smooth purple fur was cozy on her legs. A low grumbling sound almost made her jump up again in case it was another stalactite. But the sound wasn’t coming from above, or below. In fact is was right there, on her thighs. It was Jax. Purring. Jax was purring.

“Jax.. are you—“

“Don’t.”

Chapter Text

The silence, and the white noise of Jax relaxing was almost enough to make Pomni doze off and dream about today all over again. Just the adventure, though, none of the waking up from pure exhaustion and trying to avoid all contact with the rabbit who was now laying in her lap, who she was pretty sure was asleep.

She was petting the soft fur on the top of Jax’s head, around his ears, and had been for a while so she paused for a second to let her arm rest. When Jax shifted uncomfortably, she chuckled and switched hands, holding her pointer finger away so she wouldn’t open her cut again.

After a few more moments, Jax jolted up without warning, nearly startling Pomni to the point of a scream.

“Shit- uhm. Sorry.” He shifted away, uncomfortably looking away. He tapped his good paw on the ground anxiously, embarrassed that he had actually done that. His head didn’t hurt anymore, actually. But he didn’t think that was important at the moment. His foot was still in a waterfall of pain, and genuinely still felt like there was a rock over it. He snuck a glance at Pomni, as she sat against the cave wall, picking up and throwing tiny rocks to the wall across from them. Every time she reached with the wrong hand, she’d hold to finger and shake it, and throw another pebble.

Did Jax actually let Pomni do that? It wasn’t quick, one and done, it’s over, don’t bring it up again ever. They had been sitting like that for almost 20 minutes, and she admitted she was pretty comfortable. Hoping he was too, of course. But she didn’t push or press on the matter. Since the only reason she genuinely did that was because he was in pain.

At the moment, she didn’t care whether or not he didn’t want to mention it. She was still mad at him, and he was still mad at her. She had overstepped a boundary that she didn’t necessarily know was there in the first place with the amount of avoidance he was putting on. She felt like she needed to apologize, which she probably shouldn’t because Ragatha said she should wait until he apologized to her instead. That.. didn’t feel right.

What did feel right though? Apologizing to Jax seemed… wrong. Like you were just begging for forgiveness to a murder to a god. But then again, it would take a god to get Jax to apologize to you so… in the end both of them just sat for what felt like forever.

“Uhm… what did Ragatha say…” He asked, splitting the silence from the corridor. He saw Pomni shift her wide eyes onto him as he shifted away.

“Oh, like after I helped you with your leg?“ She turned back, towards the opposite wall, remembering what she had said. It had been almost an hour since then, and memory was always a thing here.

“Since we… uh don’t really have an exit out of here, she told us they would go looking for the end and just tell Caine.” She said, hopefully that it was close enough to the reality.

“But it’s been a while hasn’t it?” Jax pondered. Both of them admitted they had even fell asleep on each other, so it had to be longer than an hour or so.

“I don’t think Caine would add a pain code for nothing.“ Pomni glanced at his foot, and he took his leg away bringing it closer to his chest. Pomni watched his paw as he pulled it closer, watching his face drain of shock from the pain after moving it.

“Stop moving it.” She scolded. It actually kind of scared Jax, and he stopped moving his foot. The only time she had actually used a similar tone of voice to him was when they fought yesterday.

“Is… uh… your head okay?” She tapped her fingers together nervously. Her tone completely changing.

“It’s fine.” He answered quickly and went silent after, turning away. Pomni figured she would have to apologize. Not in a way that she needed it, but he needed to hear it from her.

“Jax?” Pomni whispered. The cave was pretty echoey so the whispering didn’t help. Jax turned his head, his eyes looming with pain. His head was turned, but he didn’t feel like using any energy to leave his head up, so he let it fall, leaning on the wall of the cave.

“Im… sorry.”

Jax huffed, and hid it with a painful chuckle.

“Why are you sorry?”

“I.. uhm.” There really was no reason for her to be apologizing. She had only figured him out, and he had pushed her away and they had started- oh. Fighting.

