Chapter Text
“…ideas are not fun at all, and Caine’s ideas are much better!”
Their digital god’s voice rang through the circus as the gang made their way off of the softball field and through the portal.
The usual lurch hit them all at once, spitting them back into the circus grounds. Most of them stumbled toward the couch, buzzing with leftover adrenaline and exhaustion.
Jax made it a few steps before stopping cold. Something felt off. Too heavy. Too… frilly. He looked down, and sure enough—the stupid maid outfit was still clinging to him.
He gave the apron a sharp tug, expecting it to vanish with the rest of the props. Nothing. The bow at the back just pulled tighter.
His ears flicked back, and he gave the skirt a frantic shake like maybe it would just… fall off.
“What the?! …no, no, no, no.” He spun in a circle, trying to grab at a nonexistent zipper. “This is not funny.”
The others finally noticed.
Zooble snorted. “Oh, this is rich. Maid-boy’s stuck in cosplay hell.”
Gangle stood by their side, fighting back a flustered laugh.
Ragatha tilted her head, fighting a smile. “Well… it suits you… in its own way.”
Pomni stepped forward, blinking at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. She didn’t laugh. Her brows furrowed as she nailed him with her pinwheel eyes.
Before Jax could react, confetti rained from above.
“Well, well, well!” Caine’s voice boomed, cane in hand and grin… face? widened. “What a delightful twist! A permanent costume change! Why didn’t I think of that!?”
Jax’s ears twitched. He was irate. “This is YOUR doing?”
“Oh, don’t be silly, my boy!” Caine floated upside down, wagging a finger. “That’s the beauty of these adventures—sometimes the props decide to stay! Consider it… character development!”
Jax growled, a primal noise. He yanked the collar of the dress, nearly choking himself. “Take. It. Off. NOW.”
Zooble wheezed like they’d never seen anything funnier. Ragatha had her hand over her mouth, trying to muffle her giggles. Even Gangle, who normally shriveled under Jax’s gaze, was making a hiccuping sound that might’ve been a laugh.
Jax’s scowl deepened, ears twitching feverously. He gave the bow one more savage tug, snarl brewing low in his throat, and then spun on his heels.
“Yeah, hilarious,” he snapped over his shoulder. “Real comedy gold. Hope you’re all enjoying yourselves.” he stalked towards his room, froofy skirt swishing mockingly with every step.
Pomni stayed frozen, forgetting to breathe as her eyes followed the purple bunny’s retreating figure. The others’ laughter rang hollow in her ears. It was funny- she knew it should be funny- but the way his ears were pinned back, the sharpness in his voice, the look in his eyes… it made her chest tighten, her heart stutter.
Zooble was doubled over, wheezing so hard their shoulders shook. Ragatha had stopped even pretending to be polite, tears glittering at the corners of her eyes as she guffawed. And Gangle of all people even looked downright cheerful, despite lacking her comedy mask.
“Would you guys stop that?” Pomni’s tone sliced the laughter, uncharacteristically sharp.
Her fists balled at her sides, face hot. “It’s not funny. Can’t you see he’s actually upset?”
The laughter faltered, leaving a silence that pressed heavy against her chest. Jax was already disappearing down the hall, and for a split second, she thought his eyes flicked back toward her. His expression gave nothing away.
Ragatha cleared her throat at last, guilt softening her tone. “I’m… sorry. I shouldn’t have poked fun at Jax,” she murmured, dabbing at her eyes though a smile still lingered.
She didn’t look sorry to Pomni.
Zooble snorted and exhaled, steadying themselves and rising back to their feet. “Relax, Pomni. Bunny-boy dishes it out all the time. He can take a little heat.”
“Y-yeah, but-” Pomni stopped herself, wringing out her hands and cracking her knuckles. The words stuck in her throat.
Ragatha’s smile faltered. She glanced at Pomni, her voice softer now. “Hey… are you alright?”
Pomni didn’t answer. Her chest still felt tight, her pulse stumbling in her ears. Before she realized what she was doing, her feet were already carrying her after him.
Each hurried step, one tripping quicker into the next, echoed on the endless tiling of the circus floor. She toyed with the ends of her hair apprehensively, rehearsing what she’d even say when she finally reached his room.
“Are you okay?” sounded… pathetic. He clearly wasn’t okay, even if he’d never admit it. “Nice dress?” would get her torn to shreds. Even if it was true… she added to herself silently.
Her eyes widened as she realized what she’d just thought.
What.
Pomni shook her head hard, as though she could scatter the thought. Focus. He’s upset. That’s what matters.
The hall stretched on forever, looping checkerboard geometry curling in impossible angles overhead. Finally reaching Jax’s door, she froze, barely daring to breathe as her gloves floated above the wooden door, poised to knock. From inside came a muffled curse, followed by the rip of fabric and a frustrated half growl, half scream.
Pomni bit her lip, then knocked softly.
“…Jax?” she breathed.
There was a pause.
Then his voice, low and rough: “Go away.”
Her throat tightened. “I-just wanted to check-”
“I said go away!” A thump followed, muffled behind the door, like he’d kicked something.
Pomni flinched but pressed her palm to the door anyway. “I can’t. Not when you’re—” She stopped herself, cheeks burning. She didn’t even know how to finish that sentence.
Silence. Then the faint shuffle of footsteps inside. The knob rattled once, and the door cracked open just enough for one amber eye to glint through.
Jax glared at her, ears flattened. He made it glaringly obvious with his stance that she was not welcome and that he didn’t want her to see him. “What part of ‘leave me alone’ don’t you get, Pomni?” he hissed, starting to push the door shut.
The already small gap narrowed.
Pomni’s chest lurched, and before she could second-guess herself, she wedged her foot into the frame. The door smacked against her shoe with a hollow, plasticky thunk.
Jax blinked down at her in disbelief, ears shooting upright. For a moment he looked less like a cornered animal, and more like someone who’d just been slapped with a fish.
“…Did you just… block my door?” His voice was halfway between incredulous and offended.
Pomni’s voice hitched as she swallowed. “I… yes?”
His eyes narrowed, suspicion wrestling with shock. “Since when did you grow a spine?”
Pomni bristled. “Since you started slamming doors in my face!”
Jax was stunned. He stared, mouth half open, as if he couldn’t decide whether to yell at her or laugh. The dress frills puffed around his arms as he tightened his grip on the doorframe, ears twitching like static.
Finally, his lip curled, his fangs glinting under the relentless circus lights. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Pomni.”
Her pulse skipped. Why? She was shaking, but kept her foot wedged firmly. “Then let me in.”
Her lip quivered, and she couldn’t meet Jax’s gaze. It was abundantly clear to them both how much effort it took for her to stand her ground.
For a long, charged moment, neither of them moved. Then Jax’s expression shuttered, his glare hardening again.
The door slammed in her face, rattling the frame and echoing down the endless hall.
Pomni flinched, but didn’t step back. She pressed her palm flat to the wood, heart hammering. I’m not leaving.
After a moment of silence, she realized just how much she was shaking. Her legs wobbled and gave out under her, and she unceremoniously slunk to the ground.
Awkwardly, she shuffled back until her shoulders rested against the door. The surface felt so wrong—plasticy and splintery all at once, but she appreciated that it grounded her.
She drew her knees up, arms wrapping around them in tight loops as she buried her face. For the first time since arriving in this place, she didn’t care if she looked pathetic.
And still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Jax hadn’t moved away from the door at all, either.