Chapter Text
Jax stormed down the hall and into his room, shoving the door open so hard it nearly tore from its hinges.
God, what a waste of a day.
The adventure had been such a snooze fest. It was the stupid picnic one again. Of course everybody had loved it because the atmosphere was “relaxing” or whatever.
Relax. Yeah, right.
He had all night to sit with his thoughts. That was already too much. He didn’t need a whole day of it too. What he really needed was something to take his mind off—
Jax tripped over a bunched-up edge of the rug with a surprised yelp.
His knees hit the floor with a sharp crack, momentum carrying him forward until he slammed face-first into the side of his bed.
“GOD D#$@ IT!”
He lunged for his pillow, sinking his teeth into it and thrashing it around like it had personally wronged him. Cotton burst into the air in soft white flurries. He tore at the sheets next, shredding the fabric as his foot hammered against the floor.
His jaw eventually began to ache as he bit down harder and harder, but he couldn’t be bothered to care.
“JAX! JAX, OPEN THE DOOR!”
The pounding knocks came fast and insistent.
Pomni. Great.
“Go away!” he snapped, voice muffled against the pillow. “I am not in the mood right now!”
“JAX. DOOR. NOW.”
“I see why you’re a jester,” he shot back, ripping the pillow from his mouth. “Pretty funny you think I’m going to listen to you.”
A pause.
“…I’m getting Caine.”
“Oh, for the love of—”
Jax shoved himself upright and stalked toward the door, wrenching it open. He leaned against the frame, arms crossed, a deep scowl carved into his face.
“Go ahead, get a good eyeful,” he sneered. “Not like we don’t see enough of each other already.”
Pomni didn’t answer. She just stared at him, something like concern flickering across her face. Her hands fiddled with the pom-pom of her suit, deep in thought.
Jax looked thoroughly unimpressed. He tapped his foot, impatience bleeding into every movement. His teeth ground together. His hands clenched, unclenched. He was about to go back into his room to tear something up again when Pomni yanked the pom-pom she was messing with off her suit with a cartoonish pop.
“Pomni.”
She reached for his hand, pressing the pom-pom into his palm.
“Stress ball. Take it.”
Jax stared down at the yellow ball, momentarily thrown off his game. Then a wide grin split across his face.
He reeled his arm back and hurled it down the hall. “Go fetch.”
Pomni actually turned around, looking down the corridor like she might do it.
Jax raised a brow, curiosity outweighing irritation just enough to keep him planted in the doorway.
Then, all at once, Pomni spun on her heel with a crazed smile and another pom-pom in hand. She chucked it at Jax’s head full force.
He barely had enough time to duck, the ball whizzing past his ears.
“Ha! You missed!”
Pomni shoved Jax forward. He stumbled backward into his room and almost landed flat on his ass. The door slammed in his face and he blinked.
“What— You—”
His words died as he noticed the ball sitting at his feet.
From the other side of the door came a burst of muffled giggling.
Jax exhaled sharply through his nose. He got up, grabbed the handle, and rattled it, but it wouldn’t budge.
Pomni’s giggles grew into full-on cackling.
“That little—”
He cut himself off, eyes narrowing, then pivoted and rushed into his closet. He shoved past boxes and old junk until he found what he was looking for.
“There you are… good ol’ Charlotte.”
With a grin creeping onto his face, Jax headed back to the door and dropped down onto all fours.
“Hey, Pomni,” he called sweetly, “I don’t think I ever introduced you to Ragatha’s friend.”
Jax grinned to himself when he heard a loud screech. It took one swift push for the door to swing open. Pomni toppled forward, scrambling in a panic. In the same motion, Jax snatched up the second ball and hurled it down the hall.
“Knew you two would get along.” He winked.
The four-inch centipede crawled steadily up Pomni’s leg. She flailed wildly, trying—and completely failing—to kick it off.
Jax laughed as he casually grabbed her by the hat and hoisted her into the air. With surprising care, he plucked the centipede from her leg and slipped it into his pocket.
“I win. You lose. Tragic,” he said, grinning. “Better go grab your balls. Didn’t know girls could have those.”
Pomni squirmed free of his grip and dropped to the ground. “Ugh—you always take things too far,” she groaned.
“That’s why you love me!”
Jax turned and sauntered off, waving a hand over his shoulder.
“I’m gonna go celebrate my victory. Bottle of champagne, maybe some Chardonnay. Sorry, Pom Pom—losers aren’t invited.”
Pomni rolled her eyes with a soft smile. “Yeah, okay. You do that then. See you tomorrow?”
Jax didn’t even look back.
“Where else would I be?”