“For hitting you… so many times.” She sniffled, clearing her throat before looking at Jax to see his reaction.

“Uh- Jax are you-“ She turned to see Jax staring at her, his eyes almost teary. He immediately wiped his eyes and turned back away from Pomni.

“I’m fine.” He slightly shuffled away from her. He placed a hand over his ankle, shielding it from anything.

She hesitated reaching out her hand, pulling back for a second before her hand lands on his shoulder. Feeling him tense up she lifted her hand slightly, regretting her action.

“Jax. You were the one to tell Ragatha to let out negative emotions… well… this isn’t really negative. It’s good to let it out sometimes…”

“Not for me Pom. It’s just embarrassing, and I feel… little. I hate it. It’s so childish.”

Pomni didn’t seem to interrupt. He was letting it out without knowing, just how he had when they fought. She let him, continue.

“I told you this. I don’t need to be fixed, or dug into to find something. I just don’t want to feel pathetic to anyone. It’s stupid. Don’t tell me you don’t get it.” He finally found himself actually facing her, and looking at her eyes. She didn’t break contact, and neither did he.

“I get it, Jax. It’s almost normal to feel that way.” She chuckled a bit, still keeping eye contact.

She paused.

“I just… don’t think it’s an excuse for some of your behavior…“ her smile depleted, finally breaking contact for a second.

“I’m sorry…” This time Pomni was the one to turn away from him instead. She didn’t feel like he would just be able to have one excuse for what he’s been doing for the last month and this one didn’t feel right at all. Jax didn’t seem to understand, and drooped behind her.

“I… don’t know why I do the things I do.” His voiced cracked, and he cleared his throat after finishing his sentence.

“it’s because you think it’s funny isn’t it?” Pomni asked, a bittersweet tone in her voice. She nearly rolled her eyes.

“It’s not because of that. Really.” Jax sighed, dragging a hand to his foot to soothe it for a moment.

“Then why?” Pomni turned her attention back towards Jax, making eye contact for another time.

“I don’t think I can tell you yet. Not because I don’t trust you. It’s me. I’m.. not ready.” He scrunched, pulling his legs… or leg, closer to himself and his eyes shrinking shut.

Pomni gazed at his purple fur, standing upright, and his twisted ears he had once had when she had pulled on them. She didn’t mean to. She understood what he meant though, not being able to quite tell her yet, as they had only met just under a month ago. She didn’t feel like she could tell him some of the things she wanted to yet either.

“That’s okay. That’s understandable. There’s things I want to tell you that I don’t know if you’d keep for me.” She explained, trying the empathy route.

Jax took it as a challenge, and chuckled,

“What would Pomni ever have to tell me that was so important she couldn’t tell anyone else?”

And there he went, back to his cocky and arrogant self. Pomni kind of liked when he was like that. He wasn’t being mean, just funny. Like he wanted to be. That’s the section of behavior she actually liked and got to know just yesterday.

“Wouldn’t you like to know..” She sighed, nearly giggling.

“Yes, infact- ow, I would!” He struck a sideways glance at his foot before perking up, in hopes he would actually tell her.

“Jax. Im trying to respect your boundary here, and you are completely obliterating mine.” She sent him a snarky glare, clearly annoyed even though she was the one to lead him on with it.

“Sh-.. uhm. Sorry… Pom.” He stumbled over his words, slightly creating an awkward silence. It wasn’t really his fault, she had an eager wording to it, like she was genuinely ready to tell him. Pretty shitty move if you ask him.

“Anyways. How’s your foot? Is it *any better?”* Pomni swiped away the awkwardness almost immediately and started it with him.

“Oh. Uh it’s fine I guess.” He shifted it to one side and then to the other, and then turning away, leaning his chin in his palm.

Pomni saw him getting almost immediately sheltered again, and entirely felt bad that she had lead him on just to crush it. She felt like if he was seriously like this when vulnerable, he’d be hard to genuinely get through to. The walls he had put up had settled everyone into thinking he was a monster. Maybe deeply inside he did actively feel like a good person. Just him though.

Was he like this in reality? Or has the circus entirely changed him? Losing people to abstraction, being stuck in a never ending loophole, especially constantly can modify someone to close themselves in like Jax has. Pomni just wonders who or what caused it. Or was he always like this and genuinely couldn’t be looked through.

Jax wasn’t even that mad that Pomni had led him on and didn’t even tell him, he had just realized way too late that he had once again been letting out way too information about how he actually felt, and wasn’t actually a cartoon bunny in a children’s TV show. He didn’t like feeling like a person anymore. He’s been here so long that it feels more natural to make himself believe that this is reality, and going back to human life is just a terrible nightmare that fortunately won’t happen.

Jax started tapping his foot (the good one), getting quicker and quicker until he grunted,

“God! Can’t they finish any faster.. there’s four of them and three tunnels, I don’t think it’s that hard people.” Jax huffed, squeezing his ears as his foot immediately stopped drumming.

“If you had listened to me, you’d know that I said that they could’ve been hurt like you. You aren’t the only person in the world yknow…“ Pomni explained, standing up, using the wall to balance herself.

She started to walk around the perimeter of the cave, looking for anything remotely big enough for them to fit through and get out. Jax leaned his head against the wall and watched her move around the cave.

She had slowly walked past a gap, and then skirted to a halt, backing up to the hole. She peered into it, and then looked back at Jax.

“Could you maybe get through here?” She pointed at the hole, slumping down into the same position he had left her in yesterday.

“Can you with that hat?” He snickered, turning back to Pomni and reverting back to his version of a funny person.

“Yeah great, I’m serious. Can you?” Pomni rolled her eyes and crossed her arms unpleasantly.

“I don’t know?” Jax scratched the back of his head and dropped his knee to the ground, leaving his hand over his aching paw.

“Jax. I’m going to snap your other ankle. Stop being a smartass.” She stood up, and flipped him off. There’s the Pomni he liked.

“Wow Pom, I didn’t take you for a middle finger kinda girl.” Jax slowly shuffled, (crawled? I don’t know it was an awkward way to get there.) He got to the gap in the wall, and peered his head in. How they didn’t see this before was unclear to him. They could’ve fit together at the same time if they needed to. Or wanted to.

“Well? Can you?” Pomni tapped her fingers together, and fiddled with the button on her leotard. She knew he could fit size-wise, but immobile wise? She didn’t know if he’d be able to pull himself through. That was her worry.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure.” He nodded his head and curled his lip.

“But can you pull yourself through with your foot?” Pomni started saying her thoughts out loud.

Jax looked behind him at his crushed paw, and returned his gaze to the hole and then back to Pomni.

“I mean, it’s my foot, not my hand.“

“You know what I mean. You-“ Pomni rolled her eyes before her voice started to shake. That was until both her and Jax had realized the cave they were in was trembling again, just as it had when they had gotten trapped. Pomni looked up only to realize there was infact a stalactite still dangling in the cavern they were in.

Pomni gasped, and turned her pinwheeled gaze back to Jax, who looked more mortified than her.

“Shit shit shit! Go!” Jax exclaimed, as he pushed Pomni through the gap in the wall. He immediately regretted that. He shook the feeling quickly before diving into the small space between the two caverns after her.

The stalactite had begun its descent, and Pomni had grabbed Jax by the shoulders, which looked almost completely by accident. He didn’t mind. I mean, he did have his hands enclosing her waist as he pulled her closer, waiting for the pending crash of the cavern spike, completely forgetting the pain in his foot from diving in.

BOOOM!!…

The air through the cavern was filled with dust. The same dust Jax has been numbed by before. Jax had heard Pomni’s small coughs and immediately opened his eyes. Her large hat had bobbed up, which Jax could see through the dust due to its bright colors. She looked around with half lidded eyes, and she turned to him as he turned away to make it seem like he wasn’t staring at her.

“Jax?” Pomni squeaked, her gaze focused on Jax as he twisted his head to her, his yellow eyes still staring at the other side of the tunnel. He blinked and shifted his eyes to meet hers.

“Yeah?” He huffed, and realized he was breathing very heavily. Almost immediately realizing that Pomni could probably feel it too. He tensed up, his only good foot scratching along the dusty ground.

“You okay? You didn’t get hurt or anything?” Pomni asked with a concerned stare along with large colorful eyes. The dust had started to fall towards the ground again as it once was, Jax and Pomni’s vision clearing.

“Uhm.” Jax took his hands away from her waist, and peeked at his foot.

He blinked and looked anywhere else he could’ve gotten snagged on something.

“I’m clean, you?” He looked back towards Pomni, his hands staying towards his sides now.

“Yeah, no I’m good. Just need to… catch my breath.” She chuckled a bit, sitting up as much as she could without hitting her head.

“Sorry about pushing you Pom…” he cleared his throat after his voice had already cracked.

“It’s alright Jax. I would've done the same thing..” Pomni huffed, clearly out of breath. Jax could tell by the fast rising of her chest and the jingle on the bells on the tips of her hat.

“Oh really?” Jax smirked, a small chuckle escaping his throat.

“Oh please, you know I would have!” She jerked both of his shoulders back as they both giggled together.

“Nooo.. I was thinking you’d be selfish and go first, leaving me, the cripple, to die!” He dramatically placed his wrist to his forehead, over exaggerating his expression. After hearing Pomni’s giggle erupt, he glanced back at Pomni, her rosy cheeks pouring with joy.

God I wish I was better.

I don’t deserve this.

Pomni, leave me while you can.

Please?

Jax pushed his thoughts away, staying on the topic at hand. If he wasn’t pushing her away now, he thinks that’s okay… right? He was enjoying her company. He hoped that’s he was too.

Jax wouldn’t have preferred any other circus member that he’d rather be stuck with than Pomni.

Well. Yknow, just because Gangle wouldn’t have known what to do. Zooble would’ve just kept giving him shit the whole time. Ragatha would’ve been wayyyyy too helpful. Kinger- Jax doesn’t really know what Kinger would do. Pomni was… ~~perfect.~~ Just right! Uh… she was okay and wouldn’t be too crazy about this.

“We definitely can’t go that way again. Uh-“ Jax looked at the exit of the tunnel by both of their legs. It had been completely covered with the stalactite. Jax looked back towards Pomni, and she was looking at the exit just as he was.

It was then he realized she had a small cut on the side of her face which had a small drip of blood extending from the corner of the cut down to her jaw.

“Pomni! Your cheek-.” He pinched her chin between his thumb and pointer finger, before wiping away the blood with his glove. He hadn't realized until afterwards that she had been completely flushed and had been blankly staring at him.

“Jax-“

Jax flinched, lifting his hand from her cheek before she had grabbed his wrist.

“I forgot you don’t like—“ Jax slumped, mortified, his hand quivering. Although his hand had immediately stopped quivering when it had met Pomni’s cheek once again, her hands entangled over his wrist and hand.

Chapter Text

“Uh… the blood’s gone Pom..” Jax huffed nervously, looking away. His hand was still clasped between Pomni’s grip, which was actually surprisingly tight.

What’s she doing?

Can she let go?

Wait.

Keep holding my hand.

Please?

Pomni’s eyes fluttered as her grip slowly loosened. Her hands eventually fell back to her side, leaving Jax’s hand still where her face would have been.

“Uh - hey? You okay?” Jax asked, pulling his hand back to his chest, and looking down at Pomni’s zoned-out face. She hadn’t responded at all, hadn’t even looked at him.

“Uhm…” Jax shuffled as close as he could to her.

“Pom?”

Still no response.

Well this was a bitch. At least say something goddamnit!

“Pomni.” Jax leaned forward, careful not to touch her too much or more than she liked.

Her eyes blinked and tilted up towards Jax.

“Huh? Oh. Sorry.” She pulled the side of her bang behind an ear she wished had even been there in the first place, only for it to fall back down in front of her face.

Jax wanted to pull it back for her so badly.

He would’ve but despite the situation, and the fact that he didn’t know what went wrong stopped him.

Pomni finally chimed in,

“Ugh… sorry that happened. It was just reminding me of something.” She had turned the top half of her body towards the exit and nearly got up to crawl before Jax stopped her.

“What do you mean? What reminded you of what?” Jax lost his comedic flair to his regular statements, and turned more stern.

“Oh, nothing really. It’s not that important. Can we leave now..?” She chuckled, shaking her hand at him before pointing towards the exit with her thumb. Without waiting for his answer she began to exit the tunnel.

Something had definitely happened to upset her. And it was something that someone had done to her that Jax had just replicated. God, why Jax? Why are you so picky and touchy. Just stop. You are only making things worse.

He followed Pomni, careful about his foot that was starting to flare up again. Yayyyy….

Pomni ducked underneath the narrow exit, and dusted off the puffy sleeves of her costume. She nearly walked away before remembering that Jax was still not the best at being independent at the moment.

He shuffled through the crevice, pulling himself through without standing up once out.

“Uh.. how are we gonna do this?” Pomni asked walking towards Jax’s legs.

“See, if the roles were swapped, I’d just swoop you up and the adventure would’ve been done ages ago.” Jax replied sarcastically, only to realize that it might’ve come out the wrong way.

Pomni giggled. Didn’t badmouth him or get angry. Just laughed. He loved her laugh.

“Well, the roles aren’t switched right now… so…” Pomni straddled his legs and reached a hand out. He grabbed her hand and she lifted him up. Still holding hands, Pomni turned Jax around to where the other cast members should have been.

“Ok uhm… let’s try this.”…

Pomni grabbed Jax’s waist and switched the hand she was holding onto. To make it easier for her, he had leaned down and laid his arm draping over her shoulder, letting his other hand drop to his knees.

“Gosh you are heavy for a cartoon character.” Pomni huffed, already out of breath.

“Pomni! You’re gonna make me insecure..!” He blatted, faking an exaggerated frowning expression.

“Yeah yeah, whatever.”

Her grip tightening around his hand was something Jax wasn’t expecting. As they walked, slowly, but walked, Jax seemed to get lighter. His face was more strained than before though.

Pomni came to the conclusion that he wasn’t putting his whole weight onto Pomni, and barely using her for support.

“Jax, lean onto me.” Pomni pleaded as they walked without looking up to Jax, due to the limited mobility she had right now.

“You said it yourself, I’m too heavy. I got it, don’t—… worry.” He had replied, pausing in between to grunt at the pain in his foot.

“You’re literally not. C’mon.” She rolled her eyes, hiding a chuckle. Her grip on his hand was tightening, the hold balancing him.

“No— I-“.. he was abruptly cut off as Pomni had kicked his good ankle to the side, forcing him to lean on her fully. Pomni didn’t really think he was heavy, he was actually quite light. She swallowed her chuckle, but not fully, a small smile escaping to her face.

“Pomni! What the hell?!” Jax’s voice cracked like a teenage boy. He looked actually frightened, like Pomni was actually going to let him fall. She wouldn’t have.

“Did you actually think I would let you fall?…” Pomni asked, her smile fading. She felt disappointed in herself. She had let him think that she was the type of person to do something like that. He had thought of her like that.

He had thought she would do something he would.

“Not… No.” Jax shook his head, his tired eyes returning to his pale face. Pomni wouldn’t do something like that. She wouldn’t. She wasn’t him.

“But geez. That still hurt…” Jax scoffed, as he tugged on the end of Pomni’s hat.

“Sorry… Jax.” She looked away. “I just don’t know any other way to get you to shut up!” She knocked her hip into his, it being awkward to do so at the height advantage Jax had on her.

“Just tell me to shut up, then!” Jax bumped her back. He had given her more weight that she had given him and they had almost tumbled over due to them being intertwined.

Pomni sighed, a slight chuckle leaving with it.

“Alright bunny boy. I’ll remember that for next time.” Her grip around his waist tightened as she took a single step forward, Jax following without choice.

As they ventured back towards the place they began, the three tunnels slowly appeared into sight. They all looked almost identical, the darkness enveloping them as the tunnels went deeper and the light from the torches weren’t able to reach.

The silence, or the noise of their feet scuffing the dirt ground was the only thing that was keeping Pomni sane. Neither of them were talking, other than Jax’s soft grunts and Pomni’s sighs.

“Huh. Well… that is… eerie.” Pomni snorted nervously before leading Jax, who was definitely more freaked out than Pomni, to a wall and set him down before collapsing next to him.

“I’m out of ideas. You?” She solemnly asked, watching the dusty air wash over the ceiling of the cave.

“Well… there’s a twenty five percent chance we pick the right tunnel right?” Jax pointed out, not realizing he was actually entirely wrong.

“No…? If we had a twenty five percent chance there would have to be four tunnels, Jax.” Pomni sat up, and pointed at the tunnels, counting.

“If you actually calculate it, it would be around thirty three point three repeating… which is just really thirty—“

“Pft… you are such a nerd, Pom.” He pushed on her hat, shifting Pomni to the side and leaning on her hand. Jax shifting himself to stand back up while Pomni had grabbed his hand to balance him out.

“What do you expect me to do? I was an accountant…” Pomni wrapped her arm back around Jax’s waist and rolled her arm over her shoulder.

“Ok then, Einstein. What tunnel does Professor Pomni pick?” He asked, adding a playful tone to his voice.

“Oh you have GOT to stop.” She pulled on his hand dragging him downwards as they both giggled together.

“Ok ok. But seriously which tunnel are we picking?” Pomni nudged focusing on the decision at hand and her eyes darting back and forth between the paths.

“I’d say… the one in the middle.” Jax chirped proudly, as if he had already known that it was the correct answer. Pomni wasn’t convinced but there wasn’t really much they could do. They would have to check out every tunnel eventually.

“Ok. We’ll go down the middle one. You good?” Pomni looked over her shoulder to see Jax, shifting himself over Pomni more comfortably.

Jax nodded and Pomni took a hesitant first step toward the middle tunnel before being engulfed by the darkness of the tunnel.

After a while, Pomni chirped up.

“Kinger would be really useful right now.” Pomni said mid-chuckle, remembering that Kinger was able to start glowing when holding his breath, and she had found out during the most excruciating scary adventure on the third day she was her. It still scared her. Pomni couldn’t help but hide a shiver crawl up her spine. Jax felt it through his chest as he leaned into her.

“You cold or something?” Jax pushed himself back as much as he could with Pomni still holding him.

“No. This just reminded me of the haunted manor adventure… with, me and Kinger?” Pomni choked, swallowing the fear in her chest and closed her eyes for just a second.

“Was it really that bad?” Jax looked forward into what felt like nothing, waiting for Pomni to answer.

“Awful. But Kinger was there, and he… really helped.” Pomni sighed, and scoffed midway through her sentence. The grip around Jax’s hand from Pomni tightened and Jax wrapped his fingers tighter too.

‘I wish I was there..’

“Hm? Did you say something?” Pomni looked up to what she hoped was Jax. She couldn’t tell. It kinda freaked her out.

Thank god it was dark, because Jax could feel his face burning which meant it was red as Pomni’s cheeks. He nearly squeak when she had asked him if he had said something. Did he? Yeah. Did he mean it? No. Eh? Yes. Wait. Jax what are you doing? Pull yourself together.

“Uhm. Uh. Pft.. why would I— no… gosh—“ Jax was out of breath, and he could feel Pomni’s unimpressed expression glaring at him like he was entirely transparent.

“Can you be honest with me for once?” Pomni scolded, but gently. Reassuring almost. Not stern or.. scary. Just. Disappointed…

Jax didn’t like that.

“Sorry. I…” Jax winced. Spare just a shard of dignity or lose almost half of the progress you’ve made with Pomni in the last hour. You idiot.

Jax sighed and lagged behind, causing Pomni to stop too.

“I said I wish I’d been there. I didn’t want to see you get hurt like that.” Jax looked away like she could see him and his flustered face glowing. I bet she could hear the subtle thumping of his paw he had done unknowingly.

Pomni’s eyes softened and her smile turned upward just enough. Or at least that’s what Jax could tell.

“Thanks. I appreciate it Jax.” Pomni readjusted their grip, intertwining their fingers with one another.

“Yeah yeah, whatever. Can we just get to the end of this stupid tunnel so we can end this stupid adventure?” Jax had said, using all one breath, and sighing at the end to regain his breath.

“You are just so shy Jax.” Pomni poked him in the side, jerking him more towards her.

“I am not.” Jax replied, trying to seem unaffected. He was not. In fact, his eye was twitching and his face was still shaded in a dark red.

“Yes you are!” Pomni played, her tone similar to a voice you’d make when talking to a dog like it wouldn’t hear you any other way.”

“You are so unbelievably unbearable, y’know that?” Jax forced a sideways grin onto his face, trying to look away. In this circumstance, was much harder than looking at someone who had seen him as a real person than a void. A pitch black nothingness.

Pomni had chuckled, and slipped a, “I know.” In between the giggle and a sigh of relief when she could breathe again.

“I cannot believe I’m stuck with you right now.” Jax groaned, but a pleased smile had escaped.

Pomni stared up into his eyes, and he did the same. The only difference is that Jax couldn’t look away. Pomni could at least blink, and she was the first one to disrupt the contact.

“Wait… is that?” Pomni stopped walking for just a moment and squinted her eyes. Jax, still gazing at her, finally blinked and turned to what she was looking at.

Before them, and a ways away down the cavern, a torch lighting up a weirdly perfect text that read ‘wrong way >:)’.

Jax looked back at Pomni, and Pomni looked back at Jax.

“Well that’s… great!” Jax huffed, his eyes getting more tired and tired the more time he had spent here. Pomni was helping. For sure. And she didn’t even know it. Just keep talking to him. He’ll listen.

“I guess we head back now..?” Pomni squinted her eyes, and her fingers intertwined with Jax’s had slipped away just a little.

Jax grunted before releasing his grip entirely and hopping over to the wall. He had pressed his back up against it and slid down the wall until he was sitting as comfortable as he could get in this hell.

Pomni followed suit, but continued to stand.

“Don’t fall asleep on me. I don’t really want to stay here for long.” Pomni shuddered, and twisted the Pom Pom on her costume.

“I won’t. Just… give me a second.” Jax spread out his legs, trying to maximize the comfort he could get.

Pomni nodded slightly, but stood there, almost frozen.

After a bit. Jax had groaned, and sat up almost immediately, startling the hell out of Pomni who had jumped almost two feet backwards. Jax kind of just stared at her.

“Ok Pom, help me up, we’re going to finish this stupid adventure.” He reached out his hand, and Pomni took it without hesitation.

She lifted him, and clearly had underestimated or forgotten how light he really was and sent him entirely unbalanced. Still holding hands, Jax dragged Pomni down with him.

“I’m sorry! I totally underestimated how light you were.” Pomni exclaimed, clearly not even realizing that she was on Jax’s lap.

He did.

He didn’t say anything though.

His face flushed and he just stared at Pomni, and back and forth between her and where she was sitting.

She was surprisingly extremely light. He’d barely noticed.

She still hadn’t.

Every apology she had attempted to do was muffled by Jax’s focus.

Oh. My. God.